One of the most disturbing subjects in the Bible is the predicted coming of the monster from hell – the Antichrist. For many years, I have been stunned that the Bible has revealed so much detailed information about this demonic dictator who will tyrannically compel the attention of every person on the planet at the end of this age.
When Jesus Christ came into this world, He came to put His heavenly Father on display for all of mankind to see. The Apostle John wrote, “And the Word [Jesus] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
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!
The Middle East has had a history of violence and wars for millennia! For 4,000 years the sons of Ishmael and the sons of Isaac have been in a bitter battle over the land God promised to the Jewish people. According to the Bible, God established an eternal land covenant with the descendants of Abraham through the line of Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, the conflict over the Promised Land traces its roots to the ancient conflict between the sons of Isaac (Jews) and the sons of Ishmael (Arabs).
The Biblical prophecies indicate that due to their disobedience, God would thrust the Jewish people out of their land and eventually scatter them to the nations of the world (Deuteronomy 28:63-64). Then, in the last days, God would cause them to return to the land of their forefathers (Jeremiah 30:3). This would reignite the ancient conflict over the land. Ezekiel 36:1-7 indicates that Israel would be in conflict over the Promised Land with the nations surrounding them. It is not an accident that all of these countries are currently Arab/Islamic nations.
The Bible indicates that the conflict over the Holy Land will culminate in a false treaty between Israel and Satan’s counterfeit messiah – the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). According to the Bible, the signing of this treaty will mark the beginning of a very deadly and dangerous seven years referred to as “The Tribulation Period.” Therefore, any human effort to bring about a covenant to resolve the conflict between Israel and her Arab/Islamic neighbors captures the attention of students of Bible prophecy. We wonder how any attempt to bring peace to the Middle East will relate to the future covenant Israel will make with the Antichrist.
There have been many attempts to bring the Israelis and the Palestinians to the peace table to create a peace treaty. The leaders of the world have had a longstanding goal of bringing a durable peace in the Middle East. All attempts to bring about such an agreement have failed.
Peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors has been the focus of many American presidential administrations for more than 40 years. In March 1979, President Jimmy Carter persuaded the leaders of Israel and Egypt to sign “The Camp David Peace Accords.” This cold form of peace between Egypt and Israel remains in effect today.
In September 1993, President Bill Clinton helped finalize the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians with the signing of the Oslo Peace Accords. Instead of creating an atmosphere of peace, the so-called accords resulted in the
At the Oslo Peace Accords, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat shake hands in acceptance.
Palestinians launching a series of terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli citizens. Thousands were killed in just a few years after these accords were signed. Then, under the direction of President Bill Clinton, a peace treaty that still exists between the Arab country of Jordan and Israel was signed on October 26, 1994.
Twice more, President Clinton attempted to bring about a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. In October 1998, President Clinton directed the Wy River Memorandum with negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. In President Clinton’s final attempt at brokering a peace agreement, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Arafat at the Camp David Summit in July 2000. At this summit, Israel offered the Palestinians 94 percent of the disputed land called the “West Bank.” Arafat rejected the offer from the Israelis, leaving President Clinton frustrated and furious. This outright rejection by the now deceased PLO leader made it clear that the Palestinians are not really interested in any deal that does not give them all of the land of Israel. They are not interested in controlling only the area known as the “West Bank.”
In February 2005, President George W. Bush brought together the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, at the Red Sea Summit. These talks resulted in a removed of Jewish residents from the Gaza area. After this attempt to bring peace, Hamas, a terrorist group supported by Iran, overthrew the Palestinian leadership and took over Gaza. Since that time, Israel has had three wars with Hamas. Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza continue to launch rocket attacks against Israel. In recent months, they have fired hundreds of rockets and missiles into southern Israel.
In November 2008, President George W. Bush invited Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas to the peace table again. In this meeting, the Israelis offered the Palestinians 98 percent of the West Bank and additional land. Once again, the Palestinian leadership rejected this generous offer.
On January 28, 2020, after two years of research, President Donald Trump unveiled his “Deal of the Century.” The Israelis accepted the peace plan, along with many other Persian Gulf Arab states. However, the Palestinians refused to attend the gathering and made it very clear they are in firm opposition to it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on January 28, 2020.
