Category: Politics

May contain information regarding world politics as it affects God’s people around the globe.

June 2024 – The U.S. Betrayal of Israel

PTNews

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

June 2024

           Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

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(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

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

By Mike Wingfield

The modern nation of Israel recently celebrated its 76th birthday. Unlike previous years of great fanfare and rejoicing, this year’s celebration was marred by great sorrow and fear. The 2024 celebration occurred while the Jewish nation was at war with Iran and its proxy terrorist groups in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen. This celebration was preceded by Iran’s first direct attack upon Israel with more than 350 powerful missiles. Israel celebrated the victory over this attack with the destruction of 99 percent of these missiles. However, Israelis realize that this bold attack by Iran marks a new era of concern for the future of Israel and its people.

The Israelis also realize due to the deceptive and liberal news media, they are in a public relations war with the entire world. And to further complicate matters, the United Nations membership, including the United States, are condemning Israel for defending itself against those who are aiming to destroy the Jewish nation. The world has chosen to make Hamas and the Palestinians the victims, while Israel is being viewed as the perpetrator of genocide.

For centuries, the Jewish people have had to endure lies about them, motivated by Satan, who is fueling the world’s hatred. Once again, they are facing a world that is against them and is calling for their annihilation.

However, the greatest pain that Israelis are facing is the betrayal of their historic friend and ally, the United States. Since the beginning of the modern state of Israel, the Israelis have had no better ally and friend than the United States of America. That friendship reached its pinnacle while President Donald Trump was in office. However, that strong bond turned to sorrow with the new anti-Israel policies of President Joe Biden.

After the painful and deadly attack by Hamas upon Israel on October 7, 2023, Israelis received the immediate verbal support of President Joe Biden. However, in sharp contrast, this was followed by an avalanche of false accusations and condemnations of Israel and its quest to use military force to destroy Hamas. This wicked military terrorist organization and its forces were guilty of the heinous crimes committed against Israel on October 7, 2023.

The U.S. is joining the world in calling for Israel to halt its war against Hamas, without demanding Hamas to immediately surrender the Israeli hostages. The U.S. demands that Israel not attack the southernmost point in Gaza, Rafah. Israel knows this is where the remaining forces of Hamas are located.

Israel is refusing to halt its war against Hamas and has begun its invasion of Rafah. As a result, the Biden administration has halted shipments of military armaments that are desperately needed by Israel to accomplish its mission. This move has been met with great opposition by many Americans.

On May 12, 2024, The Jewish Press released an open letter written by 80 retired U.S. military leaders in support of Israel. The letter reads, “Given our experience as retired American military leaders, we are very concerned about the security impacts of increasingly strained U.S.-Israel ties as Israel becomes a growing source of domestic division. We therefore feel compelled to declare that a strong Israel is vital to the United States national security, and it is imperative that America unequivocally stand by this indispensable ally.

“Amid surging antisemitism in America and the world, following the largest one-day loss of innocent Jewish life since the Holocaust, U.S. support for the only Jewish state should be clear, unwavering, and not conditioned. The benefits of this partnership for the American people and this important region are many, and too valuable, to forsake.

“America must support Israel as it restores its security, shattered on October 7, against Iran and its terrorist proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen that all seek to destroy the Jewish state. These forces are also enemies of the United States and everything we stand for. This Iranian-backed axis of terror, as well as other adversaries and allies around the world, are watching closely to see whether the United States will stand by one of its closest allies fighting in self-defense, even when the going gets tough.

“Against these barbaric enemies, Israel stands on the front lines of the fight for civilization, the lone stable, democratic American ally in a critical, yet tumultuous, region. Israel is a visceral part of the West with its liberal democracy, ethnically diverse population, and support for individual rights. Even in facing adversaries who respect neither the laws of war nor human life, we believe Israel has fought in accordance with the laws of armed conflict.

“Outside the United States, Israel arguably has the most innovative economy in the world. It is a leader in nearly all the key technologies that will determine whether the global balance of power in the 21st-century continues to favor U.S.-led forces of freedom and democracy.

“Israel also has one of the most capable militaries and intelligence services in the world, to America’s benefit. Our militaries work hand in glove, sharing intelligence and military lessons, and co-developing cutting-edge defense technologies. More than any other American ally, Israel has always sought to defend itself by itself. Still, U.S. forces recently helped defend Israel against an Iranian onslaught. Israel’s military and intelligence services have also often protected U.S. soldiers and citizens and provided critical intelligence.

“Israel has traditionally been the source of overwhelming bipartisan support. So, it should remain. We can disagree, as all allies do, but signs of public division only embolden the forces of violence, instability, and extremism that threaten both America and Israel. When we stand together, however, peace and regional stability become possible.

