PTNews

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

August 2022

Published monthly

All Bible references are from the KJV

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

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Conform or be Eliminated

“As many as would not worship the image of the beast [shall] be killed.”

Revelation 13:15

By Mike Wingfield

Historically, there have been many dominant global kingdoms. Each one has left its mark of cruelty and slavery on the pages of history. An examination of current events demonstrates that once again, we are being groomed, for the final time, to conform to the whelms of evil men, or face sudden elimination.

The history of the earth is a sad commentary on the depravity of man. The Bible declares, “for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). Since the time of the global flood and the origins of the nations, the world has been in turmoil with no peace or rest. Our world has been a place of constant conflict and war because sinful men have been driven to conquer and rule for their own glory. The Bible uses the imagery of the restless sea to depict the violent conquests of ruthless dictators, who, like Satan, are filled with pride, and want to control all of mankind. The Bible says, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20-21).

These despots always hate God, His Word, and His people. They have no respect for biblical law, justice, morality, or mercy. Instead, they are liars, deceivers, thieves, sexual perverts, and murderers.

There is always a clear line of contrast between those who are good and those who are evil. Those who are good reflect the nature of God, thus they love people and want to serve them. The evil ones hate people who are not like them and want to murder or enslave their opponents to gratify themselves. Read 1 John 3:7-15.

The kind of power that sinful people want, grows out of a focus on being able to selfishly control other people to satisfy their own depraved desires. When the mother of two of Jesus’ disciples came to ask Him if her sons could have positions of power in Christ’s kingdom, listen to the answer Jesus gave to then. He said, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). God has a model of the style of leadership a person should exhibit at home (Ephesians 5:25-29), in the church (1 Peter 5:2-3), and in human government (Romans 13:1-7). God’s ideal leader is a person who has a servant’s heart toward God and those over whom he has been appointed to lead. His position of leadership must be one of submission to God because all authority belongs to God and flows from Him for His glory (Matthew 28:18).

The Bible uses the beautiful analogy of God being a shepherd over believers who are like sheep. It is God who owns all these sheep, rules over them, and leads the flock. He cares for His sheep and provides for them (Psalm 23:1-6). The shepherd many times entrusts his sheep to another shepherd. In Jesus’ teaching about the good shepherd in John 10, Jesus explained that a good shepherd always cares for the sheep. When an evil shepherd is placed over a flock that does not belong to him, he allows the sheep to be killed because he is only focusing upon himself. In sharp contrast, the good shepherd will sacrifice his life for the sheep (John 10:15-18). Because of the prominence and dominance of depravity in the human heart, this kind of godly leadership is rare.

The Bible teaches that the kingdoms of this world are like wild beasts. Both the prophet Daniel, in Daniel 7, and the apostle John, in the book of Revelation, referred to the wicked governments of men as being like wild beasts. In this analogy, they view the rule of oppressors as being unruly, fierce, vicious, cruel, wild, savage, and merciless. Like animals, they have no morals or conscience. They are simply driven by their lustful appetites.

According to the Bible, this is the kind of global government that will conclude human history before Christ comes to establish His righteous kingdom upon this earth for 1,000 years. The final kingdom of this world will be headed by the man the Bible calls the Antichrist. He will be one of the evilest men who have ever ruled on the planet. Satan will see to that! He will be Satan’s masterpiece and puppet. He will be the embodiment of Satan. He will be the personification of lawlessness and immorality. He is called, the wicked or lawless one in 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

The Bible says the Antichrist will “open his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13:6). The prophet Daniel wrote, “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak [monstrous] things against the God of gods” (Daniel 11:36).

Revelation 13 gives many details about the origin, nature, and reign of the Antichrist. The Bible reveals this man will be empowered by the devil. Revelation 13:2 says, “and the dragon [Satan] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” He will be against God (verse 6), and against the saints of God (verse 7). This will be a satanically inspired and empowered world order that will be godless in every way. In my opinion, we are witnessing the prelude to this global world system at this very moment. The transformation taking place in America is shaping this nation to be a part of this wicked global government.

When the Apostle John saw the entrance of the Antichrist onto the stage of history, he was symbolically described as a wild beast with seven heads, rising out of a tumultuous sea. Later, in Revelation 17:9-11, these seven heads are described as being symbolic of evil and ruthless kingdoms that rule over the world. John was told that five of these kingdoms were in the past. Using the first century as John’s reference point, that would indicate that these five global kingdoms were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. All these global empires had two major things in common: They all were vicious and cruel, and they all hated God and His people – Israel.

For example, the Assyrian Empire, which ruled the world from 900 B.C. to 600 B.C., was known for its brutality. This culture left behind art caved in stone that demonstrated just how evil they were. They mastered the art of ancient warfare. They bragged about their techniques of torturing and killing their enemies. They impaled people on wooden beams while they were still alive, holding it up over the wall of the city so that other people in the city could see their friends writhing in pain at the end of a stick. (See picture of the Assyrian relief on this page.) They would flay people while they were alive, while rubbing salt on their open wounds. They would amputate people’s limbs, ears, or noses while they were still alive. Finally, they would decapitate their victims and pile their heads at the gate of the city to terrorize anyone who would later visit the area.

The sixth head on the symbolic beast that represented the Antichrist’s kingdom was contemporary with the Apostle John – Rome. The seventh head was the kingdom that followed Rome. That was the Islamic Empire. It ruthlessly ruled the world from its inception in the later part of the 7^th century until the end of World War 1 in 1917.

Finally, the last kingdom that will rule over the world, the one-world government of the Antichrist, is described by John as the revival of the seventh empire – Islam. It is not an accident that Islam is the most protected religion by the evil leaders in the West. Since 1979, with the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran, we have witnessed the revival of this religion that dominated the world by the edge of the sword for 14 centuries. We should not be surprised that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. The stage is set for the final confrontation of an evil global empire against the holy God of heaven.

