{"id":525,"date":"2018-10-11T11:57:41","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T15:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/?p=525"},"modified":"2018-10-13T19:44:50","modified_gmt":"2018-10-13T23:44:50","slug":"october-2018-the-miraculous-return-of-the-jews-to-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/blog\/2018\/10\/11\/october-2018-the-miraculous-return-of-the-jews-to-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2018 – The Miraculous Return of the Jews to Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy) P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PTNews<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

October 2018<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Published 10 times annually<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All Bible references are from the KJV<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.pdf download<\/a><\/p>\n

The Miraculous Return of the Jews to Israel<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” Jeremiah 30:3 <\/a><\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By Mike Wingfield<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In our lifetime we have been witnesses to one of the greatest miracles mentioned in the Bible. More than 3,400 years ago, God spoke through Moses to communicate with the community of saints about His eternal plans that would be wrapped up in the one and only nation that He chose as His own \u2013 Israel. Before Israel would occupy the Promised Land for the very first time, God declared that the day would come when the Jewish people, because of their sin, would be scattered to the nations of the world (<\/span>Deuteronomy 28:63-67<\/a><\/u><\/span>). Then, amazingly, God promised that He would have compassion upon the Jewish people and call for them to return to their ancient homeland in the last days (<\/span>Deuteronomy 30:1-5<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the last 120 years, the world has witnessed the beginning of this amazing miracle. A scattered nation is being restored. An ancient people and an ancient land are being reunited. A dead nation has been resurrected. A dead language has been revived. A desolate land is beginning to live and once again become the land of milk and honey. Ancient ruins are being reconstructed. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Every time I visit Israel, I am reminded that this amazing miracle is happening before our very eyes. I stand in awe of the mercy and faithfulness of my God. He is doing everything He promised He would do in Israel in these last days. I understand that the world does not see nor appreciate the glory of this amazing miracle. However, I am torn when I recognize that so many professing Christians fail to see the hand of God in the ongoing return of the Jewish people to their land. How spiritually blind we must be to not see this miracle!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Let us examine the details of this miracle. Let us glory in the mercy and faithfulness of God. He is revealing Himself to the world at the end of this age as the time of His final judgment upon the nations draws near. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God spoke to Abraham 4,000 years ago and instructed him to leave his home in modern-day Iraq and to go<\/span> \u201cunto a land that I will [show] thee\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Genesis 12:1<\/a><\/u><\/span>). Notice that God selected a people and a land. In His sovereign plan of the ages, God married the Jewish people and their land to each other to reveal Himself to the nations of the world. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Once Abraham arrived in that land, God gave him the following promise, <\/span>\u201cFor all the land which [you see], to [you] will I give it, and to [your] seed for ever. And I will make [your] seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall [your] seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breath of it: for I will give it unto [you]\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Genesis 13:15-17<\/a><\/u><\/span>). In this ongoing eternal plan, God has exhibited, from a human perspective, incredible patience. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were collectively strangers and sojourners in this land for 220 years. Then, according to God\u2019s divine plan, a total of 70 Jewish people moved to Egypt and lived there for 430 years, becoming a powerful nation. Finally, after they sinned against God and ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the Lord fulfilled His promise to Abraham and gave the nation of Israel the Promised Land. Altogether, God waited a total of 690 years to fulfill His promise to Abraham. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Jewish people lived in the Holy Land for almost 800 years until they were finally driven out by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. After 70 years of exile, a small remnant returned to the Promised Land, and lived there for an additional 600 years until they were driven out by the Romans in 70 A.D. and scattered to the nations of the world. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the thinking of some people, this was the end of the Jewish occupation of the Promised Land. However, the Bible gives us overwhelming evidence that during the last days, God will regather His people from all nations and bring them back to their ancient homeland. The Jewish people are coming home and prophecy is being fulfilled every day in the land of Israel. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Let us examine three aspects of this divine work in these last days:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. The <\/b><\/span><\/span>Power<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span> of God in Israel\u2019s Ingathering<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most awesome displays of the power of God can be seen in the ongoing miracle of the return of the sons of Jacob to the land of their forefathers. An examination of the Scriptures demonstrates that Satan and his demons, and all of the godless nations who have been deceived by him, work feverously to destroy or delay this work of God. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who support the devil\u2019s kingdom of darkness know that this divine promise is the foundation of God\u2019s eternal plan for this earth. The return of the Jewish people to their land in the last days is a divine banner that signals to the world that God is sovereign and that His Word is true. Jeremiah wrote, <\/span>\u201cHear 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\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>(<\/span>Jeremiah 31:10<\/a><\/u><\/span>). Isaiah declared, <\/span>\u201cAnd he shall set up an ensign [banner] for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Isaiah 11:12<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God has determined that His people and their land will be a divine instrument in His hand to display to the world that He is the Almighty Lord God. According to the Bible, God created the Jewish people and the Land of Israel for His glory. Therefore, His work to scatter them and then restore them in the last days is a mighty miracle to be displayed among the nations. Isaiah proclaimed this in the following words, <\/span>\u201cBut now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed [you], I have called [you] by my name; [you] art mine. \u2026 Fear not: for I am with [you]: I will bring [your] seed from the east, and gather [you] 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; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have <\/b><\/i><\/span>created<\/b><\/u><\/i><\/span> him for my glory, I have <\/b><\/i><\/span>formed<\/b><\/u><\/i><\/span> him; yea I have <\/b><\/i><\/span>made<\/b><\/u><\/i><\/span> him. \u2026 This people have I formed for myself; they shall [show] forth my praise\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Isaiah 43:1, 5-7, 21<\/a><\/u><\/span>). The same three Hebrew words in verse 7 that are translated \u201ccreated,\u201d \u201cformed,\u201d and \u201cmade,\u201d are also a part of description of God\u2019s creative work in the creation account in <\/span>Genesis 1-2<\/a><\/u><\/span>. Hence, the Holy Spirit is pointing out that the regathering of Israel is a supernatural work, just like the creation in the beginning! This is perfectly illustrated in <\/span>Ezekiel 37<\/a><\/u><\/span>. In this chapter, Ezekiel is shown a large valley filled with very old human skeletal remains. According to <\/span>Ezekiel 37:11<\/a><\/u><\/span>, these bones depict the death of the nation of Israel and the scattering of the people to the nations of the world. But amazingly these bones are reconnected and live once again! Notice that Ezekiel reports that it is the word of the LORD that supernaturally causes these bones to live once again. <\/span>Psalm 33:6<\/a><\/u><\/span> declares, <\/span>\u201cBy the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>The language of the miracle of creation in <\/span>Psalm 33:6<\/a><\/u><\/span> and <\/span>Ezekiel 37<\/a><\/u><\/span> concerning the resurrection of the nation of Israel is exactly the same. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As mentioned previously, before the nation of Israel occupied the Promised Land the first time under the direction of Joshua, God told Moses that He would drive His people out of the land into the nations of the world. (<\/span>Deuteronomy 28:63-67<\/a><\/u><\/span>) Furthermore, God said He would orchestrate their return to their land in the last days. (<\/span>Deuteronomy 30:1-5<\/a><\/u><\/span>) God used the enemies of Israel to scatter them, and amazingly, He is using the enemies of Israel to regather them today. In the last 120 years, many Jews have returned to the Promised Land because of anti-Semitism, economic hardships, societal collapse, or wars and conflicts in the countries in which they were scattered. God said, <\/span>\u201cI will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>(<\/span>Jeremiah 30:3<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Today, there are about 15 million Jews (almost 0.2 percent of the global population) in the world. In 1900, there were only 50,000 Jews living in the Promised Land. Today, 6.6 million Jews (44 percent of the current global Jewish population) live there. In the last 120 years, more than 3.5 million Jews have immigrated to Israel. About 58 percent of Israel\u2019s Jewish population was born in the nation. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>Wikipedia<\/i><\/span>, Jewish people are still scattered among 118 different countries. Most of the remaining 8.4 million Jews are living in six countries. The United States has 39 percent, France 3.5 percent. Canada 2.7 percent, United Kingdom 2.1 percent, the Russian Federation 1.4 percent, and Argentina 1.3 percent. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I have witnessed the ongoing return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel with my own eyes. I have interviewed many Jewish people and heard their testimonies as to why they decided to immigrate to Israel. I shall never forget several years ago when my Dad went with me to Israel. Russia had just opened its doors to allow the Jewish people to leave and immigrate to Israel. During the last decade of the 20<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> century, more than 1 million Russian Jews immigrated to Israel. As Dad and I stood in the passport-control line at Ben Gurion airport to enter Israel, we witnessed the arrival of hundreds Russian Jews. They had congregated together in the immigration line only a few feet from where we stood. I told my Dad, \u201cWe have not even got out of the airport, and we are already seeing the prophetic hand of God in Israel.\u201d Long ago, the prophet Jeremiah had prophesied that the day would come when the Lord would bring <\/span>\u201cthe children of Israel from the land of the north\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>and proclaim <\/span>\u201cI will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Jeremiah 16:15<\/a><\/u><\/span>). In this text, <\/span>\u201cthe land of the north<\/b><\/i><\/span>\u201d is Russia. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. The <\/b><\/span><\/span>Plan<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span> of God in Israel\u2019s Ingathering<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/u><\/span>Time<\/b><\/u><\/span> of Israel\u2019s Return<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to many Scriptures, the Jewish people will return to the land of Israel from their international dispersion in the last days. The Bible indicates that the Jewish people will return to their land from the nations on two different occasions (<\/span>Isaiah 11:11<\/a><\/u><\/span>). The first return was after the Babylonian captivity in the fifth century B.C., as mentioned in the book of Nehemiah. The second and final regathering began in modern times about 120 years ago. According to the prophet Amos, the Jewish people will never be driven out of their land again. The Lord has declared, <\/span>\u201cAnd I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God<\/b><\/i><\/span> <\/i>(<\/span>Amos 9:15<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span> <\/i> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/u><\/span>Conditions<\/b><\/u><\/span> of Israel\u2019s Return<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Biblical prophecies indicate that the Jews would initially return to their country in spiritual unbelief. The modern nation of Israel was established in 1948 as a secular state, just as the Scriptures predicted. In <\/span>Ezekiel 36<\/a><\/u><\/span>, the Lord promised that He would return them to their land, and then at a later time, they would spiritually return to Him and be saved (<\/span>Ezekiel 36:24-29<\/a><\/u><\/span>). This two-stage process is illustrated in <\/span>Ezekiel 37<\/a><\/u><\/span> when the dry bones were first turned into corpses, and then later they came to life. This observation is significant because many who do not recognize the current nation of Israel as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy do so because they struggle with believing that the present godless, secular nation could be a representation of the divine work of God. However, as just noted, this is exactly what the Scriptures predicted would happen. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Bible also predicted that when the Jews returned to their homeland, they would be met with great opposition by the surrounding nations in the region (<\/span>Ezekiel 36:1-7<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span>Ezekiel 36:5<\/a><\/u><\/span> states that it would be <\/span>\u201cIdumea\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> that would passionately declare that the land belongs to them. Idumea is the Greek form for the Hebrew name \u201cEdom.\u201d The area of the Edomites is the current country of Jordan, to the east of Israel. About 68 percent of the Jordanian population claim to be Palestinians. How amazing that the Bible would predict that it would be the Palestinians who would violently oppose the return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, the Bible foretold that the land of Israel would be a desolate and barren wasteland that would be miraculously restored to the new Jewish residents in the last days (<\/span>Ezekiel 36:8, 9, 34, 35<\/a><\/u><\/span>). The Bible predicted, <\/span>\u201cIsrael shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> <\/i>(<\/span>Isaiah 27:6<\/a><\/u><\/span>).