“In these challenging times, we reaffirm our friendship and bond with the State of Israel—and urge all Americans to stand by our close friend and partner” (The Jewish Press, May 12, 2024).

It is apparent that the Biden administration is doing everything it can to oppose Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Biden is working behind the scenes in Israel to foment a deep division in that country which will oust Netanyahu and elect a more liberal government that can be manipulated by the liberal U.S. policies. There is evidence that U.S. taxpayers’ funds are being used to pay the radical anti-government demonstrators in Israel. (See photo on this page.) Furthermore, this liberal U.S. administration shows it support for the enemies of Israel while it wants to tie Israel’s hands and make it vulnerable to those who want to wipe the Jewish nation off the face of the earth.

The U.S is now acting more like an enemy of Israel, rather than its friend and ally. In the three terms of the Democrat administrations of President Barak Obama and President Joe Biden, the U.S. has begun to subtly change its relationship with Israel. Do not listen to what these presidents have said about Israel. Look at their actions and policies. These administrations have made the enemies of Israel the allies of the U.S. They have made Israel the new enemy. This is clearly illustrated in their support of the evil regime of Iran, which has consistently declared for more than five decades that their Islamic leadership is committed to the complete annihilation of the Jewish nation of Israel. This was clearly illustrated with the direct attack of Iran upon Israel a few weeks ago.

The most fatal flaw of the current U.S. administration’s policies is the attempt to join the world in demanding Israel to give up a large portion of their Promised Land and Jerusalem for the creation of a Palestinian terrorist state. The nations of the Middle East have demonstrated for decades that they are determined to destroy the Jewish state of Israel. Israel currently refuses to give in to these international demands because they view this as suicide. Furthermore, the Palestinians on the West Bank have verbalized their support for Hamas.

The U.S. and the entire world are at war with Israel over a tiny piece of property that God gave to the Jewish people in an everlasting covenant 4,000 years ago (Genesis 17:7-8). In essence, those who oppose and curse Israel will be opposed and cursed by God (Genesis 12:3). In an amazing passage in Jeremiah 30, the Lord communicated to Israel that He would not destroy Israel (Jeremiah 30:11) but would terminate all the nations who attack or oppose His people in the last days (Jeremiah 30:16).

Finally, in Jeremiah 30:22-24, God said to Israel, “And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he hath done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.”

God has promised that any nation who opposes the Jewish occupation of the holy city of Israel will be crushed by Him (Zechariah 12:3). God has declared that any military attack against Israel and Jerusalem will be “smitten” by Him (Zechariah 12:4). Speaking of these last days, the Lord has warned, “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9).

It is not an accident that in the last few months President Biden’s policies against Israel are bringing a powerful response from God. Look at all the natural disasters that are taking place in the U.S. – violent record-breaking storms producing flooding, hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. These storms are destroying American homes, farms, factories, schools, etc. At some point this could cause the collapse of the insurance agencies in the U.S., driving up insurance premiums beyond what is affordable.

All that is happening is the hand of God fulfilling His promises of judgments (plagues) upon those who oppose Him and His will for His people, Israel. Psalm 148:8 declares that “fire, and hail, snow, and vapor; stormy wind [fulfill] his word.”

Dear friends, we are just beginning to feel the hand of God’s judgment upon America. He is calling us to repentance. He is calling us to submit to Him and His divine will. He is saying to the leaders of the world, “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:10-12). If we do not repent, America will be crushed by God!

I t is time for the saints of God to wake up to the reality that our days on this earth are numbered. Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

The Fall of Sudan to Evil Nations

While the rest of the world is focused upon the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, there is a critical development happening in the African nation of Sudan. Russia, China, and Iran are attempting to seize control of Sudan. They are attracted to the gold and minerals in Sudan. They also want to establish a key maritime base at Port Sudan. This will allow this evil coalition to control the critical shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Also, it would complete Iran’s strategic encirclement of Israel. Iran already controls Israel’s northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. It controls its southern borders with Yemen. Therefore, Sudan would help to encircle Israel to the south and west.

With the inclusion of Sudan into the coalition of Russia and Iran, the end-time coalition of Gog and Magog nations is now complete. In most translations, they mention Ethiopia as a part of the coalition of nations that come against Israel in the last days (Ezekiel 38:5). However, looking at the names and locations of the ancient nations in Ezekiel’s day, it would be more accurate to say that it will be Sudan, not Ethiopia that will join Russia, Iran, and Turkey in the future battle of Gog and Magog.

