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  • September 2018 – Violence and End of Culture

    September 2018 – Violence and End of Culture

    PTNews

    September 2018

    .pdf download

    Published 10 times annually

    All Bible references are from the KJV

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

    Violence and the End of a Culture

    “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me: for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Genesis 6:13

    By Mike Wingfield

    Have you ever wondered what God sees and hears as he looks down upon the earth each day? The Bible tells us that God is everywhere present in His creation. He sees, hears, and knows everything that is happening each moment, both in heaven and earth. He knows the thoughts of every creature, both mankind and angels. (Jeremiah 17:10) God never learns. He is never surprised. He knows every person on the planet by their name. He knows everything about them.

    While speaking about the value of a person, Jesus reminded His disciples that in His divine providence, God governs and is aware of the smallest details. Jesus said not one sparrow can fall to the ground without the Father’s knowledge. Furthermore, God has every hair on the head of every person numbered. (Matthew 10:29-30) As the Psalmist said, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (Psalm 139:6) What a God! He is truly beyond our human comprehension!

    Nothing can be hidden from God’s eyes. Psalm 33:13-14 says, “The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.” In Psalm 14:2, the Bible declares: “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.” In the context of this psalm, the conclusion to God’s search is given. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. … They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:1, 3)

    In the beginning, God created everything for His glory and for His praise. How God must be grieved every day as He looks down upon the 7.6 billion people that inhabit this planet. As God gazes upon earth each day and hears all of the words, sees all of the actions, and understands all of the thoughts and motives of each human being, what is it that captures His holy attention? The answer to this question is found in Genesis 6. In this chapter, God looked out over the global population in Noah’s time. “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 magnitude of man’s wickedness “grieved [God] at his heart.” (Genesis 6:5) It was this grief that caused the holy Lord to declare that He was going to send a global flood to destroy all that were not on the ark.

    When you read God’s indictment in Genesis 6, it is abundantly clear there were two sins that God’s eyes were riveted upon each day as He gazed upon humanity. He was grieved because of their sexual corruption and continual violence. (Genesis 6:11-13) Earlier in Genesis 6 God declared: “My spirit shall not always strive with man.” (Genesis 6:3) Many Bible scholars agree this is a reference to the work of the Holy Spirit in the conscience of man. So, God was declaring that man can come to a point when His Spirit ceases striving in the conscience of man.

    The Bible teaches that a person can gradually defile his conscience to the point that it is ultimately silenced or “seared.” (1Timothy 4:2) When this happens to enough people, the culture collectively reaches the spiritual point of no return and is slated for divine judgment. A study of the context of Genesis 6, and the greater context of all of God’s revelation, indicates there are two things that defile the conscience of man – sexual immorality and violence.

    It has come to my attention that most believers, and the church as a whole, do not understand the impact of violence on the conscience. Some may grasp the impact of sexually immorality upon the conscience. However, the church has been almost completely silent in addressing the dangers of violence. It is the purpose of this edition of the newsletter to expose and address the Biblical view of violence and its impact upon our global culture in light of the Word of God.

    Most people are so selfishly engaged in their own little world that they have not stopped to assess the fact that we are living at a time of incredible global violence. In America and around the world, we are experiencing a tsunami of violence. In recent decades, the world has been made aware of the threat of Islamic terrorism. The violent images of ISIS, Boko Haram, and a host of other terrorist organizations have been broadcast across the planet by our media. The carnage of war and loss of life due to advanced weaponry of war are alarming. The growing displacement of refugees fleeing from war-torn Middle Eastern countries is creating a logistical nightmare – and it is being accompanied by the spread of global Islamic terrorism among the Western nations.

    In addition to this carnage, the dramatic increase in domestic violence is frightening. We have violence in our schools, homes, churches, airports, and many other public places. We talk about road rage, bullying, violence against women and children, and the savage brutality against the unborn. Violence is marketed as entertainment in our culture. Many Americans come home from work or school to watch hours of programming that features people being shot, stabbed, or blown up. Blood, killing, gore and sensual violence permeates the entertainment industry. Violence in cartoons, music, videos, movies, and television is helping to shape a new generation that will be more violent than the present one. As a result, increasing levels of lawlessness will permeate our world!

    Statistical data shows that there are more than 1.5 million people incarcerated in the U.S. state and federal prison systems. The United States has more people per capita incarcerated in its prison systems than any nation in the world. And, the number and costs of these incarcerations keeps increasing at an alarming rate. In 1985, the state prison systems cost $6.7 billion. Now it costs more than $60 billion.

    Before we turn to the Bible to examine what it has to say about violence, please read what a conservative secular group, The Media Education Foundation, has to say about violence in America.

    • “Research indicates that media violence has not just increased in quantity; it has also become more graphic, sexual, and sadistic.”
    • “By the time the average child is eighteen years old, they will have witnessed 200,000 acts of violence and 16,000 murders.”
    • “Media violence is especially damaging to young children (under 8) because they cannot easily tell the difference between real life and fantasy.”
    • “Most of the top-selling video games (89%) contained violent content, almost half of which was of a serious nature.”
    • The level of violence during Saturday morning cartoons is higher than the level of violence during prime time. There are 3-5 violent acts per hour on prime time, versus 20-25 acts per hour on Saturday morning.”
    • “Nearly 75 percent of violent scenes on television feature no immediate punishment for or condemnation of violence.” (www.mediaed.org)

    Let us now examine four Biblical considerations about violence:

    1. The Biblical Definition of Violence

    One of the most common Hebrew words translated “violence” in the Old Testament is “hamas.” [Note that this is the same name chosen by the terrorist group that controls the Palestinian people in Gaza. The world does not understand this, but Israel does. These people have chosen the name “violence” as a true expression of who they are. They are in the face of Israelis, threatening to murder them and destroy the nation of Israel.] The word “hamas” speaks of bringing great harm to people physically and mentally. It points to an act that is destructive, hateful, lawless, disrespectful, wicked, wild, ruthless, and/or brutal. It is usually accompanied by loud expressions of hatred. Violence is not only an act but is also verbalized as a demonstration of hatred. Proverbs 10:6 says, “… but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.”

