It’s The Truth :: By Daymond Duck

I was at a restaurant that I frequented often.

The waitress was the wife of a fellow pastor and a friend of mine.

I finished my meal and took my bill to the cash register to pay up.

Another friend came up behind me and asked, “How are you doing?”

I replied, “Better than I deserve.”

My waitress friend who was at the cash register to check me out, said, “And he’s telling the truth too.”

I have chuckled about that many times, and I often think about it when someone asks me that question.

Christians know that we don’t deserve:

• To be loved by God.
• To hear the Word of God.
• To have our sins forgiven and go to heaven.
• To be saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
• To approach God in prayer and to have our prayers answered.
• To get a new body that will never get sick or die again.
• To see our deceased saved loved ones again.
• To have freedom of worship.
• To be rewarded in heaven for serving God, etc., etc., etc.

Christians know that our good works won’t get us into heaven (Titus 3:5).

Christians know that God has provided a way for us to get to heaven, and there is just one way (Jn. 14:6).

This is my point: My waitress friend was kidding me, but she was right on target.

Every Christian is doing better than he/she deserves, and it’s the truth too.

Here are some recent events that seem to indicate that the Rapture is close:

One, following his meetings with Russia’s Pres. Putin in Alaska (on Aug. 15, 2025), and Ukraine’s Pres. Zelensky and others at the White House (on Aug. 18, 2025), Pres. Trump had a phone interview on “Fox and Friends” (on Aug. 19, 2025).

Trump is getting a lot of criticism for saying:

• Ending the war could save 7,000 people a week from being killed.
• I want to try and get to Heaven if possible.
• I’m hearing I’m not doing well.
• I hear I’m really at the bottom of the totem pole.
• But if I can get to Heaven, this (his role in ending the war) will be one of the reasons.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9).

I do not believe for one minute that Pres. Trump will go to heaven for trying to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, but I do believe that peacemaking could be evidence of his salvation.

I am glad that he wants to get to heaven.

I wish that everyone wanted to get to heaven.

It would be a better world if they did.

I know this: following my acceptance of Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I was a baby Christian who needed to do a lot of growing (and I still do), and I’m telling the truth too.

Update:

On Aug. 20, 2025 Franklin Graham posted the following:

• President [Trump] brought up the topic of Heaven on Fox News yesterday morning, and I’m glad he did because many people struggle with the question of how we can get there.
• We do get to Heaven by good works — not by our own good works, but by the perfect work of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, when He came to earth, took our sins to the cross, shed His blood, died, was buried, and God raised Him to life on the third day.
• We all have the promise of eternal life if we repent of our sins, trust Him by faith, and make Him the Lord of our lives.

Two, in an opinion piece on Aug. 14, 2025, Joshua Katzen, publisher of the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) said:

• Hamas is not an isolated band of terrorists with its own unique ideology; separate from the people it claims to represent.
• Hamas is the Palestinian people.
• It is an accurate reflection of Palestinian culture, politics and goals as they have been taught, embraced, and passed down for generations.
• It is the armed expression of Palestinian society itself—a society steeped in Jew-hatred, committed to Israel’s destruction and willing to sacrifice its own children for that cause.
• Poll after poll by Palestinian research firms shows overwhelming support for Hamas’s goals and methods across Palestinian society.
• The supposedly moderate Palestinian Authority teaches the same messages as Hamas: that Jews are sons of apes and pigs, that Israel has no right to exist, and that killing Jews is a religious duty.
• If Palestinian society is the problem, there are only two paths to lasting peace: Change that society or remove it.

This is the way I understand it: creating a Palestinian State will not change the Islamic belief that killing Jews is the religious duty of Muslims.

Radical Muslims will try to establish a global Islamic caliphate as long as there are radical Muslims.

And that’s the truth too.

Three, concerning an end to the Israel-Hamas war, on Aug. 14, 2025, Prime Min Netanyhu expanded on Israel’s requirements.

Netanyahu said:

• The war will only end once no weapons are manufactured in Gaza and no weapons are smuggled into Gaza.
• The new Gaza government—not to be run by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority—will be handled by people who don’t educate their children to terror, will not fund terrorism, and won’t dispatch terrorists.

Israel’s Finance Min. called these very correct and just principles.

Four, on Aug. 14, 2025, it was reported that Israel is planning to call up 80-100,000 reservists for a massive ground offensive to capture Gaza City (Update: He called up 60,000 and extended the service of 20,000).

