Uh Welcome to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr. Along with my brother Rick, we examine current events in the light of God's prophetic word. This is a program that, having a correct understanding of Bible prophecy, we examine current events that are happening around the world. Years ago, we did a video entitled Ready to Rebuild, Revisited.
My father, Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, who started this program, we interviewed Rabbi Nachman Kahana. Rabbi Nachman Kahana was a gentleman who was involved in the rebuilding of the temple. As a matter of fact, he had a garment in his closet, which was the first garment produced for a high priest in the city of Jerusalem. We asked Rabbi Nachman Kahana how close that we are to the rebuilding of the temple.
And Nachman Kahana said this: I believe something is happening. And God works in spurts. Rick, I'd have to use that phrase today when we're looking at world events in the light of. God's prophetic word. On our program today, Ken Timmerman, David Dolan, Colonel Bob McGinnis, and of course the legacy series with Dr.
Jimmy D. Young. And at the end, Rick and I will bring it all together. Rick, let's get started with our first, Ken Timmerman.
Well, that's right, Jimmy. I have Ken Timmerman. He is our expert on geopolitics. He's an author and an analyst. You can find out more about him by going to his website at kentimmerman.com.
Ken, thanks for being with us today. Thanks for having me on, Rick. It's always a pleasure.
Well, can you keep us updated on what is going on around the world? Much going on in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. We look at a phone call between President Trump and Putin, between President Trump and Zelensky, but then continued attacks. Can you tell us where we stand right now? President Trump had calls this week, Rick, with both President Putin of Russia and Zelensky of Ukraine.
They got much closer to a ceasefire. We're told that on Wednesday, Zelensky agreed to a limited ceasefire, which Putin had also agreed to, that would keep both sides from attacking their energy and civilian infrastructure.
Now, that's a step in the right direction. This is a step-by-step ceasefire. It's not a total ceasefire, which Putin has refused, but it is a step in the right direction. On Friday, there were attacks by both the Russians and the Ukrainians on what appeared to be energy targets. In other words, breaking the ceasefire, but they downplayed them at the same time.
So, Rick, I think we're inching towards a resolution to the conflict. We're nowhere near there yet. People are still dying, and that is what President Trump wants to stop.
Well, at the same time that all this is going on, there are some in Europe that are saying that Russia, since the invasion of Ukraine and that aggression there, they have been doing things all across Europe. Have you heard about this? Rick, they're calling this a hybrid operations campaign. The Associated Press did an investigation this week mapping out something like 59 different attacks that they're alleging Russian security agents carried out. They are cyber attacks, they are sabotage attacks, vandalism, things like plugging car tailpipes, but also much more serious stuff like assassination attempts against the head of Rheinmattel, one of the biggest European defense companies, and a plot we talked about a couple of weeks ago, Rick.
Apparently, Russian intelligence agents were planning to put bombs on cargo planes headed to the United States and Canada. This is something that the U.S. called out publicly and told the Russians to stop. And apparently, they did.
So, yeah, there are these kinds of attacks going on. Russia's at war. We should not be surprised. I think. What's even more interesting, Rick, is Trump's idea this week of floating U.S.
ownership of Ukrainian power plants as a deterrent to Russian attacks. This is, again, President Trump trying to get U.S. skin in the game. Without sending troops to the battlefield. Very interesting as we look at the way this Russia-Ukraine crisis is playing out in Europe, and then, of course, with the new Trump administration.
Well, let's go there then. Let's talk about that just a little bit. There are many here in the United States that are saying that President Trump is looking to abandon NATO, and they're asking him not to. But there are others that are saying that he's just asking them to pay their fair share. Europe is looking at all of this, and some of these European nations are deciding that they need to become more militarized, that they need to have their own defense and not rely on the United States so much.
Can you talk about this? Sure. The NATO piece of this is interesting. I don't think Trump wants to abandon NATO. I don't think he wants to walk away from it.
But some, including Republicans on Capitol Hill, are a bit worried because he has floated the idea of allowing a French general to become the commander of NATO.
