Tag: rapture

October 2025 – If Jesus Came Today

PTNews

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

October 2025

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

If Jesus Came Today

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour
as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”  Matthew 24:44

By Mike Wingfield

Are you ready? If you knew for sure that Jesus was coming TODAY, what would you do TODAY? Jesus exhorted His disciples to be “ready” for His coming (Matthew 24:44). How does a person prepare for Jesus to come today? What are your thoughts? What would be your expectations? How would this impact your attitude? Would your lifestyle change on that day?

How a person prepares for the moment he will be ushered into the presence of God is dependent upon his view of God. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that has no fear or reverence for God. This clearly defines the godlessness of our current global population.

What we think about God defines who we are. As those who have been created in the image of God, it is of paramount significance to formulate a basic understanding of Who God is. This is the “fountain of life” (Proverbs 14:27). When God is absent from the thoughts of a man (Psalm 10:4), he becomes a dangerous, wicked person in rebellion against God and man.

When a culture reaches this point, it hates God (Romans 1:30), and those who are good (2 Timothy 3:3). The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, and the global reaction to it, indicate the world is rushing toward the spiritual point of no return.

The real tragedy of the moment is not the spiritual condition of the world, but the spiritual darkness in the professing church. Most who call themselves Christians today have “left [their] first love” (Revelation 2:4). They possess only a “form of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:5). They do not love God first. They are in love with the things of this world. We are warned that this is not the true testimony of a real child of God. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

This is why in most churches the people never hear about the Rapture of the church. The people are not in love with Jesus, but with the things of this world. Churches are filled with people who talk about the Rapture, but do not walk with God. They have no idea about how to prepare for that awesome moment. They view Jesus as their buddy, rather than the holy Creator and the Redeemer of all mankind.

T he question before those who are reading newsletter is of profound importance. If you knew for sure that Jesus was coming TODAY, what would you do TODAY? Let us examine the Bible for the answer to this question.

About 15 years after the ascension of Jesus to heaven, the Holy Spirit directed James, to write the first New Testament book – the book of James. This book clearly reflects the thoughts and lifestyles of the early believers, like James, who were anxiously anticipating the imminent return of Jesus for His church. James wrote that the Rapture was near (James 5:8), and that Jesus was standing at heaven’s door (James 5:9), ready to descend to earth to gather His children and take them back to heaven. Therefore, in previous verses of this book, this godly saint informed the believers about four Spirit-filled responses that should exist in the life of the believer who believes the Rapture is about to take place.

Response #1- Draw Near to God

While expecting the Lord to return, James wrote, “Draw [near] to God, and he will draw [near] to you” (James 4:8). What does it mean to draw near to God? To draw near to God means you desire to constantly abide in His holy presence. Jesus has promised us He will abide in us (John 14:23). He keeps that promise. However, are we aware of His constant presence in and all around us? The painful reality is that all of us at times fail to acknowledge His presence in our lives. Proverbs 3:6 exhorts us, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” To acknowledge Jesus in our lives is to constantly remind ourselves of His presence. He sees us. He hears us. He knows our thoughts, desires, and motives. He is intimately aware of everything in our lives. He cares about us and wants us to put Him first in daily life.

His presence is invisible. However, we can see evidence of His presence in our life. That will instantly change the moment we die or are raptured.

When Jesus comes, we will be immediately immersed into His holy visible presence. We will see Him as He is. We will gaze into His holy eyes and be face to face with Him. We will see the One who knows everything about us. Every thought of all our lives, every word we spoke, every motive of our hearts will be unveiled between us and Him at that moment. He is the “discerner of the thoughts and intents of [our] heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Our souls will be “naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). This will be our judgment day (2 Corinthians 5:10). For more insight concerning this incredible moment, read Mike’s book, Your Judgment Day, the Most Important Day in Your Life. [See page 8 to order this book.]

The experience of looking into the eyes of Jesus will be the most profound moment of worship in our eternal lives. With our new glorified minds, we will be able for the first time to be overwhelmingly awed by the presence of God. We will be totally captivated with the raw wonder of that moment.

