Setting the stage for prophetic fulfillment continues at a quickening pace. Progression related to end times matters spread across the eschatological horizon, making choosing which particular topic to write about somewhat of an exertion—but a not unwelcome exercise.

News of the hour presents some fascinating directions in which to aim our attention. I’ve chosen three items for consideration in this commentary.

The first area of possible, even probable prophetic relevance is China’s increasingly hegemonic activity. Sino-expansionism is among the most blatant signals of stage setting for prophetic fulfillment.

Chinese leadership is projecting two-faced influence and manipulation through its new-found power as king of the kings of the east. They are employing their usual, inscrutable methodologies to convince the world community they are reliable partners with which to do business. On the other hand, the leadership—communists all—are not only building an enormous military capability, but making moves to intimidate their neighbors through provocative bullying encounters upon the high seas.

This bullying even includes flying military aircraft from the China Sea island bases they are creating in deliberate, near-miss incidents with American aircraft. China’s increasingly powerful navy more and more moves near the point to ramming some of our naval ships in the region. Thus, as the U.S. military challenges China’s obvious intention to claim increasingly territorial waters that are not theirs.

The following gives a flavor of China’s dangerous activity as of late:

The expansion of China’s military is no secret. Beijing raised the People’s Liberation Army budget by 7% this year, typical of its annual increases…

On Wednesday, the PLA Navy announced it had finished work on a destroyer warship that can displace 10,000 tons, according to the state-run China Daily News website. This is a particularly major advance. The extra-hardy, domestically built destroyer not only helps Beijing double down on its disputed claims in the East and South China Seas but also gives it new deterrent weight against its most powerful Asian rivals such as Japan and India. ***[Source: New Chinese Navy Destroyer Can Best Japan, India And Maybe the United States, Rapture Ready News, July 2, 2017]***

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, despite meetings with American President Donald Trump while smiling, promising to make an effort to corral the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, is presenting his own dictatorial propensities these days. Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against “impermissible” challenges to Beijing’s authority over Hong Kong.

Mr. Xi was speaking at the swearing-in of the territory’s new leader Carrie Lam, as Hong Kong marked 20 years since its handover to China from Britain. In a speech, he said that Hong Kong needed to “improve its systems to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests.”

“Any attempt to endanger China’s sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government… or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line and is absolutely impermissible,” he said.

There is growing concern that the Chinese central government is undermining Hong Kong’s more politically liberal traditions, despite its promise to give it a high degree of autonomy. ***[Source: Xi Jinping warns Hong Kong over sovereignty ‘red line’ – BBC News]***

Secondly, in the matter of end times trending, we look briefly at the coalescing, Turkey-Iran relationship. It is a most fascinating element of the prophetic, stage-setting development in these closing days of this dispensation.

It is more than of curious interest to me that the new American president appears to have been, wittingly or unwittingly, again a catalyst for development of key Biblically prophetic preparation.

Donald Trump’s recent visit to Saudi during his Middle East trip, and his more-or-less pledge to come down on the side of the Saudi Kingdom as they face increasing threats from the likes of Iran, has set in motion a closer tie of two key Gog-Magog partners.

The newly forming closeness between Turkey and Iran is in view as they deal with the controversy over Qatar.

The following excerpt enlightens a bit:

The latest Iranian comments, as well as Turkey’s decision to send troops to Qatar amid a dispute with Saudi Arabia represent the creation of a new Qatar-Turkey-Iranian sphere of influence that has potential to influence the region and Israel. Qatar and Turkey have both had close relations with Hamas over the last decade. The creation of a warmer relationship between Doha, Ankara and Tehran could threaten Israel and could bring Jerusalem closer to Riyadh and Cairo. ***[Source: Turkey’s power-play in Qatar leads to warmer relations with Iran, By Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post]***

Turkey, under the almost overnight dictatorship formed by Tayyip Erdogan, seems headed in the direction of becoming at some point the entity Ezekiel the Prophet called Torgomah. His regime is embraced, apparently, by the Ayatollahs of Iran (Persia). It is a most interesting development that presents even more interesting possibilities.

The third and last item I would like to look at with you in considering end times trending is the matter of the slap-down it looks as if President Trump is in process of giving the globalists within his administration. This, if it has legs—as they say—is, in my opinion, key to stage-setting for the days of Noah, days of Lot prophecy by the Lord Jesus. Again, that prophecy is found in Christ’s Olivet discourse in Matthew 24: 36-42 and in Luke 17: 26-30.

In brief, I continue to believe that America—and much of the world—is about to experience not an economic melt-down, but an economic boom, based upon Jesus’ words in that prophecy.

The globalists, I sense, were feeling as if they about had Mr. Trump pulled over to their sides in the matter of America’s trade relations. It looked very much like the president would put their agenda, rather than America first—continuing to let America’s wealth drift out without quid pro quo. Now, because of the president’s recent action, the Wall Street types are fearing a global trade war that would end their grasp on U.S. wealth in particular.

The news excerpt informs.

While one of Trump’s recurring campaign promises was that he would “punish” China and other key US trade counterparties if elected, for taking advantage of free-trade by imposing steep tariffs and duties on foreign imports to “level the playing field,” the president’s stance changed drastically after the election, U-turning following his amicable meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in March, but mostly as a result of pressure by his ex-Goldman advisors to keep existing trade arrangements in place and not “rock the boat.”

