Category: Current Events

Will contain information related to the date of publishing, not necessarily the date the viewer reads it.

2014 February – The Sign of the Red Blood Moon

The Sign of the Red Blood Moon

“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 terrible day of the LORD come.”-Joel 2:30-31

By Mike Wingfield

The Bible tells us that in the past, God spoke to His cho­sen people, Israel, in a variety of ways (Hebrews 1:1), in­cluding through signs and wonders. Our Lord’s Jewish disciples believed their prophets had declared there would be signs from the Lord at the end of this age. Consequent­ly, near the end of His earthly ministry almost 2,000 years ago, they asked Jesus: “Tell us … what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the [age]?” (Matthew 24:3) Part of Jesus’ response to their question is found in Luke 21:25-27: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of na­tions, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the pow­ers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glo­ry.” Therefore, it is clear that the last days will be marked by strange and unique celestial phenomena that include the sun and the moon.

Before, we examine the celestial signs of the last days, we need to recall to mind the words of the Apostle Paul when he declared “the Jews require a sign.” (1 Corinthians 1:22) The Scriptures indicate that the Holy One of Israel has spoken to the Jewish people through many signs, wonders, miracles, and visual aids. The ministries of many of the great prophets of Israel – Moses, Elijah, and Elisha – were accompanied by these great wonders. With powerful visual aids to communicate divine revelation, God spoke to the children of Israel in the wilderness with the Shekinah Glory, manna from heaven, and water from a rock. He directed them to build a tabernacle where He would meet with them. Many supernatural events were connected to the Ark of the Covenant. He spoke to them through the sacrificial system and the priesthood about His holiness, their sin, and the need of redemption.

When Jesus came, His ministry was also accompanied by signs, miracles, and wonders. After His ascension to heaven, the apostles continued with “the signs of an apos­tle.” (2 Corinthians 12:12) However, a close study of the New Testament will indicate that as the church became more Gentile, the Jewish apostles gradually passed off the scene. As this occurred, the signs, miracles, and wonders connected to the ministry of a Jewish messenger of God ceased. The Apostle Paul proclaimed this would happen.

(1 Corinthians 13:8)

Ultimately, the church will be raptured and the Lord will return to His divine program with Israel. When this hap­pens, supernatural signs, dreams, and visions will return to His people. Speaking to the Jewish people of the Tribu­lation Period, Joel wrote: “And it shall come to pass af­terward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your [Jewish] sons and your [Jewish] daughters shall prophesy, your [Jewish] old men shall dream dreams, your [Jewish] young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28-29) In a very unique sense, a divine anointing of power and protection will be upon 144,000 young Jewish men (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1­5) and two Jewish witnesses. (Revelation 11:3-12)

It is evident from the Scriptures, that in God’s eternal plan, the coming of the Messiah would be accompanied by amazing celestial signs. Concerning His first coming, Matthew [which many scholars agree was written for a Jewish audience] wrote: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea … there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2) Concerning the second coming of Christ, there are numerous passages that con­nect it with amazing celestial signs. Some of them are:

Isaiah 13:13; 24:23; Joel 2:27-32; 3:15; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-27; Acts 2:16-20; Revelation 6:12-14. Within these passages, there are three that pre­dict the moon will appear to be red like blood. (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20; and Revelation 6:12)

It is Biblically legitimate to view some amazing celestial events as supernatural signs. When Moses recorded the creation account 1,400 years before the time of Christ, He wrote: “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.” (Genesis 1:14)

Furthermore, it must be noted that the Scriptures connect the guaranteed survival of Israel with the existence of the sun and the moon. In Jeremiah 31:36, the Lord promised:

“If those ordinances [sun, moon, & stars] depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.” In another prophetic passage, Revelation 12:1, the Bible de­scribes Israel in a symbolic form which includes the sun and the moon. “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven [symbolic picture of Israel]; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1) So, in a very unique sense, the signs in the sun and moon have special relevance for the Jewish people in general and the nation of Israel in particular.

In light of all of this, it is very interesting to consider the NASA reports concerning some very unique and timely celestial events that will take place in connection with the feasts of Israel this year and in 2015.

Moon Picture

Please notice that there are four red blood moons sched­uled to appear on Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) this year and in 2015. These back to back red blood moons on Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles have occurred seven times previously in history. It is sig­nificant to note that the last two times were in 1949-1950 (Israel’s War of Independence and victory over five pow­erful Arab neighbors) and in 1967-1968 (Israel’s amazing victory in just six days over the same Arab neighbors in June 1967). This leads us to ask: Are we about to witness another war in the Middle East between Israel and her Ar­ab neighbors this year or next?

Another question that is being asked is: Does the appear­ance of these four red blood moons indicate the rapture is about to occur and these red blood moons would be those predicted to take place during the Tribulation? Those who ask this question are quick to point out that these back to back red moons are not scheduled to take place again for over 100 years from now. Also, they observe that it seems apparent that the feasts of Israel are in some way a chronological presentation of the redemptive plan of God for Israel. Christ died exactly at the time of Passover. He is called “our Passover.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) His resur­rection took place on the next Jewish feast, the Feast of First Fruits. 1 Corinthians 15:23 declares that Christ is “the firstfruits” of the resurrection. The next feast was Pentecost, which is when the church began. (Acts 2) Now, looking forward, the next major Jewish feast is the Feast of Trumpets. Many connect this feast with the trumpets of the last days. The last annual Jewish feast is the Feast of Tabernacles, which many Biblical scholars connect to a symbolic reference to the millennial king­dom. So, the fact that these back to back red blood moon appear on major Jewish feasts days makes them very sig­nificant. Before we attempt to Biblically examine these considerations, it is extremely important to examine the Bible and the scientific evidence to determine what creates the conditions for a red blood moon.

Please notice that in the Biblical texts that speak of a red blood moon, there is also mention of accompanying signs on earth that will create “blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.” (Acts 2:19; see also Joel 2:30) In Revelation 6:12 the darkened sun and red blood moon are connected to “a great earthquake.” The prophet Isaiah wrote about the massive global earthquakes of the Tribulation Period and their devastating results in Isaiah 24. In verse 23 he states that “the moon shall [blush] and the sun ashamed [cover its face]…” Collectively, it appears that these verses, as they are interpreted in their context, indicate global earthquakes will trigger global volcanic eruptions that will spew volcanic ash into the atmosphere, blocking out the sunlight during the day and making the moon have a blood-like appearance. Scientists tell us that when we see a deep red sunset or sunrise, we are looking at the light of the sun through volcanic ash in the upper atmosphere.

