The pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have broken out across our nation are full of signs
containing slogans that are either blatantly untrue or completely misleading. Consider the following:

1) “Set Palestine Free From the River to the Sea.” Based on the interviews of people chanting
this slogan, it appears that many have no idea what it means. In the first place, Americans who have
always been geographically challenged, have expressed no knowledge of what river or sea they are
talking about!

And when they are told that the chant refers to the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, they
still don’t get the point that it is talking about the annihilation of the state of Israel. It’s just a nice sounding chant that rhymes.

For those who do understand the meaning of the slogan, it is an expression of appalling AntiSemitism.

2) “End Apartheid in Israel!” This is a slogan that garners massive support, but the slogan
expresses a total lie. There is no Apartheid in Israel. None! Zilch! Nada!

Two million Palestinians live in Israel. They are citizens of Israel, and as such, they have
complete freedom to live where they please and to use any hospital or means of transportation.

There is no enforced separation of Jews and Arabs of any type that exists in Israel.

Arab Israelis have the right to vote and to serve in the Israeli parliament (the Knesset). They also
have access to all the welfare services of the state. They have every freedom that the Jews have. In
fact, they have been given a freedom Jews do not have! All Jews, except the small percentage of
Ultra-Orthodox, are required to serve in the military — both men and women. Palestinian citizens
are exempted from this requirement, although some voluntarily serve in non-combat positions.
The only Apartheid that exists in the Middle East is in the Arab countries where all their Jewish
populations were forcibly evicted after the Suez War in 1956. The fact of the matter is that no Jews
are allowed to live in Arab nations. That is true Apartheid!

3) “Free Palestine from Colonial Oppression.” This is sheer nonsense. The Jewish people are not
colonialists. They are not outsiders who have taken over someone else’s land. The land they
currently occupy (and much more they do not yet occupy) was given to them by God as an eternal
possession (Genesis 12:1-3, 7, 14-15; 16:18-21; 26:3; 28:4, 13; 35:10-12; Exodus 6:7-8 and Psalm
105:8-11).

The Jews occupied this gift of God 3,500 years ago and lived there for 1,500 years until they
were forcibly ejected from the land by the Assyrians and the Romans. After their final ejection in
70AD, the land laid vacant and desolate for 2,000 years. The few Arabs who lived there considered
themselves to be Syrians because most of the land was owned by absentee Syrian landlords.
During this long time span, the land was never an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
In short, there was never a Palestinian state with a Palestinian government. Nor was there a Palestinian language or culture.

When the Jews began to return to their homeland in the late 1890s, they bought the land at
exorbitant prices. The land was so desolate that the Arabs could not figure out why the Jews wanted
it so badly. For example, by 1900 nearly all the trees in Israel had been cut down. This was due to
the fact that the Turkish empire taxed trees. In the 20th century, as the returning Jews began to
reclaim the land, they started replacing the forests and ended up planting more than 250 million trees
during the century!

4) “End 75 Years of Occupation.” Israel is not an occupying power. The land they are “occupying”
was not only given to them by God, it was also legally granted to them by the United Nations.
At the end of World War I, the area which was known as Palestine was simply a province of the
Ottoman Empire of Turkey. Since the Turks sided with Germany during World War I, the victorious
allies decided to dismantle the Ottoman Empire by dividing its pieces between the British and the
French. The area called Palestine was assigned to the British and they later began to rule it as a
League of Nations Mandate.

A year before the end of World War I, the British issued the Balfour Declaration in November
of 1917. In it they made it clear that their intention was to make Palestine into a homeland for the
Jewish people. At that time, Palestine consisted of the territory that today includes Israel plus
Jordan.

But in 1921, the British Colonial Secretary, Winston Churchill, decided to give two-thirds of
Palestine to the Arabs to establish the Mandate of Transjordan. This area received its full freedom
in 1946 when it was reconstituted as the state of Jordan.

When Churchill made his decision, the Jewish people felt betrayed by the British, but they
expected to receive what was left of Palestine as their state. The remainder was a small sliver of land
270 miles long, with a width ranging from 9 to 85 miles.

In November of 1947, the United Nations voted to divide this sliver of land even further,
dividing it between the Jews and Arabs in order to create a state for each one. Again, the Jews felt
betrayed, but they accepted the offer. The Arabs refused.
Israel came back into existence as a state on May 14, 1948. On that same day, the Arabs could
have taken advantage of the UN resolution and created a Palestinian state for themselves. But they
wanted all the land, so they attacked the new Jewish state with the intention of driving the Jews into
the sea.

Throughout the history of the area since it was cut away from the Ottoman Empire in 1918, there
have been five times when the Arabs were given the opportunity to create a state of their own, and
each time, they have refused:

1) In 1936, the British government appointed the Peel Commission to recommend a solution to
Jewish and Arab conflict in the area. The commission offered the Arabs 80% of the land. The
Arabs said, “No!”

2) In 1947, The United Nations approved a partition of the land into two states. The Jews
received 56%. Again, the Arabs said, “No!”

3) In 1967, after the Six Day War, the Jews offered to allow the Arabs to create a state that
would include Gaza and the West Bank. The Arab League responded with “The Three Nos” —
No peace with Israel. No recognition of Israel. No negotiation with Israel.