Now, all that may be about to fall apart.

And what may be even more striking is that Trump overruled his cabinet, as “the sentiment in the room was 22 against, and 3 in favor — but since one of the three is named Donald Trump, it was case closed.” Axios adds that while “no decision has been made, the President is leaning towards imposing tariffs, despite opposition from nearly all his Cabinet.” ***[Source: Trump “Overrules” Cabinet, Prepares To Unleash Global Trade War, Zero Hedge]***

Needless to say, if Trump follows through, the outcome would have a profound effect on U.S. economic and foreign policy; Trump will formalize his decision in the coming days.

Donald J. Trump might just be president at this moment for the end times buying, selling, building, etc., prophesied by the Lord Himself. It is at just such a time Jesus tells us the following: “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.” (Lk 17: 28-30)

First I must preface this week’s commentary. Those who have read my articles and books over many years–I prayerfully hope–know that I am not one who speculates wildly on what God’s Word has to say on any matter. The Lord knows that my overwhelming desire is to say no more and no less than what He wants me to say in any given instance.

Likewise, discernment is among the most important things that must be possessed by as well as employed by any writer who endeavors to put forth what the Holy Spirit urges him or her to write. More specifically, it is imperative that truth from the mind of God be at the center of each and every biblical examination and analysis exploring the issues and events of our times. My prayer is that I never violate this rubric.

With that said, I want to consider a most unusual matter involving the all but totally unexpected rise to presidential power of Donald J. Trump. I say “all but totally unexpected” because there were hundreds of thousands of us–if not millions–who knew the 2016 presidential election could well go in the direction opposite of what the politicos and pundits were saying. We knew that 2 Chronicles 7:14 was still in effect. The Lord could, if it was within His holy will, turn America in a different direction in answer to His people’s prayers.

Those prayers were answered in a spectacular way. In that regard, now is time to continue praying that the Lord will restrain the evil that is attempting at every level of culture, society, and government to undo that election.

The effort of the combined, globalist cabal to bring down the Trump presidency should be obvious even to the casual observer, it seems to me.

It is equally obvious that Mr. Trump is not president of the United States because he is a godly man. But that he is God’s man for this critical hour cannot, in my estimation, be denied. He is in that position, the most powerful in the world, because the God of Heaven put him there. He is in office for some divine purpose. I believe we are about to be witness to that purpose over the coming weeks, months, and perhaps years.

Now to get to the factor that caused me to ask that you remember my fidelity to handling God’s Word with great care over my years of writing commentaries and books. This isn’t meant to simply convince you of how faithful Terry James is. It is to remind you that I’m not one with a history of kooky dissection of our times by using God’s Word to create sensationalism in any form–i.e., the things I’m about to consider here will take the reader’s sense of credulity perhaps to its limits. Please bear with me, nonetheless.

It was July of 2016. Someone with whom I’m an occasional email correspondent sent me a link to a website. It was a link to a cybercast program of True News.

I rarely ever listen to programs, unless they are recommended by trusted friends and associates. This is partly because my time to do so is limited, and, admittedly, I have listened to some that are speculative beyond the pale.

I listened to this particular program. It was, at that time in July, almost four months until the presidential election of November 8, 2016. The program host and cohost were interviewing a retired fireman named Mark Taylor. Mr. Taylor went through a most fascinating story of a “vision” he said the Lord had given him. He said he could think of no other word to call it than a “vision.”

Taylor laid out his “vision” that gave details of how Donald Trump would become president. The details included the fact that the very foundations of hell would come against him. This force include the mainstream news media, entertainment media, and the entire globalist cabal, as I recall.

I filed that cybercast program, thinking I would be checking back to see how wrong this “visionary” had been. I subconsciously hoped he was right, but could not, of course, bring myself to believe in such sensationalism.

Here is a brief excerpt of what I wrote to my emailer-friend upon receiving the link to Mr. Taylor’s “vision”:

Sondra,

I’m sorry, but I just can’t put credence in these kinds of predictions based upon dreams. Sorry if that disappoints you, and if it seems hypocritical based upon my own reports of the visit to the periphery of Heaven when my heart stopped those three times on good Friday of 2011.

I’m for Trump over Hillary. There’s no way this nation can survive such a government as she would bring upon us, with Obama having already set in motion our spiral downward. So, I certainly want him to win the election. (Although, I’m, sadly, very skeptical that the nation will turn around regardless of who becomes president.)

Here is the link my friend sent at the time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axhClQmJMHw

Regardless of my note of reply, Mark Taylor’s story of his “vision” stuck deeply in my mind. In telling the story, he gave proof that he had been given this “vision” years before–in the year 2011–before Donald Trump ever announced as candidate for president. His is such a vivid and detailed picture of just how things turned out and continue to unfold that I had to contact him. He proved to be a man I now call friend and brother in Christ. He has a book coming out soon detailing the scope of the vision he believes he has been given. Here is the link to that book. It’s title is The Trump Prophecies: The Astonishing True Story of the Man Who Saw Tomorrow… 

https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Prophecies-Astonishing-Tomorrow-Coming/dp/

You can get more information about Mark Taylor and the book at the following.

http://www.skywatchtvstore.com/SupernaturalAwakeningsCollection-p/tp-rad-aaa.htm

As those who follow our “Nearing Midnight” commentaries each week know, we have dwelt on the ongoing details of the political season and things that have unfolded since. There are, I believe, deep, spiritual intrigues taking place with each day that passes. It is a certainty in my view that Donald Trump’s election and the tremendous resistance to his being put into office is testimony to the reality that we are in prophetic times very near the end of the Age of Grace.

