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2015 October The Rise of the Final Superpower State- Israel

The Rise of the Final Superpower State- Israel

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

By Mike Wingfield

The tiny nation of Israel is divinely destined to become the final superpower state. At its humble beginning in 1948, there were only 600,000 Jews living in the Promised Land when the world witnessed the revival of an ancient nation, reborn to join the nations of the world in the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, this tiny nation, about the size of New Jersey, has defied conventional wisdom. Not only has it survived 67 years, but it has thrived, and confronted the entire world. God’s Word, as declared in His infallible book, the Bible, will come to pass. The power and presence of this little nation, like David facing Goliath, is destined to demonstrate to the world that there is a God in heaven.

It is not an accident that the entire world, including the Vatican and the U.S. administration, is currently collaborating on the demise of the modern nation of Israel. This is not a surprise to the Almighty! Long ago, the Psalmist declared that the leaders of the world would unite in their opposition to God’s Messiah and His eternal plans. (Psalm 2:1-3) According to the Bible, the final global attempt to wrestle the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem from the Jewish people will take place at the end of the Tribulation Period at the Battle of Armageddon. At Armageddon, the Lord will return from heaven in all of His power and divine majesty to bring a final and lasting retribution against the evil global agenda to destroy Israel. (Zechariah 14:2-3) “For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” (Isaiah 34:8) The divinely stated reason for God’s reckoning at Armageddon against the New World Order of the Antichrist is found in Joel 3:2. There, the Bible clearly states that the world’s final conflict at the end of this age will take place because the world will attempt to divide the Land of God and scatter the Jewish people throughout the nations. It is very apparent that we are witnessing the global policies that are attempting to invoke an order to remove the Jewish people from the West Bank (Judea and Samaria- the very heartland of the Promised Land), and the Biblical city of Jerusalem, to create another radical Islamic state — the State of Palestine. Everyone knows that the ultimate goal of all of the Muslims of the Middle East, including the Palestinians, is the complete annihilation of the Jewish nation.

Why is the world so focused upon the removal of the Jewish people from their ancient homeland, while supporting the creation of another Islamic terrorist state? The answer is found in Psalm 83. In this text, the Bible states that the “enemies of God” constantly scream out their hatred for God and “have taken crafty counsel against [the] people [of God].” (verses 2-3) “They have said, Come and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederated against [God].” (verses 4-5) The evidence is abundantly clear. Our world is filled with antichrists who oppose the purposes of God for His chosen people in the Holy Land and the holy city of Jerusalem.

Amazingly, many in the professing church deny the literal interpretation of the re-gathering of the Jews to their land and the restoration of the nation of Israel as a reality in the last days. The false doctrine of replacement theology has permeated most of the teachings of the churches in America and around the world. The open rejection of the modern nation of Israel and the alignment of the professing churches with the godless governments and media of the world that support the destruction of Israel, is a demonstration of the apostasy of the church in these last days. They deny the full context of the Scriptures that clearly and repeatedly declares that the same God that scattered Israel will re-gather Israel at the end of this age. “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” (Jeremiah 31:10)

We are now entering a very challenging period of time for the nation of Israel. Jesus described the nature of the end of this age to His Jewish disciples when He said: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6) There has never been a nation that will face the constant barrage of hatred, ongoing threats, and attempts of annihilation like Israel will face during the Tribulation Period. The Lord revealed to the great prophet Daniel: “… and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1) Notice that in both of these texts, the Lord told His people to not be troubled, and promised their ultimate deliverance. The Bible is filled with many promises that the newly re-gathered nation of Israel will not be destroyed in the last days. (Isaiah 29:1-8; 41:8-13; Jeremiah 30:1-11; Ezekiel 38:18-23; Amos 9:14-15; Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-3, 12-15; Malachi 3:6) I want to remind us all that these words are the infallible declarations of unconditional promises given to the Jewish people by the unchanging Almighty God of the entire universe. His purposes will come to pass. (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27) He is totally sovereign over all of His creation. No one, including all of the powers of hell, can stop Him! (Daniel 4:34-35) Compared to the great Holy One of Israel, “the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance …. all nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. … the inhabitants [of the earth] are as grasshoppers, … [He] bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.” (Isaiah 40:15, 17, 22-23)

According to a multitude of Biblical passages, the nation of Israel is destined to become the final superpower state at the end of this age. As we consider the Biblical evidence that supports this truth, we must constantly remind ourselves that the future of the nation of Israel is not because of who they are, or the resources they possess. God’s future plan for Israel is bound up in His own glory. (Isaiah 46:9-13) While speaking about the Jewish people, the Lord said: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.” (Isaiah 43:21) God has revealed that Israel’s final restoration is for “mine holy name’s sake … [that] the heathen shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23) Therefore, it must be concluded that the greatness of Israel as the final superpower state is bound up in the greatness of God’s Messiah, God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ.

Israel will become the global superpower, ruling the world with justice and mercy

According to the Scriptures, at the end of the most deadly and destructive time in human history – the Tribulation Period – the Lord Jesus will supernaturally return to earth from heaven and destroy the global political systems at Armageddon. (Daniel 2:42-45; Joel 3:1-17; Zechariah 14:1-15; Revelation 19:11-20:6) After this occurs, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will reign over all the earth for 1,000 years from Jerusalem, Israel. “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9) All nations, including the redeemed from current nations who are calling for Israel’s demise, will respect and submit to the rule of Israel’s Messiah. (Isaiah 60:6-12; Zechariah 14:16-19)

The Lord has decreed that His Son will rule over the nations as the sovereign dictator from His “holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:6-9) The perfection and power of Israel’s global influence will reside in the nature and authority of her divine Messiah. Jesus the Messiah will be the king, legislator, and judge. (Isaiah 33:22) There will be no need for checks and balances on His government, because the King will be perfect. The government in all of its aspects will be guided by the perfect law of God, “for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3) For the first time in human history, justice, mercy, truth, and peace will prevail over all the earth. “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

The application of God’s Word in all governmental aspects will be directed by resurrected and glorified saints, who have perfect wisdom. Within the living nation of Israel, the Messiah’s administration will include the resurrected King David as his co-regent. (Isaiah 55:3-4) Serving under King David will be the 12 apostles. (Matthew 19:28) Faithful church saints in their glorified bodies will rule over the living Gentiles in the global kingdom. (2 Timothy 2:12) Through this godly administration, justice and peace will be enforced throughout all of the nations.

Israel will become the global spiritual leader

The world has forgotten that peace, security, and prosperity are the divine rewards for those nations who worship and obey God. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” (Psalm 33:12) Those who have the knowledge of God and fear Him possess wisdom for living. (Proverbs 9:10) The Bible promises that those who delight in the Lord and His Word “shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3) In both the past and in the future, the Scriptures promised Israel that if they obeyed the Lord He would prosper them. (Joshua 1:7; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 30:8-10)

Currently, there is a major spiritual awakening taking place in Israel. There are already more than 20,000 Messianic believers worshiping in more than 200 churches in Israel. As Israel faces growing international isolation and the threat of an Iranian nuclear attack, many Israelis are turning to the Bible for answers. In fact, Jewish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revived a tradition started by Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and is hosting a “Bible Study” at his official Jerusalem residence. Furthermore, an increasing number of Israelis are considering the possibility that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and Savior of the world. However, all of this is only a small development in light of what is about to take place.

