Author: Mike Wingfield

  • September 2022 – The Global Food Crisis

           Proclaiming the Prophetic Word for 31 years!

    PTNews

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

    September 2022

    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

    Download this Newsletter

    The Global Food Crisis

    “And there shall be famines, [pandemics], and earthquakes, in [different] places.”

    Matthew 24:7

    By Mike Wingfield

    As we approach the end of summer and the annual growing season, it is very apparent that the fall harvest will be woefully short of the demand to feed the global population. Many CEOs of firms that deal with the flow of food staples are telling us that we are at a very dangerous tipping point that is moving us toward world hunger and even famine. Some are predicting that crop production will be at 50 percent of levels seen in previous years.

    In recent months, the United Nations has been warning that a major famine is about to take place. “During a United Nations (UN) food security meeting on June 24, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a ‘global hunger crisis.’ He also mentioned the ‘real risk’ of ‘multiple famines’ being declared in 2022, with even worse famines to be expected in 2023” (EU Times, July 1, 2022). Svein Holsethler of Yara International, an international fertilizer company , commented, “For me, it’s not whether we are moving into a global food crisis — it’s how large the crisis will be” (www.westernjournal.com, August 31, 2022 ).

    David Beasley, the former Republican governor of South Carolina, and now the director of the UN World Food Program, states that 323 million people are “marching toward starvation as we speak” (Time, June 27, 2022).

    Beasley further comment-ed, “‘Before the [Russian-Ukraine] war, I was al-ready warning the world that 2022 and 2023 could be the worst two years in the humanitarian world since World War II. … I’m trying to tell everybody how bad it is — how bad it’s going to be. And then, the next week, I’m like, you know, wipe that clean — it’s worse than what I was saying’ … Beasley believes that 2023 could take a still darker turn.

    ‘This year’s price crisis could be succeeded by a genuine supply crisis, in which food is pushed out of reach for many millions not just by price but by ongoing structural conditions (including the failure to plant next year’s harvest in Ukraine and the surge in the price of fertilizer, which can be one-third or more of farmers’ total annual cost), and the world could experience the once-unthinkable: a true shortfall of food’” (Time, June 27, 2022).

    The Bible has predicted that when the Tribulation Period begins, the world will be in the middle of a global famine that would be accompanied by rampant global political tyranny, global wars, global pandemics, and global hyperinflation (Revelation 6:2-8). The global famine and economic collapse near the beginning of the Tribulation is symbolically depicted in Revelation 6:5-6 as a rider on a black horse. [See image on this page.] We are about to arrive at this juncture. Our world has uniquely been prepared for the most terrifying period of human suffering since the time of the global flood occurred approximately about 5,000 years ago.

    According to Jesus, famine will be one of five sorrows that will produce the birth pangs of the Tribulation Period (Matthew 24:4-8). The four other contractions of this time of sorrow are spiritual deception, wars and rumors of wars, pandemics, and earthquakes. Once again, it would appear we have arrived at that moment when earth and its inhabitants are being launched into this coming time of unprecedented decadence, death, and destruction.

    While this is not the first time the world has faced this deadly mixture of trouble, it certainly appears to be the final visitation of God upon the wicked. While speaking of the Tribulation, Jesus said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).

    Most Americans scoff at the mere notion of a coming famine. I have personally witnessed this as I have travelled across America to deliver God’s message of warning concerning the last days. Americans have been blessed by God to live in a land of plenty. Most have never experienced real hunger. For most of our lives, grocery store shelves have been filled with a great assortment of food from around the world. Until recent years, this abundance of food has been relatively cheap to acquire. However, things are beginning to change.

    First, we need to be reminded that food is a gift from God. In one of his inspired Psalms, King David of Israel wrote, “He [waters] the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He [causes] the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth” (Psalm 104:13-14). Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).

    God expects us to trust Him for everything. All the blessings of life come from Him (James 1:17). When man ceases to glorify Him and give Him thanks, He has many times used famine as a tool of divine judgment to bring people and nations to repentance. The Bible is filled with examples of this. Many godly people have had to endure times of famine while God judged the wicked. Without question, famine always fulfills the will and purposes of God!

    From a human perspective, there are at least four major developments that produce famine. Let us examine them.

    1. War contributes to famine.

    According to the Bible and history, war can cause famine. During war, human efforts are diverted from the production of food and other items necessary for life. Farmers are not able to plant crops and transport them to markets. In some cases, the seeds, fuels, and machinery needed to plant and harvest crops are not available. Very often, more people have died due to the ramifications of war, rather than war itself.

    The current food crisis has been worsened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both of these countries combined to supply the world, especially the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, with about 25 percent of wheat and sunflower seed to make cooking oil. This is further enhanced by the fact that Russia is one of the major suppliers of energy and fertilizer to the agriculture world. The implications of this war and the impact upon the global food chain are still not being realized.

    David Beasley, director of the UN’s World Food Program (WFP), remarked that the Russia-Ukraine war caused “devastating” repercussions to the ongoing food shortage worldwide. This, he added, could bring about “hell on Earth” (EU Times, July 1, 2022).

    The impact upon the serious food shortages this winter will trigger a massive immigration of starving people to flood Europe with illegal refuges. Israel 365 News comments, “If you think we’ve got hell on earth now, you just get ready … If we neglect northern Africa, northern Africa [will come] to Europe. If we neglect the Middle East, [the] the Middle East is coming to Europe” (Israel 365 News, March 23, 2022). Here in America, our open border policies with Mexico will bring a massive invasion of starving people from nations around the world. America is about to be flooded with illegal immigrants that are starving. People like this are desperate. Desperate people do desperate things!