Now, that doesn't mean that all of our tanks are going to run in reverse, Rick, but it does mean that we will not have a dual-hatted U.S. general running the whole show. I don't know whether that's going to happen or not. Senator Wicker in the Senate Armed Services Committee and his counterpart, Mike Rogers, in the House, have said you can't do this until you have a multi-agency review or a congressional review as well. We'll have to see whether that leadership shift actually takes place.
But the Europeans are talking about. Finally, finally assuming more responsibility and paying more for their own defense. This is really good news, Rick, and it's something that President Trump began during his first term. Remember, he got the Europeans to increase their defense spending already to 2%, at least most of them, or to pledge to do so.
Now, with this Russia-Ukraine war in its third year, they are getting extremely nervous. Ursula van der Leyden, the head of the European Commission, has trotted out this thing she's calling a readiness 2030 plan.
Now, we've talked about this a bit in the past, but the name is now. Has been cast in stone, if you wish. They would spend 800 billion euros, which is about the same in dollars, in theory, to expand their military capabilities to buy European weapons. They're freezing out the U.S. and British defense companies.
This is, of course, to privilege the French, who have a very large defense production capability. I've been to many French defense factories, Rick, and toured them when I was a defense correspondent in the 80s. We used to call this, Rick, the two-way street. Again, in the 80s, the Europeans were almost solely buying American weapons, and the French in particular were really upset. They wanted America to start buying some French systems.
And so President Reagan said, okay, let's see what we can do. Let's see if we can really get a two-way street going. And so we bought some communications gear from Thompson CSF, which is, of course, changed names for. Four times since then. But it didn't really go very far because the Europeans didn't have much that we really wanted.
Now we're going to see if the Europeans are able to step up to the plate with their defense manufacturing and satisfy their own requirements. It's going to take some time. And I don't think they've got those 800 billion euros either. Right now, they're talking about a special lending facility of 150 billion euros. That's a far cry from the 800 billion euros.
And Ursula van der Leiden wants to get this done in five years. I am a little bit skeptical that they're going to succeed.
Well, Ken, we'll keep tabs on that situation there as we look at EU potentially militarizing up. We don't know if that is necessarily going to happen yet.
Well, let's move in my final segment here and talk about the situation in Iran. You have a book, The Iran House: Tales of Revolution, Persecution, War and Intrigue. We recommend that book to our listeners to help you get a better perspective of what is taking place there. But right now, in a post-October 7th world, Iran is caught between a crossroads. They have been exposed a little bit, and Israel has gained power.
And now, President Trump is saying that they have two months to figure out the nuclear situation. Can you talk about the situation in Iran and what we should be looking for there? I've said a couple of times on this show, Rick, that I believe President Trump is a man of peace. He would much rather negotiate with the Iranians, even though that may not be possible, than go to war with them, right? Jaw-jaw instead of war-war.
And so we knew that he had sent a letter to Iran a couple of weeks ago to the Supreme Leader, but now it's leaked out that that letter where he demanded that the Iranians dismantle their nuclear infrastructure included a two-month deadline.
So he said basically to them, you dismantle the same way that Libya did in 2004, or else, or else you will suffer the consequences and you don't want to know what they are.
So this is a very serious demand that he's made on them. Nobody until President Trump has demanded that the Iranians actually dismantle their nuclear infrastructure. They've just talked about putting limits on their production of fissile material.
So it's a big demand. And the Iranians aren't quite sure what to do about it, but they are still using their proxies, the Houthis, who declared this week from Yemen that they were going to, once again, they were going to resume attacks on Israel.
So you had Houthi missiles going against Israel. The U.S. told the Israelis, you don't have to go after them. They're our responsibility. We'll take care of the Houthis.
And so the U.S. has launched big strikes against them. The Iranians don't really know what to do, Rick. I've been learning from my own sources that they have brought to Tehran a guy named Al-Khabi, who is the head of the Nujaba militia in Iraq, these Iranian-backed militias. And they're even thinking of getting him and his group to attack the U.S.
Embassy in Baghdad as a way to put pressure on the United States.