By the end of the Tribulation Period, the entire global Jewish population will be saved. (Zechariah 12:10-13:9; Romans 11:26) The Jewish remnant will be saved while scattered among the Gentile nations. (Deuteronomy 30:1-6) There is no doubt the Lord will use the 144,000 Jewish evangelists that are saved at the beginning of the Tribulation, trained, and sent forth into the nations from Jerusalem during the first half of the Tribulation Period to evangelize the global Jewish population. (Revelation 7)

All Jews and Gentiles who enter the Millennial Kingdom will be saved. (Matthew 25:31-40) However, as the kingdom age progresses, it will be necessary for those children who are born with a depraved heart to receive the gospel and be saved. At the forefront of the global evangelism and education will be the nation of Israel.

The proclamation of the Word of God will be centered in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3) The nations of the world will drink from the spiritual wells of salvation that will gush forth from the throne of the Messiah in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 12:1-6) Throughout the Kingdom Age, the redeemed of the Lord in Jerusalem will make the nations thirsty for His salvation. (Isaiah 52:7-10) The glorious light of God’s redemption will finally shine forth from Jerusalem and Israel will be a light unto the Gentiles. (Isaiah 60:1, 3) The walls of Jerusalem will be called “Salvation” and the gates will named “Praise.” (Isaiah 60:18)

The world will worship the One and only true God for 1,000 years. Other idols and gods will not be tolerated. The Lord has declared that the Gentile nations “shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.” (Isaiah 60:7) Finally, the temple in Jerusalem will become a house of prayer for all nations. The prophet Micah wrote: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1-2)

The global worship of the God of Jacob, with its center at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has been the decreed aim of God from the beginning of time. (Genesis 22:14; Deuteronomy 12:5-14) It is not a surprise that Satan has chosen the same piece of property as the center of his hellish kingdom against God. (Isaiah 14:13) Since 693 AD, the Dome of the Rock has stood on the spot that God has chosen as the center of His future kingdom on earth. The conflict that pits the god of Ishmael (Islam) against the God of Isaac continues to battle for this little 35-acre plot in Jerusalem. Finally, when Satan is cast into the bottomless pit at the beginning of the kingdom, this conflict will be over. (Revelation 20:2-3) However, when Satan is released to deceive the Gentile kingdoms one more time, notice where the rebellion takes place — Jerusalem. (Revelation 20:9) It is no surprise that those who are in league with Satan are demanding that Israel give up East Jerusalem to the Palestinians for the creation of another radical Islamic nation. The battle for the Temple Mount is really heating up. As this newsletter was being written, there were several days of violent riots on the Temple Mount. Muslims have attacked Jews and Christians who are just visiting the area. As a result, the world, including the U.S. administration, is demanding that Israel forbid Jews from entering the Temple Mount. The global appeasement on behalf of Islam certainly tells us whose side the world is on. The world preaches a message of tolerance, until it applies to Jews and Christians!

Everyone knows that the future of a nation is invested in the education of its children. The Word of God will once again become the curriculum for the education of all children in the global kingdom. “All thy children shall be taught of the LORD…” (Isaiah 54:13) Consequently, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)

I would like to remind all of us that the New England Primer, which was filled with Scripture, was used to teach the children of America to read for the first 200 years. One of the things that made America great in its founding years was the Biblical education of its children. They were given a godly moral foundation along with academic factual knowledge. In the last 50 years America has removed God, the Bible, and prayer from public education, and we are now reaping the results of a moral collapse.

Notice that when the global inhabitants of the kingdom are in submission to Jesus, it will result in no more war or violence. The nations will not “learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4) “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders.” (Isaiah 60:18)

The present godless culture does not connect the dots when attempting to find a solution to the growing problems with hatred, lawlessness, rebellion, and violence. The problem is not with guns or a flag, but the real problem is the human heart! Jesus declared that murder and theft are the result of the wicked human heart. (Matthew 15:19) Only Jesus can change the human heart. Our social ills will get much worse as our culture moves further away from God and His laws of morality. There will be no change or hope until King Jesus comes to establish His kingdom of peace.

Israel will be a powerfully united nation

As one examines the nations, it is obvious that our world is in a state of confusion and lawlessness. The nations are radically divided spiritually, politically, economically, morally, and racially. America is rapidly becoming a divided nation. We are politically divided. The political partisanship within our leadership and the nation in general has blinded us. Too many Americans are busy defending their political party, rather than defending and protecting the nation. Like sheep being led to the slaughter, we are becoming a godless socialist state. We are economically divided. There is a very sharp divide between working America and those who have an entitlement mentality. We are morally divided. Those who support and those who oppose abortion and same-sex marriage are passionately opposed to each other. We are racially divided. A spirit of hate and revenge is brewing across the nation along racial lines. It is only a matter of time before America will be in a state of revolution. The evil powers that are in control are waiting for such an opportunity to seize the moment to declare martial law and take complete control of America. We must remember that Jesus said that a nation divided against itself cannot stand. (Matthew 12:25)

Recent years in Israel have illustrated that the Jewish nation also suffers from division when the security of the nation seems to be strong. However, it is very evident from the last political election in Israel that the global isolation and international threats against Jews in general and Israel in particular, are binding the Jewish people together. The growing hatred for the Jewish people and Israel is accomplishing two things: First, it is fueling the return of the Jewish exiles to their ancient homeland. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:5-6) Ultimately, at the beginning of the millennial kingdom, every Jew will come back home to live in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:25-28)

The global rejection of the Jewish people will also help to create spiritual and political unity within Israel that will continue to exist throughout the entire millennial kingdom. (Ezekiel 37:15-24) The Lord has promised: “And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel: and one king shall be king to them all … And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.” (Ezekiel 37:22, 24)

Israel will become the most prosperous nation in history

I have been taking tour groups to Israel for 30 years and I have been continually amazed at the prosperity and growth that is taking place in Israel. Israel has a growing high-tech economy. The Jewish state has proven itself as an innovative nation in the latest computer technology, agriculture advancements and techniques, and medical research and achievements. Israel is also a world leader in the creation and manufacture of military weaponry. On any given day, Israel has one of the strongest economies and currencies in the world. The recent discoveries of several large natural gas fields off the coast of Israel have given Israel the energy it needs to be energy independent and to develop as a world-class economic leader in the 21st century.

According to Ezekiel 38:12-13, it will be the wealth and food in Israel that will tempt Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other nations to attack Israel. However, all of this current wealth is only the prelude to what will unfold in Israel during the millennial kingdom.