    The greatest impact of war on global food production will occur during the Tribulation Period. This period will begin with the war machine of the Antichrist that will de-liver a severe economic blow to every nation on earth. Obviously, this will have a major impact upon the agricultural industry. Shortly after the Tribulation begins, one-fourth of the global population will perish because of war, famine, and diseases (Revelation 6:8).

    2. Erratic weather conditions cause famine.

    In addition to the war between Russia and Ukraine, we are seeing a mixture of climatic catastrophes that are putting an even greater strain on our ability to produce food.

    In America, the past spring brought unseasonably cold weather to the Midwest, causing a delay in the planting season. The summer brought extremely high temperatures to much of the country, producing serious drought conditions. Furthermore, the high temperatures caused millions of cattle to die. Many parts of the planet have experienced historic drought and flooding. This has occurred in the Mid-western states of America, Brazil, Argentina, North Africa, the Middle East, and India. Earlier this year, China’s agricultural areas were flooded with the heaviest rains in more than 60 years.

    British news agencies are reporting widespread crop failures across England. Britain has not been able to produce enough food to feed themselves, forcing them to rely upon food imports. Conditions in Italy are even worse. It is re-ported that the farmers in Italy have lost up to 80 percent of their harvest due to severe weather conditions.

    The situation here in the U.S. is similar. Great drought continues to plague California and seven states in the Mid-west that depend upon water from the Colorado River. The river is rapidly drying up and farmers are being told they will not be able to use this source of water for their crops.

    The Bible tells us that conditions during the Tribulation Period will be far more harsh. There will be a global drought, with no rain, for the first three and one-half years of the Tribulation (Revelation 11:6). There will be a global freshwater crisis due to the judgments of God (Revelation 8:10-11; 16:4). The water will be so contaminated that it will appear to be blood-red. When the end of the Tribulation comes, the Euphrates River, one of the largest in the Middle East, will dry up (Revelation 16:12).

    3. Poor or limited farming practices can cause famine.

    The world population is exploding, and it is now estimated to be 8 billion. As the population has grown, we have be-come dependent upon modern commercial farming practices that have evolved over the past 100 years. At present, farming cannot keep pace with the growing demand for food. Since 1930, world population has grown from 2 billion to currently 8 billion! [Review my comments in the May 2022 newsletter.]

    The current developments with war and erratic weather are demonstrating that commercial farmers are totally de-pendent upon resources over which they have no control. It is apparent that the delicate balance of commercial farming abilities and practices, and the impact of war, greed, power, and radical weather patterns are demonstrating that the ability to feed billions of people is a very risky proposition.

    4. Evil governments and policies can cause famine.

    Evil governments and men are exerting their wicked power and influence to manufacture the global crisis we are experiencing. Their ultimate objective is for people around the world to submit to their evil plans and pow-er. They want to force us into a Marxist form of government that will give them complete power and authority over people, properties, resources, and wealth. They are so determined to accomplish their atheistic agenda that they are willing to cooperate with radical Islamic nations, like Iran, to achieve their agenda.

    At this current moment they are promoting several crises, both real and imagined, to fill us with fear that our world is falling apart. They want us to believe that if we do not totally submit to them and their global agenda that our planet is doomed to extinction. They are distorting the facts concerning a climate crisis. They are manipulating the facts about COVID-19 and forcing us into their global health care demands – while at the same time planning to reduce world population by 90 percent in the next few decades. They are lying to us about the impact of fossil fuels upon the environment, attempting to force us to adopt a mode of transportation that will push us into their mold of control and power. They are allowing a real food crisis to develop, while they limit or oppose any real action to help avert a humanitarian crisis that will claim the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

    Evil governments and men know that one of the greatest ways to control and manipulate people is to control their food supplies. Henry Kissinger, a huge proponent of a one-world government, and a U.S. secretary of state under presidents Nixon and Ford in the 1970s, once said, “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.” This has been one of the reasons for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He wants to use his influence and power to create a real global food crisis so that he can exert his power and influence upon the world. China, his partner in this evil agenda, has the same goal.

    This is not a new strategy. In the past, the Communist regimes have created evil policies to gain control over their own people and ultimately brought about great famine in their own country. Due to the political unrest during the Communist revolution in 1921, 5 million people died due to famine. In the former Soviet Union, 7 million people died due to famine in 1932 because of the poor political policies of Joseph Stalin. The great Chinese famine of 1959-1961 caused 50 million people in China to die. This famine came about because of the failure of Communist political policies. In North Korea, 3 million people died (1994-1998) due to starvation because their government forced them to move into cities due to political policies shifting to a military emphasis. [For a greater examination of these facts go to www.mypatriotsupply.com/blogs/scout/control-the-food-control-the-people].

    In the past few weeks, I have been reading some of the promotional UN materials that outline what is being asked of politicians to force all nations into an evil one-world government. In this government, they want to take away all our freedoms and possessions. Part of their plan is to take control of the global food production. They want to make it impossible for commercial farmers to feed the world. Through impossible regulations, they want to force these farmers out of business. They plan to take over their farms and control the food production to feed the world. This is the exact plan that the Communists have attempted in the last century and failed miserably.