4) In 2000, the most liberal Prime Minister in Israel’s history, Ehud Barak, offered Yassir Arafat
the opportunity to create a state that would include Gaza, 94% of the West Bank and East
Jerusalem. The moderator of the conference, President Bill Clinton, said that all Arafat could
say from the beginning to the end of the negotiations was, “No!”

5) In 2008, Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, offered Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the
PLO, the opportunity to create a state that included even more of the West Bank. Abbas said,
“No!”

With this history in mind, you can understand what Israel’s most famous diplomat, Abba Eban,
once said: “The Palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

5) “Free Gaza!” This is another nonsensical slogan. Israel granted complete sovereignty to Gaza
in 2005, and did so at great social and financial cost. The Israeli army forcibly evicted 9,000 Jews
from their homes in 25 settlements and turned the entire area over to the Palestinians.
Jews had to blow up their synagogues to keep them from being desecrated by the Arabs. They
also had to dig up their cemeteries and move the bodies of their loved ones to keep the graves from
being desecrated. The removal cost the Israeli government $900 million. Further loses included $120
million in annual flower production and 15% of Israel’s agricultural exports, including 60% of its
tomato and herb exports. Also lost was 70% of Israel’s organic produce.

After Israel’s withdrawal, hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign aide flowed into Gaza from
many nations, including the United States. This money was for humanitarian assistance and the
rebuilding of the area’s infrastructure, particularlyhospitals and schools. But when Hamas took over
in 2007, these donations were diverted to the purchase of military weapons and the construction of
over 300 miles of concrete tunnels for launching attacks into Israel.

The Palestinian people were left to scrape out a living as best they could while Hamas built up
its military with the intention of attacking Israel. Also, the Hamas leaders confiscated much of the
financial aide for themselves personally, using it to lives extravagant lives of leisure in the Arab
Emigrate of Qatar. It is estimated that the top leaders of Hamas have a combined worth of a
staggering $11 billion.

“Free Gaza” is an appropriate and true slogan only if it is referring to freeing Gaza from Hamas!

6) “Stop the Israeli Genocide!” This would be an appropriate slogan if it were addressed to Hamas
because the goal of Hamas is to destroy Israel and kill all its Jewish population. But the slogan is
greatly misdirected when aimed at Israel.

Israel’s desire is to live at peace with the Arabs. The only war Israel has ever started is the Six
Day War in 1967, and it did so because the surrounding Arab nations declared that they were going
to attack and annihilate the Jewish state. Israel decided its only hope for survival was a pre-emptive
attack.

The Israeli military has a long established reputation for being the most humane in the world.
When Israel goes to war, it always does everything possible to protect civilians. Israel drops leaflets,
makes phone calls and sends emails to announce targets so that civilians will have time to evacuate.
Also, Israel focuses its attacks on military targets and not civilians. Yes, mistakes sometimes occur,
but mistakes are not war crimes.

In stark contrast, Hamas uses its civilians as human shields. Thus, it launches rockets from the
roofs of hospital and schools, and when Israel announces targets, Hamas forces civilians to the target
areas so that they can use their dead bodies for propaganda purposes. As one expert has put it,
“Israel uses its military to protect its citizens whereas Hamas uses its citizens to protect its military.”
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has long summed up the situation in the Middle East
with these words: “If the Arabs were to disarm, there would be peace. If Israel were to disarm, we
would cease to exist.”

7) “Gas the Jews!” This slogan has actually been used by the Pro-Palestinian protesters. It is
nothing but a horrendous expression of naked Anti-Semitism. It is just one indication that the true
aim of the Palestinians is not to create another Palestinian state. No! The real aim is the annihilation
of Israel.

And when I refer to “another Palestinian state,” I mean that a Palestinian state already exists. It
is the state of Jordan. The state itself was carved out of the Palestinian province of the Ottoman
Empire, and one-half of its population if Palestinian.

Conclusion

The outbreak of massive, irrational Anti-Semitism worldwide is a supernatural event orches-
trated by Satan. He hates the Jewish people with a passion because they are God’s Chosen People
through whom God gave the Scriptures and the Messiah, Jesus. Satan also hates God’s promise to
bring a great remnant of the Jews to salvation through faith in Jesus (Isaiah 10:21-22, Zechariah
12:10 and Romans 9:27).

Satan’s determination to annihilate the Jews is what the Holocaust was all about. It is the reason
he will motivate the Antichrist to focus the second half of the Tribulation on picking up where Hitler
left off in ridding the world of the Jewish people.
But Satan will not succeed:

“He who touches Israel, touches the apple of God’s eye” (Zechariah 2:8).
“He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalm 121:4).
“In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a fiery laver among pieces of wood
and a fiery torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the
left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem will again be inhabited in its own
place — in Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:6).
“And it will be in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against
Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9).

God has regathered the Jewish people to their homeland for a reason. He is going the bring the
whole world against them (Zechariah 12:3), not because He hates them, but because He loves them.
They have been a stubborn and stiff-necked people throughout their relationship with Him. When
in trouble in Old Testament times, they always turned to Egypt for help. In modern times, they have
relied on the United States. God has always wanted them to rely on Him.

In these end times, as the whole world turns against them, they will be forced to come to the end
of themselves, and in their desperation, they will turn to God for their help, and they will finally
accept His Son as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10).