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Daniel 2:20-22)

Truth about what God promises those who are “saved” continues to be mistaught and misunderstood. Nothing is more important to lost humanity than truth regarding the disposition of the soul in relationship to Jesus Christ and to God the Father.

Religionists of the world teach a variety of pathways through life. These propagate many false teachings about how to attain their various ideas of life after death.

Most such ministers advocate conducting one’s life in a way that displays good works. A social gospel of works is perhaps the most common thread found throughout this sort of religiosity.

Good works, however, like is said of beauty, are in the eye of the beholder. Good works are one thing to someone who is a Hari Krishna devotee. Good works mean something quite different to a follower of Allah who holds strictly to Sharia Law. One might hold out flowers to another person in his or her version of peace and love in an attempt to evangelize. The other too often whips out a scimitar and threatens decapitation if the one being witnessed to doesn’t bow the knee to Allah. Point is, each effort to make new converts is, in that religion’s view, considered “good works.

But it is the erroneous teaching on the topic of salvation within Christianity that is the most problematic to the true believer in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, as I see it.

Most of God’s children–those who are truly saved–can recognize the cults and isms of the world’s religions as false. Christians who fail to study and pray over the Holy Scripture, however, are, sadly, all too often easily misled about doctrinal truth found in the Bible. Even otherwise solid teachers of biblical truth are sometimes egregiously wrong when teaching on salvation and the security of the believer.

Again: Nothing is more important than our soul’s relationship to Jesus Christ and to God the Father. While one who teaches conditional security of the believer isn’t necessarily in the same classification as the false religionists of the world who preach and teach “another gospel” than Jesus Christ and Him crucified, their error is very serious.

Theirs is serious error because it, like the false religions of the world, holds up works as necessary for salvation.

They teach that believers, after accepting Christ, as given in Romans 10: 9-10, must then work to maintain their salvation. They must live holy lives throughout their remaining time in this flesh. They must, through their own devices–assisted by constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost–hold on to the salvation or else risk losing it. Thus their salvation–in this system of teaching–is conditional upon the work of the believer.

Living a life of being holy and of being filled with the Holy Spirit is, of course, ideal. We must all aspire to live such a life as Christians. But, we all sin, and we are told in 1 John 1:6-8 that if we say we don’t sin we are liars. The truth is not in us.

We certainly should constantly repent of wrong in order to be cleansed of all unrighteousness, we are told in 1 John 1:9. But nowhere in Scripture are we told that, once saved, we can lose our salvation through sin and then be reborn again.

Rapture Not Conditional

Like in the matter of salvation, the believer is unconditionally secure, in that he or she will go to be with Christ in the Rapture. This is true no matter the Christian’s walk with the Lord at the time of that great event.

Some years ago, I wrote the following in this regard.

Going to Christ when He calls as Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and given by John in Revelation 4:1-2, is a salvation matter. We know that from the overall gospel message and from the total context of God’s dealing with His family. Remember when Jesus prayed that beautiful prayer to His Father, as the Lord faced the cross (John 17)? Read it again, and you will see that it is absolutely clear that born-again believers are forever secure in the Father’s hand, based upon what Jesus did on the cross.

We know with absolute certainty that we are once and forever in God’s family because of the words of the One who created all that exists: “My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29).

Paul confirms that the Rapture is a salvation matter as follows: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

The Rapture will be Christ keeping us from the hour of temptation or Tribulation (read Revelation 3:10). The Tribulation is the time of God’s wrath–to which Paul tells us we are “not appointed.” However, there are many who insist that Christians who haven’t properly confessed their sins will go through that time of God’s wrath (and the entire seven years of the Tribulation will be God’s judgment and wrath). These use the following verse to make their case: “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

The key word they hold forth as relevant here is the word “worthy.” Does this word not mean that we as born-again believers must be good enough to stand before Jesus in that raptured throng? Does this word not mean, therefore, that if we fail to live up to God’s standards while on this Earth, we will (at some point in God’s holy view of what it takes to fall from being Rapture ready) lose our ticket in that translation moment, thus not be taken when the shout is heard, “Come up hither!”?

Like in examining the issue of salvation itself, we now look at the word “worthy.” What does it mean to be “worthy,” as given in this Rapture example? Again, the answer is wrapped up in the same name as before: “Jesus.” Jesus is the only person “worthy,” in God’s holy eyes, to be in the heavenly realm.

Remember what Jesus said to a man who addressed Him as “Good Master”? “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God” (Luke 18:18).

Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead, was not seeking to chastise the man for addressing Him in this way. The Lord was confirming through this question that He is indeed God, the only good, the only righteousness. Righteousness is the only ticket to Heaven–either through the portal of death, or through the Rapture. Only through Jesus–being born again into God’s family through belief in Him–can a person enter the heavenly realm.