Now, you know, I've mentioned it on the show, and I certainly write about it in great detail in the Iran House the last time they tried to attack the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, New Year's 2020. President Trump turned around and ordered a drone strike on their top terrorist, Qasim Soleimani, commander of the Quds force. Have the Iranians really not learned anything since then? I'm not so sure.
Well, just as a final thought here, the President Trump certainly some would feel have isolationalist tendencies. He does not necessarily want to be involved in foreign wars. But if you challenge him like that, his personality is not going to take that. And that is going to be a response that they don't want, isn't it?
Well, Rick is called peace through strength. It's not isolationism at all. And we've seen this with those airstrikes against the Houthis. But we're not going to be putting troops on the ground, and we're not going to be occupying foreign countries as we did under the Bush administration and the Obama administration. Ken Timmerman for Prophecy Today.
Ken, as always, we appreciate your insight into these situations. Look forward to talking to you again soon. Thanks so much, Rick. God bless. Great job as always, Ken.
You can take a string and draw it from these world events, these leaders, these nations, to prophetic events that are in the Bible that are still yet to happen in the future. But everything is falling into place. We're watching world events as they're shaping up a future prophetic event that's outlined in God's Word. But we've got to take a break. And when we come back, David Dolan with our Middle East News update.
Right here on Propsey Today weekend. I'm Jeremy Scott with Mission Network News. The U.S. and Houthi rebels in Yemen exchanged fire this past weekend, but the U.S. is pointing past the Houthis to Iran, which denies backing the group despite evidence over the years.
Dr. Hormos Shariat with Iran Alive Ministries says after the events of the past year, the Iranian government has lost its influence in the Middle East. Not only have its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah been seriously diminished, but it is also divided against its own people. Iran Alive broadcasts the good news of Jesus via satellite TV to Iranians desperate for hope. The message we have is: no human can be your savior.
The prince is not your savior. Nathaniel is not your savior. Trump is not your savior. Jesus is your only savior left. Ask God for spiritual breakthrough in Iran.
More in the full report online. Then, in 164 countries, Life International is taking Christ to the mission field created by abortion. Director of International Ministries, Zach Kadu, says part of their work is raising awareness about abortions devaluing nature.
Sometimes we have to open pastors' eyes, open church leaders' eyes to seeing how life is being devalued or to seeing how different worldviews are impacting how we're acting or treating image-bearers of God. Kadu says the global church is hungry for gospel clarity on matters of life. We see this as primarily a gospel issue. We see the value of life as something that is established by God. Please pray for the work of Life International.
Pray that the Holy Spirit would give words in due season, and pray that hearts would be changed on matters of abortion. Learn more about this ministry at missionnews.org. Thanks for listening to Mission Network News, a service of one-way ministries. We're listeners supported by people just like you.
So, by giving to Mission Network News, you enable us to keep the stories of God's kingdom coming, and together, the great commission happens. Look for the links at missionnews.org. That's missionnews.org. I'm Jeremy Scott. Welcome back to Prophecy Today Radio, the program that looks at current events in the light of Bible prophecy.
Well, this is the portion of our program. We call it our Middle East news update. We look at news coming out of the Middle East in general, but Israel in particular. To do that, we have with us journalist Dave Dolan. Dave, thanks for being with us today.
As usual, Rick, it is a blessing.
Well, David, we see the resumption of the war against Hamas by Israel. A lot happening in that part of the world this week. Can you give us an update? Of course, Rick, that is the big story of the week. Israel going back to war against Hamas after they continued to refuse to release any more hostages until Other guarantees were given to them, et cetera.
They rejected the latest White House proposal last week to release ten. half living, half dead hostages. And so on Sunday, the cabinet said, that's it, we're going back in. And that came, Rick, after Israeli intelligence revealed that Hamas fighters were actually regrouping Along the border, taking advantage of Israel not being there for the past weeks and regrouping with the intent to carry out another attack into Israel, is what they said. And they gave some proof of that.
That came before the defense minister, Israel Katz, announced that.
