Satan and his evil minions, both demonic and human, almost hourly seem to turn down the rheostat of spiritual enlightenment. The incremental darkening can’t be missed by those who are observing these times.

However, while that hellish darkening process intensifies, as witnessed here in our own nation in places like Minneapolis, Chicago, and other blue cities, and in the Middle East with the slaughter by the Iranian regime, we who belong to Christ have within us the light that cannot be turned down or extinguished.

Our Lord said the following:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)

Dear Rapture Ready family:

Jesus’ words, issued two thousand years ago, describe His thoughts about you and me as we strive to put forth light in His holy name. We’re here on this fallen planet at a time He knew would be the spiritual environment of darkening evil at the very end of this Age of Grace.

This website strives to put forth in this ever-darkening world truth from the very heart of God. Our purpose is to fit within Christ’s definition: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hil [that] cannot be hid.”

You—as a citizen of Heaven and as a sojourner, a royal ambassador for God’s Kingdom upon this fallen planet—are part of that light. It is the heavenly light that all who are lost in the darkness of sin will forever be without…apart from God’s saving grace. 

It is vital to the great cause of bringing souls under God’s saving grace for Rapture Ready to have the support of you, our RR family—that is, the family of God.

We’ve been assigned to be the light of the world. We’re like the Lord’s description of the shining city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We cannot let our efforts diminish but must make that light brighter than ever in these darkening hours so near the Tribulation.

The minions of the Ephesians 6:12 cabal (the wickedness in high places against which we struggle) are doing everything within their demonic power to turn off God’s light. This includes coming against this website as we strive to enlighten the world of cyberspace with truth.

For example: During this last quarter, Todd has had to increase the ad budget for RR. This is necessary because of restrictive movement placed on the site by those who govern Google, et cetera. This interference has diminished our prominence in regard to being easily accessed by those looking to link to Raptureready.com.

Unfortunately, the greatly increased expenditure is the only way to reach new people. Social media sites have a monopoly over the internet. The move has increased our traffic by 20 percent.

But this attempt to boost traffic to the level needed is expensive. We need more revenue to make Raptureready.com more easily accessible to those searching for God’s truth. We need you, our RR family members, to help keep God’s light bright in this spiritually darkening time so near Christ’s call to the Church in the Rapture.

I heard Dr. Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas just as I was writing this appeal. He quoted a pastor he knows, who said: “When we leave this earth we will leave all in our bank account behind. That is, except for that which we send on ahead to our Heavenly Bank Account.”

The compounding interest that accrues from that investment over the trillions of years into eternity will reap heavenly riches beyond anything we can imagine.

But the souls saved because of our contributions will doubtless reap the greatest heavenly rewards of all!

There are three ways you can contribute to RR: You can send a financial gift via our P.O. Box, you can make a one-time donation, or you can make monthly donations. If you’re interested in signing up to do that, find the links on the Donation Depot page.

Donations can be sent to our P.O. Box at:

Rapture Ready
P.O. Box 969
Benton, AR 72018

–Terry

It was one of the last major great weather events I remember being able to see. I lost my eyesight within a few years, but this storm stands out in my memory as no other.

What makes it stand out is that the news cameras were all trained at one point on the summer White House of President George H. W. Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine. The raging Atlantic waves were actually crashing into the home, and it was feared it would be washed away, the continuing assault was so powerful.

Here is a brief description of that great storm:

In late October 28 into early November 1991, a fierce storm wreaked havoc on the high seas, bringing hurricane-force winds, major coastal flooding, and perilous waves to New England. Though it never actually made landfall in the United States, it is regarded as a highly unusual and record-setting storm for the northwest Atlantic Ocean and was memorialized in the book Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger and a movie of the same name.…

In the first few days of November, the “Perfect Storm” evolved into a tropical cyclone, and then quickly evolved into a hurricane as it sped back towards the northeast. On November 2, it passed over the same area where it had originated, landfalling in Nova Scotia…

there were isolated rogue waves reported as high as 90 feet in the North Atlantic. Hurricane-force wind gusts, reaching almost 80 miles per hour in certain areas, swept the coasts and whipped seas into a frenzy.

There can be no doubt that, though it never touched down on American soil, the “Perfect Storm” will forever be remembered as a benchmark storm for the North Atlantic. (“Remembering the ‘Perfect Storm’,” National Weather Service Heritage—Virtual Lab, By Emily Senesac (edited by Greg Romano)

This was the storm that sank the Andrea Gail, a 72-foot fishing vessel, and took the lives of six crewmen.

That infamous storm will always be pointed to with legendary implication, much as the storm years earlier that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald in the Great Lakes.

The remembrance of that 1991 storm I was able to watch unfold, and the winter storm of a week or so ago I was not able to “watch”—the one predicted to be a storm like no other, at least for the central US—engendered thoughts of things we believe are coming together in a perfect prophetic storm.

The ingredients are now in place to produce the great Tribulation storm that will make all the maelstrom of human history seem insignificant by comparison when it breaks full-blown upon anti-God rebels left behind on earth. I often refer to developments we see coming together for this perfect storm as the stage being set for the seven years known as “Daniel’s seventieth week.”

Just as weather watchers could observe the various elements of that 1991 storm and the recent winter storm, so the student of God’s prophetic Word can observe what’s coming. We can witness and report the most prominent elements forecast by Jesus and the prophets as those ingredients coalesce while the Tribulation approaches.

With God’s chosen nation, Israel, at the center of world turmoil, and with many lesser ingredients on the stormfront horizon, here are the key elements that continue to come together that will produce the unprecedented prophetic storm John saw when he was inspired to write the Revelation.

Wars and Rumors of War

Wars are raging, as has been constantly in the news in the Middle East and the arena of the former USSR. The rumors of war have never in humankind’s history been more prolific.

America’s powerful naval forces now churn into the region, bringing speculation that a US military action against Iran will likely ignite a greater regional conflict. Nuclear war is a possibility, it is speculated, while the Iranian terrorist regime threatens to sink the Abraham Lincoln American aircraft carrier and fire on other US military assets.

As part of the overall buildup to war, the major coalition members that will constitute the Gog-Magog attack of Ezekiel 38–39 have come together north of Israel.

As we’ve looked at previously, economics–the need for fiscal stability among Russia, Persia (Iran) and Turkey (Togarmah) in order to quell unrest that threatens these dictatorships likely will drive the leadership to have that evil” thought” that will lead to seek “great spoil” to the south.

The Cry for Peace

The fears produced by the buildup toward war are bringing forth an unprecedented call for peace among the nations. This is a primary indicator the Bible gives as proof that great destruction—the destruction of the Tribulation—is about to occur.

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3)

All we have to do is consider the cry for peace that’s in the news every hour of every news cycle. The Board of Peace the American president has presented to the world’s leaders is nothing short of profound in setting the stage for the perfect prophetic storm.