We have been created to worship God and to please Him. This will be the greatest moment of our lives. We will be awed by His holiness for all of eternity. When sinful, finite man comes into the presence of God, the Bible testifies that the normal reaction will be one of total reverence and humility. When Moses encountered God at the burning bush, he was told to remove his shoes because the place he was standing on “is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Notice Moses’ reaction. “Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God” (Exodus 3:6). Read about Isaiah’s encounter with God in Isaiah 6:1-7. Whenever man comes into the holy presence of God it will always cause that man to be overwhelmed with how sinful and insignificant he is. When you hear of any person bragging about having a casual friendly encounter with God, he is lying and has been deceived by Satan. Such a person lacks a true understanding of God. In the book of Revelation, whenever redeemed saints come into the presence of God, they immediately fall before Him at His feet in worship and adoration (Revelation 4:10; 11:16; 19:4).

Most people lack a basic biblical understanding of the holiness of God. This attribute of God contains two basic truths about His character. First, to say God is holy is to declare that He is perfectly and infinitely pure in His moral nature. God is righteous and just in all His ways. He does not sin. He cannot lie. He is always good in all that He does.

The Apostle John clearly stated this truth when He wrote, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son [cleanses] us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).

Also, to say God is holy recognizes that God is infinitely set apart from all His creation. He is infinite. All other creatures and things are finite. He is “high and lifted up” above all things (Isaiah 6:1). He has declared, “I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9).

God is the only One who is holy. Everything and everyone who is a part of His divine will is declared to be holy. His Name, His people, His land and the city of God – Jerusalem, are holy.

A s we approach His coming, we must draw near to Him. We must desire to live a holy life and recognize and honor everything that is holy to God.

Be still before Him. Quiet your soul and seek His face in worship. Pray that your soul would be yielded to the Spirit of God to give you a fresh thirst to be in the presence of the living God. “O God, thou are my God; early will I seek thee: my soul [thirsts] for thee, my flesh [longs] for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is …” (Psalm 63:1).

Response #2- Confess all Sin

After James exhorted the saints to draw nigh to God in preparation of Jesus’ coming, He continued, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:8b-10).

As we anticipate entering the holy presence of our Lord, we need to become seriously conscious of confessing all our known sins to Him. When the Psalmist thought about going up to the holy temple in the holy city of Jerusalem, he thought about his own spiritual condition. Therefore, he asked, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart …” (Psalm 24:3-4).

The believer should think about being spiritually clean as He approaches a holy God who knows everything about him. When we come to Christ and confess our sins and are born again, by faith we are declared holy [justified] by the Holy Spirit and spiritually [baptized] into the body of Christ (Romans 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Therefore, as we continue to sin after our new birth, we must confess our sins to maintain our fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-10).

Our sensitivity to sin is directly related to our walk with a holy God. If we are not in fellowship with Him, we encounter spiritual blindness and not see our own sin. Our sin may be hidden from our own eyes, but not from the eyes of the Lord. Therefore, we need to pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: [convict] me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). When God shows you your sin, do not harden your heart. Immediately confess your sin to Him.

The litmus test is the way you think of yourself. If your heart is filled with pride, you will not see your sin. Confession of sin is always accompanied by a broken and humbled spirit (Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 57:15). It brings about a godly repentance.

As a pastor, I came to learn that people who are the troublemakers in church are the ones who quickly judge other people for their sins, while being spiritually blind to their own sins. Pride blinds people to their own sins. However, they do not extend grace to others who sin. God’s kind of merciful love does not act this way (Matthew 7:1-5; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 Peter 4:8).

Response #3- Treat People

With Love & Respect

As James continued to exhort the believers concerning their preparation to be raptured, he exhorted them, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold the judge [stands] before the door” (James 5:9). How we treat others, especially those of the household of faith, is very important to God. The second most important commandment from God is to “Love thy neighbor as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). Obedience to the first commandment is measured by our obedience to the second commandment. If we do not love others, then we do not really love God (1 John 4:20-21).

When people walk in holiness and humility, while confessing their sins, they will treat others with dignity and respect. They will be quick to forgive others of their sins and bless them. When we forgive others, we will not continue to hold a grudge. We will not wish evil upon our offenders, but blessing (Matthew 5:44-48).

Brethren, we must remember that when we leave this life, all our earthly relationships will take on a different reality in heaven. There will be no earthly marriage relationships in heaven (Matthew 22:30). Jesus said that His family consisted of all those who followed Him (Mark 3:31-35). When the true church gathers in heaven, we will be one in Him. We are the bride of Christ. We will be married to Him and each other. The love we share in heaven will be perfect. This is the true love of God!

We will recognize our family members and our friends in heaven. However, our relationships will be different. Therefore, it is paramount that we settle our differences before we depart for heaven.

