April 2024 – God Loves Israel

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God Loves Israel

I have loved thee [Israel] with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3

By Mike Wingfield

If you publicly declare today that you love Jewish people and the nation of Israel, there will be many who hate you. Hatred for Jews is spreading like a disease around the world. Since Hamas’ invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, anti-Jewish hate crimes are reaching historic levels. It is now reported that approximately one-fourth of people living in the U.S. hate Jewish people. Sadly, many of these people claim to be Christians.

Many people hate the Jews because they believe the ancient lies about the Jewish people that have been in existence for centuries. They view the Jewish people as being in positions of wealth and control. Some believe Jews are trying to take over the world. Others simply hate them without knowing anything about the Jews. They hate them because they choose to hate them.

Speaking about the signs at the end of this age, Jesus said to His Jewish disciples, “Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). Before He went to the cross, Jesus said to His disciples, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. … They hated me without a cause” (John 15:18, 25).

Many people may not know it, but when they hate the Jewish people, they are acting like God’s greatest adversary, Satan. No one hates Israel and the Jewish people more than Satan. Throughout the centuries Satan has enflamed and magnified people’s hatred for God’s chosen people.

When people hate the Jewish people, they are acting like God’s greatest adversary, Satan. There is no one who hates Israel and the Jewish people more than Satan. Throughout the centuries Satan has enflamed and magnified people’s hatred for God’s chosen people.

Satan knows how deeply God loves the Jewish people. This evil enemy of God understands God’s heart, purposes, and eternal design for the Jewish people. Satan knows that God has created the Jewish people and blessed them to demonstrate His faithful, infinite, and glorious character. The devil knows that God has invested His reputation and sovereign plans to bless the entire world through the Jewish people (Genesis 12:2-3).

Satan’s goal is to dethrone God and exalt himself above all the angels, and to possess all of heaven and earth (Isaiah 14:12-14). Therefore, he has chosen to attack God by striking at God’s heart. He must defeat God by destroying Israel and the Jewish people. History demonstrates that this has been his objective from the beginning of the nation of Israel in Egypt almost 3,900 years ago.

Revelation 12 reveals that Satan is the cause of anti-Semitism. In this imagery, the woman who is about to give birth to a male child is Israel. The dragon that is before the woman stands ready to devour the male child, and then the woman, is Satan. Before and during Christ’s First Coming, Satan did everything he could to destroy the plan of God by attacking God’s Son. He tried to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16; Luke 4:28-30; John 8:59). He also tried to disqualify Jesus as the sinless Son of God (Matthew 4:1-11).

After Jesus defeated Satan’s schemes, He completed His Father’s mission and ascended back to heaven. Since that time Satan’s major objective has been to eliminate the Jewish people and annihilate the nation of Israel. He is doing this to prevent the Second Coming of Christ. He knows that if he is unsuccessful in this effort, he will be cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-2), and then into the Lake of Fire for all eternity (Revelation 20:10). As always, Satan has used the godless Gentile nations in his conflict with God. One of his favorite tools are wicked, godless human governments and their evil leaders.

In Revelation 12:7-8, the apostle John indicated that this war against Israel is an extension of the war in heaven between the good angels of God and the demons of the dragon, Satan. This simply indicates that the central focus of the war in the spiritual realm is focused upon the nation of Israel. In Daniel 12:1 and Revelation 12:7, it is noted that Michael the archangel is “the great prince which [stands] for the children of [Daniel’s] people” – the Jewish people. Michael is known as the most powerful angel in God’s war efforts against Satan. The fact that God has placed His most powerful angel in charge of defending Israel against Satan indicates just how serious this war is in the overall scheme of the battle between God and Satan.

Since Christ’s First Coming it has been Satan’s major objective to eliminate the Jewish people and to annihilate the nation of Israel. He is doing this to prevent the Second Coming of Christ. … One of his favorite tools are wicked godless human governments and their evil leaders.

Since the beginning of God’s choice to make the Jewish people His own people, Satan has used sinful man to attack the people of God. Without knowing it, people and nations have aided Satan in his efforts to annihilate the Jewish people. The Bible teaches that before a person is redeemed by God, they are manipulated by Satan to accomplish hell’s agenda. The apostle Paul described all sinners as those who prior to their salvation “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).

Why should Bible-believing, conservative, evangelical Christians love the Jewish people and Israel? When a person becomes a follower of Jesus as his Messiah and Savior, he must also accept Him as his Lord. If Jesus is our Lord, that means we should obey His commands and agree with His eternal will. Jesus, our Jewish Savior, taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). The future kingdom that Jesus instructed us to pray about was not a spiritual kingdom, but a physical kingdom on earth. We will return to earth and reign with Christ in His kingdom over the nations for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6). Christ will rule in His kingdom from the throne of David in Jerusalem, Israel over all nations (Isaiah 2:1-4). This kingdom was a promise given to the Jewish people in many Old Testament texts. Therefore, we should love Jesus and His people, Israel, and joyfully pray for this kingdom to come.

The divine calling of Israel is of great importance and is the foundation of God’s dealing with Israel and all other nations. Since God chose this nation for His divine purposes, what He does to the Jewish nation and all other nations reflects His divine sovereign power and authority over all His creation.

