Author: Mike Wingfield

  • 2015 May – Yemen Crisis due to Iran’s Attempt to Revive the Persian Empire

    Yemen Crisis due to Iran’s Attempt to Revive the Persian Empire, with Babylon as its Capital

    “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.”- Luke 21:28

    By Mike Wingfield

    The potential for a major war between the two largest factions of Islam, the Sunnis and Shiites (Shias), is now centered upon a struggle for Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s southern neighbor. At the epicenter of this threat of war within the Islamic world is the growing influence of Iran and its Shiite axis of power in the region. We may not be able to understand all of the details of this development in the light of the overall prophetic picture of the last days. However, the Scriptures declare that Iran will play a major role in the end-time events, forming an alliance with Russia and other Shiite friends in the Middle East. (Ezekiel 38-39) Make no mistake; the evil apocalyptic Islamic regime that is ruling over the Iranian people has its sights set on the annihilation of Israel. Its ultimate goal is the establishment of an Islamic empire that will rule over the world, with Babylon as its capital.

    Before I direct our attention to Iran, I want to briefly address a related consideration that I believe is of great significance. Many of us who study Biblical prophecy agree that the end-time political and religious power described in Revelation 17-18 is Islam. We also agree that the Antichrist will be a Muslim who will rule the Islamic world from Babylon, Iraq for 7 years. However, beyond that we are still looking at the current events in the light of the Scriptures, and wondering how all of this is going to play out. Obviously, we will not be here for the 7-year Tribulation Period, but it is our duty and privilege to study the prophetic Word of God and warn this present generation of the approaching divine judgment. The wrath of God and Satan is about to be unleashed upon this terminal generation. In comparison, our Lord gave an ominous warning of impending judgment to Israel in Old Testament days through His prophets. While the office of a prophet is not available today, I do believe the Holy Spirit desires to speak through His church and sound a warning to this present generation “to flee from the wrath to come.” (Matthew 3:7) Evangelical believers who literally interpret the prophetic Scriptures are the only people on earth who have any wisdom concerning the future. This is simply because we have been enlightened by the prophetic Word of God. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) We do not have all of the details, but we have been given a divine revelation that tells us how it is all going to end.

    We must remember that no one knows when the Rapture will take place. Jesus said: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) Even Satan does not know when the Rapture will occur. So, we must conclude that for almost 2,000 years, Satan has been guessing and preparing his forces for the final showdown in the Tribulation Period between himself and Jesus.

    Satan knows the Bible. He used it and twisted it to tempt Jesus during His incarnation. (Matthew 4:6) Satan, for his own purposes, has become very knowledgeable about the prophetic Word of God. He must know what the Lord will do in the future so he can prepare his diabolical plan in a desperate and foolish attempt to defeat Jesus when He returns. This means that Satan needs to have several possible antichrist figures ready at any moment for the Tribulation Period. Near the end of the first century, the Apostle John alluded to this when he wrote: “Little children, it is the last time, and as you 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)

    We are living in such an hour. When a person looks across the political landscape of the Islamic world in the Middle East, there are several men Satan may be grooming to be potential antichrists. Chaos is escalating in the Arab Islamic world and it appears that many leaders are aspiring to become the Muslim caliph. This caliph, or global dictator, will have total control of the Muslim world. This is really nothing new, but while looking at the global context and the rise of Islam, these developments seem to be uniquely timed to usher in the Tribulation Period.

    Various factions of the Sunni and Shiite Islamic groups are locked in a battle for the honor of creating the political and military platform from which their messiah will rule the world. While these Muslim factions have their differences, they all agree that we are living in the end of days. They further believe that their messiah, the “Mahdi,” is soon to appear. That belief is driving their apocalyptic agenda and methods.

    Potential antichrist figures can be found within the dangerous apocalyptic Iranian Shiite regime. This genocidal religious leadership believes they can hasten the public appearance of their Mahdi, the Islamic messiah, by wreaking havoc and destruction around the world. It is their view, that after the annihilation of Israel and this global destruction, the Mahdi will be able to proclaim the Islamic New World Order, called the Caliphate.

    If one listens to the fiery speeches and rhetoric coming from the power circles in Iran, they reveal a dangerous religious and political ideology. In a recent article for the Washington Post, Michael Morell (acting and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2010 to 2013) alluded to a speech given recently at a conference in Tehran on “Iran, Nationalism, History, and Culture.” This speech was given by Ali Younesi, who served as the head of intelligence for former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami. Morell reports that this influential Iranian leader told the conference attendees, “‘Since its inception, Iran has [always] had a global [dimension]. It was born an empire. Iran’s leaders, officials and administrators have always thought in the global’ dimension. Younesi defined the territory of the Iranian empire, which he called ‘Greater Iran,’ as reaching from the borders of China and including the Indian subcontinent, the north and south Caucasus and the Persian Gulf. He said Iraq is the capital of the Iranian Empire — a reference to the ancient city of Babylon, in present-day Iraq, which was the center of Persian life for centuries.” (www.washingtonpost.com, April 3, 2015)

    The fact that a current Iranian leader would make these statements about Iran’s global ambitions and its connection to ruling the world from Babylon, Iraq (see Isaiah 14:4) is an example of the revived Islamic empire of the Antichrist called “Babylon” in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 14:8; 17-18) Iran appears to have advanced its influence in the region more than any other Islamic state. The Iranian leadership has expanded its Shia crescent power base across the Middle East. In neighboring Iraq, Iran has a dominating influence over the Shiite centers in the south. As a result, Iran is a menace to the newly-created Iraqi government. In Syria, they have a power base supported by Syrian President Bashar Assad and the Alawites (a Shia religious group). In Lebanon, they have a very important political and military foothold on the northern border of Israel through their proxy, Hezbollah (a Shia military terrorist group funded and trained by Iran). In Gaza, they have almost total control of Hamas, a radical Islamic terrorist entity. And, in recent months, the Iranians have released another terrorist group in Yemen, the Houthi rebels. These rebels have captured Aden, the capital of Yemen, and its international airport.