Manipulation by Mass Migration Why is the Biden Administration so adamant about having an open border policy? Why has it allowed millions of illegal immigrants to infiltrate our nation’s southern border? The truth is, the liberal socialists in this country realize this is another way to destroy the old America and recreate a new America that will adopt the socialist/Islamic agenda of the New World Order. Both history and common sense tell us that an open border policy is dangerous. One of the chief responsibilities of any good and faithful leader is to defend and protect his country. The basic way to do this is to seal and control the borders to keep out the enemies who want to infiltrate to destroy and create disorder, bringing about the ultimate demise of that country.

One of the evil tactics of the New World Order is to first break down the present order of sovereign nations and all of the people’s attachment to their culture and world order. This present order was set in place by God with the judgment at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The people of the world in Genesis 11 were united against God. They wanted to defy God’s order to multiply and spread out over all the earth (Genesis 1:28). In this revolt against God, they wanted to unite and create a new order that would worship other gods. The purpose of the tower was to view and chart the heavenly stars and planets and worship them (Isaiah 47:12-13). They believed that the order of the stars and planets held the secrets to life. Like all pagan cultures, they worshiped the creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:20-23). So, God judged them and stopped their agenda. They all woke up one morning and were speaking different languages. Along with this language barrier, the people were separated from one another and formed different cultures and nations.

Now, in a similar way, the evil leadership of the world is attempting to reverse the consequences of God’s judgment at the Tower of Babel. Once again, they are worshipping the creation – “mother earth.” Furthermore, they want to reunite the people of the earth and make them one in a rebellion against God and His laws (Psalm 2). Speaking of this evil agenda, God told Daniel, “They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another” (Daniel 2:43).

A documentary has been produced by Epoch News about the mass migration taking place at the U.S. southern border. It reveals that the U.S. government and the United Nations are encouraging, aiding, and financing the movement of millions of people traveling from South America through Mexico into the United States. This is all a part of their evil strategy to destroy the United States. When people are mixed with different languages and customs, while worshiping other gods, it will destroy the sovereignty of that nation. This is an ancient tactic that was used by the godless and ruthless leadership of the Assyrians 2700 years ago. After the defeat of the 10 northern tribes in Israel, the Assyrians deported most of the Jewish population and imported various Gentile people groups to weaken the region of northern Israel. Their plan worked. The result was the mingling of the Gentiles and Jews to create the Samaritan people, who were part Jewish and part Gentile. It was Satan’s attempt to weaken the nations (Isaiah 14:12) and destroy the message of God coming from His chosen people, Israel.

As believers in Jesus Christ and His ambassadors, we need to be aware of the deceptive agenda of our evil leaders. Please join me in prayer for our nation and churches. As spiritual watchmen on the walls of America, we need to sound the warning of these developments.

May 2024 – When They All Look UP!

May 2024

When They All Look UP!

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up,

and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

By Mike Wingfield

During the April 8 solar eclipse that moved across America, God’s Spirit reminded me of how utterly uniformed people are about what is about to take place across our planet. As I watched the eclipse on TV, I was reminded that there will be a day every person on earth will be looking toward the heavens. On this day, they will not be looking at a solar eclipse. They will be looking in utter awe at the supernatural heavenly sign that will accompany the King of Kings to this earth!

This recent eclipse was a rare celestial occurrence and was certainly worthy of our attention. However, that eclipse pales in comparison to the amazing supernatural events that will take place during the Tribulation Period. And especially to the last day when Christ returns to earth. Predictably, people were mesmerized by the recent solar eclipse, because of the media hype leading to April 8.

Iran Attacks Israel
On April 13-14, Iran carried out an unparalleled attack against Israel. Considering the prophetic Scriptures, this attack is very significant. See Pages 5-6 for a biblical analysis of this event.

For months, we were bombarded with details of this eclipse, and its direct path across North America. We also know that the next eclipse that will sweep across America will take place in 44 years. How can scientists make these accurate and precise predictions? The Bible has the answer. In the beginning of His creation, the Lord placed the sun, moon, stars, and planets in the heavens for the benefit of man on earth. The Bible says, “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: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so” (Genesis 1:14-15).

God set the order of these heavenly bodies in an exact arrangement and orbit in relationship to earth time. Since the time of their creation, the heavenly bodies have continued to travel through space with incredibly accurate precision. God made the heavens to be a giant clock and calendar. The exact movements of the earth and the heavenly bodies are very predictable because God made them that way. People around is with woke agendas say there are no absolutes. These people need to look up! God’s testimony of faithfulness and sovereign design are all around us!

As I watched the eclipse on April 8, I was drawn to comments being voiced by news reporters and people they interviewed. I was captured by the superlative words they voiced to the viewing audience. Words like “miraculous,” “incredible,” “amazing,” and “awesome,” were commonly used to describe the eclipse. Some people even called it a “supernatural moment.”