One of the great themes in the Bible is God’s love for His chosen people, Israel. God has openly stated that He loves Israel. Speaking to Israel through His servant Moses 3,400 years ago, God said, “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).

This divine calling of Israel is of great importance and is the foundation of God’s dealing with Israel and all other nations. Since God chose this nation for His divine purposes, what He does to the Jewish nation and all other nations reflects His divine sovereign power and authority over all His creation. God has chosen to bless those who bless Israel and to curse those who curse Israel (Genesis 12:3). Those who attack Israel are attacking God. Therefore, Israel’s enemies are God’s enemies (Psalm 83:1-4). The history and prophecy of Israel are filled with miracles. God’s supernatural hand upon His people should be a powerful warning to all people concerning what awaits those who oppose the sovereign will and plans of God! “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity” (Isaiah 40:17).

Several things need to be recognized concerning God’s calling of Israel into a covenant relationship with Him. God has designated them to be a “holy people unto the Lord” (Deuteronomy 7:6). This does not have any application to their spiritual salvation. The word holy simply means they have been “set apart” by God for His purposes. God has chosen them to be a special people “above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6). The word “special” in Hebrew, segulah, designates Israel as God’s treasured possession. It indicates that the person who owns this possession has a special affection for it. It means that the owner considers that possession to be of great value to him. In four other Old Testament texts, the same Hebrew word is translated “a peculiar treasure” (Exodus 19:5).

This means that the nation of Israel is considered by God to be His personal treasured possession. He has declared, “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise” (Isaiah 43:21). He has said to Israel, “Thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1). When God’s work in Israel is complete at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom, He will say to them, “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God” (Isaiah 62:3). The Lord has declared that this will be “that day when I make up my jewels” (Malachi 3:17).

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God has feelings and emotions. He is not some sovereign robot in heaven without any feelings. However, we must understand that God’s love is more than just emotions. It is not a reaction to the object of His love. It is a self-purposed act of His holiness for His own eternal purposes and glory.

od’s ancient calling of the nation of Israel has not been abandoned by God. Notice Jeremiah 31:1, 3, “At the same time [the time of the end], saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. … The LORD hath appeared of old unto me saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Many people believe that God has forsaken His covenant with the Jewish people and replaced them with the church. At the heart of this confusion, called Replacement Theology, is the misunderstanding of the very nature and character of God. God’s love for Israel flows out of His sovereign will. It is an act that flows out of His infinite character of faithfulness and mercy (Deuteronomy 7:8). Since God does not change, neither does His nature. He is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). This unchangeable character guarantees that Israel cannot be consumed (Malachi 3:6)

He does not love the Jewish people because they deserve it. God knew that when He called Israel, they would be a rebellious people (Isaiah 48:8). Like all of humanity (both Jew and Gentile), there is none that seeks after God in his own spirit (Romans 3:9-18). However, because of God’s covenant with Abraham, God chose to exercise His patience and did not destroy them. For the sake of His own glory, God has acted with infinite love and promised that someday Israel will be redeemed (Romans 11:26-27).

Often, we forget that God lives in the eternal now (Isaiah 57:15). God has no past or future. With Him, it is all present. Therefore, God’s love for Israel is not based upon what the Jewish people do at any moment in time. God has loved Israel despite their rebellious spirit, and He sees the day that will come when all living Israel, the final generation, will call unto Him in repentance and be saved (Zechariah 12:10-13:9).

In Jeremiah 31:3, God declared to Israel, “with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” The Hebrew word for “loving kindness” is hesed. This speaks of a loyal love, unfailing love based upon devotion that is steadfastly built upon a prior relationship. It speaks of merciful and unfailing love that is an act of the sovereign choice of God. Not on emotions alone.

The psalmist frequently celebrated God’s mercy shown to Israel. The Psalms were written by godly men to whom were given great insight by the Spirit of God. They recognized Israel’s sin, but they also saw God’s great mercy. Because of His mercy they were not rejected or consumed by His wrath. See Psalm 89 and 136. We should all rejoice that “the LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy” (Psalm 145:8). “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22).

God has feelings and emotions. He is not some sovereign robot in heaven without any feelings. However, we must understand that God’s love is more than just emotions. It is not a reaction to the object of His love. It is a self-purposed act of His holiness for His own eternal purposes and glory. God works “all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). God’s glory is not invested in the object of His love, but in His own glory. God’s choice and calling should not bring about any pride in the object of God’s love. God has chosen weak people, foolish persons, and the people who are the rejected and despised people of the world, so that “no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29).

God’s love for His people Israel can be seen in two ways. First, God has attached Himself to the nation by using its name as a reference to Himself. He has declared 46 times in the Bible that Israel is His people and that He is their God! After they have been scattered among the nations for thousands of years, in the end He says, “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness” (Zechariah 8:7-8).

Names in the Bible are very important. Names are designed to reflect the character or the divine nature of that person’s calling. God’s name in the Bible is holy (Psalm 111:9). The very mention of God’s name is to be approached with great reverence (Exodus 20:7). God has forever attached His identity to the Jewish people. He has called Himself “The Holy One of Israel,” “The God of Israel,” “The God of Jacob,” and “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

God has determined that when people observe the Jewish people, they can learn something about His very nature. God’s work among His people teaches us much about His grace and mercy. It also demonstrates that God is infinitely patient and faithful. God has repeatedly used great miracles in the history of Israel. These miracles are a demonstration of God’s awesome power. The nation of Israel is a testimony to the truthfulness of God’s Word. His promises never fail! The history of Israel demonstrates that God is serious about punishing sin and unfaithfulness to God. The Jewish people also demonstrate God’s infinite love for those who are unworthy of that love.

