Tag: prophecy

July 2023 – AI- The Final Rebellion

PTNews

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

October 2024

   Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

Download this Newsletter

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

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

AI- The Final Rebellion

Part one- Understanding Artificial Intelligence in light of the Bible

By Mike Wingfield

Artificial intelligence, more commonly known as AI, is capturing the world’s attention as technological advances continue at a breathtaking pace. I am convinced that AI, when examined from a global context in relation to Bible prophecy, is proof that we are living in the last days.

Our world is in its final stage of its evil revolt against God, and Satan is using A1 to capture the minds of the world’s most powerful and influential leaders. It is my opinion that Satan is using some of the world’s most brilliant minds in his final rebellion against the Lord. Like toy soldiers marching to the beat of Satan’s drum, these influential men are leading the world in this revolution. At the heart of this insurrection is the creation and application of AI.

During the first century, the Holy Spirit showed the Apostle Paul the nature of a culture that had reached the final stage of spiritual rebellion — a point of no return. This great man of God wrote about this in Romans 1. When the end comes, God will pour out His wrath against this society because it has suppressed His Word and rejected His “eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:20). This final generation will reject the truth that man has been uniquely made in the image of God. With a seared conscience, and the absence of any common sense, Paul describes these arrogant, pride-filled people as those who, “professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…” (Romans 1:22-23). This is evidenced by the fact that these people are given over to depraved sexual immorality that only exists in the jungles of darkness with wild beasts (Romans 1:24-27). They are given over to unnatural sinful sexual pleasures that demand the judgment of a holy God! Look around you! It is very apparent that we have reached this point in time.

According to the Bible, at the end of this age, Satan will direct his final assault against God before he is once and for all cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10). His efforts against God will be driven by his great wrath (Revelation 12:12) directed toward God and all those who serve God, especially the chosen people of Israel (Revelation 12:1-5, 14-17). Furthermore, Satan knows the Bible. He fully understands what God has planned for him according to the revealed eternal plan of God. Satan knows his time is “short” (Revelation 12:12).

Satan’s demons will assist him in this final rebellion against Almighty God. According to Revelation 9, demons will be released from hell to physically attack the wicked during the Tribulation Period. Notice Revelation 9:11, “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.” These names of Satan mean “destroyer.”

From the beginning, after his insurrection in heaven (taking one-third of the angels with him), Lucifer came to earth and attempted to recruit man to join him in his rebellion against God. Satan delights in taking control of every aspect of people’s lives, their marriages, their culture, and their governments. It is his aim to use man in his attempt to defeat God and to establish his kingdom of darkness upon this earth. In the past, the Scriptures highlight how the devil directed his efforts to a historical climax at the time of Noah and the global flood in Genesis 6, and at the time of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11.

In Satan’s first attempt to unite the world in rebellion against God in the days of Noah, he thought he could change the course of humanity by altering the very essence of man. Man was created in the image of God. During the days of Noah Satan attempted to alter the nature of humanity by flooding the global population with demon-possessed people.

In his first attempt in the days of Noah, Satan thought he could change the course of humanity by altering the very essence of man. Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). During the days of Noah (Genesis 6:1-3) Satan attempted to alter the nature of humanity by flooding the global population with demon-possessed people. The emphasis of Genesis 6 focuses upon a global population that was being threatened with the birth of millions of demon-possessed babies. I believe this is the best theological understanding of the reference of the “nephilim” [the Hebrew word translated as “giants”]. These great fallen ones are described as being those who were born in the time before the flood in Genesis 6:4. The results of demonic possession in this text do not focus upon the physical stature of the people, but upon their spiritual wickedness. The core problem, as reported in Genesis 6, was a culture with people who had no conscience (verse 3), were lawless and evil (verse 5), morally corrupt (verses 11, 12), and “filled with violence” (verse 11, 13). This is a clear reference to the oppression and possession of demons in the days of Noah.

These same characteristics are seen today in our world. I believe that a growing segment of our global population is demonically oppressed. This means they are being mentally influenced by demons (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Timothy 4:1). Many other people are possessed by demons. This happens when demons take up residence in a person’s body to control their body, mind, and emotions, making that person their slave.

The destroyer is at work, wrecking what is good and that glorifies God. However, Satan seems to be taking everything to another hellish level with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence. It is my conviction that Satan will double his efforts by using demonically controlled people who will be aided by AI robots during the Tribulation Period. These robots are being called “bots,” or “humanoids.”

It is my understanding that demons are always looking for a person who has seared his conscience (1 Timothy 4:1-3). This simply means that this person has no moral inhibitions and is furthermore filled with a blind knowledge of a world that has exchanged the truth of God for lies and deceptive insights (Romans 1:21-25). The person who has no conscience becomes the perfect tool for demons who want to enslave people, recruiting them for Satan’s ultimate rebellion against God. In essence, AI-controlled robots are made to look, speak, think, and act like human beings. However, they have no human body, mind, or conscience. These humanoids will become another satanic instrument to capture the minds and attention of the world at the end of this age.

With this understanding, let us begin to examine Artificial Intelligence is and how it is preparing our world for the final rebellion against God.

1. What is AI?

Ziv Katzir, the head of the National Program for AI Infrastructure at the Israel Innovation Authority says, “By function definition, AI is anything that a computer or other machine does that mimics/resembles/replaces a human being” (The Jerusalem Post, January 15, 2023). The central focus of AI today is the creation of computer enhanced robots that will perform tasks that are usually associated with mimicking human beings. These robots are designed and manufactured to think for themselves, research, collect data, and to speak, act, and look like intelligent human beings.

It is not an accident that Satan has captured the minds of some of the most intelligent people on the planet to produce and promote AI. Satan’s purpose behind AI is a chapter out of his own playbook in his mutiny against God thousands of years ago. It was his pride that caused him to think that he could successfully seize God’s sovereignty. Most theologians have correctly observed that the Bible indicates Satan was created as a good angel in the beginning. Lucifer was probably one of the greatest of all the angels. He was divinely equipped with great intelligence, beauty, and abilities, and given great power (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:13-17). However, his attempt to defeat God failed. God cannot be overthrown because only Almighty God is infinite and invincible in all His ways and attributes. All of creation, including the angelic world, is finite and dependent upon God for its existence.

