Tag: tribulation

  • October 2023 – Historical Peace Treaty in the Middle East

    PTNews

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

    October 2024

       Published monthly by Mike Wingfield Ministries

    All Bible references are from the KJV   

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    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

    The Rapture & Feast of Trumpets

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

    By Mike Wingfield

    Historical Peace Treaty in the Middle East

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

    By Mike Wingfield

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Saudi Prince

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Green Flag

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Israel Relations Map

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Iran’s Nuclear Deception

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

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

    Climate Change Truth

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

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

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

  • April 2021 – The Satanic Rebellion and the End of Days

    PTNews

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

    April 2021

    Published monthly

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

    The Satanic Rebellion and the End of Days

    “When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases:

    but the righteous shall see their fall.” Proverbs 29:16

    Download this Newsletter

    By Mike Wingfield

    War is raging around us. There has been an ongoing, continuous war in the spiritual realm since the rebellion of Satan in heaven near the beginning of time. We are talking about a real war between evil angels, called demons, and good angels that serve the Lord. The central passage in the final book of the Bible reads, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon [Satan]; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven” (Revelation 12:7, 8). In light of this, we should view the final seven years of this age, the Tribulation Period, as the final phase of a war that has existed for almost the entire history of creation.

    Obviously, Satan knows just how crucial this war is. He knows that God has declared him the loser of this conflict. When the final battle, Armageddon, is fought, Jesus will be the victor. He will speak the word, and the armies of the Antichrist gathered in Israel and surrounding Jerusalem, will all suddenly be consumed (Zechariah 14:12). The Antichrist and his false prophet will be “cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20). Then, Satan will be bound and cast into a bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:2, 3).

    Since the time of his creation as a good angel – Lucifer – the Devil has never been bound. He has been free to fight against God in heaven and on earth (Job 1:6, 7). Therefore, in his wrathful desperation, he will do anything to keep himself from that dreadful moment when he will be confined to the bottomless pit. Thus, it makes perfect sense to realize that if the Devil believes the Tribulation Period is about to begin, he will use everything at his disposal to carry out his final rebellion against God. Satan’s war chest includes demons, people, and the nations of the world. While we know Satan cannot win, he is still on prowl like a dangerous wild animal. And he will become increasingly cunning and desperate as he carries out his final rebellion against God.

    It is apparent that we are watching a full-blown explosion of evil around the world. Lawlessness, wickedness and immorality are escalating each day. This proves that Satan and his demons are busy at work, orchestrating their preparations for the horrific time to come, called, “the Tribulation.”

    Before the election of Donald Trump as the president of the United States in 2016, it appeared that our world was sliding toward circumstances that would establish an evil New World Order. Then, to the chagrin of those who crave a New World Order, Donald Trump’s election became a shocking reality. It became apparent that President Trump’s world view was more biblical than that of most of his predecessors in the last several decades. He stood on the moral high ground with the laws of God’s Word. He attempted to defend the U.S. Constitution, which was framed by men who had great respect for the Word of God. President Trump spoke out against abortion. He took a stand against the moral filth that had been wrapping its wicked tentacles around the American culture for many decades. He supported the biblical view of marriage between a man and a woman. He firmly stood by Israel, defending its occupation and control of Jerusalem and the Promised Land.

    President Trump was a great defender of our nation. He desired to protect our borders from those who wanted to illegally enter. He strengthened our military to stand up against evil nations, like China, Iran, and Russia. These nations are our avowed enemies and they are plotting our destruction. He exposed the unfair trade tariffs and policies with China. He was a great supporter of promoting and defending law and order, which is at the heart of what government has been divinely ordered to do (Romans 13:3-4).

    As a good leader, he made decisions based upon what was good for his country. He took a stand against socialism and the New World Order. He did not always agree with the actions and decisions of the United Nations. Under his leadership, the United States officially withdrew from some of the more corrupt organizations within the U.N.

    President Trump took a hard stand against global terrorism. He opposed the deadly nuclear deal with Iran, which had been crafted by President Obama and the liberal nations of Europe. These evil world leaders did this, knowing that Iran was the greatest terrorist-sponsoring state in the Middle East. Moreover, they knew that this deal would pose a lethal threat to our friends and allies in this volatile region – especially Israel.

    President Trump also understood the motives behind the Palestinian opposition of Israel. His administration withdrew the United State’s support of the Palestinians because he knew our tax dollars were being used for evil purposes against the Israelis. The Palestinian leadership was using these funds to make themselves rich, and to pay the families of terrorists who had killed Israelis. Under the leadership of President Trump, ISIS, a wicked and vile terrorist organization, was also defeated.

    In essence, President Trump stood up in the face of evil around the world and said, “No more!” As a result, the evil leaders around the world and in the U.S. rallied against him. Their hatred for him was very open. If the truth were known, we would see how the evil leaders of the world joined the liberal establishment in Washington D.C. to be sure that Donald Trump would not serve a second term. The liberal media was blatantly complicit with their political agenda. Behind the scenes, this plot was bankrolled by evil men like George Soros. They considered Donald Trump a threat to their evil agenda. They want to force this agenda upon America and all nations.

