Author: Mike Wingfield

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2014 November/December – The Global Pandemic of Deadly Diseases in the Last Days

The Global Pandemic of Deadly Diseases in the Last Days

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and [diseases], and earthquakes, in [different] places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” – Matthew 24:7-8

By Mike Wingfield

In recent months, the world community has become alarmingly aware of the threat of a global outbreak of Ebola. The transmission of this deadly disease from Western Africa to the United States has sent the medical world scrambling for answers to stop its spread before it spirals out of control. If unchecked, this disease has the potential to kill tens of millions of people around the world.

About six decades ago, most people thought the world would never again be faced with a serious plague of dead­ly diseases. Many concluded that modern medicine had a silver bullet to deal with any type of disease that mankind would encounter. Since the discovery and use of antibiot­ics and medical innovations through the advancement of technology, many people thought humanity was now med­ically invincible.

However, in the last few decades, the world has gradually been reminded that the wonderful medical achievements that seemed to have made us think we are invincible, have in reality made us more vulnerable than ever before to the inevitable global spread of deadly diseases.

Now, medical researchers are more concerned than ever with what they have discovered. They know that there are thousands of known viruses and have identified hundreds of thousands of strains of bacteria. Whenever these virus­es and bacteria enter into a living organism, they have the potential to mutate, producing new diseases for which, in some cases, there are no immediate cures. These newly mutated microscopic germs are clever and dangerous. They can cause cancer, or chemically manipulate the hu­man immune system to their advantage, and hide for years inside human DNA.

About 15 years ago, while I was studying the Scriptures and the medical research available on this subject, the Lord brought into my path a medical doctor. Dr. Matthew Patrick had been hired by the federal government to lec­ture to EMTs and doctors across America. His lectures centered on the threat of deadly diseases and their poten­tial sudden transmission to millions of Americans due to the use of a biological weapon. Dr. Patrick was the broth­er of a man who pastored a church near Pittsburgh. I was scheduled to speak at this church, and when the pastor picked me up at the airport; Dr. Patrick had just happened to be accompanying him. Once we were together inside the car, Dr. Patrick introduced himself to me and began to ask me about my ministry. He was very knowledgeable about the prophetic Scriptures and began to question me about certain prophetic subjects. Then, he passionately fired a question to me: “Have you ever considered what the Bible has to say about the pandemic of deadly diseases in the last days?” I was stunned! This was the very area I was researching at the time, but was somewhat at a loss to know where to begin my investigation. I wanted to know what medical analysts were saying about this whole sub­ject. For about 30 minutes, Dr. Patrick gave me a thor­ough overview of his own personal research. He also de­tailed his assignment from the federal government to teach medical professionals in the United States about infectious diseases. He then suddenly reached inside his brief case and handed me his personal copy of Laurie Garrett’s award winning book, The Coming Plague, Newly Emerg­ing Diseases in a World out of Balance. This book, pub­lished a few years earlier in 1994, was well worn and marked. He told me that he wanted me to have his person­al copy to assist me in my research. After church the next morning, Dr. Patrick left. I began to pour over the book he had given me and it has amazed me since how the Lord perfectly timed Dr. Patrick’s assistance in understanding this complex issue and helping me develop the very mes­sage I am sharing with you in this newsletter.

Although Garrett’s book was published 18 years ago, it is still considered to be an invaluable tool in understanding the threat of emerging global diseases. In the opening page of the book, Garrett writes: “The history of our time will be marked by recurrent eruptions of newly discovered diseases,… epidemics of diseases migrating to new areas, … and diseases which spring from insects and animals to humans, through man-made disruption to local habitats.

“[There exists] the increased potential that at least some of these diseases will generate large-scale, even worldwide epidemics. The global epidemic of [Aids] is the most powerful and recent example. Yet AIDS does not stand alone; it may well be the first of the modern, large-scale epidemics of infectious diseases.

“The world has rapidly become much more vulnerable to the eruption and, most critically, to the widespread and even global spread of both new and old infectious diseas­es.” (Laurie Garrett, The Coming Plague, p. xv)

According to the prophetic Scriptures, our world needs to heed the warning of Garrett and others in the medical field. The Bible is filled with warnings that the last days will be marked by global plagues of deadly diseases. In Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11, Jesus taught that there would be “pestilences” at the end of this age. This word refers to a plague of deadly diseases. According to Reve­lation 6:8, one-fourth of the world’s population will die in the opening months of the Tribulation Period, due in part to diseases. They will be killed “with the sword, and with hunger, with death and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:8) Within the context of Revelation 6, I believe we are being told that this massive death toll will be the result of global Islamic jihad (described in Revela­tion 6:2-4), famine (mentioned in Revelation 6:5-6), and the transmission of diseases that will be carried by animals (“with death, and with the beasts of the earth,” Revelation 6:8).

For years, Bible students have puzzled over the statement in Revelation 6:8 that people will be killed “with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” To say that people are killed “with death,” very well could be a reference to dis­eases that erupt due to the massive numbers of rotting corpses that have been left behind by Islamic jihad warri­ors around the world. In light of the horrific jihadist ac­tivities by the Islamic State warriors in Syria and Iraq, we are currently witnessing a small-scale example of what is coming to earth during the Tribulation Period. It has been the practice of Islamic jihadist warriors for centuries to leave corpses of those they have tortured and brutally murdered to rot for days to terrorize those left behind. Everyone recognizes the potential that this carries for widespread diseases to those who come in contact with these dead bodies. For another example of God’s judg­ment upon Islamic warriors who invade Israel in the last days and are killed by diseases, read Ezekiel 38:18-22; 39:11-16 and Joel 2:20. The possibility of this interpreta­tion seems to fit the context of Revelation 6.

Furthermore, when Revelation 6:8 states that people will be killed “with the beasts of the earth,” this could mean one of two things. First, this could be a symbolic refer­ence to the savage brutality of these Islamic warriors who kill people without any remorse, acting like wild animals that indiscriminately kill other animals and devour them. Please notice that God gave Daniel a vision of the mur­derous kingdoms of history. They were depicted as sav­age beasts that devour human beings. (Read Daniel 7.) In the book of Revelation, the Antichrist and the False Prophet are continually referred to as beasts. (Read Reve­lation 13.)

Several sources have reported that some Islamic jihadists in Syria and Iraq have been collecting blood from Chris­tians they have beheaded. They then sell a vial of this blood for as much as $100,000 to wealthy Muslims in Saudi Arabia. Some radical Muslims believe that if they wash their hands in the blood of a beheaded Christian they will have their sins forgiven and be guaranteed entrance into heaven upon their death. This chilling activity cer­tainly suggests that these savage terrorists are acting as if they have no conscience. They are acting like wild beasts.

A possible second interpretation of the reference to people being killed “with the beasts of the earth,” could be the contraction of deadly diseases that have come from people being in close contact to animals that carry deadly diseas­es. In recent decades, there have been some cases of hu­man beings contracting diseases from animals. Known examples are: swine flu, bird flu, and mad-cow disease. With the mass production of animals for human consump­tion and the increase of pork and beef in the daily diets of affluent societies, such as the U.S., the threat of these kinds of diseases are always lurking in the background. “Of the roughly 400 emerging infectious diseases that have been identified since 1940, more than 60% are zoon­otic [they came from animals].” (The Guardian, Novem­ber 9, 2013)

Humans can contract these diseases from infected animals by eating their flesh. For example, meat tainted by mad-cows disease, when consumed by humans, can affect the human brain at a later time. “… the symptoms it produc­es are neurological. It may start out subtly with insomnia, depression, confusion, personality and behavioral changes, and problems with memory, coordination, and sight. As it progresses, the person rapidly develops dementia and in­voluntary, irregular jerking movements called myoclonus. … In the final stage of the disease, the patient loses all mental and physical functions, lapses into a coma, and eventually dies.” (www.rarediseases.about.com/od/rare dis­eases1/a/vcjd.htm){article no longer available at this address, sending you to the front page} Since its discovery, only 164 people in the world have been diagnosed with mad cow-disease.

