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2015 November/December – Jesus is a Jew

Jesus is a Jew

“I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star”

– Revelation 22:16

By Mike Wingfield

A few weeks ago, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the former pastor of our president, openly declared at a massive gathering in Washington D.C. that Jesus was a “Palestinian.” This is nothing new! For several years, the Palestinian leadership, while speaking to Christian tourists in Manger Square in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, has declared that Jesus was a Palestinian freedom fighter. Those who know the Word of God realize this is an absolute lie!

We are living at a time when the world rejects the truth about the Biblical Jesus. Many people have created their own version of Jesus. We live in a culture with a secular, consumer-oriented mindset that celebrates diversity instead of truth. Thus, it is very attractive for people to create a Jesus that meets their needs and desires. This mindset is expressed in a very popular contemporary song we hear at Christmas, entitled “Some Children See Him.” The lyrics are: “Some children see Him lily white, the baby Jesus born that night. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, the Lord of heaven to earth come down. Some children see Him almond-eyed, this Savior whom we kneel beside. Some children see Him as dark as they, sweet Mary’s Son, to whom we pray. …” This is not a song that true believers should sing or celebrate. Clearly, the Biblical Jesus is not everything to everybody in every culture. He is the sinless and eternal incarnate God-Man, who must be identified as the Jewish Lamb of God!

The denial of Jesus’ Jewish incarnation is part of a very devious and rapidly growing global movement aimed at destroying Biblical Christianity. This movement is motivated by a hatred for the Jewish people in general and the nation of Israel in particular.

This hatred of Jews and Israel has always existed within certain strains of the professing church. The denial of Jesus’ Jewishness is the ultimate extension of the dangerous doctrine of “Replacement Theology,” which teaches that God has permanently divorced the Jewish people as His chosen people. Those who proclaim this message say the church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people. This teaching is a part of the dangerous apostasy of the last days. It has permeated churches in America. It is reported that approximately 67 percent of the pastors in the U.S. are teaching this! Therefore, it is very important that we know what the Bible teaches and are able to expose this lie about our Lord and Savior. What we think and believe about Jesus is at the very heart and foundation of our faith.

As we begin to examine the evidence that Jesus is a Jew, we must not forget the context of the entire Bible. The Bible is a divine revelation by the Holy One of Israel, given through the prophets and apostles of Israel. Many of the names of the God of the Bible directly connect Him with the Jewish people. The message about the Messiah and Redeemer of the Bible is immersed in the land, history, customs, and language of the Jewish people. Jesus declared to the Samaritan woman at the well: “Salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) Therefore, the attempt to alter the Jewish identity of Jesus ignores the very divine fabric of the sovereign plan of God for all of mankind.

Let us begin to examine the Biblical evidence of the Jewish identity of Jesus. I pray that this brief overview of this Biblical truth will strengthen your faith and enable you to defend the truth about our Savior. As we shall discover, to err on this truth leads to dangerous and deadly consequences.

His Past: Jesus’ Incarnation and Earthly Ministry as a Jew

The New Testament begins with a clear statement about the Jewish identity of Jesus. “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1) The Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Matthew to begin the New Testament with the genealogy of Jesus Christ through His legal father, Joseph. Matthew 1:1-17 traces the ancestry of Joseph through King David to Abraham. It is absolutely necessary to demonstrate that Jesus has the legal right to the throne of David. (2 Samuel 7:12-16) If Jesus is not a Jewish descendent of King David, then He could not be the Messiah and rule over Israel during the future millennial kingdom! (Luke 1:31-33) Obviously, this is a major teaching of the Scriptures. Not only is Jesus the legal descendent of King David, but through His mother, Mary, He is also a physical descendent of King David. Luke 3:12-38 traces the physical ancestry of Mary through King David and Abraham to Adam. Therefore, it is biblically indisputable that Jesus was legally and physically born a Jew.

Jesus’ godly parents raised Jesus under the law of Moses and followed all of the Jewish traditions and customs of their day. Jesus was circumcised according to the law on the eighth day. (Leviticus 12:1-3; Luke 2:21) He was redeemed with the payment of five shekels according to the Jewish law. (Numbers 18:15-16; Luke 2:22-23) Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem every year to keep the feast of the Passover. (Luke 2:41) The account of Jesus sitting with the experts of the law at the temple when He was only 12, certainly illustrates that He was diligently schooled in the Old Testament Scriptures. Luke 2:47 states “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”

All of Jesus’ names and titles are Jewish. The angel told Joseph that the baby Mary was to deliver was to be called “JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) The name “Jesus” was a common Jewish name, the same as the Old Testament name of Joshua.

Hundreds of times in the New Testament, the name Jesus is accompanied by the title “Christ.” The Greek word (the language of the original New Testament) “Christ” is the translation of the Hebrew word (the original language of the Old Testament) “Messiah,” which means “anointed one.” Literally, the name Jesus Christ means “Jesus the Messiah.” Obviously, in the larger context of the Bible, it is understood that Jesus was recognized by the New Testament writers as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. Therefore, when a person refers to Jesus as Christ, they are openly recognizing that Jesus is a Jew.

Jesus was also called “the King of the Jews” (John 19:19), “the King of Israel” (John 12:13), “the son of David” (Mark 10:47), “the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1), “Rabbi” (John 3:2), and “Jesus of Nazareth” (John 19:19). All of these titles indicate that Jesus was a Jew.

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Jewish Messiah and the God of Israel in the Old Testament. While speaking to a Jewish audience in John 8, Jesus declared that He lived at the time of Abraham. He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) Many times in His earthly ministry Jesus said “I am…” Jesus knew that His people would connect these “I am” statements to the appearance of God to Moses at the burning bush, when He identified Himself as the “I AM THAT I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) In the very next verse, God instructed Moses to tell the children of Israel that the “I AM” is “The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (Exodus 3:15) Therefore, in all of His “I am” statements, Jesus was claiming to be the eternal God of Israel that revealed Himself to Moses and to Abraham. Jesus taught His followers that He was the direct and literal fulfillment of all of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. (Luke 24:26-27, 44-47)

The New Testament teaches that Jesus is the redemptive fulfillment of all of the Jewish sacrifices in the Old Testament. (Hebrews 9:11-10:14) Most perfectly, He is the ultimate Passover Lamb. (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 5:7) When Jesus was introduced to His generation at His baptism, John said: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Throughout the book of Revelation, Jesus is called “the Lamb.” (Revelation 5:6, 12, 13; 7:9; 12:11; 14:4; 19:7, 9; 21:14, 22-23, 27; 22:3) Certainly, this unique title of Jesus within the context of the Bible speaks of His Jewish identity.

According to the gospels, Jesus practiced and taught about the Jewish customs in His time, and kept the Biblical traditions of His day. He observed the Feasts of Israel and visited the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem frequently.
[Click here to view the picture]

www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jan/09/christianity-judaism

This artist’s portrayal of what Jesus may have looked like is probably more accurate than the more famous images that in many ways deny or ignore Jesus’ Jewish identity.