As I heard these comments, I thought to myself, “These people do not know what awaits the inhabitants of earth.” As we approach the end of this age, it is critically important that we inform all people that God created and appointed the position and path of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. And the same God has also informed us in His written revelation concerning what He has in store for the world. God has ordained that the incredible signs in the heavens and earth when Christ returns to earth, will be the most awesome manifestation of the power and glory of God ever witnessed by man.

I continue to be amazed and dazzled by the written revelation of God concerning man’s final days on earth. The Bible refers to the unique seven-year period of the Tribulation Period as “the day of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:12; Joel 2:11). This will be the day the Lord of heaven will miraculously intervene into the affairs of man. In His wrathful anger He will pour out His vengeance upon all the wicked, rebellious inhabitants of earth. Isaiah 24:5 tells us why the Lord will do this, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, [and have] broken the everlasting covenant.” This simply means that God will have reached His final toleration point because man defiantly rejected His spiritual and moral code of conduct that is summarized in the 10 Commandments. Man is continually defying God by attempting to change His creative order. This is at the heart of man’s Artificial Intelligence rebellion. People refuse to accept “an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:7) that God established with Israel 3,400 years ago, giving them the Promised Land as “an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8).

Furthermore, the nations are once again united in their goal to destroy the Jewish people and to annihilate the modern nation of Israel. The prophet Isaiah declared that this violent rejection of Israel will be at the center of God’s wrathful judgment that will be inflicted upon all the nations. Concerning the Tribulation Period, Isaiah declared, “For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8). The current attacks we are witnessing on Israel for defending itself against Islamic enemies are a testimony to the world’s commitment that will be fulfilled when they march against God and Israel at the battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation.

“Signs” are a manifestation of the power and glory of Almighty God. They are aimed at bringing mankind to a point of awe and humiliation as they recognize God’s supernatural intervention into the physical world of finite man. They are designed to cause wonder and fear, bringing man to repentance and submission to God.

The entire seven years of the Tribulation will be marked by continual supernatural events in both the heavens and the earth. The Bible calls them “signs.” This word could also be translated as “wonders” or “miracles.” In other words, a sign is a supernatural event that is the direct work from the hand of God. These signs are a manifestation of the power and glory of Almighty God. They are aimed at bringing mankind to a point of awe and humiliation as they recognize God’s supernatural intervention into the physical world of finite man. They are designed to cause wonder and fear, bringing man to repentance and submission to God.

For example, near the beginning of the Tribulation, the Lord will strike the world with a massive global earthquake that will trigger a multitude of volcanic eruptions (Revelation 6:12). This will be accompanied by great signs in the atmospheric heavens. “And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places” (Revelation 6:13-14).

As a result of these devastating and threatening signs on the earth and in the heavens, the people of earth will all flee to the mountains to find some shelter from the supernatural storm of God. They will cry out to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand” (Revelation 6:16-17)?

The Tribulation Period will be filled with deadly and destructive signs that will bring about an unparalleled global death toll and global devastation that will destroy civilized humanity as we know it in these modern times (Isaiah 24).

When the final day comes, all the inhabitants of earth will look up to the heavens to see the sign of the coming of the Son of Man.

By God’s design, the climax of all these signs will culminate on the final day of the Tribulation Period. A multitude of Scriptures give the awesome details of this final day when the Messiah, the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus, will be unveiled in all His glory, power, and majesty (Psalm 18:7-15; 97:3-6; Micah 1:3-6; Nahum 1:5-8).

When the final day comes, all the inhabitants of earth will look up to the heavens to see the sign of the coming of the Son of Man. The apostle John said, “and every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7). Matthew recorded the words of Jesus about this day, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. … Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun 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: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:27, 29-30).

Yes, people cheered with amazement as looked toward the sky to see the recent solar eclipse. However, when people all look up at the sign of the coming of the Lord in the heavens, they will have a different reaction. Luke reports about their response on that day, “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 (Luke 21:25-27).

Unlike the predictable eclipse Americans just witnessed, the earthly and heavenly signs that will unfold during the Tribulation are unparalleled in human history. And these coming events are not on the radar of the world’s astronomers. The human mind and all our God-given senses have never experienced what will transpire in God’s final chapter of man’s rule on earth. God has promised that He will not only violently shake the earth (Isaiah 2:19-21), but also the heavens above (Hebrews 12:25-26).

What the Lord will do in the future is reminiscent of what He did in the days of Moses when He set His people free from the cruelty and unjust oppression of the most powerful nation on earth in those ancient times – Egypt. Before Moses was sent to Egypt with His divine assignment, the Lord told him what would happen, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them (Exodus 7:3-5).