God’s people can take great joy in the fact that the Bible repeatedly testifies that our Creator has complete control over the body of every person. The health, sickness, and death of everyone are fully under His control! However, this does not mean that we do not bear some human re­sponsibility in this matter. The Lord has created our bod­ies to naturally respond to His holy standards – mentally, physically, and spiritually. Our wellness or sickness can be impacted by our mental, physical and/or spiritual diso­bedience.

The Scriptures give many testimonies to these truths. God demonstrated to Moses His power over the dreaded dis­ease of leprosy. (Exodus 4:6-7) When King Uzziah of Judah defiantly went into the temple to burn incense, God suddenly struck him with leprosy. (2 Chronicles 26:16­21) When Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago, He came to display the power of God to man. (John 1:18) Jesus repeatedly demonstrated that God has total power over all of His creation, including diseases. During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed all that came unto Him. (Mark 1:29-34)

In some cases, the Lord has used diseases as a form of divine judgment of man due to sin. God has struck indi­viduals with a disease because of their personal sin. For example, read about Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 4:28-37) When King David disobeyed the Lord by numbering his people, the Lord sent diseases among the people. In three days 70,000 men died. (2 Samuel 24:13-15) The wicked Roman King Herod died suddenly due to a divine judgment of a disease in Acts 12:21-23. The Lord also uses diseases to judge an entire nation that is in rebellion against Him. God used Moses to warn Pharaoh that He would use diseases and other horrific judgments against the Egyptians if he would not free God’s people and let them leave Egypt. He warned: “For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon they people: that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:14) The Lord repeatedly warned Israel that if they departed from Him, He would visit the nation with incurable diseases. Read Deuteronomy 28:21-22, 27-28, 35, 58-61.

However, we must be very careful to not conclude that all diseases and health-related difficulties are the result of God’s divine judgment due to personal sin. God in His sovereignty has ordained the path of our lives. The Scrip­tures testify that many times He has chosen that some of His most godly saints suffer and endure some of the most difficult diseases and trials, even unto death. We must remember that God’s work on this earth is not about our good, but His glory. Jesus, the perfect, sinless Son of God, suffered while He walked this earth. Who do we think we are to expect or demand that God not allow us to suffer? It is a hard thing for the depraved mind to grasp, but sometimes it is the perfect will of God for people to suffer and die for His glory. (1 Peter 4:12-19; Revelation 6:9-11) Remember the story of the man who was born blind from his birth in John 9. Jesus disciples asked: “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) Notice Jesus’ answer to them: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (John 9:3) In essence, Jesus told His disciples that this man had suffered with totally physical blindness from the time of his birth so that Jesus could heal him for the glory of God.

The modern lifestyles of our ever expanding global popu­lation are at the core of the increase of deadly diseases in the last days. More people live on earth than any other time in human history. World population is now estimat­ed to be 7.27 billion. We are growing at the rate of 1.5 million people per week. For comparison, the global pop­ulation at the time of Christ was only 500 million. Obvi­ously, this means that when a contagious disease appears, there are more people to transmit it. Consequently, there is a greater potential for many more to contract that dis­eases, threatening a greater number of people.

During the last century, when world population went from 1 billion to 6 billion, with the majority of people moving from rural areas into big cities. In 1900, only 15 percent of the global population lived in urban areas. Today, 54 percent of the world lives in cities. In our affluent nation, 81 percent of Americans live in urban areas. This problem has culminated in the creation of mega cities – cities with a population that exceeds 10 million. In 1952 there were only two mega cities in the world. Today, there are 30 mega cities, and 12 of these have a population that ex­ceeds 20 million! It is obvious that these mega cities have the greatest potential for massive contraction and trans­mission of diseases. Laurie Garrett states that cities are

“microbe heavens, or graveyards of mankind.” (Laurie Garrett, The Coming Plague, p. 235) In light of this, it is interesting to note that the Lord gave the following warn­ing to Israel: “And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me: I will bring seven times more [dis­eases] upon you according to your sins. … and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the [diseases] among you.” (Leviticus 26:21, 25)

Many of our diseases are related to sexual immorality. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have become a mega problem for the healthcare industry since the sexual revolution in the 1960s. Here in the U.S., it is reported that there are 20 million new cases of STDs among young adults (15-24 years old) each year! It is estimated that 40 percent of sexually active teen-age girls in America have a STD. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are suffering and dying from STDs. We must warn these people that their Creator has designed their bodies for sex only within the marriage between one man and one wom­an. To transgress this law is to invite the natural conse­quences of divine judgment, which are STDs. (Read Ro­mans 1:27.) People are forced to accept the idea that God has designed our bodies with safety limits. Our bodies were not created to jump off of a three story-building, stay under water for hours, or have sex with multiple people. Deadly consequences remain in effect for those who re­fuse to accept God’s laws within His creation and in His book – the Bible.

The abuse of illegal drugs is also causing a marked in­crease in certain diseases, such as AIDS, the hepatitis B virus, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis. When a person takes illegal drugs and is involved in im­morality, it greatly increases his potential to contract and transmit diseases among his drug buddies and multiple sex partners. According to the Bible, this will be a major problem during the final days man will be on this earth. Revelation 9:21 reports: “Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries [this word could be trans­lated ‘drugs’], nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”

There are other factors to consider concerning our modern lifestyles and the increased risk of a global outbreak of infectious diseases. As a result of our population explo­sion in the 20th century, new agricultural inventions and techniques for massive food production had to be invented to keep pace with the growing population. Several gen­erations now have known nothing about raising their own food. Less than 2 percent of the population is providing any food for themselves.

Research demonstrates that the agricultural products that are being mass-produced today do not have the necessary nutritional value that is necessary for maintaining the health that our bodies need. The overuse of fertilizers and pesticides has yielded fresh fruits and vegetables that have been raped of their nutrients. In many cases the remaining nutrients in these food products are destroyed with radia­tion before they are shipped to our supermarkets. We may have more food that looks great, is larger, and tastes good, but is void of nutritional value. This problem is being magnified by the use of genetically modified foods. Once again, Laurie Garrett helps us understand how serious this situation has become. She writes: “Among the cells of the body most dependent upon a steady source of nutrients are those of the immune system, most of which live, even un­der ideal conditions, for only days at a time. As nutrition­al input declines, these vital cells literally run out of fuel, or, in worst cases, die off. The body may also lack nutri­tional resources to make replacement cells, and eventually immune deficiency can become so acute that virtually any pathogenic microbe can cause lethal disease.” (Garrett, p. 199) In addition, there is concern that antibiotics are be­ing used in animals that we consume. It is a proven fact that these antibiotics may protect the farmer’s livestock, but their use has led to the spread of more dangerous mi­crobes that invade our bodies.

Please keep in mind that in relationship to history, these are new lifestyles. Just a little over 150 years ago, almost everyone raised their own food. They knew what they were eating. All of this is further complicated by the in­creasing trend to eat out more often. Several generations ago, eating out was a very rare occasion. Now, it is not uncommon for the average couple or family to go out to eat several times a week. When people eat out they have no control over the quality of the food they consume, food preparation, food handling, or eating conditions. There­fore, this increases their risk of dangerous food contami­nation or excessive amounts of harmful foods that lead to poor health, making the body even more vulnerable to diseases.

