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April 2023 – Iran’s Armageddon Dream

PTNews

P r o p h e tic Truth in the N e w s

October 2024

   Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

Download this Newsletter

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

P.O. Box 67, Boones Mill, VA 24065

The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

“Behold, I [show] you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

By Mike Wingfield

Iran’s Armageddon Dream

“And upon Elam [the ancient name for Iran] will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds: and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of [Iran] shall not come.” Jeremiah 49:36

By Mike Wingfield

For more than 30 years, Israeli leaders, and especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have warned the world about Iran’s desire to develop a nuclear bomb. Not surprisingly, these warnings have fallen on deaf ears. The world has drifted deeper into the abyss of spiritual darkness and rebellion against God. This deadly spiritual darkness numbs the conscience of man to the point that he does not recognize or respect life-threatening dangers.

As a result of the world’s blindness, it will soon face the reality of a new form of nuclear madness. Recently, world leaders have learned that Iran is on the verge of having enough nuclear enrichment to acquire a nuclear weapon. That means that the world’s leading terrorist state will soon have a weapon of mass destruction at its disposal. In my opinion, this development signals that our world will soon be catapulted into the deadly days of the Tribulation. As Jesus described it, this will be a time of “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6).

At the end of World War II in 1945, the United States became the first nation to develop and use an atomic weapon. The use of this deadly force against Japan stunned the entire world. People were horrified by the sheer magnitude of these weapons that leveled two large Japanese cities and killed more than 200,000 people. Many of the victims were instantly vaporized by the enormous thermal blasts! Thankfully, such weapons have not been used in warfare since 1945. However, thermonuclear weapons have since been developed. These weapons are hundreds or even thousands of times for powerful than atomic weapons.

For almost 78 years, the world has lived under the fear of a maniacal tyrant or an evil regime using a nuclear weapon to kill millions of innocent people. Today, there are approximately 13,080 nuclear devices in the arsenals of nine countries (the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea). Some of these nuclear bombs are 3,000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs used in 1945!

It is believed that the fear of retaliation has served as a deterrent to using weapons of mass destruction since the end of World War II. In other words, a nation with nuclear capability has not used such weaponry because it fears massive retaliation from the nation it strikes. A nuclear strike would bring unspeakable death and devastation to a nation. Furthermore, the territory impacted by the radioactive fallout of the nuclear implosion would be uninhabitable for decades.

Nonetheless, some world leaders realize that the fear of reprisal does not penetrate the radical mindset of the ruling mullahs in Iran. The radical Islamic doctrine embraced by these mullah makes them willing to die for their faith. Therefore, their devotion to annihilating their perceived enemies of Allah would motivate them to use a nuclear bomb without hesitation. This radical Islamic leadership views Israel and the United States as the avowed enemies of Allah.

Clearly, Israel is in the crosshairs of Iran. Iran has made it very clear to the world that it is consumed with hatred for the modern state of Israel. Iran’s statements and actions over the past 40 years have demonstrated they are committed to the annihilation of the Jewish state. This has been their declared goal since the Islamic Iranian revolu-tion began in 1979. Following centuries of Islamic anti-semitic doctrines, the founder of the Iranian revolution, the Ayatollah Khomeini, fanned the fires of hatred against Israel and sparked the Islamic revival that we are seeing in the last days. Since 1979, the followers of radical Islam in Iran have been openly calling for the death of Israel and America.

In January 2001, the current Supreme Leader of Iran, Khomenei, declared, “It is the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to erase Israel from the map of the region.” One month later, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president of Iran, said, “If one day, a very important day, of course, the Islamic World will also be equipped with the weapons available to Israel now, the imperialist strategy will reach an impasse, because the employment of even one atomic bomb inside Israel will wipe it off the face of the earth.” In 2005, the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stated, Israel “must be wiped off the map.” In recent months, General Hossein Salami, the Commander- in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards forces, bragged, “Our strategy is to erase Israel from the political map.” Furthermore, Khomenei, published a 416-page book, in which he outlined how Iran will destroy Israel.

Iran is well known as the leading sponsor of global terrorism. Looking at the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East (see the map above), it is clear that Iran is spreading its hatred of Israel. Iran is inching closer to the implementing a dream it has pursued for more than 40 years! Recently, Iran displayed a ballistic missile that was painted with a message on its side, “Death to Israel.”

Iran’s thoughts and actions are being fueled by its commitment to their Shiite Islamic doctrines. The Iranian leaders believe their coming messiah, the “Hidden Imam,” or the “Mahdi,” will not come until they institute global chaos. They believe that Iran must first bring about global destruction that will remove Jews, Christians, and non-Muslims from power. After this global destruction, they believe their Messiah will suddenly appear on a white horse. Their commitment to make this happen dominates their political and military strategies. They are willing to commit national suicide to make it happen. The fact that thousands of suicide bombers have attacked Israel and points around the world demonstrates they must be taken seriously. The 9-11 attacks against the United States in 2001 illustrate their mindset.

It is apparent that the nations of the world, including the Biden administration in Washington, do not take these Iranian threats seriously. In 2007, Senator Joe Biden exclaimed, “My concern is not that a nuclear Iran someday would be moved by messianic fervor to use a nuclear weapon as an Armageddon device and commit national suicide in order to hasten the return of the Hidden Imam.”

We must remember that here in the West, the secular leaders do not consider religion to be an important part of society. This is especially true when it comes to political or military matters. However, this is not the case in the Middle East. The Israelis live in this region. They know and understand the mindset of the Muslims.

In an exclusive interview of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with American Israeli communications strategist Joel Rosenberg in 2007, Netanyahu made the following remarks, “I think the West fundamentally misunderstood, and still misunderstands, the threat of Radical Islam. It is a fanatical messianic ideology that seeks to have an apocalyptic battle for world supremacy with the West. It seeks to correct what it sees its disciples see as an accident of history where the West has risen, and Islam has declined. And the correction is supposed to be done by the resurrection of an Islamic empire and the acquisition of nuclear weapons and the use of nuclear weapons, if necessary, to obliterate Islam’s enemies and to subjugate the rest. This is a pathological ideology, much like Nazism was, and it poses a threat, in my judgment, in many ways bigger than Nazism. Because Hitler embarked on a world conflict and then sought to achieve nuclear weapons, whereas the leading radical Islamic regime in Iran, is seeking to first acquire nuclear weapons and then embark on a world conflict. And that is what is not yet understood in the West. And certainly, if it’s understood, it’s not acted upon.”