God unleashed His arsenal of terror upon Egypt because they refused to yield to His will to allow His people to go into the Promised Land that God had given them (Exodus 6:1-8). In a similar way, God is calling His people from their exile from the land of Israel for 2,000 years. He has promised, “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).The world has wrestled with God concerning the land of Israel and the Jewish people from the beginning of the modern nation of Israel to this day. It now appears that we are entering into the final phase of the world’s attack upon the Jewish people. The final chapter of this war between God and the nations will be concluded during the Tribulation Period.

It is important to note what happens to those who oppose God. He hardens their hearts and leads them to their demise. Throughout the Exodus account, the Scriptures remind us that Pharoah hardened his heart against the call to let the Jewish people leave Egypt. Then, suddenly in the narrative, the Bible says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. This hardened heart of Pharaoh led to His own demise, the death of his people, the destruction of his nation, and the death of his army in the Red Sea (Exodus 7-11, 14). God unleashed His divine power in a series of deadly plagues.

A similar development took place during Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. God hardened the hearts of the people living in the land of Canaan so that they would war against Israel, ultimately bringing them to their demise. Joshua 11:20 reports, “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

History is repeating itself. It is very apparent that the global population has reached the spiritual point of no return. They reject His commandments. They are attempting to confuse and rearrange His creative order. They refuse to recognize and honor the everlasting covenant that God established with Abraham, giving his descendants the Promised Land.

History is repeating itself. It is very apparent that the global population has reached the spiritual point of no return. Except for a small remnant of true believers, the nations are in rebellion against God. They reject His commandments. They are attempting to confuse and rearrange His creative order. They refuse to recognize and honor the everlasting covenant that God established with Abraham, giving his descendants the Promised Land in “an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:7). God has given the Jewish people their land as “an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8).

When Pharaoh refused to honor God’s commands concerning letting Israel go to the Promised Land, all of Egypt faced the terror of the Lord. God sent ten devastating and deadly plagues upon them. As history replays itself on a global scale, the leaders of the world are refusing to obey God and allow His people to live in all the land He gave them. As a result, God is hardening their hearts to draw them into the final conflict with Him. Soon, the world will enter a time of the wrath of God. He will devastate the world as we know it.

Just as God destroyed the Egyptians in the Red Sea, God will devastate the rebels that oppose Him when He returns from heaven. He will set the redeemed global Jewish population free so that they will enter into the Promised Land and enjoy the reign of their Messiah for 1,000 years.

Friends, God’s playbook is being carried out before our very eyes. “Get ready for the shout that will take us out!”

Iran Attacks Israel

“And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog [Russia, Iran, and others], before their eyes” (Ezekiel 38:16)

On April 13, the world stunningly witnessed an unprecedented Iranian air assault on Israel. For the first time, Iran directly attacked Israel instead of hiding behind its proxy terrorist groups.

More than 300 attack drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles were launched from Iran’s own territory. Israel considers this attack to be a “declaration of war” (World Israel News, April 14, 2024).

In a public statement only hours after Iran’s attack, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, “This is like a real war. I mean, this is a declaration of war. … The last thing that Israel is seeking in this region since its creation is to go to war, we are seeking peace.

“ We are peace seekers. We went to peace with our neighbors time and time again. Unfortunately, it all started on the 7th of October when a proxy of Iran, Hamas, led an unbelievably brutal massacre against Israeli citizens and the rest is history. We know it. So we should put it in perspective.”

“We were attacked last night from four corners of the Middle East with proxies shooting at us, firing missiles and ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles. It is about time the world faces this empire of evil in Tehran” (World Israel News, April 14, 2024).

With the help of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Jordan, about 99 percent of the missiles never reached their intended targets in Israel. Israel and its partners destroyed the missiles in their 1074-mile flight. As this was taking place, I was reminded of Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”

In a very limited retaliatory strike, on Wednesday, April 17, Israel attacked a military base in Iran that was only a few miles from one of Iran’s major nuclear sites. During this attack, Israel used a missile that had technology to evade radar. This missile damaged some of Iran’s defense battery systems that protect one of Iran’s major nuclear sites from an air attack. Obviously, Israel is sending a powerful message to Iran that they and their nuclear bases, and other strategic economic and military facilities are in Israel’s crosshairs. It is only a matter of time!

Friends, I believe that these developments are leading the Middle East toward the final conflict of the end-times. Obviously, the first major war will be the one mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39. It does appear that we are witnessing the events that will bring about the Gog and Magog invasion mentioned by Ezekiel 3,600 years ago.

This invasion of Israel, as prophesied by Ezekiel, will be by an assault of a specific coalition of enemy nations. That coalition includes Russia, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and Turkey. For the first time in modern history, these nations are friends and are a part of an evil coalition that hates Israel. In the photo on this page, note the leaders of Iran, Turkey, and Russia depicted together.

