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  • September 2022 – The Global Food Crisis

           Proclaiming the Prophetic Word for 31 years!

    PTNews

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

    September 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

    Download this Newsletter

    The Global Food Crisis

    “And there shall be famines, [pandemics], and earthquakes, in [different] places.”

    Matthew 24:7

    By Mike Wingfield

    As we approach the end of summer and the annual growing season, it is very apparent that the fall harvest will be woefully short of the demand to feed the global population. Many CEOs of firms that deal with the flow of food staples are telling us that we are at a very dangerous tipping point that is moving us toward world hunger and even famine. Some are predicting that crop production will be at 50 percent of levels seen in previous years.

    In recent months, the United Nations has been warning that a major famine is about to take place. “During a United Nations (UN) food security meeting on June 24, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a ‘global hunger crisis.’ He also mentioned the ‘real risk’ of ‘multiple famines’ being declared in 2022, with even worse famines to be expected in 2023” (EU Times, July 1, 2022). Svein Holsethler of Yara International, an international fertilizer company , commented, “For me, it’s not whether we are moving into a global food crisis — it’s how large the crisis will be” (www.westernjournal.com, August 31, 2022 ).

    David Beasley, the former Republican governor of South Carolina, and now the director of the UN World Food Program, states that 323 million people are “marching toward starvation as we speak” (Time, June 27, 2022).

    Beasley further comment-ed, “‘Before the [Russian-Ukraine] war, I was al-ready warning the world that 2022 and 2023 could be the worst two years in the humanitarian world since World War II. … I’m trying to tell everybody how bad it is — how bad it’s going to be. And then, the next week, I’m like, you know, wipe that clean — it’s worse than what I was saying’ … Beasley believes that 2023 could take a still darker turn.

    ‘This year’s price crisis could be succeeded by a genuine supply crisis, in which food is pushed out of reach for many millions not just by price but by ongoing structural conditions (including the failure to plant next year’s harvest in Ukraine and the surge in the price of fertilizer, which can be one-third or more of farmers’ total annual cost), and the world could experience the once-unthinkable: a true shortfall of food’” (Time, June 27, 2022).

    The Bible has predicted that when the Tribulation Period begins, the world will be in the middle of a global famine that would be accompanied by rampant global political tyranny, global wars, global pandemics, and global hyperinflation (Revelation 6:2-8). The global famine and economic collapse near the beginning of the Tribulation is symbolically depicted in Revelation 6:5-6 as a rider on a black horse. [See image on this page.] We are about to arrive at this juncture. Our world has uniquely been prepared for the most terrifying period of human suffering since the time of the global flood occurred approximately about 5,000 years ago.

    According to Jesus, famine will be one of five sorrows that will produce the birth pangs of the Tribulation Period (Matthew 24:4-8). The four other contractions of this time of sorrow are spiritual deception, wars and rumors of wars, pandemics, and earthquakes. Once again, it would appear we have arrived at that moment when earth and its inhabitants are being launched into this coming time of unprecedented decadence, death, and destruction.

    While this is not the first time the world has faced this deadly mixture of trouble, it certainly appears to be the final visitation of God upon the wicked. While speaking of the Tribulation, Jesus said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).

    Most Americans scoff at the mere notion of a coming famine. I have personally witnessed this as I have travelled across America to deliver God’s message of warning concerning the last days. Americans have been blessed by God to live in a land of plenty. Most have never experienced real hunger. For most of our lives, grocery store shelves have been filled with a great assortment of food from around the world. Until recent years, this abundance of food has been relatively cheap to acquire. However, things are beginning to change.

    First, we need to be reminded that food is a gift from God. In one of his inspired Psalms, King David of Israel wrote, “He [waters] the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He [causes] the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth” (Psalm 104:13-14). Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).

