One of the most disturbing subjects in the Bible is the predicted coming of the monster from hell – the Antichrist. For many years, I have been stunned that the Bible has revealed so much detailed information about this demonic dictator who will tyrannically compel the attention of every person on the planet at the end of this age.
When Jesus Christ came into this world, He came to put His heavenly Father on display for all of mankind to see. The Apostle John wrote, “And the Word [Jesus] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
(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 beraised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”1 Corinthians 15:51-52
By Mike Wingfield
Israel at War
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
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 Nationsto 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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During the 62 years I have been walking with the Lord I have been looking for His return. It will be the greatest day in my life! But, I must admit that there have been times when I was not focused upon His coming due to events that preoccupied my thinking. However, in recent weeks and months, my mind has been once again consumed with the possibility that the coming of Jesus to rapture His church to heaven seems to be very near. This expectation is more than just emotions or feelings. It is based upon solid biblical commands and the teachings of Jesus and His apostles.
Someone may say it is wrong to reach these kinds of conclusions. My response is that it is unbiblical and a matter of disobedience to not be watching for our Lord’s coming. We are to be longing and looking for His coming at any moment! After Jesus talked about the signs of His coming and the world conditions at the end of this age, He commanded His disciples to “watch” for His coming (Matthew 24:42, 43). The Greek word translated here is a very powerful word. It means that the believer is to be vigilant, and filled with expectation as he awaits his Lord’s return. In the same passage, Jesus reminded His disciples that no one would be able to know the exact day or hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36).However, before these words, He did tell His disciples that when the final generation would observe all of the things He mentioned about certain world conditions at the end of this age, that they could “know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33).
Someone may say it is wrong to reach these kinds of conclusions. My response is that it is unbiblical and a matter of disobedience to not be watching for our Lord’s coming. We are to be longing and looking for His coming at any moment! After Jesus talked about the signs of His coming and the world conditions at the end of this age, He commanded His disciples to “watch” for His coming (Matthew 24:42, 43). The Greek word translated here is a very powerful word. It means that the believer is to be vigilant, and filled with expectation as he awaits his Lord’s return. In the same passage, Jesus reminded His disciples that no one would be able to know the exact day or hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36).However, before these words, He did tell His disciples that when the final generation would observe all of the things He mentioned about certain world conditions at the end of this age, that they could “know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33).
It is evident from reading many New Testament passages that the apostles and the early church were expecting Jesus to come at any moment. James wrote the first New Testament book in 45 AD. Even then, he wrote, “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8).
About five years after James wrote his epistle, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church at Thessalonica. In this letter he explained the doctrine that we call the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the next chapter, Paul explained that the coming of the Lord would be “as a thief in the night” to those who do not know Him (1 Thessalonians 5:2). The sudden coming of Jesus will catch them completely off guard. They will not be looking for Him. They will consider the coming of Jesus to be an unwelcomed intrusion into their lives, just like the coming of a thief. I am greatly moved and saddened to think that perhaps 99.9 percent of the world’s population is totally oblivious to what is about to happen!
The coming of Jesus for His church will usher the world into the most dangerous and horrific period of time every recorded on earth. While speaking about the time after His coming in the Rapture, 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). Therefore, those who would be left behind on earth after the Rapture will face a “sudden destruction [from which] they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). They will be trapped in a world filled with death, disease, destruction, distress, and demonic deception. Jesus said, “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:35).
The Apostle Paul went on to explain to the believers in Thessalonica that while the world will be clueless about the coming judgment, Christians should not be caught off guard. He wrote, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).
We have not been exhorted to watch for certain signs to occur before the Rapture will take place. Technically, there are no signs for the Rapture. Since Jesus ascended back to heaven in 30 AD, the church has been anxiously awaiting His return. He can come at any moment!
However, there are signs that point to the unique period of time after the Rapture, called “the Tribulation.” This defined period of 7-years is clearly revealed in Scripture. Developments in this time will be totally unique and unprecedented! The Bible has much to say about the spiritual, political, economic, geological, medical, and social developments during this troublesome time. For three decades, I have been searching the Bible and identifying, classifying, cataloging, and correlating the signs of the Tribulation. I must confess that I have never been as awed by the developments of our world as I am at this moment in my life. Without question, we are witnessing the trends and events that will usher in the Tribulation Period. My inner spirit is being moved by the Spirit of God to greatly anticipate that the moment of the blessed hope we have been waiting for is about to happen! Jesus’ return is near!
