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2015 February – The Approaching Global Islamic Jihad

The Approaching Global Islamic Jihad

“And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” – Revelation 6:4

By Mike Wingfield

We are at war, while most of the free world is in a moral stupor concerning Islamic jihad! The world refuses to recognize that a deadly political and religious ideology called Islam has renewed an ancient declaration of war against those who refuse to submit to its beliefs and way of life. Since 9/11 the world has had numerous daily reminders, like the recent terrorist attacks in France, to remind us of this reality. Islamic terrorists have carried out more than 25,000 attacks around the world since 9/11. (www.thereligionofpeace.com) I believe, according to the Bible, that when the end of this age comes, the entire world will experience the brutal and savage attacks of Islamic jihad warriors. This will account for much of the massive global death toll of the entire 7-year Tribulation Period.

After the January massacres by militant Muslims at the magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket in France, there was a massive international demonstration in Paris. Four million people participated in the march to voice their opposition to the violence perpetrated against innocent French civilians. However, many who joined the protest were Muslims who support Islamic jihad. Comments by the French leaders made no mention of Islamic jihad or anti-Semitism. “The words ‘Islam’ and ‘jihadist’ were not mentioned. President François Hollande said, against all evidence, ‘Those who committed these acts have nothing to do with Islam.’” (www.gatestoneinstitute.org, January 19, 2015)

In September 2014, President Obama stated in one of his speeches that the ISIS terrorist group that is marching across Syria and Iraq, brutally killing thousands of innocent people in the name of Allah, “is not Islamic.” (townhall.com, September 10, 2014) He totally disregards the reality of their self-appointed name, “the Islamic State,” and their mimicking of Islamic history, traditions, and doctrine.

Comments by these two world leaders clearly demonstrate that the West is in utter denial of the threat of militant Islam. The Obama administration has attempted to remove any connection between Islam and the brutal acts of terrorism that are sweeping across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the entire world. Not only is the West in denial, but it is attempting to appease Islam, thinking it will eventually curtail the march of these Islamic death squads across the globe. History demonstrates that such appeasement never works.

It is true that there is an overwhelming number of Muslims who do not practice jihad. Some are silent because if they speak out against these jihadists they will also become the target of Islamic terrorism. However, most of these silent Muslims support Islam’s goal of ultimate global domination. In other words, they support the eventual subjugation of all nations to Islam, but may disagree on the methodology of how to achieve it.

Most of the world is walking in spiritual darkness and does not understand that global jihad is a warning flare, signaling that the Tribulation Period is about to begin. It is my understanding that militant Islam will play a major role in the godless world system of the final seven years of man’s control of this planet.

I believe the religious system that is called “MYSTERY BABYLON” in Revelation 17:5 is Islam. In light of ancient Biblical customs, it is clear that the imagery in this text points to a religion. This religion is centered in a desert (Revelation 17:3), kills believers in Jesus Christ (Revelation 17:6) by decapitation (Revelation 20:4), and has a resource (oil) transported by sea that makes political leaders, merchants, and marine transporters rich. (Revelation 18:9-20) When the Bible student examines the Old Testament passages that are quoted and alluded to by the Apostle John in his references to Babylon, it becomes clear that he is talking about a religion that is centered in the Middle East, and especially in Iraq. For example, when the final destruction of Babylon comes in the Tribulation Period, as described in Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 50-51 and Revelation 18, it will be completely devastated. No one will ever inhabit that region again, even during the Millennial Kingdom. (Isaiah 13:19-20; 34:1-10; Jeremiah 51:24-26; Revelation 19:3) Isaiah declared: “neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make there fold there.” (Isaiah 13:20)

When you connect all of these dots, they point to only one religious power structure in the world – Islam. It is not an accident that in the last 40 years Islam has been riding a very powerful revival, like a tsunami crashing into the nations with devastating impact. Massive numbers of Muslim immigrants are flooding the Western nations with the goal of bringing radical change that will ultimately bring them into submission to Islam. The fact that Islam is the fasting-growing religion in the world, while Biblical Christianity is being rejected, certainly shines a light into the spiritual darkness of the approaching Tribulation Period.

The worship of the crescent moon god did not begin with the creation of Islam about 1,300 years ago. In recent decades, archaeologists have uncovered the crescent moon symbol and linked it to various pagan gods who were worshiped over 3,000 years ago in Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Canaan, Assyria and Babylon. The traditions, teachings, and practices of Islam are a revival of the religion of their Arab ancestors in Old Testament times. (Revelation 18:24)

In Revelation 17-18, the Apostle John depicted this false religion as a woman riding a beast with seven heads and ten horns. Those who have studied this imagery, beginning in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, agree that this beast represents the final one-world government that will “devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it into pieces.” (Daniel 7:23) This final global kingdom will be assaulted by the Antichrist, finally conquering it by the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation Period. The Antichrist will rule over all nations for 42 months, the final half of this horrific period on earth. (Revelation 13:5-7) It is worth noting that this final kingdom and its ruler are depicted as being controlled by the religious system. Notice that the woman (religion) is pictured riding the beast (political kingdom of the Antichrist). Thus, the Antichrist and his kingdom will be in submission to the one-world religion, which is Islam.

There are several Biblical clues that point to the Antichrist being an Islamic caliphate (dictator). In Isaiah 14:4 he is given the title: “the king of Babylon.” In Daniel 11, the Antichrist will have no respect for other gods. (verse 37) He will not have any respect for women. (verse 37) He will honor a god of military might. (verse 38) He will promise peace, while strategizing the destruction of many. (Daniel 8:25) He will blaspheme the God of the Bible. (Revelation 13:6) The Antichrist will declare war on believers in Jesus Christ. He will kill those who refuse to submit to his authority and his god. (Revelation 13:15)

The primary focus of the Antichrist will be upon Israel. He will seek to divide the land of Israel. (Daniel 11:39) Once he has attained world power, he will break his false covenant with Israel and take control of the Temple Mount and the Jewish temple located there. (Daniel 9:27) He will seek to capture and kill Jewish believers in Jesus, who will flee from him. (Matthew 24:15-20) In light of current developments in the Middle East, this clearly points to the Muslim identity of the Antichrist.

The understanding of the opening events in the Tribulation Period in Revelation 6:1-11 must be viewed in light of the larger Biblical context. Depicted as four horsemen, a very powerful military force will rapidly move across the nations of the world. This force will use its militant power, while preaching a message of peace, to take political control of the world. The net result of this militant global attack will shatter world peace and the economy of the world. In the wake of this global attack, one-fourth of the world’s population will die.