Jesus spoke to this all-important matter by addressing Nicodemus: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

God’s Word says about fallen mankind: “As it is written, There is none righteous no not one” (Romans 8:10) and, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

So, Jesus is the only person “worthy” to enter Heaven. It is through Him that any of us are worthy to stand before Him in that heavenly realm. That is the truth found in the Scripture in question.

On a less magnificent scale, the word “worthy” in this passage means that we should be in a constant mindset of prayerful repentance. We should always want to be found “worthy”—

cleansed of all unrighteousness, as stated in 1 John 1: 9, so that we will hear our Lord say to us on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

That said, if you have in your heart (deepest reaches of your spirit/soul) believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and have confessed with your mouth that He is your Savior, your salvation is sure. You’re going to be with Him when He calls–either through death or in the Rapture. That is certain.

U.S. presidential candidate Donald J. Trump’s declaration was loud and clear: “We will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem!”

This was the candidate’s core promise involving Israel throughout the long, disputatious, campaign season. It was at least a part of why many within the religious right supported the Trump candidacy.

So it was that when President Trump made the announcement after his trip to the Middle East and to Jerusalem a cry of betrayal went up from his base of support. His administration will not for the foreseeable future move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a temporary order on Thursday to keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv instead of relocating it to Jerusalem, despite his campaign pledge to go ahead with the controversial move.

After months of fierce debate within his administration, Trump chose to continue his predecessors’ policy of signing a six-month waiver overriding a 1995 law requiring that the embassy be transferred to Jerusalem, an action that would have complicated his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (“Trump delays moving U.S embassy to Jerusalem despite campaign pledge,” Reuters, By Matt Spetalnick)

The White House was quick to report that the president was by no means lessening his support for Israel. Also, they made clear that the move of the embassy is only delayed. It will still be moved to Jerusalem is the word that continues to come from the administration–thus, though there has been no time table set for such a move.

White House sources said: “The question is not if that move happens, but only when.”

The statement further said that the president’s decision to defer the move for now was made “to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America’s national security interests.”

President Trump said at the 2016 AIPAC conference in Washington DC, “We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.” He remained silent about his pledge to make the move, however, following his November 8 election.

There are many within the Christian community who supported him who are worried that this means Trump is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as the saying goes. I am even getting emails, as I wrote last week, from those who are beginning to say he has Antichrist characteristics. Some especially look at his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with suspicion in that regard.

Some believe that the entire matter involving Trump’s decision to remove the United States from the Paris Accords on climate change was to create a diversion from the supposed fact that he was betraying his campaign promise regarding the embassy move to Jerusalem.

I harbor no such suspicions–at least not to this point in observing this president’s actions and activities. He has proven a man of his word to this point. He hasn’t not moved the embassy–only delayed that move.

Considering the current climate of distrust and animus between the Jews and their enemy Muslim neighbors, it is, in my opinion, wise to proceed cautiously, while intending fully to move the embassy at the best possible diplomatic moment.

At the same time, I urge the president to move the embassy. It will be an act that shows the desire to bless Israel–never the wrong thing to do.

He has, in my estimation, been very forthright in stating why he made the decision to delay. We will see if he follows through on his White House promise: “The question is not if that move happens, but only when.”

One thing is absolutely certain. God’s touchstone city to the entire world will one day be the capital of the millennial earth. God has reserved great things for this place He calls “the apple of my eye.”

Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain…And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. (Zechariah 8:1-4, 8)

Over the past year, I have received email castigating me for writing on politics and matters surrounding government and things of the world. The main irritation with me seems to come from those who believe I’m paying too much attention to this world and not thinking enough on the spiritual. That is, I should, in their opinion, drop supporting one political position or the other and just dwell on strictly biblical/spiritual issues–no politics or support for politicians. That I should support and dwell on only what God’s Word has to say about the end times is foundational to these critics’ primary exhortation.

Problem is, the two are not mutually exclusive to my way of thinking. Politics and the machinations of politicians these days are, in my estimation, linked to Bible prophecy in ways I cannot ignore. To do so would be to neglect the watchman commission I believe I’ve been given.

It is thus with this admission to you that I begin yet another rant–as my critics would have it–on what is going on in the political world as connected to the spiritual. I make no apologies that I come down on one side of the issue that I wish to address. Actually, the “rant” involves a number of issues under the wider problem of the evil that pervades our nation’s capitol and other power centers here and abroad.

Satan has always worked, and continues to do so, in the power centers of the world. His record of success can’t be denied for the most part. Every man-made government that has ever existed has harbored evil at every level. The fallen one has brought every empire to destruction in one way or the other through his seduction and deception. The masses of people under the various regimes throughout history have suffered by the billions. They have died by the multiplied millions.

Purists among the scholars who observe the rise and fall of great nations and empires would, if they are biblical in their analysis, say God brings those entities down. But, it is Satan who has led them–and continues to do so–to their demise as they get farther and farther away from God in comportment.

In getting back to my dwelling on present political realities and the media and politicians who have created this incendiary atmosphere of hatred for America’s current president, I would like to offer the following.