    Since the election of Joe Biden, we have witnessed an attempt to erase all of the policies and accomplishments of our former president. America is right back where it was four years ago. It is apparent that the liberal, socialist, left in America is once again joining hands with our enemies to destroy our great nation. Their ultimate aim is to usher in an evil New World Order.

    The Biden administration is embracing evil leaders and wicked policies at a maddening pace. They fear their window of opportunity to advance their globalist agenda is very narrow. So, they must act fast.

    Following in the mold of his party’s predecessor, President Barak Obama, President Biden has made known his desire to re-establish the nuclear deal with Iran. Many of the Sunni Arab Gulf State leaders, like Saudi Arabia, have told President Biden that this would be dangerous for the Middle East and the rest of the world. Israel has also voiced its grave concerns about the U.S. recommitting itself to the disastrous policy of empowering the evil Iranian leadership. These religious leaders in Iran are driven by their apocalyptic desires to control the Middle East and the entire world. Other world players that have close economic ties with the Iranians include Russia, China, and India. The blind leadership of these countries is not aware that they are creating a monster that wants to destroy them also.

    In another unwise move, the Biden administration is going soft on militant Islamic terrorist groups in the Middle East. Biden has removed the Houthi Rebels, a militant Islamic terrorist organization, funded and trained by Iran, from the official terrorist list in the U.S. The Houthi Rebels, stationed in Yemen, have joined other terrorist groups in their ongoing attack against Saudi Arabia. Iran’s ultimate goal in the Middle East is to destroy Israel and to take over oil rich Saudi Arabia, the center of the Islamic world.

    And in yet another reversal of a Trump policy, the current administration has reinstated Palestinian offices in Washington. Plus, it is once again sending funds to support the Palestinian cause. President Biden has made it known that he wants to return to an old way of thinking that would establish a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. This will force Israel to surrender some of the Promised Land to the Palestinians. Furthermore, Biden seems to be ignoring all of the progress that had been made in the Abraham Accords, which are a joint statement between Israel and other Arab Persian Gulf states and the United States, reached in 2020. It seems to be of little value to him that a new hope for peace was beginning to materialize, with Islamic states signing agreements to normalize relationships with Israel. It seems that the new leadership in Washington is being driven by a boiling hatred that is aimed at destroying all of the good accomplishments of the Trump administration.

    President Trump fought a fierce battle with the entrenched liberal political machinery for four years over border control. The president strongly desired to build a strong defense system along our border with Mexico. Once again, by executive order, President Biden has reversed all of President Trump’s policies with regard to controlling the number of immigrants allowed into the country. Reports indicate that some days more than 3,000 illegal immigrants are crossing the border into our country.

    Not only is Biden not concerned about the safety of our nation, he has ordered hotels along the border be made available to these illegal immigrants. It seems that the Biden policies are aimed at encouraging these immigrants to storm our border and enter our country. Local law enforcement and political establishment are warning that what is happening presents a grave danger to the future of the United States. U.S. citizens along the border feel threatened. COVID-19 is spreading. Cars and property are being stolen. Women are being raped. Even some of the Democrats are attempting to change the president’s mind concerning his liberal border policies.

    Perhaps one of the most threatening policies of the current administration is their friendship and cooperation with China. Anyone with eyes open to read a little, knows that China wants to rule the world. Hence, the communist leadership in China wants to bring about the demise of the United States of America. They want to destroy us politically, militarily, morally, socially, spiritually, and economically.

    Picture of U.S. and Mexico border with defense walls.

    Last November, President Trump came to the realization that public and private Chinese companies were available on Wall Street for American investors. This would merely help make China stronger. Many of these companies of the People’s Republic of China are military companies that support the technology and growth of a military that is sworn to the destruction of the United Sates. Therefore, on November 12, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13959 to make it illegal for Wall Street to allow these Chinese companies to receive investment funds from Americans.

    In essence, President Biden, shortly after he became president, caved in to China’s complaints about President Trump’s executive order. Consequently, millions of Americans are again investing in the destruction of their own country. Sadly, they do not realize what they are doing. This is an outrage and disgrace to the American people!

    In an electrifying and frightening article from Gatestone Institute on February 10, 2021, Gordon Chang, who is a Gatestone Distinguished Senior Fellow and member of its Advisory Board) presented an article, “China is Creating a New Master Race.” Here are some excerpts from this article, “U.S. intelligence shows that China has conducted human testing on members of the People’s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities. … The People’s Liberation Army has gone all-in on editing of humans. There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing’s pursuit of power.

    “Chinese scientists already are on the road of ‘gene-doping’ to make future generations smarter and more innovative than those in countries refusing to embrace these controversial methods. What you are witnessing in China is the convergence of advanced technology with cutting-edge bio-sciences, capable of fundamentally altering all life on this planet according to the capricious whims of a nominally Communist regime.