    Violence is an action, gesture, or expression due to the lack of moral restraint. Its aim is to destroy, shame, maim, kill, or terrorize its victim. Violence is an expression of defiance and disrespect for the very basic code of behavior that the Spirit of God desires to instill in the conscience of mankind. Violence and its ultimate expression –murder – are the exact opposites of the character and nature of God. (1 John 3:11-16) Jesus said that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning.” (John 8:44) When people are moved by hatred to commit acts of violence they are acting like the devil, not like God.

    Violence and murder draw immediate attention from God. God said to Cain after he slew his brother: “… the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10) This was not an isolated reaction from God. When God established human government He instituted capital punishment as the cornerstone of governmental law to protect those who had been created in His image. He said: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Genesis 9:6) Read Numbers 35:29-34. God told Israel that the shed blood of a person through murdered defiles the land and demands divine judgment. The only way to cleanse the land was to kill the murderer.

    The 10 Commandments are aimed at a reverence for God and respect for human beings. They are the code of conduct that maintains the very foundation of life in any society. Thus, violence is the result of a total departure from this law and its author – God! In essence, that culture is in a mode of self-destruction! “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

    1. The Cultural Impact of Violence

    When expressions of violence are allowed to permeate in a culture they will create a society that is void of a godly conscience, leading to increasing levels of wickedness, lawlessness, sensuality, and brutality. This is clearly demonstrated in two New Testament passages – Romans 1:18-32 and 2 Timothy 3:1-9. Notice that these passages speak of brutality, murder, hatred, and disrespect for God and man. A part of the work of the Spirit of God in the conscience of man is to create an atmosphere of peace, respect, and submission to the rule of law that God intended to be enforced by human government. It is God’s design that the work of God in man’s conscience and the rule of law created and maintained by human government are to complement one another. (Romans 13:5) This is one of the reasons why Paul instructed Timothy to pray for those who “are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:2-4)

    It should be understood that the ability to effectively share the gospel in a culture is directly connected to the levels of respect for mankind that are promoted within that society. When violence is allowed to permeate a culture, it not only leads to dangerous times, but also the gospel is hindered. The effectual working of the Holy Spirit through the gospel is hampered because of the explosion of violence in a society which takes place when the collective conscience of that society has been seared. The conscience is where the Holy Spirit strives with lost men to convict them of their sin and bring them to Christ. When people in a culture reach a spiritual point of no return, divine judgment takes place and their consciences are darkened. (Romans 1:21) In essence, God gives them up! (Romans 1:24-27) These same rebels no longer want “to retain God in their knowledge.” (Romans 1:28) And, they become “haters of God.” (Romans 1:30)

    Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and the Seed in Matthew 13:1-23, gives us a perfect illustration of this. In this parable, as Jesus explained to His disciples, the sower is the evangelizer and the seed is the gospel. The conditions of the soil in the parable are conditions of the human heart [conscience]. The seed that falls on the hard pathway does not penetrate into the soil for germination to take place. Consequently, the birds come and snatch up the seed. Later, Jesus explained what happened to the seed that was sown in a hardened heart: “Then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.” (verse 19) Jesus explained that the birds that took away the seed (the gospel) were demons. The Apostle Paul clearly elaborated upon the truth illustrated in this parable. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, he described how some deny the teaching of the Bible and at the same time cling to deceptive teachings promoted by demons. Consequently, the lives of these people are marked by hypocrisy and a seared conscience.

    Therefore, one of the results of a culture where violence has become prevalent is the open hatred for the God of the Bible and the visible suppression of the truth revealed in the Scriptures. The growth of Islam among the nations is a clear sign that the global culture has reached the point of no return. Islam promotes violence against innocent human beings, especially the followers of Christ and the Jewish people. Their brutality and delight to terrorize people demonstrate that they do not believe that humans have been created in the image of God. Islam vehemently rejects the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    It is shocking to watch the growing number of Americans who embrace Islam while they attack the church and the teaching of the Bible. Why? Islam does not provide conviction against the unrighteous lifestyles within the godless American culture. However, the message of the Bible does bring conviction. Jesus has reminded us that this is why the world hated Him and why it will hate us. Read John 15:18-16:1. Hatred for Christians and the moral biblical values of the Bible are being openly and violently rejected in America as never before in the history of this nation.

    1. The Divine Judgment Due to the Permeation of Violence in a Culture

    A study of the Bible and human history will demonstrate that when every culture came to its end, it was always filled with violence. Look back through the pages of human history. When you examine all of the great superpowers of the past, such as the Roman Empire, it is evident that when each one came to its end, it was filled with violence.

    As mentioned above, when individuals in a culture reach the spiritual point of no return, it seems to speed up the rate of violence, hastening their divine judgment. As Proverbs 29:16 states: “When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth.” Sinners seem to embolden one another in their defiant rebellion against God and man. In other words, the increase in the magnitude and frequency of violence has a snowball effect upon a culture. As the snowball rolls down the hill, it gets bigger and gains momentum. It is apparent that our global culture is experiencing this now.

    While commenting on the violence during the days of Noah in Genesis 6:11, Matthew Henry wrote: “There was no order nor regular government; no man was safe in the possession of that which he had … there was nothing but murders, rapes, and [stealing]. … Take away conscience and the fear of God, and men become beasts and devils to one another, like fishes of the sea, where the greater devour the less. Sin fills the earth with violence, and so turns the world into a wilderness, into a cock-pit.” (Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible)

    Biblical and secular history demonstrate that violent cultures destroy themselves. Then, God sends another nation to conquer them, completing the cycle of His divine judgment.