“You’ve already seen what the Sunni stream does, which is to smash into buildings in Manhattan with collective suicide, to smash into the Pentagon with collective suicide,” Netanyahu added. “And there’s no reason to believe that the militant Shiites, once they have atomic weapons, will not be suicidal. They say openly that they intend to remove Israel. Their first position – we’re the Little Satan. But remember that their goal is to get the United States, the Big Satan. We’re just a station, one station, on the way to world conquest. And to have such a regime that believes in an apocalyptic Armageddon with the West in which millions will die on both sides – but the Muslim millions go to a Muslim heaven with all the trappings – to have that crazy ideology in charge of a country that is developing atomic weapons is unbelievably dangerous and it should stop. Everything else is secondary to this” (Interview by Joel Rosenberg, 2007).

I am personally convinced the global hatred for Israel and the Jewish people is once against reaching a dangerous level. This hatred is so great that the world is secretly hop-ing that Iran will use a nuclear bomb against Israel and wipe it off the face of the earth. The United Nations is overwhelmingly controlled by Muslims, Communists, and Socialists. Outside of Israel, there is no leader that is condemning Iran for its repeated calls for the annihilation of Israel. Even here in America, anti-Israel sentiment is spreading like cancer. The administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden have in essence supported Iran’s march toward nuclear supremacy. In recent years, only President Donald Trump has understood the danger of the Iranian mindset.

Thanks to the current godless and evil leadership of the West, we are now only days away from a nuclear Iran. We cannot begin to imagine how this will change our world! The Middle East is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

The Israelis have clearly stated they will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb. They know the evil Iranian leadership is deadly serious about using nuclear weaponry against their homeland. Israel is only 45 miles wide and about 230 miles long. A relatively small nuclear weapon would effectively destroy the nation and make the land uninhabitable for many decades. Based upon the promises and plans of God, we can rest assured this will never happen! God’s sovereign eternal plans can not be altered by Satan, his demons, and all the evil leaders and armies of the nations!

In recent months the political and military leadership in Israel have readied themselves for the day when they will need to use military force to thwart Iran’s nuclear advances. During a public security conference in Tel Aviv, on February 22, 2023, Netanyahu said, “I can tell you that I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That is not merely an Israeli interest; it’s an American interest; it’s in the interest of the entire world.” It is not a matter of “if” Israel will do this. It is only a matter of “when!” We have now arrived at a very critical time for the Middle East and our world.

From a biblical viewpoint, Iran’s desire to deceive the nations and destroy Israel is an Armageddon dream. According to Revelation 16:13-16, the Battle of Armageddon will be a demonically induced war of deception against Israel by the Antichrist and the nations. The Shiite Muslims believe the coming of their Mahdi is imminent. Could it be that the Muslim messiah will be the one the Bible calls the Antichrist? In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, the Apostle Paul told the church at Thessalonica that the Antichrist will be “the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”

The faithful followers of Islam’s prophet, Muhammed, believe their coming messiah must be one of the great imams who descended from Muhammed. According to their teaching, the last of these imams (the 12th one) disappeared in the 9th century. They believe that he will suddenly reappear to rule over the global Islamic empire at the end of this age. Could it be that the “lying wonders” of the end would be a deceptive resurrection of this imam, the Madi? We cannot be dogmatic about this. We can only wonder! Given the current developments, it would seem this is a possible scenario. If not, it certainly demonstrates that we are living in times when the stage for the fulfillment of biblical prophecies is being set.

The Bible repeatedly declares that at the end of this age the world will be fixated upon the removal of a Jewish presence and control over the city of Jerusalem. A study of the conflict in the Middle East demonstrates that this is at the core of the Islamic hatred of Israel and their plot to destroy the Jewish nation. Discussions in the United Nations and other international ruling bodies of the nations that include the United States, prove the world is determined to surrender the Old City of Jerusalem (the ancient biblical city) to the Palestinians. The prophet Zechariah, in chapters 12-14, wrote about the Battle of Armageddon and the events that surround this final conflict of the Tribulation Period. According to this text, the ancient city of Jerusalem will be the focal point of the attack against Israel during the Battle of Armageddon. In this text, God revealed to Zechariah that the city of Jerusalem will be like “a burdensome stone” (Zechariah 12:3) that will ultimately crush all the nations in their conflict with God. Concerning this final attack upon Jerusalem, the Lord said, “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9).

Jesus told His disciples that when the end came, they would “be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). The nation of Israel and the Jews are hated more than any other people group in the world. For decades, the world has told Israel that it does not have the right to defend itself against lethal force and threats of annihilation. The world has repeatedly condemned Israel for retaliating against those who viciously attack them! However, it seldom condemns Israel’s enemies who attack the Jews. In recent weeks, the U.S. State department has told lies about Israel, making Israel look like the aggressor against the Palestinians. The European Union is helping the Palestinians to illegally take over the West Bank. Israel has its back against the wall. No nation, including the U.S., is standing with Israel! The Bible tells us that when Armageddon comes, “all nations” will come against Israel (Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:2).

When Israel does attack Iran, how will the world react? The U.S. Department of State and a spokesman for the U.N. recently told Israel that any attack upon Iran would be considered “illegal.” China, Russia, Turkey, and North Korea all do business with Iran. Any attack upon Iran will instantly anger these allies of Iran. It is my opinion that Israel’s attack upon Iran could trigger the Gog and Magog invasion mentioned in Ezekiel 38.

J eremiah 49:36-39 seems to hint that there will come a time when Iran suffers a great defeat that will cause its population to be scattered around the world. The Bible states that the leadership of “the king and the princes” of Iran will be removed, so that the people of Iran can eventually worship the Lord and be a part of His kingdom (Jeremiah 49:38). Could it be that the dispersion of the Iranian population would be necessary due to its land becoming uninhabitable due to radioactive materials scattered across its land? Should Iran launch a missile toward Israel, Israel has the technology to destroy that missile over Iranian airspace. If that Iranian missile is carrying a nuclear payload, it would result in the dispersion of radioactive material over its own country.

Another development should be considered. “Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major faults that cover at least 90 percent of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive” (www.wikipedia.org). If Tehran would suffer an earthquake of 7.0 or greater, geologists estimate that more than one million people in Tehran would be killed.