What a day that will be! Jesus mentioned it when he rode into Jerusalem at the climax of His life.
He said He would not return to this earth until the Jewish people were willing to say, “Baruch Haba
B’shem Adonai,” meaning “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Maranatha! (1 Corinthians 16:22)

[Dr. Reagan earned a doctorate degree in International Law and Politics from the Fletcher School
of Law & Diplomacy, a school of international relations that is owned and operated by Tufts and
Harvard Universities. After a 20 year career teaching international politics at various universities,
he resigned his academic career in 1980 and established Lamb & Lion Ministries — a Bible
prophecy ministry that focuses on end time prophecies concerning the return of Jesus. In 2021, he
retired from the ministry after 41 years of service and has since focused on writing books about Bible prophecy.]

Note: The following is a most relevant open letter which is important to all within the Body of Christ to read. Our prayer is that you will read carefully and understand God’s Holy View of Israel in these end times when the Jewish people are again beginning to suffer hatred throughout the world.

An Open Letter to Those Who Have Been Taught That the Church Has Replaced Israel

Dear Brother or Sister in Christ,

If you are a member of a Catholic or mainline denominational church, you have probably been taught something called replacement theology (and perhaps you don’t even know it has that name). Replacement theology leads those who have adopted it to believe that Israel is no longer God’s people and that the modern regathering of the Jews in their historical land is theologically meaningless. Please know this is an error, and I write this letter to alert you to it so you can study God’s Word and reach your own conclusion.

Replacement theology, sometimes called supersessionism or fulfillment theology, is a doctrine stating either that the Church took Israel’s place as God’s people when Israel rejected Jesus as its Messiah or that the “old” Israel was set aside in favor of a “new” Israel, the Church, upon Jesus’s first coming. No matter how it got there, the Church is now God’s people and the beneficiary of the promises God made Israel in the Old Testament. Consequently, Jacob’s blood descendants have no unique destiny, and modern Israel’s existence has no significance. Because replacement theology is often woven into otherwise sound teachings on redemptive history, many believers aren’t even aware that it is a separate doctrine with its own name. Nonetheless, replacement theology is enshrined in Catholic dogma and runs rampant in mainline denominations, even among those that otherwise take the Bible seriously.

Replacement theology raises troubling implications about God’s character, not the least of which are: if God revoked his promises to Israel, what keeps him from revoking them again, and does God really change not (as Malachi 3:6 says)? Many who have been taught replacement theology have not considered these implications. Perhaps you have, too, but have dismissed them out-of-hand or rationalized them away, possibly because they are too dreadful to imagine. Unfortunately, ignoring the implications does not make them go away.

Rather than addressing these (and other) broader implications, this letter will instead tackle the assumption that lies at the very heart of replacement theology: did Israel really forfeit its blessings? Did God really forsake or move past Israel? Fortunately, if you read the Bible without bias, it gives a clear answer.

One point is worth making before proceeding: I don’t have the ability or the moral duty to force you to reject replacement theology. Only the Holy Spirit can convict. All I can do is call relevant scripture to your attention and invite you to check it out yourself. That is what I will now do.

To keep this letter short and clear, I will rely only on two passages: Isaiah 6 and Romans 11. (If you are a Reformed believer, you tend to read Revelation figuratively, because you have been taught that it is “apocalyptic literature.” I will therefore deliberately avoid Revelation’s many passages affirming Israel’s destiny, knowing that you will be unwilling to read Isaiah and Romans figuratively.)  I will cite the King James Version, but any good version will do.

Isaiah 6 contains the well-known “Here I am. Send me” passage in which Isaiah volunteers to convey a message God has for his people:

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (Isaiah 6:8-10)

God informs his people not only that they are hardened (deaf, blind and without understanding) and he is the one hardening them, but also that he has hardened them to delay their repenting and being healed. Note that God does not tell them why he wants a delay.

When the disciples ask Jesus why he speaks “to them” in parables in Matthew 13, he quotes this passage of Isaiah 6:

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:” (Matthew 13:11-14)

Paul also quotes this same passage of Isaiah 6 in Acts 28, reminding the local leaders of the Jews that they are hardened.

And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Acts 28:24-27)

Paul then discloses the reason why God hardened Israel, delaying its repenting and being healed:

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:28)

According to Paul, God hardened Israel so the Gospel could be taken to the Gentiles.

However, Isaiah 6 continues after the passage quoted in both Matthew 13 and Acts 28. God has more to say to Isaiah about his people. Returning to Isaiah 6, after hearing God’s decree against his people, the prophet begs God for an answer in verse 11, and God gives it to him:

Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate. And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in [the land] shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. (Isaiah 6:11-13)

God promises that he will lift Israel’s partial hardening during or just after a widespread devastation. This may be a great war, even a nuclear war given the extent and degree of damage. However, it may be a direct act of God, acting in wrath. Only he knows.

Why then did Jesus and Paul’s quotations from Isaiah 6 stop short of verses 11-13? The answer is that they were speaking in the First Century. Isaiah 6:11-13 would be fulfilled in the future. They were only talking about Israel’s hardened condition in those days, and not about when it would someday repent. Remember, Jesus was only answering a question from his disciples as  to why he was teaching in parables, and Paul was only making the case for taking the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Now, let’s look at Romans 11, in which Paul answers the question his earlier chapters in Romans begged: if Christ is the answer and the law is not, what about the Jews, to whom God had given the law? Has God turned his back on Israel?