A red blood moon takes place during a total lunar eclipse. When the earth comes between the sun and the moon, it creates a dark shadow on the moon side of earth. [See the diagram below.] The only light of the sun that reaches the moon is the small amount that shines around the surface of the earth. If this atmosphere is filled with volcanic ash, it will cast a red light upon the surface of the moon.

Eclipse Picture

To help us grasp all of this, NASA gives the following report: “Our planet casts a long shadow. It starts on the ground–Step outside at night. You’re in Earth’s shadow. Think about it!–and it stretches almost a million miles into space, far enough to reach the moon.

“Suppose you had a personal spaceship. Here’s your mis­sion: Tonight, at midnight, blast off and fly down the mid­dle of Earth’s shadow. Keep going until you’re about 200,000 miles above Earth, almost to the moon. Now turn around and look down. The view from your cockpit win­dow is Earth’s nightside, the dark half of our planet oppo­site the sun. But it’s not completely dark! All around Earth’s limb, the atmosphere glows red.

“What you’re seeing is every sunrise and sunset on Earth-­all at once. This ring of light shines into Earth’s shadow, breaking the utter darkness you might expect to find there. Turn off the cockpit lights. There’s a lovely red glow.

“That same red light plays across the moon when it’s in­side Earth’s shadow. The exact color depends on what’s floating around in Earth’s atmosphere. Following a volcan­ic eruption, for instance, dust and ash can turn global sun­sets vivid red. The moon would glow vivid red, too.” (www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/watchtheskies/13oct_luna reclipse.html)

Those who want to be adamant that these red blood moons are heralding the Tribulation Period should be very cau­tious. While it is possible that these red blood moons could occur in the Tribulation Period, we cannot be abso­lutely positive. One must remember that NASA and other scientists are making their predictions based upon what has been normal according to our historical and scientific data. The unique geological and celestial developments of the Tribulation demand caution on our part when draw­ing any hard conclusions concerning the chronology of future prophetic events. Nothing like the Tribulation Pe­riod has ever occurred in the history of creation. This will be an unprecedented time of geological, climatic, and ce­lestial upheaval. While speaking about the wrathful di­vine judgments that will come upon the earth during this time, Jesus declared: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor, nor ever shall be. … the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” (Matthew 24:21, 29) The prophet Zephaniah described this time as “a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick dark­ness.” (Zephaniah 1:15)

The uniqueness of this period of time is also seen in the impact of the days of great darkness that will come upon the earth due to the collecting volcanic ash in the upper atmosphere. At first, one-third of the atmosphere will be darkened, blotting out the sunlight during the day. (Reve­lation 8:12) Finally, when the end of the Tribulation comes, the entire earth will be enveloped in darkness. (Revelation 16:10) Under normal conditions, this would produce another global ice age. However, just the oppo­site will occur. The inhabitants will suffer increasing scorching heat. (Malachi 4:1; Revelation 16:9) No one can pretend to understand how the Lord will bring about these unique developments. The uniqueness of the celes­tial and geological developments in the Tribulation Period cannot rule out more red blood moons and solar eclipses that are not anticipated by scientists. We must not rule out God’s sovereign rule over His creation. For example, the Lord gave a sign to King Hezekiah, turning the shadow of the sun back 10 degrees. (2 Kings 20:8-11)

I am not trying to minimize the impact that the approach­ing red blood moons this year and next will have as defi­nite signs of the end of this age. In light of the context of the Middle East at this moment, it is very apparent that these red blood moons are heralding some significant de­velopment that relates to Israel. However, no one can pre­tend to know what they are or when these events will take place.

As we watch all of these signs it should create a spirit of expectancy in all of our lives. We should all stand in awe of the possibility that we could be in the presence of our Lord before the sun sets tonight. For those of us who are saved, it should motivate us to be holy – set apart from this godless, wicked, and immoral culture in which we live.

When He comes, will you be ashamed or confident of the record of your life? “And now, little children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence,

and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28) Are you abiding in Christ? To abide in Christ is to live in His presence. Read John 15:1-11. When we abide in Christ we will also feel at home in the Bible. It will strengthen us so that we will produce fruit (works) that will glorify our Lord. Are you at home in the Bible? Are you involved in His work for His glory? If the answer to these questions is “no,” then you had better repent or you will “be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28)

“Therefore, be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44) Get ready for the shout that will take us out!

Palestinians and Putin Join Hands

Debka File, a special website dedicated to reporting mili­tary and intelligence insights into the Middle East, reports: “Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) launched his ‘diplomatic intifada’ against Israel and exit from the Kerry peace initiative Thursday, Jan. 23, from Moscow. His meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev marked his breakaway from the US-led peace process with Israel, four months before it was due to expire, and signaled his bid for Russian backing for a Palestinian state.”

(www.debka.com)- link only works if you have a paid subscription to debka.com

This move by Abbas caught the Americans and Israelis completely off guard. It means that all of the recent ef­forts to bring about a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been openly rejected by the Pal­estinians.

As if this was not enough shock, the Palestinian leadership signed an agreement with the Russians that would allow the Russians to develop a $1 billion natural gas project off

the coast of Gaza. This is very troubling because Abbas’

government is not in control of Gaza and British Gas al­ready has the rights to this area. Israelis are concerned that the Russians are making a move to get a share of the valuable oil and gas deposits in the Mediterranean just off of their coastal area.

“The Palestinian leader began his conversation with Putin by calling Russia a “great power” that deserved to play a more prominent role in the volatile Middle East region. …The Palestinians have clearly opted to follow the exam­ples of other Middle East leaders, ranging from Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to Syria’s Bashar Assad, Saudi

King Abdullah and Egyptian strongman Abdel-Fatteh El-Sisi, in making tracks, overtly or covertly, to Moscow. They are opening the door for Russia to fill the void left by American disengagement from the region under the Obama administration.” (www.debka.com– same article-link only works if you have a paid subscription to debka.com)

This report definitely illustrates that Russia has its eyes on the wealth in Israel and is casting its lot with the Arab Muslims. This is certainly setting the stage for the Gog and Magog invasion mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39. Accord­ing this prophecy, the vast wealth in Israel will be one of the reasons behind this Russia/Islamic invasion of Israel.

