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March 2021 – The Approaching Tribulation

PTNews

P r o p h e c y T o d a y N e w s

March 2021

Published monthly

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006

The Approaching Tribulation

“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

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By Mike Wingfield

In the last few newsletters, I have tried to help us understand that our nation and world are being transformed in preparation for the events that will transpire during the Tribulation Period. I am convinced very few people really understand what will unfold during the Tribulation. I pray that God will use this article to open your eyes to a biblical understanding of what is coming. We will not be here for the Tribulation. But we need to be concerned for those who will be left behind.

Before we begin to examine what the Bible says about the approaching Tribulation, there is one very important matter we must consider – Who is God? If our minds and hearts are not focused upon what the Bible says about God, then we will reject or struggle with what the Bible teaches about the Tribulation Period. An awesome reverence of God is the bedrock foundation of biblical faith. The Bible declares, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).

The Bible speaks about our God in terms that sometimes seem to be contradictory. God loves, yet He hates. The Bible speaks of God’s salvation, but also His condemnation. He is a God of mercy and wrath. He blesses some people and curses others. How can we reconcile all of this? The answer is found in the chief attribute of God – His holiness. God is morally, intellectually infinitely good in all of His will, His ways, and His words. He is faithful. He will do what He promises. God says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (Romans 12:19).

Because God is holy, He hates all sin. He has warned us that He does not and will not ignore sin. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account therefore in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). God has promised that individuals will have their day in court with Him. They will give an account of their life. [If you are interested in more details on this judgment, order my book: Your Judgment Day – the Most Important Day of Your Life.]

However, that is not where God’s judgment ends and be-gins. The Bible teaches that God judges cities, nations, and cultures in this life. That is why He judged the world in Noah’s day, the Tower of Babel, and Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible promises that at the end of this age, God will judge all nations. This period of time is called, “The Tribulation.” Let us examine what the Bible says about this unique period of time that is coming in the future.

The Names of the Tribulation

The significance of the Tribulation is revealed in the titles that the Holy Spirit has given to it in the Bible. Listed below are only a few of these titles.

The Tribulation– The most popular and frequent title of this period is the one given to it by our Lord in His Olivet Discourse. He called it the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21). Jesus has promised all believers they will have some degree of tribulation in this world (John 16:33). However, in the context of Jesus’ discourse in Matthew, it is clear that He was referencing this period of unprecedented global troubles and sorrows. The Greek word for tribulation is thilipsis, which means affliction, anguish due to pressure, or a time of great distress. It is the picture of a person being caught in a deadly trap. The mental anguish is extraordinary to a person, because they do not see a way of escape. Ultimately, they believe this trap will lead to their death. In Luke’s record of this same discourse by Jesus, he adds that Jesus described this as a time, when “men’s hearts [will be] failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26).

The Day of the Lord’s Vengeance– Isaiah 34:8; 61:2

In the context of Scripture, this speaks of the future element of time to be considered, and especially the coming day of the Lord’s revelation when He returns to earth in all of His holy anger. God has promised that He will bring vengeance against all sin (Romans 12:19). We live in a world where people think that God will not defend His holy honor, His people, His law, or His land. Psalm 10:6, 10, declares that the wicked has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved: for I shall be in adversity. … God hath forgotten: he hides his face, he will never see it.” God is storing up His vengeance. When He unleashes it, it will be the culmination of His holy justice to man’s defiant disobedience and rebellion.

The Year of Recompenses for the Controversy of Zion– Isaiah 34:8

It is abundantly clear from Scripture that the Lord will judge the nations on the basis of how they have treated His people – the Jews, the nation of Israel, and the Promised Land (Genesis 12:3; Matthew 25:31-46). The Bible indicates that the hatred against God’s people is motivated by Satan and his demons (Revelation 12:1-17). The recurring and constant plague of anti-Semitism will culminate in the Tribulation Period and surpass anything the nation of Israel, or any other nation, has endured in all of human history (Daniel 12:1). The climax of the world’s hatred against Israel will be expressed at Armageddon (Joel 3:1-3). The Tribulation Period will be God’s ultimate fulfillment of His pledge to curse all those who have cursed His people.

The Year of My Redeemed– Isaiah 63:4

This title of the unique Tribulation Period speaks of one of God’s major purposes for it. The entire period will be a time when God heals the spiritual blindness of Israel, and millions of Jews will be saved. Moses and Elijah will re-turn to proclaim the gospel to their people and display the power of God (Revelation 11:3-6). As a result, 144,000 young Jewish men will be saved (Revelation 7:1-8). The Lord will pour out His Spirit upon His people and spiritual deliverance will take place in Jerusalem (Joel 2:27-32). The final living remnant of the Tribulation will be saved on the day of Christ’s revelation. They will look upon Him whom “they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him” (Zechariah 12:10). They will see the nail scars in His hands and ask, “What are these wounds in your hands?” (Zechariah 13:6) The Lord will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6). Every living Jew who has not yet repented will do so at that moment. And, the entire nation will consist of born-again believers, prepared for the Kingdom of God. This will be the day when the “LORD binds up the breach of his people, and heals the stroke of their wound” (Isaiah 30:26). Jeremiah 33:8 gives this promise of God to Israel, “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me: and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.”

