Tag Archives: wars

2024 – A Turbulent Year?

Articles January 31, 2024 Leave a comment

Undeniably, there is a dark cloud that extends far and wide across the planet, and although certain governments, authorities, and the general population struggle to confront it and cleanse the planet of this darkness, unfortunately, it seems to become denser and more difficult to eradicate.

The beginning of this 2024 has not been under the best circumstances. It seems that a dark cloud has covered the planet between the close of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.

For instance, it is evident that armed conflicts are happening in various countries around the world, of which perhaps the most widely publicized in international media are two: Russia vs. Ukraine, whose war began in February 2022; and the terrorist attack that Israel experienced since October 2023. Conflicts that show no signs of ending, as resources become scarce and lives are irretrievably lost. Humanly speaking, a solution is not in sight.

russian-and-ukrainian-war-2023-11-27-05-06-51-utcCertainly, Russia vs. Ukraine is just one example of how nation against nation confronts each other, disregarding true sovereign interests and the interests of two peoples who, behind the weapons and attacks, suffer the decisions of opposing governments and conflicting policies.

Of course, the case of Israel is different. Israel has to defend its home from terrorist attacks. After all, who among us would invite a potential terrorist attack on our homes without any opposition? Certainly not! I am sure that if something like that were to happen in our surroundings, we would gather courage, stand firm, and defend our family and loved ones tooth and nail, not allowing such attacks.

These are just two examples of what is happening in the world at this time—seemingly endless conflicts.

But armed conflicts are also happening internally. A case in point is Ecuador. Sadly, the country is experiencing an internal armed conflict as it has openly declared war on terrorists who have been operating in the nation for years.

closeup-image-of-stethoscope-and-text-disease-x-on-2023-11-27-04-55-11-utc

On the other hand, the dark cloud extends even further over the sky of our world. Did you know that more plagues are already being announced… more viruses, more diseases from this year onwards? Yes, it is regrettable to learn that at least since the second half of last year, more lethal viruses than Covid-19 were already being announced, along with vaccines and medications to combat them.

Unbelievable, right? How did some organizations know well in advance about the next pandemic? Well, for months and even at least a couple of years ago, it was being disseminated with certainty that a new pandemic would strike the world, and it seems that 2024 will be the platform for “this foretold death.”

Let me share two very revealing interventions:

In May 2023, the Director-General of the WHO stated: “Although COVID-19 may no longer be a global public health emergency, countries must still strengthen response to the disease and prepare for future pandemics and other threats…”

And on another note, in March 2023, the renowned Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pointed out: “The world hasn’t done as much to get ready for the next pandemic…I’m optimistic about a network that the W.H.O. and its partners are building called the Global Health Emergency Corps. This network of the world’s top health emergency leaders will work together to get ready for the next ‌‌pandemic.”  

Yes, it is truly unbelievable! The more we read and research, for sure, the more surprised we become.

ruined-house-after-an-earthquake-2023-11-27-05-34-34-utcFurthermore, just to complete the picture for now; earthquakes are commonplace. We started this 2024 as if welcoming a turbulent year, with the 7.6 earthquake in Japan that strongly shook the country and, in essence, the world, as if preparing to face strong jolts, not only in terms of earthquakes but in various spheres around the globe.

Undeniably, there is a dark cloud that extends far and wide across the planet, and although certain governments, authorities, and the general population struggle to confront it and cleanse the planet of this darkness, unfortunately, it seems to become denser and more difficult to eradicate.

Unlike the arguments of the “optimists,” the world itself, whether we like it or not, is in decline. Whether we like it or not, its destruction is inevitable. Why?

It’s simple yet controversial for many. The world is increasingly farther from its Creator, increasingly separated from its Sustainer. In fact, its heart is proud of its “achievements,” its “reach,” its “success”; by “progress” in industry, science, technology, and much more. And human beings increasingly crave more power, more pecuniary advantage, more pleasure. Of course, all of this, convinced that they are “self-sufficient” and have the “capacity” to advance and achieve everything they set out to do.

But amid all this “progress,” at the same time, more darkness has become evident. Sadly, amid this decay, even the earth groans. Yes, this is clearly stated in the Word of God: “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now…” (Romans 8:22).

And how can it not suffer childbirth pains when we see our surroundings falling apart, and the darkness intensifies?