Jesus’ earthly ministry was distinctly Jewish. Some people think that because Jesus is the cornerstone of the church (Ephesians 2:20) that His ministry was a Christian ministry. Therefore, they conclude that He was a Christian, not a Jew. However, we must remember that Jesus always spoke of the church in the future tense (Matthew 16:18) because the church was not born until the Feast of Pentecost after Jesus had ascended back to heaven. (Acts 2) Jesus never preached in a church. He preached in Jewish synagogues throughout Israel. (Mark 1:39) Furthermore, it is a mistake to think that a Jew cannot be a Christian. All of the early church believers from Acts 1-9 were Jewish. A Jew is a person who has a physical ancestry that is traced back to one of the 12 tribes of Israel. However, a Christian is a person who has spiritually entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Spiritual salvation is “of the Jews.” (John 4:22) The gospel of Christ is the “power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first.” (Romans 1:16) Therefore, while Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, and the church is built upon Him, in the strictest sense, Jesus was not a Christian, but a Jew. As explained by the Apostle Paul, the life of the church comes from its Jewish roots in Jesus Christ and the Jewish Scriptures. (Romans 11:11-24)

All of Jesus’ associates in His ministry were Jewish. His disciples were Jewish. (Mark 1:16-20) His audience was almost exclusively Jewish. (Matthew 10:5-6) His opponents were the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 22:15-40) His message consisted of an offer of the kingdom of God to Israel. (Matthew 10:7; Luke 8:1) While identifying with the Jewish law and prophets, and proclaiming a kingdom message, Jesus appeared with Moses and Elijah in His transfiguration. (Luke 9:28-36)

Furthermore, Jesus’ earthly ministry took place within the land of Israel. He was born in Bethlehem, and grew up in Nazareth. He was tempted in the Judean wilderness. Jesus’ ministry was centered in Galilee. He fulfilled many prophecies about Himself in Jerusalem. He preached in Israel’s cities and villages. He visited Jacob’s well at Sychar. He performed miracles throughout Israel. He was buried in a Jewish tomb, and ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives. Jesus was recognized as a Jew by His historical contemporaries. The Jewish people called Jesus rabbi, the Son of David, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus of Galilee, a prophet of Israel, and Messiah. All of these names and titles would clearly mark Him as a Jew. When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water from Jacob’s well at Sychar, she responded: “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?” for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:9)

During His ministry, Jesus identified with the Jewish people, calling them “my brethren.” (Matthew 25:40; 28:10) Those who hate Jews should remember that Jesus is Jewish and that the Jewish people are His people. Those who hate or harm the Jewish people are touching “the apple of his eye.” (Zechariah 2:8)

His Present: Jesus is the Jewish God-Man in Heaven

The same Jesus who appeared to the disciples as the resurrected Jewish Messiah, is the same Jesus who is in heaven today. Several years after the ascension, Jesus spoke to Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul) on the road to Damascus in the language of the Jews, Hebrew. (Acts 26:14) Today, Jesus functions as our Jewish High Priest in heaven. Hebrews 2:16-17 declares: “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” In Revelation 5:5, Jesus is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.” Therefore, we must conclude that Jesus is the eternally glorified Jewish God-Man in heaven. His Jewish robe of flesh that He began to wear during His earthly incarnation will continue to be the nature of His divine revelation in His state of eternal glorification. This was certainly the declared truth of the two angels to the disciples on the Mount of Olives at Jesus’ ascension to heaven. They said: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

His Future: Jesus will return to earth as the Jewish King of Kings

When Jesus bodily returns to this earth in His awesome revelation at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will have the same resurrected body that He ascended to heaven with almost two thousand years ago. The ancient prophet of Zechariah wrote that when Jesus returns, His people will mourn when they recognize that their Messiah is the One that was crucified outside the ancient walls of Jerusalem in 30 A.D. Zechariah wrote: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. … And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” (Zechariah 12:10; 13:6)

When Jesus returns as the Jewish “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16), He will return first to the Mount of Olives. (Zechariah 14:4) He will judge the surviving Gentile nations on the basis of how they have treated His Jewish brethren. (Matthew 25:40) He will establish His kingdom of peace upon all of the earth, ruling from the “holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:6) As promised to His apostles in the Upper Room at His last Passover, He will once again celebrate the Passover with all of the redeemed nation of Israel in Jerusalem. (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18) It is emphatically clear from Scripture that the kingdom over which Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, will reign will be a Jewish kingdom. (Isaiah 2:1-5; 60:1-22; Zechariah 14:16-21)

Why is all of this so relevant and significant to our faith? According to the gospel, our faith is firmly anchored in the person of the biblical Jesus! Our faith must be grounded in the historical Jesus whom the apostles portrayed in the gospels. To change anything about His spiritual or physical identity as determined by the eternal “counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23), is to reject the Lamb of God! Rejecting God’s Lamb is the same as rejecting God’s salvation. They are one and the same. Jesus said to His Jewish disciples as they celebrated the Passover, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Contrary to what many believe, God has not divorced the Jewish people from His calling as a people set apart unto Himself for His eternal purposes. The Lord said to Israel through His servant Moses: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people. But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he hath sworn unto your fathers…“ (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) God’s choice of Israel as His chosen people is not based upon their performance, but upon His unconditional promises and unchanging character. It is not based upon Israel’s accomplishments, but God’s faithfulness. At the end of the Old Testament, even after all of Israel’s rebellion against Him, the Lord declared: “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)

God’s blessings upon the nation of Israel in the last days is not because of their faithfulness to Him. Concerning the last days and the supernatural return of the Jewish people back to the land of Israel, Ezekiel wrote: “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes; O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.” (Ezekiel 36:22)

The question of God’s divorcement of Israel was being considered in the early days of the Church Age. When the Apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the church at Rome in 56 A.D., he was directed by the Holy Spirit to deal with this matter. He wrote: “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.” (Romans 11:1-2) Later in this same chapter, Paul explained that the very spiritual life of the predominately Gentile church flows out of believing Israel. Using the analogy of Israel as a domesticated olive tree and the Gentiles as a wild olive tree, Paul explains that the Gentile believers in Jesus Christ have been grafted into the Jewish faith, both of which have the same Jewish roots. (Romans 11:11-24) The predominately Gentile church enjoys the life and fruit of God because of its connection to the Jewish roots of faith. (Romans 11:18) This text explains that the Gentile church has not replaced the Jewish salvation through a Jewish Savior and a Jewish revelation, the Word of God. Believing Gentiles have been grafted in, but the Jewish roots have not been altered! To take away the Jewish identity of Jesus is to kill the Jewish roots and would thus kill the true church which receives its life from the Jewish roots.

Therefore, anyone who willfully rejects the Jewish identity of Jesus and hates the Jewish people has been deceived and is in opposition to God. According to Psalm 83:2-4, those who hate Israel also hate God and are the enemies of God. The rejection of a Jewish Jesus and the hatred for Israel are one and the same! This fact is illustrated in the life of Adolf Hitler. On April 12, 1922, Hitler said: “My feelings as a Christian point me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded only by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God’s truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter. In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. How terrific was His fight for the world against the Jewish poison. Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before in the fact that it was for this that He had to shed His blood upon the Cross.”

Hitler arrived at his conclusions because of the writings of a German pastor, Martin Luther. While Martin Luther was instrumental in bringing about the reformation, he failed to fully grasp the entire revelation of God. Unfortunately, Luther was trapped in the false teachings of Replacement Theology that had preceded him in Catholicism. His anti-Semitic writings and statements clearly illustrate this. His anti-Semitic teachings ultimately led Hitler and the Germans to brutally murder one-half of the world’s Jewish population in the Holocaust.
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A member of Westboro Baptist Church during a public rally

The statements of Jesus (Matthew 10:22; 24:9), and the context of the prophetic Scriptures (Revelation 12) indicate that at the end of this age there will be a great revival of hatred for Jews and for Israel. At this very hour we are witnessing an incredible resurgence of hatred being directed toward the Jewish population in Israel. Even here in the United States, anti-Semitism is growing out of control. As in Nazi Germany, this movement toward socialism and a godless agenda is being fueled by a professing church that rejects a Jewish Jesus and openly adopts replacement theology. These parallels are very frightening!

