Tag: rapture

  • 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   

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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

    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.

  • January 2021 – The Time is at Hand

    HAPPY NEW YEAR                                              PTNews

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

    January 2021

    Published monthly

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

    P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006

    “The Time is at Hand”

    “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3

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    By Mike Wingfield

    As we embark on 2021, we must ask: “What is happening at this hour in America and throughout our world?” How a person answers that question depends upon their perspective and worldview. For example, if you are asked about your physical health, your perception and a medical doctor’s point of view may be very different. You may answer the question about your health on the basis of how you feel. However, the doctor will answer that question on the basis of his medical examination and compare his findings with basic medical facts to determine the true condition of your health.

    When one considers the condition of America and our world, their conclusions will vary depending upon the knowledge they have of what the Bible says about the world and what is coming in the future. The Bible is the one and only reliable source of present and future realities. In His Word, God has chosen to give us His perspective of the true condition and future of our world. The Bible is an amazing book. In this book, God has given us a glimpse into the future. Some of the prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled. And, history demonstrates that God’s Word is impeccably accurate. So, we can say with the same certainty, what the Bible says about the future will come to fruition just as it is written. It is the Word of God. And, God says, “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” (Isaiah 14:24).

    According to the Bible, our world is marching toward a predictable end as predetermined by our sovereign Lord and Creator. Many believe, and I am one of them, that on the basis of the present conditions in our world that the time is at hand for very dramatic prophetic events to unfold.

    As a matter of fact, for 2,000 years our world has been uniquely prepared for the brief end of this age as we know it. Think about it. Our world has experienced thousands of years of history. However, according to the Bible, when the end comes, it will all unfold in a brief period of seven years – known as the Tribulation Period. The war in the spiritual realm between good and evil, and the wars and rumors of wars among the nations of this earth are about to come to a dramatic and final climax.

    (more…)

  • August 2020 – Jesus is Coming Soon!

    PTNews

    August 2020

    Published monthly

    All Bible references are from the KJV

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

    P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006

    Jesus is Coming Soon!

    “…when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matthew 24:33

    By Mike Wingfield

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    During the 62 years I have been walking with the Lord I have been looking for His return. It will be the greatest day in my life! But, I must admit that there have been times when I was not focused upon His coming due to events that preoccupied my thinking. However, in recent weeks and months, my mind has been once again consumed with the possibility that the coming of Jesus to rapture His church to heaven seems to be very near. This expectation is more than just emotions or feelings. It is based upon solid biblical commands and the teachings of Jesus and His apostles.

    Someone may say it is wrong to reach these kinds of conclusions. My response is that it is unbiblical and a matter of disobedience to not be watching for our Lord’s coming. We are to be longing and looking for His coming at any moment! After Jesus talked about the signs of His coming and the world conditions at the end of this age, He commanded His disciples to “watch” for His coming (Matthew 24:42, 43). The Greek word translated here is a very powerful word. It means that the believer is to be vigilant, and filled with expectation as he awaits his Lord’s return. In the same passage, Jesus reminded His disciples that no one would be able to know the exact day or hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36).However, before these words, He did tell His disciples that when the final generation would observe all of the things He mentioned about certain world conditions at the end of this age, that they could “know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33).

    Someone may say it is wrong to reach these kinds of conclusions. My response is that it is unbiblical and a matter of disobedience to not be watching for our Lord’s coming. We are to be longing and looking for His coming at any moment! After Jesus talked about the signs of His coming and the world conditions at the end of this age, He commanded His disciples to “watch” for His coming (Matthew 24:42, 43). The Greek word translated here is a very powerful word. It means that the believer is to be vigilant, and filled with expectation as he awaits his Lord’s return. In the same passage, Jesus reminded His disciples that no one would be able to know the exact day or hour of His coming (Matthew 24:36).However, before these words, He did tell His disciples that when the final generation would observe all of the things He mentioned about certain world conditions at the end of this age, that they could “know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33).

    It is evident from reading many New Testament passages that the apostles and the early church were expecting Jesus to come at any moment. James wrote the first New Testament book in 45 AD. Even then, he wrote, “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8).

    About five years after James wrote his epistle, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church at Thessalonica. In this letter he explained the doctrine that we call the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the next chapter, Paul explained that the coming of the Lord would be “as a thief in the night” to those who do not know Him (1 Thessalonians 5:2). The sudden coming of Jesus will catch them completely off guard. They will not be looking for Him. They will consider the coming of Jesus to be an unwelcomed intrusion into their lives, just like the coming of a thief. I am greatly moved and saddened to think that perhaps 99.9 percent of the world’s population is totally oblivious to what is about to happen!