But in the wake of His return, the sudden destruction that will come upon the world is repeatedly compared to the “travail” or birth pangs that come upon a woman as she is about to give birth to a baby (1 Thessalonians 5:3). See Isaiah 13:6-9; Jeremiah 30:6; and Matthew 24:8. Without question, our world is pregnant with the signs of the end of this age. Furthermore, when a woman has contractions, the intensity and frequency of her pain increases as she is about to give birth. It is glowingly apparent to me that the trends that signify the nearness of the Tribulation Period are intensifying and unfolding at an enormous rate at this present time. Just consider all that has happened in 2020, and the year is not over!
Let us briefly look at a few of the trends that are shaping our world for the Tribulation Period.
At the center of the end-time events are the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. The Tribulation Period is not a time for the Lord to refine His church, as some people think. The Tribulation Period is not for the church. It is a time for the Lord to refine His chosen people – Israel (Zechariah 13:8-9). The Lord will use this time to prepare the nation for the millennial kingdom that will follow Christ’s revelation. The Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms a false covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). The mid-point of this period will be marked by the Antichrist’s seizure of the newly-rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1, 2). The last half of the Tribulation Period is called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). The Tribulation will end when Jesus returns to Jerusalem to defend His chosen people and defeat the forces of the Antichrist at the Armageddon campaign (Joel 3:1, 2; Zechariah 14:1, 2; Revelation 19:11-21). It is important to note that the events that mark out this unique period of time, as previously stated, have nothing to do with the church (the predominately Gentile bride of Christ). This 7-year period is a divine focus upon the conclusion of God’s eternal promises and purposes for the Jewish people, which were made in an unconditional covenant with their forefathers- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God spoke through Moses 3,400 years ago and told the Jews that when they returned to their land in the last days that it would be a time of “tribulation” (Deuteronomy 4:30), and that “evil will befall you in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 31:29). Since a remnant of the Jewish people has returned to their land and the nation was born in 1948, they have endured an ongoing state of war and terrorism from their Islamic neighbors.
However, conditions in Israel at this moment are reaching a very critical point. Due to COVID-19, Israel is facing the possibility of a very serious economic collapse. Millions are unemployed and the nation is facing a second wave of the virus, leading many to be quarantined once again. Violent riots are breaking out all over Israel in rebellion against the government’s policies in dealing with this dangerous pandemic. The riots of the liberally motivated Israelis citizens against the conservative leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu almost mirrors what is taking place in the U.S. today.
In addition, Iran continues to openly declare its desire to destroy Israel. It should trouble us all that our world ignores these ongoing and serious threats to the Jewish nation. While the world focuses and responds to the tweets from President Donald Trump, it totally ignores the viral threats by the Iranian leadership to destroy Israel. The Bible indicates that when the end of this age has arrived, all nations will be united under the evil régime of the Antichrist against Israel. It is very obvious that the world is ready to sacrifice the Jewish state to appease the growing global Muslim population.
While the Trump administration is attempting to isolate Iran and apply economic sanctions to hinder its development of a nuclear weapon, the rest of the world is not concerned. Russia, China, India, Europe, and North Korea continue to do a brisk business with Iran in exchange for oil.
Israel continues to deal with the threat of war with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon (which are merely Iranian proxies), and Iran and Russia in Syria. In recent days, Israel has amassed troops on its northeastern border with Lebanon, expecting an imminent war with Hezbollah.
Furthermore, anti-Semitism is rapidly escalating throughout the world, especially in Europe and the United States. Riots in the U.S. have targeted Christians and Jews. On the night of Sunday, August 2, rioters burned Bibles and the American flag in front of the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon.