    This is what they are attempting to do in America. They plan to control the water resources that commercial farmers need to irrigate their crops. They want to control the cost and availability of the seeds, fertilizers, fuels, pesticides, and machinery used by commercial farmers.

    They are planning on changing our diet. They are attempting to sell the idea that the manure and burping of livestock is a major contributor to the global climate crisis. Therefore, they plan to move us away from meat and to demand that we learn to consume insects. They claim that eating insects is a safer form of protein.

    Bill Gates is one of the largest owners of farmland in the U.S. China also owns a great number of U.S. farms. In the last year alone, China spent $6.1 billion on property purchases in the U.S. Recent data indicates that foreign nations own more than 35.2 million acres! It is shocking to read these reports when one realizes that these people do not have our best interests in mind.

    Since President Joe Biden was elected, there have been 98 food storage, manufacturing, or processing plants that have mysteriously been destroyed or damaged by accidental fires or evidence that remains “inconclusive.” One does not know what to make of all of this. But the overall context of our times would seem to indicate that some sabotage is likely involved.

    Friends, we live at a very evil hour. The evil powers of our nation and world are acting with greed, deception, and malicious intent. We must not panic. We need to prepare for what lies ahead.

    Elizabeth Anderson of Patriot Food Supply gives the following recommendations:

    • Buy long-term emergency food supplies.

    • Invest in land you can use to grow food.

    • Grow your own food. Even if you live in an urban area, there are numerous plants you can grow indoors and out.

    • Start a hobby farm.

    • Go to farmers’ markets and get to know your local farmers.

    • Stay aware and remain vigilant.

    We must remember that our trust is not in our government. Our trust is in the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Our lives are in His hands. We must not be fearful. We must be faithful to our Lord and be strong in the face of evil. Many of our brothers and sisters in the faith are already suffering and are hungry at this hour. Contact a Christian agency that is sending relief to the suffering church. Send a generous gift to help our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ. Do it now. Many in the Middle East and parts of Africa are already at the point of starvation. The inflation of what food is available is already out of reach for those living in poverty.

    Do not be guilty of just storing food. Feed your soul and strengthen your faith. Study what the Bible has to say about suffering. Immerse yourself in the Psalms and Proverbs. Focus on the very nature of the mercy and grace of our Lord. The other morning, I was reading in Psalms, and Psalm 97:10 blessed my soul, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he [preserves] the souls of his saints; he [delivers] them out of the hand of the wicked.”

    Read the book of Job. In his severe test, Job lost everything he had, including his children. Yet he said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD [has] taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). Later he testified, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” (Job 13:15).

    The greatest threat of the coming suffering that lies ahead for the world is not an empty stomach, but a barren soul. To face the trials ahead, we must possess the power, presence, and promises of God! “Be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).

    Be faithful to the body of Christ. Be deeply involved in a local church that proclaims the Word of God. Soon, this family of God will be all that we really have in this world! We are commanded to “not [forsake] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as [you] see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

    Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

    The Madness in America

    Anyone who is really paying attention to the daily news events over the past few years will recognize that Ameri-cans seem to be entering a period of recklessness, while disregarding any threat to their own personal life or injury. It is as if we are living in a world that has become insane.

    In recent years, some states are threatening to break away from the union. Some rich Americans are leaving the country. More people seem to be driving recklessly, exhibiting a dangerous spirit of lawlessness. The abuse of alcohol and drugs is noticeably escalating. Altercations at public places and on airplanes are increasing. Violent crime murders are at an all-time high.

    All these observations are evidence that the spirit of law-lessness is escalating at an enormous rate. It is apparent that God’s restraining influence by His Spirit through the church is waning, just like the Bible said it would (2 Thessalonians 2:7). As the church becomes more like the world, it is losing its ability to be salt and light in our world (Matthew 5:13-16). As this restraining influence dissipates, sinners are becoming more militant, bold, and shameless. When the church [a godly remnant] is raptured, then the lawless one, the Antichrist, will step onto the stage of history (2 Thessalonians 2:8). As testified in the prophetic Scriptures, all this current madness will dramatically escalate, making this planet a very dangerous place to live. Praise God we are going home soon!

  • August 2022 – Conform or be Eliminated

           Proclaiming the Prophetic Word for 31 years!

    PTNews

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

    August 2022

    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

    Download this Newsletter

    Conform or be Eliminated

    “As many as would not worship the image of the beast [shall] be killed.”

    Revelation 13:15

    By Mike Wingfield

    Historically, there have been many dominant global kingdoms. Each one has left its mark of cruelty and slavery on the pages of history. An examination of current events demonstrates that once again, we are being groomed, for the final time, to conform to the whelms of evil men, or face sudden elimination.

    The history of the earth is a sad commentary on the depravity of man. The Bible declares, “for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). Since the time of the global flood and the origins of the nations, the world has been in turmoil with no peace or rest. Our world has been a place of constant conflict and war because sinful men have been driven to conquer and rule for their own glory. The Bible uses the imagery of the restless sea to depict the violent conquests of ruthless dictators, who, like Satan, are filled with pride, and want to control all of mankind. The Bible says, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20-21).

    These despots always hate God, His Word, and His people. They have no respect for biblical law, justice, morality, or mercy. Instead, they are liars, deceivers, thieves, sexual perverts, and murderers.

    There is always a clear line of contrast between those who are good and those who are evil. Those who are good reflect the nature of God, thus they love people and want to serve them. The evil ones hate people who are not like them and want to murder or enslave their opponents to gratify themselves. Read 1 John 3:7-15.