The Indignation– Isaiah 26:20

The word indignation speaks of God’s rage, anger, and fury. This entire period of time should be seen as a time when the wrath (fury) of God will be poured out upon the wicked inhabitants of earth (Isaiah 13:9, 13; Isaiah 63:1-6; Revelation 6:17). It is chilling when a person considers the awesome fury that will be expressed by Almighty God. He will summons all the forces of power within His creation to execute His vengeance. The sheer magnitude of God’s fury goes beyond the comprehension of man’s finite and depraved mind.

It is chilling when a person considers the awesome fury that will be expressed by Almighty God. He will summons all the forces of power within His creation to execute His vengeance. The sheer magnitude of God’s fury goes beyond the comprehension of man’s finite and depraved mind.

The Time of the Tribulation Period

The Tribulation Period will follow the rapture of the church. It will prepare the world spiritually and physically for what will follow the God’s eternal plan – the Millennial Kingdom. The Tribulation is the same seven-year period that is designated as the 70th week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27). In this amazing prophecy, God told Daniel that in His plan there would be a group of 70 sevens of years, or 490 years, that would precede the kingdom of God. This period of time was focused upon Israel and her capital city, Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24). God told Daniel that 69 of these sevens of years, a total of 483 years, would elapse, and then “shall Messiah be cut off” (Daniel 9:26). Exactly 483 years later, just as God had predicted, Jesus presented Himself to Israel on Palm Sunday, and when they rejected Him, the prophetic clock in heaven stopped! The remaining seven years, the 70th week, is the same as the Tribulation Period.

According to Daniel, this final seven years will begin when the Antichrist confirms a false covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). Furthermore, this evil global leader will break his covenant at the mid-point of the seven-year covenant. All of this agrees with the New Testament teaching of the apostles.

On the last day of this seven-year period, the Antichrist will lead an all-out assault on Israel, attacking the city of Jerusalem will all of his might (Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-3). The Antichrist and all of his army will be supernaturally defeated by Jesus at the battle of Armageddon, as He returns in all of His glory at His revelation (Isaiah 34:1-8; 63:1-6; Zechariah 14:3, 12-15; Revelation 19:15-21).

The Uniqueness of the Tribulation Period

The seven-year Tribulation Period is totally unique. There has never been a time like this in the history of the nations. For thousands of years our world has lived in the age of God’s grace. This time is about to come to abrupt end. The Tribulation Period will be an age of the wrath of God. Our world and its global culture will reach a spiritual point of no return. As in the days of Noah, the world will reach a point where God’s Spirit will stop striving in the consciences of men. We see this happening today. When this happens, God judicially turns that culture over to its path of destruction to suffer the consequences of sin. This society is described in Romans 1:18-32. The Bible says it becomes godless and filled with ruthless violence. Immoral, brutality, and sheer hatred are the other hallmarks of such a society.

When men constantly flaunt their rebellion and flagrantly ignore the warnings of their conscience, the conscience is silenced. It is as is it were “seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). In essence, they have no conscience and they become unredeemable. They become like wild beasts and live immorally wicked and violent lives. Without the possibility of repentance and divine restoration, God’s only choice is to exercise divine judgment. [For an expanded explanation of this, read my book, Living in a World with No Conscience.]

The human mind cannot begin to fathom the horrors of the Tribulation Period. Speaking of this time frame, Daniel said, “… there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time …” (Daniel 12:1). 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. And except those days should be shortened, there should be no flesh saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

The emotional trauma to man during this will surpass all generations from the beginning of time. The suffering, pain, anguish, anxiety, stress, and depression will be more than the inhabitants of earth can bear. There will be constant wars, acts of terrorism, and deadly violence. The entire world will suffer great devastation due to a myriad of natural disasters – earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and famines. These cataclysmic upheavals will be made worse by other disasters caused by radical climate change. All buildings will be destroyed, including homes, hospitals, churches, and schools. Transportation systems will cease to exist, along with the utilities we rely on daily. The food chain will be destroyed and there will be no emergency systems. An overwhelming sense of hopeless-ness will pervade the globe. Spiritual darkness will permeate all communities. Lies, deception, fraud, stealing, and the breakdown of all law and order will become a common and daily occurrence everywhere. Evil will rule over good. The righteous will be hated, persecuted and martyred by decapitation. A one-world government and a global religion controlled by the Antichrist will be demonically motivated.

As this generation experiences the task of daily living with the immense growing death toll, it will be overwhelmed with the thought of being caught in a deadly trap with no means of escape. By the mid-point of the Tribulation, one-half of the global population will be dead. The task of burying the death will become mentally and physically taxing. Finally, people will cease to bury the dead (Isaiah 26:21). In their mind, everyone will seemingly be doomed to die. Isaiah described this time when he said, “Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O in-habitant of the earth. … And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in prison” (Isaiah 24:17, 22).