For the first time in modern history, many American Jews are seriously planning to immigrate to Israel. In recent days, Israel has been overwhelmed with requests from Jews living in France and the United States, expressing their desire to immigrate to Israel. According to the prophetic Scriptures, this is a major development that signals the Tribulation is near. The Tribulation Period will be a time of increased global anti-Semitism, forcing millions of Jews to seek refuge in Israel – the only Jewish nation in the world. The fact that we are witnessing these events now is a very serious indication that the world is about to erupt into a virulent cycle of hatred for God’s chosen people. According to the Bible, the hatred, violence, and insatiable desire to annihilate the Jewish nation will surpass anything any nation in all of history has had to endure (Daniel 12:1).
Meanwhile, to complicate matters, the newly-formed government in Israel is on the verge of collapse. A coalition that attempted to bring Israeli liberals and conservatives together has failed. This time of political division, economic upheaval, and social unrest in Israel is causing its enemies in the Middle East and around the world to view this as a time of Israeli vulnerability. Will this lead to an invasion of Israel by the Gog and Magog nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38? Many in Israel say this attempted invasion is imminent.
As all of this materializes, Egypt and Turkey are reportedly ready to go to war over Turkey’s desire to take control of Libya – Egypt’s neighbor to the west. Also, Turkey’s radical Islamic president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is threatening to invade Greece, due to a dispute over territorial areas in the Aegean Sea. A serious territorial dispute between India and China over their shared border in the Himalayas is becoming more intense. We must take heed to all of these developments because Jesus said that the end of this age would be marked by “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6). Jesus also said that the time of the end would be like the days of Noah. According to Genesis 6, Noah’s day was marked by a global increase in lawlessness that was manifested in sexual immorality and violence. Here in America the recent lawlessness and riots are basically a violent demonstration to erase gender recognition and the biblical view of marriage and the home. The goal of these violent protestors is a sexual freedom that expresses a total abandonment of all that is civil and normal. The Bible declares that it was a haughty spirit of pride, laziness, and immorality that brought about the divine destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Ezekiel 16:48-50). It is very apparent that at this very hour, the wickedness of this world is inviting the visitation of the wrath of Almighty God!
While speaking about the Tribulation Period, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people…” (Isaiah 60:2). We are living at a time of great spiritual darkness. Every form of evil is manifesting itself at an enormous rate. Witchcraft, sorcery, and the occult are being openly embraced and considered forms of entertainment. In the name of abortion, babies are being sacrificed on the altar of the god of self. These were the very abominations of the inhabitants of the nations that God called Israel to cast out of the land as an act of divine judgment (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
Spiritual darkness happens when light (God’s revelation – the Bible) is ignored, scorned, and rejected. We are living in a world that is suppressing the Word of God. Our world hates God and His Word. According to the Bible, the last days will be marked by a godless people who openly and defiantly rebel against God and His laws (Psalm 2:1-3).
The next two issues of this newsletter (September and October) will focus on “Unmasking Socialism.” Be sure to read these issues and pass them along to your family and friends. This November, the U.S. will conduct its most critical election in the history of the nation. We must know clearly what is at stake in the battle for America.
Unfortunately, this spiritual darkness is permeating the professing church. Just as the Bible predicted, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrine of [demons]: speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron…” (1 Timothy 4:1, 2). The professing church is abandoning the truth because of the love for self and its indulgence in the things of this world (2 Timothy 3:1, 2). The lives of these professing Christians are just like the lifestyles of those who are not born-again. These people are described in 2 Timothy 3 as those who are lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. They have “a form of godliness… [are] ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. … these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Timothy 3:5-8).
However, in the midst of all of this, we can rejoice that there is a godly remnant of believers who are clinging to God’s truth. These Christians desire to live a holy life before their holy Lord. Those who are longing for His appearing will strive for purity because they know that at any moment they will stand before their Savior and Judge, Jesus Christ (1 John 3:2, 3).
A major sign of the end of this age is the collapse of America as a free superpower. When the end comes, an evil, lawless empire will rule the world under the dictatorial leadership of the Antichrist. It is my opinion that this global empire and its leader cannot come on the scene until the United States surrenders its sovereign power to some form of wicked global leadership. At this moment, America is fighting for its survival. America has been used by God, in spite of its sinfulness, to promote His laws contained in the Constitution of the United States. America has been raised up by God as a home for the church and as a base for global missionary efforts to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has been used of God to provide a safe haven for God’s chosen people – the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, all of this is now coming to an abrupt end.