Leaders who have always been completely against everything Mr. Trump ever proposed apparently can’t resist climbing on the Trump Board of Peace train. Even Russia’s Vladimir Putin seems intrigued—wondering, no doubt, how to gain something economically advantageous by joining with the multi-world leader group part of Trump’s proposed peace initiative.

The Board of Peace comes at a time when all other ingredients for the perfect prophetic storm are brewing. And this is where I suspect a very special ingredient that ties this time so close to the Tribulation together.

Jesus’ Days of Lot Prophecy

As readers know, the one prophecy I believe most relevant to our time is Jesus’ word about the days of Lot:

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:28–30)

While all the volatile ingredients of the building Tribulation Storm are coalescing, Jesus gives those of us who are watchers (Mark 13:37) a heads-up on precisely what life will be like. And, again, I believe our Lord might have had America in mind when He gave this prophecy.

I say this because unless one just will not admit to truth, this country must be considered the apex nation of world history, so far as being materially blessed—and next to Israel so far as being spiritually blessed.

However, America, it is tragic and sad to say, has long since departed from God’s supreme directions in so many ways. We have become almost a twin—or I should say a “triplet”?—of Sodom and Gomorrah in ways of cultural anti-God comportment.

Our Lord said He will next catastrophically intervene into the wicked affairs of humankind—not at a time when there is world war or economic collapse into depression, but at a time of buying, selling, building, planting, and marrying—all the activities that indicate business as usual. As a matter of fact, I believe we are beginning to see economic times boom, as Sodom did in Lot’s day.

It will be at that time—like in the case of Lot’s day in Sodom—when Christ will call all believers to Himself in the clouds of Glory. That “sudden destruction” of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 will then take place. That is, it will take place at the same time as the cry for peace is taking place!

I believe we are seeing the perfect prophetic storm very near the point of breaking upon a world totally unsuspecting that it is coming. “Like a snare,” it will come upon the entire world (Luke 21:35).

A Special Thank You!

The donation request for the Pakistani ministry was very successful, thanks to you wonderful brothers and sisters who so generously opened up your hearts to this effort.

Soon our Pakistani Pastor Anil will send for posting his personal note of gratitude to you and thanks to our Lord.

The printing and distribution of my two little books, Prophecy Power: Strength from God to Face Your Future and HeavenVision: Glimpses into Glory are now in process there in Pakistan. Let us pray together that many souls come to Christ in this mission effort!

Again, may our Lord bless each of you in every way!

—Terry

PS—I sent personal notes of thanks through email to those of you who included your email addresses with your donation.

Unfortunately, a few of those notes came back as undeliverable. So, to those who didn’t get my personal thanks, please send me an email at wtjames1@swbell.net and I’ll respond with a thank-you note, which is what I very much want to do.

If you’ve watched the rage going on in Minneapolis and other cities, you see the screaming, howling, cursing, and, in many cases, the physical assaults upon the ICE agents trying to enforce the law by rounding up illegal aliens. It seems sheer lunacy, at least to this observer, just listening to the screeching, especially of young women who seem to have gone mad with the obsession of keeping those convicted of the most heinous crimes imaginable from capture and deportation.

These aren’t protests like the founders envisioned, but are riotous and steeped in violence, and even murderous intent, as fiercely wicked as the acts of the illegals who have invaded our borders. We remember vividly, for example, the recent death of the thirty-seven-year-old woman who tried to block ICE agents and, when ordered to get out of her vehicle, instead of lawfully complying, accelerated into the ICE officer. He then, in order to protect himself and others, fired his weapon, striking the woman and killing her.

As insanely as the young woman acted, I was touched by words I heard her father say when interviewed. He was, the report indicated, a Christian who, while heartbroken over his daughter’s death, said she had no business acting in such a way, when obviously trying to run the ICE officer over.

Days later, an armed rioter threatened an ICE officer with guns and was shot and killed, touching off even more violence. One rioter, in the throes of ferocity, bit off the finger of an ICE agent.

What has happened in this nation, where sanity seems out the window and absolute hatred rules in the minds of those who apparently want to protect murderers, rapists, child molesters, and many other kinds of criminals from other countries to remain in America?

And the chaos and insanity are backed up by most every mainstream news organization in the country. It’s a growing sin infection that Paul the apostle called “the reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28).

Paul warned of how things will develop as the time of Christ’s return nears. We have looked at that passage many times. I refer, of course, to the great apostle’s “perilous times” prophecy of 2 Timothy chapter 3. I’ll let you look it up in totality but will dwell only on one element for our purpose here.

Paul said: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be…fierce…” (2 Timothy 3:3). 

And, as we have just recounted, women will be fierce, too.  As a matter of fact, the record is reflecting that those responsible for organizing these rages against law and order are using young, white women to thrust into the forefront of protecting the murderers, rapists, child molesters, and other illegal criminals murdering, raping, sex-trafficking children and plundering billions of dollars from tax paying citizens, such as we have witnessed from among the Somali fraud—again in the Minneapolis area.

Again, Paul wrote under Holy Spirit Inspiration of the very thing that would mark the end of the Age of Grace (Church Age).  He said that the “lawless one,” Antichrist, will be revealed following the removal of the Restrainer as governor of evil over this fallen world system. It will be the spirit of Antichrist that even in John the apostle’s day was prevalent that will pervade the human race and its rebellion against all godliness.

That spirit is being manifest with each of these lawless episodes exploding around the nation. These have at their riotous hearts the reprobate minds of those who champion the wickedness that saturates our nation’s bluest cities. This has been the evil springing forth since the Biden administration opened those floodgates along our borders.

But it is not a political problem that threatens the republic the founding fathers—and God Himself—gave us. My great friend Gary Stearman had something to say about all this, giving us a Holy Spirit-influenced think-piece, I believe:

Years ago, I noticed something in Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. It struck home in a big way, and to this day directs my thinking about Bible prophecy. In the third chapter, there is an intriguing statement: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” Probably most serious Christians have noticed this warning, and then have continued to read the long list of character deficiencies that follow…

This description of latter-day societal shortcomings rings with a surprising familiarity to those of us who observe the daily media parade. As I read this, it occurred to me that I needed to do a deeper study of what the term “perilous times” really meant. Looking it up, I found that the word “perilous” came from the Greek word, chalepos.

Looking further, I discovered that in the New Testament, this word was used only twice, the other time being in Matthew, Chapter 8, in which Jesus and His disciples had sailed across the Sea of Galilee. A windstorm had risen and swamped their sailboat, until He spoke and calmed the waters:

“27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way”(Mt. 8:27, 28).

To my amazement, I discovered that the Greek word chalepos was used in the phrase, “exceedingly fierce!”