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. (Romans 11:1-4)

The answer is an emphatic “God forbid!” God will save an elect remnant of Israel, and God will save them by grace, not the law. To keep the Gentiles from being feeling superior to the Jews, Paul goes on to say:

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (Romans 11:11-15)

Then, after describing how the holy firstfruits of lump of dough renders the whole lump holy, how a holy root can render the entire tree holy, and how branches grafted onto a holy tree become holy, even branches that had previously been cut off, Paul reveals a mystery in verse 25:

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25)

Though he does not outright quote Isaiah 6:11-13, he affirms the promise God made in those verses to end Israel’s hardening. The mystery Paul reveals is that the partial hardening of Israel’s elect will end when the “fulness of the Gentiles be (has) come in.”

It is important to note that none of these passages are talking about the Church. God has never hardened the Church. He has only hardened Israel, and only temporarily, for the express purpose of taking the Gospel to the Gentiles and building a Church that encompasses all peoples, nations, and languages. This he did at Israel’s great expense, but he will resurrect and magnify Israel because of it. Consider the supreme irony: God hardened Israel to benefit the Gentiles, and so many churches have returned their thanks to Israel by teaching replacement theology.

God’s reply in Isaiah 6 and Paul’s teaching in Romans 11 raise two questions: when will this widespread devastation occur, and when will the fulness of the Gentiles come in? The Bible gives no clear answer; God wants us to depend on him alone for the timing.

However, we can be sure of this – God will restore the elect of his people Israel. That unambiguous Biblical truth, stated explicitly both to Israel in the Old Testament and the Gentiles of the Church in the New Testament, exposes replacement theology as bad doctrine. Now it’s up to the Holy Spirit and informed believers to purge the Church of this sad error.

If replacement theology now troubles you as much as it does me, please do me a favor. Consider giving a copy of this letter to a brother or sister who has been mistaught. You will be helping them and doing a good work for God’s kingdom.

The desire of some in authority to control the people, property, prosperity, piety, public and private behavior of others has been the goal of many kings, dictators and despots for millennia; at least since the ill-fated tower of Babel was built by Nimrod (Gen. 11:1-9).  The interest in a global government accelerated after World Wars I & II and especially after the first half of the 20^th century (1950-present), with many nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) becoming active.

One of those organizations, the Club of Rome, was formed in 1968 and, a few years later in 1973, they released a report revealing their goal of dividing the world into ten political/economic regions that would bring the entire world under a single form of government, aptly called a “New World Order.” [1]

The 10 regions are: North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Rest of Developed World, Latin America, Middle East, Rest of Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and China. The same plan was included in a book published by the Club of Rome called Mankind at the Turning Point. [2]

The interesting point about the Club of Rome’s proposal, is that the books of Daniel and Revelation tell us that the final gentile kingdoms before Christ’s return (seventh and eighth) will be a global form of government that will initially have 10 kings (10 horns) (Dan. 7:7, 23-24; Rev. 17:10-11).  Ironically, these 10 kings, at their beginning, will not have kingdoms (Rev. 17:12) but may be responsible for 10 regions on the earth; perhaps like the 10 regions in the Club of Rome’s proposal.

The Four Great Beasts in Daniel

Daniel, in his dream and visions, during the first year of the reign of Belshazzar (553 B.C.), described four great beasts (kingdoms) that will be present during the “end times” (Dan. 7:4-7, 11-12, 23-24).

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.  And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings.”

“I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.  “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it”

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns” (Dan. 7:1-7).

One reason we know the four great beasts (Dan. 7:4-7) will be active during the 7-year tribulation (Dan. 9:27) is their presence (leopard, bear and lion) when the kingdom of Antichrist rises to power (Rev 13:1-8).  Another reason the four beasts will be present in the “end times” is because they will all be judged on the earth by the Ancient of Days immediately after the tribulation (Dan. 7:9-12; Matt. 24:29-31).

The Precursor of Global Government

Daniel’s vision of these last two gentile kingdoms (seventh and eighth) before Christ’s return is initially portrayed as a fourth beast (Dan. 7:7), which is also the seventh king (kingdom) mentioned in Rev. 17:10.  The eighth king (beast, Antichrist) will rise to power soon after the seventh king (kingdom) becomes established (Rev. 13:1-8, 17:10-11). The words “king” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably since the two terms are interconnected.

The fourth beast (kingdom) described in Daniel 7:7 with “10 horns” and the “composite beast” (kingdom) pictured in Revelation 13:1-2 with “7 heads and 10 horns” will be the two final global kingdoms (seventh and eighth) that rule the earth during “the time of the end” (Dan. 12:4-10). The word “composite” refers to having “distinct parts.”

The coming world government (seventh) that is being planned by the global elite is forecast to be in place by the year 2030; however, the Covid-19 crisis accelerated the process so that the globalists may only be a few months or years away from beginning to achieve their dreams.  The United Nations has stealthily revealed their plans on their web site that is called “The Sustainable Development Agenda.”

“The “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDG) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, as part of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the Goals.”  [3]

The World Health Organization (WHO) may play a major role in development of the ten regions by using health as a global justification for imposing laws, rules and guidelines on the citizens of the world.  [4] The World Economic Forum (WEF) with its “Young Global Leaders” program is also playing a big part in the move towards globalism by embracing health and environmental issues as reasons to justify control of the world’s population. [5]

The First Phase of Global Government

The first phase of global government, which may soon be coming on the earth, is described in Daniel’s dream and visions that he had over 2500 years ago (Dan. 7:1-28). It is depicted as a fourth beast that would come forth out of “the great sea,” and it would end up controlling the whole world (Dan. 7:7, 23).  This fourth beast kingdom is also the same as the seventh king (kingdom) mentioned in Rev. 17:10.  The fourth beast kingdom will be a dystopian type of society with a totalitarian form of government, and it will have 10 horns (i.e.10 kings) (Dan. 7:23-24).