Hundreds of times in the Bible, God refers to Israel as “my people.” As previously mentioned, God has a unique covenant with only one nation and ethnic group – Israel and the Jewish people. He has set them apart and high above all other nations. In the truest sense of the word, they are His people. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus referred to the Jewish people as “my brethren.” With this comment, Jesus said to

those whom He was speaking, that what they did to His people they had done to Him. When you attack Israel, you are attacking God! God said that those who touch Him, touch “the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8). This means that the Jew is the central focus of God in His eternal plan. As goes God’s divine will and purpose, so goes the nation of Israel. God’s will and the nation of Israel are intertwined in the mind and heart of God! That is why Israel is the target of hell and all the devil’s demons!

Hundreds of times in the Bible, God refers to Israel as “my people.” As previously mentioned, God has a unique covenant with only one nation and ethnic group – Israel and the Jewish people. He has set them apart and high above all other nations. In the truest sense of the word, they are His people.

In the Bible, God gives many symbolic illustrations of the identity of Israel. In Exodus 4:22, Moses declared to Pharoah, “Israel is my son, even my first born.” In the culture of the Middle East, the first-born son held a position of honor and importance over all his siblings. How fitting for God to refer to the nation of Israel in these terms. In Exodus 19:5, God spoke to Israel and said, you are a “treasure unto me above all people.” With great affection, He referred to Israel as His vineyard (Isaiah 5:7). Israel is the unique flock of God (Isaiah 40:11). At Mount Horeb in Exodus 19, God met with Israel and gave them a covenant that is recognized in the Bible as a marriage covenant. In the Bible, Israel is known as the wife of Jehovah. When the end comes, God will renew His relationship with His wife with a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). These, and many other analogies, indicate that God has a deep affection and enduring love for His people. No other nation is looked upon with such honor or calling.

The Lord has assured us that He will never permanently reject His people, Israel. Remember that the Lord has said to Israel, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). He has promised to discipline the children of Israel, but has declared, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips” (Psalm 89:34). God’s promises are bound up in the presence of the sun and the moon. God has said that as long as the sun and the moon stands, the nation of Israel will be before Him to accomplish His purposes (Jeremiah 31:35-37).

I would like to say to all those who are attempting to attack or curse Israel, “look up!” If you see the sun and moon, please know that you will not be able to destroy Israel or stop God’s eternal plans. Not all the demons in hell or all the billions in the nations will be able to defeat the Lord God. When Jesus returns, He will slay all the wicked “with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips” (Isaiah 11:4).

The surge of anti-Semitism is a testimony that Satan is running scared. He must know that His time to defeat God is getting short (Revelation 12:12). He is assembling the nations against Israel. The nations are about to feel the wrath of God. Like fools, they are running toward their own demise.

Get ready for the shout that will take us out!

November 2023 – Israel at War

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(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

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

By Mike Wingfield

By Mike Wingfield

Israel and the world were sent reeling by a surprise attack that was launched by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas on Israel’s Sabbath morning of October 7th.

Israel, with boasts one of the most elaborate intelligence and security operations in the world, was caught totally off guard. Indeed, it turned out to be one of most devastating days in the history of the modern state of Israel. As events continue to unfold, the world is stunned by the countless atrocities committed by these savage terrorists against innocent Israelis.

Shockingly, more Israelis were murdered on their holiest day of the week, Shabbat, October 7th than any other day during the historic wars Israel has endured since its return to the Promised Land. Even more stunning is the realization that this sudden defeat did not come at the hands of an enemy nation. It was perpetrated by a radical Islamic terrorist entity.

This stunning development occurred on the last day of the Jewish peoples’ celebrated Feast of Tabernacles. Hamas, a dangerous and avowed enemy of Israel, suddenly launched attacks against 22 Jewish communities and several military installations near Israel’s southern border with Gaza.

An estimated 1,500 radical Islamic terrorists affiliated with Hamas invaded Israel by air, land, and sea. In 24 hours, these savages killed more than 1,200 Israeli citizens and military personnel, and seriously injured more than 3,000. As we know, these numbers will continue to mount in the preceding days.

The grim pictures shared by Israel give testimony to the demonic and brutal savagery of the invading Islamic forces. They raped and tortured women, killed parents in front of their children, and slaughtered people while desecrating their bodies. Many were beheaded, including babies. According to original estimates, 130 or more men, women, children, and elderly people and forced them to flee to Gaza where t hey are being held hostage. During this strike, they also raided and pillaged the Jewish communities, leaving behind a massive trail of destruction. The family pictured on this page was brutally murdered by Hamas.

In addition, terrorists launched more than 5,000 missiles into Israel. A few of these missiles reached their targets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It is believed by some that an electronic device was used to interfere with Israel’s Iron Dome antiballistic missile system. Some analysts are saying that Iran and Russia helped Hamas to plan this deadly attack and provided the funds, munitions, orders, and technological ability to make it happen.