Ezekiel wrote that something would happen to cause this group of nations to attack Israel. God said, “Behold, I am against thee… and I will put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth” (Ezekiel 38:3-4). A few verses later, Ezekiel wrote that something would take place so that these nations have things that will come into their minds so that they will “think an evil thought” (Ezekiel 38:10). Could it be that Israel’s retaliation against Hamas and Iran would trigger these evil thoughts that would drive them to attack Israel?

As previously mentioned, we can learn a very valid principle of God’s actions in leading nations to attack Israel so that He might destroy them. In the book of Joshua, God had called His people to enter the land of Canaan and destroy all its inhabitants. God aided Israel in this accomplishment by making the hearts of the nations of Canaan so filled with hate toward Israel that they were drawn to attack them. Joshua 11:20 states, “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts [the nations of Canaan], that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

Since the invasion of Hamas on October 7, we have witnessed an incredible global explosion of hatred against Israel and the Jewish people. It stands to reason that an Israeli attack upon Iran would trigger a reaction by Iran and its allies. Today, those allies are the ones mentioned in Ezekiel 38. Are we watching the divine hook in the jaw of Iran and its allies? Is the battle of Gog and Magog on the immediate horizon? It appears that it is imminent!

Friends, conditions in the Middle East are ripe for the Gog and Magog nations to attack Israel. Iran, Russia, and Turkey already have troops in Syria and could be ready at a moment’s notice to invade Israel.

In the Bible, Iran [Persia] is mentioned more than 200 times. This nation is depicted as a major enemy of Israel in the last days. Therefore, it is important for us to watch the developments of our time.

March 2024 – Real Facts about the Middle East Conflict

PTNews

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

March 2024

   Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

Download this Newsletter

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

Real Facts about the Middle East Conflict

“And at that time … there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was

since there was a nation even to that same time.” Daniel 12:1

By Mike Wingfield

Just like the Bible predicted, the world is formulating a plan to destroy the modern nation of Israel. Filled with hate, lies, wickedness, and deception, the nations of the world are manufacturing a plan of action to remove the only Jewish nation from the face of the earth. This ever-evolving plan puts the nations of the world in direct conflict with the Holy One of Israel.

The Unites Nations is an organization that is to function to promote peace and security throughout the world. However, this global body consistently attempts to demonize Israel by passing three times more resolutions against the Jewish nation than all other countries combined! In January, the International Court of Justice in South Africa – the judicial arm of the United Nations – continued this alarming trend by accusing Israel with genocide of the people of Gaza in its ongoing war with Hamas.

During Israel’s advance against Hamas’ territory in Gaza, the Israelis made an alarming discovery. In a bunker under the Gaza Strip headquarters of the United Nations’ Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), they discovered a complex data center of Hamas. Times of Israel News reports, “The subterranean data center — complete with an electrical room, industrial battery power banks and living quarters for Hamas terrorists operating the computer servers — was built precisely under the location where Israel would not consider looking initially, let alone target in an airstrike.

“The revelation of the server farm comes amid other accusations of UNRWA collusion with the Gaza-ruling terror group and the entanglement of the UN body that provides welfare and humanitarian services for Palestinian refugees from the 1948 and 1967 wars and their descendants” (Times of Israel News, February 10, 2024).

These resolutions against Israel, the ploy to accuse Israel of genocide against Gazans, and the discovery of the UNRWA’s protection of Hamas prove that the United Nations promotes a very biased network of lies and deception against Israel. This global body seeks every opportunity to make Israel look bad in the eyes of the world. And it is working!

At the same time, the Biden against administration is taking a hard position against Israel. With the world’s support, the U.S. is demanding Israel allow the establishment of a Palestinian State. World Israel News has reported that President Joe Biden is preparing to make an “unprecedented U.S. diplomatic initiative to promote a Palestinian state — NOW” (World Israel News, February 1, 2024)! This is a major shift in American foreign policy. Previous U.S. administrations have stated they would not unilaterally recognize a Palestinian State. It has been the U.S. policy that such a move must come out of a diplomatic process that includes the two parties involved in this conflict – the Israelis and the Palestinians. Other countries, like France, are now preparing to recognize Palestinian statehood. The United Nations is also calling for such a move. This plan would reward the Palestinians with a state that includes the entire West Bank (biblical Judea and Samaria). This would also recognize East Jerusalem (the ancient biblical city) as the capitol of the Palestinian State.

These developments are occurring while Israel is still in shock over the barbaric invasion by Hamas on October 7, 2023. As Israel’s war in Gaza continues the effort to destroy the ranks of the terrorist organization and Hamas’ leadership, the world is preparing to reward the Islamic terrorists throughout the Middle East by giving them another terrorist state – Palestine – next door to Israel. Most Israelis are sending a clear message to the world that they do not want and will not accept a Palestinian State on the land that God promised their forefathers 4,000 years ago. The world condemns their stance and deceptively believes that a Palestinian State is in the best interest of peace in the Middle East. Once again, the world’s evil desire comes at the expense of the Jewish people. And it is a direct attack against God’s eternal covenant with His people.