(Ezekiel 38:12-13)

The Ugly Face of Anti-Semitism

I have made many trips to Israel in the last 29 years. Most of my memories of these trips are very pleasant and have enabled me to understand the Bible, especially Biblical prophecy. The one unpleasant, yet very important, part of my tours to Israel has been a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the Holocaust and the six million Jewish peo­ple who perished. I would never take a tour to Israel without a visit to Yad Vashem. It has been my practice to make this the last stop on my tour before our group travels to Ben Gurion airport for our trip back home. I want those who travel with me to never forget the Holocaust and what happen there. Anyone who visits this museum will know why there needs to be a Jewish nation called Israel. The Jewish people need to have a home of their own where they can defend themselves against the historical hatred that can be found throughout the pages of history . The Holocaust museum is overwhelming. If a person were to meticulously analyze the records, displays, exhibi­tions, and recorded testimonies, it could take about three days. Each time I visit this place I am moved to tears. I find it hard to grasp how anyone could be filled with hate! It is shocking to me how anyone, and especially those who claim to be Christians, can despise and hate the Jewish people. I have a very deep love for Israel and her people and constant pray for their safety in their land.

The Arab/Islamic world denies the Holocaust. They say it never happened. It is my observation that the Holocaust is one of the most documented events in the 20th century. The Nazis were proud of what they did and they kept me­ticulous records and photos to document what they did. In April, 2006, Germany made these records available to the public. “The files, which make up one of the largest Hol­ocaust archives in the world, are more than 15 miles long and hold up to 50 million documents, some seized by the Allies as they liberated concentration camps.” (http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Germany-to-release­Holocaust-archives-2499590.php)-link only goes to the front page, store has been removed/deleted.

The world just recognized International Holocaust Day on January 27th, the day the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Allies in 1945. Yet, this is nothing compared to Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day each spring. Sirens wail all over Israel for two minutes. Every person stops what they are doing and stands in complete silence for two minutes. Cars on the highway stop and all passengers get out of their automobiles to stand in memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holo­caust.

The shocking evidence that our world is moving toward another Holocaust is evident both in the Scripture and the growing trends of anti-Semitism around the world. The most virulent expressions of hatred expressed toward the Jewish people are found in the Middle East among the Islamic populations. For thirteen centuries, Islam has treated Jews as being subhuman and demonic. Hatred toward Jews today is collectively aimed at the nation of Israel. Every facet of Islamic life promotes the destruction of Israel. Mein Kampf, Hitler’s diatribe against the Jews, remains a best seller throughout the Islamic world. Iran continues to call Israel a “cancer” that needs to be re­moved. The Islamic leadership of Iran continues to call for the annihilation of Israel. As with Hitler’s threats against Jews, the world is once again deaf, or does not seem to care that six million Jews in Israel could perish should Iran launch a relatively small nuclear bomb against the tiny nation of Israel.

Long ago, the prophet Moses prophesied that the Jewish people would be scattered among the nations and find no place of acceptance among them. (Deuteronomy 28:63­67) However, the Lord directed Moses to proclaim that in the last days the Lord would bring His people back to the land of Israel. (Deuteronomy 30:1-6) There are dozens of prophetic Scriptures which proclaim that the Jewish peo­ple would return to their land in the last days. These same prophetic passages declare that when the Jewish people return to their land, the world would join the nations sur­rounding Israel and attempt to annihilate the Jewish peo­ple. (Ezekiel 36:1-9; Joel 3:1-17; Zechariah 12:1-14:3)

This hatred for the Jewish people will culminate during the final seven years of this age before the Messiah, Jesus Christ, returns at Armageddon. During this final seven years, two-thirds of the world’s Jewish population will be exterminated. (Zechariah 13:8-9) Until the time comes when the Lord will rescue Israel, it is the duty and privi­lege of the Lord’s people to stand by Israel. We need to support the Jewish people with our love and prayers. We need to stand with the Lord and His people, Israel.

Download in .pdf format

2013 September – Violence and the End of a Culture

Violence and the End of a Culture

By Mike Wingfield

Violence is permeating our world at every level of socie­ty. The Middle East is spiraling out of control with vio­lence as radical Islam flexes its muscle in an attempt to terrorize the world into submission. Islam’s ultimate goal is to dominate the world and subject it to Allah. Violent attacks against individuals across Europe and around the world are viewed by Muslims as acts of obedience to the Koran’s commands to wage holy war against the infidels. Moderate Muslims are also being targeted who refuse to submit to the ritualistic law of the Koran in their daily lives. At the same time, all cultures are experiencing an escalating violence in their societies. Here in the U.S., our educational institutions have become places of vio­lence. Bullying has become an all too familiar occur­rence. Our daily news media are filled with graphic sto­ries involving of murder and violence. We talk about road rage, violence acts against women, children, and infants in the womb. In addition, violence associated with wars has become all-too common for millions living in our world. All the while, our entertainment industries thrive on sell­ing violence. Sports, music, video games, television pro­gramming, and movies are filling the minds of consumers with an increasing diet of graphic violence.

Before we turn to the Bible to understand what all of this means, let us listen to the concerns of some in the secular world who are very alarmed by the increase of violence in our culture. The Media Education Foundation [www.mediaed.org] reports the following facts about me­dia violence: “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%) contain 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)

According to the Bible, when violence permeates a cul­ture it ultimately leads to self-destruction and the judg­ment of God. For example, a permeation of violence in the culture during Noah’s day led to divine judgment of the entire world. In Genesis 6, the Lord has given us a written indictment on Noah’s generation. The Bible clear­ly states that the moral climate during Noah’s time pro­voked God’s holy wrath in the form of a global flood. That society had become morally “corrupt.” (Genesis 6:11-13) A part of that moral corruption was violence. Notice that the Lord repeatedly told Noah: “the earth is filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11, 13) This simply means that the people of Noah’s age were in love with sensuality and violence. Their minds were continually filled with pornographic and violent images. Note Gene­sis 6:5: “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.” They enjoyed it: Immorality and violence no longer produced any shame or guilt in their consciences. They explored it: Searching for more bizarre and sadistic forms of wicked­ness. They embraced it: Violence became normal, bring­ing a change in their lifestyle. They proudly exported it: Spreading their sin to engage others in their shame.