There is only one way, one solution, and that is Christ Jesus. If you, by “chance,” visited our blog or already know us; truly, this is not a coincidence. Let me be emphatic about this: darkness can only be fought with light, and the light is Christ Jesus, who straightforwardly said: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

The world and the humanity itself are facing a dense darkness; if you want to come out of it, the only way is Jesus. If you do not know Him yet and are interested in doing so, do not hesitate to contact us. Time is running out; today could be your “day out of darkness”, your day of salvation, for tomorrow it may be too late.

To conclude, I invite you to reflect on the following Word:

“And you will 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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6-8)

Sources:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136912

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/19/opinion/bill-gates-pandemic-preparedness-covid.html

 

Wars, a Matter of the Heart…

Articles August 8, 2023 Leave a comment

“The nature of the human being is not inherently good, their heart is plagued by sin, and until we come to genuine repentance before our Creator, our heart will experience serious conflicts, a lack of genuine peace…”

As of the publication date of this article, the media bombards us with news about the prolonged war between Ukraine and Russia; violent protests in France that degenerated into, among other things, looting and street fires are still making headlines; and deaths from violent crimes in Ecuador are counted in the dozens, while the country is plagued by a territorial war between rival criminal organizations, as reported by media.

If we analyze throughout history, wars have occurred due to a series of factors mostly related to disputes between nations, territories, ethnic groups, followers of religions, beliefs, or ideologies, due to socio-economic inequalities, human rights violations, and in general, responses to aggression, among other factors.

Unfortunately, the attacks or hostile acts of one nation or group towards another can even provoke military responses and, ultimately, lead to what we all know as war.

But why do these disputes, attacks, or hostile acts occur? Yes, beyond the visible root: religious beliefs, geopolitical ambitions, inequalities. Have you ever thought that there’s more beyond the visible?

Well, beyond what’s presented, expressed, and visible, there’s something not necessarily considered; and that’s the heart of the human being.

Red palm print on black background with heart, stop bloodshed and war, peace concept.

The deepest feelings nest in the human heart, not always directly exposed outward, especially when these feelings are not good, honest, or proven. Yes, we can show a smiling, friendly, embracing face, but if we delve into that heart’s depths, we often find hypocrisy, lies, envy, hatred, not necessarily displayed, at least not initially and depending on the individual’s interests.

Because it’s like that, in the heart of man, immeasurable feelings can nest, unfathomable interests, and potentially deep desires for revenge and destruction towards those who oppose his/her path.

Let’s do an exercise, this exercise is personal and only you and your Creator will know the answers. Here we go:

  • Have you ever felt envy because your family member, colleague, or friend has better possessions than yours? A better car, a better house, a better job, a better salary.
  • If you’ve ever been harmed, insulted, or lied about, how did you react? Maybe, did frustration, sadness, hatred, and even revenge arise in your heart?
  • If someone has ever tried to take what’s yours, any possession no matter how small it may be, have you at least had the intentions to go all out and take it back, claiming it’s yours? Come on, this might have happened to you as a child or even as an adult. How did you react?

A very small exercise that, if done, will clearly reveal the intentions of our heart and, if these intentions aren’t properly dealt with, sooner or later, they can degenerate into violent acts, conflicts, ultimately into wars.

Jer17-EngWell, the Word of God warns us and says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

The nature of the human being is not inherently good, their heart is plagued by sin, and until we come to genuine repentance before our Creator, our heart will experience serious conflicts, a lack of genuine peace, and potentially provoke conflicts around us on a smaller or larger scale.

The renowned Augustine of Hippo stated: “The purpose of all wars is peace.” However, this thought doesn’t always reflect reality. We don’t doubt that in the intentions of many who embark on a war, there’s the genuine and deep desire to achieve peace for their team, for their nation, but also, if we’re realistic, many embark on a war to achieve their own interests, whether valid or not.

The first war every human being must conquer is the struggle against personal sin – we’re all sinners, there’s none righteous, no, not one –; and the only way to do it and to overcome is through surrender. Yes, just as you read it, through surrender. If we recognize deep in our heart that we’re sinners, that we can’t do anything to cleanse ourselves from our sin, and we genuinely and completely surrender to our Creator, to Christ Jesus, we will certainly overcome the worst war we face in our entire life.

So, honesty is necessary to recognize the true condition of our heart; humility to bow in repentance before the only wise God, who can forgive and free us; and courage to decide for Christ Jesus and proclaim that He alone is the way, the truth, and the life that lead us to our Creator and Father, to receive salvation and transformation.

