It has been since September 2, 2019 that I last addressed things going on in the economic realm that shows things are tracking precisely on God’s prophetic schedule. Because that schedule is unfolding in such dynamic fashion, I sense it necessary to periodically remind of that prophetic progression.

Like that earlier commentary, this commentary isn’t meant to applaud myself in any sense whatsoever. It is to point out that this generation seems to be at the very place Jesus, Himself, said that end of the age generation will be at the time of the Rapture.

Every underlying indicator that this economy should have long ago imploded stares the experts in the face. Yet that bust has not occurred. As a matter of fact, those experts—that is those with major media as a platform—proclaim unprecedented economic uptick. They proclaim from the proverbial rooftops that this is the greatest economic trend in memory.

Yet the lesser known fiscal observers –many of those of the blogosphere— note that this perceived economic trend toward reaching unknown stratospherics is all built on nothing but the faith in that not-undergirded financial structure. I.e., this economic boom is built on nothing but air. It is like the cartoon character in “The Roadrunner” cartoons. It is like Wyle E. Coyote, suspended in mid-air over a deep canyon. He just hangs there and finally gravity takes hold and he ends up a puff of dust at the canyon’s bottom.

Without intending to be sacrilegious or even slightly disrespectful toward the Lord’s dealings with mankind, these times reflect something analogous. It seems the economic crash that should have already happened is suspended in mid-air. It’s as if the tremendous weight of debt –the trillions of dollars that can never be repaid—is supernaturally made of non-effect. That is, the horrific weight just doesn’t matter. The economic crash cannot take place because of some unseen force.

The economists who say there is coming a great crash can’t explain why it hasn’t come already. They can only speculate that it is because of sleight-of-hand by the wizards within Treasury and other high bastions of finance. But, then, they have to admit that there is no such financial wizardry that could hold back such stupendous fiscal weight.

These, of course, don’t see any such thing as something supernatural holding back a crash. Certainly, most would never attribute the holding up of that crash to the God of Heaven.

Yet, they must admit it is totally unprecedented and has unnatural elements running throughout the phenomenon.

And it is indeed a phenomenon. Never has there been such an extended time before economic correction takes place, according to the “experts” I’ve read and talked with…

By now, these say, such a necessary adjustment should have resulted in, at the very least, a relatively strong recession. Some believe a depression the depth of the Great Depression of the 1930s should have taken place.

Now for the reason I wrote at the beginning of this commentary that I in no way intend to pat myself on the back.

I wrote at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 a series of articles “Scanning a Fearful Future.” My conclusion at the end of this series of 10 articles was that there would be no financial crash. –That instead there would be a financial uptick –even an era of boom. This all based upon the thought, considering whether this generation was right at the time of Christ’s intervention into the affairs of mankind. –Specifically, if the Rapture of the Church was on the very brink of taking place.

All of this, of course, was based upon Bible prophecy. It was predicated on the words of our very Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, when He was on earth and was teaching His disciples.

The belief I expressed was that there would be no economic crash of the sort many emailers were writing me about with their fear that the U.S. and the world was about to face Tribulation-like troubles. These troubles, most who wrote were afraid, would have at their basis severe economic woes.

My contention was –and still remains— that if we were as late in this dispensation of grace as I believe this generation to be, there wouldn’t be time for all to come crashing down –economically and in other ways—then build positively again until the world reached another time exactly like this time in which we find ourselves. It would take many years, perhaps many decades to again come to where this generation finds itself –particularly in reference to America. And, America is the apex nation of the world in economic terms. If the U.S. came crashing down, the entire world, so intricately linked to the almighty dollar, would suffer even greater meltdown.

All of my conclusion was and is based upon Jesus’ prophecy about the days of Noah and the days of Lot found in Matthew 24: 36-42 and Luke 17: 26-30.

Jesus said there would be, rather than economic catastrophe, a great uptick in buying, selling, building, and even in agricultural matters, like planting, etc.

Since that time of writing in 2011, my findings have been validated. This, again, is because of believing God’s Word on prophetic matters, not on my own soothsaying abilities or “word of knowledge.”

America is in a tremendous financial uptick at present, even Trump detractors reluctantly admit. The economic boom predicted by Jesus Christ is still on track.

Donald J. Trump, a builder of perhaps unprecedented ability, was supernaturally placed in position to see to it that that economic boom prophesied by the Lord Jesus has come to pass. This is my contention that has, at least in my spirit, been wholeheartedly validated.

Records are set daily in the DOW and other economic sectors. –Thus, despite that there are still the ominous trillions upon trillions of dollars of economic gravitational pull that should at any moment cause a catastrophic crash.

