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P r o p h e c y T o d a y N e w s

January 2021

Published monthly

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006

“The Time is at Hand”

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3

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By Mike Wingfield

As we embark on 2021, we must ask: “What is happening at this hour in America and throughout our world?” How a person answers that question depends upon their perspective and worldview. For example, if you are asked about your physical health, your perception and a medical doctor’s point of view may be very different. You may answer the question about your health on the basis of how you feel. However, the doctor will answer that question on the basis of his medical examination and compare his findings with basic medical facts to determine the true condition of your health.

When one considers the condition of America and our world, their conclusions will vary depending upon the knowledge they have of what the Bible says about the world and what is coming in the future. The Bible is the one and only reliable source of present and future realities. In His Word, God has chosen to give us His perspective of the true condition and future of our world. The Bible is an amazing book. In this book, God has given us a glimpse into the future. Some of the prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled. And, history demonstrates that God’s Word is impeccably accurate. So, we can say with the same certainty, what the Bible says about the future will come to fruition just as it is written. It is the Word of God. And, God says, “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Isaiah 14:24).

According to the Bible, our world is marching toward a predictable end as predetermined by our sovereign Lord and Creator. Many believe, and I am one of them, that on the basis of the present conditions in our world that the time is at hand for very dramatic prophetic events to unfold.

As a matter of fact, for 2,000 years our world has been uniquely prepared for the brief end of this age as we know it. Think about it. Our world has experienced thousands of years of history. However, according to the Bible, when the end comes, it will all unfold in a brief period of seven years – known as the Tribulation Period. The war in the spiritual realm between good and evil, and the wars and rumors of wars among the nations of this earth are about to come to a dramatic and final climax.

Our world has experienced thousands of years of history. However, according to the Bible, when the end comes, it will all unfold in a brief period of seven years – known as the Tribulation Period.

With this in mind, the Holy Spirit caused the Apostle John 19 centuries ago to write, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3). Again, at the end of this final book of the Bible, the Holy Spirit caused John to write, “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 22:10). At the beginning and the end of the book of Revelation, God reminds the reader that He has declared that the time of the end is at hand.

When the Spirit of God supernaturally telegraphed this into the mind of the Apostle John, what was He saying, and what are we to believe and do in light of this divine statement?

The Greek word “time” in Revelation 1:3, refers to a fixed time, season or era. God’s eternal plan is very detailed – it includes times and seasons. We cannot know the exact starting time of the Rapture, the Tribulation, or the Millennial Kingdom. However, we know the order of each of these events or eras on God’s prophetic calendar. The book of Revelation gives us a clear chronology of the order of these events. We also know the duration of each of these major events. We know the Rapture will be a millisecond – “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). The Tribulation will be exactly seven years (Revelation 11:2, 3). And, the earthly kingdom of our Lord will be exactly 1,000 years (Revelation 20:2-7). Furthermore, God has a time and order for the resurrection and judgment of the dead, both the saved and the unsaved (Daniel 12:2, 13; John 5:27-29; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Revelation 11:18; 20:5, 12-13).

God is the manager of all time, and all other aspects of His creation. Ephesians 1:10 speaks of God’s “dispensation of the fullness of times.” The word “dispensation” speaks of the arrangement or management of a household. It refers to a person who manages the care for a house and all of its features and components. So, the Bible declares that God manages all the affairs of man and His creation to bring to pass what he has appointed in eternity past. God is completely sovereign over time, space and matter. He is not bound by them. He is the Creator. All of the various components of His creation are His servants, created for His glory. They are made for the display of His infinite attributes and to yield to His eternal plan. Jesus repeatedly demonstrated this during His first earthly visit.

While it is difficult to comprehend, the Bible declares that God inhabits, or dwells in eternity. That means that time dwells within God’s eternity. God is above time. With Him there is no past or future. He dwells in the eternal now. According to the Bible, before the original creation in Genesis 1, there was no time, space or matter. He spoke, and time, space and matter came into being out of nothing (Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3). The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1). What beginning is referred to by this statement? It refers to the beginning of time. Before Jesus spoke the first word to create the galaxies and the earth, only He was present. There was no time, space or matter. There was nothing! This is too difficult for the finite, depraved mind of man to grasp. We do not have the intellectual ability or experience to comprehend this statement. That is why Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

From His lofty and infinite throne in heaven, God exercises His sovereign control over time, space and matter. God, who is spirit, controls all matters in His vast creation. He is the One who works “all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). In His infinite holiness and wisdom, He is motivated to orchestrate every second, every creature, and every atom, for His divine purpose “according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5). Nothing and no one escapes His sight and comprehension. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest [hidden] in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Long ago, speaking to apostate Israel through the prophet Isaiah, God openly declared that He alone is the One and only true God. He said, “I am God, and there is none else: I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: … yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:9-11).