We continue to hear that the fastest growing religion in the world and in America is Islam. Islam teaches that Jesus was not Jewish, but is a Muslim. They believe that when their Islamic messiah arrives he will be accompanied by Jesus, who they say will destroy churches, break crosses, and kill anyone who will not convert to Islam. Obviously, underlining all of this is the Islamic hatred for Israel and the Jewish people. The most dangerous and venomous hatred for Israel and the Jews is propagated within Islamic circles around the world. The reason Islam is growing so rapidly around the world is because it proclaims a message that the godless world wants to hear and mimic. A part of that attractive message is a hatred for Jews, Israel, and the church.

The war that ISIS is waging in the Middle East is based upon their view of a Muslim Jesus, which is traced back to the teachings and lifestyle of their founding prophet, Mohammed. This is why ISIS is decapitating and crucifying Christians. ISIS continues to state that their ultimate goal is to capture Jerusalem and kill all of the Jews in Israel. This is exactly what the Antichrist and his armies will do on a global scale during the Tribulation Period.

My friend, I hope that you are beginning to see how dangerous and deadly it is to deny that Jesus is a Jew. On the surface it may appear that this is not a serious matter. However, to deny the Jewish identity of Jesus is to unravel the very divine fabric of the Word of God. God’s eternal choice of the Jewish people covers the entire Bible from Genesis 12 to the last chapters of the Bible in the book of Revelation. As a matter of fact, the eternal city in which we will dwell forever is called the “new Jerusalem.” (Revelation 21:2) This city will have 12 gates, on which will be written “the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” (Revelation 21:12) And, the 12 walls of the city will contain “the names of the twelve [Jewish] apostles of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:14)

I wish to conclude this article with a quote from biblicalaracheology.org: “To wrench Jesus out of his Jewish world destroys Jesus and destroys Christianity, the religion that grew out of his teachings. Even Jesus’ most familiar role as Christ is a Jewish role. If Christians leave the concrete realities of Jesus’ life and of the history of Israel in favor of a mythic, universal, spiritual Jesus and an otherworldly kingdom of God, they deny their origins in Israel, their history, and the God who has loved and protected Israel and the church. They cease to interpret the actual Jesus sent by God and remake him in their own image and likeness. The dangers are obvious. If Christians violently wrench Jesus out of his natural, ethnic and historical place within the people of Israel, they open the way to doing equal violence to Israel, the place and people of Jesus. This is a lesson of history that haunts us all [as we begin the 21st century].” (www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/was-jesus-a-jew)

Major Oil Discovery in Israel

Several news sources are reporting that a major oil deposit has been discovered by Israel on the Golan Heights near the border with Syria. Those who have completed this exploration indicate that the size of this oil pocket will make Israel energy independent for several years. All of this follows the discovery of massive natural gas deposits off the coast of Israel in the last few years.

These reports are significant because they illustrate that Israel is becoming a major economic player in the Middle East. According to Ezekiel 38:12-13, the nations of the Middle East will join Russia in a war to seize Israel’s wealth. With the military forces of Russia and Iran gathering in Syria to fight against the Sunni radicals that are attempting to overthrow the Syrian government, and this discovery of oil, just a few miles away on the Golan Heights, all of this could be setting the stage for the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel. “Sputnik News, an international news agency wholly owned and operated by the Russian government, is already claiming that the oil belongs to Syria. ‘The oil deposit lies in the Golan Heights, which is internationally recognized as Syrian territory but has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 war between Israel and Arab states.’” (www.breakingisraelnews.com)

Jewish Immigration up by 35 percent

One of the most frequent prophetic promises in the Bible is the return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland- Israel in the last days. The Lord has declared: “I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” (Jeremiah 30:3) Israel’s population now stands at 8.4 million, of which 6.3 (74.9 percent) are Jewish. In the last Jewish year there was a 35 percent increase in Jewish immigration to Israel over previous years. Most of these Jewish people came from Ukraine (26 percent), France (25 percent), Russia (21 percent), and the United States (9 percent).

I have witnessed this immigration trend during the 30 years I have been traveling to Israel. I remember asking several Israeli Jews why they immigrated to Israel and their response was, “Something inside of me said it was time to come home.” In the 1990s, I remember being in the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv and watching an entire jet load of Russian Jews flood the immigration lines.

The Lord is speaking to the world through this process. In Ezekiel 36:22-24, God said to the returning Jews in the last days: “I do not this for your sakes: O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, … And I will sanctify my great name, … and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”

The Lord of heaven has married the Jewish people to the land of Israel. (Isaiah 62:4-5) “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:6) The world, and especially the current U.S. administration is attempting to remove the Jewish people from the heartland (the “West Bank”) of what the Lord has promised to His chosen people. The world is at war with God. To God, the inhabitants of the earth are “as grasshoppers.” (Isaiah 40:22) Do you know what happens when the grasshoppers declare war on the God of the universes? “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh.” (Psalm 2:4)

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2015 October The Rise of the Final Superpower State- Israel

The Rise of the Final Superpower State- Israel

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. ” – Malachi 3:6

By Mike Wingfield

The tiny nation of Israel is divinely destined to become the final superpower state. At its humble beginning in 1948, there were only 600,000 Jews living in the Promised Land when the world witnessed the revival of an ancient nation, reborn to join the nations of the world in the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, this tiny nation, about the size of New Jersey, has defied conventional wisdom. Not only has it survived 67 years, but it has thrived, and confronted the entire world. God’s Word, as declared in His infallible book, the Bible, will come to pass. The power and presence of this little nation, like David facing Goliath, is destined to demonstrate to the world that there is a God in heaven.

It is not an accident that the entire world, including the Vatican and the U.S. administration, is currently collaborating on the demise of the modern nation of Israel. This is not a surprise to the Almighty! Long ago, the Psalmist declared that the leaders of the world would unite in their opposition to God’s Messiah and His eternal plans. (Psalm 2:1-3) According to the Bible, the final global attempt to wrestle the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem from the Jewish people will take place at the end of the Tribulation Period at the Battle of Armageddon. At Armageddon, the Lord will return from heaven in all of His power and divine majesty to bring a final and lasting retribution against the evil global agenda to destroy Israel. (Zechariah 14:2-3) “For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” (Isaiah 34:8) The divinely stated reason for God’s reckoning at Armageddon against the New World Order of the Antichrist is found in Joel 3:2. There, the Bible clearly states that the world’s final conflict at the end of this age will take place because the world will attempt to divide the Land of God and scatter the Jewish people throughout the nations. It is very apparent that we are witnessing the global policies that are attempting to invoke an order to remove the Jewish people from the West Bank (Judea and Samaria- the very heartland of the Promised Land), and the Biblical city of Jerusalem, to create another radical Islamic state — the State of Palestine. Everyone knows that the ultimate goal of all of the Muslims of the Middle East, including the Palestinians, is the complete annihilation of the Jewish nation.