Some of the areas along the border would be annexed to Israel. They would not turn it back over to the Palestinians. They would hold on to a security buffer basically inside of Gaza along that border. Of course, the Palestinians cried foul over that. And as for the refugees, we had an opinion poll by Gallup that showed that 38% would accept.
temporary relocation. fourteen percent want to leave permanently. Four percent of mainly men said they would send their families abroad.
So over fifty percent in this poll said they would leave if they could. thirty seven percent said they were unable to return to their homes. And the chief destination of all places would be Germany if they could. But many would go to Gulf countries and Africa, the pollsters asked. All of that.
And then, Rick, we had another rocket attack from Gaza on Friday into Ashkelon, the area just north of the Gaza Strip. Two rockets were intercepted by the Air Force, low flying rockets. The Israelis then ordered the residents of the northern town where they came from to evacuate. This was a civilian area again that Hamas is using to fire its rockets. That's what they've been doing all along, of course.
Also on Friday, the IDF announced that they got another senior Palestinian Hamas leader, actually the intelligence chief in the south of the strip, Osama Tabash. He was involved in planning all sorts of attacks over the years, but definitely was one of the main planners of the October 7th massacre.
So they got him in a targeted killing. The other main story, Rick, sad really, but political unrest has returned to the streets of Israel, even though the war is underway. That came after the cabinet unanimously voted to dismiss the Shin Bet, that's Israel's Secret Service chief, Ronan Barr, from his job. He was supposed to leave anyway next month, but they wanted an early departure. And Bibi Netanyahu said, basically, I'm quoting: I have a lack of confidence in him, growing mistrust.
But really, Rick, people say the reason is that Ronambar has been making some speeches during the lull, the ceasefire, against the government, basically, or questioning some of their policies, et cetera, in public. That is unheard of. In fact, we never even knew Officially, who the shebet sheep was in previous years when I was reporting. It was a state secret, even though half the people knew, and all of us journalists did know. But it's a diff different situation.
Uh bar has rejected. this call for his removal and gone to the Supreme Court, and it ruled on Friday that the government has to freeze this decision until probably april twentieth at the earliest. And that's causing unrest in the government, a lot of opposition to that in the government, and street protests. And the main labor union said that if the government didn't continue to backbar as the Shimbet chief, because he wants to be reappointed as that, that they would take to the streets en masse and close the economy down.
So we're back to that sort of tension on top of the war being resumed.
So really not a very good week in Israel, but at least we didn't have any major terror attacks or anything like that. And the rockets that came in, I should mention two from the Houthis in Yemen, two Iranian ballistic missiles were fired at Israel during the week. Uh, they took both of them out successfully, but sirens sounded throughout Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in the central area. Bang-urian airport was closed for a while, and uh, the United States uh publicly said afterwards that they'd asked Israel not to respond, that they would respond since they're down there responding anyway. That conflict continues.
The U.S. striking their positions. And so we'll see where all of that comes out. But thankfully, nobody was hit by shrapnel or anything like that.
So in that sense, not the worst week, but not a good week either.
Well, as always, David, a lot of things taking place there, a lot of things going on and how they all relate together, how they all work together is what we ask you to help explain for us. And I want to go back to that Israeli politics situation. You said sadly this happened, and there are many that think that some of the Israeli political situations before October 7th kind of helped lead to October 7th. It showed a weakness in Israel. It showed that maybe there was dissent and that they could attack without the possibility of a response from Israel.
And now we're seeing maybe that come back into light even during this brief ceasefire, as you said. Could you talk a little bit about the Israeli political situation and why, even during this wartime, this is coming up?
Well, basically, the knives came out about a month ago with Ronanbar making Statements that we're calling into question Netsanyahu's leadership and his judgment, and sort of trying to shift.
some of the security agencies blame onto the government. But Bibi has said many times that he wasn't told that this was even a possibility. In the days and weeks before the attack that the Xin Bed and they put out their own report a few weeks ago, admitting that they were caught off the ball, that they misread different things, that they didn't take the actions they should have, that they relied too heavily on the modernized security fence and all this sort of thing. It didn't think about gliders coming over, these sort of more primitive methods of attack.