Let us examine this peace plan in light of the prophetic Scriptures. First, it must be understood that this is not theAntichrist’s peace plan spoken about in Daniel 9:27. That covenant will begin the Tribulation Period.
Obviously, the Tribulation Period has not begun, even though signs of its coming are growing more evident each day. Therefore, this peace offer is not the agreement spoken about in Daniel 9:27.
Let us examine the Trump peace offer in light of Biblical prophecy. Overall, this plan calls for a two-state solution to the conflict. It calls for a Jewish State (Israel) that would be recognized alongside a Palestinian State (Palestine). The map below represents the starting point for negotiations concerning the final borders of each state. Notice that the darker areas would represent Palestine, connected to Gaza by an underground tunnel. The 15 circled areas represent Jewish communities that would be imbedded within Palestine. Each Jewish community would have a road linking it to a part of the Jewish state.
Major Points of the Trump Peace Plan
Under the Trump plan, no Israelis or Palestinians would be uprooted from their homes. The plan attempts to accept the current population demographics in these territories. Israelis would need to agree to freeze settlement growth for four years while negotiations for the Palestinian State continue. Jerusalem would remain Israel’s undivided capital, while Palestinians would get an East Jerusalem community, Abu Dis, as their recognized capital. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which has long been a point of friction between the Arabs and the Israelis, would remain a place of Muslim worship.
Positive Aspects of the Trump Peace Plan
I applaud the efforts of the Trump administration and the Israeli leadership for seeking peace. President Trump is the first U.S. president to clearly demonstrate an unwillingness to appease the Arab world by caving in to the demands of the Arab world and jeopardize the security of Israel. His plan also calls for the Arabs to recognize Israel. This is something that the entire Arab world has refused to do since 1948. The Trump plan also recognizes Israel’s security needs. It allows Israel to annex the entire Jordan Valley. Israel believes this is most significant to assure that it would be able to militarily repel a ground invasion from the east. Study the map below and you can see why this is so important to the Israelis.
This plan also demands that the Palestinian State would be demilitarized. It calls for the Palestinians to end incitement against Israel and to stop pay-for-slay benefits to terrorists in jail and families of terrorist martyrs. Overall, the Trump plan is the most balanced of all previous plans. It attempts to create a fair approach to what has become an impossible nightmare.
Negative Points of the Trump Peace Plan
However, the Trump plan does not consider the deeply rooted religious passions of the Muslim Arabs. At the heart of this conflict is the Muslim belief that the area called Palestine was a part of the Islamic empire for hundreds of years. Therefore, it must never be surrendered to any infidel (non-Muslim). For devout Muslims, recognizing Israel as a legitimate state would be an act of religious treason and bring disgrace to their god. From the Islamic perspective, there is no acceptable solution for the existence of a Jewish state on Muslim land. This deep passion and hatred will lead the Antichrist and his jihad forces to the final conflict called Armageddon.
A major point of the Trump plan is an attempt to divide the land that God promised to the Jewish people in His eternal land covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God told Moses “the land is mine” (Leviticus 25:23). The Bible repeatedly declares that God has chosen the Jewish people to be the caretakers of His land. The Bible calls the land Israel’s heritage or possession (Psalm 136:21-22).
The prophetic Word of God declares that God will “cause” (Jeremiah 30:3) His people to return to their land in the last days. God said to Israel, “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). Therefore, any attempt to take this land away from the Jewish people should be viewed as entering into a direct conflict with God Almighty. God said that one of the major reasons for Armageddon will be His vengeance due to the nations’ abuse of His people. He has declared, they have “scattered [them] among the nations, and parted my land” (Joel 3:2).
Should this plan be adopted, 15 Jewish communities on the West Bank would be surrounded by a Palestinian controlled authority. It may look like it would be feasible at this time when Israel has a great friend in the White House. However, that could radically change in the future with a change in U.S. leadership. If that occurs, it would become a very difficult arrangement to maintain, and we could see a repeat of what happened in the Gaza area several years ago.