    In essence, this divine judgment is an act of mercy on the part of God. If these violent cultures were allowed to continue unrestrained, they would become a threat to the entire global population as they were in the days of Noah. God stops brutal regimes. He visits “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate [Him].” (Exodus 20:5) We can be thankful that God in His infinite wisdom and mercy limits wickedness. God does have a toleration point! He demonstrated that when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and when He caused Israel to drive the Canaanites out of the land. Many generations later, God sent in the Assyrians and Babylonians to bring divine judgment upon His own people because of their violence and wickedness. (Ezekiel 7:23-24) Then, in turn, He caused Assyria and Babylon to fall because of their violence and wickedness.

    1. Concluding Biblical Admonitions Concerning Violence

    Violence has terrorized mankind during the entire history of his time on this earth. From the murder of Abel to the crushing forces of the Antichrist at Armageddon, violence has grieved the heart of God.

    God hates violence! When Jesus rules on this earth for 1,000 years from Jerusalem, His government will not tolerate violence. In Isaiah 60:18 God gave the following promise to His people: “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land.” Among the Gentile nations, war and conflict will not be permitted. Finally, the world will have a righteous King who will also be the judge of all the nations. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)

    The Lord exhorts His people to live at peace with everyone. “[Return] to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:17-19)

    In light of what we have discovered about violence, I would hope that you realize how serious it is to guard your conscience. We must protect our consciences by refraining from viewing or listening to violent expressions of any kind. We must not permit violence to enter our homes or minds with any level of acceptance or pleasure!

    This is a serious matter. We must guard what enters our minds and consciences through the gates of our eyes, ears, and mouth. Proverbs 4:23 warns us: “[Guard] thy heart [conscience] with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” This is especially critical for small children.

    When God looks down upon all of mankind each day and sees all of the violence and wickedness, His heart is broken. As we saw at the beginning of this newsletter, the wickedness of mankind in Noah’s day grieved God’s heart. This was also God’s reaction to the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis 18:20 God exclaimed, “the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and … their sin is very grievous.” I am often reminded of the tears of Jesus when He wept over Jerusalem and He said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37) Oh, what love! The human mind cannot comprehend the infinite love of God.

    God’s love for us was so great that He permitted His Son to suffer for us on the cruel cross of Calvary. Although Jesus “had done no violence” (Isaiah 53:9), “yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him.” (Isaiah 53:10) Jesus was “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4) Oh how the Father must love us!

    Jesus suffered the abuse and violence of a horrific death on a cross to pay for the penalty of all of our sins. He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)

  • August 2018 – Volcanoes in the Last Days

    August 2018 – Volcanoes in the Last Days

    PTNews

    .pdf download

    August 2018

    Published 10 times annually

    All Bible references are from the KJV

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

    E-mail address for general communication: mike@ptnews.org

    E-mail address for orders: Joycew5656@aol.com

    Volcanoes in the Last Days

    “And I will [show] wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” Joel 2:30-31

    By Mike Wingfield

    People around the globe, are being confronted with the reality that our planet is experiencing an unusual increase in volcanic activity. Kilauea on the big Hawaiian island continues to erupt at this time, showing no signs of decreasing activity. In addition, several news sources indicate that “A rising blob of hot rock recently detected under Vermont suggests the region might not be as stable as scientists once thought.” (www.newsweek.com, December 19, 2017) Geologists are reporting that there does not seem to be any concern this super volcano under the New England area will erupt any time soon. In addition to these volcanoes, for several years now, a few geologists have had a growing concern that one of the world’s largest dormant volcanoes may be showing signs of rumbling back to life. This super volcano is located in Yellowstone National Park, which covers portions of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Yellowstone has witnessed an increase in earthquake swarms and eruptions of geysers that indicate geothermal activity is increasing in the area. If this volcano were to have a major eruption, it would radically change the course of modern history on a global scale for many years. Once again, geologists are telling the public there is no reason for alarm. They claim that all of their studies indicate this volcano will not experience another major eruption for thousands or tens of thousands of years.

    While we witness this increase in volcanic activity, those of us who know the prophetic Scriptures need to remind ourselves and others that these secular scientists are the same ones who deny that God created the world. They also deny the solid physical evidence of the horrific consequences of the global flood in the days of Noah, which was accompanied by massive geological upheaval. Furthermore, they do not have a clue concerning the approaching geological cataclysm the Bible predicts will take place in the last days. Let us examine the evidence.

    What is a volcano and why do they erupt in certain locations?

    Scientists have identified about 1,500 land volcanoes around the world. It is believed there are many more volcanoes in the deep canyons of the oceans. Of these known volcanoes, only about 550 are active. In the last few months, 35-50 of these volcanoes have erupted simultaneously. For several decades, an average of 25 volcanoes erupted at the same time. So this indicates an increase in volcanic activity.

    Volcanoes are extremely powerful catastrophic events. For example, when Mount Saint Helens (a category 5 volcano) erupted on May 18, 1980, it released 24 megatons of energy. That is equal to the energy released by 1,200 nuclear bombs like those dropped on Hiroshima, Japan to end WW II. Consequently, we should be reminded that God has much more power at His disposal in His creation than man does with his feeble nuclear arsenal. The sheer volume of energy that will be released when the global earthquakes and volcanic eruptions strike this planet during the Tribulation Period is beyond anything we can begin to imagine.