As stated above, Lucifer the fallen one has managed through corruption, seduction, and every other way of his evil methodologies to bring down great nations and even empires. Anyone who has the good sensibility to admit the in-our-faces truth of things going on in opposition to President Donald Trump can testify to the hatred at its center. Washington, D.C., is the greatest power center, perhaps, of all of history. The evil doings there are staggering.

I find myself agreeing with the president’s words when he said recently that no president has been subjected to the degree of hateful treatment to which he has been subjected. Not even Richard Nixon had media so blatantly arrayed against him during the time of Watergate. It is an assault of unprecedented virulence we are witnessing. It is going to get much worse, and I’ve pointed out before why that is the case.

Satan’s plan to install a one-world order has been disrupted. He is as determined as ever to put his man–the son of perdition–into power. The American electorate voted the anti-globalist Mr. Trump into office, and the end-times war began in earnest.

The minions, both demonic and human, are looking for any crime and anything else that might rise to the level of impeachable offense so that they can carry out another Watergate–type coup-d’état. Short of that, they obviously intend to keep the vitriol flowing, even if there is no offense to be found. They have proven capable of creating charges–lies, out of whole cloth.

Trump’s election has brought on the observable manifestation of a specific end-times signal. The Restrainer, I am convinced, can almost visibly be seen going about His office of holding back the evil onslaught.

The Restrainer and His work in this Age of Grace  (Church Age) are explained by my good friend, Ron Graham, in an excellent article posted a couple of years ago. Ron, before he died in 2013, partially wrote the following, and his wife, Nathele, completed it in 2015. The article is in relationship to prophecy Paul the apostle gave in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

The Greek word translated into English for “letteth” is katechō and the definition of this Greek word is somewhat different than the definition of our English word “let,” which means “to allow or permit.” The Greek word is actually just the opposite; it means “to restrain, to hold back, detain, retain.” What we must ask ourselves is “Who is the ‘He’ that Paul is referring to in this verse?”

First of all we find the apostle referring to the “who now letteth” as a “He” and secondly that this “He” is currently holding back a flood of wickedness which is straining at the bit to be loosed. Who could be so powerful to be able to hold back worldwide wickedness but the Holy Spirit? (“Restrainer,” by Ron and Nathele Graham, raptureready.com, 2015)

One, if spiritually attuned to the current political climate, senses the constant surge of anger and hatred trying to excise the president from office. This will not happen so long as God the Holy Spirit says otherwise. Christians must pray as diligently as when praying before the 2016 election that the Restrainer continues to hold back the evil that is intended to bring about the installation of human history’s final dictator.

(And, yes…I’ve gotten the notes that say those writing them think Donald Trump could be that man–a thing his actions thus far refute in my view.)

Soon, Christ will call His Church to Himself. The Restrainer will at the same time remove from acting on the consciences of mankind. Meanwhile–thankfully–He is working overtime.

There is another wall much more critical, in my view, than the one the new president promised to build during his campaign.

President Donald J. Trump reportedly asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to let him approach the Western Wall unaccompanied. Whether a signal to the world that he, representing America the lone superpower, was showing support for Israel, or whether Mr. Trump just wanted a moment alone at this most solemn place, the gesture was profound–and touching.

He was the first president of the United States to visit the so-called Wailing Wall while in office. A number of presidents either before they became such or after they had held the office have visited the site. But, never had a current president done so.

The action was profound in geopolitical, diplomatic terms. This visit, most observers of that world seem to believe, indicated the president’s–thus America’s–support of Israel as rightful heir to the wall and to the Temple Mount. This is because the visit to the wall was made as part of the president’s official trip to Israel.

Whether that’s the case or Trump handled it in that way for other reasons, the effect was dramatic. The optics of the gesture, as the news-speak types like to say, presented a picture of a president who was in charge and who was making a statement. The Temple Mount is a subject of great contention and Trump seemed to be saying it is Israel’s, based upon biblical history.

The statement might be one open to conjecture as to what it means, but that Donald J. Trump is fully in charge of the presidency of the United States of America was made unmistakably clear.

The entire trip, for the moment at least, trampled underfoot the American mainstream news conglomerate’s incessant portrayal of Trump as a dunce who doesn’t belong in the office. A picture, as is said, is worth a thousand words–or, in the case of the hate-filled news conglomerate–millions of words.

But, even that’s not the real importance of this president visiting the wall. It’s not that he, by doing so, negated a lot of the negative press he has gotten and will, guaranteed, get in the future. It’s the recognition of Israel as a special people that is all-important, here. Even if Trump didn’t say it in direct verbiage, he gave validation that Israel is the modern incarnation–the same people–as in ancient, biblical times.

Unspoken is the truth represented by the president’s action. The Jews are still God’s chosen people.

I heard President Trump come close to saying as much during his touching remarks at the Jewish Holocaust Museum on Tuesday of the past week. His affirmation that America was bonded to Israel as friend and ally could not have been given more strongly. Netanyahu’s words in response were emotional with gratitude and relief that Israel and America had again consummated the relationship that was established in 1948 at Israel’s rebirth into modernity.

I’m aware that any attempt at man-made peace involving Israel and its enemy neighbors has prophetic implications that bode evil for the Jewish people and nation. I am reminded of that by daily email received as of late. These often state that Trump’s and his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s involvement in the peace process puts them in unsavory company, prophetically speaking.