    The coming of Jesus for His church will usher the world into the most dangerous and horrific period of time every recorded on earth. While speaking about the time after His coming in the Rapture, Jesus said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21, 22). Therefore, those who would be left behind on earth after the Rapture will face a “sudden destruction [from which] they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). They will be trapped in a world filled with death, disease, destruction, distress, and demonic deception. Jesus said, “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:35).

    The Apostle Paul went on to explain to the believers in Thessalonica that while the world will be clueless about the coming judgment, Christians should not be caught off guard. He wrote, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).

    We have not been exhorted to watch for certain signs to occur before the Rapture will take place. Technically, there are no signs for the Rapture. Since Jesus ascended back to heaven in 30 AD, the church has been anxiously awaiting His return. He can come at any moment!

    However, there are signs that point to the unique period of time after the Rapture, called “the Tribulation.” This defined period of 7-years is clearly revealed in Scripture. Developments in this time will be totally unique and unprecedented! The Bible has much to say about the spiritual, political, economic, geological, medical, and social developments during this troublesome time. For three decades, I have been searching the Bible and identifying, classifying, cataloging, and correlating the signs of the Tribulation. I must confess that I have never been as awed by the developments of our world as I am at this moment in my life. Without question, we are witnessing the trends and events that will usher in the Tribulation Period. My inner spirit is being moved by the Spirit of God to greatly anticipate that the moment of the blessed hope we have been waiting for is about to happen! Jesus’ return is near!

    But in the wake of His return, the sudden destruction that will come upon the world is repeatedly compared to the “travail” or birth pangs that come upon a woman as she is about to give birth to a baby (1 Thessalonians 5:3). See Isaiah 13:6-9; Jeremiah 30:6; and Matthew 24:8. Without question, our world is pregnant with the signs of the end of this age. Furthermore, when a woman has contractions, the intensity and frequency of her pain increases as she is about to give birth. It is glowingly apparent to me that the trends that signify the nearness of the Tribulation Period are intensifying and unfolding at an enormous rate at this present time. Just consider all that has happened in 2020, and the year is not over!

    Let us briefly look at a few of the trends that are shaping our world for the Tribulation Period.

    At the center of the end-time events are the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. The Tribulation Period is not a time for the Lord to refine His church, as some people think. The Tribulation Period is not for the church. It is a time for the Lord to refine His chosen people – Israel (Zechariah 13:8-9). The Lord will use this time to prepare the nation for the millennial kingdom that will follow Christ’s revelation. The Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms a false covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). The mid-point of this period will be marked by the Antichrist’s seizure of the newly-rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1, 2). The last half of the Tribulation Period is called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). The Tribulation will end when Jesus returns to Jerusalem to defend His chosen people and defeat the forces of the Antichrist at the Armageddon campaign (Joel 3:1, 2; Zechariah 14:1, 2; Revelation 19:11-21). It is important to note that the events that mark out this unique period of time, as previously stated, have nothing to do with the church (the predominately Gentile bride of Christ). This 7-year period is a divine focus upon the conclusion of God’s eternal promises and purposes for the Jewish people, which were made in an unconditional covenant with their forefathers- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

    God spoke through Moses 3,400 years ago and told the Jews that when they returned to their land in the last days that it would be a time of “tribulation” (Deuteronomy 4:30), and that “evil will befall you in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 31:29). Since a remnant of the Jewish people has returned to their land and the nation was born in 1948, they have endured an ongoing state of war and terrorism from their Islamic neighbors.

    However, conditions in Israel at this moment are reaching a very critical point. Due to COVID-19, Israel is facing the possibility of a very serious economic collapse. Millions are unemployed and the nation is facing a second wave of the virus, leading many to be quarantined once again. Violent riots are breaking out all over Israel in rebellion against the government’s policies in dealing with this dangerous pandemic. The riots of the liberally motivated Israelis citizens against the conservative leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu almost mirrors what is taking place in the U.S. today.

    In addition, Iran continues to openly declare its desire to destroy Israel. It should trouble us all that our world ignores these ongoing and serious threats to the Jewish nation. While the world focuses and responds to the tweets from President Donald Trump, it totally ignores the viral threats by the Iranian leadership to destroy Israel. The Bible indicates that when the end of this age has arrived, all nations will be united under the evil régime of the Antichrist against Israel. It is very obvious that the world is ready to sacrifice the Jewish state to appease the growing global Muslim population.

    While the Trump administration is attempting to isolate Iran and apply economic sanctions to hinder its development of a nuclear weapon, the rest of the world is not concerned. Russia, China, India, Europe, and North Korea continue to do a brisk business with Iran in exchange for oil.