    “What is most disturbing about these endeavors is that China has gleaned access to CRISPR and advanced genetic and biotech research, thanks to their relationship with the United States and other advanced Western nations. American research labs, biotech investors, and scientists have all striven to do research and business in China’s budding biotech arena … because the ethical standards for research … are so low. … China’s regime does not have ethics or decency, is not bound by law, and does not have a sense of restraint. It does, however, have a technology to start a whole new species of genetically enhanced, goose-stepping humans” (Gordan G. Chang, Gatestone Institute, “China Is Creating a New Master Race,” February 10, 2021).

    When I read this report, it made me think of what was happening in the days of Noah. In some way, a new generation of wicked people was being created by the union of “the sons of God” and the “daughters of men” (Genesis 6:2). While we cannot be sure about this, it seems that this was a new generation of demonically-controlled human beings who were bold in their wickedness and violence. God would not tolerate this, so He judged the entire generation with the global flood. I do not believe that God will allow this evil regime in China to alter the biological makeup of the human race. China’s day of divine judgment is coming!

    In another article by Gordon Chang, in Newsweek, he reveals that China is engaged in horrific genocide against some of its own minorities. He writes, “China is committing the world’s most abhorrent crimes. An unspeakable evil is taking place. … Uyghur [a Muslim minority] women are routinely tortured and raped by government officials, clearly with the approval of the state. Girls from minority groups have been sexually violated.

    “More than a million – and perhaps over three million – Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other ethnic minorities are being held in concentration camp-like facilities termed ‘vocational education and training center.’ Their goal is to destroy everyone. … There are persistent and credible reports of organ harvesting. Call this murder – and murder, that is, on a mass scale.

    “Children are often separated from their parents and housed in prison-like ‘orphanages.’” (www.newsweek .com, February 16, 2021).

    China, like all evil regimes and cultic groups, realizes to be successful in controlling a culture and society; they must capture the minds of the children. For decades, China reiterated that it was an atheist society. Now, they have changed their strategy. With millions of Christians illegally operating in their country, the Chinese government is now using state-run schools to teach kids to hate God. They tell the children that Christianity is an evil cult. Crosses are being removed throughout China.

    U.S. government officials and Wall Street investors are holding hands with the devil. The policies and practices of doing business with China are helping to promote an evil regime that is plotting to place everyone on earth under its control.

    Communists and Muslims are plotting to take over the world. Only the resistance of the U.S. has stood in their way. It is apparent that the policies of the Biden administration are helping to advance the cause and dreams of the evil leaders in China, Russia, and Iran. It is clear that these countries want to destroy Christianity and the United States so they can rule the world.

    As this transpires, the war within the spirit world is ramping up. Evil is running rampant all over the world. As believers in Jesus Christ we must realize that all of this indicates that the coming of our Lord for His church is growing near.

    We must stand with God as the spiritual darkness escalates all around us. God is very much aware of what is happening, and He cares. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). God hates evil. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way” (Proverbs 8:13).

    What should we do as believers? We need to confront evil by sharing the gospel. A light shines the greatest in the darkest of night. We also need to brace and prepare ourselves for the evil days that are ahead. Proverbs 22:3 says, “A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” We must also fight against evil by putting on the armor of God – truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). We are commanded to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

    We must be very careful that we too are not participants in the evil of our day. Listen to what God said to the wicked citizens of Israel in the days of the great prophet Jeremiah. “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). The root of their evil was to replace God by being independent of Him. Instead of trusting God by drinking from the fresh water He provided, they made cisterns [underground cavities to collect rain water]. They were trusting themselves, rather than God. Our culture, with all of its man-made conveniences, promotes independence from God. It is all too easy for us to forget that everything we have is a gift from God – not the man-made system we have today. This too is evil!

    (Pictured above) The three leaders of the nations that most threaten the world today: Iran, China and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rouhan.

    (Pictured above) The three leaders of the nations that most threaten the world today: Iran, China and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rouhan.

    The Bible has promised us that these days would come. “But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). The Bible has also warned us what these evil days would produce. “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16).

    This must be a time for praying and mourning for America. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked [reign], the people mourn.”

    As believers in Jesus Christ, we can take heart that our God is on the throne. In the end, evil will lose the battle in heaven and on earth. During the Tribulation, God will pour out His wrath upon the wicked. God says, “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity, and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” (Isaiah 13:11).

    Ultimately, the final punishment of the wicked is eternal damnation in hell. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).

    Shoes Dedicated to Satan

    As our world grows darker by the minute, we must realize that the ultimate expression of evil is the worship of Satan. During the Tribulation, this will become an expanding reality (Revelation 9:20). This is already a growing phenomenon in America and the world. For example, a new athletic shoe has just been released, which is dedicated to Satan. Each pare comes complete with a pentagram and a drop of human blood in each shoe. Each shoe also contains the number 666 and comes in a limited edition of 666 pairs.

    For more information, check out, www.the gatewaypundit.com .