Why is the world so focused upon the removal of the Jewish people from their ancient homeland, while supporting the creation of another Islamic terrorist state? The answer is found in Psalm 83. In this text, the Bible states that the “enemies of God” constantly scream out their hatred for God and “have taken crafty counsel against [the] people [of God].” (verses 2-3) “They have said, Come and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederated against [God].” (verses 4-5) The evidence is abundantly clear. Our world is filled with antichrists who oppose the purposes of God for His chosen people in the Holy Land and the holy city of Jerusalem.

Amazingly, many in the professing church deny the literal interpretation of the re-gathering of the Jews to their land and the restoration of the nation of Israel as a reality in the last days. The false doctrine of replacement theology has permeated most of the teachings of the churches in America and around the world. The open rejection of the modern nation of Israel and the alignment of the professing churches with the godless governments and media of the world that support the destruction of Israel, is a demonstration of the apostasy of the church in these last days. They deny the full context of the Scriptures that clearly and repeatedly declares that the same God that scattered Israel will re-gather Israel at the end of this age. “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” (Jeremiah 31:10)

We are now entering a very challenging period of time for the nation of Israel. Jesus described the nature of the end of this age to His Jewish disciples when He said: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6) There has never been a nation that will face the constant barrage of hatred, ongoing threats, and attempts of annihilation like Israel will face during the Tribulation Period. The Lord revealed to the great prophet Daniel: “… and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1) Notice that in both of these texts, the Lord told His people to not be troubled, and promised their ultimate deliverance. The Bible is filled with many promises that the newly re-gathered nation of Israel will not be destroyed in the last days. (Isaiah 29:1-8; 41:8-13; Jeremiah 30:1-11; Ezekiel 38:18-23; Amos 9:14-15; Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-3, 12-15; Malachi 3:6) I want to remind us all that these words are the infallible declarations of unconditional promises given to the Jewish people by the unchanging Almighty God of the entire universe. His purposes will come to pass. (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27) He is totally sovereign over all of His creation. No one, including all of the powers of hell, can stop Him! (Daniel 4:34-35) Compared to the great Holy One of Israel, “the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance …. all nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. … the inhabitants [of the earth] are as grasshoppers, … [He] bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.” (Isaiah 40:15, 17, 22-23)

According to a multitude of Biblical passages, the nation of Israel is destined to become the final superpower state at the end of this age. As we consider the Biblical evidence that supports this truth, we must constantly remind ourselves that the future of the nation of Israel is not because of who they are, or the resources they possess. God’s future plan for Israel is bound up in His own glory. (Isaiah 46:9-13) While speaking about the Jewish people, the Lord said: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.” (Isaiah 43:21) God has revealed that Israel’s final restoration is for “mine holy name’s sake … [that] the heathen shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23) Therefore, it must be concluded that the greatness of Israel as the final superpower state is bound up in the greatness of God’s Messiah, God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ.

Israel will become the global superpower, ruling the world with justice and mercy

According to the Scriptures, at the end of the most deadly and destructive time in human history – the Tribulation Period – the Lord Jesus will supernaturally return to earth from heaven and destroy the global political systems at Armageddon. (Daniel 2:42-45; Joel 3:1-17; Zechariah 14:1-15; Revelation 19:11-20:6) After this occurs, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will reign over all the earth for 1,000 years from Jerusalem, Israel. “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9) All nations, including the redeemed from current nations who are calling for Israel’s demise, will respect and submit to the rule of Israel’s Messiah. (Isaiah 60:6-12; Zechariah 14:16-19)

The Lord has decreed that His Son will rule over the nations as the sovereign dictator from His “holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:6-9) The perfection and power of Israel’s global influence will reside in the nature and authority of her divine Messiah. Jesus the Messiah will be the king, legislator, and judge. (Isaiah 33:22) There will be no need for checks and balances on His government, because the King will be perfect. The government in all of its aspects will be guided by the perfect law of God, “for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3) For the first time in human history, justice, mercy, truth, and peace will prevail over all the earth. “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

The application of God’s Word in all governmental aspects will be directed by resurrected and glorified saints, who have perfect wisdom. Within the living nation of Israel, the Messiah’s administration will include the resurrected King David as his co-regent. (Isaiah 55:3-4) Serving under King David will be the 12 apostles. (Matthew 19:28) Faithful church saints in their glorified bodies will rule over the living Gentiles in the global kingdom. (2 Timothy 2:12) Through this godly administration, justice and peace will be enforced throughout all of the nations.

Israel will become the global spiritual leader

The world has forgotten that peace, security, and prosperity are the divine rewards for those nations who worship and obey God. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” (Psalm 33:12) Those who have the knowledge of God and fear Him possess wisdom for living. (Proverbs 9:10) The Bible promises that those who delight in the Lord and His Word “shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3) In both the past and in the future, the Scriptures promised Israel that if they obeyed the Lord He would prosper them. (Joshua 1:7; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 30:8-10)

Currently, there is a major spiritual awakening taking place in Israel. There are already more than 20,000 Messianic believers worshiping in more than 200 churches in Israel. As Israel faces growing international isolation and the threat of an Iranian nuclear attack, many Israelis are turning to the Bible for answers. In fact, Jewish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revived a tradition started by Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and is hosting a “Bible Study” at his official Jerusalem residence. Furthermore, an increasing number of Israelis are considering the possibility that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and Savior of the world. However, all of this is only a small development in light of what is about to take place.

By the end of the Tribulation Period, the entire global Jewish population will be saved. (Zechariah 12:10-13:9; Romans 11:26) The Jewish remnant will be saved while scattered among the Gentile nations. (Deuteronomy 30:1-6) There is no doubt the Lord will use the 144,000 Jewish evangelists that are saved at the beginning of the Tribulation, trained, and sent forth into the nations from Jerusalem during the first half of the Tribulation Period to evangelize the global Jewish population. (Revelation 7)

All Jews and Gentiles who enter the Millennial Kingdom will be saved. (Matthew 25:31-40) However, as the kingdom age progresses, it will be necessary for those children who are born with a depraved heart to receive the gospel and be saved. At the forefront of the global evangelism and education will be the nation of Israel.

The proclamation of the Word of God will be centered in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3) The nations of the world will drink from the spiritual wells of salvation that will gush forth from the throne of the Messiah in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 12:1-6) Throughout the Kingdom Age, the redeemed of the Lord in Jerusalem will make the nations thirsty for His salvation. (Isaiah 52:7-10) The glorious light of God’s redemption will finally shine forth from Jerusalem and Israel will be a light unto the Gentiles. (Isaiah 60:1, 3) The walls of Jerusalem will be called “Salvation” and the gates will named “Praise.” (Isaiah 60:18)

The world will worship the One and only true God for 1,000 years. Other idols and gods will not be tolerated. The Lord has declared that the Gentile nations “shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.” (Isaiah 60:7) Finally, the temple in Jerusalem will become a house of prayer for all nations. The prophet Micah wrote: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1-2)

The global worship of the God of Jacob, with its center at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has been the decreed aim of God from the beginning of time. (Genesis 22:14; Deuteronomy 12:5-14) It is not a surprise that Satan has chosen the same piece of property as the center of his hellish kingdom against God. (Isaiah 14:13) Since 693 AD, the Dome of the Rock has stood on the spot that God has chosen as the center of His future kingdom on earth. The conflict that pits the god of Ishmael (Islam) against the God of Isaac continues to battle for this little 35-acre plot in Jerusalem. Finally, when Satan is cast into the bottomless pit at the beginning of the kingdom, this conflict will be over. (Revelation 20:2-3) However, when Satan is released to deceive the Gentile kingdoms one more time, notice where the rebellion takes place — Jerusalem. (Revelation 20:9) It is no surprise that those who are in league with Satan are demanding that Israel give up East Jerusalem to the Palestinians for the creation of another radical Islamic nation. The battle for the Temple Mount is really heating up. As this newsletter was being written, there were several days of violent riots on the Temple Mount. Muslims have attacked Jews and Christians who are just visiting the area. As a result, the world, including the U.S. administration, is demanding that Israel forbid Jews from entering the Temple Mount. The global appeasement on behalf of Islam certainly tells us whose side the world is on. The world preaches a message of tolerance, until it applies to Jews and Christians!