A godly man will always realize that knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are found in knowing God and being humble before Him (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; 1 Peter 5:5-7). God’s wisdom is infinite, far beyond the comprehension of finite angels or men (Romans 11:33-34).

Those who have great intellectual abilities tend to view themselves as being superior to others. In some cases, they even reject God because they do not understand that biblical faith isn’t based upon the depraved, flawed, and finite intellectual abilities which formulate their reasoning (1 Corinthians 1:21-2:14).

Arrogant sinners fly into the face of God, thinking they can outwit Him. They do not even think about God or God’s ways or wisdom (Psalm 10:4). It is impossible for unsaved man, no matter how brilliantly intellectual he may be by the world’s standards, to understand the things of God. The Bible says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Only a man who has the Holy Spirit living in him can begin to grasp the knowledge of God. The saved man is directed by the Spirit in the Word of God to see things that are invisible, eternal, and heavenly (2 Corinthians 4:18-5:1). The child of God walks by faith, not by human reasoning alone (2 Corinthians 5:7).

We live in a world that worships at the feet of scientists and other intellectuals. Our world is filled with men who have degrees from institutes of higher learning but have no common sense and are moral pagans. These people live in utter foolishness because they refuse to believe in God and the spirit world. Therefore, the world is prepared for the great deception of the end-times, and AI will take them to the highest levels of their arrogant rebellion against God.

2. The Development and Prevalence of AI

AI is no longer a future dream, but a present reality in many nations. The following nations are leading the world with the research and application of AI systems: China, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Russia, France, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel. Israel is known around the world as the high-tech innovation nation. It is leading the world in AI research and its application.

3. The Current Applications of AI

Like the previous industrial revolution, AI will radically alter the way we do business in the world. It will have many applications, both good and evil. It will aid man in enhancing security and banking industries. It will alter the way we educate the next generation. It will help us to robotically manufacture everything. Robots will steer vehicles and fly aircraft. All military applications will be controlled by AI. It will simplify research. AI will perform medical surgeries with greater precision and more efficiency. AI will continue to enable the entertainment industry to reach new levels of deception that will simulate reality. AI will set the stage for the great deception of the last days!

A I will be promoted as something good for everyone. AI robots will become available to live in our homes to function as our personal servants to accomplish all the chores of life- cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes. On the evil side, promoters of AI say they will offer AI girl friends that will come to live in people’s homes to do whatever their owners wish.

Elon Musk, a rich visionary businessman who leads multiple companies in fields of space, electric vehicles, and brain-computer interfaces, has a company that has created brain implants called Neuralink. “Neuralink implants connect human brains with computer interfaces via artificial intelligence. The approaching technology would see groups of minuscule, flexible electrode ‘threads’ implanted into the human brain by a neurosurgical robot. These threads detect and record the electrical signals in the brain and transmit this information outside the body”- (www.dezeen.com). The designers of this technology hope these implants will enable them to repair the brain to restore vision to the blind, speech to the dumb, and mobility to the physically impaired. Only a few weeks ago, the FDA gave approval to apply this technology to humans.

It is very significant to note that Israel is a world leader in AI. The tiny Jewish nation is leading the world in security, medical, and military AI applications. Israel has already designed and manufactured miniature robotic tanks [see picture on this page] and antiballistic devices. They are currently leading the world in the creation of a robotic army.

4. The Potential Dangers of AI

Some people are sounding warnings of the potential dangers of AI. A few of the evil and godless minds behind the AI project are attempting to develop a new creation with super intelligent, nonhuman minds that will remove God from their culture. In essence, it is their goal to make man, and the machines man manufacture, gods.

Joel Rosenberg, a born-again Jew living in Israel who is a world leader in biblical writing and thought, warns, “Rooted in the evolutionary, materialist worldview which dominates the scientific and academic worlds, the transhumanist religions have come to permeated much of the Silicon Valley, as well as international institutions like the World Economic Forum and the United Nations” (Joel Rosenberg, allisrael.com, May 3, 2023).

Another danger of AI is the creation of AI robots that will replace millions of jobs around the world. It is believed these automated computer-controlled robots will work tirelessly around the clock, without flawed workmanship. After their initial purchase, they will require no salary or benefits. Their products will be better and cheaper. Some are suggesting that perhaps as many as 40 percent of the employed people around the world will be eventually replaced by AI robots. They are being told that the profits from robotic manufacturing will be channeled by the governments of the world to generate a universal basic income for those who become unemployed. This is the empty proposal of those who are planning a socialist type of international government. Government payments to the unemployed during COVID-19 has helped to set this trap for the mindless millions that are being duped by socialism’s lies.

Some people who formerly promoted AI are now sounding the warning that we may be creating AI robots that will think for themselves and eventually go beyond the control of their creators. These robots may reprogram themselves so that no human can control them. They fear these robots may seek to destroy humanity. However, according to the Bible, we know this will never materialize. We know the end of God’s story in the Bible. God, not man or robots created by man, is in complete control of the destiny of God’s creation (Daniel 4:34-35)!

AI is playing God! They want to re-define truth and reality. They want to change humanity. They want to reverse the consequences of sin and death. They want to reorder morality, mortality, and the divine honor of work. They want to set man free from the reality of God’s creation and divine purposes for his glory.

These warnings should not be ignored. AI poses a great threat to humanity. Elon Musk has warned that artificial intelligence could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons.

5. AI is Man’s Ultimate Rebellion

It is my conviction that at some point, the church will wake up to discover that AI is man’s ultimate rebellion against God. As Bible believers, we must recognize that the promoters of AI are seeking to destroy the God-given distinctions between man, animals, and machines. It is utterly foolish on their part to think they can tinker with machines and computers to create a new kind of being that will enhance and save humanity from aging and mortality. They tragically deny the saving power of God and have put their hope in their own foolish technological salvation.