The message of the imagery of the seven-headed beast is that the final kingdom of this world will be a composite of all the other evil, ruthless, and godless empires that preceded it. All these kingdoms forced their subjects to conform to their edicts or face elimination. We have many examples of this in the Bible. In the book of Daniel, the Jewish youth were cast into a fiery furnace for not bowing down to worship the Babylonian king when the music was played (Daniel 3). Daniel was cast into the lion’s den because he refused to stop praying to the God of heaven (Daniel 6).

Our world is preparing it citizens to follow the commands of evil governments, or face elimination. This has been the case in Muslim and Communist countries for years. However, now in America, we are experiencing great governmental restrictions that are being placed upon people because they will not follow the rules of the government concerning COVID-19. The U.S. government issued stern mandates that called for all citizens to wear a mask when in public and to receive a series of vaccinations and boosters. Some who refused theses mandates have been forced out of employment and faced many other life-changing restrictions. Recently, the Biden Administration has attempted to expel 260,000 American service members because of their refusal to take COVID vaccinations which are causing death and serious health issues in people around the world. This is only the beginning of more restrictions to come!

When a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court judges overturned the historic Roe versus Wade abortion decision, the lives of the conservative justices were threatened. Once again, the message is clear from the world, conform to our evil demands or be eliminated!

When the kingdom of the Antichrist becomes a reality, he will demand conformity in three areas. Let us examine each of these.

Political Conformity

First, he will demand political conformity. Like Islamic and Communist countries, the Antichrist will rule the world with an iron fist. Because his authority and power come from Satan (Revelation 13:2), he will have complete, unrestrained freedom to do as he pleases, and no one will be able to stop him. The nations and individuals who oppose his political power will be eliminated.

The Antichrist will surround himself with a military might that will swear total allegiance to him. At the very beginning of the Tribulation, he will appear on a white horse, which is exactly the way in which the Islamic authorities proclaim their messiah will arrive on earth. The Apostle John wrote, “… and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). This simply means that his political authority will be exercised by his military prowess. Daniel tells us that he will honor “the God of forces” [military might] (Daniel 11:38). His military might will enable him to increase in power and to eventually rule over the world (Daniel 11:39; Revelation 13:4, 7).

Religious Conformity

Secondly, the Antichrist will demand religious conformity. The arrogant pride of the Antichrist will lead him to view himself as a god (Daniel 11:36). He will enthrone himself as God in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem at the mid-point of the Tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Thus, he and his false prophet will demand that everyone on the planet must worship him (Revelation 13:12-15). If people refuse to worship him, they must be killed (Revelation 13:15). Once again, conform or be eliminated!

In the West, and in Communist countries in the East, religious conformity would not be demanded. The West has exercised an illegitimate approach to human government that currently does not recognize or honor the God of the Bible. This is also the position of both Socialism and Communism. These political philosophies took root in the firm belief of atheism. Therefore, the Antichrist will not come from the western or Communist societies.

However, in the East, there is a group of nations that believe their political power grows out of their religious authority. These are the nations that are practicing a militant form of Islam – like the one established by their founding prophet, Muhammed. The nation of Iran is a perfect example of this kind of marriage between political power and religious authority.

In Iran, those who openly refuse to conform to the religious/political authorities are quickly eliminated. Throughout the Islamic world, one of the official emblems is the sword of Allah. This sword appears on many of their flags and other documents. (See the picture above of the flag of Saudi Arabia with the sword of Allah on it.)

Economic Conformity

Finally, the Antichrist will demand economic conformity. Once he gains control of the entire world at the mid-point of the Tribulation, he will introduce his economic plan that will be forced upon every person on earth. Each person must show his submission to the Antichrist’s political and religious authority by receiving the numerical value of his name – 666 (Revelation 13:16-18). Once again, those who refuse to conform to his edict, will be eliminated. The method used to eliminate them will be beheading (Revelation 20:4). This has been a repeated practice in the Islamic world for centuries.

There is only one religion that is protected by the liberal politicians in the West – Islam. The liberal culture in America and the West hate Biblical Christianity. Anyone can say whatever they want to say about the Bible, Christ, or the church. However, if someone speaks out against the Koran, Muhammed, or Allah, they are openly condemned and charged with a hate crime. Why this clear contradiction? The answer is simple – they hate the God of the Bible. Islam and the liberal West have one thing in common – they both hate Christianity. Jesus’ warning given to His disciples only minutes before He went to the cross explains why the world embraces Islamic terrorists but rejects peaceful Christians. Jesus told His disciples they would be hated because the world hates Him. Furthermore, He stated, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19).

The world openly embraces anyone who hates Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Therefore, when the Muslim antichrist appears on the scene, they will receive him and worship him. Anyone who does not conform to his claim to deity and his exercise of complete global authority must be eliminated.

True believers in Jesus Christ give total allegiance only to Him. The Bible is their only source of total authority. Therefore, they will conform only to the way and will of God. They realize that standing with God is standing on the side of life and that which is good. They will be determined to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). As God said to Israel in the days of Moses, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Evil leaders always set themselves up as God. They are in rebellion against Him and adopt the ways of Satan. Like Satan, they are focused upon their pride and their agenda. The Bible says, “The wicked through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4).

The wicked have chosen the path of death. As believers, we are exhorted not follow in their path. The Bible has warned us, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. … The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:14, 19).

Today, we hear foolish people speak about their rights and their choices. We do have freedom, but we must always honor the standards and commandments of God. We live in a foolish culture that believes there are no absolutes. They believe everything is subjective. Whatever a person decides is right is that path they will take. The Bible warns us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). We live in a world created by God. It is a world of absolutes.

When we construct a building or wall, we must use a square and level to keep things plumb with gravity. Gravity is an unforgiving absolute. If a contractor does not follow the laws of gravity, whatever he has constructed will eventually collapse due to forces of gravity. Gravity does not change or adapt itself to a culture. It is a physical absolute.