Since the 1940s, the medical profession has attempted to aid our fight against infectious diseases with the use of antibiotics. However, it is now apparent that we are in grave danger due to the overuse of these antibiotics. When a patient fails to take the entire prescribed antibi­otic, the surviving bacteria mutates, strengthening itself against the next round of antibiotics. Consequently, when the next infection comes we need to use a more powerful or different antibiotic. Concerning this problem, Laurie Garrett explains: “We’re running out of bullets for dealing with a number of these infections. [Like MRSA.] … Pa­tients are dying because we no longer in many cases have antibiotics that work. … Bugs are always figuring out ways to get around the antibiotics we throw at them. … They adapt, they come roaring back.” (Garrett, p. 431) Later, she quotes from another medical research scientist that sounds this most alarming warning: “Unfortunately, we played a trick on the natural world by seizing control of these [natural] chemicals, making them more perfect in a way that has changed the whole microbial constitution of the developing countries. We have organisms that probably caused a tenth of a percent of human disease in the past that now cause twenty, thirty percent of the dis­ease we are seeing. We have changed the whole face of the earth by the use of antibiotics.” (Garrett, p. 437)

Another aspect of our modern lifestyles in recent decades has been the marked increase in the movement of goods and people due to increased global air travel. Obviously, this magnifies the potential for the global transmission of deadly diseases. We consume products that are shipped to our communities from around the world. Each year, over 800 million people travel in and out of the U.S. in interna­tional air travel. Over 2,500 years ago the prophet Daniel predicted that in the “time of the end many shall run to and fro.” (Daniel 12:4) In recent weeks we have learned that the potential threat of an Ebola outbreak in the United States has increased due to the return of some Americans who have traveled to parts of Western Africa where over 4,900 have died due to an Ebola epidemic.

The potential for the pandemic of deadly diseases is also related to our changing environment. Some are debating the reality and cause of climate change or global warming. However, according to the prophetic Word of God, it will become a great problem during the Tribulation Period. (Malachi 4:1; Revelation 16:8-9) A true consideration of the factors that contribute to global warming, both scien­tifically and biblically, indicate that climate change is not due to man-made emissions or burping cows! True cli­mate change comes from radical increases of radiation from the sun and gases released from volcanic eruptions. I would like to point out that the Bible indicates that both of these will play a major role in the increase of global warming during the Tribulation Period. As the global climate heats up, it will produce ripe conditions that will cause the multiplication of insects and rodents that trans­mit dangerous diseases. The man-made pollution of our water, land, and air will also magnify the increase in dead­ly diseases. Please notice that during the Tribulation Peri­od, the Lord will “destroy them which destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:18) While evangelical Christians do not agree with those who worship “mother earth,” we do need to recognize that we should be good managers of the crea­tion the Lord has entrusted to us. (Genesis 2:15) For far too long man has raped the land, abused and altered the vegetation, polluted the water, poisoned the air, and wasted our resources. God’s payday is coming. It appears that He will allow mankind to suffer the consequences of his own abuse and neglect as stewards of His creation He al­lows us to enjoy.

Aside from all of these considerations that make us more vulnerable to the creation, mutation, and transmission of deadly diseases, there is one more concern that is even more frightening. We are living at a time when evil re­gimes possess weapons of mass destruction (WMD). While we often think about the dangerous threat of nucle­ar or chemical WMDs, it is a known fact that biological weapons are the easiest to make, maintain, transport, re­lease, and in some ways are the most lethal WMD. “Bio­logical weapons contain natural toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi; sprayed or burst over populated areas, they might cause limited but severe out­breaks of … deadly diseases.”(www.britannica.com) Nine nations of great concern possess these WMDs: Alge­ria, China, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Syria. Israeli news sources have re­ported that several Islamic terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, are trying to acquire biological weapons. “Plans to develop biological weapons and instructions on how to weaponize the bubonic plague from infected ani­mals were found on a laptop belonging to a Tunisian Is­lamic State jihadist, by a Syrian rebel commander from a moderate group in northern Syria.” (www.timesofisrael. com, August 30, 2014)

Should these terrorist groups successfully release a biolog­ical weapon in Europe, Canada, or the United States, we cannot begin to image how this would change our lives in an instant. This makes me think of the warning in 1 Thes­salonians 5:3: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail up­on a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

We are living at a time when mankind is more vulnerable to events that threaten our lives than ever before! On the surface it all appears good and glorious. However, when you examine the Word of God and conservative secular research, we are in deep trouble. Our Lord spoke of the alarming death rate that will characterize the final period of this age. In Matthew 24:21-22, He warned: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the be­ginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

My friend, if you do not know the Lord, you need to sur­render your life to Him today. Only those who have re­pented of their sins and called out to the Lord for salvation will escape the time “which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Revelation 3:10) Those who believe and trust in Him, and demonstrate that by abiding in Christ and keeping His Word, will be kept from the “hour of temptation” (Revelation 3:10), and be delivered “from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

May our Lord give us great wisdom for living in this fall­en world until He takes us home to be with Him. Keep looking up! Be listening for the shout that will take us out!

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2014 October – Descending into the Darkness

Descending into the Darkness

“… the night [is coming] when no man can work.” – John 9:4

By Mike Wingfield

If you are saved and walking in the light of God’s Word, you know we are living in a time of great spiritual dark­ness. We can see our world descending into a deep, dark pit of depravity. The global culture is rapidly plunging into a deadly cycle of brutal violence, gross immorality, and civil anarchy. All of these developments are being accompanied by an unprecedented global economic col­lapse. This is extremely dangerous because it is taking place at a time when man continues to create and prolifer­ate powerful weapons of mass destruction around the globe. This will be most deadly because planet earth is currently home to the largest global population in history – 7 billion souls.

The Bible tells us that in this pit of darkness, the world will display the greatest rebellion of all times against the Lord. It is my opinion that the global culture has reached the spiritual tipping point of no return. When this hap­pened in the days of Noah, the Lord said: “My spirit shall not always strive with man.” (Genesis 6:3) This simply means that the culture of Noah’s day had collectively de­stroyed their consciences so that they were never guilty nor ashamed of their gross immorality and brutal violence.

The conscience is the spiritual means whereby the Holy Spirit strives with man to produce guilt and repentance that leads to salvation. Without this work of the Spirit in the conscience of man, no one is able to come to Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:3) Therefore, when a society collec­tively reaches the final stage when its conscience is seared (see 1 Timothy 4:2), they are vulnerable to demonic influ­ence and possession. In their fanatical rebellion against God, He gives them over to their passionate desires to continue down the path toward eternal damnation, without any spiritual warning. When this happens in the last days, the Lord will allow Satan to use evil men to deceive the global masses. “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, That they should believe [the] lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

It is true that history has been filled with some of the same sins that are being expressed around the world today. So, how do we know that this hour is any darker spiritually than previous times? How do we know that this spiritual darkness is the one described in the prophetic Scriptures that will usher in the Great Tribulation? To answer these questions, we must turn to the prophetic Word of God and examine the way God will measure spiritual light and darkness in the last days.

I would like to suggest that Isaiah 60 is the perfect Bibli­cal text that gives us insight into to how the Lord will measure spiritual light and darkness in the last days. This text begins with a prophetic promise given to the Jewish people at the beginning of the millennial kingdom. The millennial kingdom will be established by Christ follow­ing the Great Tribulation. First, the text focuses upon the spiritual light that will shine greatly at the beginning of this earthly Messianic kingdom. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1) When the Lord returns to earth at the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period, the entire living nation of Israel will be saved. (Ezekiel 36:25-28; Zechari­ah 13:8-9; Romans 11:26) No unsaved Jew or Gentile will enter the Kingdom of God on earth. Only the saved Gentiles and Jews who have survived the Tribulation Pe­riod will physically inhabit the earthly kingdom of God in their natural physical bodies. (Matthew 25:31-46) The remaining kingdom dwellers will be made up of the re­deemed saints of all of the previous ages. These resur­rected saints will rule with Christ in His kingdom in their heavenly glorified bodies they respectively received at the time of their resurrection.