    Signs of the Approaching Tribulation

    There are a number of developments that signal that the Tribulation Period is approaching.

    Geological Activity– As we have reported numerous times, the increase of earthquakes and volcanoes will be the trademark of the wrath of God during the final seven years of this age (Luke 21:11). Israel365news reports that during the first 65 days of 2021, there were 42 major earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or greater that shook the planet. In 2017 there were only 15 during this same period of time, compared with 24 in 2018, 20 in 2019, and 24 last year. This definitely shows that seismic activity is increasing.

    Of particular interest are developments in Iceland. During the first week of March, “Iceland was hit by more than 18,000 earthquakes … including a magnitude 7.3, a magnitude 7.4, and a magnitude 8.1 earthquake” (www. israel365news.com, March 7, 2021). Following this report there have been several volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Currently, there are 43 volcanoes erupting around the world.

    Magnetic Pole Shifting– It is alarming and revealing to read the scientific reports about the changes in the magnetic field inside of earth. Most people think of the North Pole as being the center of earth’s magnetic field. That is what a compass would indicate. However, in recent decades, that is staring to change. “The magnetic pole is mostly the result of ferrous fluids moving around in the earth’s core. The magnetic pole naturally moves and has even been known to shift hemispheres, turning the magnetic north pole into the magnetic south pole. As the poles shift, the magnetic field weakens. In the last 30 years, the rate of distance that the magnetic north pole moves per year sped up from about 9.3 to around 34 miles per year, moving out of northern Canada, across the Arctic Ocean, and toward Siberia” (www.israel365 news.com, March 7, 2021). Scientists claim there is evidence that this major pole shift occurred thousands of years ago and it will take place again. Another indicator is that the earth has lost about 30 percent of its magnetic intensity since scientists began measure it decades ago.

    In light of this, it is most interesting to see that during the Tribulation, the Bible speaks of God turning the earth “upside down” (Isaiah 24:1). While this is happening, the earth will also go through a dangerous time of intense heat from the sun (Malachi 4:1; Revelation 16:8-9). Scientists claim that the earth is currently being protected from the most dangerous rays of the sun’s radiation by the magnetic shield around it at the poles. As the magnetic intensity of the earth deteriorates, it makes earth more vulnerable to the dangerous radiation of the sun, and solar flares. Scientists claim that this could act like a magnetic pulse that would naturally wipe out earth’s electrical grid systems in a matter of seconds. This would leave the inhabitants of earth without electricity for years. I personally believe that this will take place either before the rapture or shortly thereafter. It will perfectly set the stage for the horrific events that will unfold during the Tribulation.

    Saudi’s Recognize Temple Mount is Jewish– When the end of this age comes, something will materialize in the Arab-Islamic world that will cause it to give permission to Israel to build its temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Revelation 11:1-2). This temple will play a major role in events at the end of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

    The last temple to stand on this location was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. In the last 1,300 years, this has been considered by Muslims to be a significant location to their religion. In the last few centuries, Muslims claimed that their founding prophet, Muhammad, ascended to heaven from this location, making it important to them.

    However, in recent years, it has become known that the Islamic mosques on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem did not exist at the time of Muhammad. Now, reports coming out of Saudi Arabia, are saying that Jerusalem is the “eternal capital of the Jewish people” (Israel Today, March 8, 2021). The Saudis are reminding Muslims that the true holy sites of their religion are Mecca and Medina, which are in Saudi Arabia.

    Is this setting the stage for Israel to claim total sovereignty over the Temple Mount and to rebuild their temple? If so, we are getting very close to exciting events that will set the stage for the Tribulation.

  • March 2021 – The Approaching Tribulation

    PTNews

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

    March 2021

    Published monthly

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

    The Approaching Tribulation

    “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning

    of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21

    Download this Newsletter

    By Mike Wingfield

    In the last few newsletters, I have tried to help us understand that our nation and world are being transformed in preparation for the events that will transpire during the Tribulation Period. I am convinced very few people really understand what will unfold during the Tribulation. I pray that God will use this article to open your eyes to a biblical understanding of what is coming. We will not be here for the Tribulation. But we need to be concerned for those who will be left behind.

    Before we begin to examine what the Bible says about the approaching Tribulation, there is one very important matter we must consider – Who is God? If our minds and hearts are not focused upon what the Bible says about God, then we will reject or struggle with what the Bible teaches about the Tribulation Period. An awesome reverence of God is the bedrock foundation of biblical faith. The Bible declares, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).

    The Bible speaks about our God in terms that sometimes seem to be contradictory. God loves, yet He hates. The Bible speaks of God’s salvation, but also His condemnation. He is a God of mercy and wrath. He blesses some people and curses others. How can we reconcile all of this? The answer is found in the chief attribute of God – His holiness. God is morally, intellectually infinitely good in all of His will, His ways, and His words. He is faithful. He will do what He promises. God says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (Romans 12:19).