In my opinion, these four horsemen represent the impact of global Islamic jihad at the beginning of the Tribulation Period. First, it is important to establish that the opening of the seal judgments in Revelation 6 represents the inauguration of the Tribulation Period. In order to grasp this, the Bible student must examine the context of this passage. Remember that in this book, the Apostle John has been transported into the future day of the Lord. (Revelation 1:10) He is given the assignment to write down what he experienced in his walk through the present and the future. (Revelation 1:19) In chapters four and five, John is in heaven. He first reports what he saw and heard around the throne of God. In these chapters John reports that he saw a group, called the 24 elders, who had been judged, received their crowns, and cast them at the feet of their Lord in heaven. In Revelation 5:9-10, we are told that this group of 24 elders represents a redeemed group of believers who are kings and priests from all the nations in the world. This must be a reference to the church, which has been raptured and judged. It must be noted, according to the Bible, that all believers are not judged and do not receive their rewards until after their resurrection. Therefore, the chronology of events in Revelation 4-6 demands that the church will be raptured before the Tribulation Period begins!

After John’s picture of the church’s worship around the throne, in chapter five, John focuses upon a little scroll with seven seals upon it. In light of Biblical customs and the subsequent results of opening these seals, it is apparent that this scroll represents the title deed to the universe. The action of Jesus taking this scroll from His Father and opening the seals is very significant. The breaking of these seals represents the sovereign judgment of our Lord upon the nations. He is literally taking control of the governments of this world. This is declared by the voices in heaven in Revelation 11:15: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

In light of this, the breaking of these seals represents the opening events of the Lord’s judgment upon the nations. Notice that before each rider proceeds upon the earth, they are commanded by Jesus to “come.” (Revelation 6:1, 3, 5, 7) As believers in Jesus Christ, we should take great comfort in the fact that all that is happening now, and at the beginning of the Tribulation Period, is under the control of the King of heaven. Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Now, let us turn our attention to identifying who the four horsemen in Revelation 6 represent. A casual reading of this text clearly indicates that these horsemen represent the brutal acts of militant people at the beginning of the Tribulation. In light of the broader context of Biblical customs, horses represent military conquest. For example, Proverbs 21:31 declares: “The horse is prepared against the day of battle.” In light of the wars of the last days mentioned in the Bible, all of the wars and rumors of wars are mainly focused upon Israel. Notice that in the Battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39, the Islamic nations that invade Israel are depicted as coming on horses. (Ezekiel 38:4, 15; 39:20) It is worth noting that all of the nations that are named that come with the Antichrist against Israel at Armageddon are Muslim nations. (Psalm 83; Isaiah 63:1; Joel 3:4, 19) The Islamic nations at Armageddon are pictured as coming on horses. (Revelation19:18) Therefore, to be consistent with this Biblical context, it is proper to view the four horsemen in Revelation 6 as the global militant advances of Islam at the opening of the Tribulation Period. With this in mind, let us examine the Biblical text about these opening events of the Tribulation Period.

White Horse- Islamic Caliphate Restored

Revelation 6:1-2

Many conservative Biblical scholars agree that the rider on this horse is the Antichrist. Some have thought that this rider is Jesus Christ. However, this cannot be the proper interpretation. First, Jesus is the Lamb in heaven who opens these seals. He is not the rider on the white horse on earth. Jesus descends from heaven on a white horse at the end of the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 19:11) According to Islamic tradition and teaching, when their messiah arrives – the Madhi – he will appear on a white horse.

Notice that he is pictured as having a bow, with no mention of arrows. Many have correctly interpreted this as a reference to the peaceful promises of the Antichrist. The Antichrist will portray himself as a man of peace, while he will really be a man of war. Daniel 8:25 states: “by peace [he] shall destroy many.” Islam continually proclaims that it is a religion of peace. However, in reality, the doctrine of Islam divides the world into two houses: “the house of peace” (for all Muslims in submission to all of Allah’s commands) and “the house of war” (for all infidels and moderate Muslims who will not submit to the laws of Allah). This is the very doctrine that is being applied in the nations by militant Islam.

Next, notice that Revelation 6:2 states “and a crown was given unto him.” The Greek word that is translated “crown” speaks of an overcomer who has won a military conquest. This is exactly what many Muslims are expecting. Islam teaches that through Islamic jihad, Muslims will conquer the world and force the nations to submit to the rule of an Islamic caliphate (dictator). This is a system of government that is based upon the Koran as dictated by a recognized leader who is a descendant of the prophet Mohammed. This system is in some ways very similar to the socialist system of government, where a very few rule over the masses and control every facet of their lives.

The Biblical text continues, “and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2) This simply means that the objective of this one on the white horse will be military conquest that will lead to political domination. The doctrine of militant jihad against infidels and apostate Muslims is a major teaching in the Koran. There are 164 verses in the Koran that teach Islamic jihad as it was practiced by the founder of this religion, Mohammed. (www.answeringislam.org/Quran/Themes/jihad_passages.html)

Red Horse- The Beginning of Global

Islamic Jihad

Revelation 6:3-4

The rider of the red horse must also be a representation of Islam. Revelation 6:4 states: “And there went out another horse that was red…” The Greek word “another” means “same as the other.” So, if the first horse represents Islam, then the second one must also be connected to this religion.

Notice this rider is given “a great sword” with which he will “take peace from the earth,” as people “kill one another.” (Revelation 6:4) The Greek word translated “sword” does not refer to the long saber type of sword that was used in ancient military conflict. The word used here refers to a short dagger, which was the weapon of assassins. Here this represents violent massacres and terrorism that will be characteristic of the jihad type of guerrilla warfare against the infidel nations.

In addition to this, the recognized symbol of Islam is the sword of Allah. It appears on many flags and banners of militant Islam. For example, look at the flag of Saudi Arabia, and the emblem of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The swords [on the Muslim Brotherhood emblem] reinforce the group’s militancy and, as traditional weapons, symbolize historic Islam. They also reinforce the group’s commitment to jihad. The Koran denotes the group’s spiritual foundation. The motto, “Be prepared,” is a reference to a Koranic verse that talks of preparing to fight the enemies of God.” Copied from:

http://archive.adl.org/terrorism/symbols/muslim_brotherhood_1.html

Islamic jihad is gradually changing the face of the globe. The events in Syria and Iraq perpetrated by the Islamic State give us a glimpse into the kind of events that will become global at the beginning of the Tribulation Period.

Black Horse- Global Sharia Law Declared

Revelation 6:5-6

When Muslim forces are successful in conquering an area, it is their goal to immediately declare sharia law (the law of the Koran). Notice that the rider of this black horse has a pair of balances in his hand. The pair of balances represents the control of commerce and the economy, which is one of the chief goals of Islam, and is implemented as a part of sharia law. Sharia banking is a system that is sweeping the world. It is a dictatorial system of Islamic economic applications based upon the Koran.