The Palestinians have proven that they are not reliable partners for peace. They continue to incite hatred toward the Israelis. The Palestinians have a pattern of breaking promises they make. Their untrustworthiness grows out of their Islamic doctrine. Islam teaches that is acceptable to tell a lie and deceive an enemy for the glory of their god, Allah.
It is apparent to me that the global stage has been prepared for the entrance of the man of sin – the Antichrist. If this is so, then the Antichrist is presently standing in the political shadows ready to confirm his false covenant with Israel, thus beginning the Tribulation Period.
In light of this, let us examine a text that defines the nature of this future covenant and the events in Israel that take place at that time. That text is Isaiah 28:14-22.
How can we be sure that Isaiah’s covenant in this text refers to the covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27? There are three considerations that convince me that Isaiah is referring to the covenant of the Antichrist. First, this covenant will lead to a time when Israel will suffer a major military invasion. This is described in verse 18 as “when the overflowing scourge shall pass through.” Furthermore, this is described as a time when Israel will “be trodden down by it” (verse 18). While speaking about the Tribulation Period and the resulting battle of Armageddon, Jesus said that “Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). In describing the last half of the Tribulation, the Apostle John declared that the Temple Mount and the city of Jerusalem would be controlled by the Gentiles. He wrote, “it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11:2). Notice that Jesus and John refer to Jerusalem being trodden down, as does Isaiah.
Isaiah also points to historical examples of how Israel’s future enemies will be defeated at the time of this failed covenant. Verse 21 states, “For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work: and bring to pass his act, his strange act.” In this verse, Isaiah says that the defeat of Israel’s enemies at the time of this failed covenant will be similar to two other times in Israel’s history. On both occasions, the Lord supernaturally intervened to destroy Israel’s enemy. First, Isaiah points to 1 Chronicles 14:10-17. This text speaks of the supernatural defeat of the Philistines during the days of King David. [It is most interesting to note that the word Palestine comes from the word Philistine.] Then, Isaiah mentions the connection with the last-day battle with the “valley of Gibeon,” (verse 21) which is the Valley of Jezreel, or the valley of Armageddon. So, Isaiah connects this covenant with a people, the Palestinians, and a place, the valley of Armageddon.
Furthermore, Isaiah describes the acts of God during this time as God’s “strange work,” or “strange act” (verse 21). The late Biblical scholar, Alva J. McClain, connects these unique acts of God with events during the Tribulation (Alva J. McClain, The Greatness of the Kingdom, p. 188).
The strange act that the Lord will use to destroy the forces of the Antichrist is described in Zechariah 14:12, “Their flesh shall consume (melt) away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” According to a multitude of prophetic Scriptures, Armageddon will end with the most colossal global upheaval known to man. Unparalleled earthquakes on a global scale will trigger massive volcanic eruptions. In Israel, volcanic eruptions will produce a deadly flow of molten lava that will kill some of the armies of the Antichrist. Zechariah gives a graphic description of their bodies melting away. It is a perfect illustration of what happens when human flesh comes in contact with liquid magma at more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The covenant that Isaiah mentions also describes a time of difficulty in Israel, when the Lord brings about “a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth” (verse 22). This confirms that it is the same covenant as the one confirm by the Antichrist. There is only one future period of time that speaks of divine destruction that will come upon the entire earth. That will happen during the Day of the Lord – the Tribulation Period. The Scriptures repeatedly refer to the complete global destruction that will encompass the entire world during the Tribulation Period.
The Particulars of this Covenant
Isaiah tells us five things about the covenant of the Antichrist. First, it will include a secular, non-religious, Jewish leadership in Jerusalem (verse 14-15). It is amazing that Israel is currently experiencing the same political upheaval, much like what is occurring in America. Israel is being led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (this name means “gift from God”). He has attempted to lead Israel by navigating his way through the various religious factions in Israel within in his government. Netanyahu continues to refer to Israel’s Biblical right to the Jewish land. His political opponents have vowed to not allow any religious parties in their government. They are very liberal and some have socialist aspirations. Like America, Israel is involved in a political struggle between the right and the left for the future control of the country. At some point, the political left in Israel will win control and lead the nation into the waiting arms of the Antichrist and his false covenant.