Electricity is another physical absolute. An electrician must use the best metals to conduct electrical current. The wire he uses must be properly insulated, grounded, and connected to the source of electrical current. If he fails to follow these rules, it could result in no electricity, poor electrical current, or an electrical system that is prone to injury or even the death of those who have trusted in his work.

God has created a world with physical, moral, intellectual, and spiritual absolutes. All these absolutes are based upon the righteous and holy nature of God. Who God is, and what He has said and done are perfect. Speaking of God, the Bible declares, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

When a person comes to Christ for salvation, he must order his steps according to the way and will of God. He will not follow the sinful culture, or the evil commands of his government. The Bible gives us the following commandment, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). The renewing of the mind comes when we search the Scriptures to discover who God is and know the path of life He has set before us. We must be determined to not just know Him, but to also obey Him. Our faith is far more than an intellectual pursuit. It is a passion to have a relationship with Him, to obey Him and to become like Him.

We are living in a water-shed era. The world order that came into being as a result of World War I is rapidly fading off of the scene. Prior to WWI, the East had dominated the world for millennia of time since the collapse of the Roman Empire. After WWI, the West became the dominant force in the world. It took about 30 years for the U.S. to raise to the top of the political heap to assume the leadership in the West. Now, all of this is rapidly changing. The western powers are collapsing from within.

A New-World Order is coming. But is it new? As we examine the pages of history, it appears that our world is reverting to the same style of evil government that has been its pattern in the past. The New World Order is really an Old-World Order that is ruled by tyrannical governments that enslave their people and rule with an uncompromising power that threatens all who oppose it. This is exactly what the Bible has predicted will take place.

According to the Bible, the conflict of the last days will return to the powers in the East that surround Israel. The current attempts to appease the radical Islamic leadership of Iran is a perfect example of where we are on the timetable of end-time events. The United Nations has turned a blind eye to the nuclear ambitions of Iran. While they might not openly admit it, it might be because most of the nations within the U.N. hate the God of the Bible, and therefore they hate Israel. According to the Bible, the enemies of Israel are also the enemies of God (Psalm 83:1-5). It is a known fact that the one nation that is condemned more than any other within the U.N. is the little nation of Israel. They are constantly reprimanded for defending themselves against Islamic aggression. It is as if they are saying, “Let your enemies destroy you!” Israel is the nation they all love to hate! It seems apparent that most of the world would rejoice if Iran were to eliminate the Jewish nation.

Oh, that Jesus would come today! Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

PTNews

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

July 2021

Published monthly

All Bible references are from the KJV

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

Israel’s Government & Antichrist’s Covenant

“Wherefore, hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people, which is in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 28:14

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By Mike Wingfield

As Americans celebrate their historic independence and freedom as a nation on July 4th, we will collectively be facing the greatest political crisis in the history of this great nation. Those in charge of the federal government are planning the demise of our democratic society. Furthermore, they want to remove all the precious freedoms that Americans have enjoyed since the founding of this nation in 1776. These freedoms are embodied in our founding documents, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These documents were crafted by our founding fathers, and they are based on the eternal truths found in the changeless Word of God. The laws of this land are in many ways an extension of the moral values given by God to Israel at Mount Sinai more than 3,400 years ago.

God gave these laws to His people, Israel, that they might become a “kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). This simply means that God wanted His people to live in a way that would honor Him as the one and only God (Exodus 20:1-8). He wanted them to be a model for all the other nations to follow. God’s law is founded upon the reality that man has been created in the image of God. Therefore, mankind must respect and honor the life and property of others (Exodus 20:9-17). History demonstrates that any nation or culture that attempts to depart from these foundational truths is in rebellion against God, and invites its own ultimate demise.

Satan, the author of lies, murder, chaos, and destruction, has a track record of deceiving and weakening the nations (Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 20:3, 8). He wants the world to follow him in his rebellion against God. In the beginning, the devil deceived Eve into believing she needed to set herself free from the restrictive commandments of God. In essence, he told her that she could become a god and make her own rules (Genesis 3:1-5). When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they disobeyed God and enslaved themselves and all of mankind to Satan’s rebellion. The Bible says that since that time we have walked “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now [works] in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).

This was the beginning of the war in the spirit world between God and Satan. According to the Bible, this war has been raging since that time. The history of this planet is one of ruin, chaos, wars, death, and destruction because man has followed Satan’s way against the path of God, which produces life, peace, and joy.

According to the Bible, we know how the final phase of this war in the spiritual realm will end. It will end with a specific period of seven years. Satan will once again unite the world to be in rebellion against God. We call this “the Great Tribulation.”

The Bible teaches that when this time comes, Satan will unite the world against God and His commandments. According to Psalm 2, the people of the world will unite in open, defiant, disorderly conduct against the law of God. The leaders of the world will set themselves up as god and agree with each other that they must stand against God, His Son, and the commandments of God (Psalm 2:2-3). This is now unfolding, and it is called “the New World Order.”

Currently, there is a spirit of rebellion fomenting across the globe among the nations. The present international political body, the United Nations, is anti-God, anti-Christian, and anti-Bible. The U.N. is preparing the way for the Antichrist! The U.N. is made up of atheists (Communists and Socialists), and Muslims (those who worship another god). Under the banner of peace and security, the U.N. is ushering in a godless New World Order.

The Bible indicates the Antichrist will step onto the stage of human history at a time of global lawlessness and rebellion. According to the Bible, the Antichrist and his global kingdom are depicted symbolically as a wild beast coming up out of a raging sea (Daniel 7:2-3; Revelation 13:1). In the Bible, the ocean is a picture of the chaos and turmoil that exists in a world that is in rebellion against God. The Bible says, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20-21).