According to the context, all of this will come at a time of famine and global economic upheaval. We cannot be sure if the famine and economic upheaval precede the beginning of global Islamic jihad, or if the famine and economic collapse are a result of the jihad. It could go either way. However, it is most interesting to observe that in the war-torn areas that the Islamic State controls there is great concern of a collapse of the economy and agriculture. Some are predicting that the shortage of food in the areas controlled by the Islamic State could result in famine, which could cause malnutrition that could trigger the eruption of diseases. (See Revelation 6:8.)

According to Revelation 6:6, the areas that are impacted by global jihad could suffer to the point that a quart of wheat would cost the equivalent of a day’s wage. Think about it! A person would need to work all day to buy about two loaves of wheat bread. About one-half of the world’s population, many of them forcefully living under sharia law, currently live on less than $2.50 per day. (www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats)

Pale Green Horse- Global Sharia

Law Implemented

Revelation 6:7-8

The color of the final horse is pale green. I personally do not believe that it is a coincidence that this is the official color of Islam. It is the color of their mosques, banners, and flags. Notice that in Revelation 6:8 the name of the person on this horse is “Death” and that “Hell followed with him.” A study of world history will show that Islam has a record of bloody jihad. Several sources provide statistical data to show that Islamic jihad has been responsible for 270 million killed in the last 1,400 years.

However, what is about to take place during the Tribulation Period is unprecedented. According to Revelation 6:8, near the beginning of the Tribulation Period one-fourth of the global population will be killed. Shortly after the Rapture of the church, the remaining global population of 7 billion will face the most brutal killing rampage in the history of mankind. Approximately 1.5 billion people, will die in the opening months of this time. During this time, millions from around the world will turn to Christ for salvation. Revelation 6:9-11 and 7:9-17 indicate that the major target of the Antichrist’s Islamic jihad will be the newly born-again believers in Jesus Christ. Observing what is happening now in Sudan, Nigeria, Syria, and Iraq, it is easy to understand how these developments will unfold at the beginning of the Tribulation Period.

There are many reports coming out of the Middle East about Muslims coming to Christ. It is apparent that in the midst of all of the jihad taking place, that Muslims are rejecting a message of hate and war for the message of love and eternal life found in the Jesus Christ. In the last few weeks I had the privilege of meeting with an Egyptian believer who lives in Cairo. He shared with me how hundreds of house churches are ministering to the growing number of former Muslims who are now believers in Jesus Christ. He shared with me how hungry these believers are for the Word of God. They constantly live under the shadow of persecution and death if they are discovered.

The liberal west continues to deny that terrorism is connected to the religion of Islam. They really do not recognize the threat that Islamic jihad is to the freedoms we have enjoyed in a country that was founded upon the Word of God. The godless leaders of the West have moved so far away from God that they have morally collapsed, calling good evil and evil good. This is really not a surprise to me. The book of Revelation repeatedly declares that the inhabitants of the world will be “intoxicated” with the religion that will dominate the world when the end has arrived. (Revelation 14:8; 17:2; and 18:3) The idea that they are intoxicated means they will be in a mental stupor and unaware of the dangerous realities before them.

I am convinced that our world is being shaped for the Tribulation Period as never before. The growing threat of Islamic jihad and the intoxication of the West to this danger tells me that our world is heading down a deadly corridor. Someday, the church will suddenly exit this world and the four horsemen of Revelation 6 will be ready to ride onto the stage of human history.

Friends, we have the only message of hope for our world. Jesus Christ is the only One who can set us free from our sins. (John 8:36) We have been commanded to take the gospel to the nations of the world. Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. This is the message of the Bible. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be save.” (Acts 4:12) “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)

Jesus demanded that His followers worship Him as God. He said: “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. … he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” (John 14:1, 6, 9) If Jesus is not God equal with the Father, then He is a liar or a lunatic. He cannot be just a great prophet. Prophets do not claim to be God. Jesus is not a liar, or a lunatic, or just a great prophet. He is God! If you do not believe that, then you are lost and on your way to eternal damnation.

As you are reading this newsletter, some believer is giving his life because he believes that Jesus Christ is God. Millions of believers have faced persecution and death because they know that Jesus died for them. They love Him so much they are willing to die for Him.

Please do not continue to walk in spiritual darkness. We are near the end of this age. Please confess that Jesus is God. He died on the cross for your sins. He arose from the grave three days later. He ascended back to His Father in heaven and is coming again. Soon! Are you ready for the shout that will take us out?

Massive Jewish Immigration

to Israel Under Way

Israel is preparing for a large wave of new immigrants from Europe. A recent survey indicates that one-half of Great Britain’s population is anti-Semitic. Consequently, one-fourth of Great Britain’s Jews are planning to immigrate to Israel.

A similar development is taking place in other European countries. French Jews are feeling that is no longer safe to remain in France. Hundreds of thousands of French Jews are in the process of making application to immigrate to Israel.

The International Jerusalem Report states: “The French situation is part of a broader European picture that stretches from Kiev to London. In the East, nationalist instability seems endemic, and is now coupled with economic failure underscored by collapsing currencies. In the West, growing social tensions between Muslim immigrants and indigenous Christians are making a growing number of Jews feel increasingly insecure.” (The International Jerusalem Post, January 23-29, 2015, pp. 16-17)

These movements are very significant in light of Biblical prophecy. When the millennial kingdom begins every Jew in the world will return to Israel. (Ezekiel 39:27-29) Today there are about 15 million Jewish people in the world and only 6.3 million of them are living in Israel. However, as the world’s economy collapses and anti-Semitism increases, we will witness a growing number of Jews that will return to their ancient homeland.

Russia and Iran Sign Military Pact

According to several sources, “Iran and Russia signed an agreement [on January 20, 2015] to expand military ties in a visit to Tehran by the Russian defense minister.

“Sergei Shoigu, in remarks carried by Russian news agencies, said Moscow wants to develop a “long-term and multifaceted” military relationship with Iran. He said that the new agreement includes expanded counter-terrorism cooperation, exchanges of military personnel for training purposes and an understanding for each country’s navy to more frequently use the other’s ports.” (Associated Press, January 20, 2015)

T hese kinds of agreements continue to forge the Gog and Magog alliance as mentioned in Ezekiel 38:1-6.

In addition to Russia’s military pact with Iran, we are witnessing the collapse of the Russian economy. With punishing financial sanctions against Russia due to her invasion of Ukraine and falling oil prices, Russia’s currency is in a free-fall. This is also significant because according to Ezekiel 38:12-13, one of the major reasons for Russia to join the militant Islamic nations in an invasion of Israel is to take a great economic spoil from Israel.

In light of these reports, it does seem that Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and Sudan are being prepared for their supernatural defeat in the land of Israel.

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2015 January – The Holy City of Jerusalem

The Holy City of Jerusalem

“Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.” Psalm 102:13-14

By Mike Wingfield

Just a few weeks ago, I once again stood within the ancient walls of the most important city in the world – Jerusalem. Strangely enough, when I am in Jerusalem, my heart fills with joy because it feels like “home” to me.