    Because God is holy, He hates all sin. He has warned us that He does not and will not ignore sin. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account therefore in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). God has promised that individuals will have their day in court with Him. They will give an account of their life. [If you are interested in more details on this judgment, order my book: Your Judgment Day – the Most Important Day of Your Life.]

    However, that is not where God’s judgment ends and be-gins. The Bible teaches that God judges cities, nations, and cultures in this life. That is why He judged the world in Noah’s day, the Tower of Babel, and Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible promises that at the end of this age, God will judge all nations. This period of time is called, “The Tribulation.” Let us examine what the Bible says about this unique period of time that is coming in the future.

    The Names of the Tribulation

    The significance of the Tribulation is revealed in the titles that the Holy Spirit has given to it in the Bible. Listed below are only a few of these titles.

    The Tribulation– The most popular and frequent title of this period is the one given to it by our Lord in His Olivet Discourse. He called it the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21). Jesus has promised all believers they will have some degree of tribulation in this world (John 16:33). However, in the context of Jesus’ discourse in Matthew, it is clear that He was referencing this period of unprecedented global troubles and sorrows. The Greek word for tribulation is thilipsis, which means affliction, anguish due to pressure, or a time of great distress. It is the picture of a person being caught in a deadly trap. The mental anguish is extraordinary to a person, because they do not see a way of escape. Ultimately, they believe this trap will lead to their death. In Luke’s record of this same discourse by Jesus, he adds that Jesus described this as a time, when “men’s hearts [will be] failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26).

    The Day of the Lord’s Vengeance– Isaiah 34:8; 61:2

    In the context of Scripture, this speaks of the future element of time to be considered, and especially the coming day of the Lord’s revelation when He returns to earth in all of His holy anger. God has promised that He will bring vengeance against all sin (Romans 12:19). We live in a world where people think that God will not defend His holy honor, His people, His law, or His land. Psalm 10:6, 10, declares that the wicked has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved: for I shall be in adversity. … God hath forgotten: he hides his face, he will never see it.” God is storing up His vengeance. When He unleashes it, it will be the culmination of His holy justice to man’s defiant disobedience and rebellion.

    The Year of Recompenses for the Controversy of Zion– Isaiah 34:8

    It is abundantly clear from Scripture that the Lord will judge the nations on the basis of how they have treated His people – the Jews, the nation of Israel, and the Promised Land (Genesis 12:3; Matthew 25:31-46). The Bible indicates that the hatred against God’s people is motivated by Satan and his demons (Revelation 12:1-17). The recurring and constant plague of anti-Semitism will culminate in the Tribulation Period and surpass anything the nation of Israel, or any other nation, has endured in all of human history (Daniel 12:1). The climax of the world’s hatred against Israel will be expressed at Armageddon (Joel 3:1-3). The Tribulation Period will be God’s ultimate fulfillment of His pledge to curse all those who have cursed His people.

    The Year of My Redeemed– Isaiah 63:4

    This title of the unique Tribulation Period speaks of one of God’s major purposes for it. The entire period will be a time when God heals the spiritual blindness of Israel, and millions of Jews will be saved. Moses and Elijah will re-turn to proclaim the gospel to their people and display the power of God (Revelation 11:3-6). As a result, 144,000 young Jewish men will be saved (Revelation 7:1-8). The Lord will pour out His Spirit upon His people and spiritual deliverance will take place in Jerusalem (Joel 2:27-32). The final living remnant of the Tribulation will be saved on the day of Christ’s revelation. They will look upon Him whom “they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him” (Zechariah 12:10). They will see the nail scars in His hands and ask, “What are these wounds in your hands?” (Zechariah 13:6) The Lord will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6). Every living Jew who has not yet repented will do so at that moment. And, the entire nation will consist of born-again believers, prepared for the Kingdom of God. This will be the day when the “LORD binds up the breach of his people, and heals the stroke of their wound” (Isaiah 30:26). Jeremiah 33:8 gives this promise of God to Israel, “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me: and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.”

    The Indignation– Isaiah 26:20

    The word indignation speaks of God’s rage, anger, and fury. This entire period of time should be seen as a time when the wrath (fury) of God will be poured out upon the wicked inhabitants of earth (Isaiah 13:9, 13; Isaiah 63:1-6; Revelation 6:17). It is chilling when a person considers the awesome fury that will be expressed by Almighty God. He will summons all the forces of power within His creation to execute His vengeance. The sheer magnitude of God’s fury goes beyond the comprehension of man’s finite and depraved mind.

    It is chilling when a person considers the awesome fury that will be expressed by Almighty God. He will summons all the forces of power within His creation to execute His vengeance. The sheer magnitude of God’s fury goes beyond the comprehension of man’s finite and depraved mind.