• On Aug. 15, 2025, it was reported that Israel plans to evacuate about one million people from Gaza City before its troops attack. As I understand it, the plan is to evacuate the people, encircle the city, and start attacking Hamas in early Sept.
• On Aug. 17, 2025, Israel’s Army Radio said, the plan is to besiege Gaza City, with the aim of gaining control of it by Oct. 7, two years to the day from the devastating Hamas attack that sparked the war.
• On Aug. 18, 2025, Hamas proposed a ceasefire of 60 days in exchange for the release of hostages in two stages. Israeli sources reiterated earlier statements that the government demands the release of all 50 living and dead hostages.
• At 4:02 am on Aug 19, 2025, it was reported that Israeli tanks were advancing on one area of Gaza City.
• On Aug. 19, 2025, Israel notified all the hospital officials in Gaza City to prepare to move their equipment and patients out of the city.
• On Aug. 20, 2025, Prime Min. Netanyahu instructed his military to shorten the timelines for taking control of the last terrorist strongholds and for the defeat of Hamas.

(My opinion: The Hamas effort to destroy Israel and prevent the rebuilding of the Temple is not turning out the way they expected.)

Five, concerning God’s promise to bless those that bless Israel and curse those that curse Israel: on Aug. 13, 2025, Democratic Socialists of America voted to expel members who support Israeli self-defense.

On Aug. 14, 2025, Pete Buttigieg (former U.S. transportation secretary and possible candidate for the Democrat party’s nomination for Pres. In 2028) said he supports an arms embargo on the Jewish state.

On Aug. 15, 2025, it was reported that the Democrat Party’s National Committee is scheduled to vote (on Aug. 26, 2025) on two resolutions that have been introduced.

• One calls for the Democrat Party to support an arms embargo on Israel and for members of Congress to recognize Palestine as a state. It totally ignores the facts that Hamas attacked Israel, killed hundreds of Jews, is holding hostages, etc.
• The other supports a credible, negotiated pathway toward a two-state solution that ensures equal measures of dignity, freedom and opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and it opposes any unilateral steps by either side that undermine the prospects for two states.

(My opinion: The Democrats are divided over these things, but the party is becoming more radical, and it is dangerous for America. What the nations try to do to Israel, God will do to them. He will drag them into the Battle of Armageddon for dividing His land and scattering the Jews.)

(More: On Aug. 15, 2025, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said, “If America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us.”)

Six, concerning false religion, persecution, wars and rumors of wars, etc. at the end of the age: on Aug. 17, 2025, it was reported that the son of a Hamas co-founder said:

• He was taught from childhood that Jews must be killed, Christians eliminated, and “infidels” subjugated.
• The purpose of Hamas’ attack on Israel is to replace Judaism and Christianity with radical Islam. If the world does not understand this, everyone will pay the price.
• Hamas is a death cult. It does not seek compromise. It seeks annihilation.
• Hamas’ murder of 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, was 1,200 war crimes.
• If Hamas and its allies succeed, it will not end with the Jews. Christians and all free peoples are next.

(My comment: These are the words of a former Hamas insider who was raised and indoctrinated in Islam. He was risking his life when he said these things. But it is the truth, and non-Muslims should believe it.)

(My comment: God loves the Muslims. Jesus died for them too. He wants them to be saved. But He will not allow them to destroy Israel or to ultimately prevail against the Church.)

Seven, concerning perilous times at the end of the age: during Iran’s 12-Day War with Israel, Iran launched about 550 missiles at Israel.

On Aug. 17, 2025, an Iranian official said:

• Iran’s military is able to carry out missile strikes on every city in Europe, as well as major American cities on the East Coast.
• We can move our ships to within 2,000 kilometers of the US and from there target Washington, New York, and other cities.
• Right now, all European countries are within our range.

This is the point: The U.S. and EU desperately stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and it’s the truth too.

(FYI: Many Bible prophecy teachers believe the Bible teaches that nuclear weapons will be used during the Tribulation Period; Zech. 14:12; Rev. 6:14-17).

Eight, concerning the Holy Spirit drawing Jews back to the land of Israel at the end of the age: on Aug. 20, 2025, 225 Jews immigrated from the U.S. to Israel.

They said they weren’t motivated to flee from North America; they were motivated to move to Israel.

Moving to Israel in the midst of a war sends a strong message about God’s influence over their lives.

Nine, concerning the controversy over Jerusalem, the expansion of Israel’s borders and Jews living in Judea when the Antichrist defiles the Temple at the Middle of the Tribulation Period, in response to France, Canada, Australia and dozens of other nations announcing their intent to recognize a Palestinian State: on Sept. 22-23, 2025, Israel has approved plans to build 3401 housing units in a disputed area near East Jerusalem.

World leaders and Muslims are having a hissy fit, but Israel’s Finance Min. said Israel cannot trade its survival for international applause.

Israel has moved to protect East Jerusalem with Jewish neighborhoods before the area is populated with Muslims demanding a capital in East Jerusalem.

Ten, concerning America’s 37 trillion-dollar national debt and a future global economic collapse during the Tribulation Period: on Aug. 20, 2025, it was reported that the Trump administration has:

• Removed 275,000 illegal aliens from the Social Security system.
• Removed 12.4 million names of people recorded as over 120 years old.

Eleven, concerning Israel becoming a great military at the end of the age: it was reported that Israel has 4 refueling airplanes, and they are preparing to sign an agreement to purchase 2 more.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God, who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

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