AI is rooted and grounded in a godless worldview. The creators of AI do not believe in God. They see the earth and matter as being eternal – a god. From their perspective, everything is based on evolution. They view man as only a materialist creature that has evolved from lower life forms. They believe that the evolutionary process of man will ultimately reach its goal of perfection in AI. They believe they can replace man with humanoids that will be perfect and eternal.

To accomplish this, they want to create a digital twin for many people. These digital twins will be made to look and move like their real human twin. Their voices will be duplicated. They will interface the digital mind of these persons so that their robotic twin will have the memory and personality traits of that person. All of this will be accomplished by scanning a person’s brain and uploading it into the computer brain of their digital twin.

Some AI promoters say this is already possible. They state, “Imagine that a person’s brain could be scanned in great detail and recreated in a computer simulation. The person’s mind and memories, emotions and personality would be duplicated. In effect, a new and equally valid version of that person would now exist, in a potentially immortal, digital form. This futuristic possibility is called mind uploading. The science of the brain and of consciousness increasingly suggests that mind uploading is possible – there are no laws of physics to prevent it” (www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/oct/20/mind-up loading-brain-live-for-ever-internet-virtual-reality).

All of this is dangerous, and demonic. AI is playing God! They want to re-define truth and reality. They want to change humanity. They want to reverse the consequences of sin and death. They want to reorder morality, mortality, and the divine honor of work. They want to set man free from the reality of God’s creation and divine purposes for his glory. They want to remove the curse of God upon man’s sin – death and hard work!

Satan’s temptation of Eve deceptively lured her into the trap of thinking she could become a god, and reorder what was good and evil as it suited her wishes (Genesis 3:4-6). The ultimate tragic results of man’s sin in the Garden of Eden led to a full-blown rebellion against God in the days of Noah. Man’s rebellion was aimed at changing the very created nature of man. When Noah’s world got out of control with the birth of demonic-filled offspring, God decided to step into His creation to rescue it from self-destruction.

We are now reaching a similar point. We are entering a very dangerous period of humanity that is demonic in its goals.

Satan is behind all of this. He is now creating a culture and society that will welcome his dark kingdom of death, decadence, and deception.

An examination of the prophetic Scriptures indicate that the high-tech inventions of AI will be a part of the kingdom that promotes the Antichrist as God. This will be the topic of Part II of this subject that will be covered in our August newsletter.

The Current Prophetic Global Context

O ur world is racing toward the final days of the Great Tribulation. The following developments illustrate how close we are getting to the beginning of the time of great sorrows and death – the Tribulation.

The Growing Threat of the Destruction of the U.S. – The United States is not mentioned in the prophetic portions of the Bible that speak about the last days. There is growing hatred toward America and this nation’s days as a world leader are ending. “Today, China, Russia, North Korea and Iran continue to invest in technologies to expand their capabilities to hit the United States with nuclear weapons. All four countries have also escalated their threatening rhetoric, indicating their willingness to use nuclear weapons in a military conflict. By expanding their nuclear programs, each has made clear that our nuclear arsenal is no longer a deterrent to their potential use of nuclear weapons” (Rep. Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Fox News, May 4, 2023).

Growing War Over Jerusalem’s Temple Mount -Israel’s biblically conservative government is determined to allow Jews to pray on the Temple Mount, where the two Jewish temples mentioned in the Bible were located. Israeli lawmaker, Amit Halevi’s political party (the political party of Prime Minister Netanyahu) has proposed a plan to divide the Temple Mount. He wants to make the northern end of the mount a place where Jews can pray, while the southern end of the area (where Muslims pray at El Aqsa Mosque) would be dedicated to Muslim prayer. Palestinian groups and other Muslims in the Middle East consider this to be a declaration of war.

According to the Bible, Jerusalem will be a flash point for war until the very end of the Tribulation Period. God has warned that Jerusalem and its Temple Mount will become a “cup of trembling” and “a burdensome stone” to all nations during the end-times (Zechariah 12:2-3).

The Sons of Israel are Coming Home– In recent months Israel has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Jews returning to Israel to make it their permanent home. It is the highest surge in 30 years! This is the work of God (Ezekiel 36:24).

Millions of Fish are dying and littering the beaches around the world – In recent years, millions of fish have died and have washed up on shore all over the world because of the warming temperatures of the oceans that are causing algae to give off toxic poison. This is being called “red tide.” This is only the beginning of this tragedy. According to the book of Revelation, during the Tribulation, the ocean will turn to a red blood-like color and eventually kill all marine life in the oceans around the world (Revelation 8:8-9; 16:3).

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

May 2023 – It is Much Later than We Think

PTNews

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

October 2024

   Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

Download this Newsletter

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

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

It is Much Later than We Think

“And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.” Isaiah 2:11

By Mike Wingfield

I recently had a unique and precious experience with three of my grandsons as I took them on the 45-minute trip to their Christian school one morning. Normally, the younger boys watch a video during the drive. On this morning, as we left home, one of them said, “Granddaddy, we are not going to watch a video, we will just look out the window and talk today.” Little did we know that his comment would set the stage for an incredible morning that we are all still talking about.

Ten minutes into the trip that morning, we looked east and caught a glimpse of a breathtaking sunrise. Our experience lasted for about 20 minutes as the sun appeared over the horizon. This particular sunrise was unique and it was simply spectacular.

The sky appeared as if it were on fire. The sunlight was a deep red color. As the sun came into view, for about five minutes, it appeared like a massive red ball in the dark morning sky. Then the other younger grandson asked, “What makes the sun look red?”

Because it is related to the signs of the end times, I have given a lot of time to looking at the Bible and researching science to discover the answer to his question. I explained to them that the red colors of sunlight are created during sunrise and sunset because the light we are seeing coming from the sun is further away from us at the horizon. When this light passes through dust particles in the atmosphere, the light bounces off these particles and bends the light so that when it arrives at our location it appears to

be red. Colors of light are all created by the bending of the light through particles in the atmosphere. For example, a rainbow is created when the sunlight passes through tiny droplets of water in the atmosphere. This makes the light appear to be scattered, resulting in the different colors of the rainbow.