The Israeli government immediately declared war on Hamas. 300,000 reservists were summoned for duty. Israeli leaders told the national to expect a long and protracted war that will be fought in the streets of Gaza, a densely populated area. Israel was told to brace itself for large numbers of casualties. In addition, the long war effort will have a crippling effect on the Israeli economy because it will divert much-needed human and economic resources.

Most of us who live in the United States cannot begin to fathom what the Israelis are going through. We have not suffered from wars and rumors of wars, and numerous acts of terrorism as the Jewish people have had to endure for many generations.

I was deeply moved by the following report, “What we are experiencing now is unthinkable, unimaginable. The horror, the evil, the pain. It is more than we can bear. Parents and children are slaughtered.

Elderly people and their nurses are slaughtered. Teenagers at an outdoor party, slaughtered. For those who are far away, who may not grasp the enormity of this horror – this is Israel’s 9/11.

“Throughout Israel, sons and fathers are running to war. The situation is so dire that men in their forties are being called up to action. Yesterday, I stood on my porch watching mothers and wives all over my neighborhood hug their sons and husbands with tears in their eyes, as they rushed from their homes to join their units for battle.

“Everyone has a loved one at the front. Some of my friends’ children have been wounded, and others are missing. We are living in a nightmare. Israel is in crisis, in a way many of us have never experienced in our lifetimes” (Israel365news.com, October 8, 2023).

Israeli military personnel who were traveling abroad scrambled to return to Israel so they could join the war effort against Hamas. Israel is determined to destroy Hamas and its control center of operation in Gaza. We can believe that the God of Israel will aid them. God has declared, “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 shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:8-14).

It is very important to remember that this ongoing war against Israel is being perpetrated in the name of the god of Islam. Shouts of “Allah is greater” were repeated as terrorists murdered their victims and pillaged Jewish communities. This clearly indicates that what is transpiring in our world is a war being waged against Jews and Christians. The world, and especially Islam, are at war with the God of the Bible. Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a Senior Hamas Official, is quoted as saying recently, “The entire planet will be under our law, there will be no more Jews or Christian traitors” (The Jerusalem Post, October 9, 2023). This is only a small taste of what will come to pass during the Tribulation Period.

I am convinced that the seven-year Tribulation Period is the final chapter of an age-old conflict that began with the animosity of Ishmael against Isaac, and Esau’s hatred of Jacob. As previously mentioned in the October newsletter, there is biblical, historical, and prophetic evidence to support this opinion. What we are viewing now is an extension of the war in the spiritual realm between the God of Israel and the god of Islam. As this conflict escalates, we are getting closer to the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation Period.

Muslims are waging a war against the world to force all citizens to submit to Islam. The United Nations, the global media, and education systems are completely silent about the war, called “Islamic Jihad”, being perpetrated upon all infidels (non-Muslims) around the world. I highly recommend that you frequently visit the website www.thereligonofpeace.com to keep informed of this ongoing global war. According to this website there have been more than 44,000 deadly Islamic terror attacks among the nations since 9/11. In September 2023, there were 104 attacks that killed 550 people, and injured another 492. These attacks took place in 22 countries.

Islam’s holy war is growing around the world. Muslims are immigrating to Europe in greater numbers. In countries like France, Italy, Germany, and Great Britain, the Muslims are already killing non-Muslims and threatening to take over major cities.

Islam is currently the only religion in the world that is protected from hate speech. The United Nations is impacted by the 57 Islamic nations that control the actions and decisions of this international body. I am convinced that the religion of Islam is symbolically depicted in the book of Revelation as a harlot that rides on the back of the beast that represents the Antichrist and his global kingdom (Revelation 17-18). See the image on this page. This religion is in the desert (Revelation 17:3), kills believers in Jesus (Revelation 17:6), and seduces the kings, merchants, and citizens of the world (Revelation 18:3).

When the Tribulation opens, a rider will appear on a white horse “to conquer” the world (Revelation 6:2). Muslims believe their messiah will appear on a white horse and call for a global jihad against the world. This action will continue as they “take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another” (Revelation 6:4). This will all be accomplished with the Antichrist’s “great sword” (Revelation 6:4). The sword of Allah [their god] is a global symbol of Islam. The name Islam means “submission.” See the image of the Saudi flag below. The Islamic words on the flag are the Islamic statement of faith “There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” The beginning of the Tribulation will be accompanied by hyperinflation, famine, diseases, war, and death (Revelation 6:5-8). This all appears to be knocking at the world’s door at this hour!

When the forces of the Antichrist kill God’s two Jewish witnesses in Jerusalem at the mid-point of the Tribulation, those in the world who are sympathetic to his mission will rejoice. Revelation 11:10 says, “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another.” For many years this has been the common reaction in the Muslim world to the slaughtering of Jewish Israelis. When word reached Muslims around the world about Hamas’ destruction in Israel, they broke out in praise to Allah for their victory.

