Author: Mike Wingfield

2013 March – Should the U.S. Support Israel?

Should the U.S. Support Israel?

Speaking to Israel, the Lord has said: “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war; for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.”-Jeremiah 51:20

By Micah Winefeld

At this very critical time in our world, people are blindly ignorant of Biblical history and prophecy. Sadly, most people are living for the moment and have no considera­tion for the past or future. Shockingly, this includes most professing Christians in the U.S. Americans have easy access to God’s written Word, but they are clueless about historical happenings and the prophecies it contains.

A cursory glace at American history will demonstrate that this nation grew up with the Bible in its hand. The Bible was the guide for our founding fathers as they ham­mered out the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The law of God shaped the laws of our nation. About 130 years ago, we decided that we wanted to give witness to this reality by stamping U.S. currency and coins with the motto: “In God We Trust.”

Our Biblical heritage was expressed even more under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman. When the na­tion of Israel was reborn in 1948, President Truman was the first and most important world leader to formally rec­ognize the Jewish nation. The history books report that President Truman went against many of his political advi­sors in giving the U.S.’s blessing on the birth of Israel. His advisors felt that this would be a huge mistake politi­cally and enrage the Arab nations of the Middle East. Fur­thermore, there was a general consensus that the little fledgling nation of Israel, with only 650,000 inhabitants, would be no match for the Arab nations, having a popula­tion that outnumbered them 100 to 1. In addition, five powerful Arab nations were amassed on Israel’s borders and preparing to attack. Israel had no military and very few weapons to defend itself with. In the eyes of the world, Israel’s life would be short lived with Arab nations snuffing out its existence with little resistance. The Arabs would overrun the Jewish population in a short time. Therefore, in the eyes of Truman’s advisors, any recogni­tion of Israel would be a colossal error. History demon­strates they were wrong. God fought for Israel and the Jewish people were able to repel and defeat the five Arab nations that attacked them.

Sixty-four years later, it is clear that we did not learn from this very important historical lesson. Today in the U.S., we have leaders who are surrounded by advisors who think it is a mistake for us to support Israel. The me­dia, liberal university professors and politicians blame Israel for the failure to attain peace in the Middle East. In their view, peace will not come to the Middle East until Israel makes important concessions that will appease their Arab neighbors. These same voices vociferously cry out against the U.S. friendship and support of Israel, claiming it is a mistake. Sadly, many Americans, including pastors and Christians, are buying into all of this without examin­ing the real facts. In this newsletter, I would like to offer several facts to support my stern belief that the U.S. must wholeheartedly support our greatest friend and ally in the Middle East – Israel.

The Biblical Record

It is no surprise that the nations of the world, including the United States, are isolating themselves from Israel. This is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The Scriptures indicate that when the end of this age comes, the entire world will turn against the Jewish people and their occu­pation of the Holy Land. By the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation, the entire world will join forces with the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:5-7; 17:12-13) As the world joins him, he will turn against Israel, breaking his 7-year treaty that began the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:1-22) Satan will actually indwell and em­power the Antichrist for the duration of the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 8:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:1-7) Through the Antichrist, Satan will unleash horrif­ic deception and destruction bringing about death on a scale never witnessed in human history. While referring to this period of time, Jesus said: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21) More than 600 years before Jesus, while referring to the same period of time, the Lord revealed to the an­cient Jewish prophet Daniel, that this will be a very diffi­cult time for the Jewish people. He wrote: “…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1)

The Lord will allow the devil to unleash the fury of his wrath against the inhabitants of earth. This will occur be­cause the global population will have departed from Him and will worship the devil and his puppet, the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:4) The focus of Satan’s rage will be the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. (Revelation 12) The final act of the Antichrist, as directed by Satan, will be a military assault against Israel at Armageddon. (Reve­lation 16:12-16)

About 4,000 years ago, the Lord gave the nations of the world a very clear divine test to measure their allegiance to Him. That test is found in God’s promise to the first Jew, Abraham, when He said: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. 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 12:2-3)

Therefore, when all of the nations of the world turn against Israel, they are ultimately rejecting God’s arm of blessings and inviting His curse upon them. It is very evi­dent that the world is openly rejecting the God of the Bi­ble. They are rejecting His Son, Jesus, His Word, the Bi­ble and His chosen people (Israel). We are living at a time when the nations are the recipients of the divine curse and their attitudes and actions toward the Jews and Israel are proof of this.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we should encourage and support the work of God in the nation of Israel. The Lord is working through His spiritual body, the Church. How­ever, He is also working through His physical chosen peo­ple, Israel, at the same time at the end of this age. The church has not and never will replace Israel. The Lord cannot and will not break His covenant with Israel. In Judges 2:1 He said: “I … have brought you into the land which I [swore] unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.” This statement is repeated many times throughout the Scriptures. By the very state­ments of the God of truth, and His divine nature, He must be faithful to Israel unto the very end. Should He do any­thing less, He ceases to be God!

Therefore, if America wants the blessings of the Lord it must stand with Israel! It must bless or curse Israel. There is no middle ground. “Pray for the peace of Jeru­salem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122:6)

The Truest Military and Political Ally in the Middle East

For many years, I have appreciated the work of a non­profit organization call FLAME (Facts and Logic About the Middle East). This organization provides articles in various publications around the world to remind people of the real facts about Israel and the Middle East. With their permission, I am giving an extensive quote from one of their latest articles that appeared in a recent edition of The International Jerusalem Post: “The United States is with­out question Israel’s most important ally. Also, without question, Israel is the staunchest and most reliable friend of the United States. But there are some who believe and vigorously advocate that Israel is a burden to the United States and that, were it not for Israel, peace would prevail in the Middle East.

“There are indeed those who claim that Israel is a liabil­ity, a burden to our country. Professors from prestigious universities write essays in which they [assert] that the United States is in thrall to the ‘Israel lobby.’ This lobby is said to pull the strings of American policy. Its supposed main promoters are AIPAC (American Israel Public Af­fairs) … They are said to exert an almost magical spell over policy makers, including the leaders of Congress and the President. Some even say that the Iraq war was pro­moted by this omnipotent ‘Israel lobby,’ that President Bush was [baffled] into declaring war on Saddam Hus­sein, not in order to defend the United States or promote its interests, but in order to further the interests of Israel.

“Israel is indeed a major recipient of U.S. aid. Israel receives yearly $3.0 billion, all of it in military aid – noth­ing in economic aid. 75 percent of this military aid must be spent with the U.S. military contractors, making Israel a very large customer of those companies.

“A good case can be made that aid to Israel, all of it mil­itary, should be a part of the United States defense budget, rather than the aid budget because Israel is, next only per­haps to Britain, by far the most important ally of the Unit­ed States. Virtually without exception, Israel’s govern­ment and its people agree with and support the foreign policy objectives of the United States. In the United Na­tions, Israel’s votes coincide with those of the United States over 90 percent of the time. The Arabs and other Muslim countries, virtually all of them recipients of America [aid], almost reflexively vote against the United States in most instances.