The Bible tells us that God has given us the sun, moon, and stars to communicate His message to us. On the fourth day of creation, God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night: and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years” (Genesis 1:14).

God has designed our atmospheric conditions to communicate His promises and His warnings. Before the great flood of Noah’s day, the conditions in earth’s atmosphere were not conducive to creating the conditions for the appearance of a rainbow. There were no droplets of water and unfiltered natural sunlight in the pre-flood atmosphere to create a rainbow. According to Genesis 1:6-7, in the original creation God created a translucent water canopy above earth’s atmospheric heavens. This canopy was probably located in what is today called the stratosphere. The presence of this water canopy made conditions on earth perfect, which contributed to the longevity of man’s lifespan. The canopy filtered out the dangerous strains of solar light that are a significant part of our aging process. The canopy also protected earth’s atmosphere from fluctuating temperatures, and the wind catastrophes that are related to the radical temperature changes on earth that we experience now.

During the global flood in Noah’s day, God emptied the water canopy. With the absence of this unique cover, conditions changed, creating the perfect conditions for an occasional rainbow. God told Noah that this new bow in the sky was the symbol of a covenant between Him and every living creature on earth (Genesis 9:8-17). It is God’s promise that He will never use another global flood to remove life from earth. Therefore, when we see the rainbow in the sky, it reminds us of God’s great promise of blessing.

God’s Word also speaks of another “vail” or covering that will be “spread over all nations” (Isaiah 25:7). Most commentators fail to understand the context of Isaiah 25:1-7. The veil or covering that God will wrap the world in, is related to the geological upheaval that is described in the previous chapter – Isaiah 24. This chapter describes the horrific results of the devastating earthquakes and volcanoes of the Tribulation Period. God revealed to Isaiah that the covering over the nations would be like a “heat with the shadow of a cloud” that will devastate the fierce enemies of Israel during the Tribulation (Isaiah 25:4-5).

Many prophetic passages indicate that earth’s atmosphere will be impacted by the eruption of many of earth’s volcanoes during the Tribulation. Revelation 6:12-14 speaks of a very powerful earthquake that will move every mountain and island out of their normal geological coordinate. This global earthquake near the beginning of the Tribulation will cause a multitude of volcanoes to erupt around the world. The eruption of these volcanoes will cause the upper atmosphere to be filled with volcanic ash, turning the atmosphere into darkness during normal daylight hours. Furthermore, the moon will have a blood-red appearance, due to the presence of volcanic ash in the air.

Additional global volcanoes occur in Revelation 8:7-12. These eruptions are so great that one-third of earth’s atmosphere is darkened by the volcanic ash, creating the covering mentioned in Isaiah 25:7. The volcanic ash cover will continue to increase until the end of the Tribulation. At the end of the Tribulation, the atmosphere around the globe will cause the world to experience darkness for the entire 24-hour period of the day (Revelation 16:10). Jesus said that when He would return at the end of the Tribulation, “the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light” (Matthew 24:29). The prophet Joel wrote about this time w hen he said, “And I will show wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, blood [magma], and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:30-31).

As statistical data indicates, earthquakes are increasing, and 45 of earth’s 1,350 volcanoes are erupting. As you study the history of earthquakes and volcanoes in the last 100 years, you realize that we are beginning to witness the formation of the volcanic ash cloud that will ultimately cover the earth and make the sky appear deep red. It is much later than we think!

Recently, people living in Blue Ridge Mountains near me were able to see the northern lights, also called aurora borealis. This beautiful phenomenon is created when the sun ejects electrically charged particles which travel from the sun into earth’s upper atmosphere. The earth is shielded from most of these dangerous particles by earth’s magnetic field. However, a few particles manage to enter earth’s upper atmosphere. When these highly charged particles meet our atmosphere, it creates the northern lights.

Because of earth’s magnetic field, these lights usually occur near earth’s polar caps. This phenomenon takes place near the South Pole during the day and is not visible. However, electrically charged particles invade the northern hemisphere during the night, which creates the unique colorful light show in the sky.

In recent decades, there has been a growing concern that earth’s magnetic field is rapidly changing. The magnetic north pole is moving toward the south. As it moves, it is changing, and weakening earth’s magnetic field. About 30 years ago, the rate of movement was 9.3 miles per year. Now, it is moving about 40 miles per year. Consequently, this is causing the magnetic field of the earth to grow weaker. Since 1840 it has decreased by 16 percent. The weakening of the magnetic field is of great concern because it is making the earth vulnerable to the dangerous electrically charged particles ejected from the sun during a solar geomagnetic storm. Scientists are warning us that at some point when the earth’s magnetic field is compromised, a massive solar storm could release deadly electronic particles that would create a natural electronic magnetic pulse (EMP), invading our atmosphere with a massive electrical surge. This could have the potential to destroy part or all of earth’s global electrical grid.

Michael Snyder, a Christian prophetic research expert recently wrote in one of his blogs, “The sun has been experiencing bizarre behavior recently – in February, a piece of its northern pole broke off.

“A video shows a giant filament of plasma, or electrified gas, shooting out from the sun, separating and then circulating in a ‘massive polar vortex.’

“While astronomers are baffled, they speculate the prominence has something to do with the reversal of the sun’s magnetic field that happens once every solar cycle.

“The size of this polar vortex was absolutely astounding.

It is being reported that it was 74,500 miles high and “14 times larger than Earth…

“The incredible moment a colossal ‘solar tornado’ that is 14 times larger than Earth swirls on the sun’s surface has been captured by NASA in a new video.

“The twister, composed of plasma and heat, measured more than 74,500 miles high and moved up to 310,000 miles per hour.

“Late on Monday, March 13, the Sun blasted out a coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling at least 3,000 kilometers per second (6,700,000 miles per hour), possibly the fastest ever recorded. The expelled particles reached the Earth’s orbit in less than a day. Had they hit the Earth, the results could have been catastrophic, but fortunately the CME was directed almost directly opposite. However, the explosion is a reminder the next time we may not be so [fortunate].