Iran’s nuclear facilities are spread out in many locations. They are entrenched in bunkers deeply buried under the mountains of Iran. The Iranians have chosen this kind of construction to protect their nuclear sites from powerful bunker-busting bombs. However, this would also make them very vulnerable to powerful earthquakes. Perhaps in His time, the Holy One of Israel will choose to display His power and destroy these weapons that have been designed to destroy the Holy Land, the Holy City, and His chosen people. God has given His people the following promise, “Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. … No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:15, 17). According to Ezekiel 38:18-20, a powerful global earthquake will be used by God to stop the invasion of the Russian/Islamic coalition in the last days.

Friends, I believe we are witnessing the final events at the end of the Church Age. The events happening in Israel and around the globe are shaping our world for the lawless one – Satan’s Antichrist – to appear.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to be wise. We shall soon stand before our blessed Lord Jesus. When He comes, He will be our judge. Are you ready for His judgment? We need to be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

If you are not saved, please do not hesitate to call upon the Lord for salvation. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Do not delay. Give your life to Christ now before it is too late. Listen to this warning that will accompany the coming of the Antichrist. “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). People do not come to Christ because they love their sinful pleasures too much. They do not want to give up their immoral lifestyle, drugs, alcohol, or other things that displease God. Do not let the love of sin stand between you and spending eternity in heaven!

All sin is an offense to our holy God! He hates sin! Sin does bring temporary pleasure. However, it carries a heavy death penalty. The Bible declares, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). There is only one way to receive eternal life and to escape the penalty of sin. Jesus exclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Eternal life does not come through a church or religion. All our work or efforts cannot take away our sin. The Bible says, “For by grace [the mercy of God] are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Why not cry out to God and ask Him to save you? He is waiting for you to come to Him now.

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

The Approaching Economic Earthquake

We recently witnessed the second- and third-largest bank failures in U.S. history, involving Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Will this be the beginning of a domino effect that will lead to the collapse of financial institutions around the globe?

Michael Snyder, a Christian leader who researches and writes about global economic affairs in light of Bible prophecy, recently commented, “The mainstream media continues to tell us that the economy is in fine shape, and you can believe that if you want. But evidence continues to mount that indicates that we are headed for very serious trouble.

“Inflation is out of control, home sales have fallen for 12 months in a row, large corporations all over America are conducting mass layoffs, and hunger is spreading like wildfire as economic conditions rapidly deteriorate. … A major economic meltdown has begun, and it will eventually get a whole lot worse. We aren’t just witnessing the end of an economic cycle. What we are witnessing is the end of a deeply corrupt, deeply flawed system. The greatest debt bubble in the history of the entire planet is starting to burst, and the whole world will soon be experiencing severe pain as a result” (Michael Snyder, The Economic Collapse Blog, March 13, 2023).

According to the Bible, the opening months of the Tribulation will include global wars, terrorism, famine, hyper-inflation, and earthquakes (Revelation 6:1-17). The food crises will become so severe that a couple loaves of bread will cost an entire day’s wage (Revelation 6:6). In some parts of the world, this is already a reality. In the U.S. our affluence has somewhat sheltered us from what is taking place in other countries. However, it will soon catch up to us. Now is the time to prepare for the financial storm that will brew until Jesus comes.

Presently, more than 30 countries, including the United States, have unsustainable debt. The world is teetering on the edge of an economic collapse and one major event could trigger it all. A financial collapse in the U.S. would trigger a global financial meltdown, because the U.S. is the largest consumer of commercial goods. It is only a matter of time before this occurs. We are facing a situation like the world has never seen before. Our world is in dire straits.

Rejoice with me that our hope is in the Lord, not our money. “In God we trust.”

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March 2023 – Deadly Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

a Harbinger of Things to Come

PTNews

P r o p h e tic Truth in the N e w s

October 2024

   Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

Download this Newsletter

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

P.O. Box 67, Boones Mill, VA 24065

The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

“Behold, I [show] you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

By Mike Wingfield

Deadly Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

– a Harbinger of Things to Come

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in [different] places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginning of sorrows.”–Mark 13:8

By Mike Wingfield

God’s eternal time clock in heaven is ticking. The time when He will supernaturally intervene with His judgments of wrath against the wickedness of man is rapidly approaching. In the Bible, this time of God’s judgment is called “the day of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:2), or the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21). This time will follow the Rapture of the Church and it will last for seven years, ending with Christ’s supernatural visible return to earth “with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).

The Bible is filled with many warnings concerning what will unfold during the Tribulation. Hundreds of passages sound the warning of this approaching global time of trouble. For years I have been in awe of these warnings that help us to define the nature of the Tribulation and understand the developments that will unfold during this unprecedented time.

Jesus informed His disciples that the Tribulation would begin at a time when the world would be experiencing a time of global wars and conflicts, earthquakes, severe food shortages, pandemics, and increasing lawlessness (Luke 21:9-11). Obviously, we are now experiencing a marked escalation in all these occurrences.

Jesus said that the prelude to the Tribulation would be manifested by an increase in the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes. Furthermore, He warned that these earthquakes would occur around the world in different locations. An examination of the geological records of the last 120 years indicates that this is exactly what is taking place. Every 30 days, our world is experiencing an average of 6,500 earthquakes that measure 3.0 or greater on the Richter scale. History shows that 19 of the 20 largest earthquakes ever recorded in the world happened in the last 100 years. Six of the largest recorded earthquakes have happened in my lifetime! Without question, we are the generation that is experiencing the final geological upheaval of our world, and the worst is still yet to come!

On February 6, 2023, Turkey experienced the deadliest earthquake of this relatively new century. Within a matter of hours, it was hit with 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes. These earthquakes captured the attention of the entire world. Currently, it is reported that more than 50,000 people have been killed by these quakes, hundreds of thousands were injured and left homeless. The pictures and videos of the devastation and immense suffering coming from this region have touched our hearts.

The Bible teaches that everything, including these catastrophic earthquakes, is under the divine control of the Lord God. He is directing the affairs of His creation to its desired end. The Bible makes it clear that He is in control of volcanoes and earthquakes. They are the evidence of the hand of God on earth. In Isaiah 2, the Bible declares that when the end of time comes, God will rise to “shake terribly the earth” (Isaiah 2:19, 21). Later, in Isaiah 13:13, the Lord said, “I will shake the heavens and the earth.” Psalm 104:32 says, “He looks on the earth, and it trembles, he touches the hills, and they smoke.”