And fierce they were … so strong that in this territory of the beach and its cliffs, no one could pass. Their strength came from demonic possession.

I was immediately struck with the thought that when Paul wrote those prophetic words to Timothy, his exhaustive description of latter-day humanity was constructed around the idea of madness … raging insanity empowered by dark forces! Suddenly, I was deeply impressed with Paul’s true intent: to show Timothy – and us, in the twenty-first century – that the days before Christ’s return would be marked by a growing social insanity.

And not just that; it would be an insanity driven by the same dark forces encountered by Jesus and His disciples on the shores of Galilee on that day so long ago.

When this connection struck me so long ago, I began what I called the Chalepos Watch!

Always keeping Paul’s words in mind, I noted social changes and developments that were driven by raging insanity of the sort that suggested the presence of dark forces, working behind the scenes to fragment our civilized society:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12).

The Chalepos Watch is still underway, and I intend to pursue it in the future, just as I have for so many years now. (Source: Gary Stearman needs no introduction to those who study Bible prophecy, of course. I’ll just say that Gary is cohost, along with Mondo Gonzales, of Prophecy Watchers, one of the premiere Bible prophecy ministries today.)

So, it is obvious that we face at this moment fierceness born of the dark side, fomented by the father of lies and the perpetrator of lawlessness against the order established by our God.

But as Gary put it in concluding his thoughts on this fierceness we face: “The good news? It is found a little further down in Paul’s letter”: “But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was” (2 Timothy 3:9).

This week’s column is intended to build upon last week’s regarding what the violence and great unrest are about and where they’re leading prophetically.

One prophetic component of what will comprise the denouement of this Age of Grace (Church Age) has vaulted to top of the stage-setting platform. This ingredient has, I believe, put end-times prophecy into overdrive while we watch things unfold through today’s hourly news cycles.

This component is spelled out unequivocally in God’s Word as at the root of evil in this sin-infected world, fallen since humanity’s rebellion in Eden.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

It would be easy to conclude a probe into this root cause of all the world’s evil by simply pointing to the billions of dollars of fraud found by Elon Musk’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). The tremendous fraud is still being uncovered daily after a year of the Trump administration coming to power.

Or an even greater proof that could be concluded is to offer the many billions of dollars of which the American taxpayers have been defrauded by Somalia operatives in Minnesota. But as profoundly evil as this larceny is, it’s only the tip of the enormous, evil iceberg that has grown to now threaten, in Titanic-like fashion, to sink the entire world in an economy-crushing cataclysm.

That iceberg of evil that’s grown exponentially harbors within its crushing power the love of money that God’s Word says is the “root of all evil.” Let’s examine this more deeply to understand its growth and orchestration by the being who, for now, owns the wealth of this God-rejecting world.

The destruction of humankind has, from some point near the beginning of Lucifer’s rebellion in Heaven, been Satan’s goal. That destructive effort has ramped up quickly and powerfully, as the news testifies.

Tyrants and dictators have long kept the victims within their despotic grips to suppress freedom that might replace their evil regimes. They control all commerce ruthlessly—creating, in effect, slave labor—while providing scant substance of money and foodstuffs. This has always been the case with evil leadership. Their power indeed comes from the barrels of guns–or from other murderous weaponry of dealing death to those who resist.

These who hold their victims in their grip of absolute control harbor the love of money at the center of their black, sin-saturated hearts. Money is what ensures that they will stay in power so they can enjoy the lives of billionaires. Money purchases the weapons they can use to suppress those under their dictatorships. It gives them the means necessary to invade and conquer more and more victims.

And that love of money isn’t exclusively owned by what we most often think of as the enemies of democracy. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once waxed eloquent on this when he warned against the West’s military-industrial complex.

Many of the top echelons within this conglomerate, it has been charged by Eisenhower and others, want to see the wars continue to rage. The fantastic wealth such buildup to wars produce is staggering, if one adds up the cost of all conflicts just within the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

The lives of the youths in the world’s nations have been fed into such conflict for the purpose of not just defending against tyrants, but to create great wealth to provide lavish lifestyles for politicians and corporate titans.

We see all this rolling before our eyes as we watch, for example, things going on involving Iran. The ayatollahs and their regime of Islamic terror are under great pressures from the people who now occupy the area that was Persia of ancient times. These evil leaders are about to loosen their stranglehold on their victims. The rioting and revolutionary fervor stem, in large part, from the people’s anger over economic deprivation. The regime’s dictators, the people know, are making life miserable, and they are rising up to rid themselves of their masters.

While it might seem the uprising is calming somewhat, it will, I believe, grow in swelling waves of discontent.

Exacerbating the ayatollahs’ problems with the current revolution in Iran is the fact that America’s president is promising, in some way not yet clear, to support the people in a way that will be disastrous for the regime.

This president follows through on such promises, so the regime’s leadership is in collective panic. For example, the leadership abruptly cancelled the execution of eighteen anti-regime protestors when President Trump said any executions would mean American action directly against those who ordered the executions.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, top leader and commander of the military, has reportedly made plans to go into exile–perhaps to Moscow—if America looks to be truly on the brink of regime change.

I don’t think this will be the case. These ayatollah types are satanically bound to the most radical and virulent form of Islam, and Khamenei is 87, so the regime might be ready to die on that hill, as is sometimes said for those who won’t change or quit.

But getting back to this article’s title, it is money that is at the root of what I sense is going on now in this regard. And it is profoundly prophetic, if it’s the way this might all be shaping up for one of the most notable of all Bible prophecies.

The people of Iran are revolting vehemently due to their destitution, driven to action by the regime creating that dire economic condition. And with sanctions in place that this American president has set against the Iranian dictatorship, they haven’t any way of satisfying the reason for the peoples’ revolt.

They must therefore do what every government, especially those under the tyrannical leaderships, usually do: create diversion—or, in this case, join a coalition that is strong so as to prevent their own loss of power.

It is fascinating to note that another nation of prophetic interest is in terrible economic shape, also. And, as stated before, it’s obvious to me that one reason Vladimir Putin of Russia is so adamant about taking back Ukraine because his own people must realize they’re being deprived and tremendous internal revolt is developing.

A much-appreciated reader wrote to say there are no such hard economic times in Russia–at least not to the extent the sources I’m hearing from are reporting. However, despite Russia’s economic condition one way or the other, with the American president, for example, cutting off Russia’s oil from Venezuela and other harsh monetary impositions such as sanctions, the Russian plight is destined to worsen.

Ukraine offers that diversion mentioned above, keeping the attention focused on the war. But the tremendous numbers of Russia’s youth lost in the war, and now even older people, are adding to the increasing displeasure among the people of Russia. At the same time, there is great need to get vast sums of money to keep their economic base out of the pit of destitution.