This will be a glorious time for planet earth and all those who live to enter this glorious kingdom. “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the earth.” (Isaiah 11:9) All of the Jewish people will return home to Israel and the Lord will rule over them and all of the nations from Jerusalem, Israel. Finally, the passionate sovereign will of God for His chosen people will be fulfilled. The God of Jacob has declared: “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” (Isaiah 62:1) The entire nation of Israel, every Jew on earth, will be a spiritual light unto the Gentile na­tions. As believers in Jesus, “the light of the world” (John 8:12), the entire nation of Israel will reflect the glorious light of their Messiah and Redeemer. The Lord has given them His promise: “The LORD shall be unto thee an ever­lasting light, and thy God thy glory.” (Isaiah 60:19) So, the Lord will begin His millennial reign with this com­mand to His redeemed chosen nation: “Arise, shine: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1)

However, in sharp contrast to this glorious moment of spiritual light at the beginning of the kingdom, the Lord directed His prophet to remind His people concerning the time that will precede this kingdom – the Tribulation Peri­od. Isaiah wrote: “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:2) According to this verse, and many others, the Tribulation Period will be a time of dangerous global spiritual darkness. On what basis does God meas­ure this spiritual light during the Kingdom and the spiritu­al darkness that will precede His Kingdom? The follow­ing context in Isaiah 60 answers this question.

After making his opening statements in the first two vers­es of Isaiah 60, the prophet was directed to write about the evidences of the great spiritual enlightenment that will exist during the Messianic kingdom for 1,000 years. He lists four major evidences of this time of spiritual light that will shine forth from His physical kingdom in Jerusalem, Israel, and be reflected throughout the Gentile nations over all the earth. Let us briefly examine these four evi­dences of the spiritual light during Christ’s global king­dom. Understanding this will enable us to know and ex­amine the spiritual darkness that will be displayed during the Tribulation Period.

 

Spiritual Oneness

We must remember that during His kingdom on earth, the Lord will “rule all nations with a rod of iron.” (Revela­tion 12:5; compare Psalm 2:9) As the global dictator, He will not tolerate any other gods, idols, or forms of worship that would honor any former pagan deity. Satan and his demons, the great counterfeiters behind all gods and idols, will be banished from earth and locked away in the bot­tomless pit until the thousand years are finished. (Revela­tion 20:1-3)

All of the nations will worship the Messiah on His throne in Jerusalem. “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light. … and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. … They shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.” (Isaiah 60:3, 6-7) Earlier in his prophecy, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:2-3)

In Isaiah 60:6-7, the Spirit of the Lord directed Isaiah to write about the spiritual transformation that will take place in the Arab/Islamic nations that will surround Israel. During the kingdom, the people from Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar and Nebaioth will all come up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. These ancient names clearly point to a remnant of the Muslims living in the desert areas east of Israel, who will surrender to Christ before He returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation. In this text, the Lord points to the incredible transformation of the people who have violently and passionately rejected the God of Jacob for centuries. Finally, they will be spiritually one with Israel and come to Jerusalem to worship the God of Jacob.

Civil Peace

Because of the spiritual oneness that will be enjoyed by both Jews and Arabs during the kingdom, there will final­ly be peace in the Middle East and throughout the world. In this context, Isaiah reminded the future Jewish genera­tion that will inhabit the kingdom: “Violence shall no more be heard in thy walls, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” (Isaiah 60:18) There will be no more war in the Middle East, or among the Gentile nations.

“And he [the Messianic King] shall judge among the na­tions, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into prun­ing hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)

Therefore, the spiritual light that will permeate the king­dom of God on earth will be evidenced by the dramatic change among the nations in their attitude toward the presence of the Jewish people in their land. The conflict over the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem will cease. The wars and acts of terrorism that had preceded the king­dom will be over. The gates of the millennial Jerusalem will never need to be closed to defend itself against invad­ing forces. (Isaiah 60:11)

The nations will support the immigration of the final Jew­ish remnant to the land of Israel. (Isaiah 60:4, 9) Hatred for Israel and the Jews will be replaced with an attitude of honor, service, and acceptance. (Isaiah 60:7, 10, 12)

“The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bend­ing unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.” (Isaiah 60:14-15) With great praise and joy, Isaiah announced to his people: “the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isaiah 60:20)

Political Unity

Another amazing evidence of the spiritual light that will exist within the kingdom is the global political unity. The nations of the earth will be in submission to the Messianic administration that will be centrally located in Jerusalem. The king will rule with a rod of iron. There will be no tolerance of any rebellion, defiance, or disobedience. He will have no competition. Those who rule with Him will be in glorified bodies and will not be able to sin or rebel. They will be spiritually and politically one with their Lord and King.

Jesus the Messiah will return to earth as “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16) The earthly kings of the nations will submit to the Messi­anic King. Isaiah wrote: “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (Isai­ah 60:3) Through Isaiah, the Lord promised: “And the sons of strangers shall build thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee.” (Isaiah 60:10) Rebellion against the Jerusalem-based government of the kingdom will be met with swift judgment. “For the nation and king that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those na­tions shall be utterly wasted.” (Isaiah 60:12)

Economic Submission

The spiritual light of the kingdom age will be evidenced by the economic submission of the nations to the Lord and His people – Israel. All of the kings and their nations will demonstrate their recognition and acceptance of the Jew­ish Messiah as their King and Lord by flooding Israel with economic wealth. The nations will bring their silver and gold to Israel. (Isaiah 60:6, 9) The abundance of precious metals in Israel during the kingdom will be so astounding that Isaiah offers the following description: “For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron.” (Isaiah 60:17)

Therefore, we must conclude that the Lord measures the great spiritual light of His kingdom by the amazing trans­formation of the Arab/Islamic nations that surround Israel. The light of His kingdom is evidenced by the Arab’s spir­itual oneness with Israel. Because their heart has been changed, they will not hate the Jews, but love them be­cause of their Jewish Messiah. Wars and violence over the land of Israel and the Jewish possession of Jerusalem will cease. The Islamic passion to dominate Israel and control the world will be replaced with a submission to the Jewish administration in Jerusalem. Instead of investing in military hardware to destroy Israel, they will give full financial support to the Jewish people and their presence in the land that the Lord has given them.

In light of this understanding, we must now turn to the divine understanding of the darkness that will permeate the earth before the kingdom. Remember what Isaiah wrote: “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people.” (Isaiah 60:2) This spir­itual darkness must be the exact and extreme opposite of the spiritual light that is described in Isaiah 60. Let us now examine the evidence of this gross spiritual darkness.

The current developments in Israel are being driven by many prominent radical Islamic groups. The agenda of these radical Islamic terrorists threaten life and freedom in the Middle East and around the world. On Monday, Sep­tember 29, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood before the United Nations General Assembly and very clearly sounded out a warning to the nations concern­ing the radical Islamic threat to the entire world. It is my opinion that Israel’s leadership is at this time speaking with the greatest moral clarity and spiritual light within the nations gathered at the U.N. Here are a few of his comments: “The people of Israel pray for peace. But our hopes and the world’s hope for peace are in danger. Be­cause everywhere we look, militant Islam is on the march. … For the militant Islamists, ‘All politics is global.’ Be­cause their ultimate goal is to dominate the world.