    God expects us to trust Him for everything. All the blessings of life come from Him (James 1:17). When man ceases to glorify Him and give Him thanks, He has many times used famine as a tool of divine judgment to bring people and nations to repentance. The Bible is filled with examples of this. Many godly people have had to endure times of famine while God judged the wicked. Without question, famine always fulfills the will and purposes of God!

    From a human perspective, there are at least four major developments that produce famine. Let us examine them.

    1. War contributes to famine.

    According to the Bible and history, war can cause famine. During war, human efforts are diverted from the production of food and other items necessary for life. Farmers are not able to plant crops and transport them to markets. In some cases, the seeds, fuels, and machinery needed to plant and harvest crops are not available. Very often, more people have died due to the ramifications of war, rather than war itself.

    The current food crisis has been worsened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both of these countries combined to supply the world, especially the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, with about 25 percent of wheat and sunflower seed to make cooking oil. This is further enhanced by the fact that Russia is one of the major suppliers of energy and fertilizer to the agriculture world. The implications of this war and the impact upon the global food chain are still not being realized.

    David Beasley, director of the UN’s World Food Program (WFP), remarked that the Russia-Ukraine war caused “devastating” repercussions to the ongoing food shortage worldwide. This, he added, could bring about “hell on Earth” (EU Times, July 1, 2022).

    The impact upon the serious food shortages this winter will trigger a massive immigration of starving people to flood Europe with illegal refuges. Israel 365 News comments, “If you think we’ve got hell on earth now, you just get ready … If we neglect northern Africa, northern Africa [will come] to Europe. If we neglect the Middle East, [the] the Middle East is coming to Europe” (Israel 365 News, March 23, 2022). Here in America, our open border policies with Mexico will bring a massive invasion of starving people from nations around the world. America is about to be flooded with illegal immigrants that are starving. People like this are desperate. Desperate people do desperate things!

    The greatest impact of war on global food production will occur during the Tribulation Period. This period will begin with the war machine of the Antichrist that will de-liver a severe economic blow to every nation on earth. Obviously, this will have a major impact upon the agricultural industry. Shortly after the Tribulation begins, one-fourth of the global population will perish because of war, famine, and diseases (Revelation 6:8).

    2. Erratic weather conditions cause famine.

    In addition to the war between Russia and Ukraine, we are seeing a mixture of climatic catastrophes that are putting an even greater strain on our ability to produce food.

    In America, the past spring brought unseasonably cold weather to the Midwest, causing a delay in the planting season. The summer brought extremely high temperatures to much of the country, producing serious drought conditions. Furthermore, the high temperatures caused millions of cattle to die. Many parts of the planet have experienced historic drought and flooding. This has occurred in the Mid-western states of America, Brazil, Argentina, North Africa, the Middle East, and India. Earlier this year, China’s agricultural areas were flooded with the heaviest rains in more than 60 years.

    British news agencies are reporting widespread crop failures across England. Britain has not been able to produce enough food to feed themselves, forcing them to rely upon food imports. Conditions in Italy are even worse. It is re-ported that the farmers in Italy have lost up to 80 percent of their harvest due to severe weather conditions.

    The situation here in the U.S. is similar. Great drought continues to plague California and seven states in the Mid-west that depend upon water from the Colorado River. The river is rapidly drying up and farmers are being told they will not be able to use this source of water for their crops.

    The Bible tells us that conditions during the Tribulation Period will be far more harsh. There will be a global drought, with no rain, for the first three and one-half years of the Tribulation (Revelation 11:6). There will be a global freshwater crisis due to the judgments of God (Revelation 8:10-11; 16:4). The water will be so contaminated that it will appear to be blood-red. When the end of the Tribulation comes, the Euphrates River, one of the largest in the Middle East, will dry up (Revelation 16:12).

    3. Poor or limited farming practices can cause famine.

    The world population is exploding, and it is now estimated to be 8 billion. As the population has grown, we have be-come dependent upon modern commercial farming practices that have evolved over the past 100 years. At present, farming cannot keep pace with the growing demand for food. Since 1930, world population has grown from 2 billion to currently 8 billion! [Review my comments in the May 2022 newsletter.]