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns” (Dan. 7:7).

Different names have been given to the movement towards global government that we see developing today.  One of the most prevalent names is the “New World Order”  The fourth beast kingdom, after it becomes operational, will end up dominating the whole world. Soon after the 10 horns (kings), which may represent 10 regions on the earth, gain control of the earth, another little horn (prince) will rise to power and conquer 3 of the 10 kings.

“Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings” (Dan. 7:23-24

The fourth beast kingdom, which is the same as the seventh king (kingdom) in Rev. 17:10, appears to be in its rudimentary form today.  The European Union (EU) is already fully functional, and plans are in the works for a North American region, South American region, etc.   The “Declaration of North America” (DNA) signed on January 10, 2023 is a preliminary document that facilitates increased cooperation between Canada, the United States and Mexico. [6] [7]

The fourth beast kingdom, alluded to in Daniel, will be world-wide in scope and may be similar to the 10 geographic divisions recommended by the Club of Rome. Some countries, such as Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and others may not cooperate with the globalist plan. When the “New World Order” becomes operational, it will probably be controlled by a coalition and consensus of the global elite.

Some of these Globalist organizations are the United Nations , UN; World Economic Forum, WEF; International Monetary Fund, IMF; Council on Foreign Relations, CFR; Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Trilateral Commission, TC; World Health Organization, WHO; Club of Rome; Bohemian Grove and Bilderberg Group.

The next phase of globalism requires the merger of the first three beasts (lion, bear and leopard) (Dan. 7:4-6) with the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7) which has 10 horns (10 kings).  This merger of the first three beasts (lion, bear and leopard) with the fourth beast will produce the “composite beast” that is “like a leopard” with “the feet of a bear” and “the mouth of a lion” that has “seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 13:1-2).

The “Four Great Beasts” merge to become the “Composite Beast”

After the first phase of global government (seventh kingdom) is put in place, it will be operational for a short period of time (Rev. 17:10) before it transitions into the final gentile kingdom (eighth) that will rule the world before Christ returns and sets up his Millennial Kingdom for 1000 years (Dan. 2:34-35, 41-45, 7:19-27; Rev. 13:1-18, 17:11-14, 19:11-21, 20:4).

We know from Daniel’s dream that all four great beasts will be present in the “end times” when they are judged by the “Ancient of Days,” immediately after the tribulation (Dan. 7:9-12, 22, 26-27; Matt. 24:29; Rev. 19:19-20).

In some mysterious way, the fourth beast of the “end times” in Daniel 7:7 will need to morph into the “composite beast” of the “end times” described in Revelation 13:1-2, that John saw “rising up out of the sea.”

How does the fourth beast in Daniel’s prophecy with 10 horns (10 kings), but no head attributed to it, morph into the “composite beast” in Revelation which has seven heads?  Perhaps the solution to this mystery is that the “composite beast” described in Revelation 13:1-2 having seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns is a more advanced form of the fourth beast kingdom that is described in Daniel 7:7.

In order to get “seven heads and ten horns,” like the “composite beast” in Rev. 13:1-2, the heads of the lion, bear and leopard (Dan. 7:4-6) must be merged into the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7).  If you add up all the heads from the lion, bear and leopard (plus the four additional heads of the leopard), and they are merged with the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7), the fourth beast now has “seven heads and ten horns” which is the same as the ‘end times” “composite beast” found in Rev. 13:1-2 and the “scarlet beast” described in Rev. 17:1-7.

The Second Phase of Global Government

As mentioned earlier, the fourth beast kingdom in Dan. 7:7, that has 10 horns (10 kings) but no heads, is the first phase of global government on the earth (seventh kingdom) that will have 10 kings (regional leaders), but they will not rule over any kingdoms (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 17:12).  This world-wide global government that does not have a head (no single leader), will be a loosely held coalition of global leaders that will be given limited authority by the global elite.

After the initial phase of global government that has 10 kings is established (fourth beast, seventh king) (Dan. 7:7; Rev. 17:10), the next phase of globalism will involve the merger of the first three beasts (Dan. 7:4-6) in Daniel’s dream and visions (lion, bear and leopard) into the fourth beast that has 10 horns (10 kings) (Dan. 7:7). The second phase of global government, that John saw on the island of Patmos over 600 years after Daniel’s dream, will be a more advanced form of the fourth beast in Daniel 7:7.  It is described in Rev. 13:1-2 as a “composite beast” that has “seven heads and 10 horns.”

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 

Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Rev. 13:1-2).

After the seventh kingdom (New World Order) is put in place by the global elite, the eighth kingdom, which will be ruled over by Antichrist, will rise to power and will take control of the seventh kingdom (10 horns, 10 kings) (Dan. 7:7-8, 19-21, 23-25; Rev. 13:1-18).  The “composite beast” in Rev. 13:1-2 which is controlled by Antichrist, is also the same as the eighth king (kingdom) mentioned in Rev. 17:11.