    According to scientific data, the earth is about 4,000 miles from the surface to its center core. The crust of the earth, which contains dirt and rocks, is only 5-25 miles thick. Just below the crust of the earth are thousands of miles of a deep ocean of hot flowing magma (liquid rock). Closer to the crust of the earth the temperatures of the magma are between 1,600 and 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It is believed that temperatures at the core of the earth could be around 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Earth’s crust is literally floating on a deep ocean of magma inside of the earth. This could be compared to ice on a lake during the winter. The crust has a multitude of fractures that form what are called tectonic plates. Think of this being like the cracks in the shell of a hard-boiled egg. Picture those pieces of the egg shells like the plates in the earth’s crust. Some are small and some are larger. These fractures are weak places in the crust where most earthquakes and volcanoes occur. There is an enormous amount of pressure in the interior of the earth due to earth’s gravitational forces. Obviously, this internal force is always pushing the magma to find the weakest area in the crust. When this takes place, the pressure causes an eruption on the surface of the earth, releasing steam and magma from inside the earth. This is the mechanism that creates volcanoes.

    How are volcanoes described in the Bible?

    The word volcano does not appear in the Bible because this word was only coined about 400 years ago. However, the Bible does mention volcanoes by describing their eruption features. The Bible describes volcanoes as blood, fire, pillars of smoke, and brimstone. For example, in Joel 2:30-31, God says: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” While speaking about destroying an invading army against Israel, God said in Ezekiel 38:22: “And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.”

    In the Bible, magma is described as the blood of the earth. The Hebrew word for dirt is “adama.” The word for blood is “dam.” Therefore, according to the original language of the Bible, one can see the word blood in the word for dirt or earth. For example, Isaiah 26:21 says: “For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”

    The following description by geologist Mike Strickler supports the biblical view of earth’s magma: “Basaltic magma is like the blood of the earth – it’s what comes out when the earth’s skin is cut the whole way through. …The earth as an ecosystem is analogous to the human body.” (www.stanfordbloodcenter.org/between_a_rock_1/) Under our skin is a red flowing substance called blood. In a similar way, just below the crust of the earth is a red flowing substance called magma.

    Volcanoes are also described in the Bible as fire and pillars of smoke. Anyone who has seen the eruption of a volcano can understand that this is a perfect description of a volcanic eruption. The extremely hot magma burns everything it comes in contact with. Many times, when volcanoes erupt, the eruption is accompanied by ash that is blown upward with terrific force into the upper atmosphere. It certainly looks like smoke coming out of a furnace. Compare this with Revelation 9:2: “And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.”

    The Bible also describes volcanoes with the word “brimstone.” Brimstone is a yellow-colored stone that contains sulfur. Sulfur is one of the main components of magma that forms the rocks that accompany a volcanic eruption. Archeologists have found great amounts of sulfur rocks at the destruction sight of Sodom and Gomorrah. (www.biblicalscholarship.com) These stones give testimony to the sudden geological upheaval that took place in this region when God destroyed the wicked cities in this region with “brimstone and fire.” (Genesis 19:24)

    Are volcanoes a part of God’s divine judgment during the end-times?

    According to the Bible, our earth is moving toward major geological upheaval that will alter the planet for God’s future purposes. According to Psalm 102:25-26, the heavens and earth are growing “old like a garment.” This means that God is actively exercising His sovereign control so that the earth will geologically deteriorate, gradually breaking up like a garment, just as He planned before the foundation of the world. That means that the tectonic plates of the earth will continue to become more fragile, so that earthquakes and volcanoes will increase in frequency and intensity. This is exactly what Jesus said about the last days. While speaking about the signs of the Tribulation Period, Jesus said: “And great earthquakes shall be in [different] places.” (Luke 21:11) An examination of a geological map showing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions indicates that they are occurring along the fractures of the tectonic plates. Historical statistical data indicate that earthquakes and volcanoes are increasing in frequency and intensity.

    Near the beginning of the Tribulation Period, a massive global earthquake will trigger colossal volcanic eruptions. “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood …” (Revelation 6:12) Notice that this verse demonstrates that the earthquake created a condition where the sun and moon were darkened, which is the language describing the result of volcanic ash being blown up into the upper atmosphere.

    As previously mentioned, enormous geological upheaval was a part of God’s judgment of the earth in the days of the global flood in Noah’s time. God told Noah: “I will destroy them with the earth.” (Genesis 6:13) Genesis 7:11 and 8:2, report that God broke up “the fountains of the great deep” during the 40-day period of judgment. God used His power of nature to unleash His wrath in the past, and according to the Apostle Peter, He will do it again. “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:6-7)

    During the Tribulation Period, numerous volcanic eruptions will spew large volumes of ash into the upper atmosphere. This ash will gradually collect to form thick clouds that will block the sunlight during the day and the moonlight during the night. Early in the Tribulation Period, the ash will cause one-third of the inhabitants on earth to be in the dark during normal daylight hours. (Revelation 8:7, 12) This thick cloud will continue to grow as ash continues to pour out of volcanoes during the Tribulation. By the end of this 7-year period the entire earth will be enveloped in an eerie darkness. (Revelation 16:10) While speaking about the time of His revelation at the end of the Tribulation Period, Jesus said: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light..” (Matthew 24:29) The prophet Joel describes this unique period of time as: “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness…” (Joel 2:2)

    Many Biblical texts indicate that the land of Israel will be the center of divine geological catastrophes. At the heart of this geological activity will be one of the most dangerous earthquake fault lines in the world – the Syrian/African Rift Valley. This fault line travels from Lebanon through the Jordan Valley into the Sea of Galilee, then down the Jordan Valley through the Dead Sea, and continues through the Arava Valley and the Red Sea into Kenya. This deadly fault line is where two major tectonic plates (the African Plate and the Arabian Plate) collide with each other. This fault line has been the location of many geological disasters in Biblical history and will play a major role in God’s judgments in the end times. Geologists in Kenya were greatly puzzled that this rift valley started to split open a few months. During the first 10 days of July, there were 10 earthquakes at the Sea of Galilee and several earthquakes at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Geologists in Israel are warning their government that it is time to prepare for the big quake that is coming in Israel.