“Israel is the major strategic asset of the United States in an area of the world that is the cradle of Islamo-fascism, which is dominated by tyrants and permeated by religious [ignorance] and shows almost total disregard for human rights. During the decades-long Cold War, Israel was America’s indispensable rampart against the inroads of the Soviet Union. It is now the bulwark against the aggres­sive intentions of Iran. During Desert Storm, Israel pro­vided invaluable intelligence, an umbrella of air cover for military cargo, and had personnel planted in Iraqi deserts to pick up downed American pilots.

“Gen. George Keagan, former head of U.S. Air Force Intelligence, stated publicly that ‘Israel is worth five CIAs,’ with regard to intelligence passed to our country. He also stated that the yearly $3.0 billion that Israel re­ceived in military assistance was worth $50 to $60 billion in intelligence, R & D savings, and Soviet weapons sys­tems captured and transferred to the Pentagon. In contrast to our commitments in Korea, Japan, Germany, and other parts, not a single American serviceperson needs to be stationed in Israel. Considering that the cost of one ser­viceperson per year – including backup and infrastructure

– is estimated to be about $200,000, and assuming a min­imum contingent of 25,000 troops, the cost savings to the United States alone is on the order of $5 billion per year.

“Israel effectively secures NATO’s southeastern flank. Its superb harbor, its outstanding military installations, the air and sea lift capabilities, and the trained manpower to maintain sophisticated equipment are readily at hand in Israel. It is the only country that makes itself available to the United States in any contingency. Yes, Israel is not a burden, but a tremendous asset to the United States.

“Israel is indeed America’s unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Middle East and the indispensable defender of Ameri­can interests in that area of the world. The people of the United States, individually and through their Congression­al representatives, overwhelmingly support Israel in its seemingly unending fight against Arab aggression and Muslim terror. But that support is not only based on the great strategic value that Israel represents to the United States. It is and always has been based on shared values of liberty, democracy, and human rights. America and Israel are aligned by their shared love of peace and de­mocracy. Israel and the United States stand together in their fight against Islamo-fascist terrorism. These shared values, these common ideals, [should] bind Israel and the United States forever.” (FLAME – Facts and Logic About the Middle East, The International Jerusalem Post, Janu­ary 25-31, 2013, p. 3)

 

For additional excellent articles about the true facts in the Middle East, check out FLAME’s excellent website at: www.factsandlogic.org

I fear that the United States is on the verge of turning its back upon Israel. If it does, this nation will face the curse of God. What the nations do with “the apple of [God’s] eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10) will determine what He does to them. (Jeremiah 30:16; Obadiah 15) As a result, the Lord has said to Israel: “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.” (Jeremi­ah 51:20)

A Memorial Tribute to My Israeli Friend & Guide

I received word a few weeks ago that my Israeli friend and guide for over 15 years has passed away. Israel “Izzy” Rodrique was a dear friend. Many who travelled with me to Israel loved Izzy. He was a very devoted Israeli and loved his country. It is very fitting that his name was Isra­el. Izzy fought in several of the wars in Israel and was severely wounded in the battle for Jerusalem during the six-day war of 1967. He received an award for his brav­ery, the equivalent of a U.S. Purple Heart. He was an Is­raeli paratrooper and wore his wings with great pride.

Izzy guided my tour groups with his expert knowledge, but best of all with his heart. He could never do enough for our group. He was always looking for a better or more efficient way to guide. One of his favorite sayings was, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Izzy and I were a real team, he respected me and I respected him. We un­derstood each other. He knew that I have a great love for Israel and the Jewish people. In many ways this bonded us together.

Izzy made several trips to the U.S. and understood our culture and the way American’s think. He used that to help him effectively communicate the geography and cul­ture of his own people and land.

Izzy developed cancer and was not able to guide my last tour of Israel in 2011. However, he knew my itinerary and met me and my group on the Mount of Olives. We talked for a few minutes. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would see him.

Please pray for his wife and family. I am sure they must really miss him. One of Israel’s great heroes has fallen. It really is hard for me to say good-bye to my very good friend.

Israeli Confidence

Israel is like no other nation. It constantly lives under the threats of war and terrorism from its Islamic neighbors. Israel lives in a sea of Islamic hatred. In the Middle East, Israel is literally surrounded by Islamic nations that reject its presence and very existence. A day never passes in which Muslim leaders don’t call for the death of Israelis and the extermination of the Jewish nation. Israel has had to endure more United Nations condemnations and resolu­tions than any other nation since the beginning of the U.N. after World War II.

In a few weeks, Israel will celebrate its 65th anniversary as a modern state. In that short period of time it has fought four major wars, engaged in several mini-wars with terrorist groups in Lebanon and Gaza, and endured endless terrorist attacks from Islamic extremists.

When people travel with me to Israel they are shocked to find that the Israelis exude a confidence that allows them to carry on with a normal life in spite of the ongoing daily threats against them. It is my opinion that this con­fidence is the result of two things. First, Israelis have grown accustomed to their rejection and threats. As wan­dering Jews, their forefathers have had to endure this for millenniums of time. Second, Israel is very confident that they have developed a very strong military defense to deal with the threats that are coming against it. This is illus­trated by the response of their Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recent interview conducted by The Jeru­salem Post. He was asked: “What is the hope of Israel?” He responded: “The hope of Israel has always been that we build a vibrant, dynamic Jewish state in an inhospita­ble environment … We have a long historical perspective. We’ve come back to our land, restored our independence, built up our capacity to defend ourselves, built an indus­try, built technology, built an army second to none, in or­der to assure the future of the Jewish state, and I’ll tell you, that’s the only hope for peace too, because nobody will make peace with a weak Israel. They’ll make peace with a strong Israel, a very strong Israel. That’s the hope of the future.” (The International Jerusalem Post, January 18-24, 2013, p. 10)

Notice that when the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 invade Israel, the Bible says they will come at a time when Israel will be dwelling safely in the land. (Ezekiel 38:8, 14) It is my opinion that the use of the Hebrew word that is translated “safely” carries the idea of the confidence of security. It does not necessitate that Israel has no enemies or is dwelling in total peace with no real threat. There­fore, it is apparent that the current level of confidence in their military ability to defend themselves is the exact kind of attitude that Ezekiel spoke about concerning Israel in these last days.

Dealing with the Iranian Threat

According to Israel Today, “The Obama Administration keeps insisting that it will never allow Iran to attain nucle­ar weapons, but Israel is growing increasingly concerned that Washington has in fact resigned itself to the idea of a nuclear-armed Iran. Recently, an Obama-linked think tank issued a report suggesting that there was little to fear from a nuclear Iran.” (www.israeltoday.co.il, March 1, 2013) This confrontation will continue to escalate and ultimately produce the war mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.