God controls earthquakes and their timing performs His will. This happened at Jericho in the days of Joshua (Joshua 6:1-20). Powerful earthquakes accompanied the death and resurrection of Christ (Matthew 27:50-52; 28:2). Paul and Silas were set free from prison by a powerful earthquake in Philippi at the right moment in time (Acts 16:26). There are many more of these examples in the Bible.

God has consistently used earthquakes as a part of His divine judgment. The divine global destruction that produced a global flood in the days of Noah featured a massive earthquake that shook the world. God told Noah that due to man’s wickedness, He would “destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:13). Genesis 7:11 reported the fulfillment of this warning, “the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” This massive global geological upheaval continued for 150 days (Genesis 7:24-8:1). The earthquake encircled the globe creating a seam like a baseball. These cracks on the earth are still evident today. Geologists have mapped out these fissures which have formed tectonic platelets and deep canyons or trenches in the ocean. See the map above. All these scientific findings give proof of the biblical record in Genesis 6-7.

A study of the prophetic Scriptures indicates that the seven-year Tribulation Period will be characterized as a time of massive global earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. They will be greater than anything ever experienced on earth. Near the beginning of the Tribulation, a global earthquake will strike the earth, causing “every mountain and island [to be] moved out of their places” (Revelation 6:14). This simply means the geological coordinates of earth’s surface will be altered. Concerning these global earthquakes, Isaiah 24 states, “The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is [thoroughly cracked], the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, …. It shall fall, and not rise again” (verses 19-20). This means the surface of the earth will be greatly altered so that, like the pre-flood earth, it will not look the same.

The greatest earthquake will take place at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns to earth at His revelation during the battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 14:1-5). Concerning this earthquake, the Apostle John wrote, “And there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city [Jerusalem] was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell … And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” (Revelation 16:18-20).

Scriptures indicate that many of these global earthquakes at the end will be accompanied by massive volcanic upheavals (Isaiah 24:6; Ezekiel 38:22; Revelation 6:12; 16:21). These earthquakes and volcanic eruptions will be centered in the Middle East and especially the land of Israel.

After examining the biblical prophecies about the future earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and the geological locations of the recent earthquakes in Turkey, I am convinced these recent quakes are the prelude to the Tribulation.

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are occurring along geological fault lines that connect them with many of the future earthquakes that will rock Israel in the last days. See the map on this page. Let us examine the evidence.

All the biblically recorded earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that will occur during the last days in the Middle East and Israel will take place along The Great Rift Valley. The Great Syrian/African Rift Valley begins in Syria along the border with Turkey, and extends for 4,300 miles through Israel, the Red Sea, and into the African continent. This geological crack begins where the earthquakes just occurred in Turkey and Syria and goes south, following the Jordan River Valley, through the Sea of Galilee and into the Dead Sea area. It continues south thorough the Arava Desert in Israel and into the Red Sea and then southwest into Africa. (See the map on this page.)

Many earthquakes recorded in the history of Israel in the Scriptures took place along this Great Rift Valley. Jerusalem, the site of many earthquakes in history and prophecy, is located about 15 miles west of the Rift Valley and the Dead Sea, the lowest point of this fault line. Many geologists have concluded that this Great Rift Valley is one of the most dangerous earthquake fault zones in the world.

Israeli geologists have carefully studied the history of this fault line along the Rift Valley. They know that it produces a major earthquake in Israel about every 100 years. The last major earthquake in Israel was 96 years ago in 1927. The one before that was in 1837. So, Israeli geologists are warning their people that they are due for the big one. These quakes in Turkey and Syria are sending them a warning of the possibility that a quake is imminent.

According to the prophetic Word, the next big earthquake could be the one connected with the Gog and Magog war in Ezekiel 38. The invasion involving Russia, Turkey, and Iran, and other radical Islamic nations, will take place near the Golan Heights along Israel’s border with Syria and Lebanon. According to Ezekiel 38:18-22, God will strike this area along the Rift Valley fault line with a powerful earthquake that will shake the entire world. This quake will cause “every wall [in Israel] to fall to the ground” (Ezekiel 38:20). It will also trigger the eruption of ancient dormant volcanoes in the region (Ezekiel 38:22). The volcanoes will erupt and spew out magma [symbolically described in the Bible as the blood of the earth – Isaiah 26:21], hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Ezekiel 38:22).

This horrific cataclysm will confuse the invading armies causing them to kill one another. The timing of this geological upheaval will be viewed by many nations as a divine response to this invasion by Israel’s enemies. In Ezekiel 38:23, God says, “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” This supernatural defeat of Israel’s enemies will be compared to the defeat of Pharaoh and his armies at the Red Sea (Jeremiah 16:14-15). God says, “So I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7).

I have calculated that the recent earthquakes in Turkey were about 300 miles southwest of Mount Ararat, where the Ark landed five months after the flood began (Genesis 8:4). Mount Ararat is located along a major fault line along Turkey’s eastern border with Armenia. This fault line connects with the Rift Valley fault line where the recent earthquakes took place. Mount Ararat is also an ancient volcanic mountain. Its last major eruption occurred in 3,000 B.C., about the time of the great global flood.

Therefore, geologically, and biblically, Mount Ararat is connected to the future geological upheaval of the last days. Jesus told us there would be connections between the last days and the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37). The last actions of Noah took place on Mount Ararat where the ark landed. How fitting that the location of the ark’s resting place is connected to the upheaval of the final global judgment of God at the end of this age!

Furthermore, I have calculated that the geological upheaval mentioned in Ezekiel 38 is about 300 miles south of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. It is of interest to note that the southernmost end of the Great Rift Valley in Africa has been showing signs of upheaval in the crust of the earth for a couple of decades. Hundreds of miles in Africa are opening up and exposing a crevice that follows the fault line. See picture on page 5. Therefore, both ends of the Great Rift Valley are showing the geological pressure being applied to this fault line beneath the earth. Obviously, this indicates that great pressure is escalating along this fault line, especially in the weaker fault areas of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Therefore, the probability of a great earthquake in Israel is imminent.