The Nature of the Tribulation Period

I must confess that the study of this future time is some-thing that greatly troubles me. The human mind does not want to consider such horrific matters. I am utterly stunned that our loving and merciful God has given us such detail about the approaching Tribulation Period. All of these truths about the nature of the Tribulation are warnings to man from the heart of a gracious God. It is sad that we live at a time when most pastors do not preach on hell or the Tribulation Period. Their silence is not golden. It is a sin. God warned Noah of the approaching flood so that he and his family might be saved from the wrath that was about to come. God has told us of the Tribulation Period so that we might warn this generation to flee from the wrath that is coming. Where are the voices of warning?

The Tribulation Period should be viewed as the final phase of a war within the spiritual realm. … It is a war between the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jesus) and the roaring lion from hell (Satan).

Contemplate these verses:

Jeremiah 10:10– “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.”

Isaiah 13:6-9– “Howl ye, for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travails: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.”

The Tribulation Period should be viewed as the final phase of a war within the spiritual realm. The Scriptures, from as far back as the fall in the Garden of Eden, speak of this war between the good and evil angels. It is a war between the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jesus) and the roaring lion from hell (Satan). At the mid-point of the Tribulation, this war will reach its climax in heaven. Read Revelation 12:7-10. Satan and his demons will be cast out of heaven forever. Consequently, he will concentrate his war effort against God by escalating his attack upon Israel and all of the godly inhabitants on earth. At this point, the Holy Spirit caused John to give this terrifying warning, “Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time” (Revelation 12:12).

The inhabitants of earth will be caught in the middle of this war in the spiritual realms. The wrath of God will be poured out upon the earth. In addition to this, Satan is adding his wrathful and desperate attack upon all that is meaningful to the Lord. From Satan’s perspective as a murderer (John 8:44) and destroyer (Revelation 9:11), he does not care about human beings, especially those who are saved. He will especially attack the future generation of Jewish believers that will fulfill the eternal plans of God during the Tribulation (Revelation 12:13-17). Satan will view the inhabitants of earth as worthless pawns in his war against God.

Let us briefly examine the nature of the Tribulation.

Spiritually – The Tribulation will be a time of great spiritual darkness. While speaking about the Tribulation, Isaiah wrote, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isaiah 60:2). Like the time before the global flood in Noah’s generation, the world will be completely shrouded in spiritual darkness. Here is God’s indictment of Noah’s generation, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually … The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth” (Genesis 6:5, 11-12). Remember that Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37).

The Bible tells us that, during the Tribulation, the world population will be in love with sin, wickedness, and immorality, while resisting God’s Word (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). Violence, murder, and war will escalate out of control (Revelation 6:2-4). People will be openly defiant, with disorderly conduct, and attempt to overthrow their government because they are lawless (Psalm 2:1). They will want to be free from any restraints that restrict their evil desires. Therefore, they choose to rid themselves of God, His Son, and His commandments (Psalm 2:2-3). Not only do they rebel against God, but they openly and defiantly worship demons and other materialistic idols (Revelation 9:20). They passionately resist the truth, and “[give] heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of de-mons” (1 Timothy 4:1). They will be consumed with the occult and mind-altering drugs (Revelation 9:21). They hate what God loves, and love what God hates. They will become the perfect tools for Satan in his war against God.

Demons are always looking for a person to inhabit as de-scribed above. Demons want to take control of a person and enslave him to become a pawn they can use to advance their kingdom of darkness in their opposition to God. One of the demons’ chief ways to gain control over the lives of people is to appeal to their sensual appetites (James 3:15). Both history and the Bible demonstrate that demons destroy cultures and nations by seducing people into perversions of immorality (Romans 1:24-27). The remains of ancient depraved civilizations that suffered the judgment of God are littered with pornographic images and statues.

The Bible declares that demons and their leader, Satan, will capture the allegiance of the leaders of the world. Demons will deceive these global leaders to hate Israel and believers in Jesus, and to seek for their demise.

The Bible also declares that demons and their leader, Sa-tan, will capture the allegiance of the leaders of the world (Revelation 17:2; 18:3). Demons will deceive these global leaders to hate Israel and believers in Jesus, and to seek for their demise (Revelation 12:13-17; 13:7; 17:6).

Finally, at the mid-point, Satan will indwell the Antichrist to personally direct his hellish kingdom on earth to its cli-max at Armageddon (Revelation 13:1-7).

Politically – During the Tribulation, the world will openly embrace a one-world government that will be radically controlled by a religion. This religion will have a great impact on the leaders of the world and their economies (Revelation 17:2; 18:3). This religion is known as “mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots [religions] and abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5). In Revelation 17-18, the Apostle John quotes from Isaiah 13, 47 and Jeremiah 50-51. These Scriptures point to a religion centered in the Persian Gulf area of the Middle East. I believe that the overwhelming evidence in these two chapters point to the religion of Islam. [Although Is-lam followed the book of Revelation by almost 500 years, this religion is really a revival of an ancient religion under the banner of the crescent moon that permeated the Middle East for 700 years before Christ.] John symbolically pictures the harlot riding the beast (Revelation 17:3), which indicates that this religion will control the beast, who is the Antichrist. This would mean that he would also be a Muslim. There is a reason why Islam is current-ly thought to be the fastest-growing religion in the world. This religion has great control over many world leaders, and within the United Nations. The Antichrist’s hatred for Israel and believers in Jesus is driven by the same hatred of the religion that controls him. Both of them will kill believers by decapitation (Revelation 17:6; 20:4).