    Map

    In light of all of this, the potential of Iran manufacturing its own nuclear weapons has become a major concern for the Sunni Muslims in the region. While Iran moves ahead with the development of a nuclear arsenal, the West (and especially the U.S. administration) is viewed as playing a deadly game of chicken with Iran. It is apparent to Israel and the Sunni Arabs that the U.S. administration has already accepted the fact that Iran will be a nuclear nation and become the dominant player in the region. This major ongoing shift in American policy in the Middle East is fueling chaos and revolutions, called the Arab Spring. As a result, radical elements are gaining more power and moving the world closer to an apocalyptic Middle East. Many former Arab-Islamic allies of the U.S. are joining Israel’s warnings that the failed foreign policies of the Obama administration in the Middle East, particularly with Iran, are making it a very dangerous place to live. In his speech to Congress March 3, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu so eloquently stated this concern: “Iran’s neighbors know that Iran will become even more aggressive and sponsor even more terrorism when its economy is unshackled and it’s been given a clear path to the bomb. And many of these neighbors say they’ll respond by racing to get nuclear weapons of their own. So this deal won’t change Iran for the better; it will only change the Middle East for the worse. A deal that’s supposed to prevent nuclear proliferation would instead spark a nuclear arms race in the most dangerous part of the planet. This deal won’t be a farewell to arms. It would be a farewell to arms control. And the Middle East would soon be crisscrossed by nuclear tripwires. A region where small skirmishes can trigger big wars would turn into a nuclear tinderbox.” (www.time.com/3730318/transcript-netanyahu -speech-to-congress/)

    Sunni Arabs know that Iran is attempting to force the Sunni world into submission, annihilate Israel, and especially take control of Saudi Arabia, the religious center of Islam. The Saudis view the Iranian attempt to turn Yemen into another Iranian proxy state as a major step in the accomplishment of this Shia agenda. In response to the shift in American policy, and the Iranian threat in Yemen, the Saudis have formed at 10-nation Sunni coalition to join them in their military strikes against the Houthis’ forces in Yemen. The military strikes against these Iranian interests in Yemen have brought about sharp threatening communications between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which could lead to war in the region. One needs to remember that Iran and Iraq were at war from 1980 to 1988. Wars pitting Muslims against Muslims are raging throughout the Middle East at this very hour. But, a conflagration between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be very costly, and bring a titanic shift to the balance of power in the Middle East.

    While all of this is taking place, Russia recently agreed to sell and deliver S-300 surface-to-air defense missile systems to Iran. This system would make a future military strike by Israel or the U.S. against Iran very difficult, but not impossible. The U.S. has positioned several of its aircraft carriers in the region to prevent Iran from supplying the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. Israel has answered the Russian move in Iran by sell military arms to Ukrainian forces that are fighting against Russian-backed forces. Israel’s move brought sharp criticism from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    To add to the ever-changing developments in the Middle East, Turkey’s president, Tayyip Erdogan, recently visited Iran. While Turkey and Iran have some major differences about the wars in Syria and Yemen, the leadership of Iran agreed with Erdogan that their respective countries need to cooperate with each other in the region.

    It is obvious that Russia, Turkey, and Iran all have different ambitions for building their own empires. While they each have their own global agenda, they are willing to cooperate in order to capitalize on the United States’ declining influence in the region. Their common goal is the destruction of Israel.

    These developments, in light of Ezekiel 38-39, are amazing! It is very apparent that a coalition of Shia nations and cooperating friends in Libya, Ethiopia, and Sudan are joining with Russia for dominance in the Middle East. It is only a matter of time until these nations make their move against Israel. When that happens, it is interesting to note that the onlookers of this invasion are “Sheba” (southern Saudi Arabia) and “Dedan” (northern Saudi Arabia), along with “the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions” (some view this as a reference to Great Britain and her former colonies, which would include the United States). (Ezekiel 38:13)

    These developments in the Middle East continue to indicate our world is being changed so that the Biblical end-times events can unfold on any given day. I remind you once again to be ready for the shout that will take us out!

    Deployment of Tunnel Detection System

    Israel Breaking News has just released a report about an advanced tunnel detection system that’s being deployed along the Israel-Gaza border. Last summer, Israel discovered that Hamas was digging tunnels from Gaza into Israel in an attempt to ambush and kidnap Israelis. Many of the tunnels were destroyed. However, since the war ended, Israeli intelligence has reported that the work on these terrorist tunnels has aggressively resumed.

    In response to this threat, an Israeli firm has just completed its research on a very effective tunnel detection system that is now being deployed along the border with Gaza. This system will allow the Israeli military to identify these tunnels and destroy them before they are used by terrorists against Israel. This system is already bringing a sense of relief among Israelis living in southern Israel. Long ago, the ancient prophet of Israel, Isaiah, spoke on behalf of the Lord to his people: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17)

    Israel Turns 67

    The miraculous modern nation of Israel is now 67 years old. Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. However, using the Jewish calendar, a lunar rather than solar-based calendar, Israel celebrated its 67th birthday on April 22. Israel now has a population of 8.3 million people. “The 6.25 million Jewish residents of Israel represent 74.9 percent of the population, while the 1.73 million Arabs make up 20.7% of the current population. Residents without any official religious affiliation and members of other religions (including non-Arab Christians) make up 4.4% of the population.” (www.timesofisrael.com, April 21, 2015) The amazing growth, prosperity, security, and divine protection of Israel is the greatest evidence of the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy in the last 100 years. The Lord has proclaimed: “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)

    Christians and the Climate of Hatred

    As we listen to the news reports from around the world, it is obvious there is a growing climate of hatred for Christians. Christians are being persecuted, attacked, and killed around the world.

    Recent surveys of American university professors indicate they have a profound hatred for conservative, evangelical Christians. I remind you that history demonstrates hatred for Christians is a precursor to their open persecution and martyrdom. Jesus connected hatred for His followers with their persecution and martyrdom. (John 15:18-16:2) This message was echoed by His apostles. (1 John 3:15)

    Our response should be the promotion of peace, love, and forgiveness. Read what Jesus has told us to do in Matthew 5:9-12. In the midst of their own suffering, the apostles admonished the early church to also rejoice. (1 Peter 4:12-19)

    May our Lord give us wisdom, grace, and strength for what lies ahead. The greatest era of deadly Christian persecution is rising all around the world. What is taking place in the Middle East is a picture of what will unfold around the world during the Tribulation Period.