<\/span> Amazingly, this prediction is coming to pass at this very time. David Dolan, an American believer and journalist living in Jerusalem, writes: \u201cAlthough over half of its land is still arid desert, Israel exports high-quality farm produce in all seasons, even while its neighbors must import food to feed their populations. \u2026The Israeli people are blessed with one of the most nutritious food supplies in the world. In a recent global survey by the Bloomberg news agency of the world’s healthiest countries, Israel ranked an impressive sixth, far ahead of the United States at number 33.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/u><\/span>Process<\/b><\/u><\/span> of Israel\u2019s Return<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As we might expect, the process of the Jewish people\u2019s return to Israel is very specific. The Bible indicates that their return to the land would be assisted by the Gentiles. (<\/span>Isaiah 49:22, 23<\/a><\/u><\/span>) <\/span>Isaiah 60:10<\/a><\/u><\/span> states, <\/span>\u201cAnd the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee\u2026\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>As Americans, we can be proud of many of our former leaders who stood beside of the state of Israel in the last 70 years. President Harry Truman went against the counsel of all of his political advisors when he became the first international leader to recognize the Jewish state on May 14, 1948. The recent recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by President Donald Trump is being hailed in Israel as one of the most important declarations in the modern history of the state of Israel. Whether the world likes it or not, God is directing our president to bless Israel, just as the prophecies foretold. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>Daniel 9:27<\/a><\/u><\/span>, when the Tribulation Period begins, the Antichrist will confirm a covenant with <\/span>\u201cthe many\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> [literally Hebrew rendering] Jews in Israel. More Jews live in Israel now than in any other nation. Many more will return to Israel during <\/span>\u201cthe time of Jacob\u2019s trouble\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> in Tribulation Period (<\/span>Jeremiah 30:7<\/a><\/u><\/span>). When the seven-year Tribulation Period is over, the remainder of the world\u2019s Jewish population will return to Israel. Speaking of this time, God has promised, <\/span>\u201cI have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there [in the nations]\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>(<\/span>Ezekiel 39:28<\/a><\/u><\/span>). During the millennial kingdom, all Jews will reside in Israel. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3. The <\/b><\/span><\/span>Purposes<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span> of God in Israel\u2019s Ingathering<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To display His glory to the nations<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, many people in Christian circles struggle with recognizing that Israel is a divine fulfillment of God\u2019s eternal plans. They fail to grasp that God is not working in the church primarily because of us, but because of who He is! Likewise, the Bible declares that the divine work of restoring the Jewish people and their land in these last days is not something that He is doing for the Jewish people, but for His glory. Carefully consider <\/span>Ezekiel 36:22-24<\/a><\/u><\/span>, <\/span>\u201cTherefore say unto the house of Israel, thus [said] the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes: O house of Israel, but for [my] holy name\u2019s sake, which [you] have profaned [treated sacrilegiously] among the heathen, whither [you] went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which [you] have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, [said] the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The tiny restored nation of Israel is at the center of the world\u2019s media and political considerations each day. This is amazing since Israel contains less than 0.1 percent of the world\u2019s population and is about the size of the state of New Jersey. Only Washington D.C. contains more international journalists than Jerusalem. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Israel is officially rated as the eighth most influential nation in the world. It is considered to be the eleventh happiest nation on the planet. The Israeli IDF is highly respected as the tenth most powerful military on earth. All of this is amazing considering that the nation is only 70 years old and has been in a state of war and conflict with her neighbors and shunned by the United Nations during her short existence. Obviously, this should be viewed as the divine blessings that rest upon God\u2019s chosen people and His Holy Land. God has kept His promise to Abraham (<\/span>Genesis 12:1-3<\/a><\/u><\/span>). He promised the Jewish people who would return to Israel in the last days: <\/span>\u201cI will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and [you] shall know that I am the LORD\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Ezekiel 36:11<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To set the stage for the Kingdom of God on earth<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Everything that