June 13, 2025 • 28 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, welcome to this week's podcast on pray dot Com Dayline, Jerusalem.
I'm Chris Mitchell, and I really have the honor today
of being joined by Ann Graham Lotts, Billy Graham's daughter,
who apparently is according to Billy, the best preacher in
the family. And so Anne and I have known each
other for several years and we had the joy of
(00:22):
being here together in Jerusalem, and we had a wonderful
day with believe Ray Bentley and at that time, and
so we've been talking before we record it, and we
just want to continue our conversation. So An, it's really
a privilege and a blessing to be with you. So
tell us what's on your heart right now about what's
going on in the world.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Well, can I just say, Chris before I answer that question,
it's just such a privilege and a pleasure to talk
with you, and just to let your audience know that
there's nobody that I respect more than your not just
your journalism, but you as a person. You're kind and thoughtful,
(01:04):
your integrity is incredible. And I remember the time I
was just in Jerusalem. It was after that time with
Ray Bentley, but you met to my two granddaughters and
walked through Jerusalem, and you went up to my middle
granddaughter and walk beside her, just to talk with her,
get to know her. I can't tell you how blessed
(01:26):
she was. And Sophia, she's just graduated from Baylor University
and she'll go to law school in the fall. But
you were just such an encouragement. You have a real
sensitive spirit to people around you. So so I just
counted a privilege to know you and to be considered
a friend. So thank you for asking me to be
(01:47):
part of your podcast. I think it's exciting. And as
far as what's going on today, we've just talked about that.
I think things are happening so fast you can't collect
it into one slo you know, it's just happening economically, militarily, nationally, globally, personally.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It's stunning.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And so one thing that comes to my mind is
in second Chronicles twenty, if you remember when Jehasaphat was
faced with three armies that were coming against Judah and
he prayed, and I won't go through his prayer, but
it was a magnificent prayer. In the end he said, Lord,
we just don't know what to do. But our eyes
are on you, because the enemy was coming at him
from every direction. And then the Lord answered him and said,
(02:31):
you don't have to do anything. You just stand still.
The battle is the Lord's, it's not yours. And then
Jehasafat sent out a choir in front of the army
to praise the Lord. And when he did that and
the choir sang praises, then the Lord set up an
ambush and the enemy was defeated. So one of the
(02:53):
things I think for myself, Chris, when we're unsettled, when
things are hitting us from every angle, to not lose
our focus on Jesus and to maintain that attitude of
gratitude and an attitude of praise.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
I can tell you ways that I do that.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
But but when we look at especially, you're in the epicenter,
as Joel Rosenberg described, and I know you're right in
the you know, vortex of the spiritual battle that's taking
place in the world. But I'm telling you that the
battle is fierce over here on this side, also in
(03:33):
America as well, as I'm sure people would say that, yeah,
Taiwan and you know, Ukraine and Russia. I mean, it's
just everywhere that the battle is raging, but maybe this
is the time to just say, Lord, we don't know
what to do you, and we're going to stay fixed
on you, and we're going to praise you and know
the end of the story. We know the outcome, so
(03:54):
we don't have to be afraid.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So I think one thing that marks your ministry and
in your life, and I love the phrase you say,
giving you Jesus is just a focus on Jesus. And
he said, when you see these things happen, look up
for your redemption draft nigh And it says, keeping our
eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and the finisher of
our faith. And I think that's probably the word for
(04:18):
the season, the times we're living in right now.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I'll think so too. And it says in that verse
that you just quoted for the joy that was set
before him, And I think the joy was knowing when
he went to the cross, he despised the shame, because
the joy was that.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
You and I would be redeemed.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You know, we would come to the cross, we would
have our sins forgiven, we would come into a right
relationship with him, we would have the hope of heaven,
and also the joy of the glory to come when
you was raised up and see that his father's right
hand and now preparing a.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Place for us.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
He said in John fourteen that he's going to prepare
a place for us, and he's going to come again
and receive us to himself so that we can with
him forever. So that's that's our hope. And in the meantime,
you know, with everything that's happening, I know you see
this more clearly than I do. I'd love to ask
you questions, but because I feel like we're watching prophecy
(05:16):
unfold and the realignment of nations, and you know, nations
that are coming together that, as far as under understand
it and history, have not come together, but the Bible
prophesied that at the end times they would come together.
So we're watching that. And I know what Ukraine just did,
(05:38):
as far as the drone strike inside Russia on their
military bases, their airfields, it's like such a provocation that,
you know, one of the things that's been suggested is
that they're trying to pull NATO or into World War three.
They tried NATO to come in, and so so we're
living at a time where the stakes are huge. It's
(06:02):
more than anytime in my lifetime. I was born right
at the end of World War Two, so I don't
remember that. I remember the Vietnam War and other things,
but nothing like what's going on now with China, their
military exercises around.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Taiwan and.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So, so I think it's it's so can I'll just
say this, I'm going to digress for a minute, But
I just had a birthday. So on the twenty first
of May, it was my seventy seventh birthday. And the
reason I bring that up is because that also was
Israel's seventy seventh birthday. So Israel was reborn. So after
(06:41):
two thousand years of non existing, as you know, May fourteen,
nineteen forty eight, she was declared the nation and the
family of Nations recognized as such, and she came back
onto the world scene to her ancient land with descendants
of her ancient people, speaking her ancient language, even using
the ancient monetary, you know, coins and to shekel. And
(07:04):
I'm gonna that's a phenomena.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I think some of the young people.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Like my grandchildren, they've never known a world without Israel.