So he admitted that. But Rick, in the uh legal sense, it very much resembles what's going on right now between the White House and the judicial system, if you will, over the deportation of illegal immigrants. And that's, of course, been in the news all week. And here, one judge in America is able to stop an entire government move proposal that's a fulfillment of the promise that The president made to his voters, and then he got elected.
So it's obviously supported, and the polls all show that 60-some percent support this deportation thing. And so the power of the courts is enormous.
Well, in Israel, it's even greater, Rick. And this has been a problem for many years. Supreme Court justices, as in the states, are permanently there unless they resign or they die. And they've been appointed by left-wing governments more than right-wing governments over the years.
So they usually vote that way. And here's the Supreme Court just basically saying to the government, no. To the Prime Minister, no, you can't fire this man who is the chief security officer in the country. And he is subservient to the government, supposedly, you can't fire him.
Well, that's considered by pretty much everyone on the right in Israel with religious parties. judicial overreach, great overreach, and that they become activists, that they are acting like they are the elected government, basically, is what it amounts to. And they're unelected, although they do have to be approved, as in the states, by the Knesset, the legislature, before they're. They sit in there, but you can't get rid of them once they are in there.
So it's very similar to that situation, Rick. And really, the response. The Israeli left is becoming more and more violent. More and more vocal, more and more willing to close airports and roads down. And they've been protesting all week outside of the government of the Supreme Court building for the Supreme Court and against Beebe and his home and other things like that.
So it's a very similar situation to America in that the left wing seems to be trying to grab back power through the legal system as opposed to the electoral system. And obviously, Israel is a democracy, so the electoral system should but I believe would be the one to determine Who runs the country and who you have as your security chief is obviously important for the Prime Minister to trust. The leading man in that position, as it would be for the president in the states to trust the CIA chief, FBI director, et cetera. It's kind of a sick situation in that sense. But and it's another strain on the Israeli public, which right now, obviously, the economy is already so struggling due to the war and all that's going on that it really doesn't need general strikes and this sort of thing.
You know, David, I'm reminded of the fact that in Proverbs chapter 3, Solomon exhorts his son to trust in the Lord wholeheartedly. In verse 5, Solomon gives counsel regarding trusting the Lord instead of one's own understanding. And in verse 7, he says, do not be wise in your own eyes. And that's what I think is happening today. Sadly, the Jewish people, for that much matter, the world doesn't trust the Lord wholeheartedly.
They are wise in their own eyes.
Well, David, stick around. I got one more question to ask you about Turkey when we come back after the break. You're listening to Prophecy Today Weekend. Boom boom boom. Every believer needs to understand Bible prophecy.
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You can visit ProphecyToday.com and click on Bookstore, or you can go directly to prophecybookstore.com. Welcome back to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr. Along with Rick, we're examining current events in the light of God's prophetic word. David Dolan, standing by for one more question, and then Colonel Bob McGinnis will be here, and he's got some excellent stuff, especially in light of the conversation that President Trump had with Vladimir Putin this last week and how it all ties together.
When you look at Bible prophecy, we believe that the next event on God's prophetic timetable is the rapture of the church. There are no other prophecies happening at this moment. When you understand that, then you see world events, you examine them in the light that they are setting up events that are going to happen in the future. After the rapture of the church, there's a time period that will take place. But the next thing that happens, according to Revelation chapter 6, is the man of peace, the Antichrist, the man of false peace, will come on the scene.
The Antichrist comes on the scene. He converts. Confirms a peace agreement with Israel to protect them, to allow them to rebuild their temple on the Temple Mount in the city of Jerusalem. Of course, that ignites the Islamic world to come against Israel. But for the first three and a half years of the tribulation, this man of peace is the best friend that Israel, best political friend that Israel has ever had.
And so when you see the things that are happening today and political situations, world leaders making decisions, President Trump, Vladimir Putin, who has a role according to Ezekiel 38, because those nations in Ezekiel 38, which would be Russia, Iran, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan, when Libya, Egypt, Syria, of course, the nations of Saudi Arabia, and they come to fight. Against Israel, and the first, basically, I think it's within the first two months of the tribulation period. We can see that all of these. Parts and pieces of the next act on God's timetable is about ready to take place.