Jesus said there is such a crash that will indeed take place. It will be at the moment He is next “revealed” to the world. That great, catastrophic, event will be the Rapture, when His people –all saved through belief in His death, burial and resurrection– will be called home to Heaven to be with Him for eternity (Rev 4: 1). Jesus said that judgment would fall upon those rebels of planet Earth that very day.

Jesus Christ, whose Birthday we celebrate at this time of year, is the only safe shelter from that coming, world-wide time of unprecedented horror. Again, the following is the way to make sure you are within His protective shelter during that great future storm.

“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.” (Rom 10: 9-10)

Many an elderly former television network broadcaster doubtless engages in ever-recurring conversations while sipping his favorite evening libation.

“Remember how we once ruled the airwaves?” might be one such conversation starter.

“Yeah. In the old days we could say it on the evening news and by noon the next day public opinion would begin to come around,” the commiserating drinking partner might say.

I can imagine a Dan Rather type and some other no longer relevant propagandist lamenting as the tonic and gin or bourbon on the rocks burns a liquid trail down their once golden throats.

“Those were the good, old days,” one of them shakes his head, blinks, and calls to the barmaid for a refill.

“There’s no leadership to ever bring those days back,” I can hear the other irrelevant former anchor saying. “Now they all go their separate ways… There are far too many of them to ever come together.”

“It almost makes you see the need for the power of dictatorship…for the good of the republic,” the Dan Rather-type says, taking the first sip from his newly refreshed adult beverage.

“Yeah. We used to at least have that kind of influence over public opinion… for the good of the republic,” the other, ageing broadcaster puts in.

They must dream happily of when they and their network colleagues had the three network monopoly. Now, it must be a nightmare that they live through daily. Their personal influence is no more—the power of their profession significantly diminished.

That this is the case is plainly presented in polls taken about how America’s people feel about that profession. Always, news media, as being trustworthy in the eyes of the public, ranks very near the bottom of those polls.

If there ever was a question about why that ranking is so low, we need only think on the past three years or so.

It would almost seem that our two, ageing, former anchors need not worry for a second about the ability of the news conglomerate to speak with the power of one. The mainstream news media have coalesced in a way that ABC, CBS, and NBC could have and would have never done when they had, collectively, nearly sole power of the air.

It is true that today’s now fractionalized mainstream news media, as individual news forums, draw infinitesimally small numbers of viewers in comparison to numbers drawn by the big three networks during the good old days. But the power exerted by the new collective –the fractionalized mainstream media— is, I’m convinced, even more powerful than that wielded by the big three those years earlier.

The proof of that is the absolutely fanatical cohesion that this new, media collective has cemented.

Before the months leading up to Donald J. Trump’s election to the presidency the new, collective, news conglomerate, at least presented the pretense of being independent, one from the other. Following Trump’s becoming the Republican candidate and up to the present hour, that agglomeration of news forums has melded as one to destroy this president.

They have, in the process, infected about one-half of the adult citizenry of America with an insane rage that I’ve characterized a number of times as “a reprobate mind.” –The same mind-set described by the Apostle Paul as recorded in Romans 1: 28.

In this sense, the new mainstream news media is far more effective than was that big three conglomerate that pretended to be independent of each other in trying to shape public opinion. They, this media today, are as driven in their insane rage as are the left-wing, anti-God public they possess. And, possession is what it amounts to in my estimation.

I can say this because at the black heart of this propagandist cabal is the chief minion of the underworld. And this is provable, Biblically.

Broadcast –at least as originally conceived and implemented— projected out over the airwaves. They were received by instrumentality antenna of those who tuned in to the messages of news, entertainment programs, and commercial announcements. So, as the broadcast industry was foundational, that method –over the air— was progenitor of this new mainstream media.

This evil cabal which, although fractionalized as being individual entities, is totally conjoined in delivering up messages their master director wants delivered.

That master director is indeed the maestro, who for the time being is allowed to be infernal minister of propaganda to seduce and delude the rebellious among earth’s inhabitants. That he is undertaking to do with massive effort.

Scriptural proof of his temporary right to his position as master of deluding all who will watch and listen is as follows.

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2)

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Satan is the prince of the power of the air. He is using that power in a very literal way to seek out and devour as many as he can delude. He has, during this last three and a half years, managed to seduce and bring into his insane rage nearly half of the adult population of the United States of America, it appears.

But the God of Heaven has not left us without defense against this evil prince and his media minions. God’s word tells of this protection for the Christian—all who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

While thinking on a new book, a Rapture Ready news item entered the process. The story represents the heart of end times matters that continue to occupy much air and cable time, as well as paper and electronic print in reporting these days.

That is, the basic subject of the story is covered extensively by secular journalists during every news cycle. The prophetic or end times element within the story is covered only by those such as yours truly in forums such as the Rapture Ready web site, some Christian TV and radio stations and networks, and through books.