I wonder again if the “evil thought” that comes into the mind of the one called Gog will have the love of or the desperate need for money at the root of the decision to invade toward Israel to “take great spoil” (Israel’s riches).

The same question applies to Iran (Persia). Might the leadership see that their way to survive is to join that coalition with Russia and the others to gain strength back as they pursue riches to the south?

While the Tribulation grows nearer on the prophetic horizon, things seem to be shaping up quickly, with many of the developments wrapped around economic exigencies. And that shaping up includes the US, as we’ve looked at numerous times before.

While the tyrannical nations to the east are in declining economic conditions, I believe there’s about to be an economic boom in America. This is a reason, I believe, that Donald Trump was allowed in office again despite even assassination attempts against his life and every sort of unsavory political and personal attack imaginable.

Despite the declarations of some prophecy writers—those who deny there will be the pre-Trib Rapture and who think we are on the precipice of economic collapse, thus about to go directly into the Tribulation—the facts are coming out to the contrary. A just-released indicator of the up-trending fiscal outlook is highly relevant.

The U.S. trade deficit has been reduced to $29.4 billion, after last being reported at $48.1 billion. The forecasted deficit had been $58.1 billion, Investing.com reported. The deficit dropped by $18.7 billion, and was $28.7 billion less than the predicted figure. The deficit is the lowest since 2009. (“US Trade Deficit Shrinks to $29.4 Billion, Lowest Since 2009,” https://amac.us/newsline/economy/us-trade-deficit-shrinks-to-29-4-billion-lowest-since-2009/)

Some financial authorities/experts believe an economic boom is thus beginning. This fits with our Lord’s Luke 17:28–30 “days of Lot” prophecy. It’s just a time like this—when building, buying, selling, and other economics are on the uptick—when He will call the Church into the clouds of Glory, according to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

So, after here looking a bit into the root of evil, let us rather, with great anticipation, begin looking up for our redemption, which is drawing near (Luke 21:28)!

Most observers of Bible prophecy and developments toward eventual fulfillment—from the pre-Trib perspective—believe a motivation for the Gog-Magog attack of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 will involve economics. It seems, as a matter of fact, that perhaps the primary motivation will be monetary.

The scriptural basis for this presumption derives from the following:

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Ezekiel 38:9–12)

Of course, the real motivation, the impetus for this future attack, comes from Satan. He wants the Jewish nation Israel destroyed. If he can cause God’s promise—for Israel to be a nation forever—to fail, he doubtless believes he can avoid his own promised punishment, which is to burn throughout eternity in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

The “evil thought” in this Ezekiel prophecy, though, will have at its root in the mind of the Gog spirit indwelling the leader of this satanic coalition the dark idea of stealing all the riches Israel is blessed with.

This motivation, it more and more appears, will be not only from just the desire to take Israel’s riches, but also from the determination to turn around all the coalition members’ (Gog-Magog nations’) abject, dismal economic conditions.

And this monetary-fiscal failure is ever more evident within the economic conditions of these major players that will lead the Gog-Magog assault, according to today’s news cycles.

Russia is in dire stress economically, and many observers believe this is one reason Vladimir Putin keeps feeding the youth and now even the older soldiers of Russia into the deadly machinery of war in the bloody battles against Ukraine. He must distract from the increasingly horrendous economy and living conditions suffered by the Russian people to preserve his position of power.

This has often been the strategy of the likes of Josef Stalin and subsequent dictators of the Soviet Union and around the world.

But we’re looking here at the Gog-Magog coalition member called “Persia.”

This, of course, is the area now called “Iran.”

Here are some news tidbits about that nation’s dismal fiscal condition:

• Iranians use internet connectivity to fight hated regime: Iran’s latest wave of unrest began with the kind of trigger that regimes fear because it spreads through every class: money. Shopkeepers in Tehran’s large mobile phone market shuttered their stores, and the anger pulled in students and more cities as the rial kept sliding and prices kept climbing. The protests did not reach the scale of the 2022 uprising, yet the tone shifted quickly, and the content online sharpened.

• Why Iranians are calling for the return of the Pahlavis and their monarchy: Protesters took to the streets of Iran this week, amid chants of anger against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and fury over an economy in free fall, a slogan once considered politically unutterable returned, and the sounds of crowds chanting it filled the air. “Javid Shah” – Long Live the Shah.

• Regime Change Here? Protesters Call for the Death of Ayatollah Khamenei Aa Violence Erupts All over Iran:  Is this the end for the tyrannical regime of Ayatollah Khamenei and his minions? During the fifth day of protests in Iran, violence erupted in multiple major cities, and protesters were shouting for Khamenei to be killed. But I wouldn’t get too excited yet. Demanding regime change is easy. Bringing it about is something else altogether. Khamenei and his minions have a lot more guns than the protesters do, and the current regime will never step aside willingly. So those that are desperately hoping for regime change in Iran should not count their chickens before they hatch. (Rapture Ready News, January 2, 2026)

The stories of Iran’s radical Muslim regime coming under assault by the Iranian people continue to mount. And it is reported that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini has made arrangements to go into exile in Moscow at any moment.

But it is reasonable to wonder if this will happen because of Islam’s absolute dedication to establishing the rule of Allah no matter the opposition. War in the cause of Allah—even to the extent of murdering all people who oppose the Islamic law and rule—is justified, and there is to be no quarter given.

Like in the case of Putin and Russia, the Islamic dictatorship will not be deterred. Anything and everything will be done, if history is an indicator, to forge ahead with satanic-directed hegemony. Therefore, Bible prophecy and its fulfillment could well be in play in light of the dire economic conditions and resultant rage by the Iranian people.

It’s easy to postulate that the wrathful unrest of the people who now occupy the land of ancient Persia will cause Iran’s evil leaders to eagerly join with Russia, Turkey, and the rest of the Gog-Magog force in the assault against God’s chosen nation and people.

The “evil thought” of the one called “Gog” will almost certainly center around deflecting the anger and rage of the millions of people under these regimes’ dictatorships.

We are perhaps witnessing now the buildup toward solidifying that coalition Ezekiel spoke of thousands of years ago.

Money—the love of which, God’s Word tells us, is the root of all sorts of evil—certainly is at the nucleus of much of what’s going on in our world today. Whether considering the hatred surrounding the Israel-Muslim world, the blood-drenched Russia-Ukraine war, or the US action against the drug cartels of oil-rich but citizen-destitute Venezuela, economics are surely a prime motivating factor in the drive toward global dictatorship that will one day be attempted by Antichrist.

In that regard, we can see where President Dwight Eisenhower had it right in his warning against the military-industrial complex. The munitions industry it takes to foment and carry out war continues to create wealth for the producers and the merchants of weaponry.

All this we see developing points to the truth that Christ’s call to the Church is drawing near.