So that's why we focus on these things. Another country that will be a part of Ezekiel 38 is a nation of Turkey. And, Rick, I wanted to again investigate with David the nation of Turkey and the role that it is playing and how Israel is taking it so very seriously.
Well, David, there's political unrest in Turkey. President Erdogan has made some moves against his opposition. Can you talk about this and what this means for the Middle East? Rick, the Israelis are watching this very, very closely because, of course, Turkey is a huge uh anti-Israel country. Uh Erdwan made some very strong anti-Israel statements uh when the war resumed.
You you've got the blood of the Palestinians on your hands and you're doing evil and these sorts of things.
So he's not a friend of Israel's, and of course he's Thought to be the main force behind the new leader Ashara in Syria.
So they watched closely and yes, on Thursday I think it was, he had his main political opponent arrested and he is the mayor of Istanbul and thousands, hundreds of thousands of Turks took to the streets to protest that. And basically, he's jailing his main opponent.
So that's not a good sign for the future of Turkey or for the chances of. real democracy returning there. It's become more and more authoritarian, the government under Erdwan and definitely strongly anti Israel.
So they're watching that situation very, very closely and to see how it will affect Syria in particular, it's not a good sign. They do feel that.
Well, David, as we know, and you're a journalist and you understand the political situation, but you're also a student of Bible prophecy. We look at the situation in Turkey. Erdogan wants to re-establish the Islamic Caliphate, and he wants to be the head of that Islamic caliphate. And of course, Turkey has a role to play in Bible prophecy. Could you talk a little bit about how this relates to what the Bible says will happen in the future?
Well, again, we had Turkey as an ally of Israel just 15 years ago, 15, 20 years ago, one of the main tourist destinations. For Israelis was Turkey. Still, many go, but far fewer than did. And then Erdogan basically turned more and more hardline in his Islamic views. got closer and closer to Hamas.
And as you say, he wants to reestablish the caliphate that Turkey had, the Ottomans had. controlling all of the Middle East into North Africa and uh into uh basically down into Saudi Arabia, that whole area was under Turkey's control. He wants to see that come back, and the scriptures indicate. That's not going to happen in the sense that he'll take over Israel, but that Turkey will support the end-time wars against. Israel that are prophesied in both the Old and New Testament.
So it's going once again, just as with Putin, and just as what's happening in Iran, and We might mention Sudan, again, falling apart, heavy fighting going on there. It's an area also listed as being in one of the final wars against Israel.
So peace is falling into place all the time, and the Word of God is true. And we can anticipate these things because the Word of God is true. And I have to say, it's interesting to actually see them unfolding before our very eyes, even if a little frightening at times. It certainly is, but we do know the end plan. Dave Dolan for Prophecy Today.
Dave, thanks so much. You're welcome, Rick. God bless. Great job, David. And you know, we are not only students of worldwide events, current events, but we're students of the Bible.
And I think, you know, when you look at people on this program, and we do have others, and we have some of our Jewish friends that are not believers, but they are very astute in how they examine current events. But all of our broadcast partners that we have on the program, we look at current events in the light of God's prophetic word.
So David Dolan did that. Ken Timmerman does that. And our next Colonel, Bob McGinnis. Colonel McGinnis has been with me to the Middle East. Rick, let's bring in Colonel McGinnis and talk to him about President Putin and President Trump and their conversation.
Well, that's right, Jimmy. I have retired Colonel Bob McGinnis with us. He's a frequent contributor to the program. He's somebody who understands Bible prophecy. In fact, he's written several books concerning Bible prophecy.
But also the intersection between his military career, post-military career at the Pentagon. He's somebody we have on the program very often. Colonel McGinnis, thank you so much for being with us. My pleasure, Rick.
Well, like I said, you have a wide range of experience, and I'm sure you have some thoughts. The call this week between President Trump and Putin of Russia, and then of course a corresponding call a little bit later with President Zelensky. Can you tell us what to make of this situation?
Well, clearly, the genesis was the ongoing war with Ukraine, and President Trump made it a very Clear campaign promise that he would end that war.