But it had It's only seventy seven years old and
its rebirth. And so the reason that's meaningful to me
is because Jesus said in Matthew twenty four, the generation
that sees that.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Will be the last generation.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And if you take his parable in the fig tree
to mean Israel, which I do, and so one week later,
so Israel was reborn on a Friday, May fourteen, nineteen
forty eight. I was born on a Friday, May twenty first,
nineteen forty eight. So I think that last generation, whatever
it is, is my lifetime.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
And he's in the scripture.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Twenty years, forty years, or eighty years, and so at
seventy seven, it's like I've got three more years and then.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
That just will be up and you would sort of chuckle.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
But then when you see what's happening in the world,
everything points to the fact that we're on the cusp,
I believe, but I believe to be the rapture of
the Church that well usher in a time of great tripulation.
Jesus said that the world is not seen, and I
think the purpose of that time is to wake up
(08:15):
the nation of Israel to their missile and also to
hold a wicket accountable for sure. But I think the
greater purpose is maybe the openes of God's people to
himself and that they would recognize Jesus.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, and I note that when you can see here
every day almost prophecy unfolding. I was just talking to
a friend of mine, Dean Bayer, and they're helping with aliya,
which is the Hebrew word for immigration, and the Jewish
people are coming back to Israel for the first time
in two thousand years. And you see that, and you
(08:52):
can you look at Israel today and it's really a
miracle that God has brought his people back after to.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
And you knows, I had the privilege when I was
a girl. I think I was thirteen or fourteen my
first trip to Jerusalem and to Israel, and then I
went back in six when I was sixteen, spent Christmas there.
But and what I saw then was a land that
was arid and dry. There was nothing on the amount
(09:18):
of olives. I mean, there were the tombs and stuff,
but there were no buildings. People were still using donkeys
and carts and it was and you had to cross
the Allenby Bridge, you know, come from Jordan and go
in and it was and now I mean that, you know,
I went back in two thousands. Can't remember my first
of eleven, twenty thirteen, twenty eighteen, two thousand and twenty two,
(09:42):
twenty three, So five years, it's like I've gone to
the last little bit and it's dramatically different. It's what
the Bible describes as a desert blooming like a roads
where Israel has come in, The Jews have come in,
and they've taken the scrubland and the swamps and the
lizard and turned it into you know, palm tree forests
(10:04):
and beautiful gardens and agriculture growing food. That's just at
least when I was there, everything I had, they they
only serve it in seasons, so it's the best you
could have for like a year's it's it's just fresh
and season best watermelon I've ever eaten. Watermelon are my
(10:26):
favorite things. But they they've transformed It's it's amazing, and
that that's prophecy. You know that within a generation they've
taken it from nothing just raw land that was desert.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
And swamps and.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Into something that's like a like a second a first
class nation.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
You know. Just so do you see Israel sort of
like a time piece God's.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
You know, I think the Bible says that Israel is
this epicenter. As Joel Rosenberg would say it, it is
the time clock. And so we we watch Israel what's
going on there, and and I guess that would be
a concern I have. I'm a supporter of President Trump,
(11:17):
and I believe God has blessed us in this country
with some of the things he's been able to do
and turn it around some of the things. And I
think evil is so embedded it'll be difficult to turn
it around. But he's doing what he can. But was
concerned to be honest risk And I don't know, i'd
like your take on this last trip, because I don't
(11:41):
know that he understands Israel as a covenant land and
it's not just a place to be developed and where
you do resorts and hotels and and make deals, which
he's so good at. But but Israel is it's unique
in all the nations of the world, and I think
(12:03):
to mess with that covenant. I'm a strong proponent that
what I believe the Biblis said, and that's for my
own study.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I wasn't taught this.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I've read it, and I believe it that God gave
the land to Abraham and his descendants forever and the descendants.
It wasn't to Ishmael, even though Ishmaelites were descendants, but
to Isaac. You know, that covenant was given, and to
Jacob and to the twelve tribes of Israel right on
down to today.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
So that that land has been.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Given by God, the Creator to the Jews, and we're
not to mess with it. So I also firmly believe,
and I think America stands as a testament to the
fact that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and
those who curse Israel will be cursed. And that's what
(12:55):
God told Abraham in Genesis chapter twelve, and that's been
true ever since.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And so America, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We're a little narcisstic if we think that all of
our prosperity and power and success has come because we're
such great people. I think it's come because God raised
us up to be Israel's friend, to stand by her.
So when she was declared a nation in nineteen forty eight,
it was America that was the very first nation to recognize.
(13:26):
And God has blessed us, and I believe God will
bless President Trump for standing by her. Moving the embassy
and doing the other things he's done. But I'm a
little concerned about and I don't know, because you know,
he's such a deal maker. He can come out with
things and you don't know what's really going on.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
But yeah, well, I would say there are people over
here too that are concerned that he's is less on
the Covenant than whatever transaction in deals can be made.