Everyone knows that the future of a nation is invested in the education of its children. The Word of God will once again become the curriculum for the education of all children in the global kingdom. “All thy children shall be taught of the LORD…” (Isaiah 54:13) Consequently, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)

I would like to remind all of us that the New England Primer, which was filled with Scripture, was used to teach the children of America to read for the first 200 years. One of the things that made America great in its founding years was the Biblical education of its children. They were given a godly moral foundation along with academic factual knowledge. In the last 50 years America has removed God, the Bible, and prayer from public education, and we are now reaping the results of a moral collapse.

Notice that when the global inhabitants of the kingdom are in submission to Jesus, it will result in no more war or violence. The nations will not “learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4) “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders.” (Isaiah 60:18)

The present godless culture does not connect the dots when attempting to find a solution to the growing problems with hatred, lawlessness, rebellion, and violence. The problem is not with guns or a flag, but the real problem is the human heart! Jesus declared that murder and theft are the result of the wicked human heart. (Matthew 15:19) Only Jesus can change the human heart. Our social ills will get much worse as our culture moves further away from God and His laws of morality. There will be no change or hope until King Jesus comes to establish His kingdom of peace.

Israel will be a powerfully united nation

As one examines the nations, it is obvious that our world is in a state of confusion and lawlessness. The nations are radically divided spiritually, politically, economically, morally, and racially. America is rapidly becoming a divided nation. We are politically divided. The political partisanship within our leadership and the nation in general has blinded us. Too many Americans are busy defending their political party, rather than defending and protecting the nation. Like sheep being led to the slaughter, we are becoming a godless socialist state. We are economically divided. There is a very sharp divide between working America and those who have an entitlement mentality. We are morally divided. Those who support and those who oppose abortion and same-sex marriage are passionately opposed to each other. We are racially divided. A spirit of hate and revenge is brewing across the nation along racial lines. It is only a matter of time before America will be in a state of revolution. The evil powers that are in control are waiting for such an opportunity to seize the moment to declare martial law and take complete control of America. We must remember that Jesus said that a nation divided against itself cannot stand. (Matthew 12:25)

Recent years in Israel have illustrated that the Jewish nation also suffers from division when the security of the nation seems to be strong. However, it is very evident from the last political election in Israel that the global isolation and international threats against Jews in general and Israel in particular, are binding the Jewish people together. The growing hatred for the Jewish people and Israel is accomplishing two things: First, it is fueling the return of the Jewish exiles to their ancient homeland. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:5-6) Ultimately, at the beginning of the millennial kingdom, every Jew will come back home to live in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:25-28)

The global rejection of the Jewish people will also help to create spiritual and political unity within Israel that will continue to exist throughout the entire millennial kingdom. (Ezekiel 37:15-24) The Lord has promised: “And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel: and one king shall be king to them all … And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.” (Ezekiel 37:22, 24)

Israel will become the most prosperous nation in history

I have been taking tour groups to Israel for 30 years and I have been continually amazed at the prosperity and growth that is taking place in Israel. Israel has a growing high-tech economy. The Jewish state has proven itself as an innovative nation in the latest computer technology, agriculture advancements and techniques, and medical research and achievements. Israel is also a world leader in the creation and manufacture of military weaponry. On any given day, Israel has one of the strongest economies and currencies in the world. The recent discoveries of several large natural gas fields off the coast of Israel have given Israel the energy it needs to be energy independent and to develop as a world-class economic leader in the 21st century.

According to Ezekiel 38:12-13, it will be the wealth and food in Israel that will tempt Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other nations to attack Israel. However, all of this current wealth is only the prelude to what will unfold in Israel during the millennial kingdom.

Israel is currently spending about 14 percent, about $15 billion, of its annual budget on defense. One can only imagine what would take place if these funds could be directed toward agriculture. This is exactly what will take place in the kingdom. Isaiah predicted that during the kingdom Israelis will “beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks.” (Isaiah 2:4)

The land of Israel will become a lush garden, “like the Garden of Eden.” (Ezekiel 36:35) “He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit.” (Isaiah 27:6) The millennial Israel will experience miraculous expansion and growth of infrastructure and construction of cities and highways. (Psalm 102:16; Isaiah 19:23-24; Ezekiel 36:33, 35; Amos 9:14)

The collective wealth in the final global superpower will surpass anything ever accomplished in all of human history. The business that Israel will conduct with the Gentile nations will cause the Jewish state to become the economic giant of the ages. The transfer of wealth from the Gentile nations to Israel will be staggering. (Isaiah 60:6, 16) The Lord has promised: “For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron.” (Isaiah 60:17)

My friend, it should be crystal clear that we are living in a world in rebellion against God. We are watching the final conflict that is leading the nations of the world to Armageddon. At the heart of that conflict is Israel and its land. God has supernaturally called His chosen people back home to Israel and has caused them to thrive. We are witnessing the final drama that is leading to the beginning of the Tribulation Period. It is only a matter of time!

In light of all of this, we must be ready for the shout that will take us out!

As the Free-World Collapses

For those who study history and follow the trends in current events, it is abundantly clear that the free world and its flag-ship nation, the United States, are in the final stages of collapse. It is obvious that the enemies of the free-world are acting like sharks that smell blood and are preparing for the attack. Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, and various groups within the Islamic world are poised to take over the world when the United States officially falls from its superpower status. The United States and Europe are politically divided, morally corrupt, economically bankrupt, and spiritually pagan. To this we must add that both the U.S. and Europe are operating in the spirit of political appeasement and military retreat. All of these are signs of weakness.

Russia is making its move in Europe and the Middle East to flex its military muscle, almost daring anyone to stop them. No one has hindered them from taking eastern Ukraine. Now, Russia and Iran have agreed to come to the military aid of their friends in Syria. A DEBKAfile report on September 13, revealed that Russia and Iran agreed at the end of July to send a massive military buildup of marines, air force units, warships and missiles to northern Syria. “Russian forces are streaming to Latakia, and Moscow has declared the area from Tartous, Syria up to Cyprus closed to shipping and air traffic from Sept. 15 to Oct. 7 in view of a ‘military exercise including test firings of guided missiles’ from Russian warships.” (DEBKAfile, September 13, 201) For those of us who study the prophetic Scriptures, this has set off a major alarm. According to Ezekiel 38, Russia and Iran, along with other allies from Turkey, Libya, and Sudan, will invade Israel in the last days. These troops are now occupying the same area from which they will invade Israel!