Let us examine five Biblical considerations about vio­lence:

1. The Biblical Definition of Violence

After doing research on this subject, I am convinced that very few Christian leaders or believers understand the Biblical view of violence. It is most interesting to observe that the Hebrew word that is translated “violence” in Genesis 6 is “hamas.” Please note that this is the name of the Islamic terrorist group in the Gaza Strip that has been chosen by the Palestinian population to govern them. This Islamic terrorist group wears the badge of Islamic jihad with great pride. They have openly adopted the name VIOLENCE. Their charter openly calls for the complete annihilation of the Jewish population in Israel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River – all of the land of Israel! Everyone in the Middle East knows that Hamas and another radical Islamic element, the Muslim Brother­hood are the same group. They have different names, but they are two different divisions of the same organization. It is their stated purpose to fill the earth with violence to accomplish their agenda of global control for the glory of their God – Allah.

The Hebrew word, “hamas”, means: to bring great harm to people both physically and mentally… to act in a way that is destructive, hateful, lawless, disrespectful, wicked, wild, ruthless, or brutal. Often, these actions are accom­panied by loud expressions of hate. Proverbs 10:6 states: “violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” According to the Bible, violence is an action, gesture, or expression due to the lack of moral restraint. In Amos 3:9-10, the Lord informed Israel that the governments of Ashdod (the Gaza Strip today), Egypt, and “the mountains of Samaria” (the “West Bank” today) “know not to do right” while they “store up violence and robbery in their palaces.” Clearly, the Lord stated that these former and present en­emies of Israel are filled with violence against His people because they lack moral restraint.

Violence is an expression of defiance and disrespect for the very basic code of behavior that the Spirit of God wishes to instill in the conscience of mankind. Violence, and its ultimate expression – murder, are the exact oppo­sites of the character and nature of God. (Read 1 John 2:11-16) The Biblical law of God, and specifically the 10 Commandments, are aimed at a reverence for God and respect for human beings who have been created in the image of God. The law of God supports and promotes the very foundation of life. Therefore, violence is the result of a total departure from this law and its author – God! In essence, the culture that espouses violence is in a mode of self-destruction! The testimony of Scripture indicates that murderers and those who commit acts of violence against human beings are acting like Satan, not God! In John 8:44, Jesus called Satan “a murderer from the beginning.” In Revelation 9:11, Satan is called “Abaddon” (Hebrew for “destroyer”), and “Apollyon” (Greek for “destroyer”).

2. The Cultural Impact of Violence

From the very beginning, God instructed Israel that vio­lence and murder defile a culture. Read Numbers 35:29-34. In response to willful murder, God demanded capital punishment. In verse 31 God said: “Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.”

When expressions of violence are allowed to permeate a culture, they will create a society that is void of a godly conscience, leading to increasing levels of wickedness, lawlessness, sensuality, and brutality. When a society travels down the path of depravity and rebellion from God, they will suppress “the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18) This will lead to “their foolish [con­science being] darkened.” (Romans 1:21) Eventually, they are “filled with …. murder” and many other forms of violence and wickedness. (Romans 1:29 -32)

3. The Divine Judgment due to the Permeation of Violence in a Culture

A study of the Bible and human history will demonstrate that cultures filled with violence come to an end. That is because violence brings a lack of fear or respect for God. This is visually manifested in their lack of respect for man, who has been created in the image of God. The Bi­ble consistently teaches that our love and respect for God is clearly illustrated by how we treat others. (Exodus 20:1­17; Matthew 22:34-40; 1 John 4:20-21) While comment­ing on Genesis 6:11, Matthew Henry, a godly leader and author of a well-known Bible commentary a few genera­tions ago, wrote: “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.”

When a culture reaches this spiritual point of no return, the Spirit of God can no longer “strive with man.” (Gene­sis 6:3) As a result, God’s holiness demands that He de­stroy that culture in divine judgment. It has happened several times in human history and it will happen once again. The global violence today, as in the days of Noah, is demanding the divine judgment of God. That global judgment will take place on a global scale during the sev­en-year tribulation period.

4. The Violence at the End of this Age

After the restraining influence on sin through the minis­try of the Holy Spirit in the church has been removed at the Rapture, the world will erupt into a cycle of violence and murder that is unprecedented in the history of man. This violence will be aimed at Israel, the Jewish people (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:6, 13-17) and believers in Je­sus Christ. (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 6:9-11; 13:7; 17:6; 20:4) Leading the violence will be the religion of Islam (pictured as the harlot in Revelation 17-18), and the Islam­ic Antichrist and his false prophet. (Revelation 13:15) Early in the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will engage in a global jihad “to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.” (Revelation 6:4) The opening months of the Tribulation will feature a bloody war of jihad that will result in the death of one-fourth of the world’s population. (Revelation 6:8)

At this very hour, violence and death are being waged by Muslims against the Christian populations in Syria, Egypt and throughout the Middle East. It is a powerful witness to what is coming in the immediate future. If the West does not act against these radical Islamic elements to stop the killing of innocent Christians, this war will spread to Europe and the United States. It is only a matter of time before this happens. The free world was standing in a similar place only 73 years ago when Hitler was brutally murdering Jews and taking control of the countries of Eu­rope. Humanly speaking, if the free world does not re­spond, the forces of evil will multiply and violence will fill the earth. Only the Lord knows what course the world will take in the next few months and years. With America and Europe being swept into socialism, it appears that they will not rise to the occasion. They fail to heed the lessons from World War II only two generations ago.

My father and father-in-law fought in World War II. am very thankful for the sacrifice they and millions of others made to protect our freedom from Nazi and Japa­nese tyranny. They willingly made these sacrifices be­cause our American leadership recognized the need to deal with critical threats to our faith and freedom. However, today, many in our leadership not only lack the resolve to do something about this threat, but are supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, the perpetrator of the growing vio­lence in the Middle East and around the world. Can you image what would have happened during World War II if the United States had sided with the Nazis? Yet, that is what is occurring at this very hour. America is standing in the wrong place in the war against evil. Most tragically, we are not standing on moral high ground with God. America has morally collapsed. It is shocking to think of what has happened to our blessed country in the last 70 years.

May God have mercy on America!