Israel is currently spending about 14 percent, about $15 billion, of its annual budget on defense. One can only imagine what would take place if these funds could be directed toward agriculture. This is exactly what will take place in the kingdom. Isaiah predicted that during the kingdom Israelis will “beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks.” (Isaiah 2:4)

The land of Israel will become a lush garden, “like the Garden of Eden.” (Ezekiel 36:35) “He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit.” (Isaiah 27:6) The millennial Israel will experience miraculous expansion and growth of infrastructure and construction of cities and highways. (Psalm 102:16; Isaiah 19:23-24; Ezekiel 36:33, 35; Amos 9:14)

The collective wealth in the final global superpower will surpass anything ever accomplished in all of human history. The business that Israel will conduct with the Gentile nations will cause the Jewish state to become the economic giant of the ages. The transfer of wealth from the Gentile nations to Israel will be staggering. (Isaiah 60:6, 16) The Lord has promised: “For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron.” (Isaiah 60:17)

My friend, it should be crystal clear that we are living in a world in rebellion against God. We are watching the final conflict that is leading the nations of the world to Armageddon. At the heart of that conflict is Israel and its land. God has supernaturally called His chosen people back home to Israel and has caused them to thrive. We are witnessing the final drama that is leading to the beginning of the Tribulation Period. It is only a matter of time!

In light of all of this, we must be ready for the shout that will take us out!

As the Free-World Collapses

For those who study history and follow the trends in current events, it is abundantly clear that the free world and its flag-ship nation, the United States, are in the final stages of collapse. It is obvious that the enemies of the free-world are acting like sharks that smell blood and are preparing for the attack. Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, and various groups within the Islamic world are poised to take over the world when the United States officially falls from its superpower status. The United States and Europe are politically divided, morally corrupt, economically bankrupt, and spiritually pagan. To this we must add that both the U.S. and Europe are operating in the spirit of political appeasement and military retreat. All of these are signs of weakness.

Russia is making its move in Europe and the Middle East to flex its military muscle, almost daring anyone to stop them. No one has hindered them from taking eastern Ukraine. Now, Russia and Iran have agreed to come to the military aid of their friends in Syria. A DEBKAfile report on September 13, revealed that Russia and Iran agreed at the end of July to send a massive military buildup of marines, air force units, warships and missiles to northern Syria. “Russian forces are streaming to Latakia, and Moscow has declared the area from Tartous, Syria up to Cyprus closed to shipping and air traffic from Sept. 15 to Oct. 7 in view of a ‘military exercise including test firings of guided missiles’ from Russian warships.” (DEBKAfile, September 13, 201) For those of us who study the prophetic Scriptures, this has set off a major alarm. According to Ezekiel 38, Russia and Iran, along with other allies from Turkey, Libya, and Sudan, will invade Israel in the last days. These troops are now occupying the same area from which they will invade Israel!

The same DEBKAfile reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in July and offered to help militarily guard the newly discovered gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel. Obviously, it was his plan to cash in on the billions that will be made from the exports of the natural gas now operated by Israel. It is worth noting that Putin never revealed to Netanyahu his plans for the military buildup with the Iranians in Syria. Netanyahu never responded to Putin’s offer. Once again, all of this is very important in relationship to Ezekiel 38, which indicates that one of the major reasons for the Russian/Iranian invasion of Israel is to plunder Israel of its wealth. (Ezekiel 38:12-13)

In addition to these concerns, on September 15th USA Today reported: “North Korea … has restarted operations at its atomic bomb fuel production plants, …. it is fully ready to use nuclear weapons against the United States.”

Europe is facing another immediate threat to its survival as a part of the free world. It has been known for decades that Europe is suffering from a serious demographic time bomb. Native Europeans are not having enough children to sustain control of their future political destiny. Many have observed that the growing Islamic immigration and natural birth rates of Muslims in Europe will finally overwhelm the continent in the coming decades. However, the steady stream of Muslim refugees that are currently fleeing the war-torn Middle East is speeding up this threat. Millions of Muslims are fleeing Libya, Syria, and Iraq. Hundreds of thousands are trying to enter Europe. No one can estimate at this point the impact this mass exodus of Muslims will have economically and demographically upon their host countries.

Radical Muslim leaders are praying that this will speed up the demise of Europe by flooding Europe with Muslims, making it a part of the Islamic world. John McTernan, the founder of Defend and Proclaim the Faith ministries and an expert in Biblical prophecy, recently commented about a fiery sermon that a top Imam, Sheikh Muhammad Ayed, gave at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem: “Speaking at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Ayed stated that European countries were not rolling out the red carpet for migrants because they were compassionate, but because Europe was in dire need of a new source of labor. ‘Europe has become old and decrepit and needs human reinforcement….they are not motivated by compassion for the Levant, its people and its refugees,’ said Ayed, adding, ‘Soon, we will trample them underfoot, Allah willing.’

‘Throughout Europe, all the hearts are enthused with hatred toward Muslims. They wish that we were dead, but they have lost their fertility, so they look for fertility in our midst,’ he added. ‘We will give them fertility! We will breed children with them, because we shall conquer their countries!’ Ayed stated that ‘whether you like it or not,’ Americans, Italians, Germans, and the French will be forced to take the ‘refugees’. ‘We shall soon collect them in the name of the coming Caliphate. We will say to you: these are our sons. Send them, or we will send our armies to you,’ concluded Ayed.” (http://defendproclaimthefaith.org/blog/?p=35400, September 18, 2015)

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2015 September The Fervent Expectation of Messiah

The Fervent Expectation of Messiah

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Messiah]; and shall deceive many.” – Matthew 24:5

By Mike Wingfield

It is not an accident that the expectation of the coming of the Messiah of each of the world’s three monotheistic religions is at an all-time high. I believe that the anticipation of the coming of Messiah among Jews, Muslims, and Christians has never been as great in my lifetime as it is at this very moment. Jews are looking at the events in the Middle East, and especially the predicted invasion by Russia and Iran mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39, as a sign that the Messiah is about to come. Muslims are expecting their long-awaited Mahdi [messiah] due to the specific events that are unfolding in Syria and Iraq. There is a lot of chatter in Christian circles about the potential for the return of Jesus Christ for His church in the next few weeks. What are we to think about all of this? Let us examine the evidence in the light of God’s Word.

First, we must understand that the Bible has the final answer, and really the only answer, concerning this subject! It doesn’t matter what the Jewish rabbis, Islamic imams, or Christian theologians, preachers, or authors say. The Lord has total authority and control over all things, visible and invisible. The Bible emphatically declares and illustrates repeatedly that the Lord “works all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Ephesians 1:11) He is the one and only true God. There are no other gods. He has declared: “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.” (Isaiah 45:5) He is the only true and holy God who is eternal, has all power, all knowledge, and is present throughout all of His creation. He is self-sufficient and does not need anyone or anything to exist or rule over all that He has created. While speaking about Jesus, the Bible declares: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist [have their being].” (Colossians 1:16-17)

All statements made by ancient or current leaders of all religions must be analyzed on the basis of the unchanging Word of God. Jesus said: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fufilled.” (Matthew 5:18) While speaking about His return, He said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) The creation is in a process of degeneration, but God and His Word are unchanging and eternal. (Psalm 102:25-27; 119:89-91, 160) God’s purposes are eternal. (Ephesians 3:11) He has said, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips.” (Psalm 89:34)

Not only is the Bible unchanging and eternal, it is also complete and final. The Bible is the complete and final divine revelation given to man. The final verses in the Bible warn everyone to not add to or take away “from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19) The 66 books of the Bible are all we need to be completely and adequately equipped to know what to believe, and to serve God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them “into all truth.” (John 16:13) The Apostle Paul later declared that the Holy Spirit had revealed God’s truth to the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5), who were the unique and only “foundation” of the church, Jesus Christ “being the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20) When the apostles passed from the scene in the first century, God ceased to give man any further revelation. There are no apostles and prophets in the church today! God is not giving mankind new revelation. Those who claim to be receiving new revelation from God are out of bounds with the declared statements of Scripture and are walking on dangerous ground.