    Increasing Global Volcanic Eruptions

    Jesus said that the last days would be marked by great geological upheaval. (Luke 21:11) According to many prophetic Scriptures, during the final seven years before the Lord returns to establish His kingdom upon earth, the earth will experience the most radial geological devastation in the history of man. (Revelation 16:18) Massive global earthquakes will rearrange the topography of earth. (Isaiah 24; Revelation 6:14; 16:20) These global earthquakes will trigger global volcanic eruptions (Revelation 6:12; 8:8-9), and tsunamis. (Luke 21:25; Revelation 8:9)

    In light of all of this, the following report by Michael Snyder, a believer who researches how our world is moving toward the end as defined in the Bible, is very significant. “Is the number of volcanic eruptions worldwide increasing? Yes. During the 20th century, there were a total of 3,542 volcanic eruptions globally. That works out to approximately 35 eruptions per year. That may sound like a lot, but according to Volcano Discovery there are 36 volcanoes erupting around the world right now. In other words, the number of volcanoes erupting as you read this article is greater than the 20th century’s yearly average. And all of this is part of a larger trend. In 2013, we witnessed the most volcanic eruptions worldwide that we had ever seen in a single year, and 2015 is already threatening to be another one for the record books. All over the planet, volcanoes that have long been dormant are beginning to wake up, and this is greatly puzzling many scientists.” (www.endoftheamericandream.com, April 16, 2015)

    It is apparent these trends are indicating that earth is moving toward its geological climax of upheaval. It is yet another powerful sign that the One who controls all of His creation is preparing the earth for His time of judgment. Jesus is the One who “appointed the foundations of the earth.” (Proverbs 8:29) He “laid the foundation of the earth…. all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.” (Psalm 102:25-26) When the end comes, He will “shake terribly the earth.” (Isaiah 2:19) The Lord “[looks] on the earth and it [trembles]; He [touches] the hills, and they smoke.” (Psalm 104:31)

    The stated purpose for all of the approaching global upheaval is given in Isaiah 2:11: “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.” This is the aim of all of God’s works, both in the past and in the future.

    War and Rumors of Wars for Israel

    When Jesus responded to His disciples’ question about the signs that would mark His coming at the end of this age, one of the signs He pointed to are the dangerous security threats the newly reborn nation of Israel will face. He said to His Jewish disciples: “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)

    Today, Israel faces some of the greatest security threats in its modern history. Israel must be ready for war at any moment on multiple fronts. At present, Israel is dealing with six ongoing crisis that jeopardize its very existence.

    1. Israel must guard its southern border with Egypt along the Sinai. Since the beginning of 2010, the Sinai has been occupied by several radical Islamic terrorist groups. Israel recently completed a security fence along the entire Sinai border that is monitored 24 hours a day by highly trained Israeli personnel. However, Israel realizes that the calm it now enjoys along this border could end at any moment.

    2. The Gaza Strip continues to be a source of great concern for Israel’s security. Hamas continues to rebuild for its next war with Israel. This is of great concern to Israeli leaders because these terrorist activities are being funded by Iran.

    3. The “West Bank” (Biblical Judea and Samaria) continues to be a security threat that could erupt at any moment. Iran is trying to help Hamas gain a foothold in the area, while attempting to supply Palestinian terrorists with weapons to fight against Israel.

    4. The Syrian border with Israel along the Golan Heights continues to be another real security concern for Israel. The bloody war between the radical elements that are fighting against the Assad forces have come very close to Syria’s border with Israel. On a couple of occasions, missiles have landed on the Israeli side. All of this is of great concern to Israel because Assad and his military are being funded by Iran.

    5. Perhaps one of the most immediate threats to Israel’s security is along its border with Lebanon. This area is occupied by another radical terrorist entity that is controlled by Iran, Hezbollah. Israeli intelligence reports that Hezbollah, with the help of Iran, now has over 30,000 trained military personnel and approximately 170,000 missiles. Some of these missiles have the capability of striking targets anywhere in Israel.

    6. However, the most dangerous of all military threats against Israel is in the radical Shiite leadership in Iran. This fanatical Islamic group has ambitions of becoming the Islamic superpower in the Middle East. And foremost, Iran desires to reestablish the ancient Persian Empire. They know that the successful annihilation of Israel would garner great support for their ambition to exert a greater leadership role in the region.

    Nonetheless, the Bible tells us that all of these evil ambitions will never lead to the destruction of Israel, or drive the Jewish people from their ancient home. (Amos 9:15) The stage is set for the God of Israel to demonstrate to the world that He alone is God. Through a series of prophetic events documented in the Bible, the Lord will repeatedly and supernaturally defend His people and His land. He has declared: “I will seek to destroy all of the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:9)

    Remember the Holocaust

    When I take people with me to Israel, the very last place we visit is Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust in Jerusalem. This museum is an overwhelming reminder of what hate and deception can accomplish. This museum is filled with artifacts and historical data from the era of the Holocaust. The hallways of the main building are filled with personal items of the Jewish victims, along with video testimonies of some of the survivors. I and many with me have shed many tears as we walk through this touching reminder of one of the most tragic events of the 20th century.

    I want all who travel with me to experience the heart wrenching reality of what the Jewish people have endured. It is a clear reminder why there must be a modern nation of Israel that can defend its own people in a time of moral collapse in our world.

    Each year, Israel has a Holocaust memorial day. This April 16th the sirens sounded out all over Israel and everyone stopped what they were doing and stood in complete silence in honor of the 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. At this year’s memorial, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a very thought provoking speech. Here is some of his comments: “Seventy years ago we were a people of war refugees, powerless and voiceless. Today we express what we have to say, and we are determined to guarantee our existence and our future. It is our duty to fight those who wish to destroy us, not to bow down to them nor to downplay reality. We will not allow the State of Israel to be a passing episode in the history of our nation. … Today, we have our own country – a flourishing and modern country. A country that imbibes the heritage of our fathers and stands at the forefront of global knowledge. A country that disseminates a great light. A country that has taken charge of its destiny. Seventy years after the valleys of death, we revere the living, the vibrant, the creative, the flourishing.

    Israel breaks ground on every front of modernization – in science, medicine, technology, agriculture, education and culture. And we do this not only for our people. We do this for the benefit of all humanity. This is what our existence is based upon – on our commitment to the safety and future of Israel, on the deference to our heritage, and on the unity of a nation in which beats a vast life force. The nation of Israel, that has arisen from the hellfire, is ready for any challenge.