Those of us who know the Bible and the integrity of the Israelis in their fight for survival understand how critical and dangerous the demands of the world are. The world is standing on the wrong side of evil. Their fight against Israel is riddled with lies and deception. The world has chosen to believe Hamas’ reports of conditions in Gaza. They reject the reports of the Israeli government, while unquestionably accepting Hamas’ casualty reports in Gaza. Hamas fighters are filled with such hate they murder the innocent and take joy in mutilating their bodies. Is it any surprise that they would also lie to the press about their casualty count and condition of their forces? Jesus stated that the father of murderers is also the father of liars (John 8:44).

As prophesied in Psalm 2, the world is in a rage of hatred against God, His Messiah, and His commandments. Those of us who know what the Bible says about the end of this age agree that the stage is being set for the final war between God and the nations, between heaven and hell and between good and evil. The battle ground is the Middle East in general, and the nation of Israel in particular.

With the Bible as our final authority, let us examine the real facts about the Middle East and the final conflict. According to the Bible, God has chosen the Middle East as the epicenter for His purposes. It is where life began, and where it will end. Except for Paul’s missionary journeys, all the events in the Bible took place in the Middle East!

In sharp contrast to most of the Western world, the Middle East has had a long history of conflict that has featured the struggle of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. It is not an accident that the nation of Israel is at the geographical center of the nations. It is the place where the European, Asian, and African continents join together.

More than 4,000 years ago, God spoke to Abraham on seven different occasions, promising him that he and his descendants would receive an eternal land grant from Him. God said to Abraham, “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). While standing in the middle of what is today called the “West Bank,” God gave the following promise to Abraham, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever” (Genesis 13:15). Please take note that this promise was given to Abraham while he was standing at Bethel (Genesis 13:3-4) in the middle of the “West Bank.” In Genesis 17:7-8, God reiterated to Abraham that His agreement with him was “an everlasting covenant” concerning “an everlasting possession.” How much clearer can the Bible be concerning Israel’s eternal right to all the Promised Land, including the “West Bank,” biblical Judea and Samaria?

Furthermore, in the context of this promise in Genesis 13-15, God’s title is El Elyon, “The Most High God” (Genesis 14:18-22). This title means that God is “the possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19, 22). God is sovereign over all the earth. He owns it all! However, God uniquely calls the Promised Land “my land” (Ezekiel 36:5; Joel 3:2). God made it clear to Israel that they could not sell the land to any other people. He said to them, “The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me” (Leviticus 25:23).

Those who attempt to change this eternal covenant are in conflict with God! According to the Bible, it is the world’s rejection of God’s people and land that will bring about the final conflict between God and the nations. The nations have already begun their march toward Armageddon! During the final seven years leading to Armageddon, the Most High God will devastate the nations in His holy wrathful judgment!

You might be asking, “But what about the Arab Palestinians? God promised the Arabs that they would also become a great nation and He gave them a great land heritage (Genesis 16:10; 17:20). God has kept His promise to the Arab nations. Today, there are 21 Arab nations that have a combined land mass that is 650 times more than what Israel possesses, including the “West Bank.” The land of Israel is only one-sixth of one percent of the size of all Arab land.

The conflict over the land of Israel today is a Holy War for the Holy Land. All the nations that are mentioned by name that come against Israel at Armageddon are Muslim nations of the Middle East (Psalm 83:1-8; Isaiah 34:1-10; Ezekiel 35-36). According to Muslim law, the world is divided into two realms. The realm under Islamic authority is called “the House of Islam.” The other realm is called “the House of War.” The Muslims passionately claim that once a piece of land becomes a part of “the House of Islam” it must be considered Islamic land forever. Since the land of Israel was controlled by Islam for more than 500 years, it is considered by all the Muslim community (2 billion people) to belong to Allah, their god. The presence of the Jewish people in the land once called Palestine is an embarrassment to their religion. Therefore, they must regain this land, even if it results in their death!

In light of all of the lies and misinformation about Israel and the conflict in the Middle East, let us examine four biblical facts about the Middle East.

1. God Placed Israel in the Middle East

God called Abraham and his descendants to live in the land of His choice – the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1-5). In the beginning, God created this land for the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8-10). He created this land mass to be at the geographical center of all nations (Ezekiel 5:5). This entire region was a place of spiritual darkness. God called His people, Israel, to live in this darkness to represent Him and to be a light to those around them. God chose for Israel to live in a small land in the middle of the great kingdoms and empires of the ancient world. Today, Israel is the focus of the international media almost every day.