    When Russia and Iran and their Magog coalition invade Israel in the future, Israel will experience a major earthquake that will trigger some or all of the 15 dormant volcanoes that dot the landscape of the Golan Heights in Israel and Syria to erupt. (Ezekiel 38:18-22) With Russia, Iran, and Turkey already in Syria, and the earthquake activity in the Galilee area, it appears that things are shaping up for the fulfillment of this prophecy.

    At the end of the Tribulation Period, a series of geological catastrophes will take place around Jerusalem, which is only 14 miles from the Great Rift Valley. The gigantic earthquake mentioned in Revelation16:18 at Christ’s return will trigger a major volcanic eruption on the Golan Heights and Galilee area that will create a river of magma that will flow down the Jordan Valley to the level of a horse’s bridle. Understanding that the blood in Revelation 14:14-20 is the blood of the earth helps to solve a riddle that has puzzled Bible students for hundreds of years. This also helps to explain the nature of the mysterious death of the Antichrist’s army as described in Zechariah 14:12: “And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” This is a perfect description of what happens when human flesh comes into contact with magma.

    This same earthquake will split the Mount of Olives and lift up Jerusalem, exposing a major water aquifer that will produce a river that will flow out of the Temple Mount. (Zechariah 14:4-10; Joel 3:18; Ezekiel 47:1-12) At this same time, this earthquake along the Rift Valley will force the huge water aquifer under the Arava Valley to be lifted up so that it will flood the desert. Then, the prophecy of Isaiah about the desert will be fulfilled. “The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose [actual Hebrew word indicates this flower will be a water lily] … [and] in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.” (Isaiah 35:1, 6-7)

    What are God’s purposes behind the geological cataclysm in the last days?

    The Lord will unleash numerous global earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis during the end-times. Why? There are at least three major reasons for all of the geological calamities at the end of this age. First, as in the days of Noah, God will unleash His fury against the wickedness of man. Isaiah wrote: “For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.” (Isaiah 26:21) Mankind would do well to know that God is not ignoring the daily acts of violence and rebellion against Him and His law. I am often reminded of the fact that more people live on earth now than at any other time in the history of the planet. There are currently 7.6 billion people on earth. Many of them will die as a result of the carnage of the Antichrist’s wars. The Antichrist and his demonic kingdom will “devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” (Daniel 7:23) However, the majority of the world’s population will die as a result of the horrific judgments of God’s wrath poured out upon the entire earth. God revealed to the prophet Isaiah that as a result of the global geological disasters, “the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” (Isaiah 24:6) The entire 24th chapter of Isaiah gives a detailed description of the geological holocaust that will unfold during the 7-year Tribulation Period. Isaiah 24:19 says: “The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is [thoroughly cracked], the earth is moved exceedingly.”

    The second major purpose for the geological upheaval of the Tribulation Period will be to prepare the earth, and especially Israel and Jerusalem, for their role during the millennial kingdom. The earth’s surface before the flood did not have high mountains and deep valleys. “Mountains were relatively low and ocean beds relatively shallow as compared with present conditions.” (John W. Whitcomb, Jr. & Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Flood, p. 268) As a result of the geological upheaval during the time of the flood, the earth’s surface was radically altered. Before the flood the earth was probably one big land mass that made it possible for all of the land animals to travel to the ark. The prophetic Scriptures indicate that the geological destruction of the Tribulation Period will probably return the earth’s topography back to the way it was before the great global flood in Noah’s time. Isaiah points to this in his revelation about the kingdom: “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.” (Isaiah 40:4) The Tribulation Period will end with the most powerful earthquake in the history of planet earth. John describes this earthquake in Revelation 16:18: “and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” As a result of this earthquake “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” (Revelation 16:20) This certainly speaks of the formation of a uniform global topography, much like the earth’s topography before the global flood.

    The third divine purpose for the geological upheaval of the Tribulation Period is to glorify God and force man to be humbled before the Him. In Isaiah 2:10-22, Isaiah repeatedly states that the Lord will arise “to shake terribly the earth.” (Isaiah 2:19, 21) In this passage he declares the intended divine results. It will be “for the glory of [God’s] majesty.” (Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21) And, “the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.” (Isaiah 2:11, 17) In this same passage, the prophet repeatedly states that the Lord will shake the earth in order to humble man and to destroy his pride and arrogance.

    At the end of this age, many of the inhabitants of earth are living in luxury. We have become very dependent upon our utility systems, transportation systems, creature comforts, the abundance and variety of food, entertainment opportunities, and communication systems. For many, they are so independent and comfortable that they think they do not need God. Therefore, abruptly, and without warning “sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) Suddenly, life will take a horrific turn that will leave most of these people in life-threatening circumstances.

    I am convinced that Psalm 46 has been written for those who will be living through the geological upheaval of the Tribulation Period. This psalm talks about a time when “the earth be removed” (verse 2), “the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (verse 2), “the waters thereof roar and be troubled” (verse 3), and “the earth melted” (verse 6). Finally, the psalmist exclaims: “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.” (verse 8) After all of this, God declares: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (verse 10)

    During the Tribulation Period, God will strip away all of the forms of man’s modern lifestyle. Mankind will be forced to either shake his fist at God in defiant rebellion, or humble himself and be still and know that He is God. We know what they did in the days of Noah and we know what they will do in the future. They will blaspheme God and die in their sin. (Revelation 16:11)

    As volcanoes continue to erupt around the world, let us keep listening for the shout that will take us out!