All of this is very interesting in light of the fact that Russia and Iran signed an agreement in February to form a “strategic partnership.” Furthermore, “Iran played host to Russian warships visiting Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, in what looks like the opening gambit for a Rus­sian naval presence in the strategic waterway.” (Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, February 14, 2013)

Major Earthquake and Volcanic Activity

Several leading scientists are warning that earth is expe­riencing a very dangerous swarm of several massive earthquakes. During the month of February, there were 39 major quakes in two days. There were two massive quakes measuring 8.8 and 8.2 on the Richter scale, fol­lowed by three powerful quakes in Mexico, all within a few hours. On February 5, 2013, Gheorghe Marmureanu, from Romania’s National Institute of Earth Physics, com­mented: “There is no doubt that something is seriously wrong. There have been too many strong earthquakes. … The quakes are a surprise that cannot be easily explained by current scientific knowledge. With the Indonesian quake for example, statistically, there should be one big earthquake in this part of Asia every 500 years. However, since 2004, there were already three quakes with a magni­tude of over 8, which is not normal.” (www.croatiantimes.com, February 5, 2013)

Another geological website commented: “Nearly all of the planet’s current 15 tectonic plates, and in some cases, sub-plates and volcanic arcs are heavily stressed by recent violent mobility of tectonic plates shaken by earthquakes. I’ve never quite seen a pattern this fraught with potential hazards or as heavily laden with seismic tension. The planet is now experiencing a major geological crisis, and it’s showing some indication of worsening.” (www.theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com, February 2, 2013)

This report raises the eyebrows of the Bible prophecy student. According to Jesus, one of the powerful signs of the last days will be the increase of massive earthquakes in different places. (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11) According to the Bible, there will be at least three global earthquakes in the last days. (Ezekiel 38:19-20; Revela­tion 6:12-17; 16:17-21) Therefore, the words of these leading geologists are very clear indicators that we are rapidly moving toward the geological upheaval that the Bible predicted.

Get ready for the shout that will take us out!

2013 February – Warning and the Heart of God – Part Two

Warning and the Heart of God – Part Two

God says: “… hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”-Ezekiel 3:17

By Micah Winefeld

There are two fundamental questions that true followers of Christ must answer: Do you believe that we are living in the last of the last days? Do you believe that the com­ing of the Lord for His church is very near? If your an­swer to these important questions is “yes,” then you must also believe that we are living at a very dangerous time in human history. As you go about your daily routine, has it ever occurred to you that the people you know and love may soon face the horrors of the Tribulation Period? Worse yet, can you envision these people suffering in the fires of eternal damnation? Does the fact that you are living in a world that is filled with violence, and a blatant departure from God’s moral standards, ever make you think that His judgment is imminent? This brings us to the most important question: If you think about these things, what are you doing? If your heart is knit to the heart of God, you will be moved to sound out His merciful warning to everyone around you.

In Part 1 of this article last month, we examined the life and call of the prophet Ezekiel as an example of God’s ministry of warning. Drawing upon the cultural analogy of the watchman in the ancient watchtower, God called this special servant to warn Judah that the judgment of the Lord was about to fall upon them. He also called his Jew­ish brethren to salvation, offering them the only way to escape eternal damnation.

Last month, we looked at two of four Biblical realities about the ministry of godly warning. First, we noted that warning is a complementary part of God’s nature. Bibli­cal warnings concerning the eternal consequences of sin and judgment flow out of the heart of God. Next, we con­sidered that warning is a crucial part of God’s revelation. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with divine warnings. This is at the heart of God’s revelation to man­kind. Now, let us turn to the last two Biblical realities concerning warning and the heart of God.

Warning is a Critical Part of the Ministry of God’s Servants.

The Lord told Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 3:17) The Lord reminded this priest and prophet that he was made by Him for a divine appointment. The Lord shapes the lives of His servants for the task that He has for each of them. In other words, when God commands, God enables. We see another example of this when the Lord reminded Jer­emiah that He shaped him for His divine calling while he was in his mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5) Ezekiel was very much aware that “the hand of the LORD was … upon him.” (Ezekiel 1:3; see 3:14, 22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1)

Ezekiel had been raised up by the Lord at a very critical time in the history of the Jewish people. The people were out of touch with the Lord and His divine plan. They were spiritually blind and numb to the imminent judgment of God, even though it was evident all around them. [Does that sound familiar?] To awaken them by sounding the alarm, the Lord called Ezekiel to a ministry of warn­ing.

As previously mentioned, there is a pattern in God’s word that must not be ignored. The Lord causes His serv­ants, when they are in tune with Him and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to sound out divine warning in times of apostasy and judgment. While speaking about Ezekiel’s role as a watchman unto the house of Israel, the late Dr. Charles Lee Feinberg, a Jewish American Biblical scholar and professor of Semitics and Old Testament, comments: “His function as a watchman over the city was preemi­nently to warn of impending disaster; the prophet as a watchman was to call to repentance and faith. … It is comparable, perhaps, to the Christian pastoral office which is responsible for the care and cure of souls.” (Feinberg, The Prophecy of Ezekiel, p. 29)

As I listen to the voices of Christian leadership across America, it seems to me that very few are sounding out any warning. Their silence comes as the hand of God’s judgment is about to fall upon America and the horrific judgments of the Tribulation Period are rapidly approach­ing. Even more shocking is that Christian leaders in America remain silent despite the fact that eternal damna­tion awaits all who reject the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus. In light of this, please join me in examining seven observations from Ezekiel 2-3 about what it means to be a watchman for God.

1. They know who they are. (2:1)

In this book, the Lord called Ezekiel “son of man” 90 times. The watchman of the Lord will always know that his life, talents, and time are not his own. He realizes he is a mere man while the Lord is God! This sounds very simplistic and elementary. However, our sin nature tends to cause us to forget this. It appears to me that most Christians are acting like the Lord Jesus is their servant. They follow Him to get what they can. They have a bad case of spiritual entitlement mentality. They think God owes them. They believe they deserve God’s richest blessings.

My friend, the true servant of God realizes that he has not been called to a life of comfort and riches. He realizes God owes him nothing and that his salvation and life are a testimony to the grace of God. He also knows that all be­lievers have been called to a position of servitude and sac­rifice for the One who gave His all for us. (Luke 14:26­27; Galatians 2:20) The cross life is not an easy life. There is a high cost to following Jesus Christ!

2. They know that God called them. (2:1-3a)

It is evident from the divine revelation that Ezekiel rec­orded that he knew he had been called by the Lord to be a watchman. He was aware that the Lord had His hand up­on him and spoke to him. Ezekiel was obedient. He stood up for the Lord and God sent him to the children of Israel.