    The Time of the Tribulation Period

    The Tribulation Period will follow the rapture of the church. It will prepare the world spiritually and physically for what will follow the God’s eternal plan – the Millennial Kingdom. The Tribulation is the same seven-year period that is designated as the 70th week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27). In this amazing prophecy, God told Daniel that in His plan there would be a group of 70 sevens of years, or 490 years, that would precede the kingdom of God. This period of time was focused upon Israel and her capital city, Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24). God told Daniel that 69 of these sevens of years, a total of 483 years, would elapse, and then “shall Messiah be cut off” (Daniel 9:26). Exactly 483 years later, just as God had predicted, Jesus presented Himself to Israel on Palm Sunday, and when they rejected Him, the prophetic clock in heaven stopped! The remaining seven years, the 70th week, is the same as the Tribulation Period.

    According to Daniel, this final seven years will begin when the Antichrist confirms a false covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). Furthermore, this evil global leader will break his covenant at the mid-point of the seven-year covenant. All of this agrees with the New Testament teaching of the apostles.

    On the last day of this seven-year period, the Antichrist will lead an all-out assault on Israel, attacking the city of Jerusalem will all of his might (Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-3). The Antichrist and all of his army will be supernaturally defeated by Jesus at the battle of Armageddon, as He returns in all of His glory at His revelation (Isaiah 34:1-8; 63:1-6; Zechariah 14:3, 12-15; Revelation 19:15-21).

    The Uniqueness of the Tribulation Period

    The seven-year Tribulation Period is totally unique. There has never been a time like this in the history of the nations. For thousands of years our world has lived in the age of God’s grace. This time is about to come to abrupt end. The Tribulation Period will be an age of the wrath of God. Our world and its global culture will reach a spiritual point of no return. As in the days of Noah, the world will reach a point where God’s Spirit will stop striving in the consciences of men. We see this happening today. When this happens, God judicially turns that culture over to its path of destruction to suffer the consequences of sin. This society is described in Romans 1:18-32. The Bible says it becomes godless and filled with ruthless violence. Immoral, brutality, and sheer hatred are the other hallmarks of such a society.

    When men constantly flaunt their rebellion and flagrantly ignore the warnings of their conscience, the conscience is silenced. It is as is it were “seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). In essence, they have no conscience and they become unredeemable. They become like wild beasts and live immorally wicked and violent lives. Without the possibility of repentance and divine restoration, God’s only choice is to exercise divine judgment. [For an expanded explanation of this, read my book, Living in a World with No Conscience.]

    The human mind cannot begin to fathom the horrors of the Tribulation Period. Speaking of this time frame, Daniel said, “… there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time …” (Daniel 12:1). 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 be no flesh saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

    The emotional trauma to man during this will surpass all generations from the beginning of time. The suffering, pain, anguish, anxiety, stress, and depression will be more than the inhabitants of earth can bear. There will be constant wars, acts of terrorism, and deadly violence. The entire world will suffer great devastation due to a myriad of natural disasters – earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and famines. These cataclysmic upheavals will be made worse by other disasters caused by radical climate change. All buildings will be destroyed, including homes, hospitals, churches, and schools. Transportation systems will cease to exist, along with the utilities we rely on daily. The food chain will be destroyed and there will be no emergency systems. An overwhelming sense of hopeless-ness will pervade the globe. Spiritual darkness will permeate all communities. Lies, deception, fraud, stealing, and the breakdown of all law and order will become a common and daily occurrence everywhere. Evil will rule over good. The righteous will be hated, persecuted and martyred by decapitation. A one-world government and a global religion controlled by the Antichrist will be demonically motivated.

    As this generation experiences the task of daily living with the immense growing death toll, it will be overwhelmed with the thought of being caught in a deadly trap with no means of escape. By the mid-point of the Tribulation, one-half of the global population will be dead. The task of burying the death will become mentally and physically taxing. Finally, people will cease to bury the dead (Isaiah 26:21). In their mind, everyone will seemingly be doomed to die. Isaiah described this time when he said, “Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O in-habitant of the earth. … And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in prison” (Isaiah 24:17, 22).

    The Nature of the Tribulation Period

    I must confess that the study of this future time is some-thing that greatly troubles me. The human mind does not want to consider such horrific matters. I am utterly stunned that our loving and merciful God has given us such detail about the approaching Tribulation Period. All of these truths about the nature of the Tribulation are warnings to man from the heart of a gracious God. It is sad that we live at a time when most pastors do not preach on hell or the Tribulation Period. Their silence is not golden. It is a sin. God warned Noah of the approaching flood so that he and his family might be saved from the wrath that was about to come. God has told us of the Tribulation Period so that we might warn this generation to flee from the wrath that is coming. Where are the voices of warning?

    The Tribulation Period should be viewed as the final phase of a war within the spiritual realm. … It is a war between the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jesus) and the roaring lion from hell (Satan).

    Contemplate these verses:

    Jeremiah 10:10– “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.”

    Isaiah 13:6-9– “Howl ye, for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travails: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.”