    The current developments with war and erratic weather are demonstrating that commercial farmers are totally de-pendent upon resources over which they have no control. It is apparent that the delicate balance of commercial farming abilities and practices, and the impact of war, greed, power, and radical weather patterns are demonstrating that the ability to feed billions of people is a very risky proposition.

    4. Evil governments and policies can cause famine.

    Evil governments and men are exerting their wicked power and influence to manufacture the global crisis we are experiencing. Their ultimate objective is for people around the world to submit to their evil plans and pow-er. They want to force us into a Marxist form of government that will give them complete power and authority over people, properties, resources, and wealth. They are so determined to accomplish their atheistic agenda that they are willing to cooperate with radical Islamic nations, like Iran, to achieve their agenda.

    At this current moment they are promoting several crises, both real and imagined, to fill us with fear that our world is falling apart. They want us to believe that if we do not totally submit to them and their global agenda that our planet is doomed to extinction. They are distorting the facts concerning a climate crisis. They are manipulating the facts about COVID-19 and forcing us into their global health care demands – while at the same time planning to reduce world population by 90 percent in the next few decades. They are lying to us about the impact of fossil fuels upon the environment, attempting to force us to adopt a mode of transportation that will push us into their mold of control and power. They are allowing a real food crisis to develop, while they limit or oppose any real action to help avert a humanitarian crisis that will claim the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

    Evil governments and men know that one of the greatest ways to control and manipulate people is to control their food supplies. Henry Kissinger, a huge proponent of a one-world government, and a U.S. secretary of state under presidents Nixon and Ford in the 1970s, once said, “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.” This has been one of the reasons for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He wants to use his influence and power to create a real global food crisis so that he can exert his power and influence upon the world. China, his partner in this evil agenda, has the same goal.

    This is not a new strategy. In the past, the Communist regimes have created evil policies to gain control over their own people and ultimately brought about great famine in their own country. Due to the political unrest during the Communist revolution in 1921, 5 million people died due to famine. In the former Soviet Union, 7 million people died due to famine in 1932 because of the poor political policies of Joseph Stalin. The great Chinese famine of 1959-1961 caused 50 million people in China to die. This famine came about because of the failure of Communist political policies. In North Korea, 3 million people died (1994-1998) due to starvation because their government forced them to move into cities due to political policies shifting to a military emphasis. [For a greater examination of these facts go to www.mypatriotsupply.com/blogs/scout/control-the-food-control-the-people].

    In the past few weeks, I have been reading some of the promotional UN materials that outline what is being asked of politicians to force all nations into an evil one-world government. In this government, they want to take away all our freedoms and possessions. Part of their plan is to take control of the global food production. They want to make it impossible for commercial farmers to feed the world. Through impossible regulations, they want to force these farmers out of business. They plan to take over their farms and control the food production to feed the world. This is the exact plan that the Communists have attempted in the last century and failed miserably.

    This is what they are attempting to do in America. They plan to control the water resources that commercial farmers need to irrigate their crops. They want to control the cost and availability of the seeds, fertilizers, fuels, pesticides, and machinery used by commercial farmers.

    They are planning on changing our diet. They are attempting to sell the idea that the manure and burping of livestock is a major contributor to the global climate crisis. Therefore, they plan to move us away from meat and to demand that we learn to consume insects. They claim that eating insects is a safer form of protein.

    Bill Gates is one of the largest owners of farmland in the U.S. China also owns a great number of U.S. farms. In the last year alone, China spent $6.1 billion on property purchases in the U.S. Recent data indicates that foreign nations own more than 35.2 million acres! It is shocking to read these reports when one realizes that these people do not have our best interests in mind.