Each believer should know they have been “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) It is very humbling and gratifying to know that the Lord has saved us. His hand has been upon us from the moment we were con­ceived in our mother’s womb. He has fashioned us physi­cally, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He has equipped each believer with unique gifts to serve Him. (1 Corinthians 12) He has saved and called each one of us to serve Him. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before or­dained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We have all been called to proclaim the gospel to the entire world. (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) At the heart of each gospel presentation should be the message of warning to those who refuse to heed God’s counsel con­cerning the consequences of sin and the judgment to come.

It is evident that the Lord calls certain servants to unique ministries. He calls some to a special ministry of warning. Such were Noah, Elijah, Ezekiel, John the Baptist and all of the prophets and apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. They do not allow people to distract them. (2:3b­7)

The Lord warned Ezekiel to not allow the rebellious spirit of his own people to distract him from being a watchman. He told His servant that they would not listen to him. However, he was to be faithful to deliver God’s message so people would “know that there hath been a prophet among them.” (2:5)

In the American church, most of the leaders have been conditioned to use only the methods and message that seem to bring the results they want. Leaders listen to the church growth experts, who have large congregations. These experts are very careful to market the church. In essence, they attempt to give people what they want, in­stead of what God wants and the people need. If you lis­ten carefully, you will discover that these so-called church growth experts fail to preach about sin and the judgment to come. They don’t want to offend people or confront them with their sin and make them feel uncomfortable. They also avoid the subject of Bible prophecy.

In my opinion, most of the leadership in the American church is out of touch with reality. They are like the reli­gious leadership of Israel that Jesus confronted. Jesus rebuked those leaders because they were more interested in the weather and their own agendas, rather than the plan of God. (Matthew 16:1-3) They are so busy building their own religious kingdom, or attempting to identify with the godless culture, that they are unaware of the imminent dangers that are facing our nation and world. Their mes­sages and ministry prove they are really out of touch with the true spiritual condition of our world. They want God to join them in their plans. However, they fail to notice that we need to surrender our plans for His plan. We need to join Him, not ask Him to join us!

The proof of all of this is the lack of interest in Biblical prophecy. Biblical prophecy is the eternal plan of God! It is what He has purposed, and it will come to pass. (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27) Notice that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, that He taught them to make the plan and will of God the heart of their prayer requests. The first item to pray for is: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Real prayer is not the effort of the human heart. It is the work of the Holy Spirit through the heart of the believer. Jesus said:

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7) When the believer is walking in the Spirit, he will pray in the Spirit. Thus, he prays as the Holy Spirit directs him. A Spirit-filled believer will be saturated with the Word of God. Consequently, he will pray for God’s will and Word to come to pass. In the last chapter of the Bible, the church is directed by the Spirit to pray: “Even, so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20) Spirit-filled be­lievers will be focused upon the imminent return of Jesus Christ and the results of living in a world that is marching toward Armageddon. They will refuse to let people or their culture distract them from the big picture of Biblical reality. It will shape and color their worldview.

4. They feast upon God’s Word. (2:8-3:3)

In these verses, the Lord instructed Ezekiel to digest the Word of God, allowing it to become part of him. At the heart of Ezekiel’s commission were these words: “hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” (Ezekiel 3:17) A person who has been used of the Lord knows that he must saturate his life with the Word of God. It must be a daily part of his regimen. The Word of God feeds and satisfies his soul. It convicts and leads a person to confession and correction, bringing about a lifestyle of daily repentance. The Word of God gives hope and pro­vides a person with wisdom and authority to instruct oth­ers in the way of life. Read Psalm 19:7-11. Note verse

11: “Moreover by them [the Word of God] is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”

A true servant of God must sound out the Lord’s warning when it becomes rooted in his heart. This is a powerful testimony that he believes God and loves those around him. All of this was also displayed in the life of Noah. God spoke directly to Noah about the approaching divine judgment in the form of a global flood. Noah believed God and loved those around him. He sounded the alarm and built an ark – a colossal project that took him 120 years to complete. Noah did “according to all that God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22; 7:5) As our world fac­es another divine global judgment, where are the godly voices of warning like Noah?

5. They have God’s strength.

It is incredible to learn that names in the Bible reflect the character or divine call of a person. In light of this, it is worth noting that the Hebrew name “Ezekiel” means “God strengthens.” It is apparent that Ezekiel was totally de­pendent upon the power of God to complete his mission. This is a good example for us all. We desperately need to be reminded of our total dependence upon God. When we think we can do it without Him, we are doomed to fail. Jesus said: “Without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Any divine mission requires divine strength. When we do God’s work we are confronting the principalities of hell. (Ephesians 6:12) In and of ourselves, we are no match for demonic forces and those who are living in open rebellion against the Lord. When we fight the good fight, we overcome evil “because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

6. They know their duty as God’s watchman.

(3:17)

In ancient Israel it was the duty of the watchman to scan the horizon from his lofty position in the watchtower. He must not be distracted from his assignment. It required his full attention and focus. A watchman’s duty was two­fold. He must scan the horizon for danger and sound the warning. Ezekiel saw the desperate spiritual plight of his people and the gravity of the impending judgment of God. The Lord showed him his present situation and allowed him to look into the prophetic events of the last days.

Today, the messenger of warning must see the imminent dangers and those that are coming in eternity. From his lofty position through the telescope of the prophetic Scrip­tures, he must faithfully and truthfully warn his people of things which are coming upon this earth. In our day, these judgments may not be as far off as some have assumed.

7. They live with the consequences of their failure.

(3:18-21)

True servants of the Lord are acutely aware they not in­fallible. They realize and admit they are prone to failure on a daily basis. We all sin every day! (1 John 1:8-10) There are painful consequences to our sins and failures as an ambassador of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20) Lives are at stake. What we do has eternal consequences!

This sobering reality is quite evident in the book of Eze­kiel. The Lord told Ezekiel that he held him accountable to sound out the warning from Him to his fellow country­men. The Lord informed His prophet that he was not re­sponsible for the reception or rejection of his warning. However, if he failed to warn the wicked, he would bear some level of responsibility for their lost condition. (Eze­kiel 3:18-21) “The responsibility of a believer in Christ today to share the word of life, salvation, and forgiveness is no less awesome. Once the message of salvation is en­trusted to us, we are responsible and accountable to share with those who are lost.” (Cooper, L. E., Vol. 17: Ezekiel, The New American Commentary, p. 86)

Warning is a Central Part of God’s Eternal Plan

The Bible is divine revelation about the glorious attrib­utes of the triune God and His eternal purposes. It is evi­dent from the volume of prophetic Scriptures, which ac­count for about 30 percent of the Bible, that the Lord wants His people to have a grasp of Who He is, how He is at work and what He will do in the future. The Bible is a book of God’s progressive revelation to man. The fact that the book of Revelation is the final book in this pro­gressive revelation should indicate the value and im­portance of Bible prophecy in general. Furthermore, the book of Revelation further illustrates the importance and the application of God’s ministry of warning. God’s reve­lation of the ultimate and final rebellion of man against Him is intended to be a tool of warning and evangelism. The study of the prophetic Scriptures displays the sover­eignty and the holiness of God. The message is loud and clear – the Lord will not always tolerate the rebellion of man and will ultimately bring it all to a divine conclusion that will glorify Him. Furthermore, He will honor and bless those who submit to His Lordship and worship Him as their Creator, Sustainer, Savior, Judge and coming King. The final generations of mankind that rebel against the Lord are destined to come under the judgment of His holy vengeance on this earth. All who reject the Son of God will spend eternity in total separation from the Lord and His heaven.