    ‘Shake thyself from the dust; put on thy beautiful garments, my people.’ [Isaiah 52:1-2] The nation of eternity has shaken itself from the dust, returned home, stood tall, and established an outstanding country and an outstanding army, the Israel Defense Force, in which our brave and courageous sons and daughters serve.” (www.pmo.gov.il/English/MediaCenter/Speeches/Pages/speechyadvashem150415.aspx)

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  • 2015 April – The Land of God

    The Land of God

    “Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.”- Deuteronomy 32:43

    By Mike Wingfield

    No piece of property has caused more division or conflict than the land of Israel. The ancient superpowers of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome all attacked Israel and occupied this land. Islam has been in conflict with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob over the land of God for 1,300 years. The international community, which totals 7 billion, is currently pressuring 6 million Jews living in Israel to surrender the heart of their divinely promised land to an enemy that is sworn to Israel’s destruction. Several sources in the Israeli media are reporting that U.S. President Obama recently called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli election. During the 30-minute conversation described as “difficult,” our president informed Netanyahu that the United States would no longer support Israel at the United Nations with regard to the creation of a Palestinian State. This means that the U.S. administration will support a possible international demand for an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank (Biblical Judea and Samaria) to the pre-1967 borders, including the ancient Biblical city of Jerusalem. In other words, we are about to watch the United Nations attempt to force a peace treaty upon Israel. As we watch these developments unfold, we must be reminded that this is a fulfillment of the prophecies revealed to the ancient prophets of Israel by the Lord more than 2,500 years ago.

    This little land has a unique place in the heart, will, mind, and eternal plans of God. It is the divine stage of the story of God that is designed to display His sovereign power and divine nature. In this newsletter, I would like to help us examine three divine features of the Holy Land.

    Its Divine Source

    The Bible begins with these words: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The testimony of God’s revelation proclaims that everything that takes place on this planet is a part of God’s divine plan, formulated in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) The Lord Jesus created everything to fulfill His eternal purposes. (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27) At the center of that plan, for the glory of God, is the revelation of God’s Son. Long before there was an earth, the Lord decided to create a planet and select a small portion of land mass to become the stage upon which He would unfold the greatest story ever told! An examination of the prophecies of the Old Testament, and their divine fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ in the

    Gospels, makes it clear that God chose the little land of Israel as the divine stage for His revelation and redemption.

    Before the nation of Israel would occupy their land for the first time, God revealed to Moses that He had created that land for His chosen people and the divine purposes for which He had selected them. Deuteronomy 32:8 declares: “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.” This simply means that the size of this land was determined by the number of Jewish people throughout the ages. The land of Israel is about the size of the state of New Jersey. It is tiny because the Jewish people, when compared to other ethnic people groups, are relatively few in number. The Lord also reminded Moses of this as well: “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.” (Deuteronomy 7:7) Today, the world Jewish population is approximately 15 million, which is about .3 percent of the global population.

    Israel is a very densely populated nation. Almost one-half of the global Jewish population is currently living in their ancient homeland. The time will come, at the beginning of the Kingdom, when all living Jews will return to Israel. Speaking of this day, Ezekiel wrote: “As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 36:38)

    When the Lord created the Holy Land, He also strategically placed it at the center of all the nations. (Ezekiel 5:5) The land of Israel is a natural land bridge that connects three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa. During the days of the Old Testament, Israel was always at the center of the political power structure of the world, with Egypt to the south and Assyria, Babylon, and Persia to the north. So, God’s chosen people occupied the most significant piece of property among the powers of the ancient world. Because of Israel’s strategic location, these ancient superpowers always wanted to occupy and control the Holy Land for their political and commercial purposes. Militarily, Israel found itself at the center of the war between these superpowers, many of them choosing to meet their enemy in the Valley of Armageddon, rather than conducting their wars in one of their own countries. Hence, by default, Israel was always at the center of the struggle for power in the ancient world.

    It is extremely significant to note that the Lord chose to send out His divine revelation to the world from the center of the globe. The eternal Son of God came to the center of His creation and fulfilled the eternal mission of His Father. Then, He sent His apostles from the heart of the world into all nations with His message of redemption. (Acts 1:8) When Jesus returns to the earth to establish His earthly kingdom, He will return to the hub of the earth and rule from the center of the world over all nations for 1,000 years. (Isaiah 2:1-4) Jerusalem will become the political, religious, economic, and educational capital of the world.

    The exact location of the Promised Land is clearly outlined in the Scriptures. (Genesis 15:18-21; Joshua 1:3-4)

    Map

    Looking at the current map of the Middle East, the land promised to Israel includes all of modern-day Israel (including the “West Bank” and “Gaza”), all of Lebanon, all of Jordan, and parts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey. Israel has never occupied or possessed all of this land, but will acquire it all during the Millennial Kingdom of her Messiah, Jesus Christ.

    It is also important to note that the Holy Land was not the choice of the Jewish patriarchs. God chose the land (Genesis 12:1) and gave it to them in an eternal (Genesis 13:15) and unconditional covenant. (Genesis 15:7-21) Because this was an unconditional covenant, God cannot revoke His promise. After their first divine judgment, in which they were cast out of the land, the Lord continued to declare that the land belonged to Israel. As a remnant of Jews were returning to the land after the Babylonian Captivity, the Lord spoke through the prophet Zechariah (475 B.C.) and proclaimed: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. … And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” (Zechariah 2:10, 12)

    Its Divine Stewardship

    While the entire earth belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1), in a very unique sense, the Lord has repeatedly declared that the Holy Land belongs to Him! In Leviticus 25:23, He distinctly affirmed: “the land is mine.” Throughout the Bible, the Lord repeatedly refers to this land as “my land.” (Isaiah 14:25; Ezekiel 36:5, Joel 3:2)

    The Bible is emphatic that the Creator and Ruler of the earth has chosen the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be the tenants that have the sole right to occupy the land of God. In Leviticus 25:23, He said to Israel: “The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.” More than 100 times in the Old Testament, the Lord declared He would “give” His land to His people, Israel. (Genesis 13:15; 15:18) Therefore, as He spoke to the Jewish people, He referred to the Holy Land as “your own land.” (Ezekiel 36:24)

    There has never been a group of people who have been so attached to a piece of property like the Jewish people have been passionately devoted to the Holy Land. The Lord has given them an unusual and binding love for this land. The Bible compares the love the Jewish people have for Jerusalem and the Holy Land to a love relationship and covenant that exists between a young man and his virgin bride who are passionately in love with each other. (Isaiah 62:4-5)

    The Jewish people are the divinely appointed stewards of
    God’s property. In spite of their failures, God has not changed His plans. He gave them this land to fulfill His divine purposes upon this unique stage for all the world to see. They are actors on God’s stage to send God’s message to the entire world. According to Biblical prophecy, the final act has not yet taken place and is in progress at this very moment.

    Its Divine Strategy

    In all of this, we must be reminded that the sovereign Creator of the universe has entrusted His stewardship of His land to His people for His glory. (Isaiah 46:9-13) To accomplish this, the Lord has chosen to reveal His divine strategy for all of this to come to pass, as He designed before the world was created. A study of Biblical history and prophecy helps us to read the script for God’s story that has been and will be acted out on His divine stage – the Holy Land.