We have arrived at a very significant point in the political developments of our world. Since the formation of the U.N. after World War II, there have only been two nations that have held back the tide of rejection against God and the foundational guidelines that today are called the Judeo-Christian laws. Those two nations are the United States and Israel.

Both these nations are hated among the nations of the world. The evil powers of this world are eagerly awaiting the demise of America and Israel. They view these two nations as the last bastions of the old world order that honors the God of the Bible and respects His Word. In the eyes of the world (especially China, Russia, and Iran), America and Israel must either disappear or be rendered as useless nations with no power or resources. The blueprints for this world order come right out of hell. Satan is bent on making this happen. As all of this develops, we are looking at the final preparations for the entrance of the Antichrist. As believers in Christ, this means that the Rapture of the church is imminent. As Paul said to the church at Rome, “… for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11).

In previous newsletters I have written extensively about the political end of the United States. We are gradually succumbing to the design of the United Nations to become a socialist state. More and more, Americans are beginning to feel like helpless pawns, being forced into an evil power structure that is rapidly forming before our very eyes. The powers of darkness have enveloped our beloved nation with their lies. According to the Bible, America will ultimately join hands with Satan and his Antichrist against God and Israel.

It has become abundantly clear in the last few weeks that Israel is facing a political crisis that is eerily similar to America’s. Since the collapse of the conservative, right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2018, Israel has been in a state of political turmoil. During this time, they have had four major elections to form a government. The Israeli population is divided between the conservative religious traditionalists and the more liberal secularists. [Does that sound familiar?]

Before I proceed, let me attempt to explain the complicated political system in Israel. Israel is a true democracy. The government is directed by the Jewish parliament in Jerusalem, called the Knesset. This political body of 120 members is elected by the public to a four-year term. In this election, the people do not vote for a person, but for a political party. In recent years there have been about 10-12 political parties. Each party selects its list of leaders. Based upon the number of votes each party receives in the general election, they are assigned a proportionate number of seats within the Knesset. No party has ever received enough votes to have a majority number of seats to form a government. Therefore, the leader of the party with the most seats is usually given about a month to negotiate with other parties to reach a majority of seats (61-plus) and thus form a government.

This government is elected to a four-year term. The coalition government crumbles if some of the leaders withdraw their support and remove themselves from the coalition, leading to its failure to maintain a majority number of seats. If this happens, a caretaker government is formed and a new election is called to be held within three months. Then, the whole process takes place again.

In recent years, no government has lasted the entire four-year term. Since 2018, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s party has received the most votes. But he was only able to form a coalition government once, and it tumbled after a few months.

Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel longer than any person in the history of the modern Jewish nation. Until recent events transpired, he had served as Prime Minister for more than 12 consecutive years.

During that time, the opposing parties grew very weary of Netanyahu’s popularity and power. Using their influence with the media, journalists, educators, and the judicial system, they began a movement to get rid of Netanyahu. [Does that sound familiar?]

In the latest election a few months ago, Netanyahu’s party received more votes than other parties. After about a month of political maneuvering, Netanyahu failed to create a majority coalition. His political opponents hated him so much they were determined to not allow him to continue as the Prime Minister of Israel. [Does that sound familiar?]

With Netanyahu’s inability to reach a majority of seats to form a government, a liberal party headed by Yair Lapid, a former journalist and television personality, was given a chance to form a government. He and eight other political

parities hate Netanyahu so much that they agreed to lay aside their political differences to form what they are calling a “unity government.” [Does that sound familiar?]

These eight political parties represent a wide spectrum of the political persuasions in Israel. They represent the liberal left, the extreme right, and most surprisingly, the United Arab Party, with their leader Mansour Abbas. This is the first time in the history of Israel that the Arab members of the Knesset have been a part of the government leadership. Abbas does not call himself an Israeli Arab, but a Palestinian Arab. He is a Muslim and a member of the Islamic Brotherhood, which has sworn to the destruction of Israel. The inclusion of this party in this coalition demonstrates that these leaders have allowed their hatred for Netanyahu and political ambitions for power to become more important than what is best for their country. [Does that sound familiar?] They are willing to share the leadership of the country with a group in their ranks that wants to replace Israel with a Palestinian State.

The majority in this new government, not only hate Netanyahu, but they also oppose the Zionist agenda that calls for Israel to be a Jewish state, led by Zionist principles. They want to remake Israel into a purely godless secular state. [Does that sound familiar?]

Zionism is the nationalist movement among the Jewish people that seeks to establish and maintain a Jewish presence in the land of Israel. It believes that the Jewish people have a right to their ancient homeland that God has given unto them in an eternal covenant. It seeks to call all Jewish people to return to the Promised Land.

In the truest sense of Zionism, the Jewish people will seek to renew and strengthen their commitment to the Torah [Law] of God. This will include their commitment to the laws of the Sabbath and the feasts of Israel.

Some in this new government want to get rid of the Sabbath law restrictions. They want open public transportation on the Sabbath. They want business establishments to be open on the Sabbath. They want to recognize gay marriages and civil unions. In essence, they want to fundamentally change Israel so that it will no longer be a Jewish state. This is why they are willing to embrace the inclusion of the Arabs in this new government. It does not matter to them that the Arabs oppose the Jewish state’s right to exist.

This new government in Israel is committed to unraveling all of the great past achievements of Netanyahu. [Does that sound familiar?] They are seeking to erase Netanyahu’s diplomatic triumphs.

Many in this new government are willing to make great sacrifices to appease the world and the Palestinians. Some advocate the recognition of a Palestinian State on the West Bank [biblical Judea and Samaria]. They are willing to surrender most of the West Bank territory, the Golan Heights, and East Jerusalem.

In order to form this coalition, they agreed to allow Naftali Bennett, who represents a political party that is of the far right and would oppose all of things mentioned above, to serve the first two years as the Prime Minister. During this time, Yair Lapid, of the more liberal persuasion, will serve as the Foreign Minister. Then, after the two years, they will swap political roles. This arrangement was created to lure these parties into a coalition because they needed to reach the majority number of seats to have a government.