While it is certainly true that there will come, according to God’s infallible Word, a peace that will bring about holocaust far worse than that of the Nazi era, I think it not evil to work at lessening hostilities that have raged for millennia. I agree that Mr. Trump and his point man, the young Mr. Kushner, should not engage in trying to arrange peace based upon the international community’s demand that Israel, the occupier, as the diplomats put it, give up God-given land.

However, any interim step of lessening hostilities between now and the time when the man of sin makes that death-dealing “peace” seems to me not necessarily evil. That is, if it doesn’t require Israel to give up land or make other anti-God accessions as part of any such interim agreement.

My own thinking is that there will be no such agreement concluded until the Antichrist steps onto the scene sometime following the Church leaving the planet. But, the process of making such peace is already in progress, and some constituent parts of that final, deadly contract could be negotiated sooner rather than later. America certainly should not be a part of any such negotiation, again, if there are elements within any such document forcing Israel to go against God’s directives for that people and nation.

At this point, the president’s main thrust seems to me to be getting Israel and less hostile Muslim nations, such as Saudi, to come together to eliminate radical Islamic terrorism. That is a peace effort of sorts. I’ve found nothing wicked about it so far. But, let’s keep watching…

These are strange times, and the times do not yet shed light on exactly what the president’s visit to the Middle East and to the Western Wall portends for the near future. However, Mr. Trump gave the Jewish state America’s blessings on this trip and that is good news–for the moment, at least.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12: 1-3)

It seems strange that the one nation on planet earth that God Himself calls His “chosen” suffers such low self esteem. I use the term self esteem in the sense that there is an internal, national uncertainty concerning where the nation fits within the international scheme of things. There projects from Israel an aura of not belonging.

I suppose this shouldn’t surprise, considering that most countries making up the United Nations join in voting against Israel in almost every case that is brought against the nation. The history of such anti-Israel voting is stunning.

Israel completely outperforms all of its neighbors in productivity. Its ingenuity benefits not only the region but all the world. That tiny sliver of land encompasses only a fraction of the land grant the lord says is theirs. Yet it is an island of technological, agricultural, and societal creativity that is second only to that generated by the United States. And, fact is, much of America’s such creativity and activity is directly due to the brilliance of U.S. Jewish citizenry.

Its tentativeness in national confidence has long been the concern of Israeli thinkers and innovators. Just this past week, initiatives to deal with Israel’s identity crisis came to the surface as breaking news.

A proposal to anchor Israel’s status as a Jewish state in a Basic Law was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation Sunday.

MK Avi Dichter (Likud), who proposed the bill, called the vote “a big step towards establishing our identity, not only universally, but mainly towards ourselves, the Israelis, to be a free nation in our land,” a line from Hatikva…

“I’ve been working on the Jewish State bill for six years,” Dichter recounted. “Six years to establish the simple and most basic truth: Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish People.”…

The legislation states that “the State of Israel is the national home of the Jewish people, in which it realizes its aspirations for self-determination according to its cultural and historic traditions. The realization of national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people.”…

… It also mentions the Law of Return, and calls for the government to work to strengthen Israel-Diaspora ties.

It states that Hebrew is Israel’s official language and Arabic has a special status, requiring all government services to be available in Arabic. (ISRAEL NEWS, Jerusalem Post, May 7, 2017)

The bill, if approved, was set for a preliminary vote on Wednesday. It will thus take place in the first week of the Knesset’s summer session. The Justice Ministry will be charged with drafting its own version of the bill within sixty days. The two bills will then be combined.

The bill is receiving push-back by those who see it as a racist action that puts too much emphasis on Israel being Jewish and not enough on democracy.

Such an accusation has some validity. But, with things going on as of late, it is action that is warranted, in my view.

One example of the world doing all possible to strip Israel of its sovereignty and even its right to exist is that perpetrated by the U.N.

The UNESCO Executive Board passed a resolution in Paris that disavowed Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem. The organization insists, thereby, that Israel should no longer have authority in the city. The vote was meant to delegitimize Israel’s right to the city governance that was won during the 1967 Six Day War.

Because of continuing such actions by the U.N. against Israel, the Israeli government is considering ousting that organization from its facilities within the city of Jerusalem.

The government on Sunday is set to debate the question whether or not to oust the United Nations from its Jerusalem headquarters, but is not expected to take any action on the matter at this time…

In a statement to Channel 2, [Miri] Regev [Culture and Sports Minister ] said that clearly there was no longer any logic to the UN remaining at that location.

“We’ve been sovereign in the city for 50 years, so there is no need for UN monitors. They were given use of the compound to oversee the cease-fire agreement from the Six-Day war, it’s an agreement that is no longer relevant. This saga has to end,” she said. (ISRAEL NEWS, Jerusalem Post, May 5, 2017)

Israel’s identity crisis is destined to become much more acute. Zechariah the prophet and other prophets foretell a time when all nations will seek to kill all Jews. Haven’t we heard that before?

Anti-Semitism on the rise is only one symptom of the great hatred that Antichrist will foment, especially during the second three and one-half years of the Tribulation.

