• June 2019 – The Looming Global Financial Crisis

    Financial crisis. Word «Crisis» on dollar banknotes.

    PTNews

    June 2019

    Published monthly

    Published monthly

    All Bible references are from the KJV

    Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy

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    The Looming Global

    Financial Crisis

    By Mike Wingfield

    According to the Bible, when the end of this age comes, the global population will experience a horrific financial catastrophe. Shortly after the rapture of the church, and near the beginning of the time of the tribulation, the world will be engulfed in the grip of hyperinflation, meaning the value of currency will plummet and prices of goods will escalate. During this economic crisis a man’s daily wage will only buy two loaves of bread (Revelation 6:5-6).

    There are many parts of the world where this is already a reality. Several years ago, I visited Cairo, Egypt, home to a population of more than 12 million people. I learned that the average adult living in the Cairo area was struggling to survive on a couple of dollars of income per day. As a result, children were forced to work to help their family survive. Furthermore, the Egyptian government subsidized the cost of bread that was being sold on the streets. According to the Bible, this kind of financial madness will become a global reality near the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period.

    Therefore, at some point in time, America and the rest of the world will be rapidly sinking in the quicksand of a deadly financial upheaval. It is only a matter of time before this occurs.

    For the last several decades there have been many voices warning that a financial collapse of the U.S. economy is imminent. This warning is being voiced again, and some experts are saying it will happen this year. We cannot be sure when it will come. We do not know if it will happen before or after the Rapture. However, we do know that at some point in time, this will become a reality because the Bible predicts it will happen.

    Without question, we are living at the time of the greatest debt bubble in the history of the world. The sad reality is that the U.S. is the leading culprit in this financial madness that is sweeping the world. In 1980, during the administration of President Ronald Reagan, America’s total government and personal debt was about $3 trillion. Now, this total debt is almost $42 trillion. That means that every household in America would need to pay $338,000.00 to pay off this debt. Obviously, that is not going to happen.

    These massive debt figures above do not include U.S. corporate debt. Government, corporate, and personal debt in America is now at $73.8 trillion. However, this is not the total debt the American government has incurred. Some have calculated that America’s unfunded liabilities (pensions of government workers and military personnel, social security, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.) now stands at $210 trillion. That means that the true U.S. debt totals $283.8 trillion. The total national assets are valued at 136 trillion. Therefore, our government owes twice as much as America is worth! Most Americans do not grasp the threat this poses to our national security. We are already bankrupt as a nation. This debt madness is nothing more than financial national suicide! I highly recommend you take time look at the ongoing updated U.S. debt clock at https://usdebtclock.org/. This will blow your mind!

    No other nation in all of history has accumulated this kind of debt. It is total madness. The sad reality is that when the American economy tanks, we will take the rest of the world with us because we are one of the world’s largest consumers. Since World War II, the global economy has been driven by the U.S dollar. Current events cast their shadow on the future and what we are seeing is uniquely setting the stage for the largest financial collapse in all of human history. We really cannot fathom the full impact this will have upon the global economy.

    Furthermore, an examination of the personal debt records in America is staggering. According to the U.S. debt clock, American personal debt is now $19.7 trillion. Americans owe $15.6 trillion on their mortgage debt and more than $1 trillion on their credit card debt. The growing number of Americans who are delinquent on their debt payments indicates we have reached a very dangerous point in the nation. Americans are drowning in debt. Seven million are delinquent on their auto loans and 37 million are failing to make credit card payments. When a greater number of Americans default on these loans it will wreak havoc on major financial institutions across the nation. This would likely trigger a domino effect that would bring the ultimate demise of the U.S. economy and set off a world-wide financial catastrophe.

    Statistical data indicate that more than 78 percent of American households are living from paycheck to paycheck. This means that when the next major financial crisis strikes America, most people will not have any savings to help address an immediate emergency. The Bible exhorts us to not spend all of our income. It is always wise to save a little for the emergencies that come our way. Proverbs 21:20 says, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up.” Everyone should know that they will face some type of adversity in life. It Proverbs 24:10 states, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” The word “strength” in this context refers to financial strength (see verses 3-5). So, the Bible is exhorting us to be wise and prepare for the days of adversity that are coming. For the student of Bible prophecy, we know we are living in such a time. Therefore, our faith should guide us to act on God’s Word and prepare for these difficult times.