For almost three decades, I have been making trips to Israel. What a privilege I have had to walk where so many prophets and kings of Israel, and especially our Lord Jesus, walked. With each of my tours, I have purposely left Jerusalem as the final destination of our pilgrimage in the Holy Land. As a lifetime student of the Word of God and believer in Jesus Christ, my heart has been greatly stirred each time I have visited the holy city of Jerusalem.

There is no city on earth like Jerusalem. It is the only city with a divine destiny. The sovereign power and zeal of God guarantees that this city will ultimately fulfill its divine purpose. (Read Isaiah 62:1-7.) When the old Jerusalem passes away with the old earth, the New Jerusalem will appear on the New Earth. (Revelation 21:1-2)

No other city in the Bible demands attention like Jerusalem. It is mentioned by name over 800 times. When other names for this city are considered, the Biblical references to Jerusalem number over 1,000. Jerusalem is called “Zion” over 150 times in the Scriptures. Other names include: “The city of the great King,” “The city of the Lord of Hosts,” Ariel, City of God, City of David, City of Judah, City of Righteousness, City of Truth, Holy City, Faithful City.

The Lord considers Jerusalem to be holy. This means that this city is different than all other cities. It is a city set apart from all other cities. It is not the largest city in the world, or the most populated. The uniqueness of Jerusalem is bound up in the eternal purposes of God.

(Psalm 102:13-21; 125:1) It has played a major role in God’s plans in the past and is destined to be at center stage during the last days of man’s time on this earth.

In many ways, Jerusalem is totally unique. With this in mind, let us look at five ways Jerusalem is unique:

1. Jerusalem is geographically at the center of the earth.

When the Lord created the nations, He placed the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem at the center of the earth. (Ezekiel 5:5) Literally, Ezekiel 5:5 declares that Jerusalem is the “navel” of the earth. Just as the umbilical cord has been designed by the Creator to transfer life sustaining substances to the baby while in its mother’s womb, even so the Lord has chosen that spiritual life for the soul has come through Jerusalem to the nations of the world. The Word of the Lord and our redemption have come out of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is destined to be the center of the Messiah’s global administration during His reign over the nations for 1,000 years. (Isaiah 2:1-3) Jerusalem will serve as the spiritual, political, educational, and economic hub of the world. All nations will be required to go up to Jerusalem annually to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16) Those who dwell in the kingdom will call the Holy City “the throne of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:17) How fitting for Jerusalem to be located in the center of the nations.

Before we continue with our consideration of Jerusalem being unique among the cities of the nations, I would like to point out that Ezekiel’s statement about Jerusalem being the geographical center of the nations could not have been humanly determined in his time. The first attempts to construct a global map took place only a few hundred years before the time of Christ. These maps were very crude and inaccurate. Therefore, Ezekiel’s declaration about Jerusalem being the center of the earth must have been due to divine revelation. This is the only logical explanation.

2. Jerusalem is the focus of divine attention.

The divine will and purposes of God are always at the center of His focus. While speaking about the Promised Land, the Lord told Moses that the land He was giving to His people was a land that He cared for, and that “the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”

(Deuteronomy 11:12) Hundreds of years later, when Solomon had completed the Temple in Jerusalem, the Lord repeated the Davidic covenant to the King (a covenant that guarantees a future descendant of David will rule from Jerusalem). In doing so, He spoke concerning Jerusalem and swore: “mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.” (1 Kings 9:3)

When the Lord looks upon Jerusalem, He uses the language of affection that a young man would use as he looks upon his virgin bride. (Isaiah 62:5) God rejoices over Jerusalem and longs for her with a great love. Under divine inspiration, the Psalmist wrote: “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion.” (Psalm 48:2) In Psalm 50:2, he declared: “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.” This beloved city is known as “the mount Zion which he loved.” (Psalm 78:68) “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. … for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. … And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” (Zechariah 1:14; 2:8, 12)

In a very unique way, Jerusalem is known in the Bible as symbolically being the dwelling place of God. (Psalm 74:2; 76:2) Psalm 132:13-14 proclaims: “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.” It is called “the throne of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:17) It is “the city of our God” (Psalm 48:1, see also Psalm 87:3), “the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2), and “the city of the LORD of hosts” (Psalm 48:8) The Lord has determined that His name is to be associated with Jerusalem. (Deuteronomy 12:5, 11) Jerusalem is “a crown of glory,” and “a royal diadem” in the hand of the Lord. (Isaiah 62:3) While speaking of His Son, the Lord Jesus, the Father has announced to the nations: “Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:6)

The Lord has promised that He will never forget Jerusalem. In a very unique way He has declared:

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” (Isaiah 49:16)

When we begin to grasp the reality of these truths, we can begin to fathom the purposes behind Satan’s great efforts to destroy the very city that the Lord loves. Satan hates what the Lord loves.

3. Jerusalem is the epicenter of the spirit world

Satan is known in the Bible as the prince of this world. It is his objective to dominate and control the kingdoms of this world in his war against the Most High God. God’s name, “the Most High God,” indicates that He is “the possessor of heaven and earth.” (Genesis 14:19, 22)

Satan knows that the creation belongs to God. However, it is his desire to dethrone God and take control of the creation for his own purposes. There is a sense in which the Lord has allowed Satan to have temporary control over the godless kingdoms of this world. All of this is reflected in Satan’s strategy in the temptation of Jesus at the beginning of our Lord’s earthly ministry. (Matthew 4:8­10) Jerusalem is at the center of Satan’s efforts to dominate the kingdoms of this world in his opposition to God’s eternal plan. (Isaiah 14:12-14) The prophetic Word of God clearly demonstrates that Satan’s messiah, the Antichrist, will desire to dominate the city of Jerusalem, especially the Temple Mount. (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11­12) It is not an accident that Israel is locked in a death duel with Islam over the occupation and possession of Jerusalem, and especially the Temple Mount.

While speaking to Satan about His divine purposes for Jerusalem, the Lord referred to Jerusalem as “a brand plucked out of the fire.” (Zechariah 3:2) Indeed, Jerusalem has faced the attack of satanically inspired Gentile forces for centuries. What God has chosen to bless and use for His glory, Satan has desired to curse and abuse for His own purposes in his war against the Lord. At the epicenter of the war in the spirit world is the city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel.

While in Israel in November, my Israeli guide informed us that more foreign journalists live and report out of Jerusalem than any other city in the world, with the exception of Washington D.C. It is interesting to note that the occupation and control of Jerusalem was of little significance to the world until the return of the Jewish people in the last century. It is very apparent that Satan opposes any Israeli control of the Holy Land or holy city of Jerusalem because of its relative significance to the approaching kingdom of God upon this earth and his doom in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. (Revelation 20:1-3)

This struggle for Jerusalem is made even more complicated because it is the center of three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is most unique to be in Jerusalem for a weekend. The Muslim’s holy day is Friday. The Jewish people worship on Shabbat, beginning on Friday evening and ending the following evening. The Christians worship on the first day of the week, Sunday. Most Israeli churches have their worship service on Saturday evening, which according Biblical reckoning of time begins at sundown. (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31) In the Jewish frame of Biblical time, Sunday begins at sundown, not at midnight. The weekend in Israel consists of Friday and Saturday. Their workweek begins on Sunday morning.