    The kind of power that sinful people want, grows out of a focus on being able to selfishly control other people to satisfy their own depraved desires. When the mother of two of Jesus’ disciples came to ask Him if her sons could have positions of power in Christ’s kingdom, listen to the answer Jesus gave to then. He said, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). God has a model of the style of leadership a person should exhibit at home (Ephesians 5:25-29), in the church (1 Peter 5:2-3), and in human government (Romans 13:1-7). God’s ideal leader is a person who has a servant’s heart toward God and those over whom he has been appointed to lead. His position of leadership must be one of submission to God because all authority belongs to God and flows from Him for His glory (Matthew 28:18).

    The Bible uses the beautiful analogy of God being a shepherd over believers who are like sheep. It is God who owns all these sheep, rules over them, and leads the flock. He cares for His sheep and provides for them (Psalm 23:1-6). The shepherd many times entrusts his sheep to another shepherd. In Jesus’ teaching about the good shepherd in John 10, Jesus explained that a good shepherd always cares for the sheep. When an evil shepherd is placed over a flock that does not belong to him, he allows the sheep to be killed because he is only focusing upon himself. In sharp contrast, the good shepherd will sacrifice his life for the sheep (John 10:15-18). Because of the prominence and dominance of depravity in the human heart, this kind of godly leadership is rare.

    The Bible teaches that the kingdoms of this world are like wild beasts. Both the prophet Daniel, in Daniel 7, and the apostle John, in the book of Revelation, referred to the wicked governments of men as being like wild beasts. In this analogy, they view the rule of oppressors as being unruly, fierce, vicious, cruel, wild, savage, and merciless. Like animals, they have no morals or conscience. They are simply driven by their lustful appetites.

    According to the Bible, this is the kind of global government that will conclude human history before Christ comes to establish His righteous kingdom upon this earth for 1,000 years. The final kingdom of this world will be headed by the man the Bible calls the Antichrist. He will be one of the evilest men who have ever ruled on the planet. Satan will see to that! He will be Satan’s masterpiece and puppet. He will be the embodiment of Satan. He will be the personification of lawlessness and immorality. He is called, the wicked or lawless one in 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

    The Bible says the Antichrist will “open his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13:6). The prophet Daniel wrote, “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak [monstrous] things against the God of gods” (Daniel 11:36).

    Revelation 13 gives many details about the origin, nature, and reign of the Antichrist. The Bible reveals this man will be empowered by the devil. Revelation 13:2 says, “and the dragon [Satan] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” He will be against God (verse 6), and against the saints of God (verse 7). This will be a satanically inspired and empowered world order that will be godless in every way. In my opinion, we are witnessing the prelude to this global world system at this very moment. The transformation taking place in America is shaping this nation to be a part of this wicked global government.

    When the Apostle John saw the entrance of the Antichrist onto the stage of history, he was symbolically described as a wild beast with seven heads, rising out of a tumultuous sea. Later, in Revelation 17:9-11, these seven heads are described as being symbolic of evil and ruthless kingdoms that rule over the world. John was told that five of these kingdoms were in the past. Using the first century as John’s reference point, that would indicate that these five global kingdoms were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. All these global empires had two major things in common: They all were vicious and cruel, and they all hated God and His people – Israel.

    For example, the Assyrian Empire, which ruled the world from 900 B.C. to 600 B.C., was known for its brutality. This culture left behind art caved in stone that demonstrated just how evil they were. They mastered the art of ancient warfare. They bragged about their techniques of torturing and killing their enemies. They impaled people on wooden beams while they were still alive, holding it up over the wall of the city so that other people in the city could see their friends writhing in pain at the end of a stick. (See picture of the Assyrian relief on this page.) They would flay people while they were alive, while rubbing salt on their open wounds. They would amputate people’s limbs, ears, or noses while they were still alive. Finally, they would decapitate their victims and pile their heads at the gate of the city to terrorize anyone who would later visit the area.

    The sixth head on the symbolic beast that represented the Antichrist’s kingdom was contemporary with the Apostle John – Rome. The seventh head was the kingdom that followed Rome. That was the Islamic Empire. It ruthlessly ruled the world from its inception in the later part of the 7th century until the end of World War 1 in 1917.

    Finally, the last kingdom that will rule over the world, the one-world government of the Antichrist, is described by John as the revival of the seventh empire – Islam. It is not an accident that Islam is the most protected religion by the evil leaders in the West. Since 1979, with the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran, we have witnessed the revival of this religion that dominated the world by the edge of the sword for 14 centuries. We should not be surprised that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. The stage is set for the final confrontation of an evil global empire against the holy God of heaven.

    The message of the imagery of the seven-headed beast is that the final kingdom of this world will be a composite of all the other evil, ruthless, and godless empires that preceded it. All these kingdoms forced their subjects to conform to their edicts or face elimination. We have many examples of this in the Bible. In the book of Daniel, the Jewish youth were cast into a fiery furnace for not bowing down to worship the Babylonian king when the music was played (Daniel 3). Daniel was cast into the lion’s den because he refused to stop praying to the God of heaven (Daniel 6).