One of the most recognized names within Christian circles was involved in making an observation that piqued my interest while thinking on the new book. The observation he made resides at the center of that gestating book idea.

Evangelist Franklin Graham suggested the resistance President Donald Trump has faced since taking office could be “demonic” in origin.

Graham made the assertion while appearing as a guest on “The Eric Metaxas Radio Show” in a segment posted online on Thursday.

“It’s a very bizarre situation to be living in a country where some people seem to exist to undermine the president of the United States,” Metaxas said. “It’s just a bizarre time for most Americans.”

“Well, I believe it’s almost a demonic power that is trying–” Graham began to respond when Metaxas interjected, “I would disagree.”…

“It’s not almost demonic. You know and I know that at the heart it’s a spiritual battle,” the talk show host said…

(Source: Franklin Graham sees ‘demonic’ power in ferocity of opposition to Trump By Randy DeSoto, The Western Journal, November 27, 2019)

Graham went on to say that this opposition is hate filled without seeming cause. President Donald J. Trump has done more to help Americans in under 3 years in office than presidents of the recent past have done with 2 full terms each. He cited the administration’s strides in bringing back jobs and improving the economy in general. Both Graham and the host of the program agreed the resistance this president continues to receive is demonic in origin.

Although I didn’t see in the story the Biblical scripture that confirmed for them this conviction, it was easy to deduce that the underlying scriptural text was likely the following.

“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)

Certainly, the 2016 presidential election seemed to unleash the hounds of hell against not only the new president, but against all things godly. The very foundation of America, based in large part on Judeo-Christian precepts by the founding fathers, continues to come under attack.

It was a long process since well before that election that lay the groundwork for what we see happening with all this madness today.

The public educational system in the United States has been under assault since the 1950s and even before. Even the private institutions of higher learning fell victim to the demonic influences. Harvard, for example, founded as a Christian school and given its name in honor of a Christian educator, John Harvard, succumbed to the humanist lies from the pit.

I, myself, can remember sitting in a sophomore political science class at university and hearing a smooth, suave, Marxist professor laud communist regimes and lie about America’s founding as being evil.

Today’s youth are largely uneducated as to truth in most every discipline. They have been corrupted and co-opted by the hounds of hell who continue to drive the nation –and the world, for that matter—toward being receptive to Antichrist when he vaults upon his globalist platform.

The devil is at work on many fronts, whether it be geopolitics, society and culture, economics, religion, or whatsoever.

I believe that the true explosion from the minions –both human and supernatural, came the night Trump won the election. The outburst by his opponents was astonishing to behold.

We remember the woman sitting on the curb the moment she learned that Trump had won. She shrieked and broke into hysterical screaming and gyrating. The cell phone camera caught the insane reaction for all to see.

I, of course, being blind, couldn’t see it physically, but the sounds were such that it was easy to visualize the actual video accompanying the absolutely lunatic-sounding shrieks. It was if the poor woman was possessed.

To the rational mind, it should be apparent; it seems to me, that the thinking ability of nearly half of the people in this nation of adult age has been turned inside-out and upside-down. I have written often –and my mind has not been changed—that because much of American citizenry has moved increasingly farther away from acceptance of godly government, the country has reached the point described by the Apostle Paul in Romans.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. (Rom. 1: 28)

As for believers, those who have accepted God’s grace gift of salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the ability to discern these things as part of end times spiritual warfare. We don’t have to have the credentials of world-wide name recognition like that of a Franklin Graham to appropriate this discernment ability. We are expected –commanded—to not only recognize the supernatural wrestling match –or end times battle—we are in. We are to prepare ourselves to face this very time in which we find ourselves just before our Lord Calls us home in the Rapture.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6: 11-18)

Recently I heard a prophecy teacher –actually one of my favorite prophecy guys— say something like the following: “I hate to burst your bubble about what you probably believe about God’s promises to the church and his promises to Israel. But 2 Chronicles 7: 14 isn’t for the church. It is for Israel.”

He then went on to say that the context of that promise makes it obvious for whom it was given. It doesn’t apply to we of the Church Age was his conclusion.

I must take exception to that statement by this man, one who I respect greatly and consider one of the very top teachers and writers of Bible prophecy today. Let’s have a look at the promise that god, indeed, made to the nation Israel.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7: 14)

The speaker was talking about whether the United States is in Bible prophecy. He was speaking to the many worries people have as to what will happen to America so far as concerns prophecy yet future. Particularly, as I recall, he was talking about the upcoming 2020 presidential election. People were, he said, wondering about what we should do as believers to seek God’s divine intervention in this election. There are great fears that the opposition party to that of this president has turned totally toward the dark side and is more and more anti-God in their platform goals.

The speaker was intimating that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is the scripture most invoked, but that it isn’t in effect for the Church. It was given exclusively to the Jews –to the nation Israel.