4. Jerusalem is at the heart of God’s redemptive plan

The city of Jerusalem is at the center of God’s stage in His eternal plans. The city is first mentioned in Genesis 14:18 as “Salem,” which means “peace.” The name Jerusalem means “city of peace.” It is not a coincidence that the eternal God sent His Son to die outside the walls of Jerusalem to reconcile sinful men to Himself, thereby establishing a way that redeemed men can be at peace with God. The final mention of the earthly Jerusalem is found in Revelation 20:9. Here, it is the location of the final satanically induced rebellion against the Lord. This final revolt is the last recorded activity upon this old earth before it passes away and the new earth appears in the new heavens. (Revelation 21:1)

The Lord has ordained that Jerusalem is at the heart of the story of His plan of redemption. The details of God’s redemptive purposes were in place before the world was created by Him in the beginning of time. Revelation 13:8 speaks of Jesus as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” An examination of the hundreds of prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah overwhelms the Bible student with the precious reality that our redemption is a beautifully planned and orchestrated divine provision. At the heart of that plan and its development on earth, the Lord ordained that Jerusalem would be the city of redemption.

It was on the temple mount in Jerusalem, the same as Mount Moriah, where Abraham was tested to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. (Genesis 22:1-14) Later, it was this same mountain where the Lord directed Israel to build the temple. (Deuteronomy 12:5-16; 2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Kings 11:32) This location became the only divinely approved place of sacrifice for all of the animals that pointed to the final perfect sacrifice that would come, the Messiah. (Isaiah 53:1-12; Hebrews 9:11-14) Therefore, it was very fitting that the place of Christ’s crucifixion was a part of Mount Moriah.

Historically, the Word of the Lord has gone forth from Jerusalem. The Old Testament prophets were focused upon Jerusalem. The revelation given to them about Jerusalem certainly helped them understand the significant role this city would have in the coming of their Messiah. Jerusalem was the hub of divine activity for the church, and the apostles of our Lord in the beginning decades of the church. The Great Commission given to them by Jesus made it clear that it was God’s plan that the message of redemption was to be sent out to the nations from Jerusalem. (Acts 1:8)

Prophetically, the Word of the Lord will once again flow out to the nations from Jerusalem during the Tribulation Period and the Millennial Kingdom. The two Jewish witnesses (Revelation 11:3-12) and the ministry and training of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses (Revelation 7:1­

8: 14:1-5) will be centered in Jerusalem. The ancient Jewish prophet, Joel, proclaimed: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance…” (Joel 2:32) During the Millennial Kingdom the city of Jerusalem will be the spiritual capital of the world. The prophet Isaiah wrote: “… for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3) During the reign of the Messiah on earth, all nations will be required to annually go up to Jerusalem to worship the King. (Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 60:3; Zechariah 14:16)

The zeal of the Sovereign Almighty God of Israel guarantees that Jerusalem will become a spiritual light

unto the nations. He has declared: “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” (Isaiah 62:1)

5. Jerusalem is at the core of divine protection

Jerusalem is the epicenter of the war in the spiritual realm. Since this holy city is so vital to the eternal redemptive plan of God, the human mind, apart from Scripture, cannot begin to understand the magnitude of the spiritual attack upon Jerusalem by Satan and all those who aid his ancient rebellion against the Lord. This is why Jerusalem must remain at the core of divine protection for the purposes of God to unfold as He has promised. The Lord has declared: “I have set watchmen upon thy walls O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him to rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7)

The Lord’s promises to defend Jerusalem are numerous. In Psalm 125:1-2, the Lord pledged: “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” In Isaiah 29:1-8, the Lord calls Jerusalem “Ariel,” “the Lion of God.” In this text He warns all those who dream about capturing Jerusalem as their possession, that they will have their dreams frustrated. While speaking about Jerusalem in Zechariah 2:5, the Lord declared: “For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midist of thee.” When the end of this age comes, He has given the following assurance: “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”

(Zechariah 12:9)

According to the Bible, when the end of this age comes, it will produce the final phase of the spiritual war that has been raging in the spirit world since the fall of Lucifer. We call this final phase – the Tribulation Period. This seven-year period will represent Satan’s greatest effort to defeat God. He must do everything in his diabolical power to detain, disrupt, or defeat the return of Jesus to set up His earthly kingdom in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. If he fails in his attempt to stop Jesus, he knows that there is an angel that has the key to the bottomless pit, and he will be bound by that angel and cast into that pit until the end of the millennial kingdom. (Revelation 20:1-3) Then, he will be released from his prison for one more final attempt to overthrow Jesus. This final confrontation will once again, take place in Jerusalem. (Revelation 20:7-9)

The fact that the world is riveted upon a godless plan that calls for two countries to share the Promised Land, with Jerusalem as their capital, is a clear sign that we are near the end of the Church Age. The world is united in passionate opposition to the eternal plan of God for His people and the Holy City. It is not a coincidence that the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael and Esau, those whom God rejected and made certain in the Scriptures that they were not to inherit the land given to the Jewish people.

Today, the Palestinians are demanding that Israel give up the heartland of what God promised His chosen people, Judea and Samaria and the very city that is mentioned in the Bible over 800 times. And, the world is supporting the Palestinian cause. This all indicates that the stage is set for the Antichrist to appear and the Tribulation to begin. Long ago, the Psalmist wrote: “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof. … When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. … This shall be written [for the last generation].” (Psalm 102:13-14, 16, 18)

As this newsletter goes to press, the U.S. administration continues to badger Israel for building residential dwellings within their own capital. World opinion is rapidly turning against Israel for not capitulating to their demands and thereby committing national suicide. The world wants Israel to turn over the very heart of the land to a sworn enemy that continues to demonstrate that they hate the Jewish people and are determined to drive them from the Middle East.

A study of history will reveal that the Arabs and Muslims have never had a compassionate desire to make Jerusalem one of their major cities. Jerusalem is never mentioned in the Koran by name. Islam’s two major cities are Mecca and Medina. It was not until the 20th century and the modern return of the Jewish people to Israel that the Arab/Islamic world began to view the Promised Land and Jerusalem as being important. Why? The answer is found in Ezekiel 36:1-8. In this text, the Lord revealed that when Israel would return to their land in the last days, the surrounding nations would demand that the land is not Jewish land, but Arab land. Concerning this, the Lord announced that these Arab nations “have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.” (Ezekiel 36:5)

However, Jerusalem has been in the dreams, ambitions, and hearts of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years since King David established it as their capital. I was reminded of this last summer when I read the following article, “We never forgot Jerusalem,” that appeared in The International Jerusalem Post. This article, written by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, was an edited version of a speech he gave as part of the annual Jerusalem days in Israel; in which Israelis celebrate the stunning capture and reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. In this article he eloquently reminds us of the incredible love attachment that the Jewish people have had for Jerusalem for 3,000 years.