    Our world is preparing it citizens to follow the commands of evil governments, or face elimination. This has been the case in Muslim and Communist countries for years. However, now in America, we are experiencing great governmental restrictions that are being placed upon people because they will not follow the rules of the government concerning COVID-19. The U.S. government issued stern mandates that called for all citizens to wear a mask when in public and to receive a series of vaccinations and boosters. Some who refused theses mandates have been forced out of employment and faced many other life-changing restrictions. Recently, the Biden Administration has attempted to expel 260,000 American service members because of their refusal to take COVID vaccinations which are causing death and serious health issues in people around the world. This is only the beginning of more restrictions to come!

    When a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court judges overturned the historic Roe versus Wade abortion decision, the lives of the conservative justices were threatened. Once again, the message is clear from the world, conform to our evil demands or be eliminated!

    When the kingdom of the Antichrist becomes a reality, he will demand conformity in three areas. Let us examine each of these.

    Political Conformity

    First, he will demand political conformity. Like Islamic and Communist countries, the Antichrist will rule the world with an iron fist. Because his authority and power come from Satan (Revelation 13:2), he will have complete, unrestrained freedom to do as he pleases, and no one will be able to stop him. The nations and individuals who oppose his political power will be eliminated.

    The Antichrist will surround himself with a military might that will swear total allegiance to him. At the very beginning of the Tribulation, he will appear on a white horse, which is exactly the way in which the Islamic authorities proclaim their messiah will arrive on earth. The Apostle John wrote, “… and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). This simply means that his political authority will be exercised by his military prowess. Daniel tells us that he will honor “the God of forces” [military might] (Daniel 11:38). His military might will enable him to increase in power and to eventually rule over the world (Daniel 11:39; Revelation 13:4, 7).

    Religious Conformity

    Secondly, the Antichrist will demand religious conformity. The arrogant pride of the Antichrist will lead him to view himself as a god (Daniel 11:36). He will enthrone himself as God in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem at the mid-point of the Tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Thus, he and his false prophet will demand that everyone on the planet must worship him (Revelation 13:12-15). If people refuse to worship him, they must be killed (Revelation 13:15). Once again, conform or be eliminated!

    In the West, and in Communist countries in the East, religious conformity would not be demanded. The West has exercised an illegitimate approach to human government that currently does not recognize or honor the God of the Bible. This is also the position of both Socialism and Communism. These political philosophies took root in the firm belief of atheism. Therefore, the Antichrist will not come from the western or Communist societies.

    The Arabic words on this flag are the Islamic statement called the shahada. It is the first of the five major beliefs of Islam. It means, “There is not God but Allah, and Muhammed is his prophet.”

    However, in the East, there is a group of nations that believe their political power grows out of their religious authority. These are the nations that are practicing a militant form of Islam – like the one established by their founding prophet, Muhammed. The nation of Iran is a perfect example of this kind of marriage between political power and religious authority.

    In Iran, those who openly refuse to conform to the religious/political authorities are quickly eliminated. Throughout the Islamic world, one of the official emblems is the sword of Allah. This sword appears on many of their flags and other documents. (See the picture above of the flag of Saudi Arabia with the sword of Allah on it.)

    Economic Conformity

    Finally, the Antichrist will demand economic conformity. Once he gains control of the entire world at the mid-point of the Tribulation, he will introduce his economic plan that will be forced upon every person on earth. Each person must show his submission to the Antichrist’s political and religious authority by receiving the numerical value of his name – 666 (Revelation 13:16-18). Once again, those who refuse to conform to his edict, will be eliminated. The method used to eliminate them will be beheading (Revelation 20:4). This has been a repeated practice in the Islamic world for centuries.

    There is only one religion that is protected by the liberal politicians in the West – Islam. The liberal culture in America and the West hate Biblical Christianity. Anyone can say whatever they want to say about the Bible, Christ, or the church. However, if someone speaks out against the Koran, Muhammed, or Allah, they are openly condemned and charged with a hate crime. Why this clear contradiction? The answer is simple – they hate the God of the Bible. Islam and the liberal West have one thing in common – they both hate Christianity. Jesus’ warning given to His disciples only minutes before He went to the cross explains why the world embraces Islamic terrorists but rejects peaceful Christians. Jesus told His disciples they would be hated because the world hates Him. Furthermore, He stated, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19).

    The world openly embraces anyone who hates Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Therefore, when the Muslim antichrist appears on the scene, they will receive him and worship him. Anyone who does not conform to his claim to deity and his exercise of complete global authority must be eliminated.

    True believers in Jesus Christ give total allegiance only to Him. The Bible is their only source of total authority. Therefore, they will conform only to the way and will of God. They realize that standing with God is standing on the side of life and that which is good. They will be determined to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). As God said to Israel in the days of Moses, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

    Evil leaders always set themselves up as God. They are in rebellion against Him and adopt the ways of Satan. Like Satan, they are focused upon their pride and their agenda. The Bible says, “The wicked through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4).

    The wicked have chosen the path of death. As believers, we are exhorted not follow in their path. The Bible has warned us, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. … The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:14, 19).

    Today, we hear foolish people speak about their rights and their choices. We do have freedom, but we must always honor the standards and commandments of God. We live in a foolish culture that believes there are no absolutes. They believe everything is subjective. Whatever a person decides is right is that path they will take. The Bible warns us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). We live in a world created by God. It is a world of absolutes.

    When we construct a building or wall, we must use a square and level to keep things plumb with gravity. Gravity is an unforgiving absolute. If a contractor does not follow the laws of gravity, whatever he has constructed will eventually collapse due to forces of gravity. Gravity does not change or adapt itself to a culture. It is a physical absolute.