God warns Israel in this text that they will adopt a covenant with a partner that is full of deceit and lies, while deviously plotting the destruction of Israel (verses 15, 18). This is a perfect description of the character and actions of the Palestinian leadership, as well as many of Israel’s enemies.
Isaiah also adds that the secular and godless leadership will adopt a peace treaty with the Antichrist, who will divide the land of Israel. These leaders in Israel will be opposed in by religious Israeli Jews who are focused on God’s promises (verse 16). Today, there are many Messianic Jews who are opposed to giving away any of the Promised Land to create a Palestinian state. They clearly see through all of the lies and false promises and know that the Palestinians want all of the land of Israel. They know that peace with the Palestinians is impossible. These Messianic Jews openly reject the idea of a two-state solution. They are calling for the Israeli government to immediately annex the West Bank. They recognize that this is Biblical Judea and Samaria and that it all belongs to Israel. This is at the heart of their Messianic hope mentioned in verse 16.
In a very descriptive way, Isaiah mentions that this covenant with the enemies of Israel will result in increased terrorism (verses 19-20). This is exactly what Israel has experienced in the last 40 years. Every time Israel makes concessions to bring about peace, it has experienced an uprising in terrorism and rumors of war. Citizens of Israel face this reality on a daily basis. Notice that Isaiah describes this by saying that each day will begin and end with a threat of terror in Israel. In verse 20 he uses the illustration of a person lying in bed. This is likened unto a nation that enters into a covenant, thinking that it may rest from the threats of war and terror. In Isaiah’s illustration, that rest never comes because of the complications brought about by the ongoing daily reports of terror and threats war. This perfectly describes life in Israel today and it will continue until the Lord Jesus comes to their rescue at Armageddon.
Finally, this failed covenant will lead to Armageddon (verses 17- 18). Isaiah tells us that the godless leadership in Jerusalem will enter into this covenant to avoid a major war (verse 15). However, their covenant fails and Israel will be faced with the flood of the armies of the world coming against them at Armageddon (Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 16:12-16).
After Armageddon, the Lord will establish His kingdom of peace upon this earth. His people will be free from terror, wars, and rumors of wars. God has promised His people, “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land”(Isaiah 60:18).
I long for peace in our world. I hate war, violence, and terror. I love the Jews, the Arab people and the Palestinians. I want what is best for all of them. What is best for them is to not be at war with God. If they fight over the land of Israel, they are bringing themselves into conflict with God. God gave the Arabs far more land than He gave to the Jews. However, the Arabs are not content with what God has given them.
There is coming a time during the millennial kingdom when the Arabs will accept Israel and honor them as God’s chosen people. They will also recognize that Jerusalem and the Holy Land belong to the Jewish people. Read the amazing text of Isaiah 60. In this chapter Isaiah prophetically writes about how the former Arab/Islamic enemies of Israel will love and honor the Jewish people during the time of the kingdom. Isaiah 60:14 says, “The sons also of them that afflicted thee [mentioned in verses 6-7] shall come bending unto thee: and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”
According to several prophetic texts, at the beginning of the kingdom the Lord will give Israel all of the land that He originally promised them, from the great river of Egypt to the Euphrates. See the map below.
When Israel receives her full promise of all the land, it will be 574,175 square miles of territory. The details of this land division are given in Ezekiel 45:1-8 and 47:13-20. Today, Israel only possesses 10,175 square miles, which is only 1.7 percent of all the land it will possess during the millennium kingdom.
I long for peace in the Middle East. Too many innocent people have been killed in the war that is being waged against Israel by the powers of hell. We are commanded to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). When we pray for this, we are praying for Jesus to come and bring His kingdom of peace to this earth, and especially the Middle East.
The history of this planet since the fall of man proves that there is no peace outside of a personal relationship with the God of the Bible. Only Jesus can give you real peace. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Friend, if you have conflict in your life, only Jesus can give you inner peace in the midst of the storms of life. Some day we will live with Him. Then all of our conflict will be over. Come to Jesus for salvation and peace.
Keep listening for the shout that will take us out!
His coming (