The next two issues of this newsletter (September and October) will focus on “Unmasking Socialism.” Be sure to read these issues and pass them along to your family and friends. This November, the U.S. will conduct its most critical election in the history of the nation. We must know clearly what is at stake in the battle for America.
Mike Wingfield
We are also witnessing another major sign of the end times – the brutal murder of believers in Jesus Christ. During the Tribulation Period, believers in Jesus will be considered public enemies. They will be hunted down and killed. Many of them will be killed for refusing to worship the Antichrist and his god (Revelation 13:15). The enemies of the cross will literally be intoxicated with a hatred for Christians (Revelation 17:6). Many who come to Christ during the Tribulation will become martyrs for Jesus (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 12:11). The majority of them will be “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God” (Revelation 20:4).
In the last few decades, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been imprisoned, slaughtered, tortured, burned, raped, kidnapped, beheaded and crucified for their faith. It is not an accident that the overwhelming numbers of these martyrs were killed by Muslims and Communists. Again, this is more evidence that this will be the political marriage that will produce and promote the ruthless dictator the Bible calls the Antichrist.
The Christian Post recently reported, “House churches across China have experienced intensified persecution in recent months, with Communist officials telling Christians they are not permitted to believe in God in the atheist country” (reprinted and reported by www.wnd.com on July 30, 2020).
The economic impact of COVID-19 around the world is bringing our world to a frightening point of economic collapse. Before this pandemic swept across the face of the earth, the world was on the verge of an economic crisis. It appears that the massive response on the part of governments to quarantine global populations to stop the spread of this virus has created a massive problem with unemployment. As a result, this has produced a substantial problem with incomes and the flow of goods in a global setting that is totally dependent upon those products and services for survival. Many financial markets around the world are reporting that this is the sharpest economic downturn since the depression of the 1930s. The dramatic increase in the cost of precious metals in the last few weeks indicates that many investors are concerned about the global economy.
According to the Bible, near the beginning of the Tribulation Period, the world will experience a dangerous cycle of hyper-inflation. Revelation 6:6 reports that a single loaf of wheat bread will cost a person his wage for a single day of work.
During the enormous upheaval of the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will attempt to control and manipulate the global population by forcing them to take some type of mark on their right hand or forehead. This mark will enable him to control all of their economic activity (Revelation 13:15-18). As you read this newsletter, an effort is already under way to force the global population to adopt some form of international ID. It is called ID2020. A report given by www.biometricupdate.com states, “The ID2020 Alliance has launched a new digital identity program … Digital identity is a computerized record of who a person is, stored in a registry. It is used, in this case, to keep track of who has received vaccination [for COVID-19]. … ‘Digital ID is being defined and implemented today, and we recognize the importance of swift action to close the identity gap,’ comments ID2020 Executive Director Dakota Gruener. ‘Now is the time for bold commitments to ensure that we respond both quickly and responsibly. We and our ID2020 Alliance partners, both present and future, are committed to rising to this challenge’” www.biometricupdate.com). While this is not the mark of the Antichrist, it is preparing the technology he will use when he takes over the world.
In addition to these complications, during the Tribulation Period the world will face dangerous and deadly cycles of natural disasters – global earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, drought, dramatic climate change and dangerous pollution of all ocean and fresh water. An examination of the data of global natural disasters demonstrates that they are increasing at an alarming rate, especially since the birth of Israel in 1948. Make no mistake about it. The creation is in the hands of its Creator and Ruler. Long ago, the psalmist wrote, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou [God] shalt endure: yea, all of them shall [grow] old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed…” (Psalm 102:25, 26).
These developments are only a small fraction of the significant trends that are setting the stage for the Tribulation Period. I must admit that all of these things are very troubling unless you remember that this world is not our home. We need to exercise the faith of Abraham. According to the Bible, he knew he was only a stranger and pilgrim on this earth (Hebrews 11:13). His faith caused him to look past this temporary world to “look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).
We must not allow our hearts to be overcome by fear as we watch all of these troubling events come crashing down on our world. Behind all of this bad news is the good news – Jesus is coming soon. Does this comfort you? It should. Get ready for the shout that will take us out!
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