    Electricity is another physical absolute. An electrician must use the best metals to conduct electrical current. The wire he uses must be properly insulated, grounded, and connected to the source of electrical current. If he fails to follow these rules, it could result in no electricity, poor electrical current, or an electrical system that is prone to injury or even the death of those who have trusted in his work.

    God has created a world with physical, moral, intellectual, and spiritual absolutes. All these absolutes are based upon the righteous and holy nature of God. Who God is, and what He has said and done are perfect. Speaking of God, the Bible declares, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

    When a person comes to Christ for salvation, he must order his steps according to the way and will of God. He will not follow the sinful culture, or the evil commands of his government. The Bible gives us the following commandment, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). The renewing of the mind comes when we search the Scriptures to discover who God is and know the path of life He has set before us. We must be determined to not just know Him, but to also obey Him. Our faith is far more than an intellectual pursuit. It is a passion to have a relationship with Him, to obey Him and to become like Him.

    We are living in a water-shed era. The world order that came into being as a result of World War I is rapidly fading off of the scene. Prior to WWI, the East had dominated the world for millennia of time since the collapse of the Roman Empire. After WWI, the West became the dominant force in the world. It took about 30 years for the U.S. to raise to the top of the political heap to assume the leadership in the West. Now, all of this is rapidly changing. The western powers are collapsing from within.

    A New-World Order is coming. But is it new? As we examine the pages of history, it appears that our world is reverting to the same style of evil government that has been its pattern in the past. The New World Order is really an Old-World Order that is ruled by tyrannical governments that enslave their people and rule with an uncompromising power that threatens all who oppose it. This is exactly what the Bible has predicted will take place.

    According to the Bible, the conflict of the last days will return to the powers in the East that surround Israel. The current attempts to appease the radical Islamic leadership of Iran is a perfect example of where we are on the timetable of end-time events. The United Nations has turned a blind eye to the nuclear ambitions of Iran. While they might not openly admit it, it might be because most of the nations within the U.N. hate the God of the Bible, and therefore they hate Israel. According to the Bible, the enemies of Israel are also the enemies of God (Psalm 83:1-5). It is a known fact that the one nation that is condemned more than any other within the U.N. is the little nation of Israel. They are constantly reprimanded for defending themselves against Islamic aggression. It is as if they are saying, “Let your enemies destroy you!” Israel is the nation they all love to hate! It seems apparent that most of the world would rejoice if Iran were to eliminate the Jewish nation.

    Oh, that Jesus would come today! Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

  • July 2022 – This World is not our Home

           Proclaiming the Prophetic Word for 31 years!

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

    July 2022

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    All Bible references are from the KJV

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

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    This World is not our Home

    “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” Hebrews 13:14

    By Mike Wingfield

    As believers in Jesus Christ, we grieve over the moral, economic, and political collapse of our nation and world. A spirit of lawlessness has enslaved America. At the heart of this lawlessness is the rejection of God, His Son, the Bible, and the Body of Christ – the church. Read Psalm 2. Years ago, I described the United States as standing on a cliff, ready to plunge to its death as a free nation. It is apparent that we have leaped from the precipice and are in a rapid freefall that will end in our sudden demise as a sovereign nation. We are being deceived if believe we can turn the tide of wickedness, immorality, violence, and foolishness that are gripping this nation.

    The Bible records for us the process of a nation that arrives at the spiritual point of no return. When this occurs, God gives them up. Read Romans 1:18-32. We have arrived at such a point. In my opinion, based on Scripture and what we see in our nation, we are beyond turning back. When God gives up on a wicked culture, He removes the work of the Holy Spirit in the consciences of the wicked and they are left to the demise of their own foolish and wicked desires. As evidence, I point to the militant demand for the acceptance of all forms of sexually deviant lifestyles. We are also witnessing riots and protests in rebellion against the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse the federal government’s control over abortion. These events and others clearly demonstrate the wickedness that has permeated this nation. Some people today are like the militant homosexuals who surrounded the house of Lot and demanded that he release the two young men [who were really angels of God] so they could sexually abuse them throughout the night (Genesis 19:4-11).

    Listen to what the Bible says about a society where wickedness rules in the hearts of men.

    Psalm 7:11– “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”

    Psalm 9:17– “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

    Psalm 10:1-18– Read this Psalm and think about what we are witnessing in America.

    Psalm 12:8– “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.”

    Psalm 14:1– “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

    As believers, we must be careful to not allow the hopelessness of our world to cause us to worry, despair, or be depressed. We must focus upon the blessed hope that this world is not our home. The Bible tells us these days would come. Clearly, they are now here. We are witnessing a powerful testimony that the coming of our Lord is very near. His time of wrathful judgment is coming upon the wicked world system and those who promote it.

    I fear that many professing Christians have allowed themselves to fall in love with the world. Their love for the world is greater than their love for their Savior and their true home in heaven. Christians today are enamored with the world’s forms of entertainment [TV, movies, music, computer games, sports, etc.]. But they have little or no time for God. Most professing Christians never read the Bible. Their hobbies, sports, and recreation are more important than pursuing a passionate relationship with God.