    Israel continues to deal with the threat of war with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon (which are merely Iranian proxies), and Iran and Russia in Syria. In recent days, Israel has amassed troops on its northeastern border with Lebanon, expecting an imminent war with Hezbollah.

    Furthermore, anti-Semitism is rapidly escalating throughout the world, especially in Europe and the United States. Riots in the U.S. have targeted Christians and Jews. On the night of Sunday, August 2, rioters burned Bibles and the American flag in front of the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon.

    For the first time in modern history, many American Jews are seriously planning to immigrate to Israel. In recent days, Israel has been overwhelmed with requests from Jews living in France and the United States, expressing their desire to immigrate to Israel. According to the prophetic Scriptures, this is a major development that signals the Tribulation is near. The Tribulation Period will be a time of increased global anti-Semitism, forcing millions of Jews to seek refuge in Israel – the only Jewish nation in the world. The fact that we are witnessing these events now is a very serious indication that the world is about to erupt into a virulent cycle of hatred for God’s chosen people. According to the Bible, the hatred, violence, and insatiable desire to annihilate the Jewish nation will surpass anything any nation in all of history has had to endure (Daniel 12:1).

    Meanwhile, to complicate matters, the newly-formed government in Israel is on the verge of collapse. A coalition that attempted to bring Israeli liberals and conservatives together has failed. This time of political division, economic upheaval, and social unrest in Israel is causing its enemies in the Middle East and around the world to view this as a time of Israeli vulnerability. Will this lead to an invasion of Israel by the Gog and Magog nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38? Many in Israel say this attempted invasion is imminent.

    As all of this materializes, Egypt and Turkey are reportedly ready to go to war over Turkey’s desire to take control of Libya – Egypt’s neighbor to the west. Also, Turkey’s radical Islamic president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is threatening to invade Greece, due to a dispute over territorial areas in the Aegean Sea. A serious territorial dispute between India and China over their shared border in the Himalayas is becoming more intense. We must take heed to all of these developments because Jesus said that the end of this age would be marked by “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6). Jesus also said that the time of the end would be like the days of Noah. According to Genesis 6, Noah’s day was marked by a global increase in lawlessness that was manifested in sexual immorality and violence. Here in America the recent lawlessness and riots are basically a violent demonstration to erase gender recognition and the biblical view of marriage and the home. The goal of these violent protestors is a sexual freedom that expresses a total abandonment of all that is civil and normal. The Bible declares that it was a haughty spirit of pride, laziness, and immorality that brought about the divine destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Ezekiel 16:48-50). It is very apparent that at this very hour, the wickedness of this world is inviting the visitation of the wrath of Almighty God!

    While speaking about the Tribulation Period, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people…” (Isaiah 60:2). We are living at a time of great spiritual darkness. Every form of evil is manifesting itself at an enormous rate. Witchcraft, sorcery, and the occult are being openly embraced and considered forms of entertainment. In the name of abortion, babies are being sacrificed on the altar of the god of self. These were the very abominations of the inhabitants of the nations that God called Israel to cast out of the land as an act of divine judgment (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).

    Spiritual darkness happens when light (God’s revelation – the Bible) is ignored, scorned, and rejected. We are living in a world that is suppressing the Word of God. Our world hates God and His Word. According to the Bible, the last days will be marked by a godless people who openly and defiantly rebel against God and His laws (Psalm 2:1-3).

    The next two issues of this newsletter (September and October) will focus on “Unmasking Socialism.” Be sure to read these issues and pass them along to your family and friends. This November, the U.S. will conduct its most critical election in the history of the nation. We must know clearly what is at stake in the battle for America.

    Unfortunately, this spiritual darkness is permeating the professing church. Just as the Bible predicted, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrine of [demons]: speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron…” (1 Timothy 4:1, 2). The professing church is abandoning the truth because of the love for self and its indulgence in the things of this world (2 Timothy 3:1, 2). The lives of these professing Christians are just like the lifestyles of those who are not born-again. These people are described in 2 Timothy 3 as those who are lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. They have “a form of godliness… [are] ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. … these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (2 Timothy 3:5-8).

    However, in the midst of all of this, we can rejoice that there is a godly remnant of believers who are clinging to God’s truth. These Christians desire to live a holy life before their holy Lord. Those who are longing for His appearing will strive for purity because they know that at any moment they will stand before their Savior and Judge, Jesus Christ (1 John 3:2, 3).