On the day after the death of 800 Israelis by Hamas, World Israel News shared the following story, “Muslims in Europe and throughout the Middle East launched festive celebrations in the street, praising Palestinian terrorists and supporting the unprecedented attack that killed some [1,200] Israelis on Saturday, in one of the biggest disasters in Israeli history. “Rachel Riley, a British-Jewish television presenter, wrote on her social media accounts that she was horrified to come across multiple groups of people in London who were apparently reveling in the fact that Israelis had been killed. Riley wrote that she had visited a cafe in the Acton neighborhood in West London with her family, when they saw a group of men on the street waving Palestinian flags and smiling.

“‘People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing,’ she wrote. Later on, Riley updated that she ‘just passed two cars in West London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party’” (World Israel News, October 8, 2023).

The article in World Israel News, continued, “In Palestinian Authority-controlled enclaves in Judea and Samaria, Palestinians rallied in the streets, handing out sweets to celebrate the Hamas attack.

“Social media footage showed hundreds of Iranians gathering in Tehran’s Palestine Square, as locals praised the murder of Israelis. Celebratory fireworks were also seen in the video. In Lebanon, supporters of Hamas danced in the streets of Beirut while waving Palestinian flags” (World Israel News, October 8, 2023). This should clearly demonstrate that the idea of a Jewish and a Palestinian state side by side would be total suicide for Israel!

What happened on Saturday, October 7th was a complete surprise to Israel. It was an unusual total failure of their intelligence. However, God was not surprised. Why did He allow this to happen? We must remember that God is orchestrating every event all over the world, even in this apparent temporary defeat of His own people – Israel.

God has allowed this war in Israel to bring fear and humility to the Jewish people, both secular and religious Israelis. For far too long, Israelis have prided themselves in their military strength and impeccable intelligence. God wants them to know that the battle belongs to Him. When Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39) and Armageddon (Zechariah 14:1-3) happen in the future, the Bible indicates the Jewish nation will be overwhelmed. However, the Holy One of Israel will defend them for the honor of His name and glory. He is setting the stage to call upon them to trust Him instead of themselves. Israel’s greatest days are ahead. Not because of who they are, but because of Who He is!!

It is my opinion that the Lord is allowing Israel to be vulnerable as it faces the hatred and violence of those who are constantly plotting its destruction. Ultimately, He will bear His arm of power and overwhelm the enemies of Israel. He will supernaturally fight for Israel as their foes are defeated.

God wants to teach all of us to trust Him, not our own might. Jeremiah 17:5, 7 declares, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. … Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Psalm 20:7, adds, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Many Israeli soldiers read Psalm 121 before they go into battle. Oh, that the entire nation would take this Psalm to heart! From a human perspective, it is necessary for Israel to be militarily strong to survive in the Middle East. However, this needs to be balanced with a heart that is fixed upon the Lord and depends upon Him for its ultimate survival as a nation.

I am absolutely convinced that God has allowed the current situation to take place to turn the Jewish nation away from internal division and to bring many to salvation in Jesus Christ. Many Jewish Israelis will be saved because in fear and humility they will seek Him and find Him in their hour of need. Praise His Name!

The prophetic Word of God repeatedly states that the end time events will be especially difficult for the Jewish people living in Israel. In Jeremiah 30, the weeping prophet of God informed His people that when the last days would come, they would hear “a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace” (verse 5). He called this time “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (verse 7). Concerning the Tribulation Period, Daniel wrote, “… and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1). While speaking to His Jewish disciples concerning the last days and the Antichrist, 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. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

God has repeatedly demonstrated and promised that He will fight for His people, Israel. Against great odds, in the days of Moses, Gideon, David, Elijah, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Daniel, and many others, God miraculously gave the victory to His people who were outnumbered and militarily inferior. The days are rapidly approaching when the Lord will demonstrate to the entire world that He is the Lord God Almighty!

God has declared that He has placed His divine watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem, “which shall never hold their peace day nor night” (Isaiah 62:6). He has declared to His people, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3). These promises God gave to Israel are unconditional. They are not attached to some command given to them. These promises are founded upon God’s unchanging character. He has said, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6).

Those who hate Israel are the enemies of God and hate His people, Israel (Psalm 83:1-4). The Lord has promised to bless those who bless His people, and to curse those who curse them (Genesis 12:3). If we love the Lord, we must love His people.

We need to pray for Israel at this hour. Pray for Israel and her leaders to make wise decisions. Pray for many who have lost family and friends. Many funerals will be held in the next few days and the people of Israel will be crying out to the Lord for His help. Pray for Israeli soldiers as this war continues to escalate. Pray that the enemies of Israel will be defeated for the honor and glory of God. Pray for the innocent people in Gaza who are prisoners of Hamas. Pray for their salvation. Pray that this will unite the nation of Israel. Pray that the church will wake up and understand the lateness of the hour!

Almost 2,600 years ago, the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about Israel and these last days. I highly recommend that you read and meditate upon these following words as we move through the weeks and months to come (if we are still here). “For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. … Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. … Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it” (Jeremiah 30:11, 16, 23-24).

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

Who will lead the Nations to Armageddon?

It is amazing what the prophet Joel wrote about the nations and Armageddon – the final war that ends the Tribulation Period. First, God said, “For I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat [the valley between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem]” (Joel 3:2). When the end comes, all the Gentile nations will come to Armageddon. The reasons given for God’s wrath against the nations is their savage treatment of the Jewish people and the division of His land (Joel 3:2-3) – the Holy Land.