So that's certainly a point for prayer of one of
the appointments he made here. And actually so I'm just
I saw him Sunday, actually at that event that that Franklin,
(14:08):
your brother was at Samaritans first donated armored ambulance donated
by Harvest Church by Greg Pastor Greg Lord. But Ambassador
Mike Huckabee was there, and I know he's a friend
of yours, and he's he's an amazing appointment here that
really does get that Covenant and believes that God gave
(14:29):
this land to the Jewish people as a promise to
Abraham more than three thousand years ago.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Well, and and I think that's one of the things
I've see with President Trump. He has appointed some really
good people in key positions, and Mike Huckaby is one
of them, and I think, of course, I think David
Friedman was a fabulous ambassador, but yes, he was as
somebody who understands the Covenant, and I think David Friedman
(14:58):
did too, But that Mike Huckabee is somebody, and I
believe from what I've been told that he's well received
by israelis.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Very much, very much. And yeah, and if we are,
you know, so close, you know, and prophetically, how do
you believe should people how should people be preparing? How
should they be praying?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I think there are four things I think and I
was just I go over these again and again. But
one is Jesus told us that we're to watch, and
the way we watch for his return is if you
go in scripture and I'll just bring out Matthew twenty
four as one example. He gives us signs that he
(15:43):
said would take place in that last generation. So then
we take the signs and we match them up with
what we see taking place in the world, whether it's wars,
rumors of wars, ethnic conflict, environmental disaster like famines or floods,
or earthquakes or volcano eruptions right now, Edna, Yeah, But
(16:07):
and you said they're birth pains, Chris, so that when
I had birth pains, when I you know, they start
out as a labor pain, that was, you know, not
so bad, and I thought, oh, you know, this isn't
so bad. And then it increased in frequency. So we
sead every five minutes, every four minutes, then every three
minutes every month. When it increased in frequency, it increased
in intensity. So when it reached two minutes, I thought,
(16:29):
I can't take another pain, and then the baby came.
So Jesus is saying, these signs when you see them,
they're like birth pains when you see them increase in
frequency and intensity. So frequency is that it's not just
every hundred years, and now it's every ten years. It's
not just every ten years. Now it's every year. And
now it's not just every year, it's every week. And
when you see it repeating, their record breaking. So what
(16:49):
happened this week breaks the record from what happened last
week just.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Ratchets up like that.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
And so so he says we're to watch, and then
I think we have to wait on him. You know,
we can't in the waiting time. We want it's a
trusting time, and just to put our trust in him
and then work. He said, blessed is the one when
the Master comes back, finds him giving bread to his household.
(17:14):
And for me, I take that person. I think the
bread is the bread of life, the word of God,
so that I want to work for him, to give
out his word, to give out the bread of life
to whoever will receive it. So I just spread the
word as broadly as I can, knowing that it not
only sustains our spiritual life, but that's where we get
our strength, that's what draws us to him, where we
(17:36):
know him. And then I think we're to walk with
him and to walk with him. You know, when I
walk with a friend, we walk at the same pace,
in the same direction, and we don't walk together. And
so to walk with God, you walk at his pace,
which is step by step obedience to his words. You
need to know his word and read his word and
apply his word. That you're going to obey his words
(17:57):
so that you're in step with him. And then you
walk in his direction, which is the surrender of your
will to him. I can't go off in my own direction.
I can't set my own goals and plans. And we
all have dreams and aspirations, but those are secondary to
what God wants for my life. And so I think
one way to prepare is just the way we all
delve our lives, actually watching for him and waiting for
(18:20):
him a on a sharp edge of alertness, and working
for him, and then walking with him. And it's interesting
after Matthew twenty four comes Matthew twenty five, And at
the beginning of Matthew twenty five is that parable you know,
of the ten women and all they all were waiting
(18:40):
for the bridegroom. They're all expecting him to come. They
all believed he would show up. They all had lamps,
and then they all went to sleep because he just
took so long getting there. And then the midnight cry
went out and they said the bridegroom's coming, and they
woke up. Five of the young women had lamps with
they were ready to receive the bridegroom.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Five did not.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
And the five that did not said, give us some
of the oorl you know, we want to be ready,
and they said, no, we can't give it her. You
have to go get it for yourself. And when they
went to get it for themselves, the bridegroom came. The
door was shut and they were locked out. And the
parable is this, and I think it applies to the church.
I think it applies probably to a lot of people
are listening that there are a lot of people who
(19:25):
know we're living at the end, who are expecting Jesus
to come back there looking for the missile. And they're
waiting and waiting, and then they think, well, you know,
people have been saying this as long as human history
has been.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I don't you know. And they go to.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Sleep, and then the midnight crowd. I don't know what
that is, and it may be a nuclear strike, it
could be this conversation, it could be you know, I
don't know what it is. But it goes out and
suddenly they know the bridegroom is coming.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
But the five who that oral? Where the five? The
oral is the Holy Spirit?
Speaker 2 (19:58):
The oral. When you put your faith in Jesus and
you trust him as your savior, you come to the cross,
You confess your sin, tell him you're sorry, believe he
died to make atonement for your sin, and then tell
him you're willing to turn away from it, and you
receive the eternal life that he offers. Open up the
inmost part of your heart and invite him to come
live inside of you. He comes in in the person
(20:20):
of the Holy Spirit, who will never leave you or
forsake you. And that's that's God's seal on your life
and that Holy Spirit within you. That's the best preparation
you can make for the bridegroom coming. Because the five
can have lamps, you can have a profession of faith,
you can have religion. You can go to church or
the synagogue or whatever it is you know, every week,
(20:43):
but that's not the same thing as having the dwelling
of the Holy Spirit. If you do not have the
en dwelling of the Holy Spirit, then when Jesus shows up,
when the Asah comes, you'll be locked out. You'll be
left behind. So this is the time one. Make sure
that you have oil in your land. Make sure that
you've come to the cross, confessed your sin with Jesus
(21:04):
by faith as your savior and Lord, and then regardless
of rappens, you're.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Going to be saved.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
You know, bad things may happen to you, but you'll
be safe forever because even if the worst happened, and
you know you were to be killed or martyred, or
you're going to go to heaven. So it's a win win,
you know. And so or maybe you have cancers such
as I've been through, or you have something else, heart issues,
or you know, but it doesn't matter because we know
(21:31):
we're going home. And then you're also prepared at the
moment when Paul describes in First Thatsalonians for when suddenly
the trumpet sounds and the sky unfolds, and the angel descends,
and Jesus him self descendants with a loud command the
shadow of the archangel, and he catches up believers to
be with him, including my husband who is in the grave,
(21:53):
and my mother and father are in the grave. But
they're going to be raised up the perceiving bodies. I'm
going to join them in the air, and we're going
to live forever with Jesus in heaven. So so like
you quoted that verse, when we see these things where
to look up, our redemption is drawing near. That's our redemption,
that's you know, to be caught up to be with
Jesus and live with him forever.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I just I want to live my life. I'll tell
you this.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
I want to live my life so that five minutes
before I see Jesus, I have as few regrets as possible. Yeah,
I live my life all out on that sharp edge
of commitment. And I've told the Lord it's okay with
me if I'm bruised and battered in which I am
physically in other ways, but I want to still be
standing with the sword of his word in my hand.