“No people ever loved a city more. We saw Jerusalem destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and yet in all those years, wherever Jews lived they never ceased to pray about Jerusalem, face Jerusalem, speak the language of Jerusalem, remember it at every wedding, in every home they built, and at the high points of the Jewish year.

“I ask myself, how could Jews believe so much in a city they had been exiled from for so long? The answer, of course, is very powerful and is contained in [the] words in the story of Jacob. Recall, the brothers return home and show Jacob the blood-stained coat of Joseph. Realizing Joseph has gone, Jacob weeps, and when the brothers move to comfort him we are told, Jacob ‘refused to be comforted.’ Why? There are, after all, laws in Judaism about the limits of grief; there is no such thing as a bereavement for which grief is endless. The answer is that Jacob had not yet given up hope that Joseph was still alive. To refuse to be comforted is to refuse to give up hope.

“That is what Jews did with Jerusalem. They remembered the promise that the people of Israel had made by the waters of Babylon. ‘If I forget Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning.’ We never forgot Jerusalem. We were never comforted. We never gave up hope that one day we would return and because of that Jews never felt separated from Jerusalem.

“When it happened, in 1967, my Jewish identity was transformed when the world heard, ‘The Temple Mount is in our hands.’ These … words changed a generation. ….”

“Twenty-six centuries ago, the prophet Jeremiah said that a time would come when we would not thank God for bringing us out of the land of Egypt, but rather for bringing our people together from all lands of the earth. This second exodus, Jeremiah described, would be even more miraculous than the first. We lived to see this day, when Jews from 103 countries speaking 82 languages came to Israel to build not just their lives but the Jewish homeland. After generations it was Jerusalem that brought Jews together from all over the world as one people, in one voice, singing one song. …

“Never has a city had such power over a people’s imagination. Never did God love a people more and never were a people more loyal than the ancestors who endured and grandchildren or great-grandchildren could come home to Jerusalem, the Holy City, the home of the Jewish heart.” (“We never forgot Jerusalem, Jonathan Sacks, The International Jerusalem Post, June 13-19, 2014, pp. 10­11)

The Jewish people have never forgotten Jerusalem. The Lord has declared that He has never forgotten Jerusalem either. (Isaiah 49:14-16) He will also never forsake Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:4, 12)

As we begin this year, we must have our spiritual hearts focused upon the promise of our Lord’s return. The key that unlocks the understanding of Biblical prophecy is the nation of Israel, and especially the Holy City of Jerusalem. So, keep your eyes upon Jerusalem. The Lord does!

Israel a Blessing to the Nations

About 4,000 years ago, when God called the first Jew, Abraham, the Lord told him that his descendants would be a blessing to the world. (Genesis 12:3) In these modern times, the Jews, who represent just .2 percent of the world’s population, have won 22 percent of the Nobel prizes. How ironic that Satan has successfully deceived the nations to hate the people who have blessed them.

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2014 June – Making Sure You Will Not Be Left Behind – Part One

Making Sure You Will Not Be Left Behind – Part One

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own yourselves.” -2 Corinthians 13:5

By Mike Wingfield

My 17 years of preaching and teaching the Word of God in churches across America have aroused great concern in my heart for the people sitting in the pews. More specifi­cally, when I speak on the Second Coming of Christ, I sense that deplorable spiritual conditions exist in some of our churches. And my concerns are heightened when I consider the fact that I am only invited to speak in church­es that consider themselves to be conservative and evan­gelical.

It is very apparent to me that most church members’ lives are no different than those who are lost or not attending church. Several decades ago, Dr. Billy Graham said he estimated that 85 percent of American church members are not saved. I agree with his observation.

This means that a great number of professing Christians in America are living under the deception that they are saved, when they are not. When the rapture of the church takes place, a majority of church members will be left be­hind. This will be utterly shocking for those who thought they were ready for the coming of the Lord, only to be left behind to face the horrors of the Tribulation Period.

Many wonder about the mass chaos that will erupt throughout the world when millions disappear during the Rapture. The sad reality is that fewer will be raptured that we think. Jesus asked the following rhetorical question: “…when the Son of man cometh, shall he find [the] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) The obvious reply is: “The state of the church at the end of the age will be such that very few will accept the faith and be truly born again.”

We have arrived at that point of self-deception and aposta­sy within the professing church.

Part of the problem is the gospel has been watered down to a few chosen promises of the Lord that make it easy to “make a decision.” Most professing Christians and churches hurry a person through a few verses and then ask the person if they are ready to “invite Jesus into their heart.” They do not really present the core truths of the gospel. Does the person know and believe that Jesus Christ is God? Do they believe that He died as God’s sin­less, perfect sacrifice as their substitute on the cross, pay­ing for their sin? Do they believe that Jesus bodily arose from the grave? Do they believe that Jesus’ payment for their sin on the cross is the full payment for their salva­tion? Do they understand that the Bible demands them to repent (turn from) their sinful lifestyle? Do they know they are a sinner and are living under the sentence of the wrath of God, having already been condemned to hell? Do they understand God is holy and their sin is an offense to the holiness of God? Do they understand salvation is a work of grace on God’s part, accompanied by their re­sponse of faith in all that He has done? Are they willing to count the cost of surrendering their life to the Lord and serve Him for the rest of their life?

Jesus never lowered His standards or demands so He could attract a larger number of followers. Instead, He repeatedly demanded that those who were considering following Him count the cost. For example, He said: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoev­er doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27) How many times have people been warned or instructed that if they want to be saved (become a disciple of Jesus Christ) they must con­sider the sacrifices they must make to follow Him?

Many people have been left with the impression that if they say a certain prayer that they possess eternal life and never need to question the probability that they may not really be born again. Jesus warned His followers that there would be many people who would go through life thinking they have received the gift of eternal life, only to find out after death and final judgment that they were nev­er saved. Jesus gave the following sober warning: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out [demons]? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work in­iquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23) Notice that in this context, Jesus is speaking about those who are deceived and de­ceiving others. He makes it clear that real issue is not what people say or claim. Jesus said: “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20) This simply means that the real examination of one’s claim to faith must not focus on his words or claims, but on his lifestyle or works for the glory of God.