He promises two nations that they will suffer the vengeance of the Lord and He will recompense them for what they have done to Israel. The two nations are Lebanon [“Tyre and Zidon”] and Gaza [“all the coasts of Palestine”] (Joel 3:4). Isn’t it amazing that these two nations are currently at the forefront of attacking Israel? It demonstrates that we are seeing the final events of the Church Age.

I pray you are ready! He is coming soon!

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October 2023 – Historical Peace Treaty in the Middle East

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(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

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

By Mike Wingfield

Historical Peace Treaty in the Middle East

The people of the prince that shall come … shall confirm the covenant with the many for one [seven of years].” Daniel 9:26-27

By Mike Wingfield

We are living in an exceptional period of human history. Those who closely follow current events in the Middle East know that in the last 100 years, the Arab Muslims of the Middle East have violently opposed the return of the Jewish people to the Promised Land. Since the founding of the Jewish nation in 1948, Israelis have had to continually defend themselves against Arab aggression. However, on the surface that long-standing hatred for Israel may be softening. Some Arab nations appear to be moving in a direction of tolerating Israel.

Currently, six nations [Egypt in 1979, Jordan in 1994, and in 2020, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Morocco] have formed treaties that are focusing upon normalizing relations with Israel. However, for Israel, the great prize would be a peace treaty with Saudi Arbia, which is viewed as the world’s leading Islamic nation. Recent events indicate that such a treaty is a growing possibility.

During a FOX News interview on September 20, 2023, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [see photo on page 2] stated, “the prospect of normalizing relations with Israel is getting closer by the day” (CNBC News, September 21, 2023). While speaking to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on September 23, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of the benefits of the Abraham Accords that took place with four Arab countries in 2020. He commented, “The Abraham Accords was a pivot of history. And today we all see the blessings of those Accords. Trade and investment with our new peace partners are booming. Our nations cooperate in commerce, energy, water, agriculture, medicine, climate and many, many other fields. …

“There is no question the Abraham Accords heralded the dawn of a new age of peace. But I believe that we are at the cusp of an even more dramatic breakthrough – an historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Such a peace will go a long way to ending the Arab-Israeli conflict. It will encourage other Arab states to normalize their relations with Israel. It will enhance the prospects of peace with the Palestinians. It will encourage a broader reconciliation between Judaism and Islam, between Jerusalem and Mecca, between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael” (All Israel News Staff, September 22, 2023).

As the Bible prophecy student thinks about these significant developments, it is very apparent that we are about to witness the peace covenant event that could usher the world into the tumultuous Tribulation Period.

As I examine the possibilities of these events, I recognize how they seem to be pieces of a puzzle that are connected to what the Bible says about the future historic agreement that will catapult Israel into the final period of the last days. Let us examine seven biblical facts about this coming peace agreement.

1. The Tribulation Period will begin with a peace covenant.

The final events for Israel and the world in the last days will be a unique time known as the Tribulation Period. Some people have concluded that it will begin immediately after the Rapture of the church. However, that is not what the Bible indicates will happen. A significant covenant with the Jewish people will begin the final seven-years that precede the Kingdom of God (Daniel 9:27). When the ink of the signatures on this document begins to dry, God’s prophetic clock in heaven will begin to tick. This seven-year covenant will set in motion the events that will unfold on earth that will culminate with the Revelation of Christ at the end of the Tribulation (Revelation 19:11-21).

If this proposed treaty between Israel and Saudi Arabia comes to fruition, it could be an enormously powerful indication that the Rapture of the church is imminent!

Saudi Prince

2. This peace treaty will be the result of the diplomatic efforts of the coming Antichrist.

According to Daniel 9, a “prince that shall come” (Daniel 9:26) will establish a treaty with the Jewish people who have regathered in the Holy Land in the last days. The context of the book of Daniel and of the entire Bible, points to the identification of this prince as the Antichrist.

There is great evidence in the Bible that the Antichrist will be an Arab Muslim. His efforts to destroy the Jewish nation will be the culmination of an ancient conflict that traces its roots back to the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau. God did not recognize Ishmael and Esau as heirs of blessings in the Abraham covenant. Consequently, in rebellion, both men moved to the desert areas east of Israel. Eventually, their descendants intermarried (Genesis 36). In general, they became the progenitors of the Arab nations in the Middle East (Genesis 25:12-18).

The Scriptures and extra-biblical historical sources indicate that within the Arab nations there has been a continual hatred of Israel that has festered and intermittently erupted from ancient times to the present day. When Nehemiah was leading the Jewish captives from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem, the Arabs adamantly opposed the Jewish presence in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1, 7-8). The prophet Ezekiel indicated that when the Jewish people would return to their land in the last days, the Jews would be rejected by the Arab nations that surround the land of Israel (Ezekiel 36:1-7). This hatred and rejection of the Jewish presence in the Promised Land began decades before the founding of the modern state of Israel in 1948. The constant threat of war, and the ongoing acts of terrorism by the Arabs toward the Israelis continue to this day.