Israeli geologists are concerned that a big quake is overdue. The Scriptures indicate there are many earthquakes that will follow in quick succession along this fault line. They include the Gog and Magog quake in Ezekiel 38, which will take place very near the time of the Rapture. At the middle of the Tribulation a major earthquake in Jerusalem will kill 7,000 people (Revelation 11:13). This earthquake will be connected to the Antichrist’s murder of the two Jewish witnesses in Jerusalem. The final earthquake at the end of the Tribulation will occur near and in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-10; Revelation 14:20; 16:19).

Many of the passages that mention the massive earthquakes that will occur along the Great Rift Valley during the Tribulation, also include volcanic eruptions. An examination of the Great Rift Valley fault line will show that there are many ancient dormant volcanoes that follow this fault line. They are found in Turkey, on the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and in Africa.

I am convinced that the description of the events connected with the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 14:14-20 relate to the massive earthquake that will occur at the time of Christ’s revelation. This earthquake will trigger an eruption of the ancient dormant volcanoes north of the Jordan Valley. When that happens, it will create a river of blood [magma] that will flow to the level of the horses’ bridles for about 200 miles. Notice that Revelation 14 tells us that this will take place when the angel of God “which had power over fire” (verse 18) thrusts His “sickle into the earth” (verse 19).

This would also help us understand how some of the forces of the Antichrist will be killed in a very unusual way. Zechariah 14:12 says that their bodies will be suddenly consumed while they are standing on their feet. This judgment is clearly described in Psalm 58:6-9 and Psalm 68:2. This is what happens when bodies come in contact with a flowing river of magma at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Not all the forces of the Antichrist will die in this manner. Some will die on the mountains in that area where the Battle of Armageddon will unfold (Isaiah 34:2-3). These bodies will decay and stink and be eaten by the birds mentioned in Revelation 19:17-18. However, those who die in the valley where the river of magma will flow, will be killed instantly as described inZechariah 14. Some have said that Zechariah 14 is speaking of some kind of nuclear war. However, if that were to happen, then all of the bodies in the area would be melted away. That will not be the case. The forces of the Antichrist that are on the mountains will just drop dead and their bodies will decay and be devoured by birds. This is the only natural and literal interpretation that satisfies all that the prophetic details.

Friends, these earthquakes in Turkey are harbingers of what is coming during the Tribulation Period. The earthquakes in Turkey were felt in Israel, especially in northern Israel along the fault line of the Great Rift Valley. These quakes were also felt in Jerusalem. Muslims have reported that some minor damage took place at the Muslim structures on the Temple Mount. They reported “that pieces of mosaics containing anti-Christian verses from the Koran began falling off the façade of the Dome of the Rock” (Israel 365 News, February 7, 2023). Without question, this is the hand of God!

We need to answer a question that some people are asking, “Why would God judge mankind with these massive deadly geological catastrophes in the last days?”

First, God is using these earthquakes to humble mankind and to bring a remnant to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 2:10-22, the Lord states that He will “shake terribly the earth” in the last days to humble mankind (verses 11-12). As a result, “the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day” (verse 17).

The earthquakes of the last days will be centered in the Middle East. God will not only punish the enemies of Israel that have opposed God’s will for them to occupy His land, but He will also pursue a remnant among the Muslims to bring them to salvation. Many Muslims are testifying that Jesus is currently appearing to them in dreams and visions. Thousands are coming to Him and being saved. These quakes in the Middle East are shaking the world of Islam. In their humble state, they are open to the gospel of salvation.

Jesus is opening the spiritual prison door and setting Muslims free from the slavery of Islam. In His last visit to Nazareth, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2. He said that His Father had sent Him to “bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).

However, God will also send these global upheavals to judge the wicked, primarily in the West. Unlike the Islamic world, most people in the West have had an opportunity to hear the gospel.

The entire chapter of Isaiah 24 deals with the description and causes of the devastating global earthquakes that will come upon the earth in the final years of this age. After speaking of the complete destruction associated with these quakes, the prophet declares the reason for God’s wrathful judgment. The massive global upheaval will take place “because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, [and] broken the everlasting covenant” (verse 5). Here, the Lord declares that He will strike the earth because mankind has spiritually altered the very purposes for which mankind was created. They are defiantly disregarding the moral boundaries contained in His laws that He gave to Israel at Sinai – the 10 Commandments. They have exchanged the ordinances [truth] of God for lies (see Romans 1:25). They have broken the “everlasting covenant” – they have defiled and seared their God-given conscience (compare Romans 1:18-23). It is apparent that we have now arrived at such a time on this earth. Mankind has reached the spiritual point of no return. He is about to reach the ultimate climax of his defiant and blasphemous rebellion against God. They will reject God’s Son, Jesus, and worship the devil’s messiah – the Antichrist.

Friends, I am convinced that the earthquakes that just took place in Turkey and Syria are a harbinger of the approaching geological upheaval that is becoming more imminent with each passing day.

If you are not saved, you need to seek the face of God, repent of your sins, and call upon Him for salvation. You need to do this TODAY! A spirit of spiritual darkness has permeated America. Please call upon Him while you can. The time is short.

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

A recorded message that is very similar to this article is on our website, www.ptnews.org. The title of the message is, “Earthquakes and the Beginning of the End.”

A Powerful Movement of the Holy Spirit

Many of us have been praying for a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit over a godly remnant of God’s people in these last days. In recent weeks, attention has been focused on an unusual time of worship, confession, and repentance of the student body at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. At the end of a regular chapel service on February 8th, some students refused to leave and joined together in a spirit of revival – including worship and confession of personal sins. More and more students began to join them. This time of praise continued for 24 hours a day for almost two weeks.

News of this movement began to quickly spread. Eventually more than 22 other college campuses in different states began to imitate what was happening at this Christian campus in Kentucky. Other people, numbering more than 50,000, began to pour into the little town in Kentucky, overwhelming the restaurants and hotels. Conditions became very crowded at the college chapel. Overflow rooms were created to accommodate the swelling response from outside the campus. A large screen was erected outside, and hundreds joined the worship that could not get into the chapel.

Some people have questioned if this is a real genuine revival. Nevertheless, it is obvious that what has and is happening in the lives of these young people is genuine. We should rejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit and continue to pray that this revival spirit will continue and manifest a pure spirit of repentance and salvation across a part of America.

America is in desperate need of a real revival. I personally believe that America has reached a point of no return and there will not be a national revival. However, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit among a remnant is an act of grace and mercy from God to prepare the hearts of many who may soon stand before the Lord at the Rapture in the immediate future. Perhaps it is a sign that the Rapture is upon us. Maybe this is a final call from our faithful and gracious Lord in these last days.