The same DEBKAfile reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in July and offered to help militarily guard the newly discovered gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel. Obviously, it was his plan to cash in on the billions that will be made from the exports of the natural gas now operated by Israel. It is worth noting that Putin never revealed to Netanyahu his plans for the military buildup with the Iranians in Syria. Netanyahu never responded to Putin’s offer. Once again, all of this is very important in relationship to Ezekiel 38, which indicates that one of the major reasons for the Russian/Iranian invasion of Israel is to plunder Israel of its wealth. (Ezekiel 38:12-13)

In addition to these concerns, on September 15^th USA Today reported: “North Korea … has restarted operations at its atomic bomb fuel production plants, …. it is fully ready to use nuclear weapons against the United States.”

Europe is facing another immediate threat to its survival as a part of the free world. It has been known for decades that Europe is suffering from a serious demographic time bomb. Native Europeans are not having enough children to sustain control of their future political destiny. Many have observed that the growing Islamic immigration and natural birth rates of Muslims in Europe will finally overwhelm the continent in the coming decades. However, the steady stream of Muslim refugees that are currently fleeing the war-torn Middle East is speeding up this threat. Millions of Muslims are fleeing Libya, Syria, and Iraq. Hundreds of thousands are trying to enter Europe. No one can estimate at this point the impact this mass exodus of Muslims will have economically and demographically upon their host countries.

Radical Muslim leaders are praying that this will speed up the demise of Europe by flooding Europe with Muslims, making it a part of the Islamic world. John McTernan, the founder of Defend and Proclaim the Faith ministries and an expert in Biblical prophecy, recently commented about a fiery sermon that a top Imam, Sheikh Muhammad Ayed, gave at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem: “Speaking at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Ayed stated that European countries were not rolling out the red carpet for migrants because they were compassionate, but because Europe was in dire need of a new source of labor. ‘Europe has become old and decrepit and needs human reinforcement….they are not motivated by compassion for the Levant, its people and its refugees,’ said Ayed, adding, ‘Soon, we will trample them underfoot, Allah willing.’

‘Throughout Europe, all the hearts are enthused with hatred toward Muslims. They wish that we were dead, but they have lost their fertility, so they look for fertility in our midst,’ he added. ‘We will give them fertility! We will breed children with them, because we shall conquer their countries!’ Ayed stated that ‘whether you like it or not,’ Americans, Italians, Germans, and the French will be forced to take the ‘refugees’. ‘We shall soon collect them in the name of the coming Caliphate. We will say to you: these are our sons. Send them, or we will send our armies to you,’ concluded Ayed.” (http://defendproclaimthefaith.org/blog/?p=35400, September 18, 2015)

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2015 September The Fervent Expectation of Messiah

The Fervent Expectation of Messiah

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Messiah]; and shall deceive many.” – Matthew 24:5

By Mike Wingfield

It is not an accident that the expectation of the coming of the Messiah of each of the world’s three monotheistic religions is at an all-time high. I believe that the anticipation of the coming of Messiah among Jews, Muslims, and Christians has never been as great in my lifetime as it is at this very moment. Jews are looking at the events in the Middle East, and especially the predicted invasion by Russia and Iran mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39, as a sign that the Messiah is about to come. Muslims are expecting their long-awaited Mahdi [messiah] due to the specific events that are unfolding in Syria and Iraq. There is a lot of chatter in Christian circles about the potential for the return of Jesus Christ for His church in the next few weeks. What are we to think about all of this? Let us examine the evidence in the light of God’s Word.

First, we must understand that the Bible has the final answer, and really the only answer, concerning this subject! It doesn’t matter what the Jewish rabbis, Islamic imams, or Christian theologians, preachers, or authors say. The Lord has total authority and control over all things, visible and invisible. The Bible emphatically declares and illustrates repeatedly that the Lord “works all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Ephesians 1:11) He is the one and only true God. There are no other gods. He has declared: “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.” (Isaiah 45:5) He is the only true and holy God who is eternal, has all power, all knowledge, and is present throughout all of His creation. He is self-sufficient and does not need anyone or anything to exist or rule over all that He has created. While speaking about Jesus, the Bible declares: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist [have their being].” (Colossians 1:16-17)

All statements made by ancient or current leaders of all religions must be analyzed on the basis of the unchanging Word of God. Jesus said: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fufilled.” (Matthew 5:18) While speaking about His return, He said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) The creation is in a process of degeneration, but God and His Word are unchanging and eternal. (Psalm 102:25-27; 119:89-91, 160) God’s purposes are eternal. (Ephesians 3:11) He has said, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips.” (Psalm 89:34)

Not only is the Bible unchanging and eternal, it is also complete and final. The Bible is the complete and final divine revelation given to man. The final verses in the Bible warn everyone to not add to or take away “from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19) The 66 books of the Bible are all we need to be completely and adequately equipped to know what to believe, and to serve God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them “into all truth.” (John 16:13) The Apostle Paul later declared that the Holy Spirit had revealed God’s truth to the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5), who were the unique and only “foundation” of the church, Jesus Christ “being the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20) When the apostles passed from the scene in the first century, God ceased to give man any further revelation. There are no apostles and prophets in the church today! God is not giving mankind new revelation. Those who claim to be receiving new revelation from God are out of bounds with the declared statements of Scripture and are walking on dangerous ground.

Anyone who has ever studied the Bible as it relates to the Second Coming of Christ knows that there is a great difference of opinion among Christians with regard to the timing of His return. I believe, in light of the detailed chronology of the book of Revelation, that the ultimate and final visible return of the Messiah, called “the Revelation,” will not take place until the end of the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 19:11-21) This will be after the Gog and Magog invasion and the destruction of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and their Islamic allies. It will be after seven long years of deadly judgments as an expression of the wrath of God upon a godless and wicked generation, culminating with Armageddon. This final and visible glorious return of the Messiah to earth will be recognizable to all living inhabitants of earth. (Revelation 1:7) However, this event cannot be the same event that will include the sudden snatching away of the Bride of Christ “in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Corinthians 15:52) In the Rapture, Jesus will come down to the clouds to snatch away the church to heaven to be with Him for seven years. (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) In the Revelation, following the marriage feast of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:4-9), the church will descend from heaven with Jesus to earth, where He will establish His kingdom upon the earth for 1,000 years. (Revelation 19:11-20:6) It is important to have this Biblical overview of the coming of the Messiah as we look at the following expectations of the coming of Messiah that are permeating the global culture at this time.

The Current Jewish Expectation of their Messiah

As Jewish people witness the ongoing in-gathering of Jewish exiles from the nations of the world, the mounting global assault on their occupation of the Holy Land and Jerusalem, and the nuclear threat of Iran with the aid of Russia (viewed as a foreshadow of the Gog and Magog war in Ezekiel 38-39), they believe the coming of Messiah is imminent.

According to a report from Breaking News Israel, here is one example of the Jewish expectation of the imminent coming of their long-awaited messiah. “Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a leading authority in mainstream Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, has been giving clear and unequivocal messages recently that the coming of the Messiah is imminent. He is urging Jews to make aliyah as soon as possible. Aliyah, the Hebrew verb for ‘going up’, refers to immigrating to Israel, which is seen as higher spiritual action that can help herald the coming of the Messiah.

“It was reported that the Rabbi Kanievsky was presented with a pamphlet, written by Rabbi Yitzchak Ben Tzvi from the city of Bnei Brak, dealing with the End of Days and many other related prophecies. Rabbi Kanievsky, who is a pillar of the Jewish community and known for his authoritative books on Torah law, read the pamphlet carefully. After a short consideration, he told those around him that the pamphlet needed to be distributed and that Jews living outside Israel should return to their ancestral land.