    I am convinced that most Christians in the West do not want Jesus to return now. They are very comfortable in this world. The world is satisfying the fleshly longings of their lives. Their faith is weak, and they would rather live here than in heaven with Jesus. This is evidenced by the fact that the preaching of the prophetic Word frightens them. The hope of the imminent Rapture should comfort us (1 Thessalonians 4:18) and give us hope (Titus 2:13). The believer should take great comfort in the vengeful wrath of God that will be poured out upon the wicked during the Tribulation. Read in the book of Revelation what the angels and church in heaven will say when they know that the vengeful wrath of God is taking place on earth (Revelation 11:15-19; 19:1-3).

    Most pastors are only preaching about the blessings of God in this life here on earth. This is not the foundation of our faith. We have been made for God and eternity. What this world has to offer is empty compared to the food for our souls when we walk with God. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

    When the Bible refers to “the world,” what does it mean? The original languages of the Bible have three primary words that speak of “the world.” It can speak of the land or creation, the age or time in which we live, or it refers to the ungodly world system. Predominately, the New Testament uses the Greek word kosmos to refer to the order or system of the world that appeals to our sinful nature. This word is used 186 times in the New Testament. The frequency of the reference to this world system should cause us to realize that this is a subject that is very significant for the believer to grasp.

    The kosmos speaks of the deceitful power, possessions, prestige, positions, and pleasures that this world system has to offer. It was the prideful desire for these things that caused the good angel, Lucifer, to fall into sin (Isaiah 14:12-14). Now this angel is called Satan, and he has brought his prideful desires to earth to bring death and corruption to all of mankind. It is his goal to bring men and governments into his orbit of influence. He wants to use them as pawns to attack the God Who made everything for His glory. In John 12:31, Jesus referred to the devil as “the prince [ruler] of this world.” This clearly indicates that Satan is in control of this world system. When Satan tempted Jesus at the beginning of His earthly ministry, he offered Him control and ownership over “all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” (Matthew 4:8). Jesus rejected Satan’s offer because He knew this would lead Him to serving the devil. Satan is still offering power, possessions, prestige, positions, and pleasure to all who will worship and serve him. Most people on earth have accepted his lies and are only living for what the devil has to offer.

    My friend, you cannot serve God and the world system. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and [the things of this world system]” (Matthew 6:24).

    Satan tempts us with the things of this world because he knows they will lure us away from God. You cannot walk in the Spirit and desire the ways of the world system. Read Galatians 5:16-21. They are opposed to each other. They war against each other. The Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16). The spirit of this world system is evil, sensual, and is of the devil, not of God (James 3:15).

    Before we came to Christ, we were following the way of the world. We were following Satan. The Apostle Paul described the former life of the believer as those who “walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).

    When a person comes to Christ for salvation, he must repent of his sins. His enemy is his own sin nature, the world system, and Satan. Those who walk with God will always be at war with these three entities. This is the daily struggle of the Christian life.

    God expects us to overcome the alluring ways of this world. 1 John 5:4-5 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

    Jesus prayed the night before Calvary for His disciples. Listen to His prayer, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16). Jesus had repeatedly warned His disciples that the people in the satanic world system would hate Him and His followers. We are not like the lost. Our goals, thoughts, lifestyles, and words should be different. We do not fit in with their godless way of thinking and living.

    God expects us to live in this world, but to not allow the world to overcome us and make us like it. Our assignment is to proclaim the gospel of salvation and convince people they need to become like Christ and His true church. We have been called to a life of holiness (1 Peter 1:13-15).

    If we are walking with God and in the power of His Spirit, we will not be comfortable in this world. This world is not our home. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). The heartbeat of our lives will be fixed upon our home with Christ in heaven. We will “set [our] affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

    There are at least six biblical reasons why this world should not be our home.

    1. The World is Ungodly.

    As previously mentioned, the world system is controlled by the devil. It is a system that is evil and is the exact opposite of the nature of God – Who is holy. That is why the Bible declares that anyone who loves the world does not have the love of the Father in Him (1 John 2:15). It is impossible to love evil and holiness at the same time. They are directly opposed to one another.

    When a Christian looks to the world with great affection, he is demonstrating that he is not walking in the Spirit. Instead, he is walking in step with his own sin nature, which is anchored in this world. He is living for self rather than Christ. We should not allow the world to pour us into its mold. We are commanded, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). We must reprogram our minds so we can think like God. That is done only through serious meditation upon the Word of God. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). We are set apart from the world when we allow the Word of God to take root in our thinking (John 17:17; James 1:21).

    2. The World is Temporal.

    Man was originally made for eternity to live in the presence of God (Hebrews 13:14). This world system is only temporary. We are commanded to not love the world because it is passing away (1 John 2:17). When we live only for the things of this world, we are working for something that will eventually disappear. The Bible declares, “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:17).

    This home, our present world, is like a dilapidated house that has been inspected and slated for demolition. In contrast, God is eternal (Psalm 102:25-28). If we are like God, we will invest in things and matters that are eternal. Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust [consume] and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust [consume] and where thieves do not break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). The treasure of our heart is where our heart [mind] is. Think about that. What do you think about the most? Are you heavenly minded, or worldly minded? That is where your treasure is!

    3. The World is the Enemy of God!

    As followers of Christ, we stand with Him against His enemies. The Bible asks us to examine our heart and ask this question, “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4) Then, the Bible declares, “Whoseover therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

    The world hates God and all that is of God. Jesus told His disciples that the world hates that which is of God and loves its own (John 15:18-25). We are at war with the devil and his world system. We must guard our hearts and fight the good fight of our faith with God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-17). Too many churches are attempting to make the church like the world to win the world. That is impossible. We must call the saints of God to come out of the world and live holy lives. We cannot flirt with the world and walk with a holy God!