(22:40):
I want to be a part of the battle for
this generation until I see him face to face. So
I've asked him if he would be gracious and allow
that to take place, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Amen. Amen, Well, and would you pray for people right
now that maybe need to make a decision that need
to make sure that their heart is right with Jesus
and and be prepared for the days that are now
and the days to come.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I would love to Chris, so just pray with me, please. So,
Dear Jesus, I thank you for all these people who
are listening.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
I want to.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Thank you for the privilege that you have entrusted to
us living in this last generation, which I believe is
the last. We're at the end of human history, Lord,
and so we thank you for that privilege that you
have trusted us and that you want to use us
in this day and time. But right now I pray
for those who are listening that are afraid because they
(23:36):
know if World War three broke out, if they were
to be caught in a nuclear blast, if you were
to descend from heaven, they would be left behind. They
would they're not sure they would go to heaven. So
for those people, Lord, right now, I'll just offer this
prayer and ask, if you're listening, you just pray this
prayer simply after me, just say, Dear God, I want
(23:58):
to be safe. I want to know my sins are forgiven.
I want to know that when Jesus comes for me
at death or at his return, that I will be
taken to heaven. So right now I come to the cross.
I confess I'm a sinner. I've done wrong things, and
I'm sorry, and I'll turn from that if you'll help me.
(24:20):
And I believe Jesus died for me, so I ask
that you cleanse me of all of my sin with
his blood. I ask that you give me the eternal
life that he offers, and I know that's heaven when
I die, but also a right relationship with you now,
and I open up my heart and I invite Jesus
to come live inside of me in the person of
(24:42):
the Holy Spirit. I want to know that I have
oil in my lamp, that I have a seal on
my life, that you will recognize that I belong to you,
and then I surrender the rest of my life to you.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
I choose to.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Follow you every step all the way to heaven. And
I pray this by faith.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
And Jesus' name.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
So can I just tell you if you pray to
prayer something like that God has heard, he will answer
and let me pray for the rest of us, Lord Jesus,
I pray for those of us who know we have
the oil. We ask that we would not grow lazy
or apathetic, but we would be found when you come back,
watching for you, that we would be working for you,
(25:22):
that we would be walking with you, waiting expectantly for
that time when we go to be with you and
our loved ones have gone before us or put their
faith in You. So Lord, thank you for Chris. Now,
thank you for his heart, his vision, his understanding of
world events, for his faith in You, for the truth
that he proclaims in so many ways. So I ask
(25:43):
that you bless this podcast, give it winks and bless him,
blessed Liz and all that he's about. We pray, so
we just commit ourselves to you with praise and thanksgiving
in Jesus' name.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Amen, Well, I know if anyone's prayed that prayer. CBN
certainly has a website CBN dot com slash prayer. You
can pray with a prayer counselor and I'm sure and
they can reach out to you as well. And your website, yes,
more resources.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, what is it just just my name and Graham
Loots dot org.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Yeah, I know you have a devotional there day by day.
I was just looking at it and it's not only
in the morning, but al see in the evening, which
I think is a great way to both begin and
end the day with a devotional.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
To the Lord.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah. And how how else can people contact you in
and how can they pray for you?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Well, they can contact me to that website, so they
can just email the office. We have people that look
at it answered if it's a personal note, then they
afford it to me and just pray that I'll be
faithful and have, you know, be able to do everything
God's called me to do.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Until I see them face to face.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
So I know he's coming for me and my age,
you know, just because of my agent. Maybe sooner than later.
But I believe if I live out my natural life,
I will live to see the sky unfolding him descend,
and so I want it that moment to have as
few regrets as possible. So so just pray it. I'll
be faithful and the Lord will strengthen me physically, emotionally, spiritually,
(27:20):
every which race that I can serve him until I
see him.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Thank you, well, let me pray for you then, an Father,
we just thank you for Anne Graham Lots, who has
spent her life devoted to you and to sharing your
word and the person of Jesus with the world. And
we pray Father that, as Paul said, he ran his race.
We pray that Anne would be faithful to the very end,
(27:44):
that you would give her grace to finish her race
and race well, and so that when she sees you
face to face, you'll be able to say to her,
well done, good and faithful servant. And we just thank
you for the many ways she blesses your body and
the world. And we pray that you would give her
strength physically spiritually, mentally and emotionally, and surround her with
(28:07):
favor as with the Shield Father for these days and Lord,
as she is, I just pray that you would continue
to have her, look up for her, her and her ademption.
Draw us night in Jesus' name.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Thank you, Chris, You're such a blessing.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Thank you well, it's such a blessing to be with you.
And thanks for being with us, and and God bless
thank you.