Anyone who has ever studied the Bible as it relates to the Second Coming of Christ knows that there is a great difference of opinion among Christians with regard to the timing of His return. I believe, in light of the detailed chronology of the book of Revelation, that the ultimate and final visible return of the Messiah, called “the Revelation,” will not take place until the end of the Tribulation Period. (Revelation 19:11-21) This will be after the Gog and Magog invasion and the destruction of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and their Islamic allies. It will be after seven long years of deadly judgments as an expression of the wrath of God upon a godless and wicked generation, culminating with Armageddon. This final and visible glorious return of the Messiah to earth will be recognizable to all living inhabitants of earth. (Revelation 1:7) However, this event cannot be the same event that will include the sudden snatching away of the Bride of Christ “in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Corinthians 15:52) In the Rapture, Jesus will come down to the clouds to snatch away the church to heaven to be with Him for seven years. (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) In the Revelation, following the marriage feast of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:4-9), the church will descend from heaven with Jesus to earth, where He will establish His kingdom upon the earth for 1,000 years. (Revelation 19:11-20:6) It is important to have this Biblical overview of the coming of the Messiah as we look at the following expectations of the coming of Messiah that are permeating the global culture at this time.

The Current Jewish Expectation of their Messiah

As Jewish people witness the ongoing in-gathering of Jewish exiles from the nations of the world, the mounting global assault on their occupation of the Holy Land and Jerusalem, and the nuclear threat of Iran with the aid of Russia (viewed as a foreshadow of the Gog and Magog war in Ezekiel 38-39), they believe the coming of Messiah is imminent.

According to a report from Breaking News Israel, here is one example of the Jewish expectation of the imminent coming of their long-awaited messiah. “Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a leading authority in mainstream Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, has been giving clear and unequivocal messages recently that the coming of the Messiah is imminent. He is urging Jews to make aliyah as soon as possible. Aliyah, the Hebrew verb for ‘going up’, refers to immigrating to Israel, which is seen as higher spiritual action that can help herald the coming of the Messiah.

“It was reported that the Rabbi Kanievsky was presented with a pamphlet, written by Rabbi Yitzchak Ben Tzvi from the city of Bnei Brak, dealing with the End of Days and many other related prophecies. Rabbi Kanievsky, who is a pillar of the Jewish community and known for his authoritative books on Torah law, read the pamphlet carefully. After a short consideration, he told those around him that the pamphlet needed to be distributed and that Jews living outside Israel should return to their ancestral land.

“In yet another instance of Rabbi Kanievsky’s call for aliyah, author Rabbi Yekutiel Fisch revealed advice that was given to his cousin, a teacher at a prominent Lakewood Yeshiva who visited Israel recently and went to Rabbi Kanievsky to receive a blessing at the end of his visit.

“The Rabbi told him that he should not leave Israel because the Messiah would be arriving very soon. The teacher responded that he had 700 students waiting for him in Lakewood. Rabbi Kanievsky told him that he must bring all of the students to Israel. Upon his arrival in Lakewood, the story spread quickly, creating quite an impression on the students who all revere Rabbi Kanievsky.

“After a lifetime of immersing himself in classical Jewish texts, Rabbi Kanievsky’s study partner informed various media sites that the Rabbi is talking about the messiah ‘all the time.’ Since last summer’s war in Gaza, the Rabbi has been spreading this message of imminent return. In one instance, Rabbi Kanievsky instructed a Jew from Argentina who asked for a blessing that he should ‘gather your family and come to Israel. Otherwise, there won’t be enough room for you on the airplanes.’

“When asked about the timing of the Messiah’s arrival, Rabbi Kanievsky answered, ‘At the end of the Sabbatical year.’ Several people have asked the rabbi to verify this and he has given the same answer each time. This year is the Sabbatical year and it will be ending on the 29th day of Elul, which, by the Gregorian calendar falls on Saturday, September 12, 2015.” (http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/44534/leading-israeli-rabbi-messiah-imminent-jewish-world/#BHrh3ihKB5vGPfKW.99)

Many Jews in Israel and in the nations are taking these words very seriously, and making spiritual preparations for the coming of messiah. I must caution you to understand that most Jewish people have a completely different view of who their messiah will be, and what he will do when he arrives on earth. Many believe that he will be just an ordinary godly man that will lead Israel to military victory over the nations that are currently threatening to destroy the Jewish nation. They believe he will usher in an era of peace and prosperity that will be centered in Israel. He will rule the world from Jerusalem. Justice will permeate the world as the knowledge of God will be made known in all nations.

The Current Islamic Expectation of their Messiah

Much to our shame, there is probably a greater expectation among Muslims for the coming of their messiah than among Jews and Christians for their respective messiahs. Since the revival of Islam that began with the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, there has been a growing expectancy of the sudden appearing of the Islamic messiah, the one they call the Mahdi.

According to Joel Richardson, a Biblical scholar of the end-times, 672 million of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims believe that the coming of the Mahdi is imminent. (www.joelstrumpet.com/?p=3842) World Net Daily reports: “In the latest evidence of this messianic fervor, a mainstream Sunni Muslim website has decreed that the Islamic messiah, called the Mahdi, will appear this year or in 2016 and that the Muslim Jesus will return in 2022 to conquer the world for Islam.

“DiscoveringIslam.org and the End Times Research Center have calculated that the ‘first phase’ of the end of time will begin soon and lead to the ‘Day of Judgment’ in seven years.

“The estimates were derived from ‘the latest research’ into numerical analysis of the Quran, Hadith, Arabic words and historical events,” according to DiscoveringIslam. org.” (www.wnd.com/2015/03/mahdi-to-return-by-2016-followed-by-jesus/#QAm4Fy08VD7m7Tfk.99)

In additional to all of this, the recent capture of Dabiq in Syria by ISIS has heightened the messianic fervor within the Islamic world. Many believe this explains why so many Muslims from around the world are joining ISIS in their war efforts. According to Islamic tradition, Dabiq is the equivalent to the Biblical Armageddon that will usher in the Islamic messianic era. Muslims believe their Islamic forces will engage a massive military force at Dabiq in the final days of judgment. It will be a blood bath for both sides, with Islam defeating the West and ushering in the Islamic global kingdom ruled by the Mahdi. They are hoping the U.S. will send troops into Syria to fulfill this Islamic expectation.

All of the radical Islamic terrorist groups (like ISIS, Hamas, Lebanon, Islamic Jihad, Al Qaida, and Hezbollah) and radical Islamic regimes, such as Iran and elements in Turkey and Sudan, are being driven by their expectation of the imminent coming of the Mahdi. They believe that according to their holy writings a global destruction must take place and their Mahdi will then appear to bring global justice and peace, establishing a global Islamic government. The Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Islamic State that is expanding across the Middle East, are currently leading this effort.