     

    At the same time, we should honor another warning from God. The Bible teaches us to avoid interest and accumulating debt. Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no man anything.” Collecting interest from a believer or family member was forbidden under the Old Testament law (Deuteronomy 23:19). Debt should be avoided if possible. Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is [a slave] to the lender.” God does not want us to be chained to debt. We are to be His servant, not a slave to money. He wants us to be free to use His resources which He has entrusted to us to do His will. God never indented for us to waste His resources to meet our lavish and greedy desires.

    According to the Bible, God is the owner and giver of all wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:18, 19). He entrusts His wealth to us so that we may enjoy it and invest it for His glory (Matthew 6:19, 20). Most Christians cannot give to God or help the poor because they have selfishly and foolishly overextended themselves financially to satisfy their prideful desires.

    God expects us to obtain our wealth through hard work and smart investments (Proverbs 13:11). He does not want His children to have an entitlement mentality or to be lazy (Proverbs 26:13-15; Romans 12:11). The wealth God gives us is not just for our personal consumption (Luke 12:13-21). We need to have the faith of Moses. He chose the treasures of Christ rather than the riches of Egypt so that He might obey and serve God (Hebrews 11:24-26).

    The Bible repeatedly warns us that material wealth can be a spiritual snare (1 Timothy 6:17-19). It can become an idol that consumes us to serve it. The love of materials things can keep us from reading and obeying the Bible (Mark 4:19). Money can become an idol or god that demands our worship and service (Matthew 6:24). The Bible gives us this solemn warning, “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them” (Psalm 62:10).

    Jesus warned that it is difficult for a rich person to trust in Christ and be saved. He said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). Those who have material things may think they do not need God. From their finite, self-centered, earthly perspective, they have everything they need. Why do they need to trust God when they have their riches? Instead, they trust their riches rather than God. However, the Bible warns us to not trust in riches. Riches do not last forever (Proverbs 27:24). Proverbs 23:4, 5 gives us a very practical warning, “Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”

    America is drowning in covetousness. We are blatantly violating the 10th commandment, “Thou shalt not covet…” (Exodus 20:17). Americans are being driven by desire to have the material wealth that other Americans have. What they do not know is that most Americans cannot afford what they have. They are overextending themselves and drowning in credit card debt and other forms of debt. We are seeing an epidemic, people are seeking to keep up with their neighbor and they borrow money they do not have to own things they cannot afford, and do not really need.

    Credit cards are a scheme of this godless system to tempt people with lust and covetousness. Most people do not have the discipline to used credit cards wisely. Most Americans do not realize that living from paycheck to paycheck and using credit cards to survive is a very dangerous game to play. If you are not careful, you will eventually pay more interest than principle on the item you purchased with the credit card. A recent USA Today article noted: “If a credit-card borrower only made the minimum payments on $5,000 of debt, for example, they’d be in debt for more than 18 years and would end up paying $6,372 in interest based on national average interest rates, according to Ted Rossman, industry analyst for CreditCards.com.”

    History demonstrates that the accumulation of wealth without God is a recipe for sin and ultimate divine judgment. When people become wealthy, they tend to forget God. Instead, they immerse themselves in materialistic pleasures. In Deuteronomy 6:10-12, God gave this warning, “And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not, And houses full of all good things which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” Israel did not heed this warning. They forgot God and were eventually driven from the land.

    The horrific judgment of fire that fell upon Sodom in the days of Abraham came about as a result of sins that included an abundance of wealth that caused them to turn away from God. In Ezekiel 16:49, 50, God gave the following indictment that caused the judgment to fall upon Sodom, “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.”

    According to James 5:1-6, mankind will heap “treasure together for the last days” (verse 3). In this text, James is rebuking the rich for living as if the coming of Jesus is not imminent. Obviously, if people believe they will soon stand before a holy God and be judged, they will not be focused upon the collection of material possessions that will soon pass away. James warns them that their wealth will not help them when the day of God’s judgment comes. Their gold and silver will be worthless.