The basis for my taking exception to my friend’s pronouncement in part is truth encased within the following scriptural areas.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with who is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1: 17)

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13: 8)

God’s Word is the very Person of Jesus the Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead. God the Father sent Jesus into the world as Himself in the flesh. Jesus taught and preached ultimate truth. Jesus and the Father are one –see John chapter 17. Jesus created all that is, see Genesis chapter 1. He did so by the spoken Word. Jesus is the Word. This is made plain in John chapter 1.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1: 1-3)

Jesus and the Father, the Lord verifies through His prayer in John chapter 17, are one. Jesus also says that we who believe in Him are one with Him, as He is one with the Father. Therefore His Father’s children are Jesus’ “people,” just as they are God the Father’s “people”.

We are all “one” with God. We are His “people”.

This includes all people of God’s created order who “believe” for salvation as prescribed by God. Those who believe are His people.

Therefore, it is my Bible-based contention that in 2 Chronicles 7: 14, the “my people” is referring to God’s “people,” no matter of what era.

God changes not. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God’s Promise to Israel in 2 Chronicles 7: 14, in my view, apply to believers of all ages.

It is true that Israel’s “land” was healed on several occasions, after the people had drifted into backsliding and gross idolatry. America, it is equally true, for example, has not experienced what might be considered a complete healing in the sense of Israel in its ancient past.

However, America, again for example, has experienced degrees of “healing.” The great revival movements that came out of the Great Depression, was God at work in answering prayers of His “people.”

I believe the 2016 election for president was an answer to the prayers of God’s “people.” It was, to anyone possessing spiritual acuity, a miracle from the Almighty. Certainly, even the secularists –the mainstream media, and Mr. Trump’s opponents, were stunned into a form of madness!

Another friend defines the declaration that 2 Chronicles 7: 14 is not for the Church as a part of the Seminary Syndrome.

By this, he means that the products of often self-exalted seminaries sometimes can’t see the simplicity of God’s truth for feeling they have to make it complex to somehow justify their existence as the last word on interpretation of scriptural truth.

And, I mean no disrespect to the men and women who have the prestigious, seminary degrees of various flavors. Many, many of these are dear friends.

But, for the Seminary Syndrome to induce them to say such things as the things mentioned above with regard to God’s dealings with His “people,” just smacks of being wrong to my spiritual senses.

I have expressed before in my commentaries that I have the same problem with the Seminary Syndrome declarations that Matthew chapter 24 (the Olivet Discourse) is for the nation Israel only. –That the Rapture of the Church isn’t to be found in that great teaching by our Lord.

So please continue to pray in light of 2 Chronicles 7: 14 in regard to the 2020 presidential election. Our nation still needs healing, as we all know. Admittedly, as this generation seems to be at the very end of the Age of Grace, and at least half of the nation is deliberately moving away from, not nearer to God, it is unlikely that there is time to see a complete healing of America.

However, the prayers of God’s people have and can yet produce miracles within this land upon which God has so richly bestowed His blessings.

Blueprint for Delusion

Even a cursory observation by those paying attention, if they are honest, should induce them to acknowledge that this generation is encompassed by attempts to delude. I was in the advertising and public relations business for a number of years before my eyesight problems forced me to turn to other pursuits. The Lord saw to it that I landed softly enough in the field of writing books–for the most part, books on Bible prophecy.

I am most thankful for His providing that parachute into the field of trying to determine truth from lies about unfolding issues and events of these last days.

The advertising business is filled with lies, misconceptions, diversions and delusions of many sorts. The whole objective is to separate consumers from their hard-earned money. Actually, the objective is to get into our wallets, regardless of how the money is earned.

Government regulators now stipulate much more stringent parameters in advertising than they did during my day. For example, you’ve heard that line of mumbling of impossibly-fast-to-be-understood words after some drug company commercials. It sounds like gibberish. Actually, the lines are complying with governmental regulations by explaining possible side effects or other points of information the regulators insist the consumer be given. I’m surprised the government will allow those follow-up announcements to be given in such a hard-to-understand way.

The thing I’m trying to point out is that advertising and public relations are, by their very design, intended to seduce people into buying products and services, or whatever.

This is a form of delusion. Billions of dollars are spent in ad buys and other ways to produce these seductive messages. Campaigns can be long and ongoing in a building propaganda process to construct and establish product identity.

Think, for example, of the diet food industry. Marie Osmond seems to be on the TV screen every hour, on the hour, lauding the praises of Nutrisystem. America’s airways and cable systems are inundated with such commercials.

Whether the product advertisements are truthful in every case or not, the attempts to seduce the buyer are never ending. This is but one step away from deluding the consumer–deluding us to make us believe that something that might or might not be true is almost certainly a fact.