    As we read the Bible, we discover that God has chosen to reveal some of the details of His eternal plan. For example, we know that the Lord knew He would need to provide a plan of reconciliation for mankind before He created the earth and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden and gave them instructions to not disobey Him. God’s plan of redemption was in place before He spoke the creation into existence. The Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” (Revelation13:8) While God has sent His divine judgment upon the wicked in the past, this has not altered His eternal plans for the redemption of a remnant of mankind to dwell with Him in heaven for all of eternity.

    Likewise, the Lord has not forsaken or altered His plans for His people and His land! He has declared: “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6) The Bible gives us insight into the unique plans the Lord has for Israel. He spoke to Abraham and told him that his descendants would live in Egypt and then after about 400 years would return as a nation to occupy the Promised Land. (Genesis 15:12-21) The record of the amazing fulfillment of this promise is recorded in the Bible. (Genesis 46- Deuteronomy 34)

    Before the Jewish nation would occupy the Promised Land the first time, the Lord revealed to Moses that Israel would eventually forsake the Lord and be driven out of their land by divine judgment. (Deuteronomy 28:63-67; 30:3-5) The beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy began many years later when the Lord used the Assyrians in 722 B.C. to defeat and disperse the 10 tribes of northern Israel into many nations in the ancient world. About 125 years later, the Lord used the Babylonians to fulfill His plan by defeating the remaining two Jewish tribes in southern Judah, allowing the enemy to destroy Jerusalem and its temple. A Jewish remnant was carried away as captives to Babylon.

    If a person did not read the divine prophecies about Israel’s future, and the rest of God’s story recorded in the Bible, he might think that God’s plan for Israel was finished. However, we know from Scripture, that this was not the case. The Lord revealed to the ancient prophet Jeremiah that the Babylonian captivity would last only 70 years. (Jeremiah 25:12) After that, a remnant of Jews would return to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, and to occupy the land once again. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah chronicle for us God’s story of the beginning of the first international re-gathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland. This return of a remnant of Jewish people from Babylon and the nations of the ancient world to Israel began in 539 B.C. and continued until the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans in 70 A.D. With this defeat, the Jewish people were once again scattered among the nations of the world. In 135 A.D.,

    the Romans changed the name of Israel to Palestine, hoping to defeat the passionate plans for a return of the Jewish people to their beloved land called Israel.

    Once again, if a person is not aware of the unconditional promises God made to Israel and the prophecies of how this would come to pass, he might conclude that God is done with Israel. As a matter of fact, many pastors and Christians have arrived at this conclusion. They believe that God is finished with Israel and all of the divine promises given to Israel have now been transferred to the church. For many Biblical reasons, this is totally impossible!

    According to the script of God’s story recorded in the Scriptures, the Jewish people would “abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice. … Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” (Hosea 3:4-5) This simply means that after many years of international dispersion, the Jewish people would eventually seek the Lord and begin a process of returning to the land of Israel once again in the last days. The return of the Jewish people to their land in the last days is a divine process. (Jeremiah 30:3; Ezekiel 36:24) In the midst of this process, a time of great trouble will come upon the Jewish people. (Jeremiah 30:4-7; Matthew 24:15-22) This time of great distress and anguish will surpass anything that they or any other nation have experienced in all of human history. (Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21) However, the Scriptures repeatedly assert that God’s story will be completed as He has declared. A believing Jewish remnant in the land will survive the Tribulation Period and be joined by all of the remaining believing Jews scattered among the nations in their final re-gathering to their land. Shortly after the kingdom begins, all Jews will return to Israel. The entire living nation of Israel will be saved (Zechariah 13:10-13:9; Romans 11:26) and join their Messiah for His reign in the Holy Land. The Lord has promised that this will take place. He told Ezekiel: “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them into the own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 39:25-29)

    This entire process of the return of the Jewish people to Israel in the last days is known in the Bible as the second international re-gathering to their land. (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 11:11-12) Please notice that the Bible demands that there will be two international re-gatherings of the Jewish people to the Holy Land. The first international re-gathering began in 539 B.C. and ended in 70 A.D. This second and final return of the Jewish people began during the 20th century and will be finalized at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom.

    According to the Bible, once this second international process of the return of Israel begins, they will never be forced out of the land again. In Amos 9:14-15, the Lord declared: “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”

    We are witnessing this process at this time. Israel is in the midst of their second international re-gathering and there will not be another one! The same prophetic Scriptures foretell how the nations will oppose the return of the Jewish people to their homeland in the last days. It will begin with a regional opposition to the Jews in their land (Ezekiel 36:2-7), leading to a global rejection of the Jewish occupation of the land of Israel. (Joel 3:2) This is exactly what we are witnessing at this hour. Israel is opposed by a global Muslim population of 1.6 billion. This enemy of Israel is being supported by the vast majority of the remaining global population. In essence, 6 million Jews are facing an overwhelming opposition of all nations, numbering 7 billion!

    However, according to the Biblical script of God’s story, the God of Israel will protect and defend His people and His land by supernatural means. The last seven years of human government’s control on this planet with be a horrific struggle as Satan manipulates the nations to follow His messiah, the Antichrist, in his desperate attempt to destroy Israel and defeat the Lord. At the center of this whirlwind is the land of Israel. Speaking about the divine response of Satan and man’s rebellion at the end of this age, Isaiah declared: “For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” (Isaiah 34:8)

    God’s script about how all of this will end is clear. Israel will win this war, by divine enablement. They eventually will occupy all of the land of Israel. Each person and nation must decide if they will stand with God and Israel, or the world and Satan. When the nations gather against God in Israel at the battle of Armageddon, they will join the “multitudes in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14) All who join them will die a sudden and horrific death as commanded from the mouth of the King of Kings when He returns to this earth to fight for Israel. (Zechariah 14:3; Revelation 19:15)

    The Lord’s program for His people in His land is a divine test for the nations of the world. About 4,000 years ago, the Lord clearly stated this when He declared to the great patriarch of the Jewish people, Abraham: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) History demonstrates that God has kept His Word. As nations unite to force Israel to give up the land that God has given to them, they are inviting the global judgment of God. It is coming. It is only a matter of time.

    God’s divine strategy for His land will be fulfilled. Satan is once again promoting lies and orchestrating hatred on a global scale toward the Jewish people and their occupation of the Holy Land. As we witness the growth of anti-Semitism around the world, we know the end of the story. It is our obligation and privilege to tell God’s story and rescue a remnant from the wrath of God that will be poured out upon all nations during the Tribulation Period. We need to remind them of God’s commandment in Deuteronomy 32:43: “Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.”