“Now, that threat might seem exaggerated to some, since it starts out small, like a cancer that attacks a particular part of the body. But left unchecked, the cancer grows, metastasizing over wider and wider areas. To protect the peace and security of the world, we must remove this can­cer before it’s too late.

“… They all share a fanatic ideology. They all seek to cre­ate ever-expanding enclaves of militant Islam where there is no freedom and no tolerance — where women are treat­ed as chattel, Christians are decimated, and minorities are subjugated, sometimes given the stark choice: Convert or die.

“… Militant Islam’s ambition to dominate the world seems mad. But so too did the global ambitions of another fanatic ideology that swept to power eight decades ago.

“The Nazis believed in a master race. The militant Islam­ists believe in a master faith. They just disagree about who among them will be the master… of the master faith. That’s what they truly disagree about. Therefore, the ques­tion before us is whether militant Islam will have the pow­er to realize its unbridled ambitions.

“The fight against militant Islam is indivisible. When mili­tant Islam succeeds anywhere, it’s emboldened every­where. When it suffers a blow in one place, it’s set back in every place.

“That’s why Israel’s fight against Hamas is not just our fight. It’s your fight.” (http://www.jpost.com/Arab­Israeli-Conflict/Full-text-of-Prime-Minister-Netanyahus­UN-speech-376626) link no longer valid, routing to home page

I applaud Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech. He not only speaks with moral clarity, but from experience. Isra­el is on the front line of the global battle against militant Islam. In essence, he is acting like the proverbial watch­man on the walls of Jerusalem, sending out a warning to all the nations. (See Ezekiel 3:16-21.) The world is fac­ing the same threat and should listen to his warnings and advice. However, it is apparent that this is not the case. Israelis were saddened when they realized that almost half of the U.N. delegation left the auditorium before Netanya­hu spoke. The world, including the United States, is not listening to his warning. Our world is doomed to suffer the wrath of God as He allows Islam to dominate the world during the Tribulation Period.

It is not an accident that the agenda of radical Islam is an exact replication of the spiritual darkness defined in the prophetic Scriptures. In essence, three major agendas are being promoted by these radical elements:

The Elimination of Israel

An examination of the prophetic Scriptures quickly reveal that the elimination of Jews from the Middle East and the world will be a major agenda of the Antichrist during the Kingdom. (See Revelation 12; 16:12-16.) Many Biblical texts state that the Tribulation Period will be the darkest page in Jewish history. (Jeremiah 30:4-7; Daniel 12:1) When the end of the Tribulation arrives, two-thirds of the global Jewish population will have been killed. (Zechari­ah 13:7-9) At the very end of the Tribulation Period, at the Armageddon campaign, the Antichrist and his Islamic coalition will lead a global assault against Israel. (Revela­tion 16:12-16) This will represent the world’s final at­tempt to slaughter the remaining Jewish population in Is­rael and return the Promised Land to Islam.

The teachings of the Islamic prophet Mohammed, the rhetoric coming out of the majority of mosques throughout the Middle East, the media outlets of Muslim countries, and the education curriculums in the countries that sur­round Israel, all espouse an agenda aimed at eliminating the only Jewish state in the Middle East – Israel. In some cases, this seems to be the sole purpose for the creation of some terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Hamas. The battle cry to free Palestine and Jerusalem from the Jews is heard throughout the nations and especially in the Muslim lands that surround Israel.

The modern return of the Jewish people to their national homeland has been in progress for about 100 years. This entire century has been filled with many violent attempts to remove the Jewish people from their land. However, it is very apparent that this attack on the modern nation of Israel and the Jewish people living among the nations is reaching a very significant climax.

Many Jewish agencies who monitor and report on global anti-Semitism indicate we are witnessing a frightening rise of hatred against Jews. With the massive influx of Mus­lims in Europe in recent decades, Europe has become a hot-bed of Jew bashing. Attacks upon Jewish people are becoming very common. Natan Sharansky, the Israeli chairman of the agency that monitors global anti-Semitism, recently commented: “Something historic is happening,” … It may be the beginning of the end of Eu­ropean Jewry.” (www.jta.org/2014/07/08/news) link no longer valid, routing to home page As a result, many European Jews are leaving, many of them immigrating to Israel.

The Middle East in general is going through a major shift from a moderate Islamic position to a more radical Islamic agenda that calls for the destruction of Israel and the mili­tant advance of Islam to establish a global Islamic king­dom. This has been the driving force behind what has

been called “the Arab Spring.” This is not, as some here

in the West have proposed, a call for democracy in these countries. It is clearly an attempt to overthrow modern Arab regimes with a more radical element that will join the crusade toward the goal of Islamic world domination. The elimination of Israel is at the heart of this movement.

The rise of the radical and brutal terrorist force called “the Islamic State” in Syria and Iraq demonstrates the sweep­ing shift that is taking place in the Middle East. The sud­den rise of this group and its ability to control large swaths of land in Iraq and Syria is unprecedented in this modern era. When one examines ISIL’s stated goals, it is not sur­prising that it is bent on controlling all Islamic countries and removing the Jewish state of Israel from the center of their proposed Islamic kingdom in the Middle East.

However, from Israel’s point of view, the most dangerous threat is the religious leadership in the Islamic State of Iran. While the rest of the world is focused upon other increasingly pressing problems, Iran quietly continues to move toward the production of its first nuclear weapon. Once again, Prime Minister Netanyahu is warning the world of this grave threat to Israel and the entire world. While speaking about Iran in his recent address to the U.N., he said: “The Islamic Republic is now trying to bamboozle its way to an agreement that will remove the sanctions it still faces, and leave it with the capacity of thousands of centrifuges to enrich uranium. This would effectively cement Iran’s place as a threshold military nu­clear power. In the future, at a time of its choosing, Iran, the world’s most dangerous state in the world’s most dan­gerous region, would obtain the world’s most dangerous weapons.

Allowing that to happen would pose the gravest threat to us all. It is one thing to confront militant Islamists on pick­up trucks, armed with Kalashnikov rifles. It’s another thing to confront militant Islamists armed with weapons of mass destruction.” (http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli­Conflict/Full-text-of-Prime-Minister-Netanyahus-UN­speech-376626) link no longer valid, routing to home page

Anyone who is paying attention to all of these develop­ments must conclude that we are moving toward a major confrontation in the Middle East. While we might not be able to connect all of the dots at this time, it is apparent that the stage is being set for the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.

A War on Christians

A major agenda of the Antichrist during the Tribulation will be the elimination of all those who reject him and his religion. (Revelation 13:16-18) His wrath will especially be poured out upon those who received Christ during the Tribulation. He and his global coalition of all nations will declare war on believers in Jesus Christ. (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:7)

The second agenda being promoted by the radical Islamic elements in the Middle East is the war on the church of Jesus Christ. In recent years, the number of Christians who have been brutally murdered by the Islamic terrorists in the Middle East has dramatically escalated. Thousands of believers in Egypt, Syria, and Iraq have been targeted by these radicals. For those who have the financial ability, they are leaving their homes in the Middle East. The exo­dus and death of Christians in the Middle East is a major story that is being ignored by the liberal media in the U.S. For those who are closely following these events, they have concluded “there is likely to be little place for Chris­tian Arabs in a Middle East rebuilt on intolerant ideologies like those of Isis.” (The Guardian, July 23, 2014)

The brutal killing of Christians in Iraq and Syria by the ISIL is a precursor to the Tribulation Period. The Anti­christ will rule the world from Babylon, Iraq. (Isaiah 14:4) The chief means whereby he will execute believers is decapitation. (Revelation 20:4) We are currently wit­nessing a microscopic picture of what will develop in Iraq and the Middle East on a more grand scale during the final seven years of this age.