This is what makes the nuclear deal with Iran so dangerous. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continuously warned the West of the apocalyptic dreams of Iran to bring in the golden era of the reign of their Mahdi. On March 3, 2015, while speaking to the U.S. Congress, Netanyahu said: “Iran and ISIS are competing for the crown of militant Islam. One calls itself the Islamic Republic. The other calls itself the Islamic State. Both want to impose a militant Islamic empire first on the region and then on the entire world. They just disagree among themselves who will be the ruler of that empire.

“In this deadly game of thrones, there’s no place for America or for Israel, no peace for Christians, Jews or Muslims who don’t share the Islamist medieval creed, no rights for women, no freedom for anyone. …

“The difference is that ISIS is armed with butcher knives, captured weapons and YouTube, whereas Iran could soon be armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs. We must always remember — I’ll say it one more time — the greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons. To defeat ISIS and let Iran get nuclear weapons would be to win the battle, but lose the war. We can’t let that happen.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/03/03/full-text-netanyahus-address-to-congress/)

I personally have been shocked to hear the response of the liberal U.S. political leadership and pundits to Netanyahu’s warning. While ignoring the facts, they call Netanyahu a warmonger and cozy up to the radical leadership in Iran. The intellectual foolishness and political blindness of the West at this hour is absolutely astounding! Many political analysts are comparing these developments to an eerie repeat of the ridiculous appeasement efforts by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain after his conference with Adolf Hitler before World War II erupted. The conflict with Hitler and his Axis powers lasted about seven years and killed more than 73 million people. During the war years, the Nazis systematically murdered one-half of the world’s Jewish population in their concentration camps.

It is not a coincidence that according to the prophetic Scriptures, the world is facing another global war that will last seven years. During these war years, the Antichrist, who will probably be the Islamic Mahdi, will kill two-thirds of the world’s Jewish population. (Zechariah 13:8-9)

The Current Christian Expectation of their Messiah

There is a remnant of true believers in this world that are longing and looking for the coming of the Lord. Many of them may not agree on the time of the Rapture, but they recognize that we are moving through the final phases of the last days.

We must recognize there are no signs for the Rapture of the church. It is imminent. It can happen at any moment. However, all of the signs of the end-times should be viewed as preparations for the time of judgment that is coming upon all the inhabitants of earth, called the Tribulation Period. Some of us are Biblically focused upon these signs as commanded by our Lord. He said: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28) When the Tribulation unfolds, the following conditions (only to name a few) will be in place: A time of great spiritual deception and darkness will cover the earth. (Isaiah 60:2; Matthew 24:5) A time of economic and political upheaval will lead to a one-world government that will eventually be controlled by the Antichrist. (Daniel 7:7-8, 23-25; Revelation 13:7) The Jewish people will return to their land, leading to wars and rumors of wars over their possession of the Holy Land and especially Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 36:1-7, 24; Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-3; Matthew 24:6) A peace process over the struggle for the possession of the land of Israel will finally lead to a covenant that will be forced upon Israel by the Antichrist, leading to the beginning of the Tribulation Period. (Daniel 9:27) Geological upheaval will increase in frequency and magnitude. (Isaiah 2:10-22; 24:1-23; Ezekiel 38:19-22; Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:12-17; 8:7-9; 16:17-21) Celestial and atmospheric disturbances that will threaten life on earth will escalate. (Luke 21:25-26; Revelation 8:10-13; 16:8-11, 21) The global professing church will experience a time of apostasy and apathy. (Luke 18:8; 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:1-4) The Gog and Magog coalition will begin to take shape. (Ezekiel 38:1-9) And, immorality, violence, and wickedness, all accompanied by demonic influences and possession, will permeate the nations as it did in the days of Noah. (Matthew 24:11; Romans 1:18-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; Revelation 9:20-21)

As fall approaches, with the Jewish feast days in September, there are many of us who are experiencing a heightened expectation that something is about to happen. We cannot be dogmatic about this, but an examination of God’s program illustrates that many times significant events on God’s calendar of prophetic events have unfolded on the Jewish feast days. Consider this. Jesus died at Passover. He resurrected at the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The church began on the feast of Pentecost. So, one does wonder, is it possible that some big event or events will unfold on the Jewish New Year, and during the Feast of Tabernacles or Yom Kippur? There has been a lot of chatter in Christian circles about all of this in recent years and months. We must be very careful in these considerations. We must respect the sovereignty of our God and His plan. He has chosen to not reveal the exact dates connected to the end-time events. (Matthew 24:36) Our sovereign God has not told us everything, but only what we need to know. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed [divine written revelation] belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

It is very sad to realize that the overwhelming number of professing Christians in the United States are not interested in looking for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus. They have, at best, fallen asleep. (Romans 13:11-14) Their leadership has told them that studying Bible prophecy is a waste of time. Rick Warren recently stated in one of his blogs that studying Bible prophecy is futile. He stated that we only need to focus on evangelism, not Biblical prophecy. (www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchand ministry/warren_evangelism0206.aspx) – link no longer working

The dangers and pitfalls that lead to apostasy grow out of our modern day many-centered version of Christianity. The central focus of the Bible is not redemption, but the Redeemer! We are not to focus only on the creation, but on the Creator! The central purpose of the Bible is not the salvation of man, but the Savior of mankind! I am not saying that the salvation of man, the evangelism of the lost, and the defense of the truth that God created everything out of nothing are not important. This is all significant, but it is not the major theme of the Bible. The Bible is all about the glory, worship, and praise that belong to our triune God. All of God’s work is focused upon His Son, Jesus Christ, having the “preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18) When we finally get to heaven we will cry out in worship: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.“ (Revelation 4:11)

I do not personally understand how any student of the Bible can reach the conclusion that the consideration of the Second Coming of Christ is irrelevant or insignificant. What do we do with all of the commands by Jesus and His apostles to be ready for His coming? How can we explain that the Holy Spirit has given us a revelation that is saturated with the expectation of the coming of the Messiah? Are we to ignore the examples of the prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles of the New Testament, and Jesus, who constantly spoke of the coming of the Messiah and the events that would accompany His coming? Are we to disregard the final book of the progressive revelation of God that ends with the revelation of Jesus Christ? Should we avoid a doctrine that declares “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”? (Revelation 19:10) Are we to discount the fact that the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle John to end the divine revelation with the prayerful invitation: “Even, so, come, Lord Jesus”? Revelation 22:20)

The entire Bible is built around the coming of the Messiah. It is the central message of the Bible. He is foreshadowed in the appearances of the angel of Jehovah, and in the divinely mandated worship in the Tabernacle and Temple in the Old Testament. The prophets gave us the amazing predictions of His first coming, and the apostles wrote of the fulfillment of these prophecies in the New Testament. Both Old and New Testaments are filled with hundreds of detailed prophecies concerning His Second Coming and the events that surround that event. Finally, the Holy Spirit directs all of humanity to the crowning event in all of God’s eternal plan, the supernatural, yet physical, unveiling of His Son to the entire world at the end of this age. That is why the final book of the Bible is named “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 1:1)

Isn’t it alarming to realize that most of the world is looking for the Antichrist, rather than Jesus Christ? In essence, they are helping to bring about the appearance of the Antichrist and his jihad march around the world. The U.S. and the West are currently standing on the wrong side of evil! They are rejecting the moral, historical, and sane warning of the leadership of Israel about Iran’s developing nuclear program. They have chosen to forget about the current terrorist activities sponsored by the cultic and apocalyptic Iranian regime throughout the Middle East. They have elected to turn a deaf ear to all of the chants of “Death to the U.S. and Israel” in Iran. Instead, they are trusting the word of a nation that promotes deception in the name of their god. They refuse to hear the cries of the Jewish people who have returned to their homeland in fulfillment to the call of the God of Jacob as promised in the Bible.