The ten horns that have received no kingdom will receive power as kings for “one hour” with the beast. Perhaps the mention of the 10 crowns in Rev. 13:1 symbolizes the temporary period of time the beast (Antichrist) gives the 10 kings power for “one hour.”  Whether “one hour” is literal or not, it probably represents a short period of time.

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast (Rev. 17:12-13).

Around the middle of the seven-year tribulation, the eighth kingdom controlled by the Antichrist, will impose his will upon the whole world.  The Antichrist will then exercise his authority for the next 3 and ½ years (Matt. 24:15-22; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 13:3-18, 17:10-14).  After the tribulation has ended, the Antichrist and his armies will assemble in “the place called in Hebrew,  Armageddon,” in the land of Israel in order to fight against the Lord God Almighty (Matt. 24:27-31; Rev. 1:8, 16:16).

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:12-14).

All four beasts will be judged after the 7-year tribulation, and the beast and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.  Ironically, the fourth beast (Antichrist) will be judged before the first three beasts (leopard, bear and lion).  The first three beasts will lose their dominion (authority, power and territory); however, their lives will be extended “for a season and a time” (Dan. 7:9-12, 22, 26-27)

“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Rev. 19:19-21).

The Time to Prepare for the Future is Now

Although it may appear that the forces of evil are winning today and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future, we have read the back of the Book (Bible), and we know who wins in the end!   After the 7-year tribulation has concluded, the Lord will return with His armies (saints and angels) to judge the four great beasts and the enemies of God, before establishing his eternal kingdom which will last for 1000 years (Millennium) (Dan. 7:9-12, 26-27; Rev. 19:19-20, 20:4).

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses” (Rev. 19:11-14). 

As believers and followers of Christ, what should be our priorities in the coming days as we see many of the “end times” prophecies starting to converge in our generation?

Bible prophecy was not given to “scare us” as some may believe.  Rather; Bible prophecy was given to “prepare us” for what is coming in the future. Bible prophecy also testifies to the sovereignty of God, who knows everything (omniscient); even the future (Isaiah 46:9-10).

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:23-25).

It is important not only to run the race but also finish the race in good standing with the Lord so he will say to each of us: “Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matt. 25:14-30).

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

Jesus told His disciples that the judgments coming on the earth would happen suddenly, like a trap that closes quickly on its prey.  He predicted that many would be caught off-guard, and cautioned them not to be distracted by overindulgence, desires of the flesh and the daily cares of this life (worldly pleasures). Jesus’ advice to the terminal generation living at the close of this age was to watch for “the signs of the times” pointing to His return and pray that we would be “kept from the hour of Temptation” that would “come upon all the world” (Rev. 3:10).

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).

                                                                   ♦♦♦                                                                                                 Endnotes:

[1] The Club of Rome—Committee of 300, https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_clubrome09.htm

[2] 10 Kingdoms – The Abolition of Sovereignty, https://www.discerningtheworld.com/2012/01/31/10-kingdoms-the-abolition-of-sovereignty/

[3] The Sustainable Development Agenda, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/

[4] World Health Organization, Dates of constitutional meetings, https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/en/dates-of-meetings-eb_en.html

[5]  How can workplace health equity lead to a fair and just society? , https://www.weforum.org/

[6] The White House ,  Declaration of North America (DNA), January 10, 2023, https://web.archive.org/web/20230111030619/https:/www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/10/declaration-of-north-america-dna/

[7] Key Deliverables for the 2023 North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS), January 10, 2023,

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/10/fact-sheet-key-deliverables-for-the-2023-north-american-leaders-summit/

(Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are from the New King James Version—NKJV)

Somewhat concealed in the 17th chapter of the book of Revelation is a mystery that lists numerically all the kingdoms that have had controlling authority over Israel from Pharaoh in Egypt (1876-1446 B.C.), when Israel (Jacob) led his family down to Egypt because of the famine (Gen. 46:1—47:12), until the coming of Antichrist, who will usurp authority over all the nations and kingdoms of the world (Dan. 7:19-25; Rev. 13:1-18, 17:10-14). 

Are we beginning to see the formation of a worldwide government that was revealed to John on the island of Patmos when he wrote down “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” almost 2000 years ago? (Rev. 1:1, 19, 17:10-11). Did John’s vision about eight kings mention the “seventh” and “eighth” historical kingdoms that would exist at “the time of the end” when the final gentile kingdom would be in existence; just before Christ returned to establish his millennial kingdom? (Dan. 2:44-45, 7:14, 18, 22, 27, 12:4-10; Rev. 17:7-14, 19:11-21).

 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.  There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.  These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:9-14).

There are eight major kings (and kingdoms) alluded to in the book of Revelation that have in the past ruled over the Middle East and specifically the nation of Israel (also Judah) when they were in their land; or, they will have dominion over Israel and their territory in the future (Rev. 17:10-11).  Those kingdoms are (1) Egypt, (2) Assyria, (3) Babylon, (4) Medo-Persia, (5) Greece, (6) Rome and two future kingdoms (seventh and eighth) (Rev. 17:10-13). The words “king” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably since the two terms are interconnected. 