is happening in Israel today, including the influx of Jews from the nations, should be viewed as a divine process that is laying the groundwork for the approaching millennial kingdom. In <\/span>Psalm 102<\/a><\/u><\/span>, God has sent a very powerful message to the nations in the final generation. Psalm 102:18 says, <\/span>\u201cThis shall be written [for the last generation]\u2026\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> What is that message? <\/span>\u201c[You shall] arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is come. \u2026 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>(<\/span>Psalm 102:13, 16<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The multitude of prophetic Scriptures that paint the Biblical picture of the last days displays a world with Israel and her people at the center of the global stage. The Holy One of Israel has uniquely gifted and prepared Israel to be the hub of the world for 1,000 years during the reign of the Messiah, Jesus, from Jerusalem, Israel. Jerusalem and Israel are literally at the geographical center of the land mass of the planet. (<\/span>Ezekiel 5:5<\/a><\/u><\/span>) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To redeem the entire nation of Israel<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At the heart of the miraculous return of the Jewish people to their land is the amazing and gracious redemption of the entire nation. When the end comes and all of the Jews go home, they will all call upon the Lord and experience His saving power (<\/span>Jeremiah 32:37-41; Ezekiel 36:24-28; Zechariah 12:10-13:9; Romans 11:26<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span>\u201cSo shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, [said] the Lord.\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Isaiah 59:19<\/a><\/u><\/span>) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who refuse to accept or grasp the central role of Israel and her land have not yet discovered the heart of God and His eternal plan. Near the end of Moses\u2019 life, God caused him to write the following words, <\/span>\u201cWhen the Most High<\/b><\/i><\/span> [which means \u2018the possessor of heaven and earth\u2019- <\/span>Genesis 14:22<\/a><\/u><\/span>] <\/span>divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD\u2019s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>(<\/span>Deuteronomy 32:8-10<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The God who has announced that His eternal plan will come to pass and no one and nothing can deter Him, has set forth His passionate determination in <\/span>Isaiah 62:1-7<\/a><\/u><\/span>, <\/span>\u201cFor Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that [burns]. And the Gentiles shall see [your] righteousness, and all kings [your] glory: and [you shall] be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. [You shall] also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. [You shall] no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall [your] land any more be termed Desolate: but [you shall] be called Hephzibah, and [your] land Beulah: for the Lord [delights] in [you], and [your] land shall be married. For as a young man [marries] a virgin, so shall [your] sons marry [you]: and as the bridegroom [rejoices] over the bride, so shall [your] God rejoice over [you]. I have set watchmen upon [your] walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: [you] that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As finite creatures of time living in the 21<\/span>st<\/span><\/sup> century, we are so focused upon this moment of our lives that we have lost sight of eternity. God does not live in a time bubble like us. He is eternal. <\/span>\u201cOne day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>2 Peter 3:8<\/a><\/u><\/span>). In God\u2019s eternal plan, the time has come for the greatest miracle in the world to unfold before our eyes. Are we so blind as to not see the hand of God?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The ingathering of the Jewish people tells us that the king is coming. With the return of each Jewish person to Israel we are getting closer and closer to the day of the Lord. Are you ready?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

America \u2013 Divided by Hate<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We are living in dangerous times in America. As I look at the Bible and understand the times in which we are living, I am fearful for the future of our nation. It is apparent that a very vocal and militant minority in America are filled with hate. On the surface it appears their hatred is racially or politically motivated. However, if you listen to them and their message of hate, they may not know it, but their hatred is flowing out of a heart that despises God and all that is good in the eyes of God. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While describing a culture that has reached the spiritual point of no return, the Apostle Paul concluded in <\/span>Romans 1:29-31<\/a><\/u><\/span> that such people are immoral, wicked and malicious. They also have an entitlement mentality. Furthermore, they are filled with envy, murder and strife. Their minds are continually filled with evil. These people are also filled with pride. They are vocally brazen, unforgiving and unmerciful. Most significantly, they are <\/span>\u201chaters of God\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>verse 30<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In a similar passage, the Apostle Paul writes that the last days will be <\/span>\u201cperilous\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> because people are in love with self (<\/span>2 Timothy 3:1, 2<\/a><\/u><\/span>). This certainly describes the days in which we live. The seeds of humanism (the belief that man is the center of our world) have been sown in America for decades. However, now we are experiencing humanism on steroids. We have produced a generation that has moved beyond humanism to \u201cme-ism (the belief that self is the center of their world). It is all about \u201cmy\u201d personal rights. I am convinced that this is what is driving all of the violence and hatred at this hour. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>2 Timothy 3:1-9<\/a><\/u><\/span>, the Bible describes these people as those who are in love with possessions and pleasure. They rebel against all authority. They are unthankful and unloving. They refuse to forgive. They love to slander people. They are brutal and haughty. They constantly blaspheme God and are <\/span>\u201cdespisers of those that are good\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>verse 3<\/a><\/u><\/span>). Does that sound familiar? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These two passages fittingly describe what is currently taking place in the American culture. A crusade against God and good is moving across America. The moral laws of decency that have governed this nation for hundreds of years are being openly ridiculed and rejected. Those who continue to hold to the Biblical commandments are hated. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The kind of self-love that the Bible speaks about in <\/span>2 Timothy 3<\/a><\/u><\/span> produces lawlessness. When people put self first, they become a law unto themselves. They make up the rules of law that protect their own rights and pleasures. They do not care about what their parents say. The rules at school, work, or in the community or nation do not matter. Self becomes god and god makes the rules. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Bible, at the heart of the 10 Commandments is a respect and honor for God and mankind. While summarizing these commandments, Jesus said, the first commandment is to love God. The second is, <\/span>\u201cLove thy neighbor as thyself\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>(<\/span>Matthew 22:39<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The kind of hatred and threats that are being directed toward President Trump, his family, and his associates are frightening! In recent days, the media and TV personalities have made absurd and exaggerated accusations against the political right. They are resorting to lies and deception to promote their hate. We may not agree with each other, but there is no excuse for the lying and threats that are being made. Believers should not be a part of this kind of behavior. Jesus taught us, <\/span>\u201clove your enemies\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Matthew 5:44<\/a><\/u><\/span>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I want to remind us all that Satan is the father of lies and murder. In <\/span>John 8:44<\/a><\/u><\/span>, Jesus called Satan <\/span>\u201ca murderer from the beginning,\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span>and <\/span>\u201ca liar, and the father of it.\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> The kind of lies and slanders that are being passionately paraded across the political spectrum in America are sowing the seeds of a deadly revolution. These are the same kinds of lies that have been levied against the Jewish people and the nation of Israel for years. These slanderous lies have fueled the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism that is growing around the globe. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is my observation that Satan is doing everything He can to destroy the United States and Israel. These two nations are the only two nations holding back Satan\u2019s plans for his evil kingdom of darkness to take control of this planet under the leadership of the lawless one \u2013 the Antichrist. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Scriptures, Israel will not be destroyed. The Jewish nation will be protected by God. However, there is no mention of the U.S. in the prophetic Scriptures. Is America about to fall? Remember that Jesus said that a <\/span>\u201chouse divided against itself shall not stand\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> (<\/span>Matthew 12:25<\/a><\/u><\/span>). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PTNews October 2018 Published 10 times annually All Bible references are from the KJV .pdf download The Miraculous Return of the Jews to Israel \u201cAnd I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” Jeremiah 30:3 By Mike Wingfield In our lifetime we have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-events","category-politics","category-prophecy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}