Speaking of motivation: Seeing that glorious moment drawing ever nearer, how motivated should we be to be about our Father’s business in carrying out the Great Commission?

Here again is the heart of that gospel to use in our mission to reach the lost:

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10)

Beginning the New Year 2026 and considering all that’s happening that looks to signal the very end of this Age of Grace, sets the stage for wondering just how near we might be to the time when Christ calls His Bride. And, meantime, the question arises: Just what might be next for life in America?

While thinking about my research in writing my Harvest House book released in 2009—The American Apocalypse: Is the United States in Bible Prophecy?—took me back to God’s dealing with America in the 1930s. The things Americans suffered were considered by preachers and politicians alike to be God’s wrath and judgment.

One well-known writer, John Steinbeck, even gave his famous novel on that depressed time in America the title The Grapes of Wrath.

America had gone through a tremendous time of growth and relative prosperity during the “Gay 90s” (for the younger readers, it had nothing to do with the 1990s, nor with homosexuality). It was the 1890s, and the term “gay” still enjoyed its proper definition.

Despite the early 1900s bringing about World War I, the nation leaped forward, and soon the “Roaring Twenties” brought forth the flappers and boisterous, even debauched, “good times.” Reformers tried to squash the hedonism, and the passage of the 18th Amendment instituted prohibition against alcohol manufacture, sale, and transportation. The action only increased rebellion against morality. American gangsters took over, and illegal booze, gambling, and every other type of nefarious activity permeated culture and society.

Then, in 1929 came the stock market crash in the United States, and worldwide depression quickly followed. The wrath of God had fallen!

Or had it?

No, it had not. Neither had His judgment against America’s sin fallen upon the nation, thus affecting the world—not in the sense of God’s great judgment that came upon the antediluvians, the wicked, violent, even genetically corrupted earth dwellers of Noah’s day.

But God’s mighty hand of correction through the Great Depression and the horrendous “Dust Bowl” era came down hard on the backside of this nation He so manifestly chose to accomplish great things for His great purposes. Those things would include, in particular: 1) developing the technologies that would spread the gospel around the entire world, and 2) to act as midwife for the birth of modern Israel on May 14, 1948, and to become that Jewish peoples’ closest ally—an ally that just happened to soon become the most materially blessed, most powerful, and most influential nation the world has ever known.

America has, despite recession, economic downturns, and wars that took thousands of young American lives, known a standard of living and pleasures—both unsullied and debauched—like no generation of any people in history. The profoundly disturbing questions to ponder are: Will God choose to again correct this special nation called America? Or, will He take His hand off to an extent, allowing the US to find its own way, and the people to do what is right in their own eyes, which is what much of the American electorate seems to want?

Daily I read news, even from those who write on things from the Bible prophecy perspective who fear this nation will now feel the Lord’s hand of wrath. These writers usually are those who reject totally the pre-Trib view of Rapture. They hold that the die is cast, as one of Shakespeare’s characters said. I don’t necessarily subscribe to that “judgment and wrath is about to fall” opinion—at least not in the immediate, near-term way many who write the fear-filled articles and books believe.

God’s wrath, however, is building. It will be unleashed when the “prince that shall come” confirms the covenant with Israel and Israel’s antagonists (Daniel 9:26–27).

That pouring out of God’s anger won’t happen until the Church is removed. However, there is almost certainly a heavenly decision that has already been made and is even now in the process of implementation. It is likely the decision to either take corrective measures as in God’s past dealings with America in order to get this nation back on the moral course, to complete its work in His grand prophetic design, or to give rebellious masses what they more and more demonstrate they demand. They demand freedom to choose what is right in their own eyes.

God’s decision to take His hand off to some extent would be far more fearful than His again taking corrective action like world economic depression. To let the rebels do what is right in their own eyes, thus casting God away from any semblance of divine guidance, means America’s work is done. That is indeed a frightening thing to contemplate.

I must say that I, with reverential consideration, don’t expect immediate meltdown and correction from Almighty God. I believe with all that is within me that He has been demonstrating corrective movements over the past years and months—movements that have gone unheeded by even the majority of His people. These have chosen to bury their heads in the sands of watered-down messages that have practically no relevance to God’s message of doctrinal truth. Rather than revival, there have been false, emotional outbursts that have done disservice to the Lord, who purchased each and every one who has been born again. It seems to me that the Church’s work, like that of America, has almost run its course.

Dave Hunt once wrote a book called Peace, Prosperity, and the Coming Holocaust. His basic premise was that this fallen world system—and particularly the United States and even the Church—would be drawn ever deeper into believing in humanistic salvation by seeming peace and prosperity. He demonstrated, then, through historical precedent and Bible prophecy both past and yet to come that the world of fallen man will, at a future time of unprecedented evil activity on earth, endure a holocaust far worse than that perpetrated by Adolf Hitler. The end will bring, he concluded, God’s wrath and judgment on an incorrigibly wicked world.

I believe America and the world might be entering a time of so-called peace and prosperity as Dave foresaw. But it will be abbreviated by Christ’s sudden intervention. The “change” the country and the world is clamoring for through trust in human governmental entities rather than God’s moral governance will, as my late friend Dave Hunt wrote, swiftly bring the holocaust of the Tribulation.

As many know, I believe that Jesus’ prophecy on “the days of Lot” (Luke 17: 28-30) Is exactly where this generation likely stands on God’s prophetic timeline.

It will not be world economic collapse or the end of the American dream, as some declare, that will preempt the “sudden destruction” of Luke 17-30. Jesus said that the economy will be business as usual, while wickedness proliferates just beneath the surface of civility when He next catastrophically intervenes into the world of sin and rebellion.

As a matter of fact, instead of the economic collapse into the Tribulation, as some prophecy writers of the anti-pre-Trib Rapture sort are declaring, I believe we are headed for somewhat of an economic boom.

While, at the moment, the writers of economic collapse are pointing to the rise in prices they believe will bring economic despair at the Tribulation level, the facts are entirely different. The following item points to what is happening under this unusual president named Donald J. Trump.

Well, Donald Trump has done it again!

He stumped the chumps.

The “chumps” in this case were the “blue chip” academic and financial economists whose consensus forecast this time last year was for high inflation and low economic growth. Wrong on both counts.

As you’ve probably heard, the GDP growth for Q3 came in at a red hot 4.3% following 3.5% for the second quarter. Some 90% of the professional economists got it wrong — all underestimating the strength of the Trump economy. QED: these weren’t random errors. These were “hate Trump” errors.

They also predicted inflation of above 3% for 2025. It’s going to come in at closer to 2.7% with the last two months trending down to the Fed inflation target of 2%.

Starting in the second quarter, GDP has been nearly twice as high as predicted.