Well, welcome to this week's podcast on pray dot Com Dayline, Jerusalem.
I'm Chris Mitchell, and I really have the honor today
of being joined by Ann Graham Lotts, Billy Graham's daughter,
who apparently is according to Billy, the best preacher in
the family. And so Anne and I have known each
other for several years and we had the joy of
(00:22):
being here together in Jerusalem, and we had a wonderful
day with believe Ray Bentley and at that time, and
so we've been talking before we record it, and we
just want to continue our conversation. So An, it's really
a privilege and a blessing to be with you. So
tell us what's on your heart right now about what's
going on in the world.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Well, can I just say, Chris before I answer that question,
it's just such a privilege and a pleasure to talk
with you, and just to let your audience know that
there's nobody that I respect more than your not just
your journalism, but you as a person. You're kind and thoughtful,
(01:04):
your integrity is incredible. And I remember the time I
was just in Jerusalem. It was after that time with
Ray Bentley, but you met to my two granddaughters and
walked through Jerusalem, and you went up to my middle
granddaughter and walk beside her, just to talk with her,
get to know her. I can't tell you how blessed
(01:26):
she was. And Sophia, she's just graduated from Baylor University
and she'll go to law school in the fall. But
you were just such an encouragement. You have a real
sensitive spirit to people around you. So so I just
counted a privilege to know you and to be considered
a friend. So thank you for asking me to be
(01:47):
part of your podcast. I think it's exciting. And as
far as what's going on today, we've just talked about that.
I think things are happening so fast you can't collect
it into one slo you know, it's just happening economically, militarily, nationally, globally, personally.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It's stunning.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
And so one thing that comes to my mind is
in second Chronicles twenty, if you remember when Jehasaphat was
faced with three armies that were coming against Judah and
he prayed, and I won't go through his prayer, but
it was a magnificent prayer. In the end he said, Lord,
we just don't know what to do. But our eyes
are on you, because the enemy was coming at him
from every direction. And then the Lord answered him and said,
(02:31):
you don't have to do anything. You just stand still.
The battle is the Lord's, it's not yours. And then
Jehasafat sent out a choir in front of the army
to praise the Lord. And when he did that and
the choir sang praises, then the Lord set up an
ambush and the enemy was defeated. So one of the
(02:53):
things I think for myself, Chris, when we're unsettled, when
things are hitting us from every angle, to not lose
our focus on Jesus and to maintain that attitude of
gratitude and an attitude of praise.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
I can tell you ways that I do that.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
But but when we look at especially, you're in the epicenter,
as Joel Rosenberg described, and I know you're right in
the you know, vortex of the spiritual battle that's taking
place in the world. But I'm telling you that the
battle is fierce over here on this side, also in
(03:33):
America as well, as I'm sure people would say that, yeah,
Taiwan and you know, Ukraine and Russia. I mean, it's
just everywhere that the battle is raging, but maybe this
is the time to just say, Lord, we don't know
what to do you, and we're going to stay fixed
on you, and we're going to praise you and know
the end of the story. We know the outcome, so
(03:54):
we don't have to be afraid.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So I think one thing that marks your ministry and
in your life, and I love the phrase you say,
giving you Jesus is just a focus on Jesus. And
he said, when you see these things happen, look up
for your redemption draft nigh And it says, keeping our
eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and the finisher of
our faith. And I think that's probably the word for
(04:18):
the season, the times we're living in right now.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I'll think so too. And it says in that verse
that you just quoted for the joy that was set
before him, And I think the joy was knowing when
he went to the cross, he despised the shame, because
the joy was that.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
You and I would be redeemed.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You know, we would come to the cross, we would
have our sins forgiven, we would come into a right
relationship with him, we would have the hope of heaven,
and also the joy of the glory to come when
you was raised up and see that his father's right
hand and now preparing a.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Place for us.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
He said in John fourteen that he's going to prepare
a place for us, and he's going to come again
and receive us to himself so that we can with
him forever. So that's that's our hope. And in the meantime,
you know, with everything that's happening, I know you see
this more clearly than I do. I'd love to ask
you questions, but because I feel like we're watching prophecy
(05:16):
unfold and the realignment of nations, and you know, nations
that are coming together that, as far as under understand
it and history, have not come together, but the Bible
prophesied that at the end times they would come together.
So we're watching that. And I know what Ukraine just did,
(05:38):
as far as the drone strike inside Russia on their
military bases, their airfields, it's like such a provocation that,
you know, one of the things that's been suggested is
that they're trying to pull NATO or into World War three.
They tried NATO to come in, and so so we're
living at a time where the stakes are huge. It's
(06:02):
more than anytime in my lifetime. I was born right
at the end of World War Two, so I don't
remember that. I remember the Vietnam War and other things,
but nothing like what's going on now with China, their
military exercises around.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Taiwan and.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
So, so I think it's it's so can I'll just
say this, I'm going to digress for a minute, But
I just had a birthday. So on the twenty first
of May, it was my seventy seventh birthday. And the
reason I bring that up is because that also was
Israel's seventy seventh birthday. So Israel was reborn. So after
(06:41):
two thousand years of non existing, as you know, May fourteen,
nineteen forty eight, she was declared the nation and the
family of Nations recognized as such, and she came back
onto the world scene to her ancient land with descendants
of her ancient people, speaking her ancient language, even using
the ancient monetary, you know, coins and to shekel. And
(07:04):
I'm gonna that's a phenomena.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I think some of the young people.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Like my grandchildren, they've never known a world without Israel.