Now, I don't think it would have started had he been the President in February of 2022. But he wasn't, and it did. We had the war, thanks to Mr. Biden and his administration.
Now, the phone call I thought was incredibly useful. What is clear from there, the takeaways, is that relations between the United States and Russia. are improving. The proposal to have peace talks and a ceasefire and the like was not derailed. And in fact, we'll see arms control restarting.
We'll see peace talks going on likely somewhere in Saudi Arabia in the near future. And so arguably, Girl. was good news that came out of it. I didn't expect that Putin was going to embrace the proposal for a thirty day ceasefire.
However, he did accept a couple of Aspects of that, and that is the energy facility. infrastructure bombings and attacks would stop. And then they'd been Visit the whole issue of maritime ceasefires, which had been stopped when the Ukrainians months ago went into Kursk. And so I think for the most part it was a good outcome.
Now You know, did he We don't have a transcript of what President Trump said. We only know what has been reported by him and by the Kremlin. But it would appear that there are some red lines, some key demands by Putin. Certainly, the reduction of the size of the armed forces of Ukraine is something that's on the table for Putin, but clearly the West, the United States, obviously Kyiv, are not about to gut their armed forces to accommodate what Putin has in mind. Much less are Yes.
Is Zelensky and his administration willing to give up all four of the oblasts, the provinces that are partly occupied by Russians in the far eastern part of Ukraine. And so that's debatable. Certainly, the foreign aid issue. Putin would like to see arms. uh dry up in its you know, trying to help Kyiv, but that won't happen.
They will certainly oppose the Russians, that is, any NATO membership by the part of Ukraine. And of course, that's been a contentious issue even in the West. uh over the last number of years.
So there are a host of issues Here and Uh convinced. That It was a useful second call between Trump and Putin, and I do believe.
So fee stocks will Commence. But they will be. uh drawn out uh because uh Putin, given his background. Uh is uh a tough character, and he's going to hold the line for his own. benefit and for that of his, you know, country.
President Trump has many detractors, as I'm sure you know. But we look at the situation, this war began February 24th, 2022. Over three years now of this fighting going on, the death on both sides in Russia and Ukraine, as well as the fact that you're kind of playing with World War III when you are at war with a nuclear power with such vast nuclear resources as Russia.
So now, whatever you want to say about President Trump, at least he's got both sides talking a limited ceasefire. This is a good thing, right? Oh, absolutely. Yeah, and I think that that was the first intent for the call. phone call that Prompted the meeting, I believe it was in Riyadh, initially, weeks ago with the Secretary of State and their foreign minister.
And so it just started the the the ball rolling in the right direction. There there is Unfortunately, under Biden, we weren't even talking to the Russians. If you have differences with a country and you refuse to talk to them, how in the world are you going to work them out? You're not. And so Mr.
Trump has done a phenomenal job of getting things moving in the right direction. They're talking peace. They're talking their differences. And that's by and large, part of the long term process that has to be resolved here. We go back to that explosive meeting in the Oval Office between Vladimir Zelensky and President Trump, Vice President Vance.
And there was a lot of people who came out of that meeting saying that Trump was pro-Russian, as a Russian sympathizer. He was being too hard on Zelensky.
Well, now he's got him to agree to a ceasefire, and we're on the road, as you said. The ball is rolling towards peace. Do you believe that President Trump has the capacity or the willingness to put the maybe a similar type of pressure? Or what kind of pressure can he put on Vladimir Putin if he does not agree to this ceasefire?
Well, I don't think Putin will agree to the immediate ceasefire. He's made that pretty clear.
However, there are remaining and significant sanction areas He can impact the the oil revenue that Putin is taking in. He did has released some sanctions already. But the big issue for Putin is that Trump's idea of drill, baby, drill is happening in the United States, which has had a significant impact on the price of crude oil across the world.
So that hurts Putin because that's where his the line share of his income, his discretionary income that he used for his military is coming from.