In essence, this makes this a very weak and fragile government. They must agree to disagree on many issues to lead the country. Within this government, the left will oppose the right and the right will oppose the left. Some in Israel believe that this government will soon collapse, forcing them into a fifth election.

The one thing they all agree on is the opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. They all recognize that a nuclear Iran is an existential threat to Israel and most of the Middle East.

According to the Bible, Israel now has a government that is anti-God. They want to make Israel like all of the other nations. They want to remove the very laws and traditions of Zionism that have been a part of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people since the days of Moses. This goes against the purposes of God.

Furthermore, Israel now has a government like the one the Bible describes will enter into a covenant of the Antichrist. The Bible tells us that Israel will confirm a covenant with the Antichrist. This covenant will thrust the world into the seven-year Tribulation Period (Daniel 9:27).

In an amazing passage, the prophet Isaiah gives us God’s viewpoint on the details of this covenant in Isaiah 28:14-22. This passage begins with God speaking to Israel’s godless government. “Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 28:14). In verse 22, God calls these leaders “mockers.” These two words indicate that these leaders are in frivolous contempt of what is good and upright. They do not honor nor respect the Lord and His Word.

According to Isaiah, these leaders will be opposed by those in Israel who are clinging to the Messianic hope, God said, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that [believes] shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16). Here, God is saying that those who have this hope will not be so quick to embrace this government. At this current time, the religious community in Israel has declared war on their new secular government.

God reports that these spiritually blind political leaders in Jerusalem will ignore all the warnings around them. They will act very foolishly. God says the covenant they will sign will become “a covenant with death” (Isaiah 28:15). He calls it an agreement with “hell” (Isaiah 28:15).

These leaders will be driven by appeasement of Israel’s enemies. Foolishly, they will take refuge in the lies of these enemies (Isaiah 28:15, 17). While Israel strives for peace, their enemies deceptively plan for war.

According to Isaiah, these leaders accept this covenant to avoid a massive war against Israel. This is the meaning of the words, “when the overflowing scourge [war] shall pass through, it shall not come unto us” (Isaiah 28:15).

Daniel tells us that at the mid-point of this seven-year covenant, the Antichrist will break this treaty and attack Israel, taking over the Temple area in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27). Also see 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:2.

Isaiah reports that the covenant the leaders in Israel have accepted will collapse and that Israel will be flooded with the very war they were trying to avoid (Isaiah 28:18).

God informs these leaders that their foolish actions will create a time of “vexation” [terror] (Isaiah 28:19). All of Israel’s past attempts to appease the world and the Arabs have produced an increase in terror and wars against the Jewish state. In verse 20, Isaiah gives a colorful picture of how uncomfortable and unbearable this covenant will be. It is like a man that wants to go to bed to rest. However, “the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it” (Isaiah 28:20).

Isaiah proclaims that God will rescue Israel from ultimate destruction in this war – Armageddon. He points to two historical examples when God supernaturally intervened on behalf of Israel when they were facing great odds. First, in Isaiah 28:21, he mentions Israel’s defeat of a massive army of the Philistines that were gathered against King David and his forces. 1 Chronicles 14:10-17 gives the details how God supernaturally aided Israel to defeat their enemies. Second, Isaiah mentions the supernatural defeat of the kings of the Amorites in Joshua 10:6-11. God accompanied the attack of Joshua’s army with a massive storm of great hailstones as the enemy fled from them.

Once again, at Armageddon, God will fight in behalf of His people (Zechariah 14:2-3). Israel’s enemies will be defeated by God’s supernatural intervention with the aid of His creation (Zechariah 14:12, 15).

Isaiah calls the Lord’s salvation of Israel at Armageddon “his strange work,” and “his strange act” (Isaiah 28:21). This means that this work will be a supernatural work that only God can bring to pass. Dr. Ava J. McClain, the former founder and president of Grace Theological Seminary, writes that these words indicate this covenant is the one connected to the Tribulation Period (Alva J. McClain, The Greatness of the Kingdom, p. 188). Furthermore, Isaiah indicates that all of this will come to pass at a time when there will be “a consumption [complete destruction], even determined upon the whole earth” (Isaiah 28:22). Obviously, this is a reference to the global destruction that will take place at the end of this age during the Tribulation Period (Isaiah 13:6-13; 24:1-23).

My friend, do you realize what is happening at this hour? The United States and Israel are openly embracing godless governments that have plans to join the evil New World Order. Humanly speaking, they have been the only restraining influences holding back the tide of godless, wicked, violent rebellion on planet earth. The kind of world that will survive the collapse of these two governments that were founded upon the Judeo/Christian values will prepare the way for Satan’s Antichrist.

We are on the threshold of very dramatic events that are rapidly shaping our world for the final drama between heaven and hell. The Bible informs us that while these leaders are deceptively calling for “peace and safety; then sudden destruction [will come] upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

When the Rapture takes place, the church, God’s spiritual restraining influence, will be taken out (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). Immediately after this, the Apostle Paul says, “And then shall that Wicked [one] be revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

American Jews Face Increasing Anti-Semitism

Almost 6 million Jews live in America. In recent weeks they have expressed their concerns about the increased hatred and acts of violence against the Jewish population. It is now reported that 77 percent of American Jews are concerned, and many are afraid of what the future holds. Could this be the beginning of the departure of the American Jewish population to Israel?

According to the Bible, there will come a time when the floodgates will open and all of the Jews will return to Israel. Following the war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39, God says he “will bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name” (Ezekiel 39:25). During this time, God declares He will “[gather] them out of their enemies’ lands … [and gather] them unto their own land, and have left none of them anymore there” (Ezekiel 39:27-28).