Now is the time to forgive each other and to demonstrate Christ-like love to each other. We should treat all people as if it were the last time we will see them on earth. The Judge, Jesus, is standing before heaven’s door and is about to descend to take us to His Father’s house.

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

Response #4- Constantly Expect the Moment of His Coming

I n James 5:7-8, James exhorts us to be longing for the Lord’s coming. He compares this to a farmer who is caring for his crops as he waits for the day of harvest. As the farmer goes about his work, everything is done in anticipation of the day of the harvest. He does not diligently work and toil because he is merely a farmer. He does his work because the harvest is the real reason for all his hard work. The income from the harvest is the reward for his labor.

Likewise, everything the believer does in this life should be connected to the reward he will earn for his work for His Lord. Therefore, the Rapture is not some casual thought or belief. It is the day of our judgment and the reward for all that we have done for our Lord while on earth. Therefore, we should view the Rapture as the most important day in our lives. It will be what we have lived and worked for!

My heart aches when I realize that most pastors and church attendees almost never think of their judgment day. This may be because they are not really saved. They are still living for themselves. They want to go to heaven because they have a spiritual entitlement mentality. They think they are good, and God must reward them with citizenship in heaven.

These pastors and church goers are like the people who stand on the corners of our streets and beg for money. They are capable of working for the Lord. They are just lazy and feel entitled to live off the work of our Savior who paid our sin debt with His own blood! This is not the way of God. Jesus paid for our sin, and we owe Him our lives. This is why true faith produces work for the glory of God.

Are you longing for the coming of our Lord? Is your soul anchored in a love for this godless world? Is heaven your home? Is Christ your life and first love? Do you have time for God? Are you willing to sacrifice for Him?

It is time to get ready for the shout that will take us out! The signs of the Tribulation Period are all around us. It is only a matter of time.

Forcing Palestinian Statehood

Our allies in European nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other western nations are pushing the UN to recognize a Palestinian State on the West Bank [Biblical Judea and Samaria]. To thwart this growing threat, the Israeli cabinet is set to formally annex most of Judea and Samaria to head off this action.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are joining this worldwide cadence and saying if Israel annexes Judea and Samaria, it will be the end of a Palestinian State and terminate the Abraham Accords that President Trump has worked so hard to broker. This is what President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu want to achieve for their legacies. Both men firmly believe this is the path to peace in the Middle East.

At the UN meeting in New York in September, the Arab/Muslim leaders convinced President Trump to not support Israel’s plans to annex what the world thinks belongs to the Palestinians. As a result, President Trump announced he will not allow Israel to annex the heartland that God gave to the Jewish people in an eternal covenant (Genesis 13:14-15).

It appears that Israel is on the brink of making a very critical decision. Looking at the prophetic Scriptures, it appears they will vote to go forward with the Abraham Accords. According to Isaiah 28:14-22, the Israeli leadership will accept a dangerous peace agreement to avoid a major war. This covenant will be opposed by the religious Israelis. According to Isaiah, this will lead to the final war that will aim to annihilate Israel. This covenant is the covenant of the Antichrist.

The Arabs, especially, Saudi Arabia, are faking a peace agreement with Israel for the sake of the economic gains that will accompany this temporary truce with Israel. According to Daniel 11:39, the Antichrist will “divide the land for gain.” The Hebrew word used by Daniel is speaking of “monetary gain.”

Current events point to Israel and the Arabs signing a false peace covenant that will begin the Tribulation Period (Daniel 9:27). Daniel indicates the Antichrist will deceive many as he magnifies himself and declares a peace that “shall destroy many” (Daniel 8:25).

Friends, it appears that we are about to witness the final global deception that will drive the Israelis to accept a deadly peace agreement with their Arab/Islamic neighboring nations.

The Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Those of us who love God, the Bible, family, and all that is good, are mourning the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. Many people around the world knew who Charlie Kirk was. He was a godly man who fearlessly stood up for what is right. He testified that he loved God, his children, and wife. He truly loved America. Kirk knew that the youthful generation of America is traveling down a dangerous and deadly path. Charlie feared for the future of America. Therefore, he was killed because he loved God and all that is pleasing to God.

His brutal death is a commentary on our youth the American culture. We are living in a culture that is far away from God. People do not know God. Many do not want to know about God. They are in rebellion against God and His laws (Psalm 2:1-3). The Bible is clear that when a culture reaches this tipping point, it is ready for the wrathful judgment of God. God is holy. He created mankind to love, honor, worship, and serve Him. God does have a tolerance point. Think about the days of Noah and the fiery judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. God loves man and has warned him in His divine revelation that man must choose the path of life, rather than the path of death (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). God has not changed, and His Word is unchanging and eternal.