“Alas! for that day is great, so that there is none like it   : it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30: 7)

Israel’s identity will one day be firmly established, however. God has promised to make it the head of the nations when Christ rules and reigns from atop Zion in Jerusalem as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Zechariah the prophet’s voice is echoing down through the canyons of millennia long past. Actions by nations of today’s world make plain that God’s prophetic timeline is on the cusp of fulfillment.

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12: 1-3)

The prophecy becomes more manifest by the hour. The nations of the world’s diplomatic community are arraying against Israel. Jerusalem is their primary target. The “occupier” must be dealt with is the mantra.

A most recent indicator that Zechariah’s prophecy is nearing fulfillment is in our headlines. Globalist forces are ramping up efforts to wrest God’s touchstone city –“the apple of His Eye”–from His chosen nation.

Israel is angry at Germany for the anticipated European support for the resolution attacking Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, which UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris is scheduled to approve this Tuesday, diplomatic sources told The Jerusalem Post.

The behind-the-scenes conflict preceded the public argument between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel over his meeting with the left-wing group Breaking the Silence during his visit to Israel last week…

A March draft asked the UNESCO Executive Board to deny Israel sovereignty over all of Jerusalem, including the western party of the city.

The resolution’s text stated: “Any action taken by Israel, the occupying power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration on the city of Jerusalem, are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever.” (“Israel Blames Germany for EU Support of UNESCO Anti-Israel Resolution,” Tovah Lazaroff, Jerusalem Post, April 30, 2017)

The European Union has over the past years voted against the proposal, which has always been  supported by all of Israel’s Arab antagonists. The Arabs have refused to recognize Israel as a state, but rather, like in all instances involving Israel, declares it an illegal occupier of Palestine and of Jerusalem. This refusal to acknowledge Israel as a nation, rather call it an occupier, has apparently been the sticking point on Germany’s voting against the resolution each time it comes up.

Behind the scenes, German operatives managed to have the “occupier” language removed to soften the opposition so it could convince the EU to vote in favor of lessening Israel’s authority over the city–especially over East Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is livid over this treachery by Germany. The resolution, if adopted fully, would in effect–in the eyes of the international community of nations–take away the right of the Jewish state to govern Jerusalem. The action would negate rights won by Israel as a result of victory in the 1967 Six-Day War.

The controversy comes at an interesting time. American President Donald Trump will visit Israel soon. There is conjecture about whether he will announce movement of the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The United States is certain, under this administration, to vote against the UNESCO resolution.

The tensions in the middle East continue to build. But, now the focus of the angers, frustrations, and intrigues are narrowing. Jerusalem is the obvious center of the satanic rage. The Temple Mount is sure to eventually be the hottest of the hot spots of the three-thousand-year family feud.

The entire world will, according to Zechariah, Joel, and other prophets, intentionally become entangled in that feud. The EU, most of us who believe in the Pre-Trib, pre-Millennial view of Bible prophecy hold, will be at the heart of that Zechariah 12:1-3 assembly of nations.

While the globalists are foaming at the mouth, wanting to rid the world of America’s new president, the Gog-Magog forces continue to gather directly north of Israel. Jerusalem is at the center of world controversy and the ancient prophet’s words can be heard loudly by spiritually-attuned ears.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. ¹And 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 12:9-10)

Please indulge me as I yet again engage with personal memory of Easter season six years ago. It is a memory that I couldn’t put out of the forefront of my thoughts even if I wanted to do so–which I don’t.

Good Friday, April 22, 2011 was the day that, after a workout session, I felt as if my chest would explode. It was a widow maker heart attack.

Once the emergency guys got me to the hospital about 2 two miles from our home, my heart stopped. I was instantaneously in the presence of a throng of beautiful young people–male and female–who cheered vigorously, all the while bidding me to join them.

I started to do so, but everything grew dark around me and I was on the gurney being whisked toward the cath lab.

I heard a young man say he had to “hit him with the paddles.”

I asked, “What paddles?” and he replied: “Your heart stopped and I had to use the defib paddles.”

My heart stopped two more times that afternoon. Each time I was instantaneously in front of the same wildly cheering throng of young men and women who bid me to join them.

The third time I joined them and we were running a victory lap of some sort. They were looking over at me and laughing joyously, with their hands extended at full arms-length into the air.

The sensation was…well… heavenly. I have no other way of describing it. We were running–without any physical exertion whatsoever–toward some wonderful destination. (I have, in reflecting on this experience for years, come to the conclusion we were headed toward the Throne of God.)

I know these were the “cloud of witnesses” of Hebrews 12:1-3.

But, things grew dark again and I was again, after seemingly several seconds, on the cath lab table and the cardiologist interventionist was working on me. He had removed the arterial blockage.

Astonishingly, I had no permanent heart damage and have had absolutely no problem with my engine since. My life, however, continues to be affected every waking moment by that Good Friday trip to somewhere on the heavenly property that I will someday inherit–as will you, if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. (We are joint heirs with Christ, God’s Word promises.)

So, with that memory indelibly etched in my spirit, I naturally–or perhaps supernaturally would be a better term–was reflecting on my trip of six years ago the other day as Easter 2017 approached.