Earthquake Strikes Red Sea Area

On June 15, a 4.2 earthquake was felt in southern Israel northeast of Eilat, near the Red Sea. Once again, Israeli geologists reminded the Israeli public that according to the geological history and data collected in Israel, a massive earthquake is due to the nation strike at any time.

According to the prophetic Scriptures, there will be a series of massive earthquakes in Israel and the surrounding region. An earthquake will play a major role in the defeat of the enemies of Israel at the Gog and Magog invasion (Ezekiel 38:19-20). Other earthquakes will take place at the mid-point of the Tribulation in Jerusalem (Revelation 11:13). The big one will strike when Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation (Zechariah 14:4-10; Revelation 16:18-21).

Great Israeli Archaeologist Dies

Israel is mourning the loss of a great archaeologist – Dr. Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Institute of Archeology. She suddenly passed away at the age of 64 on May 25, 2021.

God used her as a great instrument to open the eyes of the Israeli public to see the Bible as a trustworthy book. Before Mazar’s work, many of the liberal Jews living in Israel did not believe that the Bible is the Word of God, making it a supernatural book. They viewed the Bible as a collection of fictional stories. They said that all the people in the Bible were nothing more than mythological figures. Then, God sent Mazar to get in the face of these scoffers.

Mazar entered the world of archaeology a few decades ago when most Israeli geologists had little respect for the Bible. Whenever she went out to the archeological dig, she carried “her heavily bookmarked Bible” (The International Jerusalem Post, “Eilat Mazar, the archaeologist of Jerusalem”, June 4-10, 2021, p. 25). In her office and out in the scorching sun, “in both settings, the Book of Books always accompanied her.” She was quoted as saying, “I work with the Bible in one hand and the tools of excavation in the other. … The Bible is the most important historical source and therefore deserves special attention.”

Mazar was the director of the very significant archeological work at the original city of David in Jerusalem. Under her leadership, many very momentous finds proved the historical accuracy of the Bible. She discovered many items with names that appear in the Bible, including the royal seal of King Hezekiah. She discovered the palace of King David, and the pool of Siloam, among many other very significant biblical proofs. Among her colleagues, she earned “the title of the greatest Jerusalem scholar of the generation.”

The Lord is using all of this to prepare the hearts of Israelis to listen to the Bible with great respect. That is important, because “Faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The day is coming when a great moving of the Spirit of God will open the spiritually blind eyes of millions of Israelis and all of living Israel will be saved (Romans 9:25-26).

PTNews

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

June 2021

Published monthly

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

The Perpetual War against Israel

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.” Matthew 24:6

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By Mike Wingfield

There are many signs that indicate we are living in the last of the last days. The ongoing war against Israel and the growing hatred for Jews are both critical developments that point to the end of this age. According to the prophetic Scriptures, the return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland in the last days would be met with great resistance, and we are witnessing it today. Speaking to the prophet Ezekiel, God said the Gentile nations of the Middle East (currently all are Muslim nations) would “appoint 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). This regional rejection of the return of the Jews to their Promised Land would force the world to divide the land of God to appease the nations. This entire process would produce many wars, acts of terrorism, and international conflict that would lead to the final showdown with God at Armageddon (Joel 3:2-17).

From Israel’s very beginning as a modern nation in 1948, it has faced numerous wars, acts of terrorism, isolation, fierce hatred, and rejection within the international community. This is nothing new for the Jews. From Israel’s beginning in Egypt as a nation in the days of Moses, anti-Semitism has reared its ugly head. Since that time, anti-Semitism has become an epidemic in all the Gentile nations. According to the prophetic Word, it will reach its final climax during the reign of the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period. Daniel 12:1 states that the last days will “be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time.”

Looking back on the holocaust during World War II, it is hard to fathom a more horrific time for the Jewish people. Yet, the Bible tells us there is an even greater international holocaust coming for them.

I write these words with a heavy heart. Two years ago, I made a special effort to travel to Poland to view the remains of the death camps where Jewish people were imprisoned, brutalized, starved, and suffocated in gas chambers by Nazi Germany. What I saw and experienced is etched forever upon my soul. It is hard to imagine how anyone could hate people that much. It is difficult to imagine how they could perpetuate these crimes that were carried out against the Jewish people – babies, children, mothers, fathers, and grandparents. Below is one of many signs displayed at the Auschwitz death camp.

According to the Bible, people who are filled with hatred and murder are acting like their father, the devil (1 John 3:8-16). Satan is the father of all anti-Semitism. This is clearly pictured in Revelation 12. According to the Bible, Satan is filled with wrath against the Jews and the people of Israel (Revelation 12:7). He is the one who is the diabolical mastermind in the war against them.

Satan’s attack upon the Jewish people and the nation of Israel is a part of the demonic war against God and His purposes. God has brought the Jewish people into a unique covenantal relationship with Himself. He has chosen them as a special divine instrument in His hand for His glory (Deuteronomy 7:6-9). Listen to Isaiah 41:8-12, “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shall seek them, and shall not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.”

The war between Hamas [a radical Islamic terrorist group in Gaza] and Israel that took place for 11 days in May is the latest evidence of Satan’s attack upon God’s people to thwart the plan of God. God has declared, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2:6). God’s plan calls for His Son, Jesus the Messiah, to return to earth to rule over all nations from Jerusalem, Israel. Examining the events that took place in May demonstrates that our world is being prepared for the final phase of the war between good and evil. The world is clearly standing on the side of evil against God. From Satan’s perspective, he must destroy the Jewish people and their rule over their people in Jerusalem.

Before we examine the events of this latest conflict, I want to express my grief for the suffering on both sides of this latest war. While only 12 Israeli citizens died as a result of this war, there was a great amount of emotional trauma. Hundreds were injured, and millions of dollars in physical damage was heaped upon Israel. All of this suffering will impact lives for months and years to come. We cannot begin to understand the emotional toll that almost half of the Israeli population suffered while living in bomb shelters for 11 days.