When a culture reaches this point, it rejects God and elevates self. Its people are destined to damnation. They love evil and hate good. Therefore, they attack those who promote God and good. Psalm 11:2 says, “The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.” In Romans 1, a godless culture is one that suppresses God’s truth and destroys their conscience. This rebellion against God is filled with those who are “haters of God” (Romans 1:30) and are “despisers of those that are good” (2 Timothy 3:3).

At the very heart of civilization are God and His law. When the nations depart from God and His law, they are in a mode of self-destruction. Read Psalm 11:3-7. We are living in a world that hates the Jewish people and loves Hamas, a violent hater of the God of the Bible. While the nation of Israel is not perfect, it is a nation that celebrates life and is committed to protecting its people from a religion that is committed to their destruction. According to the Bible, this battle for the Jewish people and their Promised Land is the final battle that will end man’s rule over God’s creation.

Jesus Christ is coming. He will rule the world with a rod of iron. He will not tolerate any rebellion against His law. His law will go forth from Jerusalem and He will teach His ways to all nations (Isaiah 2:2-3). Rebels will not be tolerated! Violence will end!

The murder of Charlie Kirk demonstrates that our global culture is near its end. The righteous Judge is about to unleash His fury against the rebels on earth. Then, God and good will finally rule on this planet for 1,000 years!

August 2025 – It is Happening!

PTNews

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

August 2025

Published monthly

All Bible references are from the KJV   

(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

Download this Newsletter

It is Happening!

“The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. … This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” Isaiah 14:24, 26-27

By Mike Wingfield

Friends, we are living in historic days that are paving the way for the final events of the last of the last days. Muslims all around the globe are passionately anticipating the sudden appearance of their long-awaited Islamic messiah, the mahdi. Religious Jews all over the world are saying we are living in biblical or Messianic times! Many Israelis are in awe of the hand of God and His divine protection over them in recent weeks in their war with Iran. Many godly preachers, such as the late John MacArthur and David Jeremiah, have been sounding the warning of the imminent approaching Tribulation Period and the Rapture of the church. Certainly, we are on the brink of dramatic events that have been anticipated by those who have been pouring over the prophetic Word of God for centuries.

Continue reading “August 2025 – It is Happening!”

Special Edition – How to Pray for Israel

PTNews

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

Special Edition

   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

When you pray for Israel, you are connecting with the heart of God. We know from Scripture that the Lord has promised to protect and bless Israel. This is His perfect, sovereign will for His chosen people. So, when you ask God to defend and protect Israel, you are asking God to do what He wants to do. You are praying, as Jesus said, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Prayer is about discovering God’s will and joining Him in what He is doing. You are allowing His will to become your desire. The prophetic Word of God is a revealed declaration of the purposes of God. He has promised to do exactly what He has purposed (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27; Isaiah 46:11). God’s counsel and pleasure will come to pass (Isaiah 46:10). He is the One who “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). God’s purposes, counsel, and pleasure were all determined by Him “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).

God has spoken His sovereign plans in His eternal Word. It has been written for us to know so that we might identify and support His eternal purposes. “God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). When people ignore or refuse to consider the prophetic Word of God, they are defiantly saying that what is important to God is not important to them. This is not the true spirit of a child of God who calls Jesus “Lord.” It is the natural man [the one in whom the Spirit of God does not dwell] that does not receive “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).

When we become one with God, we will want to know Him, be in Him, and discover what He has said. Jesus described this in His parable of the vine and branches in John 15:1-17. Inverse 7 He said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” In prayer, Jesus is not giving us a blank check and asking, “How much would you like to have?” Prayer is about discovering God’s will in His Word, and then allowing that to saturate our minds and cause us to pray for His desires, not ours, to come to pass. True, God-honoring, praying children of God focus on God, not self. Many of our prayers go unanswered because we are praying selfishly. James 4:3 says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

The Bible repeatedly shows us that prayer and the prophetic declarations of God are divinely connected. Listen to Isaiah 62:6-7, “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” This verse tells us that just as God has established His angelic watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem for its protection, even so we believers need to not cease our crying out to God to do what He has promised. Literally, our incessant prayers are to not give God rest from His heavenly orchestration of events on earth until the Kingdom of God is established and Jerusalem becomes the political and spiritual capital of the world for 1,000 years. The Hebrew word for “rest” could also be translated “silence.” So, God is inviting us to constantly pray for His divine will to come to pass. He has invited us to bombard the gates of heaven in prayer and to come before His throne day and night with this request. This is the chief aim in all the eternal plans of the Father – to set “my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2:6).