“In yet another instance of Rabbi Kanievsky’s call for aliyah, author Rabbi Yekutiel Fisch revealed advice that was given to his cousin, a teacher at a prominent Lakewood Yeshiva who visited Israel recently and went to Rabbi Kanievsky to receive a blessing at the end of his visit.

“The Rabbi told him that he should not leave Israel because the Messiah would be arriving very soon. The teacher responded that he had 700 students waiting for him in Lakewood. Rabbi Kanievsky told him that he must bring all of the students to Israel. Upon his arrival in Lakewood, the story spread quickly, creating quite an impression on the students who all revere Rabbi Kanievsky.

“After a lifetime of immersing himself in classical Jewish texts, Rabbi Kanievsky’s study partner informed various media sites that the Rabbi is talking about the messiah ‘all the time.’ Since last summer’s war in Gaza, the Rabbi has been spreading this message of imminent return. In one instance, Rabbi Kanievsky instructed a Jew from Argentina who asked for a blessing that he should ‘gather your family and come to Israel. Otherwise, there won’t be enough room for you on the airplanes.’

“When asked about the timing of the Messiah’s arrival, Rabbi Kanievsky answered, ‘At the end of the Sabbatical year.’ Several people have asked the rabbi to verify this and he has given the same answer each time. This year is the Sabbatical year and it will be ending on the 29th day of Elul, which, by the Gregorian calendar falls on Saturday, September 12, 2015.” (http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/44534/leading-israeli-rabbi-messiah-imminent-jewish-world/#BHrh3ihKB5vGPfKW.99)

Many Jews in Israel and in the nations are taking these words very seriously, and making spiritual preparations for the coming of messiah. I must caution you to understand that most Jewish people have a completely different view of who their messiah will be, and what he will do when he arrives on earth. Many believe that he will be just an ordinary godly man that will lead Israel to military victory over the nations that are currently threatening to destroy the Jewish nation. They believe he will usher in an era of peace and prosperity that will be centered in Israel. He will rule the world from Jerusalem. Justice will permeate the world as the knowledge of God will be made known in all nations.

The Current Islamic Expectation of their Messiah

Much to our shame, there is probably a greater expectation among Muslims for the coming of their messiah than among Jews and Christians for their respective messiahs. Since the revival of Islam that began with the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, there has been a growing expectancy of the sudden appearing of the Islamic messiah, the one they call the Mahdi.

According to Joel Richardson, a Biblical scholar of the end-times, 672 million of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims believe that the coming of the Mahdi is imminent. (www.joelstrumpet.com/?p=3842) World Net Daily reports: “In the latest evidence of this messianic fervor, a mainstream Sunni Muslim website has decreed that the Islamic messiah, called the Mahdi, will appear this year or in 2016 and that the Muslim Jesus will return in 2022 to conquer the world for Islam.

“DiscoveringIslam.org and the End Times Research Center have calculated that the ‘first phase’ of the end of time will begin soon and lead to the ‘Day of Judgment’ in seven years.

“The estimates were derived from ‘the latest research’ into numerical analysis of the Quran, Hadith, Arabic words and historical events,” according to DiscoveringIslam. org.” (www.wnd.com/2015/03/mahdi-to-return-by-2016-followed-by-jesus/#QAm4Fy08VD7m7Tfk.99)

In additional to all of this, the recent capture of Dabiq in Syria by ISIS has heightened the messianic fervor within the Islamic world. Many believe this explains why so many Muslims from around the world are joining ISIS in their war efforts. According to Islamic tradition, Dabiq is the equivalent to the Biblical Armageddon that will usher in the Islamic messianic era. Muslims believe their Islamic forces will engage a massive military force at Dabiq in the final days of judgment. It will be a blood bath for both sides, with Islam defeating the West and ushering in the Islamic global kingdom ruled by the Mahdi. They are hoping the U.S. will send troops into Syria to fulfill this Islamic expectation.

All of the radical Islamic terrorist groups (like ISIS, Hamas, Lebanon, Islamic Jihad, Al Qaida, and Hezbollah) and radical Islamic regimes, such as Iran and elements in Turkey and Sudan, are being driven by their expectation of the imminent coming of the Mahdi. They believe that according to their holy writings a global destruction must take place and their Mahdi will then appear to bring global justice and peace, establishing a global Islamic government. The Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Islamic State that is expanding across the Middle East, are currently leading this effort.

This is what makes the nuclear deal with Iran so dangerous. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continuously warned the West of the apocalyptic dreams of Iran to bring in the golden era of the reign of their Mahdi. On March 3, 2015, while speaking to the U.S. Congress, Netanyahu said: “Iran and ISIS are competing for the crown of militant Islam. One calls itself the Islamic Republic. The other calls itself the Islamic State. Both want to impose a militant Islamic empire first on the region and then on the entire world. They just disagree among themselves who will be the ruler of that empire.

“In this deadly game of thrones, there’s no place for America or for Israel, no peace for Christians, Jews or Muslims who don’t share the Islamist medieval creed, no rights for women, no freedom for anyone. …

“The difference is that ISIS is armed with butcher knives, captured weapons and YouTube, whereas Iran could soon be armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs. We must always remember — I’ll say it one more time — the greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons. To defeat ISIS and let Iran get nuclear weapons would be to win the battle, but lose the war. We can’t let that happen.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/03/03/full-text-netanyahus-address-to-congress/)

I personally have been shocked to hear the response of the liberal U.S. political leadership and pundits to Netanyahu’s warning. While ignoring the facts, they call Netanyahu a warmonger and cozy up to the radical leadership in Iran. The intellectual foolishness and political blindness of the West at this hour is absolutely astounding! Many political analysts are comparing these developments to an eerie repeat of the ridiculous appeasement efforts by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain after his conference with Adolf Hitler before World War II erupted. The conflict with Hitler and his Axis powers lasted about seven years and killed more than 73 million people. During the war years, the Nazis systematically murdered one-half of the world’s Jewish population in their concentration camps.

It is not a coincidence that according to the prophetic Scriptures, the world is facing another global war that will last seven years. During these war years, the Antichrist, who will probably be the Islamic Mahdi, will kill two-thirds of the world’s Jewish population. (Zechariah 13:8-9)

The Current Christian Expectation of their Messiah

There is a remnant of true believers in this world that are longing and looking for the coming of the Lord. Many of them may not agree on the time of the Rapture, but they recognize that we are moving through the final phases of the last days.