“This coronal mass ejection was so powerful that NASA actually classified it as “an R, for rare”.

“The good news is that this eruption happened on the far side of the sun [facing away from earth]…

“Even though the CME erupted from the opposite side of the Sun, its impacts were felt at Earth,” NASA said. “As CMEs blast through space, they create a shockwave that can accelerate particles along the CME’s path to incredible speeds, much the way surfers are pushed along by an incoming ocean wave.”

If the Earth had been facing the coronal mass ejection, it could have potentially [been catastrophic] (Michael Snyder, www.theeconomiccollapseblog.com, March 21, 2023). It is conjectured that this could have caused a natural electronic magnetic pulse (EMP) that would have destroyed part or all earth’s electrical grid. A similar event took place on September 1-2, 1859, that impacted all of Europe and North America. Scientists refer to this historical geomagnetic storm as “The Carrington Event.”

No one can begin to imagine the impact of such a development. Without a doubt, this would change the course of human history. This generation has never lived without electricity for a significant period of time. About 87 percent of the world has access to electricity. Three out of four people, about 75 percent of the global population relies upon electricity daily. Obviously, the destruction of the global electrical grid would cripple the world, drastically altering our current lifestyles. This entire youthful generation in America has no memory of living without electricity.

In my opinion, there is biblical evidence that during the last days, the world will suffer several geomagnetic storms that will bring devastating consequences. I believe that when the nations fight the battles of Gog and Magog prior to the Tribulation (Ezekiel 38-39) and Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation (Revelation 19:14-21) they will need to revert to archaic warfare. They will literally resort to the use of horses as the biblical texts declare. Without the services of electricity, and with the world’s devastation due to geological upheaval, the high-tech services of man’s military arsenal will be rendered useless.

Since earth’s magnetic field is essential to protecting the global electrical grid, we need to understand how the earth’s magnetic field is created. To do this we must investigate the interior of the earth because this is where the magnetic field is created. Scientists continue to debate this matter and develop theories about the origins of earth’s magnetic field. This is because they cannot explore the interior of the earth, and never will (Jeremiah 31:37). Scientists continue to offer explanations for earth’s interior structure and how it creates earth’s magnetic field.

Scientists have developed this model of earth’s interior due to electromagnetic soundings and related calculations. However, no one has been able to drill through the crust of the earth to explore earth’s mantle or deeper levels of earth’s interior. It is believed that the mantle is an ocean of liquid rock that is 1,800 miles deep. Some parts of the mantle are between 2,000 to 7,000 degrees F. It is conjectured that the constant movement of this liquid rock, impacted by the centrifugal force of earth’s spin on its axis, plays a major role in the operation of earth’s magnetic field. The movement of earth on its surface and in its interior, along with the metallic makeup of earth’s interior, creates our magnetic field.

The Bible speaks of earth’s interior as “the foundations of the earth” (Job 38:4-6). The Scriptures declare that God laid the foundations of the earth, and they are the work of His hands (Psalm 102:25). Furthermore, God constantly speaks to the interior of the earth, and like a servant, it obeys Him (Isaiah 48:13).

Scientists tell us that they have evidence that the weakening of earth’s magnetic field occurred thousands of years ago. At some point, it caused the reversal of earth’s magnetic fields. The North Pole shifted and became the South Pole, and the South Pole became the North Pole. This will happen again during the Tribulation Period.

It is my opinion that this historical polar shift probably occurred at the time of the great global flood in the days of Noah. Genesis 7 describes the geological upheaval that en-dured for 40 days. This unique geological event radically altered the interior of the earth. On the surface of the earth, higher moun-tains and deeper canyons were formed. A great portion of earth’s surface became a desert wasteland.

According to the Bible, the earth will experience another major geological upheaval during the Tribulation Period. Global earthquakes and volcanic eruptions will take place due to the radical changes in the interior of the earth. Psalm 102:26 declares that the foundations of the earth will grow old [become weak and break down]. As a result, the interior of the earth will be changed. Psalm 102:25-26says, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall [grow] old like a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.”

Isaiah 24 gives us a powerful insight into the devastation of the earth due to geological upheaval during the Tribulation. The massive global earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis will change the face of the earth. Isaiah 24:1 warns us, “Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty [depopulation], and maketh it waste [annihilation], and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.”

Our world is moving toward another major geological upheaval as it occurred in Noah’s generation. However, God’s bow, the rainbow, promises it will not be destroyed by water. The next major judgment will come from beneath the earth. I am convinced that the increase in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions around the world are an indication that our world is geologically racing toward its final appointment with God. It is much later than we think!

As believers in Jesus Christ, we must not be filled with fear. Our God controls the sun, the interior of the earth, the magnetic field of the earth, and subsequently, all natural disasters. Psalm 46 is a prophetic revelation that will have special application for those who will experience the geological cataclysms of the end times. The believers of the Tribulation Period will find peace and shelter as they declare, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:7).

As Psalm 102 reminds us, the earth is like a piece of clothing that has deteriorated and is being ripped apart. It will change. But our God, who controls it all, will never change. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah” (Psalm 46:1-3).At the end of verse 3 is the word “selah.” The Psalms were set to music and the ancient Hebrews sang these psalms. The Book of psalms was their hymnbook of worship. The word “selah” was a musical notation. It means that the worshipper was to stop and meditate upon what he had just sung. God is saying to us, “Stop and think about who I am and what I will do to get man to see Me and My glory and worship Me!” Later in Psalm 46, God says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). Hundreds of years later, the Spirit of God would move the prophet Isaiah to remind his people of this once again (Isaiah 2:10-22). By God’s design, He will remove all the physical stuff that has become meaningless idols and distractions. Our modern communication devices, and so-called high-tech conveniences, have distracted or blinded us from the daily presence and power of God. The Spirit of God said about that time, “And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that d ay” (Isaiah 2:11, 17).