The end-time events will be set in motion by the Rapture of the church. After the Bride of Christ is called up to heaven, then the earthly countdown of the final seven years of God’s work with Israel will begin. It will conclude with the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. We are admonished to pray for the Rapture to take place. Revelation 22:17 declares that the Holy Spirit will lead the church to ask the Lord to come for His bride. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.” Finally, Revelation 22:20 demands us to pray, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

God delights in hearing His children pray for His divine will to take place for Israel. He has created the nation of Israel for His glory. He has said, “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise” (Isaiah 43:21).

When we pray, the Lord loves for us to quote or read Scripture before Him and to claim that promise on behalf of Israel. These promises should formulate the basis of our prayers for Israel. Here are a few promises that seem to be very fitting for this difficult time of war in Israel.

Psalm 121:1-8– This entire Psalm is filled with promises to Israel. Claim verse 7– “The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”

Isaiah 54:17– “No weapon that is formed against thee [Israel] shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shall condemn.” Ask God to help Israel destroy all the terrorist’s weapons that are being used against it.

Isaiah 59:19– “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Isaiah 43:2– “When thou [the people of Israel] passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Jeremiah 51:20– “Thou [Israel] art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.”

Malachi 3:6– “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

The Biblical Context of these Last Days

I believe that it should be a priority for God’s people to gather to pray for Israel. As we pray for Israel, we must realize the context of our time. The last days will be a time of great hatred and persecution of the Jewish people. It is a time of wars and rumors of wars. Israel is currently fighting for its survival as a nation. The Jewish nation is fighting a war on seven fronts: (1) Gaza (2) Lebanon (3) Syria, (4) Iraq, (5) Iran, (6) Yemen, and (7) the West Bank terrorists who are supporting Hamas and funded by Iran.

Israel’s war is not just against militant terrorists and Islamic states that are plotting its demise. Israel is also fighting the war of truth concerning its moral character and its legitimate biblical right live in the land God gave them, and to defend itself in its God-given land.

Israel is fighting this war of truth on at least six fronts:

(1) Legally– International lawyers and courts are seeking to accuse Israel of the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. This effort is being led by the International Court of Justice, the Hague, in South Africa.

They are currently seeking to accuse and arrest Israel’s leadership, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

(2) Politically– The lies against Israel are being promoted from the highest international political body, the United Nations. It is obvious that the UN hates Israel and is supporting the Islamic and Communist countries that are plotting the annihilation of the nation of Israel.

(3) Socially– The social media platforms and the Internet are flooded with lies and malicious rumors about the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.

(4) Media Agencies– Forms of media throughout the world are collaborating with the anti-Semitic and Anti-Zionist agendas that are engulfing the nations. Billions of people are being deceived because they believe what these commentators say.

(5) Educationally– The nations of the world have been preparing this generation for an outpouring of hatred against Jews. Liberal socialist professors have joined hands with radical Muslim elements that are passionate about their desire to destroy Israel and kill Jewish people. The outbreak of pro-Hamas demonstrations on our once prestigious U.S. university campuses clearly illustrates this agenda.

(6) Religiously– The war against Israel is a holy war. At the forefront of this war is the religion of Islam. The war against Israel is being fueled in the Middle East by the Islamic nation of Iran. Islam now has 2 billion followers. One out of every four people in the world is a Muslim. The impact of Islam and its agenda against Israel have permeated the global society and it is driving the multi-front war Israel faces.

Fundamental Truths about this Conflict

The enemies of Israel are the same as the enemies of God. Read Psalm 83:1-8. The hatred for Israel is an ancient hatred against the Jews and the eternal purposes of God. The Arabs continue to nurse jealousy and hatred toward the Jews that can be biblically traced back to the conflict between Ishmael and Isaac, and Jacob and Esau. The Arabs are the descendants of Ishamel and Esau that settled in the desert areas east of Israel.

The conflict over the Promised Land between the Jews and Arabs is 4,000 years old. Historically and prophetically, the nations that surround Israel today are Islamic nations. The Islamic world has been at war with God and the Jewish people since the 7th century. The central focus of this war is the land promised to the Jewish people and their descendants in an eternal covenant with God (Genesis 12:7-8; 13:14-18; 17:7-8).