The book of Revelation, and all other prophetic Scrip­tures, has a practical goal of warning all men they have a personal choice to make. In this book, man is confronted with a holy God, His hatred of sin, and His ultimate judg­ment against all sin, sinners and effects of sin. As a warn­ing and invitation, this is brought to a final practical appli­cation in the closing verses of the Bible. “Let him that is

athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

In light of this, it is no wonder that the godly prophets of Israel were consumed with the coming of the Messiah. Remember that the early church was 100 percent Jewish. All of the apostles were Jewish. The passion for the com­ing of the Messiah and His eternal plans continued in the early church as a vital focus in their personal lives. It served as a motive for all of their worship, edification and evangelistic effort! Furthermore, their understanding of the context of the last days gave them practical wisdom for living. Even so, today godly people can find practical wisdom for living as they develop a proper worldview in the light of God’s eternal plan. Like the children of Issa­char, “which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32), we can share with our world God’s message of warning about the dangerous times in which we live.

Our Lord has called us to serve Him in these last days. In light of the times, we must conclude that He has called all of us to a ministry of warning. As God’s servants, we must be faithful to Him. The world will call us a failure, but God will call us faithful! God has called us to be faithful and obedient, not successful and disobedient. (1 Corinthians 4:2-5)

In recent days, I have been personally moved by the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit has reminded me that our Lord is determined that His eternal plans will come to pass. Consider Isaiah 9:7-“The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Look at Isaiah 62:1, 6-7-“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. … I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

I must confess that I have a fire that burns in my bones all the day long. I believe God! I believe His Word! I believe that the judgment of God upon America and our world is imminent. I do not know if we have hours, days, months or a few years before that judgment comes. But I do believe that those who love Him and are in tune with Him will not be afraid to lovingly and mercifully warn those around them. Oh that we could be consumed with a zeal to be faithful to Him as we long for His coming!

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

Moving toward a New World Order

As one examines the Scriptures, it is evident that the earth’s final seven years of this age will be in the grip of a ruthless and evil global government. (Read Daniel 2:41­44; 7:7-8, 23-25; Revelation 13:1-9; 17:9-13.) I have noted that a growing number of Christian leaders agree that the coming New World Order will apparently be some type of political wedding of communism and Islam. On the basis of Scripture and the current function and strategies of the United Nations, I have come to adopt this as a real possibility. In the past few years, I have written about the Biblical view that the Antichrist and his empire will be Islamic. There are a multitude of Scriptures that support this view. For example, in Isaiah 14:4, the Anti­christ is called “the king of Babylon.” Babylon is located in present-day Iraq.

If this is true, then the current movement in the United States toward socialism [the first step toward Com­munism] and the growing acceptance of Islam is not only frightening, but reveals that we are witnessing the final stages of the collapse of the old world order’s last super­power. I personally believe that when the United States collapses as a world superpower, the world will be quickly forced into an international political system that will be socialistic and sympathetic to sharia law – the law of the Koran. I believe this will be the system that will ultimate­ly surrender its authority to the Antichrist. Isn’t it interest­ing that American citizens have re-elected a man to lead this nation that advocates socialism and Islam? This is not an accident! (Read Daniel 2:21.)

The Lord has raised up many voices to warn this nation of the course we have taken in the last several years. The current leadership, both internationally and in the U.S., are promising us that better days are ahead. As they chart this course for the future, they are calling for us to reject the past, reject the God of the Bible and its moral laws. (See Psalm 2:1-3) They are promising a man-made golden era. In his recent book, The Coming Revolution, Dr. Richard Lee (the founding pastor of First Redeemer Church in At­lanta and author of several volumes) gives the following warning to America: “The idea of a man-made utopia has been the promise of every totalitarian society since the collapse of the Roman republic. But it is a false vision, a mirage, a wisp of smoke, and we would be foolish indeed to abandon the achievements of the greatest republic in the history of mankind for a system that has been the source of some of the greatest miseries ever known. The progres­sive promise is in reality a hallucination.” (Dr. Richard Lee, The Coming Revolution, p. 29)

In an excellent article entitled, “The First Muslim Presi­dent,” in the current edition of Whistleblower (a publica­tion of World Net Daily), David Kupelian (an American journalist best known for his bestselling books The Mar­keting of Evil and How Evil Works) warns America about the course it has taken. He writes: “Having lived through a tumultuous era in which the biggest geopolitical chal­lenges to America’s very existence as a free nation have been Marxism and Shariah Islam, it’s a testimony to mod­ern America’s blindness that we have chosen – twice – a president who champions both.

“But there’s perfect logic to the ‘grand jihad’ uniting these two ungodly forces against the rare and exotic bloom of individual liberty. Both movements are based on the rejection of the God of the Bible and of Christianity and Judaism, which comprise the moral foundation of Western Civilization. Both are fixated on an ecstatic vi­sion of a utopia that cannot exist in reality because it de­fies all the laws of God and man and human nature and common sense.

“And, although superficially incompatible with each other, both are on the same side of the great war between good and evil, both intent on enslaving as many free peo­ple as possible in the process of imposing a deluded para­dise that never was and never can be.” (David Kupelian, “The First Muslim President,” Whistleblower, January 2013, p. 8)

It appears that these two political systems will be the iron and clay that are mentioned in Daniel 2:40-42. Certainly, these two totalitarian systems that ruthlessly rule over men have mingled “themselves with the seed of men.” (Daniel 2:43) These two political schemes currently control and manipulate the policies and decisions of the United Na­tions. The Communist ideology holds power over 22 per­cent of the world’s population, while Islam controls 29 percent. Therefore, these two tyrannical ideologies con­trol over half of the world’s inhabitants.

As one examines the pages of history it is very evident that those who radically adhere to the dogmas of Islam and Communism have the legacy of creating a bloodbath in the wake of taking control of nations that are forced into the slavery of their beliefs. In Islam’s 1,400 year his­tory, it is estimated that 270 million innocent people have been brutally murdered in the name of Allah. The Com­munists, Marxists and Nazis are responsible for the deaths of 120 million in the 20th century alone.