5. Biblical Admonitions Concerning Violence

The message of the Bible is very clear – God hates vio­lence. When violence flows out of the human heart to harm or kill human beings for selfish gain or hatred, it arouses the anger of God. It must be understood that there is a righteous anger or indignation that flows out of the very holy character of God. Finally, after being patient for thousands of years with the violence of the wicked, Jesus will systematically deliver His holy wrath against the sin­ful masses through massive global judgments for seven years. At the end of the Tribulation Period, Jesus will vis­ibly and bodily return to this earth and speak a word of holy judgment and death against the armies of the world gathered against Him and Israel at Armageddon. Revela­tion 19:15 says He will “smite the nations… and tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” At the end of this battle, the Lord will invite the birds of prey to feast on the corpses of the thousands who will have fallen on the mountains of Israel. (Revelation 19:17­18)

Sometimes, war and violence must be waged against the wicked who are murdering others. God demands this of human governments! (Read Genesis 9:6; Numbers 35:29-34; Romans 13:1-4) For example, God used the nation of Israel to carry out His righteous judgment against the wicked and murderers of Canaan. (Deuteron­omy 18:9-14) The Lord will use the nation of Israel in the last days to destroy the nations that are killing His people. (Jeremiah 51:19-23)

Psalm 11:5 states that the Lord hates those who “love violence.” During the millennium, the Lord will directly exercise His divine sovereignty over the nations of the world. He will not permit any violence or war! Isaiah 2:4 declares: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into prun­inghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” The war-torn Middle East, which has been ravaged with violence since the days of Abraham, will finally become a place of peace. Those who will be saved out of the former Arab/Islamic nations in the Middle East and survive the Tribulation will be spiritually transformed. They will no longer hate Isra­el, but will confess that the Jewish people are the people of God, and will bless those they have hated for genera­tions. (Isaiah 60:6-19) Please notice Isaiah 60:14: “The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow them­selves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee , The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel” Because of this heart change among the Arab nations, the Lord has joyfully declared to Israel: “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land.” (Isaiah 60:18) Fi­nally, true peace will come upon the cities of Israel. The great prophet of God, Isaiah, wrote about this: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)

As individual children of God we should be known as peace makers, not troublemakers. Jesus declared: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) The Scriptures exhort the individual believer: “[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)

As believers, 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! We must guard our ears and eyes from any kind of violence that can desensitize our conscience. (Proverbs 4:23-27) We must fill our minds with Scripture and God’s way of peace. The Bible demands: “Follow peace with all men, and ho­liness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (He­brews 12:14) We are exhorted to let grace and peace be multiplied in our hearts. When the Apostle Peter began his final epistle, he began with the exhortation: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2) When we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be persons of peace. Read Galatians 5:22-23.

As violence escalates around the world and especially in the Middle East, we need to remember that Jesus taught that evil thoughts and murder come out of the human heart. (Matthew 15:19) The only real answer to the vio­lence in our world is in the person of Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace. After He judges the nations with His ho­ly wrath, He will establish His kingdom of peace. That peace will be maintained by the firm hand of our Lord as He rules the nations “with a rod of iron.” (Revelation 12:5) Also, the fear of the Lord will permeate the nations because “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habak­kuk 2:14) That is why He has instructed us to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heav­en.” (Matthew 6:10) Come, Lord Jesus. We need you more than ever before!

Descending into Darkness

According to the prophetic Word of God, the world will descend into one of the darkest periods of human history before King Jesus returns to establish His kingdom. Con­trasting the spiritual light that will dawn upon this earth at the beginning of our Lord’s kingdom with the spiritual darkness that will precede it, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee [Israel], and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)

From a human perspective it appears that mankind is falling into the dark, deep pit of depravity that will engulf the wicked during the Tribulation Period. The world is in a moral, spiritual, and economic free-fall. The nations are embracing Islam, worshipping Allah. At the same time, Christians are being killed and persecuted, and many hate the name of “Jesus.” Violence is permeating the global culture, and the threat of war in the Middle East seems to increase with each passing day.

It is not an accident that the Middle East is going through a major shift in the political/religious power-structure that controls the region. Israel finds itself sur­rounded by nations where national sovereignties are breaking down and radical elements of global Islamic ji­had are taking control.

Egypt, the largest Arab/Islamic country in the Middle East, is descending into a very dangerous cycle of vio­lence as moderate Muslims attempt to regain control of their country from the radical elements who were in con­trol. The radicals have seized the moment to attack the Christian community, claiming that they were responsible for the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi’s presidency, a prominent leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. Christians are being brutally attacked and killed. More than 60 churches have been destroyed by those who are supporters of the radical Muslim movement in Egypt. The outcome of this struggle for power in Egypt will be very critical to the future of the entire Middle East.

The two-year old war in Syria has claimed over 100,000 lives, many of whom were Christians killed by the radical Islamic rebels that are attempting to take control of Syria. The world has learned that the Syrian government used chemical weapons to kill thousands of its own people. Consequently, the world is about to topple the Assad re­gime to allow the rebels to take control of Syria. Several radical factions are fighting on the side of the rebel forces. The two major factions are the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda. So, the West, including the U.S., is arming Al Qaeda in the attempt to overthrow Assad. Isn’t it odd that the very same Islamic group we have attempted to destroy for several years in Afghanistan, we are now supporting in Syria?

It should be alarming for people when they realize that the Western powers are involved in turning the Middle East over to the very radical Islamic groups that have de­clared jihad against the West. This is very dangerous for Israel, the U.S., and the entire free world. There appears to be only two logical explanations for the West’s support of these radical jihadist groups. These governments must be operating in total moral and intellectual darkness, hav­ing been deceived by these groups. Or, they are joining hands with evil to enhance and promote their own agen­das. It is my opinion that it is the later of these two expla­nations.

It is possible that if the Lord does not come first, we will witness the beginning of a New World Order that will fea­ture a political marriage between socialism and Islam. An examination of the current working system within the United Nations will reveal that this is already becoming a reality. The political marriage will be very bad for be­lievers in Jesus Christ and all Jews, and especially the na­tion of Israel.

According to several sources, Israel realizes that it is only a matter of time before these Islamic forces will join together to attack the Jewish state. Israeli Lt.-Col. Jackie Ben-Yakar recently stated: “Our working assumption is an attack will happen. It’s only a matter of time. We are preparing for hostile action, we’re preparing the forces, training them, and keeping up their operational readiness.”

(The International Jerusalem Post, August 2-8, 2013, p. 12) It is my opinion that this war will set the stage for the one mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39.