It is my experience that when most people are faced with this truth, they become angry and feel threatened that any­one would question their salvation. From their perspec­tive, their salvation experience is confirmed in their mind and they are frightened to consider the possibility that they are deceived and may not really be saved. How sad! It is better for a person to deal with his pride now and be sure where he really stands with God, than to rely on a mean­ingless confession that is not substantiated by what the Bible demands – a changed life. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Some people do not believe that a person can know for sure they are saved. However, the Bible says: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life …” (1 John 5:13) As a person examines his salvation experience in light of his lifestyle, he must never question God’s promise of salvation. God will always honor His Word and promises. However, the Bible demands that we question our genuine reception of God’s offer of salvation.

2 Corinthians 13:5 gives us the following command and question: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Once again, in 2 Peter 1:10, the believer is commanded to examine himself to make sure he is saved: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…”

One might ask “How can a person examine himself to make sure he is saved?” The Bible provides the means to do so. First, we must recognize that our assurance of sal­vation is not based upon what we have said, think, or feel. Our thinking and feelings can be deceptive because they come out of our sinful way of reasoning. (See Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 16:25) The assurance of our salvation comes from a Biblical evaluation of our works and changed lifestyle. The Bible declares: “What doth it prof­it, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can [that] faith save him? … Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14, 17)

It is has been my observation for many years, that the Lord has given us a wonderful book in the Bible to help us examine ourselves to make sure we are saved. That book is 1 John. The theme of this book is given in 1 John 5:13:

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” I would like to share with you nine tests in this short epistle that deal with the assurance of the believ­er’s salvation. I highly recommend that you thoughtfully and prayerfully consider these nine tests. It could make a difference in where you will spend eternity.

Test #1: Do you have fellowship with God?

(1 John 1:3-2:2) When a person is born again, he becomes a child of God. At that moment, he enters into a personal and intimate relationship with God. He begins to develop a personal relationship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit. This relationship is demonstrated in the believer’s life by his daily fellowship with the Lord. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3) The word “fellowship” means sharing. To have fellowship with God means that God is sharing eternal life (a deep and meaningful life of purpose) with us. We will commune with Him in prayer and read His Word. We will worship Him. We acknowledge the reality of His presence and desire to walk with Him, know Him and please Him.

The spiritual basis of this fellowship with God is holiness. Above all considerations about the nature and person of God is the fact that He is holy. “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light [holy], and in him is no darkness [sin] at all.”

(1 John 1:5) When a person claims to walk with God, he is claiming to walk in holiness, because he is fellowshipping with a holy God. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness [sin], we lie, and do not the truth.” (1 John 1:6)

When a person becomes a child of God, he is justified, or declared righteous, at the moment of conversion. (Ro­mans 4-5) His position or standing with God is based up­on his holy position through the blood of Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:9) The daily demonstration of the reality of this standing will be seen in his victory over sin. It is im­possible for a person to be sinless. The believer will sin every day! “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth [God’s Word] is not in us. … If we say that we have not sinned, we make him [God] a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8, 10) When he does sin, he will be convicted and confess his sin because he has offended the holy God he loves and who lives in him. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for­give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous­ness.” (1 John 1:9)

The message of the Bible is clear. A person who walks with a holy God on a daily basis cannot live a lifestyle of sin. (1 John 3:6-10) A real believer cannot ignore sin in his life. He cannot say he does not sin, or that sin doesn’t matter! What we think about sin and how we deal with it in our daily lives, is at the heart of our daily walk with God. The Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer from the moment of conversion (Romans 8:9), will not allow the true believer to continue in a lifestyle of sin without a work of conviction and discipline. (Hebrews 12:7-13)

This work of the Holy Spirit to convict the believer of his sin is connected to the impact of the Word of God upon the conscience of the believer. The conscience of the be­liever is strengthened as he meditates upon the Word of God. (Psalm 119:11) The true believer will meditate up­on the Word of God and be daily cleansed by it. (John 15:3; 17:17; Ephesians 5:26) Having a strong conscience that is strengthened by God’s truth is at the heart of the practical goal of all those who walk with a holy God. (1 Timothy 1:5) Please notice that God says that if we ig­nore our sin, it is evidence of the reality that God’s “truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

The believer will experience the joy of the Lord when he is walking with his holy God in God’s truth, and confess­ing his sin. “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:4) In John 15, Jesus spoke of the believer abiding in Him and His Word, bearing much fruit. He said that the result of all of this is real joy.

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11) Real joy in life can only be found in a personal, dynamic relationship with God as we walk in His pres­ence. Long ago, the Psalmist declared: “Thou wilt show me the path of life, in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11) It has been my observation that the joy of the Lord is really absent in the lives of most people who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ. The joy of the Lord is not impacted by all of the trials and tribulations of life. (Acts 16:20-25) The joy of the Lord is anchored in His pres­ence, blessings, and the forgiveness of our sins. And, nothing can take that away from us.

While I was a pastor, I learned that the people who always caused division in a church are those who probably could not pass this test. People who are always judging people and focusing on other peoples’ sins or failures usually are filled with religious arrogance and pride. They seem to think they have spiritually arrived at a state of perfection, and it is their calling to rebuke others about their sin. I believe that when a person has a lifestyle of being broken over his own sins, there will be a spirit of humility and godly patience as they deal with other believers. A true believer is filled with the Spirit, the Word of God, and the joy of the Lord. There is a time and place for rebuking others. However, when it is needed, it should come from one who is patient and filled with the Word of God. (2 Timothy 4:2)

Before we move on to the next test to examine our salva­tion, let us focus on the great measuring stick of our rela­tionship and fellowship with God. At the core of all of this is the believer’s daily hunger for the Word of God. This alone sets him apart from the ungodly. (Psalm 1) Our time in the Word is essential to our walk with God. As you reflect upon the first chapter of 1 John, please con­sider this: If a person is not in the Word, he will not con­fess his sins. If he does not confess his sins, he will not have forgiveness of his sin. If he does not have for­giveness for his sins, he does not have fellowship with God. If he does not have fellowship with God, he does not have any power to live the Christian life. If he does not have the power of God, he will not experience victory in his life. If he is defeated in his Christian life, he will not have any joy. All of this goes back to the believer’s time in the Bible.

Sadly, statistics show that an overwhelming number of church members never look at their Bible throughout the week. If that is your habit, and you think that everything in your life is spiritually fine, you are living in spiritual deception. If you are not in the Word of God on a regular basis, you are living with unconfessed sin in your life. You are not walking with God, and maybe, you are one of those who think they are saved and are not. Think back to your conversion experience. Since that time, if you have never had the lifestyle of being in the Bible and really be­ing sensitive to your sin, then you are not saved!

In the next two newsletters, we will look at the remaining eight tests in 1 John to help you examine your claim to salvation. You really need to do this, so that you can made sure you are saved and not be left behind when the rapture takes place. And, that could happen any day now!