    In light of many prophetic Scriptures, the rich who are left behind to enter the tribulation will suffer great loss. Their wealth, luxuries, comforts, and conveniences will suddenly be ripped away from them. At the onset of the tribulation, the Antichrist will conduct a campaign of global wars and terrorism that will trigger a major financial collapse (Revelation 6:5, 6). Then, there will be catastrophic natural disasters around the globe (Revelation 6:1-17; 8:7-9). This will be followed by an asteroid that will explode upon impact when it enters earth’s atmosphere (Revelation 8:10, 11). This judgment will bring death and destruction to sea creatures and ships. Great darkness will cover one-third of earth’s sky, probably as a result of a massive collection of volcanic ash in the atmosphere. Consequently, man’s modern way of living will be wiped away and financial conditions will worsen.

    We cannot begin to imagine how this will impact the financial systems of our world. It will shut down and destroy all of our utility systems. It will disrupt the flow of food and manufactured goods to our supply chains. As the apostle Paul warned in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, “sudden destruction [will come] upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

    No one will escape the brunt of the financial catastrophe that the tribulation will bring. Read Isaiah 24. This chapter describes in great detail the global destruction that will come upon the earth during the tribulation. All citizens of earth, regardless of their financial capabilities, will be devastated by the global natural disasters (verse 2). Isaiah 24:3 says, “the land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled [robbed of its wealth]…” People will not be able to turn to entertainment or music to sooth their fears (7, 8).

    Friends, this message is very troubling. It troubles the mind to think about what is coming upon this earth. For those of us who are believers, we must remember that we should be looking for the Lord Jesus to come and take us home to be with Him at any moment. Most of the future troubles we have addressed in this article will not take place until after we leave this earth in the rapture. The Lord has promised His church that He will deliver us “from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). He has promised us, “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

    If you are saved, you must tell others about what is coming upon this earth. It is our obligation to warn them. God called Noah not to only build an ark, but to warn his generation of the deadly global flood that was coming upon his generation. We must share the gospel with everyone around us. There is only one way they can escape what is coming. Jesus is the only way of salvation from the fires of hell and the judgments of the tribulation. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).

    Friend, if you have not repented of your sin and surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus, please do so now. Why not call out to Him to save you? He is your only hope. He lived a perfect, sinless life and became God’s perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.

    As we wait for and anticipate our Lord’s return, we cannot be sure that we won’t suffer some of the consequences of inevitable collapse of the American economy. We need to pray that we might imitate the hope of Job. Job lost everything he had in a very short time. Yet, Job did not turn away from the Lord. He said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). We need to remember the exhortation in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and [clothing] let us be therewith content.”

    Wealth cannot buy us salvation or joy. The Bible says, “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Proverb 15:16). Despite the claims of those who espouse the prosperity gospel, the Lord has not promised us an easy and prosperous lifestyle. He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

    Real peace does not come from living in a peaceful environment. Real peace comes from knowing and abiding in the Prince of Peace. Many men and women have died a cruel death with a smile on their face because their eyes were fixed upon Jesus. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

    Make preparations now for the coming financial storm. No matter how bad it might be, He will always be with us. Nothing else really matters!

    Earthquakes Rock Israel

    All of the residents of Israel felt an earthquake on May 15. It was the fifth earthquake to hit Israel in the last year. These quakes are reminding Israelis that a big one is coming. The Jordan Valley, just 15 miles east of Jerusalem is a part of the Syrian-African Rift Valley. This valley stretches from Africa through the Red Sea, up through the Arava Desert, through the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee, and up to Turkey. It is one of the most dangerous earthquake fault zones in the world. According to geological records, this area is overdue for a major earthquake. According to the prophetic Scriptures, several of these earthquakes will take place during the events of the last days. Once again, this reminds us that we are living in unique times. The signs of the end of this age are all around us.

    The Bible- Israel’s Deed to the Land

    Recently, Israeli UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, addressed the UN Security Council, using the Bible to validate the Jewish peoples’ claim to the land of Israel. The International Embassy in Jerusalem released the following quote from his address: “Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon addressed the Security Council on Monday [April 29, 2019] in New York, telling them among other things that Israel’s existence derives legitimacy from four things, including the Bible, history, legality and the pursuit of international peace and security. ‘This is our deed to our land,’ he said, pointing to a Bible. ‘From the book of Genesis; to the Jewish exodus from Egypt; to receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai; to the gates of Canaan; and to the realization of God’s covenant in the Holy Land of Israel; the Bible paints a consistent picture. The entire history of our people, and our connection to Eretz Yisrael, begins right here.’ 