In light of all of this, it is chilling to note that the revela­tion given to Daniel indicates that the final evil kingdom “shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” (Daniel 7:23) This vision trou­bled Daniel, and caused him much sadness. (Daniel 7:28) Therefore, it should not be too surprising that these con­siderations also greatly trouble us as well.

For the believer, these prophecies can be both sweet and bitter. (See Revelation 10:8-10) They are bitter because we know that much evil lies ahead for our world. Howev­er, on the sweet side, there is hope. The King of Kings will crush this evil New World Order. Jesus Christ will return at the end of the Tribulation Period and destroy the evil empire of the Antichrist. (Revelation 19:11-21) Long ago the prophet Daniel wrote of this event: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the king­dom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44)

During the Tribulation, we will join with the great num­ber of the saints in heaven as we proclaim: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revela­tion 11:15) Oh that we would long for this kingdom now! We should! We have been admonished to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heav­en.” (Matthew 6:10)

Iranian Nuclear Facility Destroyed

Israeli intelligence has confirmed that one of Iran’s im­portant nuclear facilities has been partially destroyed. Iran is blaming the explosion on sabotage. This explosion took place at the Fordo nuclear plant near the city of Qom dur­ing the last week of January. Israel has been focusing up­on this facility because it is located in a massive bunker-style system under a mountain, “making it nearly immune to aerial assault, and therefore a perfect location for a sig­nificant portion of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.” (www.israel today.co.il, January 27, 2013) There has been no assessment as to how much this will delay Iran’s progress toward the development of a nuclear weapon

2013 January – Warning and the Heart of God – Part One

Warning and the Heart of God – Part One

God says: “… hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”-Ezekiel 3:17

By Micah Winefeld

What will 2013 bring? Those of us who study the pro­phetic Scriptures can only wonder will happen in the new year. However, one thing is clear: our world is moving closer to the threshold of a tumultuous time known as the Tribulation Period. This seven-year period of great up­heaval will climax with the physical return of our Lord with His saints from heaven, who were raptured seven years earlier. As we enter 2013, we should take heed to the words of Jesus when He warned His disciples that when the end comes, it would be horrific. He said: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21) Several decades later, the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to write about this same period of time: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2Timothy 3:1)

At the close of 2012, we were once again reminded that we live in a world of evil and unspeakable violence. On December 14, we were stunned and saddened by the mass murder of little school children and some of their faculty in Newtown, Connecticut, a town some 90 miles from New York City. In the days that followed this great trag­edy, secular analysts and liberal news media clearly showed that they have no true understanding of the world we live in. According to their spin, the tragedy of De­cember 14 can be blamed on the availability of guns or the mental instability of the murderer. However, the Bible declares that murder is a heart issue. (Matthew 15:19) The human heart is deceitfully wicked. Sin is the root cause of what took place in Sandy Hook Elementary School.

We must come to grips with the reality that no person wakes up one morning and decides to kill someone. Mur­ders occur because a person’s conscience has been si­lenced by a steady mental diet of the violence and a disre­gard for human life. We live in a culture that sells vio­lence and immorality as entertainment. Do we really think that people can be bombarded with graphic violence on television, at the movies and in video games and not be impacted? Proverbs 23:7 teaches us that we will ulti­mately mirror our thoughts. Violent thinking ultimately produces violent attitudes, words and actions. Isn’t it strange that our president and others can shed tears over the mass murder of the children at Sandy Hook Elemen­tary School, and at the same time promote abortion on demand? I also cried when I heard about this horrible tragedy. But, I also weep with the Lord when I hear about a little baby being ripped from his mother’s womb and killed by medical professionals. Thousands of innocent children are murdered in America every day and around the world. Yet, the world is completely silent, and radi­cally defends and supports this.

As believers, it is our duty and responsibility to warn America that it has chosen a path of departure from God. That path is filled with violence and immorality that will bring sudden and untimely deaths. The real answers to our problems will not come with gun legislation or better security. If we are to return to some level of sanity in this nation and world, we must call for repentance and a return to the path of life. Our only hope is found in the person of Jesus Christ, and the path of life that is offered in the Word of God. Long ago, the Lord warned Israel not to depart from Him and His commandments: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that thou and thy seed many live. That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

In my opinion, in light of the prophetic Scriptures and the context of our era, we are living in very dangerous times. It is only a matter of time before some horrific global event or series of events will materialize that will change our modern way of life. There are a number of things that could trigger a global catastrophe in the imme­diate future. We seem to be on the verge of a global eco­nomic meltdown that could trigger political revolutions and destroy our ability to provide the security that we have enjoyed for many decades. These revolutions could alter our world and the balance of power. History demonstrates that these kinds of revolutions usually produce evil, brutal tyrants. All of this would perfectly set the stage for the entrance of the Antichrist, a New World Order, and the beginning of the Tribulation Period.

This year, our world could experience a swarm of natu­ral disasters – like earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hur­ricanes, droughts, floods and dangerous solar flares. These cataclysmic events could interfere with the electri­cal grid or our commercial agricultural systems that are already being stretched to provide enough food for a mushrooming global population. Medical analysts are concerned that a new virus or mutation of viruses could produce a contagious disease with no known cure. If that occurs, millions around the world could die.

While we consider these kinds of threats, we must also consider the developments in the Middle East. Will this be the year that Israel and/or the United States militarily attack Iran to halt its development of a nuclear bomb? If they do militarily attack Iran, what will be the outcome? How would it impact the flow of oil out of an area that has the richest oil deposits in the world? If the radical regime in Iran is not stopped from developing a bomb, would they use their new weapon of mass destruction in an attack against Israel this year? Furthermore, would the Iranians use their nuclear threat to control the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf, leading to another major war in the Middle East?

As we look at the global horizon, it seems only a matter of time before something drastic happens. Where is the leadership of the church as our world spirals out of con­trol? When the dark clouds of apostasy and judgment appear on the horizon, the Lord has always called His servants to a ministry of warning. When we look back in Biblical history, we have clear examples that the Lord al­ways raised up godly messengers to warn His people and call them to salvation and repentance. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Micah, Nahum and Habakkuk are among men who heeded such a call.

A reconstructed watchtower in Israel, photo by Todd Bolen (click here)

To illustrate, let’s examine the life and ministry of the prophet Ezekiel. This Old Testament prophet provides us with some practical insights into what God’s servants ought to do when their people are facing divine judgment. The Lord uniquely called Ezekiel at a very crucial time in the history of his nation, Judah. As a result of Judah’s rebellion and disobedience to the Lord, the Babylonians had been successful in two military campaigns against Judah. In the process, the Babylonians carried Jewish captives to Babylon. Ezekiel was among the second group of captives that were carried away to Babylon in 597 B.C. In 593 B.C., Ezekiel reached the age of 30. Being of the priestly tribe, as was the custom, he began his public min­istry as a prophet-priest at this age. The Lord called Eze­kiel to become a street preacher in Babylon, warning his Jewish brethren of the judgment of God. We know from history that only five years after he began issuing his warnings, the final Babylonian invasion of Judah took place. In 588 B.C. the Babylonians captured Jerusalem and destroyed the beautiful temple built by King Solomon.