The Establishment of a Political­Religious-Economic Kingdom in Iraq

The political, religious, and economic center of the world’s final superpower will be in the Middle East in general and in Iraq in particular. All of the nations that participate in the Armageddon campaign as a part of the Antichrist’s coalition are mentioned several times in Scripture. They are all Islamic nations. (Psalm 83:6-8) The religious power that will be in league with the Anti­christ’s kingdom in the last days is called “Mystery Baby­lon.” (Revelation 17:5) The context of Revelation 17-18, along with the Old Testament passages alluded to in these two chapters (Isaiah 13, 47; Jeremiah 50-51), support the conclusion that both the religion and the political structure of the Antichrist will be centered in Iraq. Those who do not submit to this new international economic order will be killed. (Revelation 13:15-18) These prophetic revela­tions are an exact carbon copy of the Islamic strategy promoted by the current ISIL forces in Iraq and Syria.

Therefore, in conclusion, we should note that the descrip­tive distinctions of the spiritual light that will exist during the kingdom age, according to Isaiah 60, will focus upon the incredible spiritual transformation of the Muslim countries that surround Israel. Israel’s enemies will be­come Israel’s devoted friends. So, the gross darkness that will permeate the preceding Tribulation Period will be measured by the level of hatred that will motivate these same nations to annihilate the Jewish State.

It is a very sobering thought to grasp the reality that our world is entering into the darkest period in all of human history. This is a difficult conclusion for some to grasp. They look at all of the academic, scientific, medical, and technological achievements of this modern era and con­clude that this kind of spiritual darkness does not seem possible at this time. However, one must remember that when Nazi Germany conducted its Holocaust campaign against the Jews almost eight decades ago, it was the aca­demic and scientific giant of the civilized world. While many modern cultures may be excelling in academic and scientific areas, these same cultures are morally and spir­itually in a state of self-destruction.

Those who are attempting to warn our present generation about this time of great spiritual darkness are being con­fronted with rejection and stern opposition. Jesus warned us that this day would come. He said: “the night [is com­ing], when no man can work.” (John 9:4) As we wait for Jesus to come for His church, the darkness will intensify and the global attack on the church and Israel will expand.

It is time for us to join the early church, which was facing persecution and martyrdom at the end of the first century, when they pleaded with the Lord: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:21)

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2014 September – When God Fights for Israel

When God Fights for Israel

“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle: … Then shall the LORD go forth, and fights against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” – Zechariah 14:2-3

By Mike Wingfield

While the inhabitants of this world are moving frantically about to fulfill their selfish and sinful desires, God is speaking through the ongoing conflict in Israel. Little does the world know that the hand of God is at work while Israel defends herself against relentless attacks from an Islamic terrorist group known as Hamas.

Yes, we are troubled as we see the graphic images of vio­lence and destruction taking place in Israel and Gaza. But at the same time, these are exciting times for students of Bible prophecy, because we are witnessing sensational testimonies of God’s power and faithfulness to His people.

In this newsletter, I will focus on these exciting reports coming out of the Middle East. First, let us examine the larger context of Scripture to set the stage for grasping how God is being faithful to His chosen people, Israel.

The Bible is the only divine written revelation given to man. When we open this revelation, our attitude should be similar to that of Moses when he stood before God at the burning bush. (Exodus 3) He saw it as a time to hum­ble himself and be still before the “I AM THAT I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) While reading the Bible, we should be in awe and reverence, like taking off our spiritual shoes. We should recognize that we are in the presence of the One and only God. We must never question nor forget that He is the One and only God, and that the Bible is His one and only revelation.

Moses became one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s histo­ry. Many years later, the Lord raised up another great prophet, Isaiah, to remind the children of Israel of this truth. Throughout His great prophetic book, this faithful prophet of God repeatedly thundered forth this truth. “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God be­side me.” (Isaiah 45:5) He repeated this in 45:6, 18, 21­22; and 46:9. One of Isaiah’s favorite names of God was “the holy one of Israel.” (Isaiah 1:4) He used this spe­cial title for God 25 times in his prophetic book. The use of this title for God was a continual reminder to Israel of the holiness of God. This means that God is sinless, and that He alone is set apart from all other pagan idols and gods. He alone is infinite. As the “I am,” He is not de­pendent upon anything or anyone in all of His creation. He alone is the Creator, Ruler, and Judge of all of crea­tion. He is totally sovereign.

Biblical prophecy is a declaration of the sovereign control of the God of Israel. He controls everything and every­one. (Daniel 4:34-35) In Isaiah 46:9-11, the Lord de­clared: “… I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the be­ginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: … I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass: I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

In God’s revelation to mankind, He has repeatedly de­clared the details of His eternal plan. As the student of the Bible examines this divine plan in history and prophe­cy, it is clear that God has uniquely chosen a land and a people to fulfill His divine purposes here on this earth. The Lord has established an eternal covenant with a cho­sen people, a promised land, and a holy city, Jerusalem. Therefore, it is vitally significant for all who want to be blessed by God to join Him in promoting and supporting His eternal plan. Those who willfully oppose Him and go to war with His chosen people and the Holy Land and Ho­ly city will be cursed and ultimately destroyed by Him. (Zechariah 12:1-4)

Let us examine the Biblical answers to four very im­portant questions:

(1) Who is Israel?

If the God of the Bible has uniquely chosen the Jewish people for His eternal purposes, then we must identify who they are. The religion of Islam teaches that the peo­ple of God began with Abraham, Ishmael, and Esau. This is the exact opposite of the message of the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Lord made it clear that the line of di­vine blessing would pass through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s “everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:7) did not come through Ishmael, but through Isaac. (Genesis 17) In His sovereign plan, God rejected Isaac’s firstborn, Esau, and declared that Jacob was the son of promise.

(Genesis 25:22-23) Furthermore, the Lord repeated the Abrahamic blessing (Genesis 17:7-8) to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-4) and Jacob. (Genesis 35:10-12)

The identification of Israel as the line of divine choice is repeated in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament, clearly stated in his letter to the church at Rome that God chose Isaac and Jacob, not Ishmael and Esau, for His divine pur­poses. (Romans 9:3-13)

The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and coming Messiah of the Millennial Kingdom, is traced through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Matthew 1:2 and Luke 3:34) It is sad to note that there are certain so-called Christian groups that are attempting to erase the Jewish roots of Je­sus. Their hatred for the Jewish people is so great that they are compelled to openly ignore and reject the clear Biblical teaching of the Jewishness of Jesus. Please note that Jesus is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” in Revelation 5:5. In recent years, some Palestinian pastors have been teaching that Jesus was a Palestinian, not a Jew.

In spite of these false teachings, the Jewish people who are returning to Israel today are the Biblical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is true that some, or perhaps, many of them have descendants who have inter­married with Gentiles. However, this has not canceled out their connection with Biblical Israel. Note that in Jesus’s Jewish genealogy, three Gentile women are named: Tha­mar (a Canaanite woman mentioned in Matthew 1:3), Ra­hab (a pagan harlot listed in Matthew 1:5), and Ruth (a Moabite cited in Matthew 1:5). However, this did not hinder Jesus’ mission as the One who would “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) The angel Ga­briel told Mary that Jesus “shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)

God has chosen the Jewish people to be a very special people with a divine assignment. In Leviticus 20:26, He said to them: “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, and that ye should be mine.” (Compare with Deuterono­my 7:6-10.) God has chosen the Jewish people to be a unique supernatural sign to the nations of the world. A Biblical sign is a unique supernatural work of God that demonstrates to the world who God is. This sign pulls back the curtain that separates the physical world and the spiritual realm and displays the reality that the spirit realm controls the physical world.