This is the God of prophecy that spoke to the Apostle John 1,900 years ago and said, “the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3). When John wrote “the time is at hand,” He was saying that the coming of Jesus is imminent… It could happen at any moment. It is near. He was saying that the coming of the Lord for His church and the subsequent events that were to follow “must shortly come to pass” (Revelation 1:1).

When we read these statements, we must remember that the eternal God is speaking to us from His perspective of time and eternity, not ours. The Apostle Peter had to deal with this as he answered the questions of the scoffers in his day. For 37 years the apostles and the early church had been shouting “maranatha.” This Aramaic word, the native language of Jesus, was a watch word among the believers. The word means “our Lord comes.” It is very apparent that the early church was consumed with the imminent return of the Lord Jesus. So much so, that the scoffers were in their faces and taunting them with the question, “Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:4) Peter’s answer to them declared that the eternal, infinite God is sovereign and in control of His creation. He informed the church that the scoffers are ignorant of who God is. Peter reminds them “that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). In essence, Peter was saying that God is not bound by time as we are. What are a few thousand years to the One who has always been and who spoke time into existence thousands of years ago? God is not bound by the movement of the earth and its rotation around the sun. Earth is only a speck of dust in the vastness of His creation. To appreciate this statement, read Isaiah 40:12-24 about the greatness of God.

God is not bound by the movement of the earth and its rotation around the sun. Earth is only a speck of dust in the vastness of His creation.

So, at the very beginning of the last book of the Bible, the Apostle John was saying that after the church era was completed, the next era or season on God’s big plan of the ages is the Rapture of the church and the following era of the Tribulation Period, which is for Israel, and not the church.

So, in light of this truth, what does God want us to believe and do? There are at least three realities that we need to examine.

Reality #1- There needs to be a sense

of urgency to the present hour!

When John made this statement, he wanted the church to realize just how significant the time is. He was saying that it was a time of urgency. The coming of the Lord is imminent and we need to be busy about the Lord’s business.

The apostles and the early church believed that the coming of their Lord was imminent. When that time would come, they need to recognize how much they need one another. In Hebrews 10:24, 25, the writer said, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Later, in the same context, he makes it clear that the day that is approaching is the day of the coming of the Lord, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (verse 37). As we are drawn deeper into the evil and dangerous days of the end-time, we need each other’s counsel, insight and encouragement more than ever before.

Notice that the writer assumed they would be looking or seeing “the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). The word “seeing” is in the present tense, which means this was a part of their daily routine. Here, believers were to be faithful to gather because of the urgency to prepare for the coming of their Lord. Like the early church, the imminent coming of our Lord should be a major focus of our gathering together as a church. We need to encourage each other to stay focused on the Lord’s agenda, and not our own.

The Apostle Paul expected Jesus to come while he served him in his missionary efforts to plant churches in the ancient Roman Empire. As he exhorted the believers in Corinth, he said, “We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52). When he wrote to the church at Thessalonica about our gathering unto the Lord in the Rapture, he said, “we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not [precede] them which are asleep [dead in Christ]” (1 Thessalonians 4:15). Paul’s use of the pronoun “we” indicates he expected to be among the living believers when the Rapture took place.

The aged Apostle John, prior to writing the book of Revelation near the end of the first century, wrote, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18). The apostle looked around him and saw the gathering storm of the persecution of the church by the Roman Empire. He was saying that his time was indicative of the days that will come in the last days when believers in Christ will be martyred for their faithful service to their Lord by the Antichrist. Later, he would be held captive and banished to the isle of Patmos, to ultimately die as a martyr for his Lord.

In light of what is happening in our world, according to the divine clues found in the prophetic Scriptures about the nature of the end-times, it is time for the church to be aroused out of its slumber and be focused upon our mission in this world. To the church at Rome, Paul wrote, “And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11). Later, he said, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand …” (verse 12). Paul was saying that it is getting late. The night is almost gone and the sun is about to dawn upon a new day in God’s sovereign plans. Therefore, there needs to be a sense of urgency to live for Christ and not live like the world (verses 13-14).

Sad to say, most churches are spiritually asleep. We are living as if the Bridegroom is not coming at any moment. Read Jesus’ comments in Luke 12:35-40 about the urgency to be watching and ready for His return.