It is very apparent that if this deal is allowed to stand, there is a very serious day of reckoning coming for the nations. While it is too early to tell, it does appear that in some way this deal has set in motion the events that will precipitate the Gog and Magog war mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39. It is only a matter of time!

It is not just a coincidence that Jews, Muslims, and Christians are all looking for a different messiah to appear at any moment. Remember that Jesus taught that one of the signs of the end of this age would be the appearance of many messiahs. He said: “For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ [same word as Messiah]; and shall deceive many. …. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:5, 24)

I personally believe that on the basis of these verses and many others, the great deceiver, Satan, is setting up everything for the great deception at the end of this age. There is only one true Messiah, and we know who He is — Jesus Christ. Near the end of the first century, the aged Apostle John wrote: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1 John 2:18) While there have been false Christs during the last two millennia, I believe that the deception at the end of this age will produce two major false messiahs. Notice that the book of Revelation focuses upon only two men of deception — the Antichrist and the False Prophet. (Revelation 13) Both of these men will be antichrist figures during the Tribulation Period.

Revelation 13 is filled with symbolism. All symbolism in the Bible must be interpreted in light of the Biblical context. Notice that the Antichrist and the False Prophet are symbolically referred to as “beasts.” throughout Revelation 13. It is significant to note that the first beast, the Antichrist, symbolically rises up out of the sea. However, in sharp contrast, the second beast figuratively rises up “out of the earth [land].” In the Bible, the sea symbolically represents the wicked Gentile nations. (Isaiah 17:12-13; 57:20; Revelation 17:15) The land represent the land of Israel. Ray C. Stedman, a well-know pastor and Christian author of several books, adds the following explanation: “The land or the earth, is used frequently as a symbol for Israel throughout the Old Testament. Israel is viewed as a nation with stability because it had God as its head. It had structure, order, and foundation, and so it was depicted as ‘land.’ But the sea is used many places in Scripture to describe the Gentile nations (pagan nations, by and large), which had no inner stability because there was no recognition of the authority of God. They worshiped idols and held to pagan concepts which rendered them unstable and uncertain in their conduct of human affairs.” (http://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/revelation/to-jew-and-gentile)

In light of all of this, it is amazing to note that Muslims are not only looking for their Mahdi to come, but they also believe that he will be accompanied by Isa, their name for Jesus. I believe the Antichrist will be a Muslim (Daniel 11:36-45), and will probably be the Islamic Mahdi. Therefore, the False Prophet will be a false Jewish messiah from Israel. Jesus said to his fellow Jews: “if another come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43) As both Jews and Muslims look for their respective messiahs, the stage is set for the great deception. Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

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2015 – August – The Moral Demise of America

The Moral Demise of America

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” – Psalm 11:3

By Mike Wingfield

America’s future is like a run-away train careening down a steep mountain track without any means to stop or slow down its momentum. The ultimate crash is inevitable. The train will be destroyed, and all passengers will suffer death or severe injury. It is only a matter of time!

On June 26, just a few days before Americans celebrated their declaration of independence, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to make it a law that all same-sex marriages would be recognized as legally acceptable in all 50 states. As disciples of Jesus Christ who firmly believe the Bible is our final authority in all matters pertaining to life, we are deeply saddened by the Supreme Court’s deadly and foolish decision.

Most Americans, including Christians, do not understand the gravity of this recent decision by the Supreme Court. It is true that our nation has been sliding down the slippery slope of gross immorality for many decades. However, this recent decision by the highest court in the land has come after weeks of deliberate debate and thoughtful consideration. This nation has legally and willfully committed itself to stand in opposition to the eternal commandments of the Holy God of the Bible.

The Lord has ordained that civil government promote His moral laws, in effect, punishing those who practice evil. (Romans 13:1-7) In essence, human government is to operate as the “minister of God” to restrain evil within a society. (See 1 Timothy 2:2) Therefore, with this decision to legally recognize same-sex marriage in America, our nation is removing all moral restraints to a sinful lifestyle that God calls an abomination. The consequences will be deadly and destructive to this nation!

In order to understand the truth that supports these statements, let us look at five Biblical considerations:

The Divine Decree of Good and Evil

Anyone who has read the Bible knows that it is filled with many divine moral commandments. All Biblical moral statements flow out of the character and nature of our holy God. When something is pleasing to God, He declares it to be good. When something is offensive to Him, He declares it to be evil.

The very eternal and infinite essence of the nature of God is summed up in the word “holy.” He declares that His name is holy. (Psalm 111:9) To say He is holy is to proclaim that He is morally perfect and pure. His holiness also declares that He is infinitely set apart from all of His creation. He is set apart in time, space, and matter. (Isaiah 57:15) Only God is perfectly and eternally holy. And, He cannot change! He has declared: “For I am the LORD, I change not.” (Malachi 3:6)

God is holy, or good. Everything He has done is good. At the end of each creative day in the beginning, He said what He had done was “good.” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31) 1 John 1:5 declares: “God is light [holy or good], and in him is no darkness [sin or evil] at all.” James 1:13 says that “God cannot be tempted with evil.” God cannot sin. “…far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.” (Job 34:10)

All of God’s Word, the written revelation we call the Bible, is eternally true, perfect, and pure. (Psalm 19:7-9; Matthew 5:18) God’s Word cannot be changed, or altered by anyone. (Proverbs 30:5-6; John 10:35) Those who tamper with changing or altering God’s Word will face divine judgment. (Revelation 22:18-19) The Bible has complete and final authority in all matters. (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 55:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Therefore, it is defiant, open rebellion to suppress, change, or discredit the Word of God. Read Psalm 2:1-3. This is exactly what is happening in America at this very hour. The highest court in our land has just declared acceptable what God says is an abomination and wicked! Now, read Psalm 2:4-12 to see what God says He will do when nations rebel against Him and reject His commandments.

The Need for Restraint from Evil

All sin and wickedness are deadly. (Romans 6:23) All sin seems normal and natural to the wicked human heart. (Proverbs 14:12) Evil resides in the inner man of every person from the days of their childhood. In Genesis 8:21, God affirmed: “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”

Human beings are not spiritually good. They are evil. In Romans 3, the Holy Spirit takes all of humanity into the courtroom of God and proclaims that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) While examining the evidence that leads to this verdict, the Scriptures expose the evil human heart with these words: “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18) Jeremiah 17:9 declares, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Contrary to modern thinking, we are not the product of our environment. According to the Bible, we were all conceived and born with a deadly sin nature that is bent toward rebellion against God and all of His moral standards. (Psalm 51:5; 58:3) Jesus, who knows everything about us, revealed our evil nature when He said: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.” (Matthew 15:19-20) Sin is always lurking within the soul of man. Without a divine moral restraint, our daily lifestyle would be filled with evil thoughts, actions, and words.