    “The Quran itself accepts the divine deed of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel,” he continued. “Even the Romans themselves admitted the land was ours. Those of you who have visited Rome may have seen that Emperor Titus famously commemorated his victory and the Jewish expulsion by building an enormous arch on the Via Sacra in Rome. If you look at the Arch, it includes an illustration of his men carrying away the menorah from the Jewish Temple. (But) the Romans attempted to destroy that link by renaming the land Palestina. This is how the narrow strip of land in Eretz Yisrael, nestled between Egypt in the south and Lebanon in the north, came to be called ‘Palestine.’ For two millennia, Jews across the world continued to pray three times every day for our long-awaited return home to Zion and Jerusalem. As we just said on Passover last week, as we do every year, ‘Next year in Jerusalem!’” (News brief from The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, April 30, 2019)

    UN Consistently Opposes Israel

    Have you ever wondered why the United Nations continually focuses upon the little nation of Israel? The UN rejects Israel, opposes Israel, and takes every opportunity to unjustly condemn Israel. Why?

    If you examine the voting record of the 193 nations in the UN, you will discover that the communist/socialist block of nations always join with the Islamic nations to vote against the United States and Israel. Susan Michaels of the International Christian Embassy writes, “The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), whose original purpose was within the context of the Cold War, now has 120 member nations who control every corner of the United Nations except for the UN Security Council. NAM is an umbrella for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Fifty-seven member states are affiliated with the OIC and twenty-two of those states are members of the Arab League. This is a significant voting bloc in the United Nations.” (News brief from International Christian Embassy, May 18, 2019)

    According to the Bible, when the end of this age comes, all nations will be against the Jewish nation of Israel. In preparation for the final battle, Armageddon, God said, “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle…” (Zechariah 14:2). The world is preparing for their battle with God!

  • May 2019 – The Islamic Invasion of the World

    PTNews

    May 2019

    Published 10 times annually

    All Bible references are from the KJV

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    The Islamic Invasion of the World

    “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him; and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” Revelation 6:2

    By Mike Wingfield

    Sometimes the Lord uses unlikely people to send forth His message of warning. According to several sources, Vatican Cardinal Robert Sarah has written a book, Evening Draws Near and the Day is Nearly Over. In the book, scheduled for release in September, he identifies Muslim migration as a harbinger of the collapse of the European continent and the culture of the West. Sarah warns that the “West will disappear” as a result of mass migration, adding that “Islam will invade the world” and “completely change culture, anthropology, and moral vision”

    picture of Vatican Cardinal Robert Sarah
    Vatican Cardinal Robert Sarah
    Photo from www.sfaw.org

    Not in agreement with the Vatican, Sarah warns that the West is collapsing because, in part, its overall birth rate is declining while Muslims are flooding the culture through a growing birth rate and mass migration. As this threat continues to materialize, the liberal policies of the political left in Western societies not only ignore the threat but they seem to blindly support the mass immigration of refugees that are invading their countries. [Think about what is happening here in the U.S. Our president is calling for a wall along the Mexican border to protect us from the massive migration of illegal entry into America. Those who are pouring over the border are bringing their drugs and lawlessness with them and placing a tremendous strain on the U.S. economy. The liberal politicians in Washington are ignoring this threat just like their political socialist friends in Europe.] Sarah blames the European Union for its “desire to globalize the world, ridding it of nations with their distinctive characteristics.”

    This cardinal is simply expressing what he is seeing in Europe and warning his people of this fatal threat. Perhaps he does not know it, but his comments are supported by the prophetic Scriptures.

    Our world is madly racing toward a new world order that desires to erase the uniqueness of each culture and nation. In essence, they are attempting to reverse some of the effects of divine judgment at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. Filled with a defiant, godless spirit (see Psalm 2:1-3), the leaders of the world want to built a one-world, anti-god political system. The Lord revealed to the prophet Daniel in Daniel 2 that the final global government that will produce the Antichrist will “mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not [politically adhere] one to another” (Daniel 2:43). When God divided the nations at the Tower of Babel, He not only changed their language, but probably enhanced physical differences in facial features and skin color. He also caused them to develop a culture that was unique to their people and their new global location as they were scattered “abroad upon the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11:9). In a limited sense, the world wants to erase the divine penalties prescribed in Genesis 11 and become one again. Human pride is once again raising its foolish fist at the Almighty!