As the world descends into this time of great deception and spiritual darkness, we need to remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. Please take time to read this Scripture. It is time for the church of Je­sus Christ to awake out of its apathy and prepare for our departure. “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)

A War against Christianity

In a recent article by Michael Snyder, “The Name Of Jesus Has Become A Dirty Word In Politically Correct America,” he warns that a real war on Christianity is un­folding in America. He gives the following examples:

“Evidence of this war on Christianity is everywhere these days. The following are just a few examples…

-An elementary school in North Carolina ordered a little six-year-old girl to remove the word “God” from a poem that she wrote to honor her two grandfathers that had served in the Vietnam War.

-The Ohio Statehouse banned Christian pastors from using the name of Jesus when they open up the daily sessions with prayer.

-The use of the name of Jesus was also forbidden in all prayers opening sessions of the North Carolina State-House.

-Last year, a federal appeals court ruled that prayers be­fore commission meetings in Forsyth County, North Caro­lina that included the name of Jesus were unconstitutional.

-Earlier this year, a Florida Atlantic University student that refused to stomp on the name of Jesus was banned from class.

-A student at Sonoma State University was ordered to take off a cross that she was wearing because someone “could be offended”.

-A teacher in New Jersey was fired for giving his own Bi­ble to a student that did not own one.

-An open air preacher in Illinois was recently threatened with arrest for “scaring people” with the message of the gospel.

-Volunteer chaplains for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Po­lice Department have been banned from using the name of Jesus in their public prayers. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Chaplains all over the nation are now being banned from using the name of Jesus.

A recently released 140 page report entitled “The Survey of Religious Hostility in America” included some more examples of how Christianity is being systematically op­pressed in America today…

A federal judge threatened ‘incarceration’ to a high school valedictorian unless she removed references to Jesus from her graduation speech.

City officials prohibited senior citizens from praying over their meals, listening to religious messages or singing gospel songs at a senior activities center.

A public school official prevented a student from handing out flyers inviting her classmates to an event at her church.

A public university’s law school banned a Christian or­ganization because it required its officers to adhere to a statement of faith that the university disagreed with.

The U.S. Department of Justice argued before the Su­preme Court that the federal government can tell churches and synagogues which pastors and rabbis it can hire and fire.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs banned the men­

tion of God from veterans’ funerals, overriding the wishes of the deceased’s families.

A federal judge held that prayers before a state House of Representatives could be to Allah but not to Jesus.” (www.theendoftheamericandream.com, July 25, 2013)

We live in the presence of God. Where ever we go, He is there. As believers, He is with us and in us. Do you acknowledge His presence? Proverbs 3:6

2013 April – The Tribe of Manasseh is Coming Home to Israel

The Tribe of Manasseh is Coming Home to Israel

Speaking to Israel, the Lord has promised: “I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”-Isaiah 43:5-6
By Micah Winefeld
While world leaders are focused on wrestling parts of the Holy Land away from Israel, a divine miracle is occurring right under their noses. God is leading His chosen people, the Jews, back to their homeland just as He promised in the Bible. For it was God’s hand that scattered the Jews among the nations almost 2,000 years ago and now He is orchestrating their return to Israel, just as He said He would. (Read Deuteronomy 28:63-67; 30:1-5) This is exciting for those of us who are students of Bible prophecy, because these events give credence to the fact that we are indeed living in the last days.
To illustrate that we are living witnesses to a unique and supernatural fulfillment of Bible prophecy, we can turn to the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, where the Lord declared: “For I will take you from among the heathen , and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” (Ezekiel 36:24) This verse and many others, indicate that the process of the return of the Jewish people to their homeland will be a supernatural development. Notice the language in Ezekiel 36:24. God said, “I will take you … and will bring you into your own land.” What we are witnessing at this hour has never happened before. A people group is returning to their ancient homeland and rebuilding their nation.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were only a few thousands of Jews living in what was called Palestine. Due to the pogroms against Jews in Russia, and the holocaust efforts of the Nazis during World War II, there were about 650,000 Jewish people living in the state of Israel when it became a nation on May 14, 1948. Today, 65 years later, a little over 6 million Jews have returned home to Israel (about 40 percent of the world’s Jewish population). The Bible requires that only a remnant of the global Jewish population be in Israel at the beginning of the Tribulation Period. According to Revelation 7, a remnant of each of the 12 tribes of Israel will be back in the land. After the Rapture, the Lord God will uniquely select and prepare 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes for a very special ministry of global evangelism during the Tribulation. (Revelation 7:1-17; 14:1-5) In light of this, it is interesting to note that Israel is currently in the process of welcoming home the tribe of Manasseh. (Revelation 7:6)
Manasseh was the first-born son of the Jewish patriarch Joseph in Egypt. Joseph’s wife, Asenath, was an Egyptian and gave birth to Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. (Genesis 41:50-52) Both Manasseh and Ephraim were blessed by Jacob (Genesis 48:8-20) and are numbered among the 12 tribes of Israel. (Numbers 1, 7, 13, 26; Ezekiel 48; Revelation 7) After the death of King Solomon, the 12 tribes divided into two nations. The tribe of Manasseh became a part of the 10 tribes in the north, called Israel. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, along with a remnant of godly people from the other 10 tribes, lived in the south, called Judah. During the invasion and defeat of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., Manasseh and the other nine tribes were carried off into captivity and scattered among the nations of the ancient world. For years, these Jewish people were called “the lost tribes of Israel.” However, remember that these 10 tribes were also represented by a godly remnant in Judah, which was eventually carried off to Babylon in three deportations – the last being in 586 B.C. After the Babylonian captivity, a remnant of all 12 tribes returned to the Holy Land. Notice that Anna, a prophetess who was serving in the Temple at the time of Jesus’ birth, was from the tribe of Asher. (Luke 2:36) Later, Jesus sent out His disciples “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:6)
For more than 2,500 years, most of the Jewish people have been scattered among the Gentile nations of the world. Most Jewish people do not know their tribal identity, since the official records of the tribes were destroyed with the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. However, the sons of Manasseh (Hebrew: Bnei Menashe) are returning to Israel and telling the story of their 2,700 years of exile and wandering. The returning sons of Manasseh say “their ancestors were exiled by the Assyrians into the region of today’s Iran. From there, they journeyed eastward along the Silk Road to China, where for centuries they formed part of the community known as Kaifeng Jews. They later wandered southward and eventually settled in the states of Mizoram and Manipur, located in an isolated enclave of India nestled between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
“From there the Bnei Menashe continued to cling to their biblical traditions and identity. They kept the Sabbath and observed kosher laws, celebrated the Jewish festivals and practiced sacrificial rites.
“Rediscovered in modern times, their Israelite ancestry was officially recognized by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate in 2005. Following that ruling 1,700 Bnei Menashe made their way to Israel.
“Michael Freund, head of the organization Shavei Israel, has been working tirelessly ever since to reopen the way for them to reconnect with Israel and the Jewish mainstream. At his urging, the Israeli government recently approved a process which will enable the remaining 7,200 Bnei Menashe to relocate to Israel in groups of around 250 at a time. …
“‘This is one of the moments where you really feel the hand of God at work in history,’ noted Freund. ‘Despite the long exile and wanderings of the Bnei Menashe, they never lost sight of who they are or where they came from, or where they one day dreamt of returning.’” (David Parsons, “An end to exile,” The Jerusalem Post Christian Edition, February 2013, p. 17)
Photo copied from www.timesofisrael.com