  • June – July 2018 The Mountain of the Lord

     

    pic of Wailing Wall
    Wailing Wall

    PTNews
    June – July 2018
    Published 10 times annually
    All Bible references are from the KJV
    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)
    P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke,         VA 24030-3006

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    The Mountain of the Lord

     “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above all the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.”  Isaiah 2:2

    By Mike Wingfield

    There are many mountains mentioned in the Bible. On Mount Sinai, God gave the law to Moses and the children of Israel.  On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus was transfigured before His disciples. The Mount of Olives is also very significant.  It was from this mountain that Jesus ascended back to heaven, and it will be the place to which He will return at His revelation at the end of this age.   However, only one holy mountain has been selected and designated by the Lord of creation as “the mountain of the Lord.”   While looking at the larger context of Scripture, the Bible student is forced to conclude that there is no other place on earth that is more central and important to the eternal plans of God than this mountain.  God considers this mountain to be holy ground.  Both in Biblical history and Biblical prophecy this mountain is central to the eternal story of God’s redemptive plan and revelation to man.  When Jesus Christ returns to reign in His earthly kingdom, this holy mountain will be the center of His global administration.  Isaiah, the ancient prophet of Israel, wrote: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah 2:2) Therefore, it should not be a surprise that this mountain is at the epicenter of the ongoing war in the spiritual realm.  In essence, it is where heaven and hell meet to do battle on earth.  Now, let us turn our attention to the Scriptures to discover why all of this is true. Let us look at 7 considerations of this mountain.

    The Names of this Mountain

    In the first book of the Bible we are introduced to “the mount of the Lord.” (Genesis 22:14)   This is the same mountain that is called Mount Moriah. (Genesis 22:2) This was the mountain to which God directed Abraham for the sacrificial test of offering his son Isaac on an altar on the top of the mountain.  As a result of God providing a substitute for Isaac at the last moment, Abraham named the mountain “Jehovah-jireh,” which means “the Lord provides.”  Writing about 600 years later, Moses wrote that from Abraham’s time until his day, this location was known as “the mount of the LORD.” (Genesis 22:14)  Throughout the Bible, this mountain is also known as Mount Zion and “the mountain of the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 8:3)

    In modern times, the Jewish people refer to this mountain as “Har Habayit,” which is Hebrew for “the Temple Mount.”  As we shall see later in this newsletter, this mountain was the location of the Jewish temples in ancient Biblical Israel. The Arab Muslims call this mountain “Haram el Sharif,” which means “The Noble Enclosure.”  The Arabs have given this name to this location because according to their tradition, this is where Abraham was about to sacrifice Ishmael.  And, according to Muslim tradition, this was the location of Muhammad’s night journey to heaven on his white horse, Barak.

    The Geographical Location of this Mountain

    According to Ezekiel 5:5, this mountain is at the geographical center of the earth. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries round about her.” The Hebrew word that is translated “midst,” means “navel.”  From God’s perspective, this is very fitting because Jerusalem is the spiritual navel of the earth.

    The 35-acre compound known as the Temple Mount is today enclosed by massive walls that were originally built by King Herod the Great, beginning this project 20 years before the birth of Christ.  King Herod wanted to build a massive temple on Mount Moriah, the location of the first temple built by King Solomon.   He wanted this temple to be surrounded by a large plateau upon which thousands of worshipers could gather around the temple during the high and holy Jewish feast days.  To accomplish this amazing feat, he constructed retaining walls on the east, north, west, and south parts of this mountain.  See the model.  He then filled in the inside of these massive walls up to the level of the Temple built on the crown of the mountain.

    These massive retaining walls, along with the temple structure, were dismantled by the Romans in 70 A.D., leaving only a few courses of the foundation part of the retaining walls in place.  The Romans also left a small section of the western retaining wall intact to demonstrate to the world their incredible feat in the destruction of the Jewish temple.  This small section of the western retaining wall is the same as the “Wailing Wall,” which is considered to be the most holy site to the Jewish people. About 500 years ago, the Ottoman Turks rebuilt the present wall, constructing the wall upon the remaining stones from the first century.

    The Temple Mount is north of the ancient city of David, and east of the present Old City of Jerusalem.  It is west of the Mount of Olives and adjacent to the Kidron Valley.  Today, you can stand near the top of the Mount of Olives and look westward at the Temple Mount.

    Like Jerusalem as a whole, the Temple Mount is located at the top of the mountains of Judea.  In the Bible, whenever the pilgrim was making his way to the temple in Jerusalem he would need to go up. From any location in Israel, if you travel to Jerusalem, you must go up in elevation to the top of the mountains to reach the mountain of the Lord. The physical elevation of the mountain of the Lord was a reminder to the people that when you look to God, you must look up. In Psalm 121:1-2, the worshiping psalmist said: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Therefore, since the mountain of the Lord symbolically represented the manifestation of the omnipresent God, it is only fitting that God chose this mountain as the gathering place of worship for His chosen people.

    The Significant History of this Mountain

    When the Bible student studies the Bible he should note that Jerusalem is the most significant place in God’s redemptive story in the past, present, and future.  Think about the following significant events that happened on this mountain:

    -2000 B.C.- Abraham attempted to sacrifice Isaac- Genesis 22:1-14

    – 990 B.C.- King David purchased the mountain- 2 Samuel 24:18-25

    – 960 B.C.- King Solomon built the first temple- 1 Kings 6-8

    – 586 B.C.- Temple destroyed by Babylonians- 2 Chronicles 36:17-21

    – 538 B.C.- Temple rebuilt by Zerubbabel- Ezra 3-6

    –  20 B.C.- King Herod began to refurbish the temple- John 2:20

    – 70 A.D.- Temple destroyed by Romans as prophesied by Jesus

    – 691 A.D.- Muslims construct The Dome of the Rock

    – 1967 A.D.- Temple Mount is captured by Israel in the 6-day War

     

    The Heavenly Perspective of this Mountain

    The overwhelming teaching of the Bible confirms that God is omnipresent. This means that God is infinite and is not bound by space, like the rest of His physical creation.  God is infinitely present throughout all of His creation all at the same time.  As finite creatures this is very difficult for us to mentally grasp.  While speaking about God’s omnipresence, the psalmist exclaimed: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (Psalm 139:6)

    When God speaks to His finite creatures, He declares that He dwells in the heavens.  In Isaiah 66:1, God declares: “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.”  In the great chapter on the greatness of God, Isaiah 40, the prophet Isaiah points to God and declares: “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” (Isaiah 40:22)  The message of the Bible is that God is infinite and that even the finite heavens are only a comparative manifestation of the dwelling place of God, who is Spirit and does not need a specific dwelling place.