But it had It's only seventy seven years old and
its rebirth. And so the reason that's meaningful to me
is because Jesus said in Matthew twenty four, the generation
that sees that.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Will be the last generation.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And if you take his parable in the fig tree
to mean Israel, which I do, and so one week later,
so Israel was reborn on a Friday, May fourteen, nineteen
forty eight. I was born on a Friday, May twenty first,
nineteen forty eight. So I think that last generation, whatever
it is, is my lifetime.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
And he's in the scripture.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Twenty years, forty years, or eighty years, and so at
seventy seven, it's like I've got three more years and then.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
That just will be up and you would sort of chuckle.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
But then when you see what's happening in the world,
everything points to the fact that we're on the cusp,
I believe, but I believe to be the rapture of
the Church that well usher in a time of great tripulation.
Jesus said that the world is not seen, and I
think the purpose of that time is to wake up
(08:15):
the nation of Israel to their missile and also to
hold a wicket accountable for sure. But I think the
greater purpose is maybe the openes of God's people to
himself and that they would recognize Jesus.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, and I note that when you can see here
every day almost prophecy unfolding. I was just talking to
a friend of mine, Dean Bayer, and they're helping with aliya,
which is the Hebrew word for immigration, and the Jewish
people are coming back to Israel for the first time
in two thousand years. And you see that, and you
(08:52):
can you look at Israel today and it's really a
miracle that God has brought his people back after to.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
And you knows, I had the privilege when I was
a girl. I think I was thirteen or fourteen my
first trip to Jerusalem and to Israel, and then I
went back in six when I was sixteen, spent Christmas there.
But and what I saw then was a land that
was arid and dry. There was nothing on the amount
(09:18):
of olives. I mean, there were the tombs and stuff,
but there were no buildings. People were still using donkeys
and carts and it was and you had to cross
the Allenby Bridge, you know, come from Jordan and go
in and it was and now I mean that, you know,
I went back in two thousands. Can't remember my first
of eleven, twenty thirteen, twenty eighteen, two thousand and twenty two,
(09:42):
twenty three, So five years, it's like I've gone to
the last little bit and it's dramatically different. It's what
the Bible describes as a desert blooming like a roads
where Israel has come in, The Jews have come in,
and they've taken the scrubland and the swamps and the
lizard and turned it into you know, palm tree forests
(10:04):
and beautiful gardens and agriculture growing food. That's just at
least when I was there, everything I had, they they
only serve it in seasons, so it's the best you
could have for like a year's it's it's just fresh
and season best watermelon I've ever eaten. Watermelon are my
(10:26):
favorite things. But they they've transformed It's it's amazing, and
that that's prophecy. You know that within a generation they've
taken it from nothing just raw land that was desert.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
And swamps and.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Into something that's like a like a second a first
class nation.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
You know. Just so do you see Israel sort of
like a time piece God's.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
You know, I think the Bible says that Israel is
this epicenter. As Joel Rosenberg would say it, it is
the time clock. And so we we watch Israel what's
going on there, and and I guess that would be
a concern I have. I'm a supporter of President Trump,
(11:17):
and I believe God has blessed us in this country
with some of the things he's been able to do
and turn it around some of the things. And I
think evil is so embedded it'll be difficult to turn
it around. But he's doing what he can. But was
concerned to be honest risk And I don't know, i'd
like your take on this last trip, because I don't
(11:41):
know that he understands Israel as a covenant land and
it's not just a place to be developed and where
you do resorts and hotels and and make deals, which
he's so good at. But but Israel is it's unique
in all the nations of the world, and I think
(12:03):
to mess with that covenant. I'm a strong proponent that
what I believe the Biblis said, and that's for my
own study.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I wasn't taught this.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I've read it, and I believe it that God gave
the land to Abraham and his descendants forever and the descendants.
It wasn't to Ishmael, even though Ishmaelites were descendants, but
to Isaac. You know, that covenant was given, and to
Jacob and to the twelve tribes of Israel right on
down to today.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
So that that land has been.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Given by God, the Creator to the Jews, and we're
not to mess with it. So I also firmly believe,
and I think America stands as a testament to the
fact that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and
those who curse Israel will be cursed. And that's what
(12:55):
God told Abraham in Genesis chapter twelve, and that's been
true ever since.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And so America, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We're a little narcisstic if we think that all of
our prosperity and power and success has come because we're
such great people. I think it's come because God raised
us up to be Israel's friend, to stand by her.
So when she was declared a nation in nineteen forty eight,
it was America that was the very first nation to recognize.
(13:26):
And God has blessed us, and I believe God will
bless President Trump for standing by her. Moving the embassy
and doing the other things he's done. But I'm a
little concerned about and I don't know, because you know,
he's such a deal maker. He can come out with
things and you don't know what's really going on.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
But yeah, well, I would say there are people over
here too that are concerned that he's is less on
the Covenant than whatever transaction in deals can be made.