When the end comes, God will shake this planet and take away everything from man. In the beginning, God created a couple, Adam and Eve, and placed them in a garden. They were content because God visited with them, and they walked with Him (Genesis 3:8). After they sinned, they and their environment were changed. Man began to be self-focused, rather than God-focused. The world we live in continues to mentally feed us these selfish thoughts and ways. Man has created a world that is filled with human ingenuity that sinfully feeds our sinful independence from God. Most people don’t have time for God because they think He doesn’t exist, or if He does, they don’t need Him!

God gave Israel 613 commandments. Ten of these were written by the hand of God and given to Moses on Mount Sinai – the 10 Commandments. The first four of these commandments express the heart of God. He commands us to worship Him, and Him alone. He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). He demands that we love Him more than anyone or anything else! When we fail to do this, God sends His plagues, visitations, and judgments upon man, to drive mankind to his knees to seek Him! He wants, expects, and demands our devotion and worship. He created us and sent His Son to die for our sins so that we might restore our relationship with Him and live with Him forever. What a God of grace and love!

God’s clock does more than measure time based upon the movement of earth, sun, and moon. God’s clock in the sky helps us look at life in terms of eternity.

A day will come when there will be no sun (Revelation 21:23-25). We will not need this communication anymore. We will be in the presence of our eternal God and His glory will light our lives and understanding.

As sinful creatures, when it comes to God and eternity, the first word we think about is “tomorrow.” When Moses asked Pharoah when he wanted the divine judgment of frogs to be removed, Pharoah said, “tomorrow” (Exodus 8:1-10). When we have a serious moment, some of us pacify our conscience by saying, “That is important. I will do that, but not now. I will do it tomorrow.” We do not realize how dangerous that thought is.

The Bible warns us that we do not have a promise of tomorrow. The Bible reminds us that life is brief (Psalm 90). If the Lord is speaking to you about salvation, or the confession of some sin, do not procrastinate.

It is much later than we think!

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

April 2023 – Iran’s Armageddon Dream

PTNews

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

October 2024

   Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

All Bible references are from the KJV   

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(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

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

By Mike Wingfield

Iran’s Armageddon Dream

“And upon Elam [the ancient name for Iran] will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds: and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of [Iran] shall not come.” Jeremiah 49:36

By Mike Wingfield

For more than 30 years, Israeli leaders, and especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have warned the world about Iran’s desire to develop a nuclear bomb. Not surprisingly, these warnings have fallen on deaf ears. The world has drifted deeper into the abyss of spiritual darkness and rebellion against God. This deadly spiritual darkness numbs the conscience of man to the point that he does not recognize or respect life-threatening dangers.

As a result of the world’s blindness, it will soon face the reality of a new form of nuclear madness. Recently, world leaders have learned that Iran is on the verge of having enough nuclear enrichment to acquire a nuclear weapon. That means that the world’s leading terrorist state will soon have a weapon of mass destruction at its disposal. In my opinion, this development signals that our world will soon be catapulted into the deadly days of the Tribulation. As Jesus described it, this will be a time of “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6).

At the end of World War II in 1945, the United States became the first nation to develop and use an atomic weapon. The use of this deadly force against Japan stunned the entire world. People were horrified by the sheer magnitude of these weapons that leveled two large Japanese cities and killed more than 200,000 people. Many of the victims were instantly vaporized by the enormous thermal blasts! Thankfully, such weapons have not been used in warfare since 1945. However, thermonuclear weapons have since been developed. These weapons are hundreds or even thousands of times for powerful than atomic weapons.

For almost 78 years, the world has lived under the fear of a maniacal tyrant or an evil regime using a nuclear weapon to kill millions of innocent people. Today, there are approximately 13,080 nuclear devices in the arsenals of nine countries (the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea). Some of these nuclear bombs are 3,000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs used in 1945!

It is believed that the fear of retaliation has served as a deterrent to using weapons of mass destruction since the end of World War II. In other words, a nation with nuclear capability has not used such weaponry because it fears massive retaliation from the nation it strikes. A nuclear strike would bring unspeakable death and devastation to a nation. Furthermore, the territory impacted by the radioactive fallout of the nuclear implosion would be uninhabitable for decades.

Nonetheless, some world leaders realize that the fear of reprisal does not penetrate the radical mindset of the ruling mullahs in Iran. The radical Islamic doctrine embraced by these mullah makes them willing to die for their faith. Therefore, their devotion to annihilating their perceived enemies of Allah would motivate them to use a nuclear bomb without hesitation. This radical Islamic leadership views Israel and the United States as the avowed enemies of Allah.

Clearly, Israel is in the crosshairs of Iran. Iran has made it very clear to the world that it is consumed with hatred for the modern state of Israel. Iran’s statements and actions over the past 40 years have demonstrated they are committed to the annihilation of the Jewish state. This has been their declared goal since the Islamic Iranian revolu-tion began in 1979. Following centuries of Islamic anti-semitic doctrines, the founder of the Iranian revolution, the Ayatollah Khomeini, fanned the fires of hatred against Israel and sparked the Islamic revival that we are seeing in the last days. Since 1979, the followers of radical Islam in Iran have been openly calling for the death of Israel and America.

In January 2001, the current Supreme Leader of Iran, Khomenei, declared, “It is the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to erase Israel from the map of the region.” One month later, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president of Iran, said, “If one day, a very important day, of course, the Islamic World will also be equipped with the weapons available to Israel now, the imperialist strategy will reach an impasse, because the employment of even one atomic bomb inside Israel will wipe it off the face of the earth.” In 2005, the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stated, Israel “must be wiped off the map.” In recent months, General Hossein Salami, the Commander- in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards forces, bragged, “Our strategy is to erase Israel from the political map.” Furthermore, Khomenei, published a 416-page book, in which he outlined how Iran will destroy Israel.

Iran is well known as the leading sponsor of global terrorism. Looking at the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East (see the map above), it is clear that Iran is spreading its hatred of Israel. Iran is inching closer to the implementing a dream it has pursued for more than 40 years! Recently, Iran displayed a ballistic missile that was painted with a message on its side, “Death to Israel.”