When it comes to spiritual matters, the Bible is absolutely true in every case. And God’s Word speaks powerfully to the matter of false advertising in the spiritual sense. Heaven’s forewarnings about one coming delusion is unmistakable for anyone who will heed the alert.

Satan has a blueprint for delusion. The Bible forewarns about this devilish plan. We are in a time when this forewarning is crucial. The Christian must not ignore the flashing red lights that are bursting all around us today.

Paul the apostle tells through prophecy that God will, following the Rapture of the Church, allow this delusion to come upon earth’s rebels, and they will believe Satan’s big lie. Believers of this Age of Grace must be wise to Lucifer’s evil deception. 

This is why we, collectively, wrote the book we released recently. Discerners: Analyzing Converging Prophetic Signs for the End of Days is designed, we believe, by Holy Spirit influence, to give the Christian a comprehensive  look at signals of how near we are to the time of Christ’s Second Advent, thus to the Rapture of the Church.

Satan wants to foist upon humanity seduction that will delude his victims to believe one particular lie. Regarding the matter of the blueprint for the delusion that our title cocoons, Jeff Kinley has framed the matter in excellent fashion.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians,
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (italics mine)

So, it is clear from Scripture that there is coming a time in history when the whole earth will fall under a grand delusion. The means through which this global deception will take place is the Antichrist, the man of sin. And he himself is directly energized by Satan. Paul says this devilish activity will take place in force during the last three and one-half years of the tribulation. And with his signs (whether they prove to be illusory in nature or actual miracles), he will nevertheless convince the world that he is indeed “God.” And billions will worship him as such (Revelation 13:8,11-15; 14:9,11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). This is the culmination of Satan’s long-sought objective—to be worshiped as God (Isaiah 14:13-14). And through the Antichrist, he will finally realize that depraved desire.

But what makes this bizarre phenomenon so potentially perplexing is that it is God Himself who initially sends this delusion. One may be inclined to think this sounds either uncharacteristic, cruel, or antithetical to God’s essence and character. After all, doesn’t He want people to come to faith in Him? Doesn’t Scripture say as much in 2 Peter 3:9? And if this is true, why would He then cause the world to be deceived by lies that will effectively prevent people from salvation? These are fair and legitimate questions, and ones that, fortunately, are answered for us in God’s Word. (Jeff Kinley, “Descending Dark Delusion,” chapter 3, Discerners: Analyzing Converging Prophetic Signs for the End of Days)

Jeff goes on to illustrate that God’s plan is in every case perfect, and that the Lord will deal with mankind through the delusion. That is, God will make understandable the horrendous lie that will assault people during the Tribulation.

If I may, I suggest you read that chapter and all others in our book. It’s a great book because of superb writers like Jeff and fifteen others who are, themselves, spiritually attuned discerners of our times. That’s not just the old ad man in me coming out. It really is a book that will greatly edify your study as we watch this delusion build, leading up to the Rapture.

And, I do believe we are seeing it build. It will manifest fully once the Church is in Heaven, but that prophesied delusion is increasing now as God’s cup of wrath is filling for pouring upon a world of rebellious unbelievers. Meantime, while we are witnessing the things develop that God’s Word tells us are signs to look for preceding Christ’s return, we are to adhere to the following Scriptural commands. They are from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself:

“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13: 37).

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”  (Luke 21: 28).

As anyone who reads my commentaries knows, I support Donald J. Trump in most every one of his actions and policies as president. As a matter of fact, I believe he has been placed in this powerful office at one of the most crucial points in human history, not just at the most critical point in American history.

A quick rethinking of the 2016 U.S. presidential election makes one acknowledge the strange turn of events. The so-called odds ran totally contrary to the way the election was supposed to go.

I believe it was not just a strange turn of events, but a supernatural turn of events that took place.

Likewise, I think most who read these commentaries know that I strongly support the nation Israel in most every way. This is not to say I always support and agree with the Israeli government and that country’s actions and reactions to events in which they become involved. The nation is in many ways stumbling in the dark like any other nation, and often makes mistakes. Israel is in no way perfect, and those who accuse we who support the nation blindly just don’t know the truth of our support. I’m talking about our support as Christians –Christians in the truest sense. –Christians who believe in the literal interpretation of Bible prophecy.

And, speaking of blindness –a myopic view of things that rivals any nearsightedness in history— the nation called Israel and the people called Jews are subjects of legendary such malady.

Only, it is not merely legendary myopia the nation and Jewish people as a whole suffer. It is Biblically pronounced extreme nearsightedness with which they are afflicted.

Paul the apostle wrote the following in this regard.

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

Jewish orthodoxy, of course, rejected Jesus Christ as Messiah 2000 years ago. This puts the nation, as a whole, under Paul’s further expression of God’s condemnation in this regard.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor 4: 3-4)

Having prefaced these commentary thoughts with the fact that both Mr. Trump and the Jewish people and the nation Israel have no greater a supporter than yours truly, I must point out a development that portends devastating trouble ahead.