    Since President Joe Biden was elected, there have been 98 food storage, manufacturing, or processing plants that have mysteriously been destroyed or damaged by accidental fires or evidence that remains “inconclusive.” One does not know what to make of all of this. But the overall context of our times would seem to indicate that some sabotage is likely involved.

    Friends, we live at a very evil hour. The evil powers of our nation and world are acting with greed, deception, and malicious intent. We must not panic. We need to prepare for what lies ahead.

    Elizabeth Anderson of Patriot Food Supply gives the following recommendations:

    • Buy long-term emergency food supplies.

    • Invest in land you can use to grow food.

    • Grow your own food. Even if you live in an urban area, there are numerous plants you can grow indoors and out.

    • Start a hobby farm.

    • Go to farmers’ markets and get to know your local farmers.

    • Stay aware and remain vigilant.

    We must remember that our trust is not in our government. Our trust is in the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Our lives are in His hands. We must not be fearful. We must be faithful to our Lord and be strong in the face of evil. Many of our brothers and sisters in the faith are already suffering and are hungry at this hour. Contact a Christian agency that is sending relief to the suffering church. Send a generous gift to help our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ. Do it now. Many in the Middle East and parts of Africa are already at the point of starvation. The inflation of what food is available is already out of reach for those living in poverty.

    Do not be guilty of just storing food. Feed your soul and strengthen your faith. Study what the Bible has to say about suffering. Immerse yourself in the Psalms and Proverbs. Focus on the very nature of the mercy and grace of our Lord. The other morning, I was reading in Psalms, and Psalm 97:10 blessed my soul, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he [preserves] the souls of his saints; he [delivers] them out of the hand of the wicked.”

    Read the book of Job. In his severe test, Job lost everything he had, including his children. Yet he said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD [has] taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). Later he testified, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” (Job 13:15).

    The greatest threat of the coming suffering that lies ahead for the world is not an empty stomach, but a barren soul. To face the trials ahead, we must possess the power, presence, and promises of God! “Be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).

    Be faithful to the body of Christ. Be deeply involved in a local church that proclaims the Word of God. Soon, this family of God will be all that we really have in this world! We are commanded to “not [forsake] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as [you] see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

    Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

    The Madness in America

    Anyone who is really paying attention to the daily news events over the past few years will recognize that Ameri-cans seem to be entering a period of recklessness, while disregarding any threat to their own personal life or injury. It is as if we are living in a world that has become insane.

    In recent years, some states are threatening to break away from the union. Some rich Americans are leaving the country. More people seem to be driving recklessly, exhibiting a dangerous spirit of lawlessness. The abuse of alcohol and drugs is noticeably escalating. Altercations at public places and on airplanes are increasing. Violent crime murders are at an all-time high.

    All these observations are evidence that the spirit of law-lessness is escalating at an enormous rate. It is apparent that God’s restraining influence by His Spirit through the church is waning, just like the Bible said it would (2 Thessalonians 2:7). As the church becomes more like the world, it is losing its ability to be salt and light in our world (Matthew 5:13-16). As this restraining influence dissipates, sinners are becoming more militant, bold, and shameless. When the church [a godly remnant] is raptured, then the lawless one, the Antichrist, will step onto the stage of history (2 Thessalonians 2:8). As testified in the prophetic Scriptures, all this current madness will dramatically escalate, making this planet a very dangerous place to live. Praise God we are going home soon!

  • August 2022 – Conform or be Eliminated

           Proclaiming the Prophetic Word for 31 years!

    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

    Download this Newsletter

    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 7th 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.

    The Arabic words on this flag are the Islamic statement called the shahada. It is the first of the five major beliefs of Islam. It means, “There is not God but Allah, and Muhammed is his prophet.”

    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!

  • July 2021 – Israel’s Government & Antichrist’s Covenant

    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

    Picture of Yair Lapid
    Yair Lapid

    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.

    picture of PM Bennett
    Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett

    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).