We must realize that the greatest danger to mankind is man himself. The first death was the result of Cain murdering his brother. (Genesis 4:8) The pages of history are filled with bloody conflicts that range from the personal to the global. On any given day, we all face the possibility of being killed by another person. In 14 centuries, Islamic jihadists have murdered 270 million innocent people. (www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3010498/posts) It is estimated that 100 million people were killed by Communists in the 20th century. The death toll during World War I was 17 million. In World War II, 60 million were killed. Needless to say, these statistics do not give us a complete picture of all of the brutality, violence, destruction, and misery produced by war and terrorism.

In America, there seems to be no safe haven from violence. People are being killed in their mother’s womb, in their home, at school, on the road, at work, or at a shopping mall. In the latest issue of the American Hunter, Wayne La Pierre, the Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association, comments: “Violence in the nation’s inner cities is spiraling out of control, smothering the lives of innocent citizens, who live in constant fear of the thugs who rule their street and neighborhoods.” (Wayne La Pierre, American Hunter, August 2015, p. 12)

We know that the Lord is looking down from His heaven and He sees all of the good and evil every day. (Proverbs 15:3) I am sure that His heart is grieved as He sees the hatred, violence, rape, terrorism, and bullying that is pervading every facet of our culture in most of the nations, and especially here in America. If we stop to think about all of this, we can conclude that man’s most threating enemy is not natural disasters or diseases; it is man himself.

The Divine Means of Restraint

The Lord hates violence, murder, and war. The second most important commandment in the Bible is: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:39) The Lord has instructed us: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)

Consequently, the Bible teaches that the Lord has established several means of restraint to keep evil at a minimum in a society. On a personal level, the Lord has given every person a conscience to instruct and warn them concerning the consequences of evil choices. (Romans 2:14-15) We are instructed to feed our conscience the Word of God so that it will instruct us to fear God and to hate evil. (Psalm 119:11, 30, 38, 105, 133) At the same time we are commanded to guard our conscience from evil influences. (Proverbs 4:23-27) The Bible teaches that this is vital to our protection from evil, and to the promotion of a godly walk with God. (Proverbs 4:23; 1 Timothy 1:5) According to the Bible, when a person does not heed their conscience, it will defile, weaken, and silence his inner spiritual warning system. After constantly suppressing the Word of God and the persistent warning of his conscience, a person reaches a point where his conscience stops functioning. (Romans 1:18-28; 2 Timothy 4:3) It is at this point that the Spirit of God stops striving with him (Genesis 6:3), and God gives him over to his own sinful desires. In essence, this person is open to demonic possession (1 Timothy 4:1-3) and inverts reality, calling evil good, and good evil. Love is replaced with hate. Gentleness is superseded by brutality. Obedience is traded for lawlessness. Moral purity is substituted with sexual immorality. The love for life is supplanted with a bizarre and unnatural attraction of death. At the final end of this road of death, God becomes Satan and Satan becomes a god.

To help promote a godly conscience, God has chosen to place humans, unlike animals, under the guardian protection of their parents for many years. The role of the parent is to prepare their children to live independently of them. Parents must prepare their children for adulthood to function in the world in which they live. At the heart of all of this God has ordained that parents are to shape the conscience of their children. (Proverbs 4-6) This is vital to the child’s future, both now and in eternity. According to God’s divine plan, parents are to promote a godly conscience by modeling and teaching their child the Word of God on a daily basis. (Deuteronomy 6:1-9) They are to protect their child from evil influences that defile their child’s conscience. Godly parents will always protect their children by overseeing their education, choice of friends, books they read, programs they watch, music they hear, games they play, and the church they attend.

The Lord has also chosen the church to be a very vital restraining influence in a society. Godly believers, living out the holy Word of God, act as salt and light in their world of darkness and decadence. (Matthew 5:13-16) As light, we impact the consciences of those around us, reminding them of the holiness of God. As salt, we act as a restraining influence as we promote and model God’s moral standards. Consequently, the church is to be set apart from the world in its message and in the lifestyles of its members, reflecting the holy standards of God. When the church begins to follow or copy the world’s godless lifestyle, it ceases to restrain that society from evil.

As professing churches in America ordain homosexuals for leadership in the church, they are defying God’s moral laws and in effect defiling the conscience of America concerning sexual immorality. The Bible teaches that those who lead the church are to watch over the souls of those in their flock, because they will give an account to the Lord on the judgment day. (Hebrews 13:17) Leaders in the church are to meet strict godly requirements because as shepherds they lead their flock by their personal example. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-6) It is my personal opinion that this lies at the core of America’s departure from the Lord.

God has also called human government to be a tool for helping to shape a godly moral conscience in a culture. (Romans 13:1-5; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-14) All human governments have been ordained by God to promote God’s moral laws as a “minister of God to [their society] for good.” (Romans 13:4) Governments are to protect their citizens from evil by executing “wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Romans 13:4) When governments reverse good and evil and punish the righteous and reward the wicked, they cease to be a restraining influence on evil and begin to promote a lifestyle that destroys the collective conscience of their citizens. When this happens, that society will become lawless, violent, brutal, sensual, wicked, deceitful, arrogant, and filled with hate. (Romans 1:29-31)

The Wickedness of Sexual Immorality

The Lord has created us as sexual creatures. He looks with approval upon sex within the marriage covenant of a man and woman. (Hebrews 13:4) He performed the first marriage between Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:21-23) God instituted the divine pattern of marriage with the words: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught about marriage by quoting from the first two chapters in Genesis. (Matthew 19:4-6) God’s design and purposes for marriage have not changed since the beginning of time. And, they never will!

The Lord has given us our sexuality within marriage for procreation (Genesis 1:28) and pleasure. (Proverbs 5:15-19) His revelation consistently condemns all sexual activity outside the covenant of a marriage of a man and woman. The seventh commandment declares, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) The moral law that God gave to Israel clearly forbade all sexual activity outside of marriage, and declared it to be wicked, and an offense to God. (Leviticus 20:10-21)

The Lord explicitly declared that same-sex activity was an abomination in His eyes. (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13) The Hebrew words translated “abomination” communicate that the activity mentioned is a stench in the nostrils of God. It is something He passionately detests. The Bible also states that homosexuality is “wicked.” (Genesis 13:13; 18:23, 25; 19:7; 2 Peter 2:7) The Hebrew word translated wicked speaks of moral confusion that “confounds all right and wrong, just and unjust, truth and falsehood, good and evil; or to think and act as if there were no difference of persons, things, or actions.” (William Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies, p. 481) According to the Bible, those who commit acts of wickedness are always in opposition to God and are headed for divine judgment. (Psalm 10:4, 6, 11; Psalm 11:5-6) Please notice that when God indicted the generation of Noah’s day that would be destroyed in the global flood, He said: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)

Homosexuality is the ultimate expression of self-love. Its aim is sexual self-gratification. Self-love is one of the defining sins of the last days. Its promotion will set in motion a perilous time of lawlessness when people will reject the authority of God. (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

In Romans 1, homosexuality (see verses 26-27) is viewed as the final mark of a culture that is suppressing the word of God (verse 18), and has reached a point where their collective conscience “was darkened.” (verse 21) In divine judgment, the Lord repeatedly declares that He has given this culture over to their depraved way of thinking to destroy themselves as they enjoy their destructive sins. (verses 24-32) In essence, this culture is void of a godly conscience and is in a mode of self-destruction.