Wars are definitely a matter of the heart. In fact, Jesus expressed it very well: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders” (Matthew 15:19). And so, the most intense war that every human being must vigorously fight is the one against sin and eternal damnation.

If you want to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and eternal life, don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

 

The World Finds itself in a State of Turmoil! – Here am I!

Videos October 30, 2017 Leave a comment

Earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, famines, civil wars, corruption, pain, loneliness, desperate and confused people! A confused, convulsed, sick world. A world without hope!

Several years ago, the video clip below was launched and it pictures very well the desperate condition of our world but it also shows who can bring healing to it!

I invite you to watch the video clip “A Thousand Questions” and seriously meditate on its core message!

 

 

In the Home Stretch …in the End of Times!

Interviews January 6, 2017 Leave a comment

“God chooses a nation to become the geographical point, where the attention of the world will concentrate mainly in the end of times, and chose the nation of Israel.”

Dr. Armando Alducin

Dr. Armando Alducin, Founder of "New Life for the World."

Dr. Armando Alducin, Founder of “New Life for the World.”

Nearly 36 years ago, Dr. Armando Alducin had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.
After having studied and experimented with various philosophies and religions he became an atheist, because according to him, no absolute truth could exist in any system of thought.
Happily, through his brother Alejandro and the missionary Emilio Aandereud, Dr. Alducin came to the knowledge of the truth and began his life in the Christian walk.
In 1982 he founded “Vida Nueva para México” [New Life for Mexico], which later on would change its name to “Vida Nueva para el Mundo” [New Life for the World], an organization that is currently bringing the Gospel to more than 55 nations. In fact, along with his brother Alejandro, Dr. Alducin has founded more than 40 churches in different parts of Mexico, the United States, Europe, South America and Israel. His ministry also sustains several missionaries around the world.

Dr. Alducin, how do you see the current picture in the geopolitical framework in relation to the so called “the end of times” stated as such by the Bible?

It is a great blessing to know that 2,600 years ago the Hebrew prophets in the Bible, in a chronological-supernatural way were able to draw us a map, a guide for us to know –those who have reached these times in the 21st century, that we are actually in the end of times of human history.

The prophecies mainly of the books of Ezekiel and Daniel are amazing in the light of the prophecies of the Apostle John in the book of Revelation. The Bible has chosen Israel to be a thermometer, thus, through Israel we can measure the temperature of the world; and we know that the Middle East started the beginning of civilization in Iraq and what is now Syria, which was Mesopotamia back then, and it was not yet divided, and civilization was going to end there.

It is incredible that now in the 21st century, we are right in this moment, in the month of November 2016, where the Middle East is a boiling pot. Now, the civil war in Syria is about to bring about an international social outbreak, in which many nations will have to be involved. It is wonderful, that this does not infuse us Christians any fear. Why? Because we know that these are signs that Jesus anticipated us, signs that were going to be manifested, that we really are in the end of times and we should rejoice. And Jesus said, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

So, I think it is the time when the Church and those who are Christians be aware that there is a day of judgment approaching, and that the Lord created us as free and responsible moral agents, and that we have to repent of our sins to stand before the judgment of God some day.

In fact, we are living wars, rumors of wars and natural phenomena like tsunamis, among others. But many people assert, “There has always been the same thing.” What is the answer to that statement: “there has always been the same”, as we are now living that “end of times”?

Wars have always been there, ever since Cain killed Abel, there have been murders and wars; but not ever before the 20th century, the past century, had all the nations of the world been involved in the First and Second World War. And Jesus said in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13, that there would be wars and rumors of wars, and that nation would rise against nation. And this has never happened until the 20th century. We realize that this was the beginning of what Jesus in Matthew 24 proclaims, as the beginning of sorrows. In the First and Second World War, the United Nations was formed to try to prevent a Third World War and we know that since the Second World War up until now, the 21st century has seen more than 283 revolutions and coups d’État. Now, with all the technology that we have and with all scientific advances, we are on the brink of an international social outbreak of war in the Middle East.

Throughout history, we know that Israel has been hated by certain groups or nations. In fact, they wanted to exterminate Israel. In that perspective, how should we understand that Israel is the “thermometer of God”?