The nation of Israel is at the center of God’s dealings with the nations. The world’s treatment of the Jewish people has been chosen by the sovereign Creator as a test for di­vine blessing or cursing. (Genesis 12:1-3) Those who hate Israel are Biblically viewed as enemies of God. (Psalm 83:1-4)

In spite of Israel’s rebellion, the God of mercy has chosen to demonstrate to the world who He is through His divine protection and blessing of Israel. God is not motivated to do what He does in and through Israel because of who they are, but because of who He is! While declaring that the Jewish people will return to the Holy Land in spiritual unbelief, the Lord declared: “I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake.” (Eze­kiel 36:22)

(2) Does God fight for Israel?

Once we understand the Biblical identity of Israel and their unique divine position and mission, it becomes clear that God does fight for Israel. In this article, I would like to examine four considerations that demonstrate that God does fight for Israel:

Biblical Statements There are a multitude of Scriptures that declare God will defend Israel and fight for His people. Here are just a few of them:

Leviticus 26:8-“And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.”

Deuteronomy 28:7-“The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.” Psalm 91:7-“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” (See this entire Psalm.)

Also read: Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; 3:22; 20:4; Psalm 121; and Isaiah 29:7-8; 59:19, and Malachi 3:6.

Historical Illustrations In the days of Abraham-After Abraham’s amazing victory over the kings of the east (Iraq and Iran) in Genesis 14, the Lord spoke to Abraham and said: “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield…” (Genesis 15:1)

In the days of Moses-From the time Israel left Egypt until they entered the Promised Land, God fought for Israel against the great armies of other nations. We must re­member that many of these military victories came at a time when God was disciplining the Jewish people during the years of their wilderness wanderings. The impact of Israel’s divine victory over her enemies put great fear in the hearts of its enemies. (For example, read Numbers 22:1-6 and Joshua 2:10-11.)

In the days of Joshua-God knew that dislodging the Ca­naanites from their land would be a long and difficult task for His people. Therefore, in the very first battle at Jeri­cho, He gave Joshua a battle plan that demonstrated to Israel and all of the inhabitants of the land that the battle belongs to the Lord. (Read Joshua 6.)

In the days of the Judges-During this time of Israel’s great rebellion against the Lord, the Lord raised up judges to lead His people to a military victory over their enemies. Most prominent during this time were Gideon (Judges 6­8) and Samson. (Judges 13-16) Gideon is viewed as a fore-runner of the Messiah by the Jewish people. Gideon defeated a massive army of “the Midianites (Saudi Ara­bia), and the Amalekites (an Edomite tribe that eventually settled Mecca in Saudi Arabia) and the children of the east,” who were gathered together in the Valley of Jezreel (Aramgeddon.) (Judges 6:33) Samson, who had many spiritual weaknesses, was divinely empowered to defeat the Philistines (located in the area of the Gaza Strip).

In the days of King David-King David was known as a man of war. With divine help, David was able to defeat the enemies of Israel. David is best known for his person­al defeat of the Philistine giant, Goliath, when he was a teenager. (1 Samuel 17) When David approached the giant he declared: “…I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

In the days of King Jehoshaphat-During the days of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, a massive army from Moab and Ammon invaded Israel. (2 Chronicles 20) When the re­port of this approaching army reached the king in Jerusa­lem, he and all of Israel called out to the Lord for help. The Lord raised up a prophet who declared to the king:

“Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor be dis­mayed by reason of this great multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15) 2 Chroni­cles 20:16-30 records how the Lord supernaturally caused the enemies of Israel to destroy themselves.

Modern Testimonies The modern nation of Israel bears the fingerprints of the God of Israel from its inception until now. When Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948 at 4:00 p.m. in Tel Aviv, the armies of seven Arab nations were poised to attack. Humanly speaking, there is no logical explanation for the ultimate amazing Israeli victory in the face of great odds. Israel was outnumber 100 to 1. They were gravely unprepared for the war. However, it is very obvious that God fought for Israel in their War of Independence. Many stories of miracles have been confirmed. Here is one astonishing account: “At Safed, near the Sea of Gali­lee a small unit of Israeli defenders were holding off thou­sands of Arabs. A sudden tropical storm broke loose. The Israelis, in desperation, took their remaining gasoline, poured it over 50 empty drums, set them afire and rolled them down the hill. The flaming barrels flying down the slopes, the rumble of hollow barrels striking rocks— together with the tropical storm—created such an illusion that the bewildered Arabs imagining some sort of secret weapon took to their heel and fled.” (www.bible411.com/nationofmiracles) – bad link

In June 1967, Israel was attacked by her Arab neighbors on three fronts. In six days, Israel defeated her enemies.

In the process, Israel captured the Sinai, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. The entire world was stunned by this amazing Israeli victory. Once again, many stories of miracles are told about the intervention of God on behalf of Israel. A secular newspaper in Israel, Harretz, openly admitted: “Even a non-religious person must admit this war was fought with help from heaven.” (http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot. com) – bad link

In October, 1973, on the most holy day on the Jewish cal­endar, Israel fell victim to a sudden tank attack by Syria on the Golan Heights. While Syria was attacking from the north, Egypt launched an offensive in the Sinai from the south. Within a few hours, it appeared that Israel was about to be defeated. The opposite occurred, however, and the story of how the Syrians and Egyptians were de­feated and repelled is filled with accounts of incredible bravery on the part of Israeli soldiers. However, many tell stories of divine intervention. Here is one such story: “An Israeli military historian recorded that during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, an Israeli soldier in the Sinai took cap­tive an Egyptian column and led them to where the Israeli troops were. The Egyptian commander was asked why he and his men gave themselves up to the lone Israeli soldier. He responded with surprise; ‘One soldier? There were thousands of them.’ He said that as they neared the Israeli lines, the ‘soldiers’ began disappearing. The Israeli soldier reported that he was by himself when the Egyptian com­mander and his men surrendered to him. He was totally unaware of the ‘thousands of soldiers’ the Egyptian sol­diers saw with him, since he himself did not see them.” (http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=104343) page no longer available, sending you to the front page

In the last few weeks, as Israel has battled Hamas in Gaza, secular Israeli soldiers have witnessed divine interven­tions. It is amazing that only a few Israeli civilians have not been killed by the 4,500 missiles that Hamas has fired against Israel. It is even more amazing that the Israeli military has suffered minimal casualties during the incur­sions into Gaza.

Israelis are reporting about many miracles in this war with Gaza. Israel Today gave the following report on one of these miracles: In remarks relayed to an Israeli news site, an Iron Dome battery commander recalled: “A missile was fired from Gaza. Iron Dome precisely calculated [its tra­jectory]. We know where these missiles are going to land down to a radius of 200 meters. This particular missile was going to hit either the Azrieli Towers, the Kirya (Isra­el’s equivalent of the Pentagon) or [a central Tel Aviv railway station]. Hundreds could have died.

“We fired the first [interceptor]. It missed. Second [inter­ceptor]. It missed. This is very rare. I was in shock. At this point we had just four seconds until the missile lands. We had already notified emergency services to converge on the target location and had warned of a mass-casualty in­cident.

“Suddenly, Iron Dome (which calculates wind speeds, among other things) shows a major wind coming from the east, a strong wind that…sends the missile into the sea. We were all stunned. I stood up and shouted, ‘There is a God!’

“I witnessed this miracle with my own eyes. It was not told or reported to me. I saw the hand of God send that missile into the sea.” (Israel Today, August 3, 2014)

The Times of Israel reports another miracle as told by a senior Israeli infantry officer, Givati Brigade commander Ofer Winter. Winter claims that he has never seen any­thing like this in his military career. “He said that a pred­awn raid that was intended to make use of the dark as con­cealment was delayed, forcing the soldiers to move toward their objective as the sun was about to rise. The soldiers were in danger of being revealed in the light but, Winter recalled, a heavy fog descended to cover their movements until the objective was achieved.