Iran’s thoughts and actions are being fueled by its commitment to their Shiite Islamic doctrines. The Iranian leaders believe their coming messiah, the “Hidden Imam,” or the “Mahdi,” will not come until they institute global chaos. They believe that Iran must first bring about global destruction that will remove Jews, Christians, and non-Muslims from power. After this global destruction, they believe their Messiah will suddenly appear on a white horse. Their commitment to make this happen dominates their political and military strategies. They are willing to commit national suicide to make it happen. The fact that thousands of suicide bombers have attacked Israel and points around the world demonstrates they must be taken seriously. The 9-11 attacks against the United States in 2001 illustrate their mindset.

It is apparent that the nations of the world, including the Biden administration in Washington, do not take these Iranian threats seriously. In 2007, Senator Joe Biden exclaimed, “My concern is not that a nuclear Iran someday would be moved by messianic fervor to use a nuclear weapon as an Armageddon device and commit national suicide in order to hasten the return of the Hidden Imam.”

We must remember that here in the West, the secular leaders do not consider religion to be an important part of society. This is especially true when it comes to political or military matters. However, this is not the case in the Middle East. The Israelis live in this region. They know and understand the mindset of the Muslims.

In an exclusive interview of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with American Israeli communications strategist Joel Rosenberg in 2007, Netanyahu made the following remarks, “I think the West fundamentally misunderstood, and still misunderstands, the threat of Radical Islam. It is a fanatical messianic ideology that seeks to have an apocalyptic battle for world supremacy with the West. It seeks to correct what it sees its disciples see as an accident of history where the West has risen, and Islam has declined. And the correction is supposed to be done by the resurrection of an Islamic empire and the acquisition of nuclear weapons and the use of nuclear weapons, if necessary, to obliterate Islam’s enemies and to subjugate the rest. This is a pathological ideology, much like Nazism was, and it poses a threat, in my judgment, in many ways bigger than Nazism. Because Hitler embarked on a world conflict and then sought to achieve nuclear weapons, whereas the leading radical Islamic regime in Iran, is seeking to first acquire nuclear weapons and then embark on a world conflict. And that is what is not yet understood in the West. And certainly, if it’s understood, it’s not acted upon.”

“You’ve already seen what the Sunni stream does, which is to smash into buildings in Manhattan with collective suicide, to smash into the Pentagon with collective suicide,” Netanyahu added. “And there’s no reason to believe that the militant Shiites, once they have atomic weapons, will not be suicidal. They say openly that they intend to remove Israel. Their first position – we’re the Little Satan. But remember that their goal is to get the United States, the Big Satan. We’re just a station, one station, on the way to world conquest. And to have such a regime that believes in an apocalyptic Armageddon with the West in which millions will die on both sides – but the Muslim millions go to a Muslim heaven with all the trappings – to have that crazy ideology in charge of a country that is developing atomic weapons is unbelievably dangerous and it should stop. Everything else is secondary to this” (Interview by Joel Rosenberg, 2007).

I am personally convinced the global hatred for Israel and the Jewish people is once against reaching a dangerous level. This hatred is so great that the world is secretly hop-ing that Iran will use a nuclear bomb against Israel and wipe it off the face of the earth. The United Nations is overwhelmingly controlled by Muslims, Communists, and Socialists. Outside of Israel, there is no leader that is condemning Iran for its repeated calls for the annihilation of Israel. Even here in America, anti-Israel sentiment is spreading like cancer. The administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden have in essence supported Iran’s march toward nuclear supremacy. In recent years, only President Donald Trump has understood the danger of the Iranian mindset.

Thanks to the current godless and evil leadership of the West, we are now only days away from a nuclear Iran. We cannot begin to imagine how this will change our world! The Middle East is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

The Israelis have clearly stated they will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb. They know the evil Iranian leadership is deadly serious about using nuclear weaponry against their homeland. Israel is only 45 miles wide and about 230 miles long. A relatively small nuclear weapon would effectively destroy the nation and make the land uninhabitable for many decades. Based upon the promises and plans of God, we can rest assured this will never happen! God’s sovereign eternal plans can not be altered by Satan, his demons, and all the evil leaders and armies of the nations!

In recent months the political and military leadership in Israel have readied themselves for the day when they will need to use military force to thwart Iran’s nuclear advances. During a public security conference in Tel Aviv, on February 22, 2023, Netanyahu said, “I can tell you that I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That is not merely an Israeli interest; it’s an American interest; it’s in the interest of the entire world.” It is not a matter of “if” Israel will do this. It is only a matter of “when!” We have now arrived at a very critical time for the Middle East and our world.

From a biblical viewpoint, Iran’s desire to deceive the nations and destroy Israel is an Armageddon dream. According to Revelation 16:13-16, the Battle of Armageddon will be a demonically induced war of deception against Israel by the Antichrist and the nations. The Shiite Muslims believe the coming of their Mahdi is imminent. Could it be that the Muslim messiah will be the one the Bible calls the Antichrist? In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, the Apostle Paul told the church at Thessalonica that the Antichrist will be “the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”

The faithful followers of Islam’s prophet, Muhammed, believe their coming messiah must be one of the great imams who descended from Muhammed. According to their teaching, the last of these imams (the 12th one) disappeared in the 9th century. They believe that he will suddenly reappear to rule over the global Islamic empire at the end of this age. Could it be that the “lying wonders” of the end would be a deceptive resurrection of this imam, the Madi? We cannot be dogmatic about this. We can only wonder! Given the current developments, it would seem this is a possible scenario. If not, it certainly demonstrates that we are living in times when the stage for the fulfillment of biblical prophecies is being set.