2. God Chose Israel to Dwell in Conflict

When God placed His people in the Middle East, He knew it would be a difficult place for them to live. Concerning Israel, the Lord declared, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10). The Bible teaches that difficult times and persecution build godly character and cause us to trust God. Israel as a nation was born in slavery in Egypt. After the exodus, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. After their rebellion against the Lord, the Lord drove them out of their land into exile. Eventually, their land was occupied and controlled by other kingdoms for 700 years – by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. After their defeat by Rome in the first century, Israel was driven out into the nations and their land was occupied by the Romans, Muslims, and Great Britain until Israel became a nation in 1948.

3. The Truth about Jews and Arabs in the Middle East

There has always been a remnant of Jews and Arabs who have lived in harmony together in the Middle East. However, many of the Arabs, since the time of Ishmael and Esau, have hated the descendants of Isaac and Jacob. They have been jealous of the blessings of the birthright of the chosen people. The Bible points the finger at the Arab nations east of Israel as the perpetual cause of the Middle East conflict.

4. The Spiritual Foundation of the Conflict

The Bible teaches that the conflict in the Middle East is more than a family feud over land. All the animosity, hatred, envy, and war has been driven by the forces of hell. Satan and his demons are deeply motivated to defeat God’s eternal purposes that He has invested in the Jewish people and the land of Israel. The minions of hell know if they can destroy the Jewish people, they will defeat God. This is at the heart of their plan since the death of Christ at Calvary (Revelation 12).

In Isaiah 14:12-14, the Bible reveals that it is Satan’s strategy to defeat and dethrone God. Above all things, Satan wants to control the one place on earth where God has placed His glory and His name – the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This is the ordained location of the throne of the Messiah on earth during the Millennial Kingdom (Psalm 2:6; Isaiah 2:1-4).

Satan knows that when Jesus rules the world from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, he will be in prison for a thousand years in “the bottomless pit” (Revelation 20:1-3). Obviously, this is motivating Satan to not allow the Jewish people to rule over Israel from Jerusalem and ultimately rebuild the temple on the Temple Mount. This is currently at the center of the conflict between Islam and Israel. Israel and Islam are the only people in the world who are passionate about the possession and control of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

The ongoing, raging conflict in the Middle East is beginning to engulf the entire world! This is a sure sign that the war in the spiritual realm is also reaching a new level that is preparing the world for the end of this age!

The world is ignorant of the dangerous actions taken against Israel and the Jewish people around the world. Listen to Psalm 33:10-11, “The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

Those who war against Israel and the Jewish people will go down in utter defeat. “They that war against [Israel] shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought” (Isaiah 41:12).

The world is joining Israel’s enemies in the Middle East in plotting the demise of Israel. According to World Israel News, a recent survey of 16 nations in the Middle East support what Hamas did to Israel on October 7, 2023. Their report states, “Arabs across the Middle East and North Africa overwhelmingly view Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre, which left over 1,200 people dead in Israel and saw 240 others kidnapped to Gaza, as ‘legitimate resistance.’ … Most Arabs said they disapproved of recognizing the State of Israel, with 89% saying they would support rejecting or revoking such a move” (World Israel News, January 24, 2024).

The response of the Palestinians in this survey is even more shocking. “According to the Palestinians Survey Report, more than half believe that Hamas is ‘the most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people today.’ … Almost all (98%) of the respondents said the slaughter made them feel ‘prouder of their identity as Palestinians’” (World Israel News, January 24, 2024).

Comments like these clearly indicate that real peace among the Arabs and Jews in the Middle East is humanly impossible. Only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can bring real lasting peace to the Middle East and the world. For 1,000 years, while Jesus is on the throne of David in Jerusalem, there will be perfect global peace. There will be peace in Israel for the first time since the rule of King Solomon. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord gave this Kingdom promise to Israel, “Violence shall no more be heard in land, wasting or destruction within they borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” (Isaiah 60:18).

Friends, this is the world’s only hope for peace. According to the Bible, the world is about to enter the most volatile time of war, violence, and death in the history of the planet (Matthew 24:21-22). Pray for Israel and the Jewish people. Pray for their safety and salvation. Pray that we will obey the Holy Spirit and seek to share the gospel with those around us. The age of God’s grace is about to end and the age of God’s wrath is about to begin!

There is only one way to escape the deadly Tribulation Period that is coming upon America and the world. Only those who have personally received Jesus Christ as their Redeemer can escape with us when the trumpet of the Lord sounds and calls us into His presence. Friend, call upon the Lord to save you from your sins.

The Lord has promised, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:9-13).

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Don’t delay. The time is short. He is coming soon!

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!