Rome, under the leadership of Pompey, gained control of Jerusalem in 63 B.C., and the Roman Empire was still in control of Jerusalem over a hundred and fifty years later during the time when John penned the book of Revelation on Patmos (c. 95 A.D.). [1]  The western leg of the Roman Empire with its capital in Rome, collapsed around 476 A.D., and the eastern leg with its capital in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), survived till 1453 A.D. [2]  

After the Roman Empire ended (sixth kingdom), a long period of time transpired that will not end until the two, future “end time” kingdoms (seventh and eighth) begin to make their appearance on the world scene (Rev. 13:1-18, 17:10-14).  Another way of looking at this:  We are living during the time period between the legs of iron (sixth kingdom) and feet and toes composed of iron and  clay (seventh kingdom) that made up the “Great Image” (statue) in  King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which the Prophet Daniel interpreted for the king in 603 B.C. (Dan. 2:1-49). 

The coming global government which appears to be forming in the world today (seventh kingdom), will once again result in Israel’s being subjected to global influence by their adversaries (Rev. 17:10-13). These two coming kingdoms (seventh and eighth) will be worldwide in scope, and they will both be active in the “end times” (Dan. 12:4-10; Rev. 17:10-11).  

According to the Scriptures (Rev. 13:1-2, 17:10-11), the development of a global government system (seventh), will need to be operational at some point in the future; because, soon after it becomes functional, it will provide a platform for the Antichrist and False Prophet to rise to power (eighth kingdom) (Rev. 17:10-11). 

The Mystery of the Eight Kingdoms  

 An interesting clue from “The Revelation” that was given by Jesus through His angel to the Apostle John, in chapter 17 of the book of Revelation, reveals the two final kings and kingdoms (seventh and eighth) that will usher in a global government system that will one day rule the whole world (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 7-8, 11-12,-17). 

“There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition” (Rev. 17:10-11).

The “five fallen” are (1) Egypt, (2) Assyria, (3) Babylon, (4) Medo-Persia and the (5) Grecian empires. The “one is” was the (6) Roman Empire present during John’s vision. The other “that has not yet come” will be short lived and is the (7) current global government (New World Order) we may see beginning to form today (10 horns, 10 kings, 10 regions, etc).  The “beast that was, and is not…and is” will be the future (8) Antichrist’s kingdom that will take control of the seventh kingdom (New World Order) that will be merged (Dan. 7:4-7) to form the “composite beast” described in Rev. 13:1-2 that has “seven heads and 10 horns” (Rev. 17:8, 11).

Who are the Eight Kings? 

The five kings or kingdoms (five have fallen) — The five kings or kingdoms that were “fallen” when John received his vision around 95 A.D. are Egypt (Pharaoh?), Assyria (Ashurbanipal?), Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar), Medo-Persia (Cyrus) and the Grecian Empires (Alexander the Great) (1876-1446, 740-301 B.C.). [3] 

The sixth king or kingdom (one is) — The sixth king (kingdom), that was present during John’s life span (Domitian) when he was writing the book of Revelation, was the Roman Empire, which included parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East (189 B.C.-476 A.D.—Western leg; 1453 A.D. —Eastern leg) [4] 

The seventh king or kingdom (and the other has not yet come [while John was alive]. And when he comes [still future today], he must continue a short time.) — The seventh king or kingdom appears to be the world government we see beginning to form today (New World Order, The Great Reset, Fourth Industrial Revolution, etc.). 

If that is the case, we may be seeing the initial formation of the 10 regions (10 horns, also 10 kings) (European Union (EU), North American Union, etc.) that will rule for a short time and have limited authority in the world before Antichrist rises to consolidate his power.  

The identity of the 10 horns (10 kings) is still not certain, since other competing groups have formed.  BRICS, a geo-political group, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is also meeting regularly, and other countries are expected to join their consortium in the future.

The eighth king or kingdom (The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition) The eighth king (little horn, Antichrist, etc.) who starts out as a prince (Ezek. 21:25, Dan. 9:26, 11:22), will rise in authority and power to become a king (Dan. 8:23-25). After defeating three of the 10 kings, he will take control of the seventh kingdom (Dan. 7:8, 20, 24; Rev. 13:1-8, 17:8, 11).

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast [Antichrist]. These [10 kings] are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” [Antichrist] (Rev. 17:12-13).

The 10 horns (10 kings), which we may see forming today,  that do not have kingdoms, will be given some regional authority that is global in nature, and they may become active shortly before the 7-year tribulation begins, but especially after the tribulation begins. 

After the 10 kings (without kingdoms) give “their power and authority to the beast” (Antichrist), sometime during the first half (3 and ½ years) of the 7-year Tribulation, “they (10 kings) receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast” (Rev. 17:12). One hour with the beast, whether literal or symbolic, is probably a short period of time. 

After the 10 kings have destroyed the world’s religious system, described as a woman riding on the back of a beast (seventh global government) (Rev. 17:15-16), Antichrist takes control of the world’s religious and political system from the 10 kings (10 horns)  and quickly consolidates all 10 regions of the globe into his worldwide kingdom (Rev. 17:12-13). The time when these events take place is probably around the middle of the 7-year Tribulation.

From that time forward, Antichrist (the beast, eighth king and kingdom) will serve as the main global, political and religious leader for the last three and ½ years, and he will rule and subject the whole earth to a period of tyranny where “no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:16-17).  The Antichrist (first human beast) will demand worship from everyone in the world and will be assisted by the False Prophet (second human beast) who will force everyone to worship the first beast or the image of the beast or be killed (Rev. 13:8, 11-15).

The Quest for a World Leader   

Are we close to seeing the implementation of the two final “end times” kingdoms (seventh and eighth) that will usher in a one world government system and a one world ruler who historically has been referred to as the “man of sin” and the “Antichrist?” (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 John 2:18).

