PTNews
July 2019
Published monthly
All Bible references are from the KJV
(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)
P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006
As we move into the summer months, escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran have the potential to lead to a multinational conflict. On May 18, 2018, President Donald Trump removed the U.S. from a nuclear deal with Iran that was signed with Iran under the Obama administration in 2015. At the same time, President Trump announced he would impose sanctions aimed at crippling Iran’s economy until its radical leadership disengaged the nation from its quest to create nuclear weapons.
It is apparent that the liberal political leaders in the U.S. and Europe are in fervent disagreement with these actions by President Trump. Should war break out, these liberals, with the support of their friends in the global media, will accuse President Trump of being a war hawk.
In recent days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that anyone who does not agree with President Trump is “living on another planet.” The world is blind to the reality of Iran’s aggressive quest to acquire nuclear weapons. Those who oppose Trump and Netanyahu fail to consider that Iran is the largest global state sponsor of Islamic terrorism. Iran’s radical Islamic régime is driven by an apocalyptic vision of destroying the world in order to bring about the appearance of the Islamic messiah, known as the Madhi. They believe this will lead to the establishment of a global Islamic empire. These religious fanatics already have the blood of hundreds of thousands of people on their hands. They believe it is their religious obligation to sacrifice themselves in order to achieve their Islamic agenda that is a part of their doctrine of the last days. One can only imagine what they would do if they acquired nuclear weapons.
It must be understood that the architects of the Iranian nuclear deal have a common goal with the liberal political leaders around the world. They want to move us to a New World Order that openly embraces socialism. The Democrats in the U.S. and the liberal socialist leaders of Europe believe they can advance socialism and bring about a New World Order if they continue to create chaos that will lead to the collapse of our current political structure.
Their chief objective in brokering the Iranian nuclear deal was to bring the West to its knees, and to advance the foundation to achieving their political agenda.
In other words, it appears that the liberal socialists of the world and the radical Islamic leaders, like those in Iran, are playing a political game of chicken. Both of these groups want to control the world and create a one-world government. For the moment, they have decided to tolerate each other to ruin their political opponents, like Trump and Netanyahu. Finally, according to their wishful thinking, when that is accomplished, they plan on turning on each other to fight for the right to control the world.
The Bible indicates that when the end does come, the Antichrist will rule the world. I am convinced that the Antichrist will be a Muslim and his global kingdom will be an Islamic Empire, centered in the area of the ancient Babylonian Empire. In Isaiah 14:4, the Antichrist is called “the king of Babylon.” In Revelation 17-18, he is depicted as a beast that is controlled by a religious harlot, Islam, that bears the title, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5). In Revelation 16:12-16, the Antichrist’s call for Armageddon comes from the shores of the Euphrates River, located in Iraq – ancient Babylon. Furthermore, Revelation 17:12-13 indicates that several non-Muslim political leaders will join the global kingdom of the Antichrist. Then, at the very end, these leaders will turn against the Antichrist and his kingdom and attack him (Revelation 17:16-17).
What we are see in the Persian Gulf this summer is very critical in the developments that are moving our world closer to the end-time events. Let us review the words and actions that have brought us to this point.
On April 22, Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz with force. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage way in the Persian Gulf, which is a vital shipping lane to 88 percent of the oil and gas exports that flow out of the nations of the region to other parts of the world, including Japan, China, and India. This shipping lane is extremely busy as empty oil tankers and full oil tankers pass each other every few minutes, carrying 40 percent of the world’s oil. Crude oil is the number one export among the economies of the world. Any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz would be a serious threat and create a global economic crisis in a very short period of time.
In response to this threat, on May 9, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned the Iranian leadership that the restraint of the U.S. administration should not be misinterpreted as a lack of resolve to engage Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons. Pompeo made it clear that the U.S. will not tolerate Iran’s aggression in the Middle East. He said, “The regime in Tehran should understand that any attacks by them or their proxies of any identity against the U.S. interests or citizens will be answered with a swift and decisive U.S. response.”
In preparation for a confrontation with Iran, on May 10, the Pentagon sent B-52 bombers and a Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Persian Gulf area. The next day, May 11, Patriot missile defense batteries were deployed to the region. Almost two weeks later, on May 24, the U.S. announced it would send an additional 1,500 troops to the Middle East and would also sell $8.1 billion in new weapon systems to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (all located on the Persian Gulf near Iran).