So that's certainly a point for prayer of one of
the appointments he made here. And actually so I'm just
I saw him Sunday, actually at that event that that Franklin,
(14:08):
your brother was at Samaritans first donated armored ambulance donated
by Harvest Church by Greg Pastor Greg Lord. But Ambassador
Mike Huckabee was there, and I know he's a friend
of yours, and he's he's an amazing appointment here that
really does get that Covenant and believes that God gave
(14:29):
this land to the Jewish people as a promise to
Abraham more than three thousand years ago.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Well, and and I think that's one of the things
I've see with President Trump. He has appointed some really
good people in key positions, and Mike Huckaby is one
of them, and I think, of course, I think David
Friedman was a fabulous ambassador, but yes, he was as
somebody who understands the Covenant, and I think David Friedman
(14:58):
did too, But that Mike Huckabee is somebody, and I
believe from what I've been told that he's well received
by israelis.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Very much, very much. And yeah, and if we are,
you know, so close, you know, and prophetically, how do
you believe should people how should people be preparing? How
should they be praying?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I think there are four things I think and I
was just I go over these again and again. But
one is Jesus told us that we're to watch, and
the way we watch for his return is if you
go in scripture and I'll just bring out Matthew twenty
four as one example. He gives us signs that he
(15:43):
said would take place in that last generation. So then
we take the signs and we match them up with
what we see taking place in the world, whether it's wars,
rumors of wars, ethnic conflict, environmental disaster like famines or floods,
or earthquakes or volcano eruptions right now, Edna, Yeah, But
(16:07):
and you said they're birth pains, Chris, so that when
I had birth pains, when I you know, they start
out as a labor pain, that was, you know, not
so bad, and I thought, oh, you know, this isn't
so bad. And then it increased in frequency. So we
sead every five minutes, every four minutes, then every three
minutes every month. When it increased in frequency, it increased
in intensity. So when it reached two minutes, I thought,
(16:29):
I can't take another pain, and then the baby came.
So Jesus is saying, these signs when you see them,
they're like birth pains when you see them increase in
frequency and intensity. So frequency is that it's not just
every hundred years, and now it's every ten years. It's
not just every ten years. Now it's every year. And
now it's not just every year, it's every week. And
when you see it repeating, their record breaking. So what
(16:49):
happened this week breaks the record from what happened last
week just.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Ratchets up like that.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
And so so he says we're to watch, and then
I think we have to wait on him. You know,
we can't in the waiting time. We want it's a
trusting time, and just to put our trust in him
and then work. He said, blessed is the one when
the Master comes back, finds him giving bread to his household.
(17:14):
And for me, I take that person. I think the
bread is the bread of life, the word of God,
so that I want to work for him, to give
out his word, to give out the bread of life
to whoever will receive it. So I just spread the
word as broadly as I can, knowing that it not
only sustains our spiritual life, but that's where we get
our strength, that's what draws us to him, where we
(17:36):
know him. And then I think we're to walk with
him and to walk with him. You know, when I
walk with a friend, we walk at the same pace,
in the same direction, and we don't walk together. And
so to walk with God, you walk at his pace,
which is step by step obedience to his words. You
need to know his word and read his word and
apply his word. That you're going to obey his words
(17:57):
so that you're in step with him. And then you
walk in his direction, which is the surrender of your
will to him. I can't go off in my own direction.
I can't set my own goals and plans. And we
all have dreams and aspirations, but those are secondary to
what God wants for my life. And so I think
one way to prepare is just the way we all
delve our lives, actually watching for him and waiting for
(18:20):
him a on a sharp edge of alertness, and working
for him, and then walking with him. And it's interesting
after Matthew twenty four comes Matthew twenty five, And at
the beginning of Matthew twenty five is that parable you know,
of the ten women and all they all were waiting
(18:40):
for the bridegroom. They're all expecting him to come. They
all believed he would show up. They all had lamps,
and then they all went to sleep because he just
took so long getting there. And then the midnight cry
went out and they said the bridegroom's coming, and they
woke up. Five of the young women had lamps with
they were ready to receive the bridegroom.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Five did not.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
And the five that did not said, give us some
of the oorl you know, we want to be ready,
and they said, no, we can't give it her. You
have to go get it for yourself. And when they
went to get it for themselves, the bridegroom came. The
door was shut and they were locked out. And the
parable is this, and I think it applies to the church.
I think it applies probably to a lot of people
are listening that there are a lot of people who
(19:25):
know we're living at the end, who are expecting Jesus
to come back there looking for the missile. And they're
waiting and waiting, and then they think, well, you know,
people have been saying this as long as human history
has been.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I don't you know. And they go to.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Sleep, and then the midnight crowd. I don't know what
that is, and it may be a nuclear strike, it
could be this conversation, it could be you know, I
don't know what it is. But it goes out and
suddenly they know the bridegroom is coming.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
But the five who that oral? Where the five? The
oral is the Holy Spirit?
Speaker 2 (19:58):
The oral. When you put your faith in Jesus and
you trust him as your savior, you come to the cross,
You confess your sin, tell him you're sorry, believe he
died to make atonement for your sin, and then tell
him you're willing to turn away from it, and you
receive the eternal life that he offers. Open up the
inmost part of your heart and invite him to come
live inside of you. He comes in in the person
(20:20):
of the Holy Spirit, who will never leave you or
forsake you. And that's that's God's seal on your life
and that Holy Spirit within you. That's the best preparation
you can make for the bridegroom coming. Because the five
can have lamps, you can have a profession of faith,
you can have religion. You can go to church or
the synagogue or whatever it is you know, every week,
(20:43):
but that's not the same thing as having the dwelling
of the Holy Spirit. If you do not have the
en dwelling of the Holy Spirit, then when Jesus shows up,
when the Asah comes, you'll be locked out. You'll be
left behind. So this is the time one. Make sure
that you have oil in your land. Make sure that
you've come to the cross, confessed your sin with Jesus
(21:04):
by faith as your savior and Lord, and then regardless
of rappens, you're.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Going to be saved.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
You know, bad things may happen to you, but you'll
be safe forever because even if the worst happened, and
you know you were to be killed or martyred, or
you're going to go to heaven. So it's a win win,
you know. And so or maybe you have cancers such
as I've been through, or you have something else, heart issues,
or you know, but it doesn't matter because we know
(21:31):
we're going home. And then you're also prepared at the
moment when Paul describes in First Thatsalonians for when suddenly
the trumpet sounds and the sky unfolds, and the angel descends,
and Jesus him self descendants with a loud command the
shadow of the archangel, and he catches up believers to
be with him, including my husband who is in the grave,
(21:53):
and my mother and father are in the grave. But
they're going to be raised up the perceiving bodies. I'm
going to join them in the air, and we're going
to live forever with Jesus in heaven. So so like
you quoted that verse, when we see these things where
to look up, our redemption is drawing near. That's our redemption,
that's you know, to be caught up to be with
Jesus and live with him forever.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I just I want to live my life. I'll tell
you this.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
I want to live my life so that five minutes
before I see Jesus, I have as few regrets as possible. Yeah,
I live my life all out on that sharp edge
of commitment. And I've told the Lord it's okay with
me if I'm bruised and battered in which I am
physically in other ways, but I want to still be
standing with the sword of his word in my hand.