To quote the inimitable special agent Maxwell Smart: “Missed it by that much.”…

Krugman and others all thought Trump’s tariffs would ignite runaway inflation.

There’s no doubt tariffs did cause a rise in aluminum, coffee and beef prices – commodities that got hit by tariffs as high as 50%. But the economic pundits failed to take account of the disinflationary effect of pro-growth policies like deregulation, Trump tax rate cuts, and pro-America energy policies. These counteracted the impact of tariffs on prices overall.

One would have thought that the academics and media would have learned from their mistakes of always underestimating Trump on the economy. But they seem incapable of self-correcting. They keep doubling-down on dire predictions about Trumponomics. (https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/moore-economists-got-2025-all-wrong)

While prices continue to be too high for consumer affordability because of prior economic mishandling, I believe changes to bring costs down for the consumer are in process.

Do not think that this coming economic uptick is a good thing in terms of the world. Rather, it is a harbinger of the moment when God takes His great hand of restraint off this fallen planet and takes His family into the clouds of Glory!

It signals the any-moment Rapture!

Jesus said the economy will be just like it was in Sodom when Lot was removed. Business in that wicked place was booming—so much so that Lot chose to settle there when his Uncle Abraham gave him a choice.

It also will be like it was in Sodom once God’s family—all born-again believers in His Son Jesus Christ—are removed. Sudden destruction will follow, like in ancient Sodom.

So, like in the case of Lot’s family (the only righteousness God recognized in Sodom), the righteous–all born-again living and dead during the Church Age or Age of Grace will be removed from amongst the unbelieving of this fallen planet. This will be the Rapture—the pre-Trib Rapture!

Let us pray for the president and for all governmental leaders, so that we might lead peaceful lives. This is commanded of us by the Lord. But, let us work to complete whatever He puts in front of us to do for the Kingdom. Let us, as Oswald Chambers entitled his book of devotions, do “Our utmost for His highest” while our fleeting time remains upon this fallen sphere.

*******

Pakistan Ministry Mission Appeal from Terry James

To my Rapture Ready and Prophecyline family: I again solicit your support in spreading God’s Word in Pakistan.

Your generosity in past missionary efforts has just been wonderful beyond measure. I again prayerfully ask that you open your spiritual heart in helping fund the distribution of the books I have given to our pastor in Pakistan to use while he preaches and teaches about our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Anil Jasper translated my little book, Prophecy Power: Strength from God to Face Your Future. He has now also translated into the Urdu language my small book, HeavenVision: Glimpses into Glory.

This is the book in which I describe my widow-maker heart attack on Good Friday of April 22, 2011. In this book, I tell of being somewhere in the heavenly sphere each time my heart stopped. The voluminous documentation of that medical emergency shows why my survival was so unusual that the cardiological association gave me the “Cardiological Patient of the Year” award and asked me to speak at their convention.

Of course, at the heart of my testimony is the salvation message that Jesus alone can save the soul from an eternity apart from God the Father.

The first book Pastor Anil translated, then distributed and continues to distribute to the people of his country, Prophecy Power remains a great witness of Christ’s saving power. HeavenVision will now add a second tool that will help Pastor Anil win souls for God’s eternal family.

I have special permission from my publishers to donate these books to this ministry. I receive no compensation whatsoever from their distribution in Pakistan.

Your donations are essential to carry out this all-important mission. I believe your contributions will result in great heavenly rewards some eternal day when we all come before our Lord at the judgment seat of Christ.

We need funding to print and distribute these books beginning this month.

May the Lord bless you mightily for helping in this mission to the people of Pakistan.

Again, I don’t have a way to accept credit cards or Pay Pal-type contributions. I ask that you send a check to the address below.

Please put in the line at the bottom of your check: “For our Pakistani mission.”

Also, please include your email address so I can thank you individually. Being blind now since I was fifty-one, sending out letters is beyond my ability. But sending emails is easily within my capability, and I certainly want to thank each of you.

Please make the check out to my name–Terry James—and send to:

Terry James Prophecyline

P.O. Box 38

Benton, AR 72018           

Thanks, and God’s Blessings.

Terry 

PS—I am thankful and so pleased to announce that we have received a donation offer that will greatly help in this effort to fund printing and distribution of my books in Pakistan.

A most generous brother in Christ has offered up to $7,500 in matching funds for donations we receive.

In other words, for each donation you send, he will match with an equal amount up to $7,500.

This will greatly bless our effort to provide for the printing and distribution of these two books, each  of which has been translated by Pastor Anil Jasper into his Urdu language.

Thanks to each of you who help reach our goal, which we believe will be sufficient to accomplish this missionary effort in our Lord’s service.

All funds received will be used toward reaching the people of Pakistan with truth from God’s Word.

New Year’s resolutions of every description are no doubt being sworn as 2026 makes its entrance. I’ve never made such commitments over my many decades of life; I guess I’ve always known my weakness in not being able to stick to them.

There is, however, a resolution I hope to make central to this commentary—one I believe you and I must keep while we watch the burgeoning evil of this late prophetic hour.

We can keep this resolution—a heavenly directed one—because the very hand of God is guaranteed to be upon us while we try to keep it. It is Heaven’s answer in dealing with the other matter, “revolution,” in this commentary’s title.

There is a deluge of news counter to God’s design for humanity’s conduct. We look at the incessant evil each week in this column and in other venues, books, etc.

“Revolution” is the antithesis of Heaven’s directive for humankind. The revolution springs from the original rebel who first seduced the mother of us all. It is the result of the venom called “iniquity” introduced when Lucifer, now called Satan, convinced Eden’s only human inhabitants to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Since that time, the deadly disease of sin has coursed through the veins of every person who has ever lived–except for Jesus the Christ, whose birth into this fallen sphere we celebrated a week or so ago.

And He is the One who has given us the antidote to the deadly malady from which all of humankind suffers.

The spirit of indwelling revolution against God within all of us is the cause of the wickedness and rebellion demonstrated across the world at this very moment. That revolutionary hatred is pushing all of humanity ever nearer the time of Tribulation. Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and Resurrection is the antidote to that deadly eternal virus, when the person infected receives that antidote as God’s grace gift to each of us.

To be free of this satanically induced, rebellious revolution that condemns all people to separation from the Heavenly Father forever requires a Savior. Without the Savior that takes away the sins of the world, the human creation would be condemned to eternal destruction.

The returning King of all kings and Lord of all lords Himself said that if He didn’t intervene at Armageddon, no flesh would be saved. Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world who takes away the sin that was introduced into Eden when Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator.

He is the only way individuals can be saved. He is the Savior of the world!

And this is the truth wrapped up within the resolution for this new year that we must make and carry out. The message wrapped within this resolution is the only answer to what ails the entire world at present, the evil and wickedness that confront us in hourly news each and every day.