‘Suddenly a cloud protected us,’ he said, make a reference to the clouds that the Bible says protected the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. ‘Clouds of glory.’ Only when the soldiers were in a secure position did the fog dissipate, he said.’ ‘It really was a fulfillment of the verse ‘For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to give you victory,’’ he said, quoting a passage from Deuteronomy. (The Times of Israel, July 31, 2014)

As I heard these stories, I was made to remember a sign that I have seen at the foot of a statue of the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel: “Israel is a living sign in world history that God lives and that His Word is ‘yes’ and ‘amen’.”

Prophetic Promises According to the Bible, some of the most awesome mili­tary miracles of God fighting for Israel will take place dur­ing the Tribulation Period. Ezekiel writes of a war “in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:16), when Russia and many other Islamic nations will invade Israel. This massive force will “be like a cloud to cover the land.” (Ezekiel 38:9) Be­fore these invading forces can attack Israel, the Lord will unleash a massive earthquake. This earthquake will be so great that it will cause the mountains to collapse and “eve­ry wall [in Israel will] fall to the ground.” (Ezekiel 38:20) This earthquake will trigger an eruption of dormant volcanoes on the Golan Heights, raining down upon these invaders “great hailstones, fire, and brim­stone.” (Ezekiel 38:22) In their mass confusion and fear, the invaders will turn their weapons on each other and kill their allies. (Ezekiel 38:21) This supernatural defeat of these enemies of Israel will have an incredible impact up­on Israel and all of the inhabitants of earth. (Ezekiel 38:23)

The final battle at the end of this age, Armageddon, will feature God’s supernatural work in defense of His chosen people. This will be the most awesome display of the vengeance of God in the history of mankind. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke will flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.”

(Isaiah 66:15-16) The final three chapters of Zechariah features the supernatural work of God in the battle of Ar­mageddon. In Zechariah 12:1-9, God promises that He will destroy all those who come against Jerusalem in this campaign. Zechariah 14:2-3 states: “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle … Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” At this time, the most hor­rific earthquake to ever take place on earth will occur. (Zechariah 14:4-5; Revelation 16:17-20) The armies that fight against Jerusalem will be killed in a most unusual way. “And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusa­lem; Their flesh shall consume [waste away] while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” (Zechariah 14:12) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) “For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)

(3) Why does God fight for Israel?

As we look at all of the evidence that God fights for Israel, we are forced to ask why? Why has God chosen to faith­fully fight for a people who have rejected His Son, His revelation, and have been a rebellious people?

Once again, the Bible student must understand that God has chosen the Jewish nation and promised to bless them in an unconditional covenant in spite of what they do. (Genesis 12:1-3) He has repeatedly disciplined them, but He will never destroy them and break His covenant with them. (Psalm 89:27-37; Jeremiah 30:11) It is not about their performance. It is not about who they are, but who He is! It is about God’s character. In the good and bad days of Israel, God has chosen to display to the world who He is.

God has chosen Israel to display His glory to the nations. In Isaiah 43:7, the Lord said: “…for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea I have made him.” Lat­er in the same context, He said: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.” (Isai­ah 43:21) While rebuking Israel for their past sins and promising to bless them in the last days, the Lord directed the prophet Ezekiel to remind his people why God will bless them. “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. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the LORD GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23)

Practically speaking, the Lord has several other reasons for fighting for Israel. First, He wants to reveal Himself to His people and bring them to salvation. “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel…” (Ezekiel 39:7) However, the same miracles that will bring Israel to salvation, will also bring judgment to the nations. “… and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7) The Lord will demonstrate to the nations that He alone is the Crea­tor/Ruler of the universe. All nations will tremble before Him. “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 114:7)

The entire plan of God is centrally focused upon the Jew­ish people. The Biblical revelation came through the Jew­ish people. Our Savior and Messiah is Jewish. Biblical history and prophecy are about Israel. The church’s foun­dation and purposes include the Jewish people. The early church and Great Commission began in Jerusalem. (Acts 1:8) The power of the Gospel is “to the Jew first.” (Ro­mans 1:16) Salvation was poured out upon the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy. (Romans 11:11) The coming millennial kingdom will be distinctively Jewish. And, the final eternal city is called “the New Jerusalem.”

(Revelation 21:2)

God’s plan on this earth will not reach its intended divine goal until the beginning of the millennial kingdom. The Lord has patiently waited for millennia of time for the Jewish people to finally be a light unto the nations. At the beginning of the kingdom He will announce: “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1) The Lord is passionate about the culmination of His divine plan for Israel. “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth, as brightness, and salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” (Isaiah 62:1)

God will fight for Israel because in doing so, He is dis­playing His character and being faithful to His covenant with them. Furthermore, He will fight for Israel because He must promote, defend, and progress His eternal plan. He cannot do otherwise!

(4) How does God fight for Israel?

God defends Israel naturally and supernaturally. First, the God of Israel has enabled His people to fight for them­selves. He has done this by giving them human strength and wisdom. An examination of the entire modern history of Israel will demonstrate that the Lord has endowed the Israeli people with a spirit of determination, tenacity, and creativity to establish, flourish, and defend their nation. No other nation has been able to accomplish in six dec­ades what the Israelis have done while living on the edge of a desert and in the midst of a sea of Islamic hatred that is determined to annihilate them. The making of the na­tion of Israel is divinely aided. “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee …” (Genesis 12:2)

Within His sovereign will, the Lord gives supernatural enablement to His people. (Zechariah 12:5-8)

In Israel’s recent war with Gaza, even the Israelis have been singing the praises of the Iron Dome system, an anti­ballistic missile defense system that was designed and manufactured in Israel, with the aid of U.S. financial assis­tance. Hamas fired over 4,500 missiles into Israel in re­cent months. Only a handful of these missiles caused any significant damage in Israel and only four Israeli civilians were killed. This is amazing. Israel has many other high-tech weapons. When the right time comes, these weapons will display the wisdom God has given His people.

As mentioned previously in this article, the Lord also di­rectly and supernaturally intervenes in behalf of His peo­ple. He can choose to do this through His creation, which is directed by Him. He may choose to use earth­quakes, volcanoes, winds, clouds, meteorites, asteroids, sun, moon or anything else within His creation. He can also choose to by-pass the use of His creation and simply speak His will instantly upon the enemies of Israel. Noth­ing is more powerful than the Word of God. (Revelation 19:15)

The world has once again witnessed God fighting for Isra­el. In essence, this means two things. First, this is intend­ed to bring about the ultimate salvation of the entire nation of Israel. We are witnessing the beginning of this process that will continue until the end of this age at the Battle of Armageddon. When God miraculously saves Israel in the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39), the Lord de­clares: “So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.” (Ezekiel 39:22) When the final moments of the Battle of Arma­geddon at the end of the 7-year Tribulation come, the Lord will pour out upon His people “a spirit of grace.” (read Zechariah 12:10-13:9) Consequently, all of living Israel will repent and be saved. (Romans 11:25-27)

However, as we witness these “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) involving Israel, we need to know that a horrific time of global judgment is coming upon the na­tions. In this present war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israel has seen the miraculous hand of God. How­ever, Gaza has experience devastation, destruction, and death by the army of Israel –

God’s “battle axe and weap­ons of war.” (Jeremiah 51:20) In the midst of this, “thewhirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the in­tents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.”

(Jeremiah 30:23-24)

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

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