The Palestinian people in Gaza suffered because many of them are victims of the unjust violence and hatred of Hamas directed against Israel. Hamas is consumed with the complete annihilation of the entire nation of Israel. In this recent war, more than 200 Palestinians died and thousands were injured. They were not the intended target of the Israeli bombs. Israel makes every attempt to avoid casualties to Palestinian civilians. Buildings are targeted by Israel to attack the terrorists. However, Hamas has chosen to hide its munitions and soldiers within the residential areas of Gaza. They know that Israel will be reluctant to kill civilians. That is why Hamas uses them as human shields. As a result, thousands of civilians in Gaza are homeless, with no income, or food. Hamas must bear the full responsibility for the misery and loss of their own people. Hamas’ hatred for Jews is greater than their love for their own people. Many of the people in Gaza are trapped in a culture where they are deceived and used as pawns to gain world sympathy and condemnation of Israel for their suffering.

The world’s media deceptively reported that Israel withheld humanitarian aid from the Palestinians during this conflict. The truth is that Palestinian terrorists attacked a convoy of Israeli trucks that were attempting to deliver food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip. The Gaza area receives its electricity from Israel. Hamas’ rockets damaged some of the power lines, cutting off electricity to the area. Israel was blamed for this. Hamas also disabled Gaza City’s major desalination plant, which supplies fresh water to 250,000 residents.

Israel has continued to make it known that its war is not with the Palestinian people, but with their corrupt, militant, terrorist leadership. These leaders hide behind Islamic doctrines that call for the destruction of all infidels – in this case, Israel. Hamas has made it clear they will never accept the presence of Israel. They will continue to wage war until the last Jew is forced out of the land. They want the entire land of Israel, not just a portion of it.

At the center of this war is the evil and fanatical regime in Iran. Iran’s radical Islamic leadership wants to form a caliphate [Global Islamic Empire] and rule the entire Middle East and the world. They see themselves as the arm of Allah [the god of Islam]. They believe they must bring about global chaos and destruction, which would lead to submission to Islam and pave the way for the coming of their Islamic messiah. At the heart of their immediate aim is the destruction of Israel and the defeat of the leadership in Saudi Arabia, the geographical capital of Islam. On Monday, May 10, the day the conflict with Hamas began, the Supreme Islamic leader in Iran, Ali Khamenei, said that “liberating Palestine is the number one goal of the Islamic [community]” (www.gatestoneinstitute.org, May 16, 2021).

It is a documented fact that Iran is the leading Islamic terrorist state in the Middle East. They are training, supporting, and funding terrorists in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen. While Iran is a Muslim nation, it is not admired by the Arab nations of the Middle East. The Iranians are not Arabs. They are Persians, speaking Farsi. They are Shiite Muslims, while most of the Arabs are of the Sunni division of Islam. Historically, there has been a great rift between these two Islamic groups. They literally hate each other. Consequently, the potential of a nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire region. This is why the Sunni Arabs have been driven to accept Israel and develop a relationship with her. Simply put, the Arabs fear Iran more than Israel.

In the broader view of how the Middle East conflict is shaping our world, people who are aiming to establish a godless New World Order [NWO] to control the world are also in a circle of influence with Iran. A nuclear treaty signed with Iran in 2015 included China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, and Germany. It is apparent that these nations have opened their arms to Iran so its evil regime can be a major player in their scheme to establish a NWO.

It is my opinion that former U.S. President Barak Obama, was aiming to create a new Middle East Order. In this order, tables were completely turned. Our former allies became enemies and our former enemies became our allies. From President Obama’s perspective as a proponent of the NWO, this was necessary to get rid of Israel. When Donald Trump became the U.S. president, all of this was reversed. President Trump reestablished an alliance with the former historical U.S. allies. The achievements of President Trump in the Middle East were stunning. He helped to create the Abraham Accord, bringing Israel into a relationship with Arab Sunni nations. However, when President Joe Biden came into office in January, he immediately returned to the Obama agenda.

Since the signing of the nuclear deal with Iran in 2015, it has become apparent that Iran has never intended to follow the terms of the accord. The Iranians have continued with their quest to develop a nuclear warhead. They have continued to enrich uranium beyond the level agreed to in the nuclear deal. Israeli intelligence, which is one of the best in the world, has proved this. However, in spite of this looming nuclear threat to the Middle East and the entire world, President Biden is steadfastly pushing forward to renew the nuclear agreement with Iran. It is pure insanity for the Biden administration to even contemplate reviving this deal with Iran. To appease the Iranians, Biden wants to lift crippling economic sanctions that were imposed by the Trump administration. The Iranian economy is in ruins, and by some accounts the Iranian people were beginning to turn against their evil leadership. Furthermore, Biden wants to sweeten the deal by offering the Iranians billions of dollars to reenter the 2015 nuclear deal. All of these negotiations were taking place while Iran was funding and supporting the Hamas war against Israeli civilians. This is not only insane, it is evil! Iran will take the money from the U.S. and use it to enlarge its war machine against Israel and the U.S.

Why would the president of the United States do this? It is apparent that his goal is to pursue an alliance with China, Russia, and Iran as a partner of the NWO. His association with the socialists in his party and the reshaping of America to fit into the NWO is more important to him than standing for what is morally correct and supporting our great friend and ally – Israel. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. It is a country that is founded upon the same Judeo-Christian principles grounded in the Bible. These developments are very alarming and do not bode well for the future of our nation and world.

All the while, President Biden says he is a friend of Israel. During the recent conflict, he did say Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas. However, his actions betray his empty words. Biden’s courtship with Iran and the nuclear deal prove to Iran and its terrorist proxies that the U.S. is abandoning its alliance with Israel and the Sunni Arab states. Furthermore, many of the people Biden has appointed to important positions that help to manage ties the U.S. has with Israel, have a history of hostility toward Israel. These appointments are not what one would expect from a president who is supposedly pro-Israel. Finally, Israel has noted that many of the Democrats in the U.S. Congress are becoming more vocal in their support of the Palestinians, at the expense of Israel. And Biden has not denounced his fellow Democrats or distanced himself from their anti-Israeli views. In some cases, he has even heaped praises upon them.