    When we give our soul to the world, we are acting like spiritual adulterers (James 4:4). To become a Christian is to make Christ the Lord and love of your life. No one and nothing should come before Him. He must be first in our lives!

    4. The World Overpowers the Soul!

    It is the goal of Satan and his world system to kidnap our hearts and souls and lead us astray from the presence and blessings of God. The Apostle Paul gave the following warning, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Those who are of this world operate in a realm of spiritual darkness. The ways of God are foolishness to them. Their whole way of life is enveloped in a world that promises to give man what only God can provide.

    There is not enough room in the human heart to follow God and the world. Jesus shared a parable about a person who claimed to be a believer. Jesus compared the heart of the person to the seed of the gospel that was sown in the soil the human heart. This believer’s heart crowed out the word of God because of the thorns and weeds that were present in the soil of his heart. Jesus explained the problem as follows, “He also that received the seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

    Unfortunately, after more than 50 years of ministry, I have noticed that most who attend church on a weekly basis and claim to be saved are spiritually unfruitful. That simply means they are not really serving the Lord and producing spiritual fruit [works] that will count for eternity. The reason for this is that the cares of this world have crowded out the influence and impact of the Word sown in their hearts. Sitting in church, they may be convicted. However, when they leave church, their minds drift back to the cares of this world and they forget about what God has said to them. Therefore, their life is spiritually empty, and they are living just like those in the world who do not know Christ.

    It takes great discipline and time in God’s Word to overcome the influence of the world upon us. We must develop great spiritual vision to focus on the blessings that we cannot see, rather than focus upon the tangible things that overwhelm our lives. Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-18.

    5. The World does not Feed the Soul

    We have been created as a physical/spiritual being. We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Unlike animals, we have an inner being – a spirit, soul, and conscience. When we are physically born in a state of sin, our inner man is dead (Ephesians 2:1). When we are saved, our inner man is born-again. Therefore, we must feed the soul, just like we need to feed the body. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). When the inward man is fed, that is when we have peace, power, strength, confidence, contentment, and joy. The world system cannot feed the soul. For the soul, the world brings deception, turmoil, weakness, confusion, and frustration. The stuff of this world does not fill the hunger of the soul that was created to have a relationship and fellowship with God.

    The things of this world may deceptively satisfy a person for a while. But soon they will be empty again. Only Jesus and the things of God can bring eternal joy to the soul. Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

    6. This World is not our Home.

    When the mind of the believer is transformed by the truth of God’s Word, he will realize that this world is not his home. Our home is wherever Christ is (Colossians 3:1-4). Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). The Bible proclaims that we are “strangers and pilgrims” on this earth (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11). A stranger is a person that does not belong where he is. He is different from the local people around him. He may look, dress, and act differently than those around them. His language will set him apart from the culture. When fashions, actions, and language are ungodly, the believer should refrain from what is customary.

    A pilgrim is a tourist. He knows he is just visiting until he makes his journey home. This is the attitude the believer should have about living in this world.

    The walk of faith that illustrates the believer’s lifestyle of longing for home, while avoiding being attached to this world, is best illustrated in the contrasting lifestyles of Abraham and Lot.

    Abraham was called by God out of the pagan culture of Ur of the Chaldees (Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8-9). As Abraham walked by faith, he received the revelation from God about “a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). As he wandered about on the earth as a stranger and pilgrim, he kept looking to the future, and longing for the city of God (Hebrews 11:13-16).

    When Abraham’s and Lot’s shepherds began to quarrel in the Promised Land, they needed to separate. Abraham allowed Lot to choose between the hill country, and the plain of Jordan which was well-watered near the five wicked cities by the Dead Sea (Genesis 13:5-10). Abraham knew that His God would provide for him, and He was not concerned about the choice Lot would make. Lot chose the well-watered plains, which did not require trusting God for rain. Lot was also drawn toward the wealth and pleasures of the cities of the plain. We know from extra biblical records that these five cities were along the caravan route of the ancient world and provided a variety of wealth not available in the hill country where Abraham was living. The lucrative trading within these cities allowed the people to explore the sinful pleasures offered by their opportunities and the constant traffic from the ancient world. One of these cities was named Zeboim, which means “wild place.” In comparison, these cities were the ancient version of Las Vegas.

    Unlike Abraham, Lot chose to be a citizen of a wicked world system. He chose a land that was more conducive to the easy way of life away from God. Lot’s life was anchored in what the world had to offer, while Abraham’s life was focused upon pleasing God.

    Lot’s lifestyle cost him dearly. When the time came for God to extract Lot and his family from the cities He was to destroy, they did not leave with a willing heart. Most of Lot’s family would not leave and were destroyed in the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:14). Lot’s wife loved her family and life in Sodom so much that she disobeyed God and looked back, turning to a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Lot’s choice and lifestyle cost him the lives of his family! What a heavy price to pay!!!

    I fear that far too many believers, like Lot, have set their sights on the world’s lifestyle and pleasures. We need to be like Abraham. We need to walk by faith, trust God, and keep looking for the city built by God.

    The Lord is coming to rescue us from the destruction and death of the Tribulation Period. Are we ready to go? Or are we like Lot and his family who were far too attached to the pleasures of this world and therefore reluctant to leave a world marked for destruction from the wrath of God?

    “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

    Be READY for the shout that will take us out!