God has called us to be watchmen upon the walls of our nation and communities. As children of God and students of the prophetic Word of God, we should observe from our proverbial watchtower that the time is late. The enemies of darkness and deception are all around us and are ready to invade our land to enslave us to the enemy of God.

America and the rest of the world are being deceived and prepared for the coming Antichrist. America is being duped to take an evil path of lawlessness and wickedness. Consequently, the wicked are playing into the hands of Satan. Only the followers of the Word of God really understand what is taking place.

Make no mistake. America and the rest of the world are being deceived and prepared for the coming Antichrist. America is being duped to take an evil path of lawlessness and wickedness. Consequently, the wicked are playing into the hands of Satan. Only the followers of the Word of God really understand what is taking place.

Reality #2- The present moment should

be very sobering.

Not only does there need to be a sense of urgency to serve the Lord Jesus, but the events of this present moment should cause us to be very sober in our living. More important than what we do is who we are. The main objective of the Christian life is not what we do for the Lord, but that we become like Him.

In recent years, the Spirit of God has impressed upon me His three priorities in my life. First, He wants me to know Christ. He wants me to have a relationship with Jesus. Second, the Holy Spirit is working in me to make me like Jesus. He is adjusting my character to become more holy and more like Jesus. Third, the Holy Spirit wants me to be with Jesus. When we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will give us a great desire to be with Christ. He will lead us to pray, “Even, so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

When you read the New Testament, it is very apparent that the apostles and the early church were focused upon the reality that the rapture would be the day of their judgment. Therefore, the imminent expectation of the Lord’s coming created within them a very thoughtful attitude that would move them toward spiritual holiness in preparation for that holy moment when they would stand before their Lord. Peter wrote, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7). James exhorted the believers to not hold grudges, because “the judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9). Paul wrote about the end times to the believers at Thessalonica, “Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). The aged Apostle John stated that all of those who were expecting the Lord to come would purify themselves, “even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Reality #3- The Focus of the Believer should be

Riveted upon the Coming of the Lord

The rapture of the church should not be some distant doctrine that you think about once in a while. The Lord expects us to be constantly fixated upon His coming. It should be normal for this to become a daily passion. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). The picture here is of the ancient person who would tuck in his long flowing garments so that he could run without being encumbered by his robe as he ran. So, Peter is saying that the believer is passionately running toward the expectation of the coming of his Lord. As believers, we should not live in the past. We should not allow the present moment to overwhelm us. We are a people whose faith is anchored in the hope of our future in Christ Jesus. True believers are people who have a passion for the future. Our faith is not about the present moment. We are just pilgrims, passing through “the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17). “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Do you need to repent? Are you allowing the political turmoil and the radical changes in America to consume your thinking? We need to be concerned about the events that are transpiring in our nation and around the world. We need to pray for our leaders. We need to pray for the Lord’s will to be done. We must not lose sight of the fact that our God is in control. While we cannot pretend to understand why He is allowing evil to overwhelm good in America at this moment, we must, with great confidence and humility, pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

According to the Bible, the political turmoil and evil that are overwhelming America today is a part God’s eternal plan concerning the end-times. When the end does come, all of the nations will bow down to the Antichrist and become a part of his godless global empire (Revelation 13:7). God will allow him to kill millions of believers. This is all very disturbing, but it is what the Bible declares will take place. It is difficult to understand why it is God’s will for His children to be persecuted and killed.

As believers in Jesus, we must focus upon one basic truth. We have been created for His glory. He saved us not for ourselves, but for His glory. Listen to what Jesus taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:9-12). Perhaps this all comes into perfect focus when we recall one simple truth, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Think about that – “to die is gain.”

It is true that the Lord wants the best for His children. The best is in His presence. We focus too much on the things of this world. They can capture our heart if we are not careful. We are exhorted, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). We cannot do this unless Christ is our life and our life becomes His life.

Yes, we are about to lose some of our precious freedoms in America. America is changing. However, what God has given us cannot be taken away by man. If they take our life, then we have instant freedom in His presence. While I do love America, it is not home! My home is with the Lord. So, look at it this way. Soon, whether by death or the rapture, we are going home. That is a precious promise. And, that is gain. Keep listening for the shout that will take us out!