While the conflict between Israel and Hamas was in progress, the world witnessed a major increase in anti-Semitism. In Europe, thousands of protestors gathered to show their support for Hamas. At the same time, they were very vocal in their hatred for Israel and the Jews. In Germany, some were calling for people to kill Jews and rape Jewish women.

Jews in the U.S. were physically attacked by mobs. At the same time, dozens of faculty members of Princeton University signed a letter stating their opinions on the Middle East conflict. They condemned Israel for its treatment of Palestinians and said that the Israeli system was based upon Jewish supremacy. According to The Algemeiner, a Jewish publication in New York City, this letter said, “We salute the bravery and will-to-survival of Palestinians – the Occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, and within Israel – as they resist the violence of the Israeli military, settler militias, and lynch mobs” (The Algemeiner, May 20, 2021).

These recent global developments certainly testify that we are witnessing a growing and seething hatred against Israel. The pot is about to boil over. As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). History demonstrates that the rise of anti-Semitism usually is accompanied by an increase of hatred and persecution of Christians. Wherever Muslims or communists are in control, it is not safe for Jews and Christians. Both Jews and Christians are known as “the people of the book.”

The current cease fire between Hamas and Israel will not last. This conflict was the fourth war that Israel has fought against Hamas since they took over the Gaza area when it was vacated by Israel in 2007. Israel fought wars with Hamas in 2008, 2012, 2014, and last month.

Israel is also facing another proxy of Iran on its northern border with Lebanon – Hezbollah. This terrorist group has more than 150,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal aimed at Israel. It is not an accident that while the prophet Joel wrote about the battle of Armageddon, the final battle at the end of the Tribulation, he mentioned both Lebanon and the coast of Palestine (Joel 3:4). As we watch the development of a NWO and the growing threat against Israel, we can rest assured that Israel is safe.

Long ago, God told Abraham that all who would curse His people would be cursed by Him (Genesis 12:3). Those who align themselves against Israel are in essence at war with God. God’s curse is upon them.

God has promised that He will defend His people. He has promised, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shall condemn” (Isaiah 54:17) Read the promises God made to Israel in Psalm 121. God has promised that when the end comes, He will “seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9). When the forces of the Antichrist show up in Jerusalem at the battle of Armageddon, they will be in for the most awesome surprise of their lives. The Lord will return to earth from heaven in all of His majesty, glory, and fury. He will slay the forces of the Antichrist with His spoken word (Isaiah 34:1-8; 63:1-6; Zechariah 14:3, 12-15; Revelation 19:11-21).

As we watch the world turn upon the Jews and the nation of Israel, we can rest assured that God will not let them be destroyed. They are safe in the arms of God. The Lord has declared, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6).

As we look back into the pages of history, we can trace the difficult path of the Jewish people. It is no wonder they are referred to as “the wandering Jew.” Because of their disobedience, God scattered them into the nations of the world where they have wandered for almost 2,000 years. While they are there, God gave them this promise, “And among these nations shall thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shall fear day and night, and shall have none assurance of thy life: In the morning thou shall say, Would God it were [evening]! And at [evening] thou shall say, Would God it were morning! For the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shall fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shall see” (Deuteronomy 28:65-67).

God’s record of protecting and defending the Jewish people is amazing. God has a unique role for Israel to play in the end-times. The events of the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of His earthly kingdom for 1,000 years is founded upon the Jewish people and their Promised Land. We can be sure that Satan will do everything he can to prevent the return of Christ. In order to do this, he must attack the people who are God’s chosen instruments to bring this to pass.

More than 100 years ago, after visiting the Holy Land, Mark Twain looked back over history and wrote, “The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound, splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away: the Greek and the Romans followed, and made a vast noise, and they too are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, nor slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are moral but the Jew: all other forces pass, but he remains.” Just think! Mark Twain made that statement long before the rebirth of the modern nation of Israel. What would he say now? It has been amazing in my lifetime to watch the stunning growth of this little nation of a few million Jews who live in a land the size of the small state of New Jersey. Their accomplishments have captured the attention of the entire world.

After warning the Jewish people that their return to their home in the last days would provoke a great conflict, God then spoke through the prophet Ezekiel to give them another promise that would accompany this time of great difficulty. God said, “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel: for they are at hand to come [home]. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be [built]: And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36:8-11).

There are many who call themselves Christians who do not believe that God has any future purpose for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. They have been deceived to believe that the church has replaced Israel in God’s program. That is a lie sown by the father of lies, Satan. The Bible tells us that it was God who scattered the Jews almost 2,000 years ago (Deuteronomy 28:64; 30:1). The same Word of God tells us that God is also gathering the Jews back to God’s land (Deuteronomy 30:3-5). God is not doing this for Israel’s sake. God has said, “I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 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 36:22-24).

At this present hour, things may not look well for America or Israel. However, be assured my friend that the battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45). There is coming a day when “All the earth [will] know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:46). Get ready for the shout that will take us out!

A Warning to America

According to a recent article in The Epoch Times, “more than 120 retired U.S. generals and admirals signed an open letter warning that the United States is embroiled in an existential fight and urged ‘all citizens’ to get involved in local and state politics. We are in a fight for our survival as a Constitutional Republic like no other time since our founding in 1776. The conflict is between supporters of Socialism and Marxism vs. supporters of Constitutional freedom and liberty. …

“According to the Flag Officers 4 America website, [it is] a group of former military leaders who ‘pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United Sates against all enemies,’ whether ‘domestic’ or ‘foreign.’” (The Epoch Times, May 13, 2021).