The Lord made Ezekiel’s assignment very clear: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Isra­el: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” (Ezekiel 3:17) Ezekiel knew exactly what the Lord was asking him to do. In Biblical days, each community or city had a watchtower. It was usually located at the highest point in the community. During daylight hours, a watchman was placed in the watchtower to scan the horizon, looking for any sign of a threat to his people. Should he see a potential threat, he was to sound the trumpet to call the people into the city for their own protection. If he failed to warn the people and some of them died, he was held accountable and paid with his own life. (Ezekiel 3:20) However, if he gave the people ample warning and they failed to heed it, they were responsible for their own demise and no harm came to the watchman. (Ezekiel 3:19)

Drawing from this cultural analogy, Ezekiel’s ministry was two-fold. He was to warn the nation of the judgment of God, calling them to repentance. He also was to call them individually to salvation and repentance so as to avoid personal eternal damnation. As we examine the ministry of warning, for our own understanding and appli­cation, let us examine four Biblical realities.

Warning is a Complementary Part of God’s Nature.

Notice that in Ezekiel 3:17 the Lord said: “give them warning from me.” Biblical warnings concerning the eternal consequences of sin and judgment flow out of the heart of God. They are a part of His divine nature. He is a God of love, mercy and grace. He is “longsuffering …

not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

When we sound out Biblical warnings in the power of the Holy Spirit, we are acting like God. We are identify­ing with His heart. Consequently, when danger is ap­proaching it is the ethical and moral obligation of those who know and care to warn those in danger! People who do not join the Lord in warning people of the imminent and eternal dangers of sin either do not believe what the Lord has said about these dangers and judgments, or they are so preoccupied with self and sin that they are numb to the things of God. Furthermore, it is evident they do not really care about people.

Warning is a Crucial Part of God’s Revelation.

The Holy Spirit is the author of God’s written revelation – the Bible. (2 Peter 1:21) The Bible proclaims that it is the written Word of God. It is “inspired.” (2 Timothy 3:16) This word means “God-breathed.” The Bible is the very breath of God. It is a book filled with blessings and warnings. God’s Word will bring life or death. (Deuter­onomy 30:19) The Spirit has recorded for man many pas­sages that sound out divine warnings that were given to the nation of Israel concerning the imminent judgment of God due to its departure from Him. We should note that these warnings have been recorded and preserved for our admonition. In 1Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul re­minded the church at Corinth that the history of Israel, and the revelation about them, are an example for us. “Now all these things happened unto them for [examples]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11) The Old Testament servants of the Lord were in tune with the Lord’s character and divine plan. Because of this, they were also able to see the rebellion and wickedness of their generation. Knowing the nature of God and His warning of judgment, the prophets faithfully warned their people of the consequences of their sin, both personally and nation­ally. While none of us hold the office of a prophet, in general, it is the church’s moral and ethical responsibility to follow their example.

As the Lord commissioned Ezekiel to his ministry of warning, He said: “hear the word at my mouth.” (Ezekiel 3:17) Warning is a crucial part of God’s redemptive reve­lation. Warnings from the Lord appear throughout the entire Bible. The first warning is in Genesis 2:16-17. On Adam and Eve’s first day on earth the Lord warned them:

“Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) In the very last chapter of the Bible, the Lord warned man to not add to or take away from His revelation. If they do, He will “add unto him the plagues that are written in [the ] book [of Revelation.] And the Lord will “take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19)

At the heart of the Holy Spirit’s work in us is the minis­try of repentance. The message of repentance carries a message of warning. (John 16:8-11) The Holy Spirit works in the consciences of men, praising them when they move toward that which is righteous and acceptable to God. However, He also warns and shames them concern­ing sin, with a goal to turn them away from it. A vital part of this warning is the reminder of the judgment to come. This was at the heart of the apostles’ ministry and it should be the aim of the church and its people to sound out God’s warning to turn sinners to righteousness. (Acts 24:25)

(This article will be continued in the next newsletter.)

A Critical Year Ahead for Israel

It is very apparent that 2013 will be a very critical year for Israel. This year promises to be the kind of year that the Scriptures indicate would develop for the Jewish na­tion gathered in its land in the last days.

This year, Israel will welcome home her Jewish people from the nations. Concerning these days, the prophet Isai­ah proclaimed: “And he shall set up an ensign for the na­tions, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:12) Psalm 107:2-3 declares: “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath re­deemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.”

In the last few months, Israel has begun an operation called ‘Wings of the Dove.’ The goal is to bring the last remnant of Jews in Ethiopia back to Israel. As the proph­ecies declared, they are coming home from the south.

As a very serious wave of anti-Semitism sweeps across Europe, Israel is preparing for a large immigration of Jews from that continent. Jews are being persecuted, threatened and attacked in areas where there is a significant Muslim population. Jews in certain parts of Europe are being told to not wear their skullcaps (kippot) in public, and to re­frain from wearing any Star of David jewelry or speaking Hebrew. Israel Today reported in October that “two men in their 40s assaulted and threatened a 12-year old Jewish boy waiting at a bus stop in Paris. The men hit the boy repeatedly with a belt and hurled insults at him in Arabic.” (www.Israeltoday.co.il, October 25, 2012)

Anti-Semitism is spreading all over the world, including here in the U.S. In recent months New York City police discovered a threat spray-painted in a subway. It read: “The world would be much better off if all the Jews were lampshades.” Such attitudes as these prevailed in Nazi Germany immediately before the Holocaust began. Ac­cording to the Bible, the Tribulation Period will be the final attempt of the world to annihilate the Jewish people. Daniel wrote: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1)

I was deeply moved by this recent picture of an Israeli moth­er shielding her little child from an incoming rocket from Gaza. This picture is very telling. Israelis shield their chil­dren from these attacks, while the Palestinians use their chil­dren as shields to discourage Israel from striking an im­portant military target in Gaza. Pictures like this tell the real story of the spiritual difference between these two different cultures. The Israeli culture values life as taught in the Bible, while those who follow the Koran have an entirely different view of human life. – Photo by Israel Today.

While speaking to His Jewish disciples about the Tribula­tion Period, Jesus said: “For then shall be great tribula­tion, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21) With­

out question, we are beginning to witness the initial atti­tudes and actions that will produce these horrible acts of hatred and violence in the final days of this age. For those of us who love Israel and the Jewish people, this tugs at our hearts, producing much concern and grief!