Therefore, this ancient feud between the descendants of Isaac and Jacob with the family-line of Ishmael and Esau set the stage for the final conflict. God at the Battle of Armageddon will suddenly resolve this historic quarrel. The core issue that causes God to gather all nations to Armageddon is the world’s attempt to divide the Promised Land (Joel 3:2). According to the Bible, the nations that will be leading the world to attack Israel will be the Arab/Islamic nations of the Middle East (Psalm 83:1-8; Isaiah 13, 34; Jeremiah 50-51; Obadiah). The head of this confederation of Arab nations that comes against Israel at the end of the Tribulation is the Antichrist. Daniel wrote that the Antichrist will “divide the land for gain” (Daniel 11:39).

The context of the Bible seems to demand that the covenant of the Antichrist with Israel will include the recognition of the Jewish right to occupy the Holy Land. In an interview in 2018, Saudi Prince Mohammad bin Salman stated that “he believes the Jewish people have a right to their own land. … I believe that each people, anywhere, has a right to live in their peaceful nation. I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have a right to have their own land” (The Jewish Chronicle, April 3, 2018).

This statement by the Saudi Prince clearly indicates that in his eyes, the Jews have a right to a part of their ancestral homeland. However, the Palestinians have a right to part of the contested land also. Therefore, he agrees with the world that the Holy Land must be divided to accommodate both the Jews and the Palestinians. This differs from many other more radical Moslems who do not believe the Jewish people have any rights to any part of the Holy Land.

There are a multitude of passages in the Bible that seem to indicate the Antichrist will be a Muslim. His headquarters in the Tribulation Period will be in the Persian Gulf area (Revelation 17-18). He will have a unique relationship with a powerful religion [depicted as a harlot in Revelation 17]. This religion will control him and his global kingdom. This religion will hate believers in Jesus and will kill them (Revelation 17:6). These believers will be “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God” (Revelation 20:4). This religion will have a powerful influence over the leaders of the world (Revelation 17:2; 18:3). This religion is rich. It has made governments, merchants, and transporters of her wealth [oil] to manufacture goods all around the world, and become rich (Revelation 18:9-19).

Furthermore, the nature and activities of the Antichrist seem to point to his Muslim identity. He will exalt himself and his religion above the God of the Bible (Daniel 11:36). His religion gives honor to a militant god of military might (Daniel 11:38). He does not honor or respect women (Daniel 11:37). He embraces the occult [“understanding dark sentences”] (Daniel 8:23). His policies will be driven by deception (Daniel 8:25).

Green Flag

3. The Tribulation agreement will be a false peace treaty.

The Bible makes it clear that the Antichrist’s covenant with Israel will be a trick to lure the Jewish people into a trap of annihilation. He will appear to be seeking peace, while he is deceptively plotting their death. Some biblical scholars point to Psalm 55:21 as a prophecy of the Antichrist when he breaks his covenant with Israel, “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” Notice the new Saudi flag in the picture box.

This has been an historical struggle for the Jewish people. While they long for peace, their enemies prepare for war. Long ago, the psalmist verbalized the Jewish cry for a call of peace while living in the presence of those who were plotting war against them. He said, “Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar [the Arabs]! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalm 120:5-7).

This seven-year treaty with Israel will be annulled by the Antichrist at the mid-point of the agreement (Daniel 9:27). During the first half of the Tribulation, he will honor his agreement with the Israelis. During this time, he will not harm Israel. However, during this same time, he will be at war with the nations of the world to submit them to his authority (Revelation 6:2-8). He will accomplish global domination over all nations by the middle of the Tribulation (Revelation 13:5-7). At this point he will force the world to submit to him. He will control the world politically, religiously, and economically (Revelation 13:11-18).

At the same time, he will turn on the Jewish people with great vengeance (Matthew 24:15-25). He will take back his control over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount (Revelation 11:1-2). He will desecrate the holy temple in Jerusalem. He will set his image in the temple and declare himself to be god (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:11-14). Jesus called this “the abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15).

The last half of the Tribulation will be a literal hell on earth for Israel. The prophet Daniel described this time as “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time” (Daniel 12:1).

4. The Tribulation treaty will be accepted by liberal Israeli leaders.

The Bible depicts a great division in Israel at the beginning of the Tribulation. There will be a conservative Jewish population in Israel that will be clinging to the truth that all the Promised Land belongs to the Jewish people. These people will not support the division of their land for the prospect of a false peace covenant (Isaiah 28:16).

However, the conservative religious population will be opposed by their liberal and secular government. God calls these leaders “scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 28:14). These “mockers” (Isaiah 28:22) of God’s truth and promises chose to believe the lies of Israel’s enemies who are plotting their destruction (Isaiah 28:15). God calls their treaty with the Antichrist an “agreement with hell” (Isaiah 28:18).

It is very apparent that the stage is set for this deceptive treaty with the secular leadership in Israel.

5. This agreement will be the culmination of an ongoing peace effort with Israel in the last days.

Over the last few decades there have been many attempts to present a peace covenant that would resolve the conflict over the land of Israel. As previously indicated, the covenant of the Antichrist will deal with this thorny issue.

Daniel wrote that the Antichrist will “confirm the covenant with many” (Daniel 9:27). The word “confirm” indicates that a weaker covenant will exist before the Antichrist’s covenant is adopted by Israel. Therefore, this action by the Antichrist will simply strengthen a weaker peace process that involves the actions of the “many” mentioned by Daniel. Previously, Daniel presented the fact that ten kings will precede the Antichrist (Daniel 7:8, 24). Years later, the Apostle John wrote that these ten kings would be contemporary with the Antichrist and would “receive power as kings [for a short period of time] with the [antichrist]” (Revelation 17:12). This probably could be understood to indicate that these 10 kings will formulate a peace covenant with Israel prior to the Antichrist’s covenant with Israel.