On June 9, as the tensions with Iran continued to mount, the Pentagon ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf region. This move was designed to send a very powerful message to the Iranian leadership. This aircraft carrier is one of the finest and most powerful in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet. If Iran should decide to start a war with the U.S., we are prepared to quickly respond to any military aggression. On June 10, the Pentagon sent additional B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf.
On June 12, in the face mounting military might arrayed against them, Iran continued to escalate the situation by using their terrorist proxies in South Yemen to fire missiles at a civilian airport in southern Saudi Arabia, wounding 26 civilians. The next day, Iran sabotaged two Japanese oil tankers operating in the Persian Gulf by magnetically attaching mines to their hulls. Four days later, Iran announced that it would increase the amount of uranium it will enrich, which is in direct violation of the nuclear agreement that is still in force with the European countries that signed the deal with Iran in 2015.
On June 18, the day after Iran’s announcement to increase uranium enrichment, the U.S. sent an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East. On June 20, Iranian terrorist proxies in Yemen fired missiles into Saudi Arabia, damaging a desalination plant. On the same day, Iran shot down a $240 million U.S. Global Hawk unmanned surveillance drone that was flying in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran claimed the drone was in its airspace and that its presence was a clear provocation of international law. The Iranian military leadership stated it did not want to go to war with the U.S., but it is up to the task if needed.
On the same day, the U.S. prepared to strike three targets in Iran, but at the last minute President Trump canceled the attack due to estimates that up to 150 Iranians would be killed. President Trump’s decision demonstrated to his political opponents that he has great patience and he is not anxious for a war with Iran. This is not political weakness, but a sign of political strength and moral character.
The objective of the Trump administration is to pressure Iran to give up its goal to create nuclear weapons and to cease its state-sponsored terrorism around the world. The Trump administration is calling upon our European allies and the international community to impose sanctions to help cripple the Iranian economy. However, some nations are balking at Trumps’ call and they continue to do brisk business with Iran. The main violator is China. China is one of Iran’s major oil customers. Approximately 33 percent of Iran oil is exported to China. India, Italy, and Japan are also among Iran’s major oil customers.
If a war between Iran and the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East materializes, it will help set the stage for the next big biblical war in the last days – the battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39. Russia has already signaled that it will support Iran in this current crisis. (See our ministry website for details.)
Israel is rightfully concerned that Iran may ask its proxy terrorist partner in 
Lebanon, Hezbollah, to attack the Jewish nation as a means of distracting the U.S. Iran wants the U.S. off its back so it can continue to develop nuclear weapons. Israeli and American leadership are adamant saying they will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
The Global Threat of Islam
According to a recent e-mail from World Net Daily, there are many voices from around the globe warning that the radical elements of Islam are planning to conquer the world. Moderate Muslims are warning, “If Christians don’t wake up, if Christian leaders don’t wake up, then we Muslims who fled from extremists can’t help you anymore. We tried warning you.” Recently, a Palestinian sheikh, Abu Hanifa Awda, addressed Islamic worshippers at the silver dome structure, al Aksa Mosque, on the temple mount in Jerusalem. He said, “Indeed, oh people of Jerusalem, this is the heartland. This is the land of the oath of allegiance. This is where the banners of the Caliphate [Islamic Empire] will flutter. This is where the military convoys will gather, and this is where the brigades will assemble under their banners, heralding in a new dawn – dawn of justice – and the birth of a divine state: the Caliphate that will follow the guidance of the Prophethood. … Policies will be designed here. From here, armies will set out to conquer the world – the mighty army of Islam, with all its brigades. One brigade will liberate Palestine. Another one will ‘ravage the homes’ [as is written in the Quran]. A third brigade will ‘destroy whatever would fall into their hands.’ A fourth brigade will take revenge against Bashar Al-Assad and Russia. A fifth brigade will liberate all the plundered Muslim countries. A sixth brigade will cross the oceans and put the enemy to shame. A seventh brigade will lay siege to Rome. An eighth brigade will turn the White House black. A ninth brigade will impose the [Islamic slave] tax on London. A tenth brigade will pray to fend off fear and danger on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains and the Andes.”