A Call to Prayer
I pray that this article will help you to privately pray for Israel. I encourage small groups, Sunday School classes, and churches to designate a night or certain time to come together to pray for Israel. Use his article to help guide you in prayer.

The aggressors in this war are not the Jewish people. It is the Arab people who are for war (Psalm 120:4-7). The historical record of the last 76 years, since the founding of the modern nation of Israel, demonstrates that the Jewish people have made every effort to live in peace with its Arab neighbors. The historical events of the last 100 years have been filled with lies to make Israel look like the aggressor.

These biblical truths should guide us in our prayers for Israel. Consider these verses:

Matthew 24:9– While answering the question of His disciples about the signs of the end of this age, Jesus said to them, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”

Ezekiel 36:1-7– The prophetic fulfillment of these verses takes place in the last days when God restores His chosen people to their ancient homeland (Ezekiel 36:24). The nations that surround Israel are depicted as warring against God and the Jewish people over the Promised Land.

Zechariah 14:1-3– When the end comes, the nations will gather against Israel at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16). The focus of this war will be against the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:1-9). Jesus will return to earth at His revelation to defend His people and to rescue Israel from the nations of the world (Zechariah 14:3).

Models of Biblical Prayers for Israel

The Holy Spirit has preserved and recorded two vital prayers by great men of God during a time of crisis in the history of the nation of Israel. We would do well to read these prayers and to reflect upon the message given to us by the Holy Spirit. These prayers provide a great model for us to follow as we pray for Israel.

The Prayer and Example of King Jehoshaphat

(2 Chronicles 20)

King Jehoshaphat of Judah, who reigned in Judah (873 B.C. – 848 B.C.), did not always walk with God. At one low point in his kingship, he participated in an alliance with wicked King Ahab of Israel. However, when three pagan nations invaded Judah, he demonstrated the proper example of how a leader should respond when his nation is facing a threat of annihilation. The crisis that Jehoshaphat faced more than 2,800 years ago is very similar to what the modern nation of Israel is facing today. The enemies of the Jewish people from the east were united in war against Judah. They wanted to cast the Jews out of the land that God had given them (2 Chronicles 20:11).

Instead of forming an alliance with evil nations, Jehoshaphat turned completely and solely unto the Lord. Perhaps the Holy Spirit had directed his attention to the message of Psalm 121. He called the nation to gather at the temple in Jerusalem to repent, fast, and seek the face of God for wisdom. The Scriptures testify to the response of all of Judah. “And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children” (2 Chronicles 20:13). Jehoshaphat went to the temple, and with all of Judah watching, he prostrated himself in total humility before the Lord. His prayer is recorded for us in verses 6-12. Please read and meditate upon this powerful prayer.

At this moment, the war against Israel continues to grow and intensify with the support of the majority of 2 billion Muslims in the world, plus most of the Communist nations. We should pray that the leaders of Israel would follow Jehoshaphat’s example.

God sent one of His chosen prophets to give King Jehoshaphat and all of Judah the answer to their prayers. God spoke to them and told them that they would not need to fight this massive army gathered against them. God’s servant was named Jahaziel. His name means “God sees.” How fitting that the name of God’s prophet who spoke to the nation on behalf of God was named “God sees.” God was saying to them, “I see your crisis and your faith. Verse 14 not only mentioned the name of God’s servant, but also mentioned his previous forefathers of four generations. The prophet’s father was Zechariah, which means “God remembers.” Jahaziel’s grandfather was Benaiah, which means “built by God.” The great-grandfather was Jeiel, which means “God lives.” The prophet’s great-great-grandfather was Mattaniah, which means “gift of God.” So, the message to Judah was, “God is the eternal God who sees and remembers His covenant He established with you. This land is yours as a gift from the One who owns it all.” Therefore, “the battle is not yours, but God’s” (verse 15).

Oh, that the nation of Israel and its current leadership would hear this message. The Lord has remembered His eternal land covenant as a gift to His people. He has called them to return to their land from the nations of the world. Now, the ancestors of the people from the east are once again attempting to murder God’s people and to take control of their land. Fear not Israel. The battle is not yours; it is God’s battle. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

Jehoshaphat and his people the next morning marched down to the area where those armies were gathered along the shore of the Dead Sea. The people of Judah worshipped God and praised Him as they descended to that area. God supernaturally destroyed the armies, causing them to turn on each other to kill each other.

This battle that Israel is facing today is moving toward the Battle of Gog and Magog. Once again, God will prove that the battle belongs to Him. History is about to repeat itself! Read Ezekiel 38:17-23.