    The Tribulation Period should be viewed as the final phase of a war within the spiritual realm. The Scriptures, from as far back as the fall in the Garden of Eden, speak of this war between the good and evil angels. It is a war between the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Jesus) and the roaring lion from hell (Satan). At the mid-point of the Tribulation, this war will reach its climax in heaven. Read Revelation 12:7-10. Satan and his demons will be cast out of heaven forever. Consequently, he will concentrate his war effort against God by escalating his attack upon Israel and all of the godly inhabitants on earth. At this point, the Holy Spirit caused John to give this terrifying warning, “Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time” (Revelation 12:12).

    The inhabitants of earth will be caught in the middle of this war in the spiritual realms. The wrath of God will be poured out upon the earth. In addition to this, Satan is adding his wrathful and desperate attack upon all that is meaningful to the Lord. From Satan’s perspective as a murderer (John 8:44) and destroyer (Revelation 9:11), he does not care about human beings, especially those who are saved. He will especially attack the future generation of Jewish believers that will fulfill the eternal plans of God during the Tribulation (Revelation 12:13-17). Satan will view the inhabitants of earth as worthless pawns in his war against God.

    Let us briefly examine the nature of the Tribulation.

    Spiritually – The Tribulation will be a time of great spiritual darkness. While speaking about the Tribulation, Isaiah wrote, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isaiah 60:2). Like the time before the global flood in Noah’s generation, the world will be completely shrouded in spiritual darkness. Here is God’s indictment of Noah’s generation, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually … The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth” (Genesis 6:5, 11-12). Remember that Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37).

    The Bible tells us that, during the Tribulation, the world population will be in love with sin, wickedness, and immorality, while resisting God’s Word (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). Violence, murder, and war will escalate out of control (Revelation 6:2-4). People will be openly defiant, with disorderly conduct, and attempt to overthrow their government because they are lawless (Psalm 2:1). They will want to be free from any restraints that restrict their evil desires. Therefore, they choose to rid themselves of God, His Son, and His commandments (Psalm 2:2-3). Not only do they rebel against God, but they openly and defiantly worship demons and other materialistic idols (Revelation 9:20). They passionately resist the truth, and “[give] heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of de-mons” (1 Timothy 4:1). They will be consumed with the occult and mind-altering drugs (Revelation 9:21). They hate what God loves, and love what God hates. They will become the perfect tools for Satan in his war against God.

    Demons are always looking for a person to inhabit as de-scribed above. Demons want to take control of a person and enslave him to become a pawn they can use to advance their kingdom of darkness in their opposition to God. One of the demons’ chief ways to gain control over the lives of people is to appeal to their sensual appetites (James 3:15). Both history and the Bible demonstrate that demons destroy cultures and nations by seducing people into perversions of immorality (Romans 1:24-27). The remains of ancient depraved civilizations that suffered the judgment of God are littered with pornographic images and statues.

    The Bible declares that demons and their leader, Satan, will capture the allegiance of the leaders of the world. Demons will deceive these global leaders to hate Israel and believers in Jesus, and to seek for their demise.

    The Bible also declares that demons and their leader, Sa-tan, will capture the allegiance of the leaders of the world (Revelation 17:2; 18:3). Demons will deceive these global leaders to hate Israel and believers in Jesus, and to seek for their demise (Revelation 12:13-17; 13:7; 17:6).

    Finally, at the mid-point, Satan will indwell the Antichrist to personally direct his hellish kingdom on earth to its cli-max at Armageddon (Revelation 13:1-7).

    Politically – During the Tribulation, the world will openly embrace a one-world government that will be radically controlled by a religion. This religion will have a great impact on the leaders of the world and their economies (Revelation 17:2; 18:3). This religion is known as “mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots [religions] and abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5). In Revelation 17-18, the Apostle John quotes from Isaiah 13, 47 and Jeremiah 50-51. These Scriptures point to a religion centered in the Persian Gulf area of the Middle East. I believe that the overwhelming evidence in these two chapters point to the religion of Islam. [Although Is-lam followed the book of Revelation by almost 500 years, this religion is really a revival of an ancient religion under the banner of the crescent moon that permeated the Middle East for 700 years before Christ.] John symbolically pictures the harlot riding the beast (Revelation 17:3), which indicates that this religion will control the beast, who is the Antichrist. This would mean that he would also be a Muslim. There is a reason why Islam is current-ly thought to be the fastest-growing religion in the world. This religion has great control over many world leaders, and within the United Nations. The Antichrist’s hatred for Israel and believers in Jesus is driven by the same hatred of the religion that controls him. Both of them will kill believers by decapitation (Revelation 17:6; 20:4).

    Economically – When governments and people attempt to manage the resources that God has given them, while rejecting Him, it will always lead to the loss of those re-sources. The Bible says, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spends it up” (Proverbs 21:20).