    The godly Jewish people believed this.  When King Solomon dedicated the first temple on the mountain of the Lord, he reminded the people of God’s infinite presence as he prayed on this historic occasion.  He asked: “But, will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27) According to divine revelation, the temple in Jerusalem standing on the divinely appointed mountain of the Lord was to be considered a visible manifestation of the presence and glory of God.  In the days preceding the temple, God had manifested Himself to Moses in the burning bush and later to the entire nation of Israel in the Shekinah Glory for 40 years in the wilderness.  These were real finite visible manifestations of the presence and glory of God.

    In light of this, the Scriptures repeatedly speak of this mountain as being the divinely chosen place on earth for the visible manifestation of God.  Psalm 68:16 declares: “this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in: yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.”  This mountain was set apart by the Lord (Deuteronomy 12:9-14) and is viewed as being “holy” unto the Lord. (Isaiah 11:9; Zechariah 1-3)  This mountain is called God’s “holy habitation” (Exodus 15:13) and “the mountain of thine inheritance.” (Exodus 15:17)

    Some may think that these references only have application during the times of ancient Israel.  They may conclude that Jerusalem is of no special significance during the Church Age.   However, please note that Jerusalem is still destined to be the place of God’s manifested presence in the Tribulation Period and during the Millennial Kingdom.  Even when Jesus the Messiah is present on His throne in Jerusalem, the mountain of the Lord will still be symbolic of the manifestation of the infinite presence of the triune God.

    The Prophetic Relevance of this Mountain

    The most glorious and significant days for Jerusalem and the Mountain of the Lord will take place during the last days.  At the beginning of the final seven years at the end of this age, two Jewish witnesses (Moses and Elijah) will appear in Jerusalem.  (Revelation 11:3-11)  These two witnesses will proclaim God’s Word and perform miracles before the nation of Israel. They will be divinely protected so than no man can harm them. Through the impact of their message, 144,000 young Jewish men will be saved, sealed, and trained to go out from Jerusalem with the gospel message to all the nations. (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-5)  Similar to the Jewish Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago (see Acts 2), God will once again pour out His Spirit upon the Jewish people and the Word of Lord will go forth from Jerusalem. (Joel 2:27-32)  The temple in Jerusalem will be built and temple worship will be restored during the first half of the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15, 26; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1-2)

    Today, several groups in Israel are actively making preparations for temple worship.  Through DNA analysis, some men have been identified as belonging to the priestly tribe of Levi and are being trained in temple worship.  The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has constructed more than 90 of 120 items that are necessary for worship in the temple as described in the Bible.  It remains to be seen if these preparations will be acceptable to the Lord, or if the two witnesses, Moses and Elijah, will set forth a more divinely acceptable pattern when they appear at the beginning of the Tribulation Period.

    During the Millennial Kingdom, the mountain of the Lord will be the center of the Messiah’s rule over all the nations.  It will become the spiritual, political, judicial, educational, and geographical hub of the world.  (Isaiah 2:1-4; Ezekiel 5:5)   All nations will be required to annually go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-21)  Finally, Mount Zion will shine forth with righteousness “and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.”  (Isaiah 62:1)  For the glory of God, the Lord will establish Jerusalem, making it “a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:7)  The nations of the world will honor Jerusalem and call it “The City of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 60:14)

    The Jewish Attachment to this Mountain

    Because of the historical, heavenly, and prophetic significance of this mountain, there is a high value placed upon the city of Jerusalem and this mountain by the global Jewish community.  “According to Biblical law and understanding, the holiness of the Temple Mount is unlike that of any other physical location on earth.  For the Jewish people, there simply is no other holy site.  Nothing else, no synagogue, house of study – even the [Wailing] Wall – could be compared to this level of sanctity.” (www.templeinstitute.org)   The world needs to come to grips with the reality that the Temple Mount belongs to the Jewish people and it is the heart and soul of the Jewish people.

    When Jewish people go to Israel they immediately travel to Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall (same as the Wailing Wall). This is the only standing monument to the remains of the temple complex of the first century. It is important to remember that the Western Wall was not a part of the temple, but only a part of a retaining wall that was a part of the 35- acre temple complex.  Here they reverently approach this wall, pray, and many times weep or rejoice with others in singing and dancing.  For them, this is a special place of reverence, awe, and worship.  For Jews, this is the most holy site in the world. From their perspective, the mountain of the Lord is viewed as the heart of their faith for 3,000 years. To forsake the mountain of the Lord is the equivalent of forsaking the Lord! Isaiah 65:11 says: “But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain …”

    Jewish people want to visit, pray, and worship here.  According to the law, they must never lose their passion or focus for this mountain. They remember these words: “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.” (Psalm 137:5-6)  This simply means that the mountain of the Lord is more important to them that their ability to use their dominant right hand or to have water when they are desperately thirsty.  This place of worship is to be their greatest joy.

    The world really does not understand that this mountain (the Temple Mount) is vital to the nation of Israel.  It represents their history, hope, and future.  Without this mountain, the nation has no soul or purpose.  For 2,000 years Jews were separated from this mountain.  The capture of this mountain and the Old City from the Arabs during the Six-Day war in 1967 has become one of the most defining moments in the miraculous history of the modern state of Israel. In their minds, the hope for the reconstruction of the Jewish temple and the restoration of temple worship are directly connected to the divine blessings and spiritual restoration of the nation to the Holy One of Israel.  Not until this is accomplished can the Jewish nation fulfill its eternal destiny of becoming a light unto the Gentile nations.   So, this mountain represents hope, salvation, blessings, and power in the presence of the mighty God of Israel. All that they are and ever hope to be are symbolically attached to the symbolic presence of the God of Jacob on this mountain.