The trouble of which I write is for the Jewish people who continue to reject the one, true Savior of the world –the Lord Jesus Christ.

It involves the matter of the orthodox Jews –the religious upper-strata that holds to Judaism and the rejection of Jesus Christ. These religionists –at least a number of them—embrace President Trump as a sort of savior. They don’t give him Messiah status, but they laud him as a king of prophetic prominence within their clerical view.

This brief excerpt will, I hope frame my thought here.

President Trump attended an Orthodox Jewish fundraising event at the Intercontinental Hotel in Manhattan on Tuesday evening. Four hundred Orthodox Jews participated in the event, contributing an estimated $100,000 each for the honor of paying a personal tribute to the Commander-in-Chief.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson recited the blessing said upon seeing a non-Jewish ruler…

Blessed art Thou, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, that you have shared part of your love and glory and compassion with a human being who maintains the honor of every innocent person and every Jew forever.”

The Talmud states that it is a mitzvah (Torah commandment) for a Jew to go out of his way to see rulers and kings, whether they are Jewish or non-Jewish but there is a dispute among Halachic (Torah law) authorities as to whether this blessing should be recited with the complete name of God in these times upon seeing a ruler who is not a king.

It is significant that when the rabbi recited the blessing upon seeing Donald Trump, he said the complete and explicit name of God in Hebrew.

Rabbi Nachman Kahana, a prominent spiritual leader in Jerusalem, did not agree with Rabbi Jacobson’s decision to use the name of God in this instance.

“Every rabbi can make his own ruling and Chabad has their own methods and rulings. But what is for sure is that Halacha is not influenced by political considerations,” Rabbi Kahana explained to Breaking Israel News. “It is like science and should be the result of careful consideration of the facts and the current situation…

This is learned out from the real king, Hashem (God, literally ‘the name’), which is the source of the king’s authority. Hashem’s authority is not derived from other men. He cannot be impeached, and we don’t vote for God.” (Rabbi: Blessing Trump as King Shows He is the Final President Before the Return of Davidic Dynasty, By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, Breaking Israel News, November 13, 2019)

So, there is disagreement about the technicalities of giving homage to political leaders amongst the Jewish upper-clergy. However, their myopic inability to determine who is who among politicians and world leaders is the point I wish to make. The lack of ability to determine how those leaders can be trusted as a blessing by God to Israel is becoming clear in these strange days so near the end of the age.

Their blindness, as expressed by the Apostle Paul in the scripture given above, becomes increasingly manifest as their true Messiah’s coming nears. This myopia –this blindness, is foretold by the Messiah, Himself.

“I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.” (John 5: 43)

Jews at the highest ecclesiastical echelons are exhibiting the supernatural myopia Jesus predicted. They are straining to look for the anointed one so long promised. Sadly, they will soon, deludedly, see Antichrist as Israel’s Messiah.

Israel, the most hated nation in the world—the most hated nation in history, is also the most beloved. God loves Israel with godly passion that is unmatched. Because of His absolute love for the Jewish people –for the nation—Israel has been and is today the one nation on earth almost all other nations of earth would like to see eradicated.

This is because Lucifer, the fallen one –Satan—wants to destroy Israel, and he is the entity who, for the time being, has a large degree of control over the unregenerate people of this fallen world. He is the father of lies and the lost of this world are his children, according to God’s word. Only when people come to redemption through Jesus Christ are they taken out of the devil’s grip.

God’s prophetic word, the Bible, tells that hatred for Israel will be the way things are until the very end when Satan’s dictator, Antichrist, will seek to totally destroy the Jewish people. We have seen the beginnings of that end times destructive action.

Even in America, the nation that has been the most pro-Israel, has of late shown great growth in anti-Semitism –hatred for the Jewish race and for their country, Israel.

Because I couldn’t explain the truth about the hatred for Israel going on any better than does this article, I’ll use this excerpt to illustrate.

Anti-Semitism has always existed in the world. There has never been a time when the Jewish People have not been victimized by Satan’s savage attacks against them. Even today in America—probably the least anti-Semitic nation on earth, the Anti-Defamation League reports the highest level of anti- Semitism since World War II.