Economically – When governments and people attempt to manage the resources that God has given them, while rejecting Him, it will always lead to the loss of those re-sources. The Bible says, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spends it up” (Proverbs 21:20).

The Tribulation Period will open with a time of global hyperinflation (Revelation 6:5-6). The uniqueness of life-threatening global developments will quickly lead to one of the most devastating economic disasters of all time. According to the Bible, wars, radical climate change, alarming natural disasters, pandemics, and a global drought during the first half of the Tribulation will pro-duce an economic nightmare. The most precious commodities on earth will be fresh water and food. All of the-se problems will intensify with government intervention into the personal affairs of the global population. Then, at the peak of man’s desperation, the Antichrist will intro-duce his 666 plan to control the economy of every person on the planet. This will occur at the mid-point of the Tribulation (Revelation 13:11-18). His plan will be used as a measure of everyone’s commitment to his declared divinity and ruthless control. Those who refuse to accept his policies will become enemies of the state and they will be hunted down and eliminated. Revelation 13:10 probably hints that the Antichrist will place those who rebel against him in some type of concentration camp and ultimately behead them (Revelation 20:4). At the top of his list to be eliminated will be believers in Jesus Christ (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:7; 17:6).

The Tribulation Period will open with a time of global hyperinflation. The uniqueness of life-threatening global developments will quickly lead to one of the most devastating economic disasters of all time. According to the Bible, wars, radical climate change, alarming natural disasters, pandemics, and a global drought during the first half of the Tribulation will produce an economic nightmare.

Climatically – According to the Bible, increased solar radiation (Revelation 16:8-9), alarming destructive global earthquakes and volcanoes (Revelation 6:12-14), and man’s reckless destruction of God’s resources (Revelation 11:18) will bring about a very dangerous rise in global temperatures. [God controls the sun and the geological upheavals – not man. Man will not be able to stop the radical climate change that will occur during the Tribulation Period. God has His hand on earth’s thermostat, not man!]

Many passages testify to the great heat that will be a part of God’s divine judgment during the Tribulation (Malachi 4:1; Revelation 16:8-9). The heat will be so intense that it will melt the polar caps (Job 38:22-23). The water from the huge amounts of melted polar ice will cause ocean levels to rise and flood coastal areas around the globe. The late Henry Morris, who was the founder and director of the Institute for Creation Research, stated this will cause ocean levels to rise about 200 feet. This would lead to flooding of all the leading major cities of the world that are located near the ocean to be suddenly underwater, inundating them so they would not be habitable (Henry M. Morris, The Revelation Record, p. 304).

In addition to this, near the beginning of the Tribulation, the Lord will supernaturally restrain the jet streams around the globe that control the world’s water cycle (Revelation 7:1-3). Without these powerful winds, there will be no rain. This will be the cause of the global drought during the first half of the Tribulation (Revelation 11:6).

Geologically – One of the main instruments of God’s wrath poured out upon the wicked inhabitants of earth during the global flood was a massive global earthquake. God told Noah, “Behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:13). The Lord is in complete control of His creation. The various components that make up the physical creation are the servants of God that accomplish His word (Psalm 148:8). A study of all of the earth-quakes mentioned in the Bible, indicate they are perfectly timed to accomplish God’s purposes. In the days of Noah, God opened up the earth, allowing the eruption of subterranean waters to gush upon the earth for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:11, 8:2).

Once again, during the Tribulation, God will use the geo-logical domino impact of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis to bring colossal destruction upon the earth, and to reshape the topography [land surfaces] of the earth. Jesus said that one of the signs of the approaching Tribulation Period would be the increase of earthquakes in frequency and magnitude in different places (Luke 21:11). According to the prophetic Scriptures, there will be at least three global earthquakes (Ezekiel 38:19-20; Revelation 6:12-14; 16:18-20). The earthquake mentioned in Revelation 6, near the beginning of the Tribulation will cause, “every mountain and island [to be] moved out of their places” (verse 14). In the final earthquake in Revelation 16, the islands and mountains disappear (verse 20). These earth-quakes will radically alter man’s daily lifestyle due to the complete destruction and disruption of all of the modern-day conveniences that we are dependent upon to sustain life.