As this unique development continues to unfold, Christians are playing a very special role. Various Christian groups are funding and supporting the current immigration of the sons of Manasseh to their home. The blessing and aid of Gentiles in helping the Jews return home is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. When the Tribulation Period is over, the Gentiles will do the work of God by helping every living Jew return home to the land of Israel. Concerning this future time, Isaiah 14:1-2 states: “… and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place…” A similar prophecy is found in Isaiah 49:22: “Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.” Therefore, the return of the tribe of Manasseh and the involvement of the Gentiles in this work is setting the stage for a future prophecy when the Lord will seal 144,000 young Jewish men and send them out from Jerusalem to be evangelists among the Gentile nations. (Revelation 7:1-17; 14:1-5) We can only imagine that some of these 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh are among those returning to Israel at this hour, or perhaps they are about to be born in the land of Israel.
While commenting about the return of his tribe to Israel, one of the recent immigrants of the tribe of Manasseh said: “This is about returning to our land, our people and our Torah. … It also means we are moving that much closer to the redemption of Israel.” (David Parsons, “An end to exile,” The Jerusalem Post Christian Edition, February 2013, p. 19)
David Parsons, an editor for the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), writes: “Israel today is indeed a remarkable nation of Jews gathered from over 100 countries around the globe, who have come back as distinct tribes with their own languages, cultures, and customs, but God has been slowly forging them back together into one nation. They have a glorious future ahead of them, far more glorious that they even realize.” (David Parsons, “A Nation of Many Tribes,” ICEJ Newsletter, April 2013, p. 3)

My friend, this story, and so many other developments taking place in our world today, are telling us that the coming of our blessed Lord for His church is drawing very near. Are you ready? If you have not yet repented of your sins and received God’s eternal Son as the payment for your sin, then you need to consider that today. Faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His bodily resurrection from the grave three days later is the only way to heaven. Jesus said: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” (John 10:9) He clearly declared: “…Ye believe in God, believe also in me. … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:1, 6) In order to be saved, you must confess with your mouth that He is the resurrected, eternal Son of God and seriously surrender your life to Him, making Him the Lord of your life. Salvation is not some thoughtless or mystical expression or action. It must be the result of the conviction of your sin and the recognition of your current eternal damnation without Christ. You must call out to Him in prayer, agreeing that He is the Son of God. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Salvation is God’s gift; He wants to give it to you. You do not deserve it and cannot earn it. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Jesus paid for your sin and purchased your salvation when He became “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:28)
My friend, the message of the Bible is clear. “Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2:9) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

 

A new poll suggests that about 64 per cent of Americans support Israel. – Photo by Israel Today

 

Other Significant Developments

  • According to several sources, Anti-Semitism is exploding on America’s college campuses. Jewish students are being intimidated and lies are being spread about Israel and the Jewish people. In contrast, radical Islamic groups that openly call for the destruction of Israel are being glorified. Sadly, the administrations and faculties of these university and college campuses are doing nothing to stop this. Christians need to realize that they are next. History demonstrates that these kinds of actions are a prelude to the persecution and the ultimate martyrdom of Jews and Christians. Isn’t it odd that the Obama administration in Washington is working toward the passing of international laws that protect Muslims and their religious convictions, while at the same time totally ignoring the threat against Jews and Christians? All of this is setting the stage for the events described in the Bible at the end of this age.
  • In the last newsletter, I reported on the increase in major earthquake and volcanic activity and their relationship to future prophecies. In recent weeks, I have learned that 29 out of 119 active volcanoes are erupting at this time. That is highly significant. It is my opinion, based upon scientific research, that the eruptions of volcanoes are the main contributor to “the greenhouse effect” that is creating global warming. Scientists have noted the gases that are emitted during volcanic eruptions contribute toward the thinning of the earth’s ozone layer. In light of this, the Bible predicts that volcanic eruptions will escalate during the Tribulation, creating dangerous heat levels. Malachi 4:1 states: “For, behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Near the end of the Tribulation, the Lord will send His angel with a judgment of great heat “and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.” (Revelation 16:8-9)
  • Contrary to my opinion, which is based upon Biblical and scientific research, politicians around the world are claiming that man-made emissions are the major factor in global warming. Furthermore, they are using their clamoring as a vehicle for taking control of the world. Currently, a United Nations’ document entitled “Agenda 21” is being implemented to destroy the economy of the world and force the free nations into a New World Order. Dick Morris, a former political advisor to President Bill Clinton, writes: “Agenda 21 is a UN document, written in 1992 at the Rio Conference that spells out how the elites who run the UN want us all to live. High density is in. Mass transit is the future. Bike lanes are how we will get to work. Suburbs, rural areas, grass, open spaces, forests, elbow room are things of the past. Cars and trucks are out. Bikes and trains are in. But the worst part of Agenda 21 is that President Obama has bought into it and is promoting it throughout the United States. … The elite globalists who run the United Nations are using the Agenda 21 model to restructure our lives and live them according to their – and not our – wishes.” (Dick Morris, Dickmorris.com, October 9, 2012)
  • One of the trends that Jesus mentioned as a sign of the end of this age is an increase in diseases. (Matthew 24:7) Many medical professionals are warning us that the overuse of antibiotics has created a unique situation. We are beginning to face bacterial diseases that are resistant to antibiotics. Dame Sally Davies, England’s chief medical officer, warns: “Antimicrobial resistance poses a catastrophic threat. If we don’t act now, any one of us could go into a hospital in 20 years for minor surgery and die because of an ordinary infection that can’t be treated by antibiotics. And routine operations like hip replacements or organ transplants could be deadly because of the risk of infection.” She further explains, “Antibiotics fail because bacteria develop resistance to the drugs over time. In the decades after the invention of penicillin it did not seem to be a problem because drug companies developed new versions. But no new classes of drugs have been discovered since 1987 and the pipeline has now dried up.” (Sarah Boseley, “New wave of superbugs poses dire threat, says chief medical officer,” www.guardian.co.uk, March 11, 2013)
  • Ten years ago, Iraq had 300 churches and 1.4 million Christians. However, now that number has dwindled to only 57 churches with about 500,000 Christians remaining. Many have been killed,while most have immigrated to other countries. They are fleeing from the oppression and persecution of radical Muslim elements in Iraq. Similar developments are taking place in Egypt and Syria. All of this is a precursor to attacks against Christians that will be very prevalent during the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 13:710) The butchery of believers during the Tribulation Period will be directed by the Islamic Antichrist, whose headquarters will in in Babylon, Iraq. (Isaiah 14:4)