Jesus, the Savior of the world, issued Heaven’s command. It’s a command that we as members of God’s eternal family, saved by the matchless grace of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary, must resolve to carry out in this New Year. Here is our Lord’s command, which we must make our resolution to obey in 2026.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:16–20)

Let us resolve to fight against the rebellious evil of this satanic revolution raging in this fallen world. Jesus and the message of the gospel must be presented to everyone on earth in order to offer Heaven’s antidote to the deadly sin infection afflicting all of humanity.

Here is that message:

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10)

I must admit up front that I’ve delved into now ancient archives of my own thoughts in writing this week’s column. The things under consideration, however, are more relevant than ever. As a matter of fact, it becomes quite fascinating to look back at earlier times of analyses of issues and events. New perspectives and postulations can sometimes be derived from such retrospective.

Quite a few years ago, I put together (as general editor) a book with a number of prophecy scholars, broadcasters, and writers. That book was called Foreshocks of Antichrist. Its chapters dealt with issues and events of the times that the other authors and I believed were significant in considering prophecies about Antichrist coming to power, as described in the books of Daniel, Revelation, 1 John, and others.

That was about 1996, I think, and I believed at the time that conditions couldn’t ripen much more so far as the world being ready to reap the bitter harvest concerning what the Antichrist will bring.

I was wrong, of course, which proves we must never be too quick to think things can’t get much worse. They can get worse—and they have, since my late mentors/colleagues such as Dr. John Walvoord, Dr. Dave Breese, Zola Levitt, Dr. Tim LaHaye, and many others dissected the issues with the scalpel of God’s Word in that Harvest House book.

The shadow of the coming Antichrist looms more ominously than ever.

All one must do is to consider the following report I used many years ago to see that dictatorship might be right around the proverbial corner. An Austrian newspaper reported the following result of a question posed to the citizenry of that nation: What was their opinion of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi annexation during World War II?

Reuters Report—May 21, 2013:

Forty-two percent said life was not all bad under Hitler, while sixty-one percent said they would be interested in a strong-armed leader who did not have to deal with democratic challenges like political opponents and elections. The survey, published this weekend, is getting prominent play in the media in Israel, which is home to some 250,000 Holocaust survivors.

Antichrist and the False Prophet of Revelation chapter 13 will be the ultimate, final dictatorship. Their regime will be the driver of the geopolitical and religious juggernaut that will crush anyone and anything that opposes it during the Tribulation era. The engine that will power Satan’s cruel, soul-rending Beast of Revelation 13:1–2 will be an all-controlling, enslaving economy. We see the Beast described as follows:

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1–2)

The control that Beast will wield is described in this way:

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16–17)

The technologies for setting up just such a system of control over the people of the world have grown exponentially during the past several decades. Computer-satellite hook-ups between continents, linking most of the world in a geometrically progressing network of electronic funds transfer capability, brings this generation ever closer to the type of control prophesied in those familiar passages of Scripture.

The United States of America, the most materially blessed nation on earth, has been concentric to the global networking. Most of the great contributions to the computer and satellite revolution have been spawned from this country. But other super-industrious peoples around the globe continue the “progress.” Other nations are now taking the relevant technologies to new levels of “achievement.” Now, it is America who seems to be dragging its feet in bringing in economic Utopia—or so it would seem…

As we looked at these matters of international finance more than a decade ago, it appeared that the US was the hold-up to bringing in a new world financial order. The refusal to relinquish paper and coinage as currency was viewed as blocking the establishment of that changed monetary order.

With the unbelievable swiftness of movement involving all things fiscal since those earlier times, it becomes obvious that the powers that drive monetary movement determined to keep hard currencies in place with the US dollar as the standard (until other dynamics of financial interlinkages brought sufficient chaos) to create critical need for a system other than paper and coins to avert world economic disaster.

The United States’ great wealth and power, represented in the mighty dollar, was thus held high as criterion for international trade until just the right political changes within America had been engineered. That political change has, as of the coming of the Obama administration, now begun—and in a big way. The dollar’s fate is sealed. The advent of such profound technological intrusions as AI and Bitcoin is assuring the fate of paper and coinage.

Is America, then, a stumbling block to, or a catalyst for, the emerging system that will almost certainly serve as the framework for Antichrist’s Revelation 13 hegemony over the earth?

Rationale prompts one to believe something must happen to cause the US citizenship to come around to accepting a total e-money solution to the confusing state of currency exchanges, et cetera. But the process is agonizingly slow and would likely have to take place with powerful opposition from the American Congress and its constituencies and lobbyists.

Many observers of Bible prophecy, including yours truly, can’t see it taking decades for such a situation to develop. That is, we can’t imagine a scenario that would allow, in America, a lengthy transition to the coming global order essential to the future Antichrist regime’s system of control. This is because most other prophesied signals for the Tribulation appear to now be in place for setting the stage for the Tribulation.

In assessing all of this, Pete Garcia and I have just completed a book to soon be published by Defender Publishing with the title The Machine That Speaks: Building the Beast’s Image in Silicon Valley.

Again, the factor that fits perfectly into a scenario in which America is instantly brought to such a state of chaos that it acquiesces to the world’s call for a cashless system of digital economics, is—you guessed it—the Rapture!

Author’s note: Christmas 2025 is upon us. This article, now slightly updated, was first posted/published December 25, 2006. I thought it still most relevant at this moment–perhaps more so than ever before.

The Visitation

One solitary birth is the basis upon which the future hangs for every person ever to enter this mortal realm we call planet Earth. How each man, woman, and child who has reached the age of understanding salvation views this visitation determines where their home will be for eternity.

Many believe Jesus was sent by God to show us how to live a good life. Some think He was a great prophet and teacher. Others regard Him as a philosopher right up there with Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the rest. A few among the billions who have lived since His birth have believed Jesus is the Son of God, but perhaps one among others of a created angelic order assigned to influence the affairs of humankind. Still fewer believe He was who He claimed to be: the only begotten Son of God; the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14: 6).

No birth of any individual has ever caused the excitement and controversy that the birth of Jesus has engendered. Was this baby a stranger of an otherworldly order sent to Earth to provide moral guidance? Was Jesus sent to philosophize on the vicissitudes of the human existence? Or was this visitation something more?

Jesus came into the world through the Jewish race. Only those inalterably antagonistic to the truth of history will argue against that. So, we should examine this birth–this visitation—through the prism of Israel and that Jewish nation’s dealings with the one called Jesus.

Although there are other histories about the era, the Bible’s historical account has, through archaeological unveilings, proven time after time to be accurate in details concerning matters surrounding Jesus, the Jews, and Israel. (One such example is the relatively recent discovery of artifacts and evidence that one called Pontius Pilate ruled the area of Judea during the times attributed to Jesus’ crucifixion. Until the discovery, Pilate’s existence as a historical figure was seriously doubted, even denied by many historians.)