As previously mentioned, six Muslim nations have already made peace with Israel. Suddenly, due to the diplomatic efforts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2020, four nations joined Egypt and Jordan in recognizing Israel and normalizing relationships with the Jewish State. Are we about to witnesses another flurry of diplomatic activity that will cause four more kings to join the six and prepare the way for the covenant of the Antichrist?

Israel Relations Map

6. The Tribulation covenant will have a connection to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

The Islamic world has made it known that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is an important religious holy place. According to them, the Temple Mount was the location of their prophet’s famous flight to heaven. Therefore, Mount Zion is the third most holy site in their religion, followed by Mecca and Media in Saudi Arabia.

It is very apparent that the Antichrist will desire to control the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He will choose this location for one of his centers of domination in his global control over the nations. He will express this when he enters the newly rebuilt Jewish temple at the mid-point of the Tribulation. From there, he will declare himself to be god and demand global worship (Daniel 9:27; Thessalonians 2:4).

When the Antichrist deceives Israel into signing his covenant, he will give them permission to rebuild the Jewish temple on the Temple Mount. This is something that religious Jews have been longing for since the destruction of the last Jewish temple in 70 A.D. by the Romans. Most people do not recognize how significant this is to the Jewish people. This will be a major part of the Antichrist’s deception to lure the Israelis into his death trap.

In recent months, the Saudis have made it known that they want to control the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the location of two important Muslim mosques – Al Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock [see photo below]. In modern times, the Arab Kingdom of Jordan has had custody and control over this Islamic place of worship. However, now, Saudi Arabia wants to take control of this important Islamic holy place. The Jewish Press has reported, “Saudi Arabia wishes to signal to Jordan that it considers itself entitled to set foot in the Al Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem, which would make the crown prince and the Al Saud dynasty responsible for the three holy places of Islam: Mecca, Medina and Al Aqsa” (The Jewish Press, August 14, 2023).

Considering the current move toward developing a peace agreement with Israel, this is a very significant statement coming from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. These amazing details tell us just how close we are to this historic peace treaty.

7. The Tribulation covenant will occur in the context of the world’s desperate call for peace and security.

When the Antichrist and Israel sign their covenant on the first day of the Tribulation Period, it will take place at a time of growing world tensions. Our world is radically descending into a chaotic evil period of wars and rumors of wars. The Apostle Paul declared that the Tribulation Period will begin as the world cries for “peace and safety” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). However, as they call for peace, the world will erupt into deadly wars. Paul said, “Then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

As the United States and the Western nations continue to collapse spiritually, morally, politically, militarily, and economically, the world is facing a new axis of evil – China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The one thing all these evil nations have in common is they love power and will not allow any threat to stop them from unleashing their thirst for global control. When Iran joins their ranks with the final development of its nuclear weapons, it will signal to the world that we are entering a deadly period.

One of the reasons why the Saudis want to have a treaty with Israel is because they recognize that Israel is the most powerful military force in the Middle East, and Israel has nuclear weapons. The Saudis comprehend that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, it will immediately change the face of the Middle East and the entire world. They fully understand that Iran’s ambitions are to destroy the world so that their Islamic messiah, as they believe, will then appear.

Friends, we are standing on the brink of incredible world changing events. Everything is in place for the covenant the Antichrist will sign to begin the Tribulation Period. I am convinced that we will soon hear the shout that will take us out!

Iran’s Nuclear Deception

Times of Israel News has reported that during the third week of September Iran refused to allow a scheduled inspection of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Under the watchful eyes of the international community, Iran had agreed to allow these inspectors to guarantee that their nuclear program was for peaceful purposes, rather than to develop nuclear weapons. Their refusal of this inspection certainly indicates Iran has something to hide.

In response to this news, Netanyahu commented, “Israel is not surprised by Iran’s moves, which prove it is violating all its commitments to the international community and intends to arm itself with nuclear weapons. … Israel will do everything needed to defend itself against this threat” (Times of Israel News, September 16. 2023).

Climate Change Truth

Recently, 1,600 scientists around the globe agreed that the climate change hype concerning man-made emissions being the cause for higher temperatures and increased natural disasters is a political hoax. The real problem, according to the Bible (see Revelation 16:8-9) is the radical solar storms coming from the surface of the sun, and the surge of gases emitted from the increasing number of volcanoes. “The Earth is currently peaking at the hottest it’s been in a long time, thanks to all the geometric solar storms that have been smashing into our planet over the course of the last year.

“According to the reports, scientists are concerned about the Earth’s thermosphere, a vital layer of the atmosphere extending from the mesosphere to the exosphere. Because of these solar storms, the thermosphere has recently experienced a significant temperature increase, the highest it’s been in two decades. And that’s not the worst of the news-according to experts, while the thermosphere is currently hot, it’s about to get a whole lot hotter” (www.msm.com, June 23, 2023).

According to the Bible, this is the beginning of God’s judgment upon the wicked inhabitants of earth. God controls earth’s temperatures, not man!