At its core is Satan fomenting hatred among men against the Children of the God of Israel, generation after generation. He cleverly disguises each campaign with a compelling lie wrapped in a plan designed to rid the world of a perceived ill blamed on the Jews. From the very first attempt to destroy the Jews—Pharaoh’s murder of all the male Hebrew babies—to Herod’s order to kill all male babies under 2 years old two thousand years ago, the serpent’s scheme was to defeat God’s plan to bring forth the Messiah of Israel. He failed—miserably! Yet, the campaign of hatred marches on because the great redemption story is not over. Because the Jewish People and Israel play a major role in Last Days prophecy, Satan is still hard at work opposing God’s plan. The impetus he is using to rally hatred against the Jew today is a powerful anti-Israel (and pro-Palestinian) deception, wrapped in false humanitarian claims and causes. Understand: Deception is a hallmark of the Last Days (Matthew 24:11). For the minuscule size of the country, the lack of natural resources, or strategic seaport, one has to question why Israel is always at the center of world controversy—her existence continually hanging in the balance. We see Israel at the epicenter of a boiling cauldron of increasingly violent factions rising up within the vast Arab lands surrounding her. The world has been told, and has almost mindlessly accepted, claims that all unrest in the Middle East is Israel’s fault—that if the Jews would give the Land “back to the Palestinians” there would be peace in the world and terrorism would end. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is setting the stage to draw all nations into a final cataclysmic showdown in the Middle East—the nations may think it is against Israel, but they will find out it is against her God!” (True indicators of the last days, Jewish Voice Ministries International, By Jonathan BernisMost, December 1, 2015)

At the same time anti-Semitism is on the rise as an indicator that this generation is nearing the end of the Church Age, there has arisen another indicator that further solidifies my belief of just how near might be the Tribulation era, thus the Rapture of the Church which will precede that horrific time for all humanity.

There is a call going out today that is like a magnet. We have witnessed the Call since the fall of the Berlin Wall and beyond. God is causing the release of His beloved people from around the world.

An article came across my desk pinpointing this Call that is being issued by Jewish clerics.

In a rare consensus, an impressive array of some of the most prominent rabbis of this generation came together in a declaration saying that there are no longer any valid excuses: Jews must act on the Torah commandment to move to Israel.

The consensus came as the first stage in an ongoing multi-faceted project initiated by Joshua Wander, a resident of the Mount of Olives. This stage was timed to coincide with the week in which Jews around the world read the section of the Torah in which God tells Abraham to leave his father’s land.

Hashem said to Avram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1…

The project, named appropriately enough “Bring Them Home”, will be launched on Thursday with a series of video lectures given by prominent rabbis explaining why the Biblical imperative to move to Israel is in a new, more imperative stage. The five-minute videos will feature Rabbi Zeev Leff, Rabbi Nachman Kahane, Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik, Rabbi Danny Myers, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky, Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller, Rabbi Shalom Gold, Rabbi Aryeh Shapira, and Rabbi Mordechai Machlis. All of these rabbis are respected leaders in the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) movement. Several other rabbis are involved in the project but have not yet prepared video statements for release…https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/139513/major-rabbis-unite-in-decisive-call-for-all-jews-to-return-from-exile-its-time/

This miracle nation called Israel, presently so hated and reviled, is slated for Glory beyond any other experienced by a people or its homeland. They have God’s word on it.

 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:11)

No other state in this once indivisible union more firmly represented that unity than did the state of Texas. The battle cry of those fighting for the nation’s freedom from enslavement was often “Remember the Alamo!” –Thus, while young men gave their very lives to preserve all that was good about America.

The song’s title, “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” conjured thoughts of indissoluble patriotism. Its theme embraced the very essence of innocence and determination to advance across the continent under the energy generated by the American spirit.

Recently however, that state, perhaps among the very most once devoted to God and country, has been infiltrated by another spirit.

Those advocating for open borders, who see America and its wealth as belonging to the entire world, seem to have taken over. Illegal aliens coming through the southern border have significantly made a detrimental impact upon the Lone Star state. The immigration crisis, as we know, has dominated the political landscape.

One political party in particular has sought, through flaunting their disdain for immigration laws, to turn Texas into a state solidly in their political camp. Dallas/Ft. Worth has, in effect, become solidly Democrat. The large population centers of Texas –like others in large cities throughout the U.S. vote almost exclusively progressive (liberal). The heart of this great state has turned increasingly dark. Thus, the title of this commentary Deep in the Black Heart of Texas.

The term “black” here is not a racial pejorative. My meaning is totally a matter of moral condemnation. The progressive/liberal ideology has moved America farther from God’s prescription for a morally upright culture and society. The illegal immigration, intended by the progressive ideology to turn Texas from a “red” state to a “blue” state is why the heart of Texas looks to be turning black.

That godless ideology is demonstratively against all things, until recent years, considered moral, common sense, American values. That spiritually dark view of how culture and society should comport has turned morality upside down. The progressive/liberal influence, especially in the highest echelons of government, education, and media, have brought our nation into having what the Apostle Paul termed a reprobate mind (Romans 1: 28).    

Texas has at its heart –its capital, a black, festering immorality that rivals the godlessness of any of the east and west coast states. It is a Mecca of the most voracious such sort of political ideology. Austin harbors evil that threatens to infect all of Texas, in pushing it toward presidential electoral votes that will upset the national, political equilibrium.