The Church in Heaven

During the Tribulation on earth, the church will be in heaven (Revelation 3:10). We will be in heaven watching everything unfold from the control center (God’s throne). The book of Revelation showcases all of this. In the final book of the Bible, the church in heaven is symbolically depicted as 24 elders. Throughout the Tribulation, this redeemed group of people are described as kings and priests who have been redeemed to God “by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And has made [them] unto [their] God kings and priests: and [they] shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

Throughout the Tribulation, we will join the angels of heaven in anthems of praise and adoration as our God un-leashes His holy wrath against the nations in preparation for His approaching kingdom on earth. Read about our future praise services in heaven in Revelation 5:9-14; 11:15-19; and 19:1-8. After the first 6-seal judgments, our praise in heaven will fall silent as we will, in awe, anticipate the 7th seal judgment to be thrust upon the earth (Revelation 8:1-2). Finally, after our marriage feast in heaven as the Bride of Christ, we will return with Him “upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14).

At His revelation, Christ will complete His final destruction of the kingdoms of this world. All of the rebellious leaders of the world, including the antichrist and his false prophet, will be killed. The armies of all the nations gathered in Israel will be supernaturally slain by the spoken word of the King of kings and Lord of Lords. God will have completed His judgment against the nations and will enthrone His Son upon the throne of David in Jerusalem to rule over all of His creation.

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February 2021 – America – at War with God

PTNews

P r o p h e c y T o d a y N e w s

February 2021

Published monthly

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006

America – at War with God

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3

Download this Newsletter

By Mike Wingfield

America is at war! This is not war with an evil nation. This is a spiritual war that is being waged on American soil. If we look at America today through the lens of the Bible, it is clear that our beloved nation is at war with God. And, this war is aimed at destroying the foundation of America – our founding documents. These documents – the Declaration of Independence, our constitution and the Bill of Rights – are anchored in the truth that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” It has been this biblical truth that has provided a sure foundation for the United States of America for more than two centuries.

The freedoms and respect that Christians have enjoyed in America are built upon this very foundation. However, now we have a people and a government that are openly calling for the destruction of these founding documents. These people hate America and all that is good. At the center of their target of hate are the church and Christians. In essence, this effort is a war against God and the eternal Word of God. If these enemies of America are successful in their efforts, it will radically alter the life of the church and true believers in Jesus Christ. Friends, I am convinced we are about to witness a dangerous backlash of hate and persecution that has not existed on the shores of this nation in its entire history.

What must we do? What can we do? Where can we go? How are we to respond? These are questions that many of us are beginning to ask. In recent days, as I have thought about these questions, I have been directed by the Holy Spirit to Psalms 9-14. I encourage you to read and study these Psalms and let the Holy Spirit give you godly wisdom for living in these days. The parallels of the historical background of these psalms and our day are amazing!

These six psalms were written by King David when he was the public enemy of some of his own people in the nation of Israel. The pursuit of David to kill him was directed by wicked King Saul. King Saul wanted to kill David because he considered him to be a threat to his rule over the people of Israel.

David’s response was to run and hide from King Saul. He wrote, “In the LORD put I my trust: how say you to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may [secretly] shoot at the upright in heart” (Psalm 11:1-2).

Christians in America have become the enemy of the liberal left. Today, the American left is aligned with the Democrat Party. They have many voices in our current government and they are engaged in a war against Christianity. They view the commitment of Christ’s followers to the moral values of the Bible as being narrow minded, bigoted, and stupid. We are a threat to their sexual freedom, lawlessness, and power. At the foundation of their flawed view of life and truth is a blasphemous view of the character of God. Many of these people are atheists. The result is that these people think and live like fools. That is why David wrote, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1). The Hebrew word “fool” does not speak of an intellectual foolishness, but of a moral insanity. This word speaks of a person who lacks moral understanding. This is a person who is a rebel and is disobedient to the law of God. In Psalm 14, David gives two evidences of their foolish opposition to God. They are morally “corrupt” and “are all together become filthy” (Psalm 14:1, 3) Furthermore, their rebellion against God is revealed in their attack upon His people. They are people “who eat up my people as they eat bread” (Psalm 14:4).

Many left-wing Americans believe it is time to silence the voice of Christianity. They are blind to all of the positive influences that Christianity has had in America since its founding. Shockingly, they embrace the godless political philosophies of Communism and the violent jihadist practices of Islam. Both of these political systems greatly restrict personal freedoms and create a society of slaves. These two systems are also responsible for murdering millions of people who rejected their control. The blindness to these facts demonstrates just how deceived the followers of the political left are.

The motivating element behind all of this is hate. Hard core socialists and Muslims hate Christians and call for their death. Look at the current examples in our world. China has declared war on Christians. Since the beginning of communism in China, millions of Christians have been tortured, imprisoned, and martyred for the cause of Christ. Last year 340,000 Christians were persecuted in our world. Most of the extreme persecution has come at the hands of Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, Iran, Nigeria, Iraq, and Syria. “Every day around the world 13 Christians are killed for their faith; 12 are illegally arrested or imprisoned, 5 are abducted; and 12 churches or other Christian buildings are attacked (Raymond Ibrahim, www.gatestoneinstitute.org, January 17, 2021).