We can know the accuracy of how Israel—and the religious Jews in particular—dealt with Jesus. We can know with assurance that He performed miracles and claimed to be God, Himself, by using the Bible’s documented veracity as proof that Jesus was born exactly as described in detail by Old Testament prophets. The Jewish religious leaders’ treatment of Christ’s First Coming as a baby lays groundwork for understanding what that means to the souls of all humankind. Understanding that First Coming also helps frame the importance of how each of us views Christ’s prophesied Second Advent.

Tragically, the pious Jewish leaders refused to accept that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah sent from Jehovah to be their King and Savior. They rejected Him despite the precise prophecies He fulfilled in His coming and His ministry. They chose to have Rome rather than Jesus rule over them. The results of their rejection continue to reverberate not only in the Holy Land, but throughout the entire world. Armageddon is building, its nucleus grounded in satanic rage against God’s chosen people.

Jesus wept over God’s people of Israel and the city Jerusalem. He saw times ahead that would eventuate in calamity for them.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:41–44)

Christ’s First Visitation was ignored and scoffed at by the religious leaders of the time. Their choice was their own way rather than God’s. They preferred to do what was right in their own eyes. True to Jesus’ prophecy, Jerusalem was laid waste, the Temple destroyed, and the Jews scattered to every part of the world. Genocide was committed against them to the point that their very existence as a race was threatened.

Israel continues to pay the price. Anti-Semitism is growing in Europe and around the world. The nation is becoming marginalized, just as the prophet Zechariah said in Zechariah chapters 12 and 14.

But there is a bright day coming for that people–those who accept the Messiah’s Second Visitation. Paul the apostle warned believers not to feel superior to Jews. He forecast a time when Israel would shine among the nations:

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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25)

God said, again through the prophet Zechariah, that believing Israel will yet recognize the Lord Jesus upon His Second Visitation to the earth:

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

The Apostle Paul said:

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (Romans 11:26)

A parallel can be drawn between the ecclesiastical Jewish leaders of the time of Jesus’ First Visitation, and many among mainstream evangelical clergy today.

Neither group has considered prophecies of Christ’s coming as relevant to their times. Their attitude is much akin to the one described by the Apostle Peter:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3–4)

This sin-darkened sphere is on the brink of another visitation. Unlike the first, when He came as a humble baby who was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, He will come the next time as the King of all kings and Lord of all Lords. Let us who claim Christ as Savior heed His words about His coming again. And the first phase of that Second Coming will be unannounced, in the twinkling of an eye–the Rapture!

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35–37)

Stage-setting for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy continues through the acceleration of news, which I hope to show here.

A Catholic Church proclamation again has insinuated its centuries-old self-acclaimed replacement of Israel in usurping promises made to the chosen people—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Pope Leo XVI has weighed in with remarks, suggesting support for a two-state solution to achieving Mideast peace. By so doing, the leader of 1.4 billion adherents to the Catholic faith has pitted a large segment of earth’s population against God’s declaration that Israel is His nation forever.

Such anti-God opposition by the world’s nations is the primary ingredient that will cause God to bring all rebels to Armageddon for humanity’s final war.

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV doubled down Sunday on the Holy See’s insistence on a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying in his first airborne news conference that it was the “only solution” that could guarantee justice for both sides.

Leo made the comments as he flew from Istanbul to Beirut for the second and final leg of his maiden voyage as pope…

On Gaza, he repeated the Holy See’s longstanding position supporting a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. The creation of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza has long been seen internationally as the only way to resolve the conflict.

The Holy See had recognized a Palestinian state in 2015, but the push for a two-state solution received new impetus this year during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Several more countries formally recognized a Palestinian state during the U.N. General Assembly.

“We know that in this moment, Israel doesn’t accept this solution, but we see it as the only one that can offer a solution to the conflict that they are living in,” he said. an help bring them closer to a solution with justice for all. (“Pope Leo XIV Doubles Down on Insistence for 2-state Solution to Resolve Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Chicago Sun-Times, November 30, 2025)

Many who observe developments believe the Catholic Church will be a major part of the false worship system of Revelation chapter 17–the system that will be demanded by the False Prophet. I would add here that there are many within the Catholic system who know the Lord for salvation. However, these are saved in spite of, not because of, Catholicism. These are saved because of their belief in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. The works system of any religion is a false belief system. It is Jesus Christ and belief only in Him, along with confession of Him with the mouth, that saves the individual (Romans 10:9–10).

The pope’s declaration that the two-state solution–Israel giving up land for peace by allowing a Palestinian state—is a declaration that God’s Word says is what will bring God’s wrath (Joel 3:2). This preachment by Pope Leo XIV is setting the stage for Armageddon.

Another stage-setting matter that leaps from recent news concerns the ongoing development of the Gog-Magog coalition that will bring about that disastrous assault, according to Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.

Despite the recent reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran, Turkey has called for closer diplomatic and trade relations with the Iranian regime, as both countries seek to bolster their influence in the Middle East while openly targeting Israel.

In a new interview with the semi-official Iranian news outlet ISNA, Turkey’s Ambassador to Iran, Hicabi Kırlangıç, said Ankara was working to expand bilateral cooperation with Tehran by leveraging existing capabilities to increase economic ties between the two countries…

The Turkish diplomat’s latest remarks followed Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit on Sunday to Tehran, where he also pushed for stronger bilateral cooperation between the two countries and denounced what he called “unfair sanctions” on Iran.

In a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Fidan reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Tehran while calling for the country’s nuclear program to be addressed through dialogue amid ongoing discussions to restart nuclear talks with the West. (“Turkey Pushes for Closer Ties with Iran Despite Mounting Sanctions as Both Countries Pursue Regional Ambitions,” Algemeiner.com)

It is more than interesting that the ties that are bringing Turkey (Togarmah) together with Iran (Persia) in a close, mutually advantageous relationship involve economy. Both nations are hurting in the world trade wars that are ongoing.

When thinking on Russia, the third major nation/entity of the future Gog-Magog assaulting force, it is economy that is most troubling to the Putin regime. Sanctions and other financial calamities continue to embroil the Russians.

The prophet Ezekiel said these three nation/entities will assault Israel in order to “take great spoil.” It is for economic reasons–at least partially—that the Gog-Magog force coalesces to come to plunder riches from Israel.

So, the setting of the prophetic stage continues on many fronts. This means that fulfillment of the Tribulation–the worst time of history, according to Jesus, Himself—is coming ever nearer. But it also means the Rapture of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation of their souls is also drawing ever nearer. You want to hear Christ’s shout when He calls God’s family into the clouds of Glory. Here is how to make sure you hear that shout.

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10)