We must recognize there are no signs for the Rapture of the church. It is imminent. It can happen at any moment. However, all of the signs of the end-times should be viewed as preparations for the time of judgment that is coming upon all the inhabitants of earth, called the Tribulation Period. Some of us are Biblically focused upon these signs as commanded by our Lord. He said: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28) When the Tribulation unfolds, the following conditions (only to name a few) will be in place: A time of great spiritual deception and darkness will cover the earth. (Isaiah 60:2; Matthew 24:5) A time of economic and political upheaval will lead to a one-world government that will eventually be controlled by the Antichrist. (Daniel 7:7-8, 23-25; Revelation 13:7) The Jewish people will return to their land, leading to wars and rumors of wars over their possession of the Holy Land and especially Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 36:1-7, 24; Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-3; Matthew 24:6) A peace process over the struggle for the possession of the land of Israel will finally lead to a covenant that will be forced upon Israel by the Antichrist, leading to the beginning of the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 9:27) Geological upheaval will increase in frequency and magnitude. (Isaiah 2:10-22; 24:1-23; Ezekiel 38:19-22; Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:12-17; 8:7-9; 16:17-21) Celestial and atmospheric disturbances that will threaten life on earth will escalate. (Luke 21:25-26; Revelation 8:10-13; 16:8-11, 21) The global professing church will experience a time of apostasy and apathy. (Luke 18:8; 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:1-4) The Gog and Magog coalition will begin to take shape. (Ezekiel 38:1-9) And, immorality, violence, and wickedness, all accompanied by demonic influences and possession, will permeate the nations as it did in the days of Noah. (Matthew 24:11; Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; Revelation 9:20-21)

As fall approaches, with the Jewish feast days in September, there are many of us who are experiencing a heightened expectation that something is about to happen. We cannot be dogmatic about this, but an examination of God’s program illustrates that many times significant events on God’s calendar of prophetic events have unfolded on the Jewish feast days. Consider this. Jesus died at Passover. He resurrected at the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The church began on the feast of Pentecost. So, one does wonder, is it possible that some big event or events will unfold on the Jewish New Year, and during the Feast of Tabernacles or Yom Kippur? There has been a lot of chatter in Christian circles about all of this in recent years and months. We must be very careful in these considerations. We must respect the sovereignty of our God and His plan. He has chosen to not reveal the exact dates connected to the end-time events. (Matthew 24:36) Our sovereign God has not told us everything, but only what we need to know. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed [divine written revelation] belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

It is very sad to realize that the overwhelming number of professing Christians in the United States are not interested in looking for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus. They have, at best, fallen asleep. (Romans 13:11-14) Their leadership has told them that studying Bible prophecy is a waste of time. Rick Warren recently stated in one of his blogs that studying Bible prophecy is futile. He stated that we only need to focus on evangelism, not Biblical prophecy. (www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchand ministry/warren_evangelism0206.aspx) – link no longer working

The dangers and pitfalls that lead to apostasy grow out of our modern day many-centered version of Christianity. The central focus of the Bible is not redemption, but the Redeemer! We are not to focus only on the creation, but on the Creator! The central purpose of the Bible is not the salvation of man, but the Savior of mankind! I am not saying that the salvation of man, the evangelism of the lost, and the defense of the truth that God created everything out of nothing are not important. This is all significant, but it is not the major theme of the Bible. The Bible is all about the glory, worship, and praise that belong to our triune God. All of God’s work is focused upon His Son, Jesus Christ, having the “preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18) When we finally get to heaven we will cry out in worship: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.“ (Revelation 4:11)

I do not personally understand how any student of the Bible can reach the conclusion that the consideration of the Second Coming of Christ is irrelevant or insignificant. What do we do with all of the commands by Jesus and His apostles to be ready for His coming? How can we explain that the Holy Spirit has given us a revelation that is saturated with the expectation of the coming of the Messiah? Are we to ignore the examples of the prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles of the New Testament, and Jesus, who constantly spoke of the coming of the Messiah and the events that would accompany His coming? Are we to disregard the final book of the progressive revelation of God that ends with the revelation of Jesus Christ? Should we avoid a doctrine that declares “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”? (Revelation 19:10) Are we to discount the fact that the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle John to end the divine revelation with the prayerful invitation: “Even, so, come, Lord Jesus”? Revelation 22:20)

The entire Bible is built around the coming of the Messiah. It is the central message of the Bible. He is foreshadowed in the appearances of the angel of Jehovah, and in the divinely mandated worship in the Tabernacle and Temple in the Old Testament. The prophets gave us the amazing predictions of His first coming, and the apostles wrote of the fulfillment of these prophecies in the New Testament. Both Old and New Testaments are filled with hundreds of detailed prophecies concerning His Second Coming and the events that surround that event. Finally, the Holy Spirit directs all of humanity to the crowning event in all of God’s eternal plan, the supernatural, yet physical, unveiling of His Son to the entire world at the end of this age. That is why the final book of the Bible is named “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 1:1)

Isn’t it alarming to realize that most of the world is looking for the Antichrist, rather than Jesus Christ? In essence, they are helping to bring about the appearance of the Antichrist and his jihad march around the world. The U.S. and the West are currently standing on the wrong side of evil! They are rejecting the moral, historical, and sane warning of the leadership of Israel about Iran’s developing nuclear program. They have chosen to forget about the current terrorist activities sponsored by the cultic and apocalyptic Iranian regime throughout the Middle East. They have elected to turn a deaf ear to all of the chants of “Death to the U.S. and Israel” in Iran. Instead, they are trusting the word of a nation that promotes deception in the name of their god. They refuse to hear the cries of the Jewish people who have returned to their homeland in fulfillment to the call of the God of Jacob as promised in the Bible.

It is very apparent that if this deal is allowed to stand, there is a very serious day of reckoning coming for the nations. While it is too early to tell, it does appear that in some way this deal has set in motion the events that will precipitate the Gog and Magog war mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39. It is only a matter of time!

It is not just a coincidence that Jews, Muslims, and Christians are all looking for a different messiah to appear at any moment. Remember that Jesus taught that one of the signs of the end of this age would be the appearance of many messiahs. He said: “For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ [same word as Messiah]; and shall deceive many. …. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:5, 24)

I personally believe that on the basis of these verses and many others, the great deceiver, Satan, is setting up everything for the great deception at the end of this age. There is only one true Messiah, and we know who He is — Jesus Christ. Near the end of the first century, the aged Apostle John 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) While there have been false Christs during the last two millennia, I believe that the deception at the end of this age will produce two major false messiahs. Notice that the book of Revelation focuses upon only two men of deception — the Antichrist and the False Prophet. (Revelation 13) Both of these men will be antichrist figures during the Tribulation Period.

Revelation 13 is filled with symbolism. All symbolism in the Bible must be interpreted in light of the Biblical context. Notice that the Antichrist and the False Prophet are symbolically referred to as “beasts.” throughout Revelation 13. It is significant to note that the first beast, the Antichrist, symbolically rises up out of the sea. However, in sharp contrast, the second beast figuratively rises up “out of the earth [land].” In the Bible, the sea symbolically represents the wicked Gentile nations. (Isaiah 17:12-13; 57:20; Revelation 17:15) The land represent the land of Israel. Ray C. Stedman, a well-know pastor and Christian author of several books, adds the following explanation: “The land or the earth, is used frequently as a symbol for Israel throughout the Old Testament. Israel is viewed as a nation with stability because it had God as its head. It had structure, order, and foundation, and so it was depicted as ‘land.’ But the sea is used many places in Scripture to describe the Gentile nations (pagan nations, by and large), which had no inner stability because there was no recognition of the authority of God. They worshiped idols and held to pagan concepts which rendered them unstable and uncertain in their conduct of human affairs.” (http://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/revelation/to-jew-and-gentile)

In light of all of this, it is amazing to note that Muslims are not only looking for their Mahdi to come, but they also believe that he will be accompanied by Isa, their name for Jesus. I believe the Antichrist will be a Muslim (Daniel 11:36-45), and will probably be the Islamic Mahdi. Therefore, the False Prophet will be a false Jewish messiah from Israel. Jesus said to his fellow Jews: “if another come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43) As both Jews and Muslims look for their respective messiahs, the stage is set for the great deception. Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

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