    At the heart of this movement is a political marriage of convenience of two godless political systems. The atheistic political system of communism/socialism and the religious/political Islamic nations are cooperating within the United Nations to defeat the efforts of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The world hates these two countries and their leaders. It wants to destroy American and Israeli opposition to their dream of a global godless political system.

    According to the Bible, this dangerous global alliance will materialize and lend support to the coming Islamic Antichrist. This understanding is supported by many biblical insights. First, notice that all of the nations listed in the Bible that come against Israel in the last days and at Armageddon, are Islamic nations (Psalm 83:6-8; Ezekiel 36:1-7; 38:5,6; Joel 3:4, 19; Obadiah, Zephaniah 2:4-9) Ezekiel 38:1-6 includes Russia as the only non-Muslim ally of many of these Islamic nations.

    In the book of Revelation, the apostle John symbolically depicted this political alliance of the end times as a prostitute riding upon a beast with 10 horns (Revelation 17-18). The ancient culture of John’s day symbolically viewed prostitutes as representing false religions. For example, the Lord continually accused Israel of “whoring” after the gods of the pagans (Exodus 34:15; Deuteronomy 31:16; Judges 2:17). Thus, this political entity of the last days will be in alliance with a false religious system.

    This symbolic prostitute in Revelation 18-19 is named “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation17:5). The first hint at the identity of this false religion is its connection to Babylon. The Babylonian Empire of the past is similar to the current area of the world controlled by Islam in the Middle East. Therefore, it seems that the clues in the context are pointing to this geographical area. It was this region that produced the greatest threat to Israel in biblical days. map of the Babylonian Empire

    Other clues in Revelation 17 point to a religion that controls many nations (verses 1 and 15). This religion is in the desert (verse 3), and its adherents are killing believers in Jesus (verse 6). In Revelation 20:4, we learn that this political/religious system of the Antichrist will behead its opponents. In Revelation 18, this religious/political system of the Antichrist will control the economy of the world with a product transported by sea [obviously oil] that will make the kings and the merchants of the earth rich. This text says that the kings of the earth are controlled by this woman [political/religious system]. See Revelation 17:2 and 18:3. Can you name a religion that is in the desert area of the Persian Gulf that has beheaded Christians? Can you think of a religion that has used oil to control the kings of the earth, and exerts political power in the Middle East? There is only one religion that fits all of these clues – Islam.

    My friend, it is not a coincidence that at this time in history the newly-revived nation of Israel is rapidly becoming more important in the world. As this occurs, the Western nations, including the United States, are collapsing from within. As each day passes, we are witnessing a mighty revival of the radical elements of Islam around the globe. As Cardinal Sarah has observed, Islam is poised to invade the world and take control. We were once again reminded of this by the horrific Islamic terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday morning.

    After the church has been raptured to heaven, Revelation 6:2 indicates that a rider on a white horse will appear. I am convinced that this rider is the long anticipated Islamic messiah – the Antichrist. Muslims have been teaching that he will appear on a white horse and engage the world in war to conquer it for Islam. Notice that Revelation 6:2 says that this rider will have a bow and a crown. Islam promotes itself as a religion of peace (symbolized as a bow with no arrows). The Islamic messiah will be crowned as king as he begins his jihad campaign at the start of the Tribulation Period.

    Please notice that in this symbolic depiction, the religious/political system [Islam] is riding [controlling] a beast with 10 horns. This 10-horned beast represents the Antichrist and his global alliance with a new world order comprised of Muslim and non-Muslim nations. This one-world government will have some kind of 10-division political structure – probably a new United Nations configuration. The men who control this structure will be in alliance with the Antichrist but “have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour [a short time] with the beast” (Revelation 17:12).