When a culture has reached this spiritual point of no return, it makes the ministry of the church very difficult. Without a conscience, the Spirit of God cannot strive with man (Genesis 6:3) to bring him to repentance. True godly salvation always begins with guilt and shame over one’s sin against the very God that loves him and died for him. This is the initial work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the sinner. Jesus reminded His disciples that when the Holy Spirit would come, He would, “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8) So, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) The true church must depend upon the work of the Holy Spirit in the conscience of man, to prepare the heart of man to receive the Word of God. (Matthew 13:1-23) The aim of this effectual Word of God is a change in the heart of man, transforming him into the image of Christ. (James 1:21-25)

This is the Prelude to Persecution

When a culture reaches the point when its collective conscience is seared, it will promote evil, and reject that which is righteous or good. As previously mentioned, this makes the ministry of the church very difficult. Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Notice that in the context of Psalm 11, when a society reaches the point of no return, the wicked will attack the righteous. “For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may [in the darkness of their heart] shoot at the upright in heart.” (Psalm 11:2)

When the consciences of men have been darkened, they hate the light that exposes their sin. Jesus said: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:19-20) Notice that Jesus said that those who are living in darkness will reject and hate the light. Several years later, as Jesus was about to die and leave His disciples, He warned them of the world’s violent rejection that would be aimed at them. (John 15:18-16:4) In this text, Jesus warned His disciples that the world would hate them and eventually kill them because, as light, they would expose the sins of men.

The Bible teaches that hatred in the heart of a man will usually lead to murder. (1 John 3:15) This especially happens in a culture that has reached the spiritual point of no return, when reality has been inverted, and good becomes evil and evil becomes good.

Friends, some very dark days lie ahead for America and the true church in America. Every restraining influence the Lord has created is being weakened and destroyed. Our marriages and homes are collapsing. Our churches are adopting the wicked American culture as their standard. Our government has now willfully determined to promote wickedness in America. We can expect more lawlessness, perversion of God’s laws, hatred and violence, and the promotion of all forms of sexual sins.

According to the prophetic Word of God, these days are setting the stage for the most horrific time ever on planet earth. (Matthew 24:6-22) As people who thirst after righteousness, peace, and moral purity we don’t have much hope for this present generation or our world in general. As the perilous times close in on us, we can take refuge in the promises of God. He has promised to those who keep His Word: “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) Jesus is coming at any hour to take us out of this godless world and into His glorious presence. When He takes the true light and salt out of this world, there will be no restraining influence left to obstruct evil. (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) “And then shall that Wicked [lawless one- the Antichrist] be revealed.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8) The Antichrist will promote lawlessness. He will promote hate, violence, murder, deception, and the worship of Satan. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

After seven long years of lawlessness, wickedness, and violence, the Lord will return to establish His kingdom upon this earth. There has never been a purer and more powerful restraining influence in this world than the Messiah, who will reign over the nations of the world from His throne in Jerusalem. His law will go forth from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3) There will be no more violence or war. (Isaiah 2:4; 60:18) “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9) Jesus will not tolerate any lawlessness because He will rule the world with the sharp sword of His Word, and “a rod of iron.” (Revelation 19:15) Finally, the light and glory of the Lord will shine forth over all the earth. (Isaiah 60:1)

As we long for our king, let us cry out: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20) “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Until then, remember: “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 33:18) May our Lord give us great wisdom as we wait with great hope for His return! Be ready for the shout that will take us out!

If you are not saved, now is the time to call out in repentance and ask the Lord to save you, before it is too late!

The Deadly Iranian Deal

The Western powers, led by the U.S. administration, have concluded their negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program. Anyone who understands the publically stated goals of the apocalyptic radical Iranian Shiite leadership knows that this final agreement is a grave mistake. This plan demonstrates that the Obama administration has accepted Iran as the new regional leader in the Middle East. An article by Efraim Inbar, a professor of political studies at Bar-Ilan University, and the director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, and a fellow at the Middle East Forum, states: “The American decision to accept Iran as a nuclear-threshold state, and Obama’s statements in favor of a ‘responsible Iranian role’ in the region, accompanied by an inflated American threat perception of ISIS – signal a most significant change in American Middle East foreign policy. This accord marks an end to Iran’s regional isolation. Instead, America seems to be siding with the Shiites against Sunnis. This move changes dramatically the regional balance of power, instilling even greater uncertainty in regional politics.” (www.meforum.org/5381/israel-iran-war, July 15, 2015)

This agreement ignores the Iranian role in terrorist activities against Israel and the Sunni Muslims in the region. It makes no demands for Iran to change its course as a terrorist state and treats it as a normal state in the most dangerous region in the world.

In essence, Iran is allowed to continue with its nuclear program without any significant restrictions. “US Secretary of State John Kerry has in fact admitted that Iran might be just three months away from a nuclear bomb within the framework of the nuclear agreement. In doing so, the US has totally ignored UN Security Council Resolution 1696 of July 2006, which demanded that Iran suspend enrichment activities, as well as American demands for the dismantlement of the nuclear facilities.” (www.besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/six-strikes-against-the-nuclear-deal-with-iran/, July 15, 2015)

Within a few days after this agreement, large crowds gathered in Tehran chanting “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel.” In spite of this stated aggression, on Monday, July 21, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution to accept the Iranian accord.

“Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, highlighted [the] UN decision as ‘a very sad day’ because the international community ‘awarded a great prize to the most dangerous country in the world. … In future years, the consequences of this mistake will become clear to all. But for Israel, tomorrow is already too late.” (www.breakingisraelnews.com/45621/irans-deputy-fm-p51-knew-keep-arming-allies-middle-east/#cubyIOejPBtWg7Qv.99)

This deal has demonstrated the political weakness and spiritual foolishness of the United States to the entire world. It has set in motion a dangerous proliferation of nuclear weapons in the most dangerous region in the world. The only hope for the region and the world against this deadly decision is an Israeli intervention to temporarily halt Iran’s march toward acquiring a nuclear weapon. Israel cannot afford to wait much longer because they know they are Iran’s primary target. Pray for the Lord to give great wisdom to the Israeli leadership, which seems to be united in their assessment of this Iranian threat.

This agreement with Iran by the United States and other Western powers has radically altered the future of our world. As many of you know, I have been writing about these developments for a number of years. I personally believe that this situation has the potential to drastically change the course of events in the Middle East and the entire world. It could likely set in motion a series of events that could suddenly and uniquely set the stage for the end-time events, and especially the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39

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