    Get ready for the shout! It is closer than ever before!

    Lies against Israel

    I would like to caution all of our readers about the lies being perpetrated by the global media about Israel. Other than Washington D.C., more journalists live in and report out of Jerusalem than any other city in the world. Given the relatively small size of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, this is an astounding fact. This proves two things: First, Israel is near the top of the list concerning global attention. Second, the world is determined to promote lies about Israel based upon their hatred for the Jewish people in general and the nation of Israel in particular.

    For example, in March, Gaza was experiencing flooding conditions. The flooding was due to above-average rain- fall this winter. Since Gaza is a low lying area, it always has a tendency to flood with large amounts of rain in the region. However, the media began to spread a rumor that Israel was purposely opening their dams in the Negev area of southern Israel and flooding Gaza. This rumor was reported around the world. The journalists who reported this as fact did not check the facts to note that Israel does not have a dam in the Negev. It is a desert! When the media began to retract their statement, it was too late. The damage was done. The world did not notice the retraction, but continued to support the lie perpetrated against Israel.

    When the 45 members of the Commission on the Status of Women convened at UN Headquarters in New York in March, they released a report condemning Israel for the abuse of the rights of Palestinian women. The report stated: “the Israeli occupation continues to be the main obstacle to Palestinian women in relation to their advancement, independence and integration in the development of their society.” (www.timesofisrael.com, March 23, 2015)

    Those of us who have studied the developments in the Middle East know this report is a farce. The Palestinian sympathizers singled out Israel and made no comment about the rights of Arab women being violated in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, or other Muslim dominated countries where Sharia law is binding.

    Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, gave the following response to their report: “If anyone has ever doubted that the UN is biased against Israel, today we got further proof. Of the 193 member states in this institution, dozens slaughter innocent civilians and impose discriminatory laws that marginalize women and yet they all get a free pass. The Commission on the Status of Women itself includes some of the worst violators of human rights, such as Iran and Sudan. … Honor killings in the Palestinian Authority are a matter of daily occurrence, and employment of women stands at only 17%,’ he pointed out. ‘It is time for the Palestinians to finally take responsibility for something. Their mistreatment of women is a chance to start taking responsibility. It’s not enough for the Palestinians to cynically exploit this institution; they’ve now made it their mission to turn the Commission on the Status of Women into a politically charged forum.’” (www.timesofisrael.com, March 23, 2015

    The above stories are only the tip of the iceberg of recent lies perpetrated against Israel by the global media and the U.N. During the recent Israeli election campaign, Israelis knew that many foreign sources, including the efforts of the current American administration, were investing large sums of money to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu as the next prime minister of Israel. It was perceived by the international community that if the more liberal left-wing politicians could be voted into power in Israel, they would be fair game for the manipulation of the international will to force Israel into a deadly agreement with the Palestinians. We can be thankful that the majority of the Israelis were wise to these attempts to destroy their country and voted to place in office those they perceived would provide the greatest security for their nation.

    It is hard for most of us to comprehend how this could take place in Israel and around the world. However, we have a perfect historical comparison in the New Testament in Luke 23. Remember that during the trial of Jesus before the Roman governor, Pilate, the Jewish leadership was so spiritually blind and filled with hate, that they chose for a dangerous murderer, Barabbas, to be released rather than Jesus. This simply illustrates that hatred can so blinding that people will chose a path of death rather than life. The liberal political left in Israel and around the world hated Netanyahu so much that they were blinded because of the political right’s support for the Biblical mandate to retain the land that the Lord promised to the Jewish people.

    Some very difficult days lie ahead for Israel. They are losing the support of their greatest ally, the United States, while Iran is moving ever closer to manufacturing a nuclear bomb. The U.N. is poised to force Israel to withdraw to borders that will make them even more vulnerable to the Islamic enemies that are sworn to their destruction. Those of us who know the God of Abraham, know that while the world abandons Israel, He will not forsake them. The stage is set for the greatest display of the sovereign power of God on earth as He moves to protect His land and His people. Then, the entire world will know that He is the Lord God of Israel! Praise the Lord!

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  • 2015 March – WAKE UP CHURCH!

    WAKE UP CHURCH!

    “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” – Romans 13:11

    By Mike Wingfield

    We are living in the days of Noah. For a moment, go back in time and imagine what it was like for Noah and his family when he was given the task of warning the people of God’s coming judgment. Noah warned of the coming global flood and he was ignored. I think about this very often. In Matthew 24:27-39, Jesus declared that His coming, and the subsequent horrific judgments that would come upon the world, would fall upon the inhabitants of earth as it did in the days of Noah. Up until the moment it started to rain, the people of Noah’s day were immersed in their daily routine, with no concept of what was coming upon them. The only people who were aware of what was about to happen were Noah and his family. In faith, they worked hard for 120 years in preparation for the very moment the rain would begin to fall in divine judgment, covering the entire earth and drowning everyone who would not be in the ark.

    I believe that for the first few decades, the early church was passionate about the message of Jesus’ return. They believed the Lord would soon return and take them to heaven, just like He promised. (John 14:1-3) The hope of the Second Coming of Christ was the heartbeat of the infant church. It was the passion that compelled their evangelism and the discipleship of new believers. (2 Thessalonians 2:5) It was the motive for purity and godliness, as they anticipated that at any moment they would be in the presence of their holy Lord. (1 John 3:3)

    Notice that one-third of the Apostle Paul’s Pastoral Epistles were answers to questions believers were asking as they anticipated the imminent return of their Lord. The Apostles did not rebuke these early believers for their passionate expectation of the return of their Lord. The words they recorded while being moved by the Holy Spirit always encouraged these believers to keep looking, watching, and waiting for their Lord. They viewed this fervent expectation of the Second Coming as being normal and essential to the godly lifestyle of a true believer.

    However, when several decades had passed, and some of the early church believers began to lose their ardent expectation of the Lord’s return, the apostles rebuked and warned the church about the dangers associated with such an attitude and its accompanying lifestyle.