In light of the explosion of wickedness and the spirit of rebellion and confusion among our youth here in America, this movement in Kentucky and other places is a real breath of fresh air. Praise the Lord for what He is doing!

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February 2023 – Israel at the End of Days

PTNews

P r o p h e tic Truth in the N e w s

October 2024

   Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

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(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

P.O. Box 67, Boones Mill, VA 24065

The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

“Behold, I [show] you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

By Mike Wingfield

Israel at the End of Days

“This people have I formed for myself; they shall [show] forth my praise.”

Isaiah 43:21

By Mike Wingfield

The ever-changing developments in the Middle East, particularly Israel, seem to indicate that God is setting the stage for His unique time of global judgment. This time that we are marching toward is called “the Tribulation.” And before it begins, God will supernaturally remove his church from the world. That means as believers, current events indicate we should be living in anticipation of the sudden Rapture of the church! Will this be the year that Jesus comes? Only time will tell.

Since Jesus ascended back to His Father in heaven almost 2,000 years ago (Acts 1:9), believers have been looking for Jesus’ return as He promised (John 14:3). As the early church believers moved through the decades following Jesus’ ascension, the apostles exhorted the believers to be looking for His imminent return. When the apostle John wrote the final book of the Bible, Revelation, Jesus repeated His promise, “I come quickly” (Revelation 22:12, 20).

A detailed study of the prophetic Scriptures points to an exact setting that would unfold at the end of this age. At the center of those events is God’s chosen nation of Israel. According to God’s eternal plan recorded in the Bible, the Jewish people, and the land that He gave unto them will be the epicenter of the dramatic and deadly events of the last days. God has chosen His people and His land to display His sovereignty and glory to all the nations at the end of time. The prophet Isaiah wrote about Israel’s central role in God’s eternal plans in his amazing prophetic book. In chapters 41-44, Isaiah portrays Israel as His servant and says that He will protect and use as His witnesses and servants at the end of days.

The nation of Israel is God’s prophetic time piece. God’s eternal story of redemption is bound up in Israel’s people, land, customs, and religious feasts. At the center of God’s focus is His land and His people – Israel. They are “the apple [pupil] of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8). God has placed the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem at the geographical center of the earth (Ezekiel 5:5).

Obviously, as Jesus said, no one can know “that day and hour” of His coming (Matthew 24:36). However, in His Parable of the Fig Tree, Jesus informed His disciples that when one examines all the prophetic pieces of the puzzle, he will be able to discover the season [general time frame] of His coming. He simply promised that the generation that witnesses all the prophetic pieces of the approaching Tribulation Period coming together will not all pass off the scene until the end comes (Matthew 24:32-34). It is my firm belief and conviction that we are that generation.

My heart aches as I watch events unfolding in Israel. After many years of examining the prophetic Scriptures, I am convinced that we are watching final events fall into place that will usher in the Tribulation Period. The storm we call the Tribulation Period is approaching and that means believers will soon be in the arms of Jesus in the Father’s house.

Israel’s has a newly-elected government that is biblically conservative. In Israel’s modern history, since its rebirth in 1948, it has always been governed by a secular government. The turmoil and division that have erupted since this conservative government was formed is Israel compels me to believe that the Tribulation is near. Clearly, Israel is a sharply-divided nation, and the divide is between the Israel’s mostly secular population, and the very conservative religious groups. These conservative group’s support Israel’s unique role in world history, as spelled out in the Bible. Israel has existed for 75 years and this is its 35th government.

In the last few decades Israel, just like America, has been sliding further away from God and toward the liberal political left. The previous Israeli government was one of the most liberal, secular governments in Israel’s modern history. Many of the people who were in positions of leadership were anti-Zionists. That simply means they did not view, nor did they support the idea that Israel is a Jewish nation.

The liberal policies of the former government, especially in its last few months, were very damaging. A mostly a care-taker government headed by Prime Minister Yair Lapid sent a shock wave throughout Israel. Therefore, in this last election, the nation voted in a biblically conservative government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For the first time ever, the religious parties in Israel garnered enough votes to create the largest political parties to form a new government with Netanyahu’s conservative party.

This new government intends to lead the country according to the mandates given to the Jewish people in the Bible. Israel Today declared, “Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is back and eager to lead Israel including making the Bible a central part of Israeli society” (Israel Today, December 30, 2022). At the center of these plans are the two leaders of their religious parties, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Both men are being demonized by the liberal Israeli society and the global media and governments. “The two men’s combined goals are to strengthen Israel’s character as the Jewish state by taking steps, among others, to increase security against terrorism, as well as criminal violence, open the Temple Mount to Jewish worship and increase and consolidate the presence of Jewish residents in the towns and cities of Israel’s biblical heartland – Samaria and Judea” (Israel Today, December 22, 2022). Get ready for a great storm of hate and rejection that will be hurled against Israel. It is coming!

Clearly, the spiritual wars between God and Satan, and between good and evil, are heating up. Psalm 2 tells us that the godless people of the world will violently oppose God and demand that a godless one-world government be formed. The world will reject God and His Son, the Messiah (Psalm 2:2). People of the world will refuse to bow to God’s Word, and especially His commandments. They will demand to be set free from their binding truth and authority (Psalm 2:3). The new Israeli government will be the bullseye of this war. At the center of this war will be the law of God, the land of God, and the will of God.

As we move through the days until Jesus comes, I am convinced there are seven major developments that we need to watch concerning Israel and the end of days. I can promise you that 2023 will become an increasingly difficult time for Israel as these developments continue to unfold. Let us look at them.

1. The Increase in Anti-Semitism

One of the most prevalent signs of the last days is the global hatred for Israel. According to the Bible, when the end comes, the world will hate Israel and be zealously plotting its destruction. Speaking to His Jewish disciples on the Mount of Olives, Jesus said, “Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). This is the proverbial canary in the coal mine for the world. It clearly warns that danger and the end are near!

Satan’s attack upon Israel and the Jewish people is in essence an attack upon God and His eternal purposes. If Satan can destroy Israel or annihilate the Jewish people, He will have defeated God. From the beginning of time, he has made this his aim. Satan heard God’s promise to Abraham. He saw the hand of God upon the Jews in Egypt in the days of Pharaoh. He saw the miracles of God in the days of Moses. Therefore, he has made it one of his major objectives to attack the nation of Israel and to kill the Jewish people in a desperate attempt to defeat God.