The Bible repeatedly declares that at the end of this age the world will be fixated upon the removal of a Jewish presence and control over the city of Jerusalem. A study of the conflict in the Middle East demonstrates that this is at the core of the Islamic hatred of Israel and their plot to destroy the Jewish nation. Discussions in the United Nations and other international ruling bodies of the nations that include the United States, prove the world is determined to surrender the Old City of Jerusalem (the ancient biblical city) to the Palestinians. The prophet Zechariah, in chapters 12-14, wrote about the Battle of Armageddon and the events that surround this final conflict of the Tribulation Period. According to this text, the ancient city of Jerusalem will be the focal point of the attack against Israel during the Battle of Armageddon. In this text, God revealed to Zechariah that the city of Jerusalem will be like “a burdensome stone” (Zechariah 12:3) that will ultimately crush all the nations in their conflict with God. Concerning this final attack upon Jerusalem, the Lord said, “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9).

Jesus told His disciples that when the end came, they would “be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). The nation of Israel and the Jews are hated more than any other people group in the world. For decades, the world has told Israel that it does not have the right to defend itself against lethal force and threats of annihilation. The world has repeatedly condemned Israel for retaliating against those who viciously attack them! However, it seldom condemns Israel’s enemies who attack the Jews. In recent weeks, the U.S. State department has told lies about Israel, making Israel look like the aggressor against the Palestinians. The European Union is helping the Palestinians to illegally take over the West Bank. Israel has its back against the wall. No nation, including the U.S., is standing with Israel! The Bible tells us that when Armageddon comes, “all nations” will come against Israel (Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:2).

When Israel does attack Iran, how will the world react? The U.S. Department of State and a spokesman for the U.N. recently told Israel that any attack upon Iran would be considered “illegal.” China, Russia, Turkey, and North Korea all do business with Iran. Any attack upon Iran will instantly anger these allies of Iran. It is my opinion that Israel’s attack upon Iran could trigger the Gog and Magog invasion mentioned in Ezekiel 38.

J eremiah 49:36-39 seems to hint that there will come a time when Iran suffers a great defeat that will cause its population to be scattered around the world. The Bible states that the leadership of “the king and the princes” of Iran will be removed, so that the people of Iran can eventually worship the Lord and be a part of His kingdom (Jeremiah 49:38). Could it be that the dispersion of the Iranian population would be necessary due to its land becoming uninhabitable due to radioactive materials scattered across its land? Should Iran launch a missile toward Israel, Israel has the technology to destroy that missile over Iranian airspace. If that Iranian missile is carrying a nuclear payload, it would result in the dispersion of radioactive material over its own country.

Another development should be considered. “Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major faults that cover at least 90 percent of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive” (www.wikipedia.org). If Tehran would suffer an earthquake of 7.0 or greater, geologists estimate that more than one million people in Tehran would be killed.

Iran’s nuclear facilities are spread out in many locations. They are entrenched in bunkers deeply buried under the mountains of Iran. The Iranians have chosen this kind of construction to protect their nuclear sites from powerful bunker-busting bombs. However, this would also make them very vulnerable to powerful earthquakes. Perhaps in His time, the Holy One of Israel will choose to display His power and destroy these weapons that have been designed to destroy the Holy Land, the Holy City, and His chosen people. God has given His people the following promise, “Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. … No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:15, 17). According to Ezekiel 38:18-20, a powerful global earthquake will be used by God to stop the invasion of the Russian/Islamic coalition in the last days.

Friends, I believe we are witnessing the final events at the end of the Church Age. The events happening in Israel and around the globe are shaping our world for the lawless one – Satan’s Antichrist – to appear.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to be wise. We shall soon stand before our blessed Lord Jesus. When He comes, He will be our judge. Are you ready for His judgment? We need to be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

If you are not saved, please do not hesitate to call upon the Lord for salvation. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Do not delay. Give your life to Christ now before it is too late. Listen to this warning that will accompany the coming of the Antichrist. “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). People do not come to Christ because they love their sinful pleasures too much. They do not want to give up their immoral lifestyle, drugs, alcohol, or other things that displease God. Do not let the love of sin stand between you and spending eternity in heaven!

All sin is an offense to our holy God! He hates sin! Sin does bring temporary pleasure. However, it carries a heavy death penalty. The Bible declares, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). There is only one way to receive eternal life and to escape the penalty of sin. Jesus exclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Eternal life does not come through a church or religion. All our work or efforts cannot take away our sin. The Bible says, “For by grace [the mercy of God] are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Why not cry out to God and ask Him to save you? He is waiting for you to come to Him now.

Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

The Approaching Economic Earthquake

We recently witnessed the second- and third-largest bank failures in U.S. history, involving Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Will this be the beginning of a domino effect that will lead to the collapse of financial institutions around the globe?

Michael Snyder, a Christian leader who researches and writes about global economic affairs in light of Bible prophecy, recently commented, “The mainstream media continues to tell us that the economy is in fine shape, and you can believe that if you want. But evidence continues to mount that indicates that we are headed for very serious trouble.

“Inflation is out of control, home sales have fallen for 12 months in a row, large corporations all over America are conducting mass layoffs, and hunger is spreading like wildfire as economic conditions rapidly deteriorate. … A major economic meltdown has begun, and it will eventually get a whole lot worse. We aren’t just witnessing the end of an economic cycle. What we are witnessing is the end of a deeply corrupt, deeply flawed system. The greatest debt bubble in the history of the entire planet is starting to burst, and the whole world will soon be experiencing severe pain as a result” (Michael Snyder, The Economic Collapse Blog, March 13, 2023).

According to the Bible, the opening months of the Tribulation will include global wars, terrorism, famine, hyper-inflation, and earthquakes (Revelation 6:1-17). The food crises will become so severe that a couple loaves of bread will cost an entire day’s wage (Revelation 6:6). In some parts of the world, this is already a reality. In the U.S. our affluence has somewhat sheltered us from what is taking place in other countries. However, it will soon catch up to us. Now is the time to prepare for the financial storm that will brew until Jesus comes.

Presently, more than 30 countries, including the United States, have unsustainable debt. The world is teetering on the edge of an economic collapse and one major event could trigger it all. A financial collapse in the U.S. would trigger a global financial meltdown, because the U.S. is the largest consumer of commercial goods. It is only a matter of time before this occurs. We are facing a situation like the world has never seen before. Our world is in dire straits.

Rejoice with me that our hope is in the Lord, not our money. “In God we trust.”