    This complex symbolic depiction in Revelation17-18 is very difficult to unravel and apply to our present world situation. However, keep in mind that the big picture being conveyed by the Bible indicates that Gentile nations will ultimately join an Islamic attempt to declare war on the world. Their objective will be to render the world submissive to Islam. I believe this is what is happening in our world at this present time. As noted by Cardinal Sarah, the liberal political left is already attempting to appease Islam, refusing to control the radical elements that are threatening the future of our world as we know it. Unless something or someone stops or delays this powerful movement of Islam, it will soon come to pass.

    All of this is very disturbing. It makes me think of the prophet Daniel, who was also shown a vision of this final kingdom of the Antichrist that would “devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces” (Daniel 7:23). I can identify with Daniel’s reaction to this prophecy. He said that it troubled his thoughts and stirred his emotions (Daniel 7:28).

    However, we can rejoice that the Lord in heaven will get the last word in all of this. According to Revelation 18, the Persian Gulf area, as home to the former enemies of Israel – the Babylonian Empire – and the current center of the Islamic world – will be destroyed by God near the end of the Tribulation Period. The occupants of this region have been the enemies of God and Israel since the beginning of time. “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth” (Revelation 18:24). In an amazing parallel passage, Isaiah 34 depicts the same area at the end of the Tribulation Period as being supernaturally set on fire by God. God will set the vast oil fields of the Persian Gulf on fire! More than 2,700 years ago, Isaiah wrote, “And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch [oil], and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch [oil]. It shall not be quenched night nor day, the smoke thereof shall go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever” (Isaiah 34:9-10). The apostle John, commenting on this great destruction, wrote, “And her smoke rose up forever and ever” (Revelation 19:3).

    All of this will happen because “it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion [Jerusalem]” (Isaiah 34:8). As I often say, what happened in Genesis will have its ending in the book of Revelation.

    What a privilege we have to live at the end of this age and see the eternal plan of God on this earth begin to unfold before our very eyes. For those who have spiritual eyes to see, this is all happening right in front of us. Get ready for the shout that will take us out!

    European Churches Being Vandalized by Muslims Every Day

    According to several sources, a war in Europe is being waged against Christianity by Muslim terrorists. In the last two years there have been more than 2,000 attacks in France against properties owned by Christians. According to Raymond Ibrahim of Gatestone Institute, European churches are being “vandalized, defecated on, and torched every day.” (www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14044/europe-churches-vandalized) According to Ibrahim, German news sources are quoted as saying, “there is a creeping war against everything that symbolizes Christianity: attacks on mountain-summit crosses, on sacred statues by the wayside, on churches… and recently also on cemeteries. … Crosses are broken, altars smashed, Bibles set on fire, baptismal fonts overturned, and the church doors smeared with Islamic expressions like ‘Allahu Akbar.’”

    Amazingly, the political authorities and the major media outlets in Europe are refusing to identify Muslims as the perpetrators of these heinous acts of vandalism. They say that the perpetrators of these crimes are mentally ill or they simply refer to it as secular terrorism. Moreover, those who truthfully point the finger at these radical Muslims are accused of hatred, hate speech, bigotry, and racism.

    As mentioned in the previous article of this newsletter, the liberal left in the West is attempting to appease radical Islam. In essence, they are giving Islam a green light to continue its death march across the globe. These liberal elements of influence in the Western culture are also out to eradicate Christianity and the political freedoms that have been a part of the West for centuries.

    The Great Hypocrisy of our Time

    We live in a world filled with lies and hypocrisy. At the center of much of this duplicity is the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. For example, the European nations continually accuse Israel of human rights violations against the Palestinians. However, in Israel, the human rights of all people are “vigorously protected under law” (Israel Today, March, 2019, p. 7) Many European nations refuse to do business with Israel and continually hurl false accusations against the Jewish state. This is hypocritical because the Europeans continue to do business with Iran, violating the international global sanctions placed upon the radical Iranian regime. They do this in spite of the fact that Iran is a nation that notoriously violates human rights, especially against Christians. Iran is a country that has “executed at least 33 children since 2013. (Girls can be sentenced to death from the age of nine and boys from 15). Child brides are still married off to older men to be legally raped for the rest of their miserable lives. Iran persecutes minorities – including Christians, Bahais and Kurds, among others.” (The International Jerusalem Post, March 15-21, 2019, p. 5) Europe continues to reward those who violate human rights, while they curse Israel which consistently promotes human rights. The only place in all of the Middle East where Christians are protected is Israel.