Just like David’s time, this is all happening while the foundations of society are crumbling. David wrote, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) The Hebrew word for “foundations” speaks of “the settled order of things.” The foundation of society is the biblical application of law and order, and justice and truth. When these are redefined in a culture of wickedness, it destroys the very foundation of truth, which the righteous use to rescue those perishing in their sin. The sad truth is that we are living in a culture where most people have been given up by God (Romans 1:18-32). In our godless American culture, the people have a blasphemous distorted image of God. They look with disdain upon the Christian community. And, they have no respect for the Word of God. When believers live in a godless culture like this, “what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).

The answer is – we take refuge in God. At times, we might feel like David and want to run away and hide. However, the real answer is found in having peace of mind as we take refuge in our Lord. “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).

As we watch the foundations of America collapse around us, we need to take refuge in the person and promises of God. Read Psalm 91.

1. God is the final judge.

As we see all of the injustice, hatred, and oppression of the righteous, we need to remember that the righteous Judge is coming. David thought about this when he wrote, “But the LORD shall endure for ever; he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness” (Psalm 9:7-8). Here, David looked forward to the coming earthly kingdom of God. Then, God’s Messiah – the Lord Jesus – will be judge over all the earth. Finally, justice will prevail. He has declared, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay” (Romans 12:19). When earth’s history is complete, all of the wicked will have their day in God’s courtroom. God will open His books, and they will all be judged “according to their works” (Revelation 20:12, 13). The Lord has declared, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).

2. God’s retribution upon the wicked

The nations are plotting to overthrow God (Psalm 2:1-3). However, the Lord has planned a period of time when He will pour out His wrath upon the wicked nations. In their foolishness they have dug their own graves. Speaking of the Tribulation Period, David said, “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD is known by the judgment which he [executes]: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands” (Psalm 9:15-16). The nature of God’s retribution against the wicked nations that rebel against Him is clearly stated, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup” (Psalm 11:6). The fury and wrath of God that will be poured out from the holy Lord in heaven during the Tribulation is too much for the human mind to fathom.

I think about this very often. God has given me the assignment to proclaim the truth of the horrific judgments of God in the future. He wants me to warn all who will listen of the approaching wrath of God. I know this is not what people want to think about. There is a certain sense in which the human mind does not want to entertain the graphic details of the deadly and destructive judgments of this unique period of time. I can only image what Noah must have experienced. For 120 years he told his neighbors, and anyone else who would listen, that God was going to send a massive flood and kill everyone that was not on the giant boat he was instructed to build. The people must have mused, “What kind of God would do that?” For them, it was too harsh and unbelievable. After all, times were good. “They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark” (Matthew 24:38).

3. God will give the nations the leader they deserve

The Bible tells us that God is the One who removes kings and puts them in positions of authority (Daniel 2:21). There has never been a ruler over a nation that has not been put there by Almighty God. This includes some of the most vile, wicked, and murderous leaders of the past, present, and future. We cannot begin to understand this. But, that does not matter. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, each one of the leaders of the world has been put in place by the ruler of the creation. God is orchestrating the events and governments of this planet to its final conclusion as determined by Him.

Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, each one of the leaders of the world has been put in place by the ruler of the creation. God is orchestrating the events and governments of this planet to its final conclusion as determined by Him.

In some cases, God gives a nation the ruler they deserve. That will be the case when the end of this age approaches. The Bible tells us that the people of the world will reject the God of the Bible and clamor for a ruler that will set them free from the binding moral laws of God (Psalm 2:1-3). These people refuse to believe God’s truth, but thrive on lies and deception (2 Thessalonians 2:10). As a result, God will “send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:11). These spiritually blind people are in love with themselves and their sinful pleasures (2 Thessalonians 2:12). Therefore, they seek to have a government that will be lawless. Above everything else, they seek sexual freedom. They want to tear down the foundations of human dignity of the image of God, the sanctity of marriage, and the God ordained and created standard of individual gender. The rejection of these sovereign foundations of God’s creation of mankind is an offense to our holy God.

Their ultimate dream will be fulfilled in the coming of the Antichrist. He will be everything they have wanted because he is just like them – godless, lawless, deceptive, immoral, blasphemous, and filled with violence and destruction. The late John Phillips, a former professor at Moody Bible Institute and Bible conference speaker, in his excellent commentary on Psalms, states, “In Psalms 9 and 10, David looks at the end times. Seven times in these two psalms he makes reference to “the lawless one” (9:5, 16; 10:2, 3, 4, 13, 15), the same as described by Daniel and by Paul – the man of sin, the beast, the devil’s messiah” (John Phillips, Exploring the Psalms, Vol. 1, p. 71).

As one reads these psalms and looks at our day, it is no question that our world is inviting the Antichrist to come and rule over them.

In Psalm 10 John Phillips finds 26 things about the character and career of the Antichrist. Verse 2 states that “in his pride [he will] persecute the poor.” He will bless those who have a “covetous” spirit (verse 3). The Hebrew word for covetous speaks of appropriating people’s property by violence and injustice. Clearly, this speaks of the aims of socialism and communism. A growing segment of our government is promoting this covetous spirit at this very moment [See page 7.] While calling themselves “progressives” these socialists are masquerading as those who care for the poor. The histories of both socialism and Islam prove that the leaders of these philosophies do not care about the poor, but rob people of their possessions to make themselves rich.