    In Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica, written about 51 A.D., he reminded them that events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ would come upon the world “as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2) The judgment of the Lord at the beginning of the Tribulation Period would come as a “sudden destruction … as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) While the world would be caught totally off guard, Paul reminded these believers that this should not happen to them. He said: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-9) Please notice that Paul contrasted the world and the church as those who were either not living or living under that light of divine revelation. Those who are believers in Jesus Christ should know the prophetic Word of God and not be caught off guard when the end comes. Those who are not focused upon God’s prophetic revelation are compared to those who are spiritually asleep or drunk, like the world. Obviously, this is a condition that should not exist within the fellowship of believers. In this context, Paul admonished the believers to rejoice in the promise that the church will not face the “wrath” of God (verse 9) in “the day of the Lord,” – the Tribulation Period. (verse 2) He exhorted the church to proclaim this message within the body to “comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.” (verse 11)

    About five years later, 56 A.D., Paul wrote a letter to the church at Rome, in which he gave a similar plea: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11-12) With these words, Paul reminded the professing believers in the church at Rome that the Rapture could take place at any moment. His rebuke of their godless lifestyles and its connection to not looking for the coming of the Lord, seems to suggest that this was the core problem in the lives of these believers. This illustrates that the doctrine of the Second Coming, and its daily application in the life of the believer, was considered by the Apostles to be an essential truth.

    It is shocking to realize that in most churches today there is a very subtle rejection of the doctrine of eschatology (the doctrine of last things). Most pastors avoid any mention of this subject. The doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ is treated as being meaningless, impractical, divisive, and confusing. I am convinced that if the apostles were to return and enter our churches on any given Sunday morning, they would be horrified by what they would see and hear. They would see almost no resemblance of the church they began almost 2,000 years ago. You might be saying, “But, that is what we should expect. This is the 21st century, not the first century.” It is true that our culture is different and our methodology has changed. However, the subject matter of our teaching and preaching (doctrine) must not change. Notice that in the days of the beginning of the church, it is reported that the believers in Jerusalem “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.” (Acts 2:42) Almost four decades later, the early church was plagued with false teachers and those who were mocking the doctrine of the Second Coming. With this in mind, the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Peter to write about this problem in his second epistle. He wrote: “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior.” (2 Peter 3:1-2)

    It is imperative that the church today realize we have been commanded to believe and proclaim the doctrine of the apostles. This is the essential body of truth that we call the New Testament. We are in grave danger when we attempt to ignore or alter any of God’s truth. Christianity is not about finding parts of the Scriptures that we like, while ignoring or rejecting other Biblical truths because they don’t fit our frame of reference, or make us feel uncomfortable. “All scripture” has been given to us so that we might know what to believe (doctrine), to be convicted, to be corrected, and to give practical instruction on how to live godly. (2 Timothy 3:16) The interpretation of the Bible is not subjective. It is not a matter of how we feel, or what we want, or who we are. “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy [Spirit].” (2 Peter 1:20-21)

    Truth never changes. The Bible is THE Word of God! It is the very declaration of the One and only holy God who knows all things and is the sovereign Ruler over His creation. God is infinite and perfect. He is not getting better or worse. He is not learning or being informed about anything. When we think about the essence of God and who He is, we must agree with the Bible when it says that God is immutable – He does not change! (Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6) Therefore, God’s truth never changes. Like Jesus, who is the Living Word, God’s written Word is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) God’s Word is perfect, and will endure forever. (Psalm 119:89, 160) “The word of our God shall stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

    Jesus told His disciples in the Upper Room that the “Spirit of truth” would come and guide them “into all truth.” (John 16:13) When a believer is walking in the Spirit, he will allow the Holy Spirit to guide him into all truth. He will not resist the Spirit by avoiding certain passages or doctrines. How can he humble himself to the work of the Spirit while at the same time defiantly refusing to examine all truth? Please read Isaiah 55:6-11. We must be careful to not trust our human intellect or reasoning. We don’t think like God. The human mind, without the aid of the Holy Spirit, will consider the things of God “foolishness.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

    I am greatly burdened that the vast majority of pastors and church members today are walking in spiritual darkness. They are purposely clueless concerning the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ, and the signs of the end of this age that are attached to it. As I mentioned before, the apostles exhorted the church to walk in the light of God’s revelation concerning the end-time events so frequently spelled out in the Word of God. While answering His disciples’ question about the end of this age, Jesus 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) Jesus exhorted His disciples to know what the Scriptures say about the conditions that will be manifested in the last days. Then, He admonished them to be encouraged by these signs and realize this should produce a hope that the ultimate process of our redemption is getting much closer. This is exactly what the apostles and the early church did. They taught about this hope and lived it on a daily basis. We desperately need a revival in the church to recapture this essential doctrinal and the daily perspective it brings.

    If our faith is only about the work of God in our lives at this time and on this earth, then we have missed the message of hope that is expressed in the ultimate goal of our salvation at the moment of our Lord’s return. In 1 Corinthian 15, the Apostle Paul wrote about the gospel, Christ’s death and resurrection, our resurrection and resurrection body, and the rapture of the church. In the context of these truths that are at the heart of the gospel and all truth in the Bible, he states: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) Our faith must focus upon our eternal hope in Christ. We, of all people, must not passionately anchor our lives in the past or present, but in the future. If our faith focuses only upon what Christ can do for us now, then we will be “most miserable.”

    We are living at a most incredible hour! When the believer obeys the Lord by studying His prophetic Word and observes the conditions and events in our world at this present hour, it is evident that we should know that our Lord’s promised coming is very near. There needs to be a sense of urgency concerning the Lord’s work as never before.

    You might be saying, “There is really nothing new developing in our world today. Therefore, the coming of the Lord could be hundreds of years from now.” If you are saying this, then you are living like the scoffers of the Second Coming in Peter’s day. These scoffers, Peter said, were “walking after their own lusts. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers feel asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4) This is the problem with those who make light of looking for the return of the Lord. They are only focused upon their own agenda. This was the problem of the people in Noah’s day (Matthew 24:38) and the religious bigots of Jesus’ day. (Matthew 24:1-3) A true follower of Jesus Christ will not be so focused upon his own personal agenda within the church, that he forgets the overall eternal plan of God. Too many are guilty of asking the Lord to join them in what they are doing, rather than joining the Lord in what He is doing! Biblical prophecy is the big picture of what He is doing. How can He be the Lord of your life if you are not interested in His eternal plan? God is passionate about His eternal plan. That is why 30 percent of the Bible is about the first and second comings of the Messiah. What He has purposed will come to pass! (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27)

    I am deeply moved by what is taking place in our world today. Let me briefly share with you a few of the major developments that indicate the coming of our Lord is extremely near.

    The Work of the Spirit of God in the Middle East

    When one examines the history of the Middle East, it is very evident that it has been enveloped in spiritual darkness for many centuries. However, there are many astonishing testimonies of the work of the Spirit bringing Jews and Muslims in the Middle East to salvation in Jesus Christ. This is an incredible sign that the Church Age is coming to a close and the Lord is about to come for His church.