The Prayer and Example of Daniel

(Daniel 9)

The prayer of the godly prophet of Israel, Daniel, is a perfect example of how prayer and prophecy are intertwined. At a critical time in the nation of Israel, Daniel realized that the Babylonian captivity of 70 years was about to come to an end. As he contemplated this significant historical moment for his people, he was moved to think this could be the moment that Messiah would come and establish His earthly kingdom. As he thought about this, he was saddened to realize that his nation was not spiritually ready for Messiah to come. Furthermore, the city of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple on the Holy Mountain were lying in ruins, brining shame upon the Name of his God. So, Daniel set his face toward Jerusalem and began to confess his sins and the sins of his people.

In this great prayer, Daniel was riveted upon the infinite and holy character of God. He addressed the Lord as the great and awesome God of heaven (verse 5). He declared that the Lord is a faithful God who keeps all His covenants with His people (verse 4). He continually repeated the truth that God is righteous in all His ways (verses 7, 14, 16). He acknowledged that His gracious God is plenteous in mercy (verses 4, 9, 18), and is willing to forgive them of all their sins (verse 9).

Daniel was moved to humility and confession of his sin and the sins of his people. Daniel used a variety of words to speak of the sins of his people. He said they had sinned, committed iniquity, and had done wickedly (verse 5). They had not listened to God’s divine warnings (verse 6) and had transgressed against God’s law (verse 11).

He repeatedly acknowledged that their sins were against God (verses 5, 7, 9, 11, 15). He was filled with sorrow as he admitted that God’s retribution against Israel had brought shame and a reproach upon the Name of God. The anger of the Lord had brought about the destruction of the city and the temple. The presence of God had departed from the Holy Mountain in Jerusalem.

Daniel’s prayer was not anchored in obtaining God’s favor for his people. The heart of his passionate prayer was focused upon the honor of God’s Name and for God’s glory. Daniel was asking that this glory would be recognized by the restoration of the city of Jerusalem and the reconstruction of the Temple upon God’s holy mountain (verses 16, 19, 21).

As a result of this passionate prayer for the glory of God, God sent the angel Gabriel to instruct Daniel concerning the answer to his prayer. The revelation given to Daniel is the most foundational biblical insight into the chronological order of the major events in God’s eternal plan. This chronological order of events was expanded upon in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, and in the book of Revelation.

These amazing insights were given because of the prayer of Daniel in Daniel 9:1-20.

While contemplating the above observations, please join me in prayer for Israel. Please use the following list of suggested petitions for Israel to guide you in your intercession on behalf of God’s work in His chosen people for His glory. This time of great crisis should lead us to pray fervently.

Suggested Petitions for Israel

– Pray that all Israelis and Jewish people in general would be humbled before the Lord God. Just as in Daniel’s prayer, it is important that all of us recognize our sin and failure to obey God. Israel’s wars and rumors of wars, and the eruption of global ant-Semitism is aimed at driving them to their total dependence upon God. God wants to turn their hearts toward Him.

– Pray that Jewish people will recognize their sins and confess them. Pray that their eyes will be opened to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. Pray that they would understand that God is One. Pray that they would understand His revelation of being three persons. Pray that this stumbling block of belief will be removed. Pray that their “confusion” (Daniel 9:7-8) will be removed. As Daniel prayed, May “we turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth” (Daniel 9:13). As we pray for them, pray that the Lord would show us our sin and humble us. Pray that the Gentile church would not be conceited to falsely conclude that we are superior to Israel. Read what the Apostle Paul said about this in Romans 11:11-36. Israel’s spiritual blindness is only temporary! God is not done with Israel. The best is yet to come!

– Pray that the Lord will pour out His grace and mercy upon His chosen people. Pray for a great harvest of Jewish souls around the world.

– Pray that the Lord would open the eyes of the Jewish people to the message of the prophets and apostles concerning “the Day of the Lord,” the Tribulation Period. Like Daniel, may it drive them to prayer and fasting before the Holy One of Israel. Israel is being isolated by the global community. The world has fallen into the hands of the evil one – Satan. We need to stand up for Israel and its people for the glory of God.

– Pray that the religious leadership in Israel would realize that the Lord does not seek empty religious obedience to a list of rules. Obedience to God’s law is important. However, it is not the end of the whole matter. The purpose of the law is to reveal man’s hopelessness and helplessness to please an infinitely holy God. God seeks a relationship, not ritual compliance. Pray that Israel and the church may seek God’s mercies and forgiveness.