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

They will Never Forget

Each time I have gone to Israel, I have concluded my tour with a visit to Yad Vashem – the memorial to the Holo­caust – in Jerusalem. This memorial is an attempt to maintain a lingering memory in Israel of the 6 million Jews who were brutally murdered by the Nazis during World War II. Each time I view the records and remains of these victims I am moved to tears to think of the sheer hatred that was heaped upon these Jewish people and oth­er minorities.

The Jewish people know all too well that what happened during the Holocaust was not an isolated incident. The nation of Israel and the Jewish people have suffered great­ly from the time of their beginning. Psalm 129:1-2 de­clares: “Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflict­ed me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.” All of this has happened because the nations “hate Zion.” (Psalm 129:5) In an earlier Psalm, the Psalmist helps us to understand why so many people hate Israel.

“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederated against

thee.” (Psalm 83:1-5) Then in verse 6-8, the Psalmist lists these enemies of God and Israel. They are the Ar­ab/Islamic nations of the Middle East.

Each year, Israel has a day dedicated to the memory of the 6 million victims of the Holocaust. At 10:00 a.m., sirens wail over Israel and for a few minutes everyone stands in complete silence. During this solemn time, traffic stops, people get out of their cars and stand in silence. During that day, there are special ceremonies held at Yad Vashem. This year, the day of memorializing the Holo­caust victims was Monday, April 28. I was deeply moved by the speech given by the Israeli president, Shimon Per­es, who is 90 years old. He remembers the Holocaust and lost many of his own family members who were murdered by the Nazis. Here are some of his remarks:

“My brothers and sisters, at this very moment I see before my eyes a heartbreaking image.”

Tens of thousands of people; young and old, male and fe­male, all concentrated on the banks of the Danube River. They are all under orders to face the river, each one tied to the next. Behind them stand Nazi storm troopers, Germans and locals, who cut them down with bullets to the back. To save bullets they tied weights and stones to them so that the dead will drag the living down with them. Chil­dren were tied to their mothers, the young to the elderly. The bodies of the victims are pushed into the chilling, foaming waters of the Danube. Their cries rise to the heavens and are left without an echo. The perpetrators stand with smiles on their faces, as if they carried an act of heroism and won a brave battle. The blue Danube is paint­ed red, in a single moment it became a floating grave, in­nocent victims, innocent people. Itamar Yaoz-Kest, a Jew­ish poet born in Hungary and sent to Bergen-Belsen, screams in one of his poems, “What is there to drink? They tell me people. Water with blood?” It happened in Hungary.

But then another image comes to my mind, a photo of the town where I was born and spent the first decade of my life, Vishneva. In Vishneva the Nazis used a different technique. They didn’t shoot the Jews. They burnt them alive. The Nazis, Germans and locals, gathered up all the Jews left in Vishneva, (half had already immigrated to Israel) and forced them to march to the synagogue which was made of wood. My grandfather, wrapped in a Jewish prayer shawl, stood at the head of the march, Rabbi Zvi Meltzer may peace be upon his soul. The same prayer shawl that I huddled under every Yom Kippur to listen to him recite the Kol Nidre prayer in his beautiful voice. They locked the doors of the synagogue and set it on fire with all the Jews still inside. No-one survived. Nothing was left of the synagogue. I can still hear the Kol Nidre prayer, which my grandfather would recite, in my heart. I visited Vishneva when I was Foreign Minister of Israel and I was accompanied by the Foreign Minister of Bela­rus, a delegation of senior government officials, and a honor motorcade. On the way to Vishneva we passed the train station at Bogdanov. The station still operates but during the war years the rails were heaving with carriages packed with Jews on the way to Auschwitz-Birkenau. I imagined hearing the trains. The contradiction between the noise of the motorcade and the screams of help from the trains was ghastly. This station, from which we travelled to Israel, is the station that took my people to the death camps. What happened to them could have happened to me. It could have happened to many of us here tonight. …

The State of Israel of today is not only the only possible memorial standing for our perished brothers and sisters. Israel is a deterrence against any attempt at another Holo­caust. A strong Israel is our response to the horrors of anti-Semitism but it does not excuse the rest of the world from its responsibility to prevent this disease from returning to their own homes. Allow me to say, based on 90 years of experience, that without a state of our own we would con­tinue to live on our weakness rather than, as we do today, live on our historic and contemporary abilities. The State of Israel is not a passing event; it is based upon 4000 years of life. The history of the Jewish people contains no lack of anguish but it is filled with hope – the eternity of Israel will not die. Israel seeks peace. Between people and be­tween nations. Peace with nations near and far. We pursue peace because we pursue justice for all regardless of origin, regardless of faith. The right to peace is the right to life. I say with confidence – we are strong enough to repel dangers, we should not be scared of threats and we must not give up on peace.

As a member of the Jewish people I may not and I cannot forget the horrors of the Holocaust. As a citizen of Israel I will do everything in my power to ensure that the Nazis will not rise again. As a human being I will do everything in my power to bring peace between peoples. Between races. Between religions. Between nations.

We lost the best of our parents and the best of our chil­dren. But our faith that victories are temporary and values are eternal never erred. We will forever be a people who believe in values of man and values of heaven. In the name of the six million, among them one and a half mil­lion children, we will carry the torch of Jewish independ­ence. The torch of freedom. The light of man. The belief that we will know an enlightened world in which every person treats the other as a fellow human being. And in which we are all born in the image of the Lord. May their memories be blessed.” (E-mail from Joel Rosenberg, April 28, 2014)

A Legacy of Hate

The founding prophet of Islam, Mohammed, hated all who opposed him. Therefore, it was his custom to murder them. This included Jews, Christians, and even Muslim apostates. Therefore, when Muslims kill non-Muslims, they are following the legacy of Mohammed.

In recent months, we have been reminded of this legacy of hate. In April, a radical Islamic group, Boko Haram, in Nigeria kidnapped 300 teenage Christian girls and are holding them for ransom. This militant Islamic group has been on a killing spree for almost four years in Nigeria and no one seems to care, or made an attempt to stop them. To make matters worse, the U.S. State Department and media fail to publicly disclose Boko Haram as an Is­lamic group. At the same time, they blame Israel for the failure of the “peace talks.” This demonstrates moral col­lapse at the highest levels of our society.

In Sudan during the month of May, a Christian mother who is eight months pregnant, was jailed, along with her two-year-old so. This woman has been sentenced to be hanged because she is considered an Islamic apostate. The Sudanese authorities view the young Christian mother as having had illegitimate sex with a Christian man, be­cause they do not recognize her marriage to him. The au­thorities say she is to be flogged and allowed to give birth to her child. She and her two children will remain in pris­on for two years after the birth of her second child. If she does not repent from her Christian faith, she will be killed.

According to the command of Mohammed, all apostates of Islam must be killed. In recent years, several Muslim clerics have openly declared that if they did not have this to exist, parents are prisoners of Islam.

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