    All of this has been at the heart of the prayers of the Jewish Orthodox community for 2,000 years.  They have been faithfully praying three times a day for the following five things: First, they pray for the return of the land of Israel to the Jewish people. This is becoming a reality in our time. Second, they pray for the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel.  Almost 45 percent of the global Jewish population now calls Israel their home. The third item on their prayer list is the rebuilding and reuniting of all Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  The Six-Day war of 1967, helped to make this become a reality. In 1980, Israel annexed East Jerusalem and reunited Jerusalem, considering it to be their capital. The next passion on their prayer list is the restoration of divine temple worship.  And, finally, the ultimate climax of their heart’s desire is the rebuilding of the temple on the Temple Mount.

    The Spiritual Warfare over this Mountain

    As a result of the previous considerations, it is no wonder that this unique holy mountain has become the center of attention in the tug of war between God and Satan.  Satan knows the divine significance of this mountain.  Thousands of years ago, the Lord revealed to His prophets that His messiah would sit upon His throne on this mountain.  In Psalm 2:6, God boldly declared: “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”

    While speaking to Lucifer in the days of Isaiah, the Lord said to him: “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God [symbolic reference to God’s angels]: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north [the Mountain of the Lord].”  (Isaiah 14:13)   Here, the Lord clearly revealed Satan’s strategy in his great war against God.  Satan desires to control the very mountain that God has chosen to represent His presence and power in His redemptive plan on earth.  From Satan’s perspective, he must do everything in his power to stop, hinder, or delay God’s ultimate plan to have the Messiah rule over the world from this mountain for 1,000 years while Satan and his demons are imprisoned in the bottomless pit. (Revelation 20:1-3) 

    It is not an accident that Islam has controlled this mountain since 691 A.D.  There are two Islamic mosques on this mountain that is considered to be the third most holy site within Islam.  In recent decades, the Islamic world has rallied around the Palestinians who want to control this mountain as a holy site dedicated to the religious traditions of Islam.  As mentioned in many prophetic passages, the international community supports the Islamic control of the Temple Mount. The world adamantly opposes Israeli sovereignty over this mountain.  It has been holy ground for Jews for almost 3,000 years – 1,600 years before it was supposedly adopted as a holy place by Islam.

    Those who study the prophetic Scriptures know that the control and occupation of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount will be at the center of the global conflict that will bring the armies of the world against Israel at the battle of Armageddon.  As a matter of fact, this will be the Antichrist’s purpose behind his final assault against the nation of Israel.   To those nations who fight against Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, God has given the following warning: “Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people… And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”  (Zechariah 12:2-3)

    The entire Islamic world is passionately determined to force the Jews out of the Holy Land and the holy city of Jerusalem.  They are equally passionate about maintaining control over the mountain of the Lord.  Furthermore, the United Nations and the sentiment of the nations support this Islamic agenda.  However, they are no match for the Holy One of Israel.

    The showdown over the mountain of the Lord is set.  The players that will act out this final drama are all taking their places.  It is only a matter of time before the final curtain will open and the concluding conflict over this mountain will take place.

    There is no power on earth that will be able to oppose the God of heaven. “All the nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing and vanity. … and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers…” (Isaiah 40:17, 22)  As the kings of the earth make their threats and plan their attack upon God’s mountain and His Messiah, God is laughing at them. (Psalm 2:1-4)

    “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

    Sleeping in the Light

    Friends, as I look out over the spiritual and political landscape of our world, it is obvious to me that we are living in the last of the last days.  We are living at the greatest hour of the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy in the entire church age.  One would think that there would be an air of excitement and a sense of urgency about our spiritual mission in the closing hours of the church age.  However, this is sadly not the case.

    I am bewildered at the apathy of the church, especially the leadership within the church.  The church in America is spiritually asleep.  We have lost our spiritual compass.  There is little talk of heaven or the rapture.  There is no sense of awe that we are approaching the final days that are leading up to the final events of the end of this age.

    The words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Thessalonica seem to be very appropriate at this time: “But ye brethren, are not in [spiritual] darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of [spiritual] darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)

    With similar words, Paul wrote to the church at Rome: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11)

    I am often haunted by the rhetorical question of our Lord in Luke 18:8: “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find [the] faith on the earth?”   This verse and its context in the New Testament, give testimony to the reality that when Jesus comes for His bride, the church, only a very small remnant will be watching for Him.

    Too many professing Christians are only interested in the things of this world.  Their number one goal is to remain comfortable in this world.  There is little time to worship or serve the Lord.

    As I travel across America and preach, I am greatly burdened with the spiritual apathy in our conservative evangelical churches.  I often wonder how many church members are really saved.  Their lives are no different from those who are lost or not attending church. Several decades ago, the late Dr. Billy Graham, while speaking before a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, said he estimated that 80 percent of American church members are not saved.  I personally wonder if the percentage might even be higher now!

     

    This has caused me to prayerfully write the following 52- page booklet.  I really believe that every professing believer needs to read this booklet and allow the Holy Spirit to examine their heart concerning this most important matter – where will you spend eternity?

     

    Help- We Need to Replace Our Van

    The time has come for our ministry to replace our current 11-year old van.  Mike uses this van for transportation to his conferences and to transport newsletters from our processing location to the post office.  It is not uncommon for Mike to travel more than 1,000 round-trip miles in his ministry travels.  Hence, it is imperative that we purchase a reliable van that will give us good service.

    We would like to ask you to prayerfully consider sending us a special donation to help with the purchase of this van.  Your donation would be a great investment in Mike’s ability to travel and speak as he proclaims the prophetic Word of God.  Mark your donation on page 8.  Thanks.