    The Europeans also provide the Palestinian government with generous financial aid. They do this knowing that the Palestinian’s really do not want peace with Israel, but rather promote the destruction of the entire state of Israel. Europeans support the administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who continues to pay the families of terrorists who are in Israeli jails with Jewish blood on their hands. The Palestinian administration is extremely corrupt. It does not address the conditions of poverty that are prevalent among its own people. It is not interested in building a viable society where the people can have jobs and make a decent living. It condemns Palestinians who travel to Israel and work for Jewish people. Palestinian leaders continue to promote and incite hatred for Jews and the state of Israel.

    In light of all of this, it is also worth noting that the Palestinian president, Abbas, is serving his 14th year of his 4 – year term. His personal net worth is more than $100 million. It is apparent that he is lining his own pockets with the global donations that were given to help relieve the poverty among his own people.

    I am appalled that millions of American Christians, including their pastors and denominational leadership, continue to falsely accuse Israel of being a violator of the human rights of the Palestinians. In many cases, these American Christians support the Palestinian desire to annihilate the Jewish nation and occupy the entire land formerly called Palestine. These same Christians explain away the unconditional promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning the Jewish ownership and occupation of the Promised Land in the last days. They have chosen to listen to the lies of the world and the Palestinians in spite of the prophetic Scriptures. They refuse to look at the ongoing terrorism against innocent Israeli civilians. These acts of terror are being constantly promoted by the Palestinian administration that they support. They turn a blind eye to all of the Israeli good will gestures that are extended toward the Palestinians. These Christians are hypocrites. They are guilty of calling “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).

    While all of this is taking place, the world is calling for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to leave office because he received some cigars from a wealthy person who received no political favors from the Israeli president. Netanyahu, who was recently elected to a fifth term, is facing possible charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Is not this a double standard?

    Israel is also the continual target of accusations as the world says the Israelis are making life miserable for the Palestinians. However, where are the journalists who ignore the fact that Israel continues to provide life-saving medical treatments and surgeries for some Arab leaders who are sworn to the destruction of the Jewish State? In recent years, Mahmoud Abbas and his wife have been the recipients of Israeli medical treatments. “Just last year, Israel sent one of its leading medical experts to Ramallah after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas contracted an ear infection that developed into pneumonia. Abbas’ own doctors at the time warned that he was near death.” (Israel Today, March 2019, p. 11) Several family members of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh have also received medical treatment in Israel.

    Israel continues to operate a field hospital along their northern border with Syria. Here, they provide medical assistance to people who are their avowed enemies.

    I have personally discovered that Israel operates at a level of care and respect for human beings that is unequaled in any other culture or country. Before their Israeli air force bombs the location of a launching pad in Gaza that has just fired missiles into Israel, the Israelis make phone calls or drop leaflets to warn the innocent people. No other military, including the U.S., operates with this kind of concern and compassion for the innocent civilians.

    The growing levels of hypocrisy in the world that falsely accuses Israel are driven by hate. They lie about Israel because they hate the Jewish people. Hate blinds people to the truth. However, the God of Israel will exercise His justice in all of this. The Lord has declared, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee” (Genesis 12:3).

    Take heart, Israel, “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: … The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore” (Psalm 121:4, 5, 7, 8).

    The Jewish Love for the Land

    There is no people group on the face of the earth that loves its land like the Israelis. The land of Israel is a part of their Jewish birthright, history, and heart. It is a vital part of who they are. It goes much deeper than feelings of patriotism. In a unique way, God has united the Jewish heart and the land of Israel. In Isaiah 62:4, the land is called “Beulah,” which is Hebrew for “married.” Going all the way back to the Abrahamic covenant 4,000 years ago, God married the Jewish people to the Promised Land. Speaking of the Jew and the land, God said, “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isaiah 62:5).