    In Romans 11:25, the Apostle Paul declared that spiritual blindness among the Jewish people would persist “until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” The reference to the completion of God’s unique work and focus upon the Gentiles is a reference to the Lord’s work through the body of Christ, the church. According to the Bible, the church was born at the Jewish feast of Pentecost in Acts 2, and will suddenly end with the Rapture of the church to heaven. After the church has been caught up to be with the Lord, the most dramatic spiritual awakening among any people of all times will take place in Israel. Shortly after the Rapture, the Lord will send two Jewish witnesses, probably Moses and Elijah, to proclaim His truth during the first half of the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 11:1-6) At the same time, probably due to the ministry of the two witnesses, 144,000 young Jewish men will be saved and trained in Jerusalem to become evangelists to reach the world with the gospel during the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-5) This combined ministry will have a major spiritual impact in Israel among its Jewish inhabitants (Joel 2:28-32), and in all nations. (Revelation 7:9-17) Millions will probably be saved in Israel in a very short period of time.

    The Holy Spirit is working in Israel today. More Israelis are coming to Christ than ever before. The Messianic congregations in Israel are having a significant impact. A recent survey in Israel indicates that the majority of Israelis want to have a greater understanding of the Bible. The son of the prime minister of Israel is conducting a Bible study in the home of the prime minister, inviting the political leadership to join them.

    In 2006, a very well-known rabbi at the age of 108 in Israel, Yitzhak Kaduri, told his son that the Messiah had visited him in a vision. He told his son that upon his death, he was to guard a concealed note upon which he had written the name of the Messiah. After his death, one year later, the note declared that Yeshua, the Hebrew form of Jesus, was the Messiah. This caused great debate in Israel. But, according to some of my friends who live in Israel, this has initiated the process for some to come to Christ for salvation.

    The Spirit of God is doing a mighty work in Israel. This is a very powerful sign that the spiritual awakening that will happen at the beginning of the Tribulation Period is just around the corner.

    It is quite amazing to note that the work of the Spirit in the Tribulation Period will also focus upon the Arab Muslim nations that surround Israel (Isaiah 60:6-14), especially Egypt and northern Iraq. (Isaiah 19:19-25). It is astonishing to hear the stories of hundreds of thousands of Muslims coming to Christ in the Middle East. I recently met with a dear Egyptian brother who lives in Cairo, home to 17 million people. He shared with me how thousands of Muslims are coming to Christ in Cairo, causing hundreds of house churches to spring up throughout the city. He shared with me how these new believers are hungry for the Word of God. “Probably in the last 10 years, more Muslims have come to faith in Christ than in the last 15 centuries of Islam,” said Tom Doyle, Middle East-Central Asia director for e3 Partners, a Texas-based missions agency.

    God’s work among the Egyptians during the Tribulation Period will be so great that Isaiah 19:21 says, “And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day…” The current unusual work of the Holy Spirit in Egypt tells us the Tribulation Period is not far away.

    The Global Hatred for Jews and Christians

    It is very apparent that the hatred for Jews and Christians is escalating around the world. Jews are being attacked and killed throughout Europe. Christians are being brutally murdered throughout the Middle East. Reports of Christians being decapitated are occurring almost daily.

    Those of us who have been studying the prophetic Word of God know that the Tribulation Period will be a horrific time for those who confess Jesus to be their Savior. The world of the Antichrist will declare war upon the followers of Jesus. (Revelation 13:7) Believers from all nations will be killed. (Revelation 7:9-14) They will be beheaded (Revelation 20:4) in the name of the religion of the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:15; 17:6) The killing of believers will be one of the marks of the opening months of the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 6:9-11) Therefore, it is very easy for us to believe the world is now ready for the Rapture and the horrific Tribulation Period that will follow.

    Many Jewish agencies are reporting that the immense hatred directed toward Jews has reached a very dangerous level, comparing it to 1938. Jews from Ukraine, France, and Great Britain are immigrating to Israel this year because they are afraid to remain in countries where their families have lived for hundreds of years. A seething hatred for Israel is being perpetrated around the world. Much, but not all of this, is being promoted by Islamic elements that have had a history of anti-Semitism since the beginning of Islam 14 centuries ago. Media, political, and religious elements have twisted facts to make Israel in particular, and Jews in general, the focus of lies to promote sheer hatred. They want to use this hatred to fuel the annihilation of Israel and the Jewish people.

    Once again, this is exactly what the prophetic Scriptures declare will unfold during the Tribulation Period. The Antichrist will force a deceptive peace treaty upon Israel, in effect, triggering the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 9:27) However, at the mid-point of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel and attack the Jewish people with a hateful venom (Revelation 12:13-17) that will ultimately cause him to openly declare war on them, leading to Armageddon. (Revelation 16:12-16) This attack against the Jewish people during this time of hate and war will lead to the death of two-thirds of the world’s Jewish population. (Zechariah 13:8-9) With a very heavy heart of love for God’s people, it is extremely difficult for us to fathom that a time of death for the Jewish people will surpass the efforts of the Christ haters during World War II, who murdered one-half of the world’s Jewish population during the Holocaust.

    In light of this, it is very easy for us to see the momentum building toward this time of great global hatred for Israel and the Jewish people. It is another very powerful sign that the end is in sight.

    The Formation of the Gog and Magog

    Coalition in Ezekiel 38-39

    More than 3,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel wrote about an invasion of Israel in the last days. In this prophecy, he named the principle nations that would make up this coalition of invading nations. They are Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and Sudan. (Ezekiel 38:2-6) They will invade Israel because they are against the Jewish nation and want to plunder the riches in the land. I have written about this in many previous newsletters. However, the formation of this coalition and the conditions in Israel seem to be at the exact point mentioned in the prophetic text. The levels of hatred in Iran, Turkey, Libya, and Sudan for Israel is reaching a fever pitch. The Russian economy, due to the fall in global oil prices and economic sanctions imposed by the West, is on the verge of collapse. The Russian Bear is poised to go to war to reclaim its self-deluded supremacy.

    The Appearance of ISIS (Islamic State) in Iraq

    The relative sudden appearance of a global militant Islamic force in Iraq, ISIS, is alarmingly similar to what will take place during the Tribulation Period. The forces of the Islamic Antichrist will set up his headquarters in Iraq, being called “the king of Babylon [Iraq].” (Isaiah 14:4) He will declare war on believers in Jesus (Revelation 13:7), decapitating those who reject him. (Revelation 20:4) He will begin the Tribulation Period with the aim of bringing global destruction and death so that he can seize power and rule the world. (Revelation 6:1-8) These are the exact stated goals of the Islamic State.

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