“Advent invites us to pause and reflect, but it also urges us to act—to proclaim the good news of great joy with courage and conviction.”

J.I. Packer

Table of Contents

1. Unrest in Syria

2. Jay-Z Accused with Sean Combs

3. Other news you should know

4. Remnant Resources

Unrest in Syria

The Situation:

A radical Islamist rebel group, HTS, exploited a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel to capture key Syrian cities through swift, surprise offensives. On Sunday, Syrian President Assad fled Damascus to seek asylum in Russia as rebels seized the capital within hours. Iran and Hezbollah withdrew their forces, leaving Syria under the control of HTS leader al-Jawlani (Ahmed Al-Sharaa). However, his position is precarious, with rival factions like ISIS preparing to challenge his rule. Meanwhile, Kurds have captured eastern cities, and Turkish-backed rebels are advancing south.

The Response:

World powers are weighing in on the demise of the Syrian government. Russia and Iran, who backed the Assad government with money and military assets, find themselves on the outside looking in as Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the United States maneuver for position, each with its own motives. President-elect Trump has vowed to keep the United States out of the conflict, while Israel has moved its military into the contested buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Turkey is backing a different rebel group, and Jordan is taking a guarded wait-and-see approach.

This volatile and deadly situation could shift rapidly, with Damascus potentially falling to another jihadi rebel group, only to be overtaken again. Syrian civilians, spanning diverse ethnicities and faiths, are poised to endure immense suffering in the months ahead. They need our prayers for safety and for the light of Jesus Christ to break through in this war-torn nation.

It’s difficult for even the most versed intelligence experts to pinpoint what is happening or even name all the players. Russia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and even the United States will have roles to play, but while we pray for safety for the Syrian people, we must take comfort that God is not surprised by any of this, and it all fits into His world of order and not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). The Almighty will do what He needs to do in order to accomplish His plan. Each of these powers is protecting its own interests. Our interest, as Christians, is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and pray for and support our Christian brothers and sisters and those who are suffering in any way we can.

Satan is our true enemy; Syrian jihadis, Chinese tyrants, or Russian oligarchs are not our adversaries but simply puppets in the hands of the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4). This same adversary would destroy us all if given a chance. Stand against him by trusting in the Lord to do battle for us and for the oppressed in the Mideast (2 Timothy 4:17-18).

If this situation causes distress, remember Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, “the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Timothy 2:7, Psalm 119:34, 169).

It is incumbent on us as followers of Christ to do what He would do: pray for peace in the region and pray for those who will be suffering; most of all, pray that His name will be proclaimed throughout the land.

_{By: Ken Teaff}

Jay-Z Accused with Sean Combs

Jay-Z has been accused, alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs, of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in 2000, as detailed in an amended lawsuit by Jane Doe. The accusations include drugging and assaulting the victim at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards, with another unnamed celebrity allegedly present. Jay-Z denied the claims, labeling the lawsuit a "blackmail attempt," while Combs faces broader legal issues, including charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. Both musicians have faced escalating scrutiny amid these allegations.

_{*Warning: story contains disturbing details.}

Whether or not the accusations are true remains to be seen, but we don’t doubt Hollywood and the entertainment industry is plagued with even darker, more devastating secrets that won’t ever see the light of a headline. The entertainment industry (unfortunately not unlike others) is under the influence of the enemy and his strategies (1 John 5:19). And those who are not in a relationship with Jesus, though gifted with talent, “success,” and influence through common grace, are equally under the yoke of the evil one (Ephesians 2:2). Hollywood however, unique to other industries, impacts our world, and particularly our culture directly. Stars, singers, actors, and the like often gain trust, favor, and even worship simply because of their talent and platform. Sean Combs has long been known for his provocative lifestyle and only recently faced the possibility of being prosecuted for the parts of it that were illegal. The proverb is true that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33), and while we cannot speak to the truth of this particular accusation, where drugs, alcohol, and pervasive promiscuity exist (in excess) (as many of Jay Z’s lyrics suggest) evil and death lie closely by (Proverbs 14:12, James 1:15).

May we be prudent to avoid that which Scripture so clearly tells us leads to death (Galatians 5:24), and may we with greater clarity scrutinize the music, “influencers,” entertainment, and media we consume so that our worship and trust belong solely to the One worthy of it (Revelation 4:11, Matthew 4:10).

_{By: The Remnant News Team}

Other news you should know

⚾️ The Mets are paying out big time.

🧑🏻‍⚖️ Infowars Alex Jones faces upheld verdict by appeals court.

🔍 The search for United CEO’s murderer continues and the internet, as usual, has been feral.

🛸 Aliens are on the loose again.

🇫🇷 Notre Dame is back in business.

💵 Trump speaks on tariffs.

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