In the last half of the seven-year Tribulation, the global hatred against Jews will be spurred on by the antichrist. This evil global leader will make the Jewish people and their land, including Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the center of his diabolical scheme to control the world. The militaries of the world, under his control, will march to Israel at the end of the Tribulation with a goal of annihilating the Jewish people and seizing control of their land. This final attempt is what we call “The Battle of Armageddon” (Zechariah 14:2-3; Revelation 16:12-16; 19:11-21). The tentacle of lies that will draw the nations against Israel is fomenting all over the world at this very hour!

The hatred for Israel and Jewish people is escalating out of control on many American college and university campuses. Jewish students are witnessing increasing acts of violence. For the first time in the history of America, many people are attempting to hide their Jewish identity. Some fear for their lives.

Fueling this hatred are the radical Islamic communities. The minds of Muslims around the world are being poisoned by their radical religious leaders. Radical Islam spawns deep hatred and contempt for Israel the Jewish people. Adding to Israel’s dilemma are godless governments controlled by socialists and communists. And as all of this transpires, those who hate Israel have found an ally in the liberal news media. Israel’s enemies continually manipulate the media to spread their lies and deception, in an effort turn world opinion against Israel.

This hatred for the Jewish people has blinded the eyes of the godless masses, so that they do not realize they are in conflict with Almighty God. This same thing happened to Pharaoh and his mighty army as they charged after the Jewish people and marched into the Red Sea where they were destroyed by God (Exodus 14:13-31).

2. The Ingathering of the Jewish People

Just as in the days of Moses in Egypt, when the Jewish people were facing an attempt to annihilate them, the Lord used this threat to take them out of the land of their sojourning and lead them back into the Promised Land. According to biblical prophecy, this is happening again (Jeremiah 16:14-15). Because of the mounting hatred being poured out upon the global Jewish community, many Jews are expressing the desire to immigrate to Israel.

In Ezekiel 36:24, God promised the Jewish people living in the last days, “For I will take you from among the heathen [Gentile nations], and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” The past year, 2022, was a record year for immigration to Israel, with more than 70,000 new immigrants from 95 different countries. Most of these Jewish immigrants were from Russia and Ukraine. This is a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah 16:14-15.

3. The Spiritual Awakening of Jews

Another amazing spiritual development is unfolding in our world which rejoices the heart of God. Jewish people are increasingly turning to Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior. Joel Rosenberg, a prolific author of many books and a born-again Jew living in Israel, writes, “A great spiritual awakening is underway in the Jewish community worldwide, but particularly in the United States (The Rosenberg Report, November 28, 2022).

Rosenberg also reports, “A landmark study by LifeWay, the research branch of the Southern Baptist Convention, found that there are 871,000 Americans of Jewish descent who hold the same theological beliefs as Evangelical Christians. … Perhaps just as dramatic and historic is the fact that Jewish people are showing a greater interest in listening to the Messianic prophecies, reading the New Testament accounts, and trying to process the Gospel message for themselves more than ever before” (The Rosenberg Report, November 28, 2022).

Just before Christmas, Israel Today released the following report, “More than 25 prominent rabbis from Israel and abroad issued a statement calling for a renewed look at Jesus, Christians, and the New Testament faith… What we are now witnessing is the undoing of 2,000 years of Jewish rejection and animosity toward Jesus, a miracle by any estimation. For the out-and-out refusal by Jews to accept Jesus is slowly, but surely, coming to an end, as growing numbers of prestigious Orthodox rabbis welcome Jesus back” (Israel Today, December 22, 2022).

These reports represent a major sign that the Church Age is about to end. In Romans 11:25, the Apostle Paul wrote that a spiritual awakening of the Jewish people would coincide with the end of the Church Age. According to the Book of Revelation, during the first half of the Tribulation, 144,000 Jews will come to Christ for salvation (Revelation 7:1-8). These Jewish men (Revelation 14:1-5) will spread the gospel throughout the nations and win many from all nations to Christ (Revelation 7:9-17).

4. The Internal War with Israeli Rebels

According to the prophetic Scriptures, during the Tribulation, the nation of Israel will be plagued by a godless government that will be in defiant rebellion against God. According to Isaiah 28:14-22, at the end of days, a group of influential government leaders in Jerusalem will foolishly attempt to lead Israel into a peace covenant with an enemy that is sworn to their destruction. These leaders will ignore the Word of God. God calls them “scornful men” and “mockers” of God’s truth. This is the perfect picture of the former Israeli government leaders who are opposing the new Israeli government under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Lapid spoke to the U.N. General Assembly on September 22, 2022. In his address, he lied to the UN by stating that the Jewish people were ready for a two-state solution, indicating that they were ready to once again surrender a part of the Promised Land. This is a core issue with Lapid’s liberal political party and other secular Jews who are against a strict Zionist agenda for Israel. However, the election which followed in November proved that the majority in Israel oppose this godless agenda.

Since they lost the election in November, Lapid and his colleagues have continued to call for civil unrest and rebellion against the newly elected government headed by Netanyahu and his right-wing conservatives. Israel has been seeing massive demonstrations, supported by the liberal media. Seemingly, Israel is at the point of civil war. Many fear that this could lead to the eventual collapse of the modern state of Israel. However, as students of the Bible, we know this will not happen.

One of God’s major purposes of the Tribulation for the Jewish people will be to spiritually refine the nation, removing all the unsaved Jews (Isaiah 4:3-4; Zechariah 13:8-9). Concerning this time, the Lord declares, “And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me” (Ezekiel 20:38). When the end comes at Armageddon, the entire remaining Jewish nation will be saved.

5. The Growing Passion for Temple Worship

Under this new Israeli government, there seems to be a renewed passion to fulfill what the Scriptures say concerning the restoration of Temple worship on Mount Moriah – the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The religious Jews in Israel understand that the most holy ground in Israel is the Temple Mount. They know this is the only place chosen by God for temple worship (Deuteronomy 12:10-14). It was the location of all the temples in biblical times. They also understand that according to many Scriptures, they will return to the Temple Mount to build a temple and re-institute temple worship.