    A major sign of the end of this age is the collapse of America as a free superpower. When the end comes, an evil, lawless empire will rule the world under the dictatorial leadership of the Antichrist. It is my opinion that this global empire and its leader cannot come on the scene until the United States surrenders its sovereign power to some form of wicked global leadership. At this moment, America is fighting for its survival. America has been used by God, in spite of its sinfulness, to promote His laws contained in the Constitution of the United States. America has been raised up by God as a home for the church and as a base for global missionary efforts to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has been used of God to provide a safe haven for God’s chosen people – the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, all of this is now coming to an abrupt end.

    The next two issues of this newsletter (September and October) will focus on “Unmasking Socialism.” Be sure to read these issues and pass them along to your family and friends. This November, the U.S. will conduct its most critical election in the history of the nation. We must know clearly what is at stake in the battle for America.

    Mike Wingfield

    We are also witnessing another major sign of the end times – the brutal murder of believers in Jesus Christ. During the Tribulation Period, believers in Jesus will be considered public enemies. They will be hunted down and killed. Many of them will be killed for refusing to worship the Antichrist and his god (Revelation 13:15). The enemies of the cross will literally be intoxicated with a hatred for Christians (Revelation 17:6). Many who come to Christ during the Tribulation will become martyrs for Jesus (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 12:11). The majority of them will be “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God” (Revelation 20:4).

    In the last few decades, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been imprisoned, slaughtered, tortured, burned, raped, kidnapped, beheaded and crucified for their faith. It is not an accident that the overwhelming numbers of these martyrs were killed by Muslims and Communists. Again, this is more evidence that this will be the political marriage that will produce and promote the ruthless dictator the Bible calls the Antichrist.

    The Christian Post recently reported, “House churches across China have experienced intensified persecution in recent months, with Communist officials telling Christians they are not permitted to believe in God in the atheist country” (reprinted and reported by www.wnd.com on July 30, 2020).

    The economic impact of COVID-19 around the world is bringing our world to a frightening point of economic collapse. Before this pandemic swept across the face of the earth, the world was on the verge of an economic crisis. It appears that the massive response on the part of governments to quarantine global populations to stop the spread of this virus has created a massive problem with unemployment. As a result, this has produced a substantial problem with incomes and the flow of goods in a global setting that is totally dependent upon those products and services for survival. Many financial markets around the world are reporting that this is the sharpest economic downturn since the depression of the 1930s. The dramatic increase in the cost of precious metals in the last few weeks indicates that many investors are concerned about the global economy.

    According to the Bible, near the beginning of the Tribulation Period, the world will experience a dangerous cycle of hyper-inflation. Revelation 6:6 reports that a single loaf of wheat bread will cost a person his wage for a single day of work.

    During the enormous upheaval of the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will attempt to control and manipulate the global population by forcing them to take some type of mark on their right hand or forehead. This mark will enable him to control all of their economic activity (Revelation 13:15-18). As you read this newsletter, an effort is already under way to force the global population to adopt some form of international ID. It is called ID2020. A report given by www.biometricupdate.com states, “The ID2020 Alliance has launched a new digital identity program … Digital identity is a computerized record of who a person is, stored in a registry. It is used, in this case, to keep track of who has received vaccination [for COVID-19]. … ‘Digital ID is being defined and implemented today, and we recognize the importance of swift action to close the identity gap,’ comments ID2020 Executive Director Dakota Gruener. ‘Now is the time for bold commitments to ensure that we respond both quickly and responsibly. We and our ID2020 Alliance partners, both present and future, are committed to rising to this challenge’” www.biometricupdate.com). While this is not the mark of the Antichrist, it is preparing the technology he will use when he takes over the world.

    In addition to these complications, during the Tribulation Period the world will face dangerous and deadly cycles of natural disasters – global earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, drought, dramatic climate change and dangerous pollution of all ocean and fresh water. An examination of the data of global natural disasters demonstrates that they are increasing at an alarming rate, especially since the birth of Israel in 1948. Make no mistake about it. The creation is in the hands of its Creator and Ruler. Long ago, the psalmist wrote, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou [God] shalt endure: yea, all of them shall [grow] old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed…” (Psalm 102:25, 26).

    These developments are only a small fraction of the significant trends that are setting the stage for the Tribulation Period. I must admit that all of these things are very troubling unless you remember that this world is not our home. We need to exercise the faith of Abraham. According to the Bible, he knew he was only a stranger and pilgrim on this earth (Hebrews 11:13). His faith caused him to look past this temporary world to “look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

    We must not allow our hearts to be overcome by fear as we watch all of these troubling events come crashing down on our world. Behind all of this bad news is the good news – Jesus is coming soon. Does this comfort you? It should. Get ready for the shout that will take us out!