One of my things to do every morning is to read The Omega Letter. This email newsletter is well known by most who love Bible prophecy, of course. It is the letter mailed daily to subscribers that was written by Jack Kinsella, perhaps the most prolific such writer I’ve known.

Jack was a dear, personal friend who went to claim his heavenly property inheritance in 2013. I miss him immensely, as do all who knew him. He was indeed a special friend and Christian brother.

More than that, he was a special teacher of all things biblical–especially of the prophetic Word of God. In that regard I don’t miss him, because his many hundreds of articles continue to instruct, implore, exhort, admonish, and inspire on a daily basis. His writing is, amazingly, as fresh as the day he wrote it.

So it was on Saturday before this past Easter Sunday that I opened my Omega Letter.

There it was–Jack’s inspiration and exhortation for this Easter. Only it was originally written April 23, 2011. That’s right. It was written one day after my trip onto the heavenly property that Jack now owns for all of eternity. I probably shouldn’t, but I envy him that fact…

Jack’s words were wonderfully poignant and personal that day as he waxed eloquent yet simply in his own inimitable, communicative style.

Since there is no such word as coincidence in God’s vocabulary, according to Jack’s dear friend Hal Lindsey, I know that the Lord somehow used Jack’s and my close friendship to convey this special message on the day following Good Friday.

Jack, in closing that Omega Letter, addresses the question: What happens when we die?

He wrote:

If the Bible is true and Jesus can be believed, then when a saved person closes his eyes in this life, he awakes fully conscious in the next – where he is whisked by the angels into heaven… There is a choice. But it is admittedly limited. One can repent and trust Jesus or one can face God clothed in one’s own righteousness and see how things work out…

Jack pointed out in the article that, tragically, the rich man Jesus told about in the rich man and Lazarus story is still in the place of torment, eternally regretting depending on his own righteousness to get him to Heaven. Jack’s posthumous post delivers to me the profoundly personal exhortation to do more to reach the lost with the Gospel at every opportunity–opportunity I’ve been given by having been returned to earth for awhile longer.

Erle Stanley Gardner, creator of Perry Mason, the fictional criminal defense attorney, had nothing on the apostle Paul. Gardner reported  on the great lawyer as he solved all his cases, winning acquittal for his clients at every turn. But Paul, the former Saul of Tarsus, brought the world the story of resolution  to what will be the greatest mystery of all time–that wrapped up in the case of the missing millions.

There is some interesting interplay to be found here, believe me. While Perry’s mysteries were to entertain us as he got his innocent clients off the proverbial hook within human courtrooms, Paul’s “mystery” involves us as the subjects of all being guilty in God’s Court of Righteousness. Paul explains how each of us–each human being–can be gotten off that hook, even though we are already proven guilty!

Perry always carefully defined the crime of which his client was accused. We knew the client was innocent…well…because of the very fact that Perry Mason was defending him or her. Paul places the crime of which we–all human beings–are accused  within one, simple statement: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7a).

We know that we are all guilty as charged under this “mystery of iniquity” because of Paul’s words that report condemnation by the God of Heaven: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

So, “sin” is at the heart of this “mystery.” That mystery is working in the world today as it has always been active. It is scheduled to get much worse as the Dispensation of Grace (Church Age) nears its end. “But evil men and seducers shall [become] worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

So, whereas the fictional Mr. Mason’s clients were presumed innocent, each of us–you and I–is, in fact, guilty as charged. This is because of original sin.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The original man, Adam, partook of the fruit of the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That act of rebellion started that mystery called “iniquity”  upon planet earth. Apparently that mystery was already present in Lucifer, one of the Lord’s most majestic angels. This is what God says about that long ago mystery:

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee (Ezekiel 28:13-17)

This magnificent creature became full of pride (read Isaiah 14:14). He came to the planet prepared for God’s creation called man. Lucifer–now called Satan–did his iniquitous work effectively and continues to do it effectively.

Man is therefore as guilty in the court of God’s righteousness as are the fallen angels (those who rebelled with Lucifer all those eons ago).

Paul the apostle–a mere man, fallen like the rest of us, until he was  declared “not guilty”–is only the Supreme’s Court reporter. He tells us of the one and only Attorney who can successfully handle each case involving the mystery of iniquity before the eternal bench of God the Judge.

Here are John the apostle’s words on that Great Advocate:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2: 1-2)

Our Attorney is far superior to Perry Mason or any earthly attorney. He is Jesus Christ–the very Son of the Supreme Judge–God, the Father. When Jesus defends, it is a guaranteed “Not Guilty” verdict! Our defense rests upon our plea that we believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, the court reporter, says of that plea, a plea each of us must make as we turn our desperate case over to our Attorney, whom we trust completely:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 9-10)

Jesus, the Christ, stands between us and eternal punishment. He is our only hope. And He never fails to win our acquittal.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

Paul expounds on a further “mystery”  that will be handled by the Lord Jesus Christ. This eternal legal action will not only keep us from God the Judge’s courtroom of condemnation; the action will get all of Jesus Christ’s clients–those who believe as described above–completely off this condemned planet at some stupendous moment just ahead!

Paul the court reporter tells us of this all-important action:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:15-16)

He states further:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Thus the case of the missing millions will conclude. Mystery will be solved. Comforting words indeed! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!