I remind you that this threat came from an Islamic preacher in Jerusalem. This will be a part of the global control center of the Antichrist from the mid-point of the Tribulation. And it will continue until the final hours of Armageddon (Zechariah 14:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1-2). The voices of darkness know what the Bible has declared will come to pass.
Asteroid to Hit Earth in September?
Scientists are saying there is a remote possibility that a rather large asteroid may strike earth on September 9. They are saying there is only a one in 7,000 chance this will happen. Some are predicting that it will pass by earth at only 4.2 million miles (Breaking Israel News, June 10, 2019).
This article also mentions one of the most dramatic encounters earth has had with an asteroid. “Perhaps the most severe asteroid impact in modern history was the Tunguska event in 1908. The explosion over the sparsely populated Eastern Siberian Taiga flattened 770 square miles of forest, yet caused no known human casualties. The explosion is generally attributed to the air burst of a meteor since no impact crater has been found. The object is thought to have disintegrated at an altitude of 3 to 6 miles. Early estimates of the energy of the airburst range from 10–15 megatons of TNT or roughly 1,000 times greater than that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Studies have yielded different estimates of the meteoroid’s size, on the order of 200 to 620 feet” (Breaking Israel News, June 10, 2019).
In light of this report it is interesting to observe that Revelation 8:10-11 declares that an asteroid will implode in earth’s atmosphere. It will contaminate the earth and much of its fresh water rivers, lakes, and fountains with a bitter substance. This development will take place as a part of the third divine trumpet judgment, probably about a year or more after the beginning of the Tribulation.
Israel Dedicates Trump Heights
On Sunday, June 16, Israel dedicated a new village on the Golan Heights in honor of U.S. President Donald Trump. Many times since his election in 2016, President Trump has demonstrated that he is a true friend of the state of Israel. This was especially evident with the United States’ official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The U.S. Embassy was relocated to Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of Israel, May 14, 2018. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an official document in Washington that recognizes the formerly disputed area of the Golan Heights as being a sovereign part of the state of Israel. The Israeli government is now showing their gratitude to President Trump by establishing a new village in this historic part of ancient Israel.
According to the Bible, this part of the Promised Land, called “Bashan,” was given to the Jews by God. It was conquered by Israel and given to the tribe of Manasseh under the direction of Moses, as recorded in Deuteronomy 3:1-13. According to Jeremiah 50:19, after the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Babylonians almost 2,600 years ago, God promised that in the last days, He would return His people to this part of the Promised Land. 
The Golan Heights was given to the Syrians as a part of the French mandate after World War 1. The Syrians used this high ground as a military launching pad to make life miserable for the Jewish farmers living in the Galilee. Finally, the Syrians were defeated and driven out by Israel during the 6-day war in June, 1967. In 1981, Israel annexed this land as an official part of the state of Israel. However, all of the nations, including the U.S., failed to officially recognize Israel’s declaration of sovereignty and referred to this area as “disputed land.” With these recent announcements by President Trump, the world is now being force to decide if they will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the Golan as a sovereign part of the state of Israel.
According to the prophetic Scriptures, Israel and the U.S. are standing against world opinion on these matters. However, God is on Israel’s side. The nations are about to enter into their final confrontation with God. This conflict will lead to two major wars mentioned in the Bible – the Battle of Gog and Magog on the Golan Heights (Ezekiel 38-39) and the Battle of Armageddon in Jerusalem (Zechariah 12, 14).
God’s prophetic clock in heaven is ticking and it is getting very late! Get ready for the shout that will take us out!
Check out the following link to watch the dedication of Trump Heights. www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue =7&v=Hw1-LPR_WqA
Christian Persecution Alarming
A BBC report in May indicated that genocide and persecution of Christians is reaching alarming levels. The report indicates that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Moreover, Gatestone Institute reports, “Religion ‘is at risk of disappearing’ in some parts of the world,” it noted, and ‘in some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide,’ according to that adopted by the UN.” (www.gatestoneinstitute.org) As expected, most of this persecution is coming from areas where Muslims rule.
Here are some of the most alarming facts from the BBC study as reported by Raymond Ibrahim of Gatestone Institute:
– “The persecution of Christians is perhaps at its most virulent in the region of the birthplace of Christianity—the Middle East & North Africa.”
– “In countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia the situation of Christians and other minorities has reached an alarming stage.”