Lest those who peruse this commentary think I’m way off base with the language used to portray the Texas state capital and what goes on there, I offer the following news excerpt.

AUSTIN, Texas, October 31, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Despite heavy turnout from parents opposed to the plan, the Austin Independent School District voted Tuesday to approve a sex education curriculum that calls for teaching children as early as third grade how to engage in sodomy and put on condoms, that gender is “non-binary,” and more.

As detailed by Texas Values, the curriculum discourages gender-specific language like “mother” and “father” because it “can limit [children’s] understanding of gender into binaries,” encourages children to attend LGBT “pride” rallies and explore other ways to become LGBT “allies,” and proposes various role-play scenarios for children to act out in class, including lesbians deciding when to engage in oral sex and how to handle the aftermath of a drunken sexual encounter.

Texas school district to teach third graders about sodomy, condoms, Calvin Freiburger, LifeSiteNews) Rapture Ready News November 1, 2019)

I have left out the most salacious of the descriptions about things involving these young children. But be assured, the report became much more graphic.

Parents and others protested the school district using the curriculum.

“Who gave you the right, Austin ISD?” The father of a fifth-grade student asked. “You have overstepped,” he added.

Another parent declared the curriculum an “attack on Christianity and family and on parental rights.”

A number of citizens concerned about the curriculum read specific details from the hellish course of study. Gary Moore, one resident, called the sexual role-play activities a “dream scenario for pedophiles.”

While the parents and concerned citizens protested their children being subjected to the wickedness, LGBTQ counter protesters threatened physical harm to those against the curriculum and used screaming and noisemakers to try to drown out the anti-curriculum protesters.  

Deep in the Black Heart of Texas, people who still hold to God as the foundation of righteousness must know what Lot felt like in the days just before fire and brimstone fell upon that incorrigibly wicked city.

While signs that this generation is at the end of the Church Age rage, the devil’s thinking becomes ever louder through voices infected with the fallen one’s hatred. A Democrat candidate for president in 2020 provided the echo chamber for making audible Satan’s intentions.

CNN TV host Don Lemon, Thursday night October 10, provided the question on the CNN town hall. He asked Beto O’Rourke whether he thought all churches or other organizations that held views against those of the LGBTQ community should have their tax-exempt status taken away.

The candidate said “Yes.” He added: “There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break for anyone or any institution – any organization in America that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us.” Vowing to make this a priority of his administration, O’Rourke said further, “We are going to stop those who are infringing upon the human rights of our fellow Americans.”

A few other of the 20 something Democrat candidates in the 2020 presidential race backed away from O’Rourke’s blunt declaration. But throughout weeks and months of rantings and ravings the collective mindset of the radical left –and that is almost everyone running on the Democrat side— has made it clear. They are a militant mob of LGBT activists who are satanically-driven to shut down all evangelical churches in America and to silence any Christian who dares to stand in the way of their agenda.

Echoes of Lucifer’s seething contempt for all that is holy in this strange time so near to the end of the age can’t be contained. His minions of the human sort are seeing to it that his lies are given voice on a regular basis.

As a matter-of-fact, the main stream news media broadcasts on an hourly basis the cavernous reverberations of the devil’s lies. Thus, while refusing most counter thought to be aired on their various venues. –Venues that, like the political, ideological and theological left, are of one mind. It is the mind of the father of lies. 

We can get a perspective on just how rapidly things have been moved toward the abyss Satan has planned for this nation and the world through this news excerpt.

“The American pastor whose two-year imprisonment plunged Turkey into a diplomatic feud with the United States urged young Christians in his home country to prepare for the persecution he sees gathering for them on the horizon.

“Pastor Andrew Brunson, 51, told the Washington Examiner how troubled he has been by the ominous trends he has observed in American culture during the year since his dramatic, high-stakes release from a Turkish prison.

“Brunson elsewhere said he has been “astounded at the speed with which the U.S. is imploding” and how anti-Christian sentiment has surged during just the few years he was isolated. “The whole Trump election and everything that happened afterward, I knew very little about it. So, when I came back to the states and just started reading and following news, it was just such a contrast to the environment that we had been in even four to six years ago.”

“It seems that the culture has become more overtly hostile,” he said, pinpointing how large corporations are now joining the media and political classes to push positions that often oppose biblical teaching. A segment of elite society has long regarded Christians sneeringly, he said, but opposition is now bubbling up everywhere and “is now spread to where it’s more of a grassroots thing that is growing.” [Source: http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-ews/3786234/posts]

As we are assaulted by the echoing, cacophonous ravings of the godless, reprobate minions, let’s comfort ourselves with Scripture such as that of Titus 2: 13.