Other Significant Developments

GLOBAL EARTHQUAKES -The Bible teaches that one of the dramatic developments that will signal that the Tribulation Period is coming will be an increase in the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes all over the globe. Israelis who are aware of what the Bible says about this are wondering, “if the end-of-days shake-up is warming up” (Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, www.israel365news,com, December 28, 2020). According to the National Earthquake Information Center, there is an average of 20,000 per year, which means there are about 55 significant earthquakes per day. On Tuesday, December 22, 2020 there were 429 earthquakes in one day!

Earthquakes are especially taking place in the Middle East. Turkey and Iran are both in a seismic active area and have been experiencing many earthquakes in recent years. In the past few weeks, Israeli geologists informed their government that they are expecting a massive earthquake in Israel at any time. They emphasized, based upon past records in the region, that Israel can expected a major earthquake at any moment. According to the Scriptures, the next big earthquake will take place at the outset of the Gog and Magog invasion mentioned in Ezekiel 38.

All of this seismic activity tells us that the massive global earthquakes of the Tribulation Period are coming.

AMAZING IMMIGRATION TO ISRAEL– Despite the limited flights to Israel and the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, Israel is amazed at the number of people who have immigrated to Israel last year. The Jewish Agency Israel announced that more than 20,000 Jews immigrated to Israel from 70 different countries in 2020. Once again, this is a major sign of the end-times.

RUSSIAN INVASION OF ISRAEL IS COMING– As we approach the inauguration of Democrat Joe Biden as our next president, the enemies of Israel are emboldened to speak out against Israel. The last few years of have brought about amazing changes in the Middle East due to the policies of President Donald Trump. With the radical shifts in Middle Eastern policies being announced by the incoming Biden administration, the enemies of Israel are once again flexing their muscles against Israel. On December 10, 2020, Russia’s ambassador to Israel stated that the real problem in the Middle East was not Iran and Hezbollah. Instead, he pointed his finger at Israel and said that Israel was the aggressor in the region. Five days later, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, announced, “Our ultimate goal is the establishment of a Palestinian State” (www.israel365news.com, December 15, 2020). Russia wants to see more United Nations involvement in settling the dispute over the West Bank and the birth of another anti-Israel Islamic state on Israel’s borders. This demonstrates that Russia is positioning itself for the Gog and Magog invasion mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.

SHAMEFUL IMMORAL ACTIVISTS PUSH AGENDAS– The Bible declares that the last days will be like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:28-30). Without question, we are witnessing the most bizarre and wicked immoral activity in the history of the United States. A Democrat Representative of the House is now promoting the open acceptance of prostitution as “sex work.” She believes that prostitution should be openly recognized as legitimate employment. Also, a transgender woman who was formerly a man, is calling for the approval of a puberty blocker inoculation to be given to all children. This person claims that all children should be given a choice to claim which gender they want to be. Therefore, when they become teens they need to be given a puberty blocker to delay their sexual development until they have time to decide for themselves who they want to be. This radical idea is sinful, dangerous and foolish. Taking such an inoculation to block God’s natural development within a person’s body might change a person’s outward appearance, but would not change their genes given to them by God at conception. In light of Romans 1:18-32, this kind of wicked immoral thinking demonstrates that America has reached the spiritual point of no return. America is ripe for the wrathful judgment of God. Get ready. It is coming!

A Personal Note from Mike

Joyce and I thank all of you for your kind cards, notes, e-mails and phone calls during our down time with the COVID virus. We both tested positive a few days before Thanksgiving. We both had symptoms for two weeks. Joyce has bounced back quicker than I have. This is a real note of praise. We were both fearful of how Joyce would react to the virus if she would get it. Her immune system has been compromised due to her treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. So, we are rejoicing that she is doing well. My symptoms of COVID included a dangerous lowering of my oxygen saturation levels. I continue to experience shortness of breath. I also do not have much stamina. I remain excessively tired all of the time. Some have told me that I can expect these problems to persist for a few weeks or months. Please keep praying for us.

As I feel like it, I have been working on the newsletter research and writing. In addition to this, I am working on my book on the rapture. Plus, I am working on a booklet and recorded messages to complement a booklet on “Your Future in the Eternal Plan of God.” I am hoping to finish both of these projects by the end of February.

We will soon begin to construct a new recording studio in our prophecy building. The goal is to record many new messages and to edit and record some of those I have done in the past. I am really excited about this plan. The COVID crisis has taught me that I must reach out to many of you more effectively with the rapidly moving developments that are rushing us into the unfolding of the biblical end-time events. Please join me in praying for this studio to be completed.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. God bless all of you. I hope you have a great New Year!

January 2021 – The Time is at Hand

January 2021 – The Time is at Hand

“The Time is at Hand”