The Obama Visit to Israel

 

Before the Obama visit, the Palestinian government removed a marker in Bethlehem that displayed a map of the future Palestinian State. This marker clearly shows the entire land of Israel being replaced by a Palestinian State. This demonstrates that the goal of the Palestinians is not just the “West Bank,” but the entire land of Israel. Photo by Israel Today
During his recent visit to Israel, President Obama portrayed himself as being chummy with the Israeli leaders. He also spoke in such a way as to woo the Israeli public into believing that he admires Israel and is a firm supporter of the Jewish nation. However, polls conducted after his visit indicates that Israelis were not persuaded by his rhetoric and political posturing. Many in Israel believe that Obama’s mission was to win over the Israeli public. Obama wants Israelis to capitulate to him when he delivers an ultimatum that calls for them to hand over East Jerusalem and the West Bank to the Palestinians. Prior to Obama’s arrival in Israel word leaked that the White House had released a video showing a map of the Middle East. This map showed “the Golan Heights, Jerusalem, northern Israel, and areas surrounding what is currently the West Bank as non-Israeli territory. The Golan Heights is shown as part of Syria; Jerusalem is shown as part of the Palestinian Authority; and northern Israel is shown as part of Lebanon.
“Even more telling, the president’s itinerary on the White House website also implies that Jerusalem is neither Israel’s capital nor even part of Israel. …
“By sending such messages to Israel, the Obama administration is also sending messages to the Islamic world and to the forces inside it that are obsessively focused on the destruction of the Jewish state. And that message is unmistakable: Israel is the interloper, a Western colonial outpost, an occupier that has stolen Palestinian land. Therefore, Jerusalem, is not only not Israel’s capital, it belongs to the Arabs. When Obama said he wants to go back to her pre-1967 borders, he meant it.” (Letter from David Horowitz, March 20, 2013)

Has Obama Promised the Palestinians He will Divide Jerusalem?

According to a World Net Daily (WND) report by Aaron Klein, a senior WND staff reporter and Jerusalem bureau chief, “President Barack Obama has already secretly pledged to the Palestinians he will press Israel into a new round of so-called land-for-peace negotiations, a top Palestinian Authority negotiator told WND. The negotiator said a top member of the Obama administration told the Palestinians the U.S. president will renew talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state in the so-called 1967 borders – meaning the West Bank, Gaza Strip and notably, eastern Jerusalem. … The negotiator further claimed that Obama quietly pledged to the Palestinians a campaign at the United Nations to renew U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which calls for a Palestinian state in the ‘1967 borders.’ [He also] said that Obama had promised the PA [Palestinian Authority] that the establishment of a Palestinian state will be one of the main priorities for a second term.” (Aaron Klein, “Obama Secretly Pledges to Divide Jerusalem,” www.wnd.com, February 1, 2013)

If this report is accurate, and President Obama carries through with his promises to the Palestinians, he will bring himself and the entire United States into the crosshairs of the divine judgment of God Almighty. The Lord has promised that all who attempt to divide His land and wrestle Jerusalem away from His chosen people will be crushed. In Zechariah 12:3, He warned: “And in that day I will 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.”

My friends, if the president of the United States attempts to divide the Holy City of Jerusalem, he will bring himself and the entire U.S. nation under the divine curse of Genesis 12:3 -“… I will … curse him that curseth thee.” Prepare yourself. The Almighty will keep His promise. At His time, and in His way, He will keep this promise. It will only be a matter of time!
Newly-Elected Israeli Government Calls for More Bible Study
In an amazing new twist of political events in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to invite into his new governmental coalition two of the newly formed parties that received many votes during the recent election. Israel Today reports that both of these parties have recently stated that they are in favor of all citizens being involved in Bible study. The new coalition released the following statement: “The State of Israel recognized the importance and centrality of Torah (Bible) study as a central value of the Jewish people and the state of Israel.” (www.israeltoday.co.il, March 14, 2013)
Israel Today further commented: “Both parties also want more comprehensive Bible study in Israeli schools, and with Yesh Atid [one of the newly elected political leaders] taking the Ministry of Education, they will be able to achieve that. What other nation today has as a central pillar of its ruling government the importance of studying the Bible?” (www.israeltoday.co.il, March 14, 2013)
All of this is an exciting indication that there is a gradual turning of Jewish hearts to the Word of God, just like the Bible predicted would happen in the last of the last days. After the Rapture, this will be aided by the two Jewish witnesses (Revelation 11:3-6) and the 144,000 sealed Jewish evangelists. (Revelation 7) However, all of this will be dwarfed by the education of the Messiah during the Kingdom when the Word of the Lord will go forth from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3) As a result, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)
This is one reason why we should pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Come King Jesus. We long for your righteous kingdom to teach the children of this earth about who You are!
Israel is for Peace
The world continues to blame Israel for the lack of peace in the Middle East. However, the real facts point to Israel’s Islamic neighbors who are the true cause for hatred, violence, and war in the Middle East.
Israel recently demonstrated her desire to live in peace with her Arab neighbors. Usually, as is the custom, immediately before Passover the Jewish mother removes all bread from the house, and it is burned. However, this Passover, several Jewish families in the disputed territories on the West Bank decided to give this bread to the Palestinians, with the following note attached: “In the name of God the most merciful, we wish for neighborly relations. Our hands are extended in peace, peace from the heart. Peace in the grace of God and the name of God. From your Jewish neighbors, members of Eretz Shalom.” (Reported by Israel Today)