Paul-Henri Spaak (1899 – 1972), a former Belgian Prime Minister who was one of the principal architects and founding fathers of the European Union (EU), when faced with serious economic problems that had mushroomed within the EU, made the following, chillingly “prophetic” remark about the need for a new European leader:

“We do not want another committee, we have too many already.  What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such man, and be he god or devil, we will receive him.” [5]

Paul-Henri  Spaak’s prognostication about the future will one day eerily come true; however, it will not be what he expected; but rather, it will result in a Pandora’s box full of war, enslavement, subjugation and worship of the “man of sin” and the devil, that Mr. Spaak longed for (2 Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 13:3-17). 

As problems in the world intensify in number and frequency and become more complex (Psalm 2:1-12; Luke 21:34-36), like birth pangs on a woman with child (Matt. 24:6-8; 1 Thess. 5:1-3), the world will not seek after God (Jesus Christ); but rather, they will choose the devil’s man of the hour (little horn, man of sin, beast, Antichrist, etc.).  The “dragon” will “give him his power, and his seal, and great authority” (Rev. 12:3, 9, 13:2).  

The pervasive use of artificial intelligence (AI), digital currencies (CBDC), digital passports, global IDs and other technologies that are being developed today, will allow the infamous world leader, who is probably alive today, to create a virtual digital prison from which no one will be able to escape.  The fate and consequences of those who choose to follow the beast (Antichrist) and False Prophet can be found in John’s apocalyptic book (Rev. 14:9-13).

Many prophecies that will take place during “the day of the Lord” are beginning to assemble themselves on the world stage and cast their shadows backward into today’s news headlines.  As the day of our redemption draws near, each of us should be asking ourselves: Am I “watching” for the Lord’s return, and will I “be ready” when He returns “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (Luke 21:34-36, 1 Cor. 15:52, Rev. 3:3)?

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).

♦♦♦

(Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are from the New King James Version—NKJV)

Endnotes:

[1] Debate on the Date of the Book of Revelation, Dr. Mark Hitchcock and Mr. Hank Hanegraaff, December 10, 2007, https://www.pre-trib.org/item/14-debate-on-the-date-of-the-book-of-revelation) 

[2] A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, Gleason L. Archer, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, c. 2007, page 140. 

[3] Ibid. 

[4] Ibid.

[5] EU architect would welcome God or the Devil, https://www.christianstogether.net/Articles/319656/Christians_Together_in/Christian_Life/Christians_and_Politics/EU_architect_would.aspx

By Jan Markell

It is true—the headlines, photos, and videos coming out of the current Mideast conflict are not seeker-sensitive. They won’t make church attendees feel good. Talking about the sensitive situation won’t fit into any church-growth strategy. It won’t encourage anyone to become purpose-driven. It could even create divisiveness.

So, I should not have been so thrown when I began to get e-mails from across the country stating variations of the following:

    Jan, I was very dismayed that the church we attended did not even make mention of what was going on in Israel on Sunday, October 8. Nor did the topic arise on Wednesday night—though there were several mentions of the Houston Astros game . . . . .

No One Can Say They Didn’t Know

Has there not been wall-to-wall coverage on all media outlets, day and night, for days? Can anybody claim they didn’t know? There were demonstrations demanding that we should “gas the Jews.” The scenario could expand to a Mideast war. Some are saying World War III is at hand. We have evil at a new level on display.

And yet the silence of some shepherds is deafening!

Evangelical Foolishness

I checked the website of the largest evangelical organization—the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). Wouldn’t they have a banner headline calling on us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Actually, their banner was all about racial justice.

Scrolling down, they have a blurb in an article written that Israel should not act out of revenge and that they should support the dignity of all people affected. Note to the NAE: Terrorists have no dignity. They are evil. They are demonized.

Know What You Believe!

Are pastors, churches, and denominations silent because of their theology? Perhaps it doesn’t fit with the current scenario? Perhaps they believe the church is the new Israel (Replacement Theology). Perhaps they are Amillennial, and Israel is a bit inconvenient. This belief encompasses many Protestants and all Catholics.

Outfits like Bethel Church in Redding, CA, believe in Dominionism—that is, that the church will save the world and then they establish the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. The literal restoration of Jerusalem is not important. The church supersedes the calling of Israel to be a light to the nations!

Silence in the Face of Evil is Evil!

But there is still human disaster and suffering at play here! Bonhoeffer said, “silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”  How can you be silent?

If every church in North America were to meet for special prayer, could an unspeakable disaster be averted?

Can we set aside theology and pray—from the pulpit—for the salvation of the Jews and Muslims? Don’t these esteemed church leaders know that is the only path to true peace? Many Jews and Muslims are secular and, thus, are open to the gospel.

You’re Grafted In!

May I remind all pastors and evangelical leaders that because of the Jews, we have our Bible, the prophets, the apostles, and our Messiah. In fact, “salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) Gentiles are “grafted in” to the Jewish olive tree. (Romans 11:11-31)

This is an appeal to pastors to not keep silent. Help your flock understand that Christians are often the greatest friend Israel has. At the very least, instruct them on how to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” (Psalm 122:6). Do you know there is then promised a blessing: They shall prosper who love thee?

That sounds like church growth could happen as a blessing from God!

How odd of God to choose the Jews,

But not so odd as those who choose

The Jewish God, but spurn the Jews.