    The Tribulation Period will open with a time of global hyperinflation (Revelation 6:5-6). The uniqueness of life-threatening global developments will quickly lead to one of the most devastating economic disasters of all time. According to the Bible, wars, radical climate change, alarming natural disasters, pandemics, and a global drought during the first half of the Tribulation will pro-duce an economic nightmare. The most precious commodities on earth will be fresh water and food. All of the-se problems will intensify with government intervention into the personal affairs of the global population. Then, at the peak of man’s desperation, the Antichrist will intro-duce his 666 plan to control the economy of every person on the planet. This will occur at the mid-point of the Tribulation (Revelation 13:11-18). His plan will be used as a measure of everyone’s commitment to his declared divinity and ruthless control. Those who refuse to accept his policies will become enemies of the state and they will be hunted down and eliminated. Revelation 13:10 probably hints that the Antichrist will place those who rebel against him in some type of concentration camp and ultimately behead them (Revelation 20:4). At the top of his list to be eliminated will be believers in Jesus Christ (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:7; 17:6).

    The Tribulation Period will open with a time of global hyperinflation. The uniqueness of life-threatening global developments will quickly lead to one of the most devastating economic disasters of all time. According to the Bible, wars, radical climate change, alarming natural disasters, pandemics, and a global drought during the first half of the Tribulation will produce an economic nightmare.

    Climatically – According to the Bible, increased solar radiation (Revelation 16:8-9), alarming destructive global earthquakes and volcanoes (Revelation 6:12-14), and man’s reckless destruction of God’s resources (Revelation 11:18) will bring about a very dangerous rise in global temperatures. [God controls the sun and the geological upheavals – not man. Man will not be able to stop the radical climate change that will occur during the Tribulation Period. God has His hand on earth’s thermostat, not man!]

    Many passages testify to the great heat that will be a part of God’s divine judgment during the Tribulation (Malachi 4:1; Revelation 16:8-9). The heat will be so intense that it will melt the polar caps (Job 38:22-23). The water from the huge amounts of melted polar ice will cause ocean levels to rise and flood coastal areas around the globe. The late Henry Morris, who was the founder and director of the Institute for Creation Research, stated this will cause ocean levels to rise about 200 feet. This would lead to flooding of all the leading major cities of the world that are located near the ocean to be suddenly underwater, inundating them so they would not be habitable (Henry M. Morris, The Revelation Record, p. 304).

    In addition to this, near the beginning of the Tribulation, the Lord will supernaturally restrain the jet streams around the globe that control the world’s water cycle (Revelation 7:1-3). Without these powerful winds, there will be no rain. This will be the cause of the global drought during the first half of the Tribulation (Revelation 11:6).

    Geologically – One of the main instruments of God’s wrath poured out upon the wicked inhabitants of earth during the global flood was a massive global earthquake. God told Noah, “Behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:13). The Lord is in complete control of His creation. The various components that make up the physical creation are the servants of God that accomplish His word (Psalm 148:8). A study of all of the earth-quakes mentioned in the Bible, indicate they are perfectly timed to accomplish God’s purposes. In the days of Noah, God opened up the earth, allowing the eruption of subterranean waters to gush upon the earth for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:11, 8:2).

    Once again, during the Tribulation, God will use the geo-logical domino impact of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis to bring colossal destruction upon the earth, and to reshape the topography [land surfaces] of the earth. Jesus said that one of the signs of the approaching Tribulation Period would be the increase of earthquakes in frequency and magnitude in different places (Luke 21:11). According to the prophetic Scriptures, there will be at least three global earthquakes (Ezekiel 38:19-20; Revelation 6:12-14; 16:18-20). The earthquake mentioned in Revelation 6, near the beginning of the Tribulation will cause, “every mountain and island [to be] moved out of their places” (verse 14). In the final earthquake in Revelation 16, the islands and mountains disappear (verse 20). These earth-quakes will radically alter man’s daily lifestyle due to the complete destruction and disruption of all of the modern-day conveniences that we are dependent upon to sustain life.

    The Church in Heaven

    During the Tribulation on earth, the church will be in heaven (Revelation 3:10). We will be in heaven watching everything unfold from the control center (God’s throne). The book of Revelation showcases all of this. In the final book of the Bible, the church in heaven is symbolically depicted as 24 elders. Throughout the Tribulation, this redeemed group of people are described as kings and priests who have been redeemed to God “by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And has made [them] unto [their] God kings and priests: and [they] shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

    Throughout the Tribulation, we will join the angels of heaven in anthems of praise and adoration as our God un-leashes His holy wrath against the nations in preparation for His approaching kingdom on earth. Read about our future praise services in heaven in Revelation 5:9-14; 11:15-19; and 19:1-8. After the first 6-seal judgments, our praise in heaven will fall silent as we will, in awe, anticipate the 7th seal judgment to be thrust upon the earth (Revelation 8:1-2). Finally, after our marriage feast in heaven as the Bride of Christ, we will return with Him “upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14).

    At His revelation, Christ will complete His final destruction of the kingdoms of this world. All of the rebellious leaders of the world, including the antichrist and his false prophet, will be killed. The armies of all the nations gathered in Israel will be supernaturally slain by the spoken word of the King of kings and Lord of Lords. God will have completed His judgment against the nations and will enthrone His Son upon the throne of David in Jerusalem to rule over all of His creation.