There will be two temples built on the Temple Mount in the future. The first will be constructed during the Tribulation (Revelation 11:1-2). Finally, a massive temple will be built upon the Temple Mount during the Millennial Kingdom of Christ (Ezekiel 40-44). This temple will become the focal point of worship for all nations (Isaiah 2:2-3).

After 2,000 years of exile from their Promised Land, the Jewish people began their return during the 20th century. The nation officially began on May 14, 1948. Within hours, five powerful Islamic nations that neighbor Israel attacked the new Jewish state. Miraculously, after 18 months of war, Israel won. However, Israel was not able to gain control of the ancient city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount has been considered the third most holy site for Muslims according to their questionable historical traditions. Therefore, the old city of Jerusalem and Temple Mount have remained in the hands of the Muslims. The Arab country of Jordan became the caretaker of this holy site.

When the Six-Day War broke out in June 1967, the Arabs once again attacked Israel, stating it was an illegal occupant of a land that had belonged to the Muslims. The land had been conquered 13 centuries earlier by Muslim invaders. After soundly defeating the Arabs, Israel took complete control of the areas controlled by Jordan from 1948 to 1967. For the first time in 2,000 years, the Jews were able to walk on the Temple Mount and freely pray at the Wailing Wall. However, in 1967, the secular Israeli government, out of fear of a major war with the Muslim world, decided to allow Jordan to retain control of the Temple Mount and maintain the worship on the site where two historical Islamic structures were located.

Since this time, the world has forgotten the historical significance of the Temple Mount. Many Arab Muslims continue to view this mountain as the third most holy site in the Muslim world. While ignoring the Bible and archaeological evidence, they stubbornly claim the Jews have no right to enter the Temple Mount area. Muslim authorities who control this mountain have a radical mindset and they vehemently oppose any Jewish or Christian activities on the Temple Mount. Unfortunately, the world blindly sides with the Muslims in this debate.

From 1967-1980, most Jewish governments ignored the many requests by Jewish groups to pray on the Temple Mount. Out of fear, many opposed any Jewish presence on the mountain. However, since 1980, several Jews have been allowed to ascend the Temple Mount.

With the election of the new Israeli government, these restrictions imposed upon Israelis are being challenged. Just days after the new Israeli government was sworn in on December 27, 2022, National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced he would enter the Temple Mount. On January 3, 2023, he quietly strolled across the Temple Mount for about 13 minutes. This simple walk across the Temple Mount by Gvir was hailed by the media as a brazenly dangerous and provocative act. Even the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden opposed Gvir’s actions, stating that the Temple Mount should be used exclusively for Muslim worship.

Stating that Jews cannot pray on the Temple Mount is like saying Christians cannot pray in their churches. It ignores all the biblical, historical, and archaeological facts that prove that the Temple Mount was a place of Jewish worship for 1,600 years before the religion of Islam came into existence.

Clearly, this is a satanically motivated effort to prevent the fulfillment of the coming of Messiah and His temple in Jerusalem. This present Israeli government is bold and passionate to claim its right to the Temple Mount. Obviously, we are now entering into a new era of conflict over the most important piece of property on the face of the earth.

Muslims know that Jewish groups are preparing for temple worship. Just last Fall, several unique red heifers were flown to Israel in preparation for the red heifer sacrifice and the re-institution of the laws of purification and dedication of temple priests (Numbers 19). Without this sacrifice, no Jewish priest could function at the newly rebuilt temple on the Temple Mount.

The struggle over the Temple Mount is about to enter a new phase. Satan and the demons of hell will do everything in their power to keep the Jews from controlling the Temple Mount. All of hell and approximately 99.97 percent of the global population are opposed to Israel’s control of the Temple Mount. However, the Lord will prevail. The God of Israel is about to display His power and authority, and as a result, the whole world will know that He is the Lord God!

6. The Struggle for the Land of Israel

The conflict over the area the world calls the “West Bank,” biblical Judea and Samaria, is also about to enter a new era of global attention and crisis. This area is the heartland of the Promised Land. In an unconditional land covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, God promised to give the Jewish people this land forever (Genesis 13:15). Most of the events recorded in the Bible took place in this area. Anyone who questions these statements does not know the biblical record.

God promised His people that when the end of this age would come, He would return them to their land. The Scriptures repeatedly exclaim that the returning Jews would be in conflict with their neighbors over this land (see Ezekiel 36:1-7).

Since the beginning of the modern nation of Israel, its secular-minded governments have been willing to appease their Muslim neighbors concerning the Jewish presence in the Promised Land. They have surrendered to the global pressure to not anger their Arab neighbors. However, this is about to change.

For the first time in its modern history, Israel has government leaders that are willing to be bold and take a stand on the promises of God. Recently, the new government stated its official policy, “The Jewish people have an exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the Land of Israel. … This government will promote and develop the settlement of all parts of the Land of Israel—in the Galilee, the Negev, the Golan Heights and Judea and Samaria” (Israel Today, December 29, 2022).

This policy has angered the Biden administration in Washington. President Biden adamantly opposes the Jewish occupation of the “West Bank” and views it as an integral part of a Palestinian State. After the Israeli government released its policy about the disputed lands, Biden said, “…as we have throughout my administration, the United States will continue to support the two-state solution and to oppose policies that endanger its viability or contradict our mutual interests and values.” Biden’s comments are in line with the United Nations, but not with God!

Once again, Israel stands in opposition to the entire world on its right to all the land of Israel. However, God stands with them, and they have nothing to fear. God has vowed “to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9).

7. The Rise of the Russian/Turkish/Iranian Coalition

According to Ezekiel 38-39, three nations will form a coalition against Israel at the end of this age. They are Russia, Iran, and Turkey. For the first time in modern history, these three nations have formed a coalition and are waging war in the Middle East. The Israeli government recognizes the nuclear ambitions of Iran as a major threat to Israel’s existence. The Israeli leadership has made it clear — defending the nation is its top priority. As you read this newsletter, Israel is weighing military options to destroy Iran’s ability to make a nuclear bomb. Netanyahu is warning that Iran is only months away from fulfilling its nuclear ambitions. This is a ticking time bomb for the world. When Israel strikes Iran, it will more than likely set in motion the attack by the Russian/Turkish/Iranian coalition. Before this happens, I am convinced that the Rapture will occur, and true believers will be in heaven with Jesus.

The prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament wrote about the conditions that would prevail in Israel at the end of days. It is very clear that these conditions have arrived.

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!