(22:40):
I want to be a part of the battle for
this generation until I see him face to face. So
I've asked him if he would be gracious and allow
that to take place, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Amen. Amen, Well, and would you pray for people right
now that maybe need to make a decision that need
to make sure that their heart is right with Jesus
and and be prepared for the days that are now
and the days to come.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I would love to Chris, so just pray with me, please. So,
Dear Jesus, I thank you for all these people who
are listening.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
I want to.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Thank you for the privilege that you have entrusted to
us living in this last generation, which I believe is
the last. We're at the end of human history, Lord,
and so we thank you for that privilege that you
have trusted us and that you want to use us
in this day and time. But right now I pray
for those who are listening that are afraid because they
(23:36):
know if World War three broke out, if they were
to be caught in a nuclear blast, if you were
to descend from heaven, they would be left behind. They
would they're not sure they would go to heaven. So
for those people, Lord, right now, I'll just offer this
prayer and ask, if you're listening, you just pray this
prayer simply after me, just say, Dear God, I want
(23:58):
to be safe. I want to know my sins are forgiven.
I want to know that when Jesus comes for me
at death or at his return, that I will be
taken to heaven. So right now I come to the cross.
I confess I'm a sinner. I've done wrong things, and
I'm sorry, and I'll turn from that if you'll help me.
(24:20):
And I believe Jesus died for me, so I ask
that you cleanse me of all of my sin with
his blood. I ask that you give me the eternal
life that he offers, and I know that's heaven when
I die, but also a right relationship with you now,
and I open up my heart and I invite Jesus
to come live inside of me in the person of
(24:42):
the Holy Spirit. I want to know that I have
oil in my lamp, that I have a seal on
my life, that you will recognize that I belong to you,
and then I surrender the rest of my life to you.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
I choose to.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Follow you every step all the way to heaven. And
I pray this by faith.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
And Jesus' name.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
So can I just tell you if you pray to
prayer something like that God has heard, he will answer
and let me pray for the rest of us, Lord Jesus,
I pray for those of us who know we have
the oil. We ask that we would not grow lazy
or apathetic, but we would be found when you come back,
watching for you, that we would be working for you,
(25:22):
that we would be walking with you, waiting expectantly for
that time when we go to be with you and
our loved ones have gone before us or put their
faith in You. So Lord, thank you for Chris. Now,
thank you for his heart, his vision, his understanding of
world events, for his faith in You, for the truth
that he proclaims in so many ways. So I ask
(25:43):
that you bless this podcast, give it winks and bless him,
blessed Liz and all that he's about. We pray, so
we just commit ourselves to you with praise and thanksgiving
in Jesus' name.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Amen, Well, I know if anyone's prayed that prayer. CBN
certainly has a website CBN dot com slash prayer. You
can pray with a prayer counselor and I'm sure and
they can reach out to you as well. And your website, yes,
more resources.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Yeah, what is it just just my name and Graham
Loots dot org.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Yeah, I know you have a devotional there day by day.
I was just looking at it and it's not only
in the morning, but al see in the evening, which
I think is a great way to both begin and
end the day with a devotional.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
To the Lord.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah. And how how else can people contact you in
and how can they pray for you?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Well, they can contact me to that website, so they
can just email the office. We have people that look
at it answered if it's a personal note, then they
afford it to me and just pray that I'll be
faithful and have, you know, be able to do everything
God's called me to do.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Until I see them face to face.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
So I know he's coming for me and my age,
you know, just because of my agent. Maybe sooner than later.
But I believe if I live out my natural life,
I will live to see the sky unfolding him descend,
and so I want it that moment to have as
few regrets as possible. So so just pray it. I'll
be faithful and the Lord will strengthen me physically, emotionally, spiritually,
(27:20):
every which race that I can serve him until I
see him.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Thank you, well, let me pray for you then, an Father,
we just thank you for Anne Graham Lots, who has
spent her life devoted to you and to sharing your
word and the person of Jesus with the world. And
we pray Father that, as Paul said, he ran his race.
We pray that Anne would be faithful to the very end,
(27:44):
that you would give her grace to finish her race
and race well, and so that when she sees you
face to face, you'll be able to say to her,
well done, good and faithful servant. And we just thank
you for the many ways she blesses your body and
the world. And we pray that you would give her
strength physically spiritually, mentally and emotionally, and surround her with
(28:07):
favor as with the Shield Father for these days and Lord,
as she is, I just pray that you would continue
to have her, look up for her, her and her ademption.
Draw us night in Jesus' name.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Thank you, Chris, You're such a blessing.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Thank you well, it's such a blessing to be with you.
And thanks for being with us, and and God bless
thank you.
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