– Pray like Daniel. He prayed for the will of God to be done for the glory of God (Daniel 9:16-19). Pray that the Lord’s desires for His people will come to pass in these last days. Pray that Israel will stand firm against the global pressure to surrender the Promised Land and the Holy City of Jerusalem with the holy mountain of God – the Temple Mount. Pray that God will manifest His glory as He defends His people, His land, His city, and His mountain.

– Pray that Israel may place their hope, security, and defense in the Lord. The hope of Israel is not bound up in its relationship with the U.S., or the power of its military ingenuity or might. The nation’s true hope is in the Lord. Read Psalm 91:1-10. Oh God, help the leadership in Israel to recognize they are in Your hands and that you are the One and only true hope. May they be faithful to the Lord, trusting His Word and what He has promised to do.

– Pray for the widows of fallen Israeli soldiers. We cannot begin to imagine the dire sudden needs widows face, along with their children, as they tragically learn that their husband/father has given his life to defend the nation of Israel. Many groups in Israel are attempting to collect donations from around the world to help support these widows and children. If the Lord lays a burden upon you to share in this need, you can mark your gift for “Israel,” and we will send every penny to Israel through agencies we have learned can be trusted to meet the critical needs that Israel is now facing.

– Pray for many Israeli soldiers who are hospitalized with injuries they have received while in combat in Gaza and along Israel’s northern border. As a result of their wounds, they are unable to work. They are not able to play with their children. They are not able to work and provide for their family. Their wives and children deserve our prayers and financial support.

– Pray for the Lord to give wisdom to the political and military leadership in Israel. Pray that they will know what God wants them to do at this critical time in their war with the enemies of God. Pray that they will know their limitations. Pray that they will be so overwhelmed that they will earnestly lead the nation to seek the face of God to defend the nation of Israel.

– Pray that the Lord will be able to speak to the nation of Israel through the leadership of its Messianic congregations. Pray that the eyes of the nation would be opened to know that those who are true born-again Christians love and support Israel. May the Lord provide the pastors of His church in Israel an opportunity to reach out in love and prayer to demonstrate to Israelis that being a Christian is at the very heart of being Jewish. May all Israelis discover that the true faith of the church is the faith of Abraham.

– Pray the Lord will silence the liberal Israelis who do not care about the law of God, the dedication to the return to the Promised Land, the re-establishment of temple worship, and the rebuilding of the holy temple in Jerusalem. They do not recognize the Jewish people as the chosen people. Their spiritual blindness is preparing the way for the Antichrist.

– Pray the Lord will defeat the efforts of Iran to destroy the nation of Israel. Pray for the Iranian believers who are living under constant persecution and martyrdom. Pray that Iran’s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon would be defeated.

– Pray that Israel’s war with Iran’s proxy terrorist groups (Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and many others) would be defeated. Oh Lord, give Israel strength and wisdom to fight this war against great odds. Lord, demonstrate as you have in the past, that it is not about physical numbers or power. You are the God of the impossible. Demonstrate to Israel and the entire world that you are the Holy One of Israel.

– Pray that the Lord will speak to many about how they can financially support Israel’s war effort in defending itself at this critical hour. We are glad that the nation of Israel is being financially overwhelmed at this hour. Thank you, Lord, for opening the door for us to show our commitment to Your Word and Your people – Israel.

– Pray for the Israelis who are committed to living in the disputed lands of Judea and Samaria. Pray for their safety as they have become physical targets of hatred to Palestinians who seek for their death.

– Pray for the defeat of the Palestinian leadership on the “West Bank.” May all of those who are seeking for the truth understand that this land is not the land of a Palestinian State. All the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea belongs to the Jewish people. This is what the Bible teaches. This is the true biblical recorded found in the Word of God. This is proven every day in Israel by archaeologists who discover historical artifacts from Israel’s ancient biblical days in the soil of the Promised Land.

– Pray to our awesome God! May we reverence and honor God the same way that Jehoshaphat and Daniel did. Call upon Him as the Creator and Sustainer of all creation. Make mention of His holiness, mercy, sovereignty, power, and righteousness. Thank Him for being a faithful God who keeps all His covenants and promises to His people. Praise Him for seeing our needs and providing His way in His time for our security and hope.

– Pray for Israelis to grasp the truth that there will be no true peace until the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Messiah, returns to this earth to establish His kingdom of peace upon this earth. May this hope turn many to Him.