This year, Israel will see increased global demands to surrender the territories it captured while defending the Jewish nation from aggressive and threatening Arab na­tions during the Six-Day war in June 1967. In November, the United Nations voted overwhelmingly, 138-9, to grant the Palestinians observer status in the U.N. This move certainly demonstrates that world empathy is on the side of the Palestinians and against Israel’s right to her histori­cal national homeland. Only days after this vote by the U.N., the Israeli government passed a resolution declaring “that despite what a majority of the U.N. member states say, the Jews have a legal and historic claim in Judea and Samaria, and those territories will remain disputed.” (www.Israeltoday.co.il, December 3, 2012) Israel also announced that it would continue to build in the West Bank – the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria. Fur­thermore, Israel is determined to build in and around its capital, Jerusalem. Israel is also continuing with a project to construct additional housing in Jerusalem. These an­nouncements have been met with objections from the U.S. and the European Union.

The division of the Holy Land is at the center of the con­flict that will lead the nations into a battle with the Al­mighty during the Tribulation Period. Concerning the last days, Jeremiah declared that the Lord said: “I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trem­bling, of fear, and not of peace. … Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:3­5, 7) Speaking of Armageddon, in Joel 3:2 the Lord pro­claims: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will plead with them [meaning He will execute justice] there for my peo­ple and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”

For several decades now, we have been watching this global diplomatic effort to force Israel to surrender the ancient homeland that God promised His people. It is my opinion that this effort is at the end of its rope. Many be­lieve that the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel that will mark the beginning of the Tribulation Period will involve a settlement concerning these disputed territories. (Daniel 9:27) Isaiah revealed that Israel’s government will make “a covenant with death” to avoid a massive war campaign against the Jewish nation. (Isaiah 28:14-22) The Lord revealed that this covenant is based upon “lies.” In light of Isaiah’s prophecy, it is apparent that our world is very close to seeing the announcement of this covenant that will mark the beginning of the world’s conflict with the Almighty over God’s people and God’s land. As be­lievers in Jesus Christ, we will never witness this cove­nant. We will be raptured immediately before this cove­nant is made.

In an amazing prophetic chapter in the Bible, Ezekiel 36, we are told that when the Jewish people return to their land in the last days that the surrounding nations would reject the Jewish occupation of the land. It is amazing to note that God says Israel’s enemies “have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.” (Ezekiel 36:5) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been reminding the world that peace is impossible with the Palestinians at this time because they lie in English to the world while they speak the truth in Arabic to their own people. They tell the world that they want to establish a Palestinian state in the pre-1967 borders. However, all of their charters and their open remarks in Arabic make it clear they want to displace all the Jews and claim all of the land that was called Palestine for 19 centuries. For exam­ple, in December Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader who lives in Damascus, returned to the Gaza area for the first time in over 40 years to celebrate Hamas’ 25th anniversary in Gaza. At this event, Mashaal spoke before hundreds of thousands of Hamas supporters. He declared: “Palestine is our land and nation from the (Mediterranean) sea to the (Jordan) river, from the north to the south, and we will not cede even one inch of it.” (www.Israeltoday.co.il, De­cember 10, 2012) Israel knows that it is fighting for its very existence. While commenting on the E.U.’s demands for Israel to not build new homes in the territories and in East Jerusalem, Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Lieber­man, stated: “Europe doesn’t care if we survive.” (www.Israeltoday.co.il, December 12, 2012)

These attacks on Jews worldwide and the lack of concern for the survival of the nation of Israel certainly tell us that it is late on the church calendar. The day of God’s wrath when He will keep His covenant with Israel and vindicate His chosen people, Israel, has just about arrived.

While speaking to His Jewish disciples about the end of this age, Jesus told them that it would be characterized by a time of “wars and rumors of wars.” (Matthew 24:6) Israel is literally surrounded by nations that are eager to bring about the sudden demise of the Jewish nation of Is­rael. These nations include: Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf states, many radical Muslim elements in Jordan, and especially the territory of Gaza. All of this was predicted with amazing accuracy in Psalm 83.

The Lord has promised that the efforts of the nations to destroy Israel will fail and He will save His people. While speaking about the divine defense for Jerusalem in the last days, Isaiah wrote: “And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her [stronghold], and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. It shall even be as when an hun­gry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall be the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.” (Isaiah 29:7-8) Later, Isaiah wrote: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” (Isaiah 54:17) These promises were fulfilled in the recent war with Gaza and will be repeatedly ful­filled until the Lord literally returns at the end of the Trib­ulation Period to fight against the nations gathered against Israel at Armageddon. (Zechariah 14:3)

Israel’s recent eight-day war against Gaza was a retalia­tory response by Israel for the rockets, mortars and mis­siles that radical terrorist groups fired into southern Israel for months. This war was dubbed by Israel as ‘Pillar of Defense’ and ended on November 21 with a cease fire negotiated by the joint efforts of the U.S. and Egypt. The Jerusalem Report gave the following statistical data for this war: “Of the 1,506 rockets fired from Gaza, 420 were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome system; only 58, less than four percent, landed in built-up areas. By contrast the Israeli Defense Force destroyed over 1,600 targets, includ­ing virtually the entire Hama store of long-range missiles, several arms factories, dozens of weapons’ depots and underground launching pads, around 200 smuggling tun­nels, government buildings and the Islamic National Bank.

… In addition to pinpointing valued military targets, high-grade intelligence also enabled Israel to target the Hamas and Islamic Jihad military leaderships. At least six top commanders, including Ahmed Jabri, the vaunted Hamas military supremo, were assassinated from the air. One-hundred and fifty-two Palestinians, including 88 militants, were killed in the fighting and around 1,400 wounded. On the Israeli side the figures were six dead and 113 wound­ed.” (The Jerusalem Report, p. 7, December 17, 2012)

Israelis were very happy with the new Iron Dome de­fense system. This system uses a computer linked to sat­ellite information to track a short-range rocket in the air to determine its destination. If it determines that it will land in an open area it does not shoot down the rocket. How­ever, if it does determine that the rocket’s target is a popu­lated area, then it will shoot down the rocket. This system was very successful during this war.

Israel has developed a multi-layered defense missile system to protect the nation from the deadly threat of mis­siles its enemies are deploying against them. For the short range rockets they have developed the Iron Dome System. For the medium range weapons they have created David’s Sling. For the long-range missiles, like those from Iran, Israel has designed and manufactured the Arrow system.

Israel is very busy preparing for the maximum defense against the enemy nations that surround it, just like the prophets of God had warned they would in the last days. Unlike any other nation, Israel lives with the daily threat of wars and rumors of war.

Israel is concerned that the Syrian regime of Bashar As-sad is about to collapse and will fall into the hands of Is­lamic radicals, like in Egypt, that may prove to be more dangerous to Israel that the former Syrian leadership. Is­raeli intelligence reports that Iran has used some of its nu­clear materials for medical purposes and this has set back the Iranian point of no return to sometime this fall. It does appear that a major war in the Middle East is coming and it may take place in 2013.

Get ready to fly!