Many people say to me: “well, why did not God choose the Italians, the Spaniards, why not the Mexicans or the Ecuadorians”? This is the answer:
God chooses a nation to become the geographical point, where the attention of the world will concentrate mainly in the end of times, and chose the nation of Israel. God chose the nation of Israel, because the Messiah was born there, and this is proved by the genealogies of Jesus Christ in Luke and Matthew. Christ is the only person born in history, from whom his genealogy can be traced, from Adam or from Abraham. No other man, no matter what monarchic ancestry he may come from, not even the kings’ origins can be traced.

Jesus Christ proves that by being descendant from King David, from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He was really the Messiah that God had chosen.

Romans 9: 3 – 4 states that God chose Israel so that through the Jews, we obtain the Book of the books,

Dr. Armando Alducin, San Antonio, TX

Dr. Armando Alducin, San Antonio, TX

which is called the Bible. The book that was written in Hebrew and Greek has the earliest record of history, archeology, cosmology, anthropology, psychology, literature, poetry, among others. With respect to this book, I have always asked people and it is one of the questions whereby I like to challenge the scientific, political, philosophical, writers’ audiences, I always say: “tell me,” –and I have 35 years of preaching this message – “Which book do you know is better than the Bible?”; and up until this moment, after 35 years of standing before all kinds of fora and auditoriums, there has not been a single person who has dared to tell me that there is a book better than the Bible.

This is why God chose Israel. And I repeat, to be the point of the prophecies. Right now we realize that Israel is precisely surrounded by 22 million Arabs who are trying to exterminate it, and since 1948 when it became independent as a sovereign nation, 22 million Arabs have not been able to remove or push them to the Mediterranean.

This is to be fulfilled in the prophecy of Amos 9, which states that “they shall never again be uprooted out of their land,” and these are the evidences that the Bible leaves us, history shows that God exists.

Along these lines, there are other sacred writings such as The Quran of the Muslims, the Tripitaka of the Buddhists, and other religions whose followers claim that they are the sacred books through which their god speaks to them and conducts their lives. What should we say to them in the face of the Bible?

When we confront them with the Bible, let us remember the Hindus, they did the Vedas; The Maharani Nasutta; The Muslims, the Quran; The Tripitaka, the Buddhists; and so we can go through sacred books and none of these sacred books contains prophecies. None of them predicted when its founder was to be born. Buddha, for example, before dying, said: “seek the truth” to his disciples, he never said that he was the truth. Hindus have millions of gods. Buddhism is an atheistic religion, because Gautama Buddha did not believe in God; [speaking] of the Quran created by Muhammad, and here, this man’s moral profile is terrible upon marrying a 7 year-old-girl, for God’s sake, psychologically, he tells us that he was a psychopathic man!
No founder of any religion can even compare himself with the person of the Son of God or with the Holy Scriptures!

To conclude, what is your final message in the framework that we have discussed? Your message for our Christian audience and for those who do not necessarily identify themselves with the Christian Faith!

Firstly, I would like to remind all my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ who we have experienced the new birth, about the words of Christ in Luke chapter 21, which states that when we see all these things, let us remember the following: “Let our heart not to be filled with carousing and drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and come suddenly upon us that day. Because as a snare, Jesus said: ´it will come upon on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man´[at his second coming].”

Dr. Armando Alducin & Cecilia Yepez, at the moment of the interview

Dr. Armando Alducin & Cecilia Yepez, at the moment of the interview

The Church has to understand something, we have a mission: to win souls and to disciple them. Every Christian has to seek a person, someone with whom they can share the Word of God and talk about Christ, to all the people we can, because time is up!
For the people who do not know Jesus Christ, the Bible states that the human being is a sinner and that these sins cannot be eradicated or erased with religions, and that by good deeds we could never obtain our salvation. The Bible asserts that there is a barrier between God and man, which is called sin; and only through the blood of Christ, only through His sacrifice on the cross, it was possible for this barrier to collapse.

This is the message of the Bible given by God to us, He offers us salvation without having to do anything but believe, what Jesus did in our place, on that cross. So, invite Him as your Lord and Savior, repent of your sins; believe that after 3 days He rose from the dead, and from then on, begin to feed yourself spiritually with the Bible, because that is the nourishment of the Spirit of the Lord.

It is important for us that during these times that we are going through, we take God seriously, people must repent in their lives and learn that there is a God who loves them eternally, and that this is perhaps the only opportunity you may have in order to determine the Eternal destiny of your soul!