– “Christianity now faces the possibility of being wiped-out in parts of the Middle East where its roots go back furthest.(https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14281/genocide-of-christians).”
“Super Trump”
No other American president has ever supported Israel like our current president. As a result, praise for President Donald Trump is soaring in Israel. Israel has a new hit song, “Super Trump,” sung by the Jerusalem Boys’ Choir. 
Here are the lyrics:
“Super Trump, is Jerusalem’s prince
Super Trump, to the sky he will reach,
Halleluya from the city of Zion In the name of our Lord,
He will fight like a lion If the whole world stands against us
And only Micronesia is rooting for us
When the sons of Ishmael harm our land Don’t you worry, Trump takes a stand
If in ISIS they are shouting S.O.S And in Gaza the Hamas, have started packing bags
If UNESCO joins with the B.D.S. Don’t you fret at all,
Trump is standing guard
If Iran is cracking nukes every single morning
And the world shuts up, and doesn’t even care
One fine day, no one will hear them calling Cause super Trump is here, and always standing guard.”
To hear this song, check out this link and enjoy. www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=vFK6a4JBrWU
Mike’s Report from Israel
I want to thank many of you for praying for my tour group to Israel, May 27- June 3. People in my group were from Virginia, Indiana, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and New Hampshire. We had a wonderful tour. Everyone was spiritually blessed. We especially enjoyed a tour of the Golan Heights area, looking into Syria and Lebanon. We visited Caesarea Philippi where Peter made his confession about Jesus in Matthew 16. This is also the location of the beginning of the major tributary of the Jordan River. The abundant water there gives testimony to the abundant rainfall Israel enjoyed this past winter.
Other highlights of the tour in Galilee included a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and a devotional time on the Mount of Beatitude. We enjoyed walking in the footsteps of Jesus in Capernaum where Jesus spent so much of His time preaching and performing miracles. It was also my privilege to baptize eight people of our group in the Jordan River.
After our tour in Galilee, we made our way down the Jordan Valley. It is always a treat for me to watch everyone’s reaction as the scenery changes and we transition from the lush green vegetation around the Sea of Galilee into a semi-desert climate as we approach the lowest place on earth near the Dead Sea. Just the day before, our group stood at the base of snow-capped Mount Hermon (over 9,200 feet in elevation). The next day, we drove through the arid desert at the Dead Sea. This is one of the things that make a visit to Israel so intriguing. The country is very small and yet it has great diversity when it comes to climate, vegetation, birds, and animals.
Our visit at the Dead Sea took us to the rocky mountain fortress of Masada, where almost 1,000 Jews made their last heroic stand against Rome in the first century. From this lofty mountain we could look to the south to the area of Sodom and Gomorrah. Next, we visited the place where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered more than 70 years ago. After this visit, it was time for fun. Some in our group experienced the unique ability to float in the waters of the Dead Sea that are about one-third salt and minerals.
After this, we began to leave behind the desert as our tour bus made the winding climb from 1,400 feet below sea level to Jerusalem, just 17 miles up in the Judean mountains, about 2,400 feet above sea level. Our emotions soared as our bus traveled into the city and we saw the city of Jerusalem and its famous Temple Mount.
Jerusalem is always the highlight of my tour. After breakfast the next morning, our first stop began with a visit to Calvary and the Garden Tomb. After standing in these holy places, we gathered under the trees of the beautiful garden for a time of worship that touched our souls forever. From here our bus took us to the top of the Mount of Olives for a majestic view of the Old City and the Temple Mount. We walked down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the mountain. Here, we gathered under the ancient olive trees to worship and mediate upon the suffering of our Savior on this holy ground.
The following days took us in and around the old city of Jerusalem as we traced the footsteps of Jesus in the closing hours of His earthly ministry. At one place, we stood on the very stones where Jesus was abused by the Roman soldiers before He began His journey to Calvary.
Our group always enjoys our visit to the Wailing Wall. Here we touched the ancient stones and prayed at the only wall in Jerusalem left standing from the time of Jesus. This year, we were privileged to be in the Old City during Israel’s celebration of Jerusalem Day. The streets were packed with young Israelis celebrating the reunification of the city of Jerusalem during the 6-day war in June 1967.
Why not pray about joining me in March next year.