In these Psalms, we are reminded that the Antichrist will be filled with a boastful pride (Psalm 10:2, 3, 4). He will have no respect for man or God. He hates the poor and plots their destruction (Psalm 10:8-10). He defies God in every way imaginable. Psalm 10:4, 6 says, “The wicked [one] through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God, God is not in all his thoughts. … He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.”

Furthermore, in his defiance against God, “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity” (Psalm 10:7). Hundreds of years later, the prophet Daniel wrote about the Antichrist, “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak [monstrous] things against the God of gods” (Daniel 11:36). Today, we see a defiant arrogance in the liberal left establishment. If you do not agree with them, then they demonize you and all that you stand for. In their mind, there is no room for those who disagree with them. Instead, they have created the so-called Cancel Culture, plotting our demise to remove us from society. This is the very nature, and character of the coming Antichrist and his global administration.

The psalmist reminds us that the lawless one, the Anti-christ, will act like his father the devil, who is a destroyer (Revelation 9:11). He will wreak havoc upon the civi-lized world, bringing about destruction of cities across the globe (Psalm 9:6). Compare this with Isaiah 14:16, 17 and Daniel 7:23. As we watch the riots across America destroy parts of our cities, we are simply witnessing a warning to what is coming. While this was happening, the liberal establishment in Washington did little more than make excuses for these lawless rebels who are clamoring for more lawless permissiveness. Their goal is to bring our nation to ruin.

A dark cloud of rebellion against all that is good and lawful is moving across the political landscape of America. Those who have bought into the deception of our day are tearing down the statues and images of public figures that we held in high esteem only a few decades ago, including the statue of our first president, George Washington.

What has happened? How has this come to pass? For decades, our culture has bought into the deception and lies about America. The plotters of our demise have been sowing lies about the history of America. They are using identity politics to enrage a segment of the American society. They are using lies about race, marriage, our sexuality, and the God-ordained roles of parents to create the idea that American society is oppressive. They are calling for a revolution to be set free from what they view as restrictive laws that have been a part of the biblical foundation that has allowed God to bless America for more than 200 years. These laws are not just a part of an American tradition. They are more than that. They are laws that are supported and promoted by the eternal and changeless Word of God. These foolish revolutionists may not know it, but they are at war with God. The real problem in America is the wickedness of the human heart. Only Jesus Christ can set them free from the slavery of sin (John 8:34, 36).

Finally, Psalm 9:5, 6 speaks of the end of the Antichrist. He will be destroyed by the Lord (Psalm 9:6). Centuries later, the Apostle Paul would proclaim that the Lord will consume the wicked one “with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). With the blinding light of His glorious appearance at His revelation, Christ will simply speak the word and the Antichrist and his armies will drop dead on the mountains of Israel (Revelation 19:15-21).

With the defeat of the Antichrist and his one-world government, the reign of terror, death, and war that have marched across the face of the earth will once and forever disappear. The righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords will establish His kingdom of truth, justice, peace, and prosperity across the globe. The psalmist declared, “O thou enemy, destruction are come to a perpetual end … But the LORD shall endure for ever: He hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness” (Psalm 9:6-8). No wonder Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).

America’s war with God is part of a satanic plot to unite the world against God for the final conflict between heaven and hell during the 7-year Tribulation Period. When the end comes, Satan will have successfully deceived all nations to join his rebellion. In Revelation 13, Satan is pictured as a dragon who gives power to the beastly leader of the world, the Antichrist. Revelation 13:6-7 declares that the Antichrist will open “his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”

God is not surprised by the global opposition against Him. He is in full control and is allowing the Antichrist and all of the wicked to be “snared in the work of [their] own hands” (Psalm 9:16). Like Haman in the book of Esther, they are building their own gallows to hang themselves. When the time has come, the Lord will speak to the Antichrist and command him to “come” (Revelation 6:1). Seven years later, the Lord will gather all nations to Israel for their defeat by the sword of the Lord at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:2-3). Sadly, America is being deceived to turn away from the Lord. Our beloved nation will join hands with the wicked forces of hell that will be destroyed at Armageddon.

As American believers in Jesus Christ, it is very painful for us to watch all of this develop. If the coming of our Lord is not soon, then we will join many of our brethren around the world to face the daily persecution and hardships of those who are living in a culture that is at war with God. Modern Americans have had it easy for all of their lives. We have lived in a nation that has provided us with freedom, substance for living, and security. We have enjoyed freedom of religion and freedom of speech. All of this is about to radically change.

As we endure the hardships that are coming, we must remember that our Lord has promised us, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Bible declares, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall [grow] worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12, 13). We can take great comfort that those who suffer persecution and those who escape persecution are both in His sovereign hands. During the time of great persecution of the Christians in the first century, the Apostle Peter proclaimed, “The Lord [knows] how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Peter 2:9). Shortly after Peter wrote these words, he was hung on a cross upside down to die for his Lord.