    This bond between the Jew and his land is perfectly illustrated with the recent return of the remains of an Israeli who was killed in action 37 years ago in southern Lebanon. On April 4, 2019, Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel was laid to rest in the prestigious military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. In remarks at her brother’s committal, Osan Haberman said, “All of our prayers during these 37 years went to one place and we’re here. I thought about what I would do here in this place. I can’t even embrace you. So I thought to turn to the ground and ask the land to embrace you. After a few minutes I understood that I don’t even need to ask. The land embraces you so strongly. And why? Because there is absolute love between the son that gave everything for the land and the land itself, and there is a perfect union here. You are together now.” (www.timesofisrael.com/family-of-soldier-missing-in-gaza-moved-by-return-of-zachary-baumels-remains/)

    When people attempt to separate the Jewish people from the land God has given to them, they are blindly wrestling with God. They are foolishly attempting to divide what God has united. God has married the Jew to the land. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mathew 19:6).

    Massive New Natural Gas Discovery

    According to The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, an energy firm has announced the discovery of another massive natural gas deposit off the Israeli coast. They report: “Greek energy producer Energean announced on Monday (April 15) that it has found yet another large reserve of natural gas in the Karish North exploration field in the seabed off Israel’s coast, with preliminary estimates that it contains between 28 to 42 billion cubic meters (bcm). ‘I congratulate Energean on the large amount of natural gas that has appeared in Karish North,’ said Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz. ‘This is a prelude, which I am sure will herald further discoveries in the future. If you will it, it is no dream, and Israel will become a regional energy power’” (https://int.icej.org/news/headlines).

    Amazingly, Israel continues to march to the front of the economic giants that are impacting the world not only in the Middle East regions, but on the global stage. The Lord continues to display His promise to the regathered Jewish people in their land. He said, “[I] will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36:11).

    Another Biblical Name Unearthed in Israel

    Authorities in Israel recently announced that they discovered a small clay seal belonging to an aide of King Josiah mentioned in 2 Kings 23:11, Nathan-melech. This 2,600 year old seal was discovered 40 feet beneath the surface of a former parking lot in Jerusalem.

    Discoveries such as these are truly amazing. This brings the total number of biblical names discovered in Israel to 54. Collectively, this evidence continues to prove that the Bible is historically accurate.

    It troubles me to know that millions of people continue to cling to the theory of evolution without any physical evidence that points to its validity. However, Israeli archeologists are frequently digging up artifacts that are connected to ancient history as recorded in the Bible. But, in spite of these evidences, people continue to deny the historical accuracy of the Bible.

    This proves that people are walking in a shroud of spiritual darkness and they refuse to come to the light of the Word of God. They are walking in the deception of Satan and his minions. According to the Bible, they will one day worship Satan’s Antichrist as God. They will follow his powerful “signs and wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish: because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe [the] lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). This simply means that people refuse to believe God’s truth out of sheer selfishness. They refuse to turn from their sinful pleasures and come to the truth.

    At the heart of coming to Christ is the denial of self and the sinful pleasures that feed it. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26) Don’t let that happen to you!

  • April 19 – Israel 8th Most Powerful Nation

    credit: Israel Today Magazine

    PTNews

    April 2019

    Published 10 times annually

    All Bible references are from the KJV

    (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)

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

    Israel 8th Most Powerful Nation

    By Mike Wingfield

    For the third year in a row, Israel has been ranked as the eighth most powerful country in the world, according to a U.S. News and World report. (www.usnews.com) The report says, “the world’s most powerful countries also are the ones that consistently dominate news headlines, preoccupy policymakers, and shape global economic patterns. Their foreign policies and military budgets are tracked religiously. When they make a pledge, at least some in the international community trust they will keep it.”

    The top two countries are the U.S. and China, followed by Russia, Germany, the U.K., France, Japan, and Israel. Israel ranked ahead of all of its Muslim neighbors in the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and Egypt.

    This report shows the results of a survey of 21,000 people from four regions, based upon each country’s leadership, economic influence, political power, strong international alliances, and military capabilities.

    This report is amazing when one considers that Israel is a relatively young country – only 70 years old. Furthermore, it is incredible that Israel has been able to earn this kind of stature among the nations given its size and small population.

    Photo by Israel Today

    However, to the students of biblical prophecy this comes as no surprise. The amazing ascendancy of the nation of Israel on the world stage is a fulfillment of many biblical texts. The Lord promised the Jewish people that He would gather them from the nations of the world back to their ancient homeland and bless them in that land. This has been occurring since the beginning of the twentieth century. The world does not recognize it, but they are witnessing the powerful work of the hand of God. He promised them, “And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings; and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36:11). .pdf download (more…)