We have lived in a nation that has provided us with freedom, substance for living, and security. We have enjoyed freedom of religion and freedom of speech. All of this is about to radically change.

Brethren, as American believers, we need to cry out to the Lord for Jesus to come. If in His sovereign will He does not come soon, the American church has some very difficult days ahead. It will be the greatest and most severe test that the believers in America have ever faced. We must prepare for this time by anchoring our souls in the Word of God. We have not been saved so He can bless us. We have been saved so we can bless Him in life and death. Our highest goal should be to glorify our Lord.

Our Lord has warned us that this day would come when the world would hate us. To a degree, American Christians have been somewhat insulated from this hatred because of our biblical foundation and freedom. But now, the time has come when we are about to experience what Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:18-25. Jesus warned us that because we represent Him and are becom-ing like Him, the world would hate us. Like our Lord, they do not need a reason to hate us. As Jesus said, “They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25). Furthermore, if they hate us, Jesus said they will also persecute us (John 15:20).

This is a real threat to the American church. Many pastors and believers in the American church have already made many doctrinal compromises to please and appease the world. If you or your church have made any compromises of God’s truth, then beware. Only those who are firmly anchored in the Word of God and are deeply committed to Jesus Christ at any cost will pass the test that is coming. It has been relatively easy to call yourself a Christian in America. That is about to change. If Jesus does not come soon, we will all pay a great price to belong to Jesus and the household of faith.

Many of us have been praying for a revival in America. It very well may be that the Lord will use the approaching persecution and hardships in America to bring about that revival. The purest form of Christianity and dedication of believers to their Lord is found today in the countries where Christians are being persecuted and killed for their Lord. In these countries, believers risk their lives to attend church. They treasure the Word of God. They faithfully witness to unbelievers, knowing that it may cost them their lives. This kind of faith is rare in America.

Whether we face persecutions, or are soon taken in the rapture, that is God’s sovereign choice. It is time to fall our faces before God and to seek His presence and power in our lives. At this time of great spiritual darkness, we can best glorify our Lord by letting the light of our testimony shine brightly for Him. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

The following words by the apostle Paul seem to be so applicable for today, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the [armor] of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in [partying] and drunkenness, not in [sexual promiscuity] and [immorality], not in strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:11-14)

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Socialism is Growing in America

Statistical data indicates that socialism is becoming more popular in America. It is being deceptively promoted by the media, Hollywood, educators, and many voices within the political establishment in America. An article by Michael Haverluck in One News Now, states, “According to a report conducted by the Heartland Institute and StoppingSocialism.com, the unprecedented 239 far-left candidates running for House, Senate and state legislative seats and endorsed by socialist organizations defeated their conservative Republican rivals in 266 contests – far exceeding their 40% success rate in 2018, when a much lower number (86) of socialists defeated their challengers.

“The three socialist groups supporting these ultra-progressive Democrats are: 1) the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), whose leading member is self-proclaimed socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), 2) Our Revolution, which supports self-professed socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and 3) Progressive Democrats of America, which has vowed to transform the Democratic Party to administer its socialist agenda” (Michael Haverluck, One News Now, December 15, 2020).

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January 2021 – The Time is at Hand

HAPPY NEW YEAR                                              PTNews

P r o p h e c y T o d a y N e w s

January 2021

Published monthly

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006

“The Time is at Hand”

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3

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By Mike Wingfield

As we embark on 2021, we must ask: “What is happening at this hour in America and throughout our world?” How a person answers that question depends upon their perspective and worldview. For example, if you are asked about your physical health, your perception and a medical doctor’s point of view may be very different. You may answer the question about your health on the basis of how you feel. However, the doctor will answer that question on the basis of his medical examination and compare his findings with basic medical facts to determine the true condition of your health.

When one considers the condition of America and our world, their conclusions will vary depending upon the knowledge they have of what the Bible says about the world and what is coming in the future. The Bible is the one and only reliable source of present and future realities. In His Word, God has chosen to give us His perspective of the true condition and future of our world. The Bible is an amazing book. In this book, God has given us a glimpse into the future. Some of the prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled. And, history demonstrates that God’s Word is impeccably accurate. So, we can say with the same certainty, what the Bible says about the future will come to fruition just as it is written. It is the Word of God. And, God says, “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Isaiah 14:24).

According to the Bible, our world is marching toward a predictable end as predetermined by our sovereign Lord and Creator. Many believe, and I am one of them, that on the basis of the present conditions in our world that the time is at hand for very dramatic prophetic events to unfold.

As a matter of fact, for 2,000 years our world has been uniquely prepared for the brief end of this age as we know it. Think about it. Our world has experienced thousands of years of history. However, according to the Bible, when the end comes, it will all unfold in a brief period of seven years – known as the Tribulation Period. The war in the spiritual realm between good and evil, and the wars and rumors of wars among the nations of this earth are about to come to a dramatic and final climax.

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