So that hurts. And of course Understand that the Russians already have an inflation rate that is 9.5%. Their interest, they're charging at a fraction. Premium level is 21%. And so.
with that and forty percent of its um government taxes going to support the ongoing war, you know, he doesn't have a lot of flexibility. He's he's in an economic uh doldrums here. And so any further pressure by Um President Trump, uh, which is what he ev in inferred weeks ago, uh, would you know certainly further And I'll put Putin in a very dire Economic situation.
So that's part of the equation. I think that our willingness to talk and certainly At this point, the Europeans' willingness to support is important. President Trump has talked about the carrot and the stick approach, and we're looking at the situation where trying and urging and forcing them to get to the table, giving them carrots, but also, like you said, the sanction-the stick part of that whole equation.
Well, we take this approach with Russia, and now we're talking to Russia. And one of the unintended consequences of this war is that the isolation that Russia faced drove it into the arms more of their allies, countries such as Iran, countries such as China. We're talking with Russia now. Is that something that you see as important on a strategic scale, kind of keeping them at least at arm's length, but closer than maybe they were under the Biden administration?
Well, there's no no question that. Yeah. Geopolitical ambitions here of the Trump administration is to separate Russia from China as best as we can. The Biden people pushed them closer together, which made war even more likely because of their mutual interest of hating or opposing what the Western World Order was all about and what the U.S. and NATO allies were doing.
So Mr. Trump's going after that, trying to drive a wedge in between them. And the same thing he's trying to do with Russia and Iran. And I think he'll get around to the North Korean mess as well. And so, Geopolitically, I think these are the right sorts of things to do.
We're not out of the woods. We need to recognize that. And China has continue to build up its armed forces. It's Uh on many areas just as comparable basis just as able as Uh the United States. Uh when you combined China's Major resources with those of Russia and others, then you see that we face a totalitarian.
alliance across the world. That is dangerous.
Now, of course, that's what exactly Mr. Trump's trying to accomplish. Unfortunately, you know Given the domestic problems here, that he has a lot of opposition. His ambitions to follow through with his campaign promises are being challenged at every corner. And that makes not only domestically, but internationally, tough to make good on those promises.
But time will tell. Hopefully, we can get our judiciary lined up in our American interests and not interfere with some of the things that I think all of us, for the most part, support that mister Trump is trying to accomplish. We certainly do. And you look at some of those kind of domestic complications. You mentioned the judiciary and the overall, some of the obstacles that have been put in place, a new Defense Secretary, lots of upheaval in the industry that you worked closely in there when you worked at the Pentagon after your military career.
Can you just talk about how that is progressing, your thoughts on that, anything we should be looking for or worried about there?
Well, I think that Doge and Elon Musk and his cadre of smart kids and geniuses is doing a great job of cutting back on waste fraud and abuse, corruption, et cetera. I wrote a book years ago, The Deeper State, and I was personally con you know, congratulated by President Trump uh about that book and it recognized you know, the administrative state and what it's doing uh as f As well as those that are outside government and how they use the tentacles of government to undermine what most of us would think would be common sense and American apple pie. Unfortunately, we have a a dark side, not only an evil side. Satanic part of our world, but you know, people that really want to do bad things. And that happens in Washington.
Now, what we've seen with the cutback on USAID, many of these other agencies that have long Long ago, outlived their usefulness. And of course, the fraud that is Perpetrated, whether it's in Social Security or other areas, is really intolerable. And yet, We are taxed at a hefty rate to to pay for this these miscreants and this uh abuse, this corruption. And w we should be thankful that You know, President Trump has hired Elon Musk to aggressively go after these people and institutions and you know, tailor down the size of government, people that don't want to work, you know, don't Yeah. Don't keep them there.
Reduce the size of what is going on so that we can get on with our country and protect us from going bankrupt. Yeah, I think those are those are reasonable expectations and yet um the left Uh especially the radical left, the Marxists and Socialists Want something different? We'll certainly keep an eye on that situation there as it impacts all of us.
Well, that was the domestic area. I'd like to finish off this question with a question that I'd like to ask you about every six months, whenever you're on the program, because of your experience. And let me just rehearse that again. You are a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army. You have worked at the Pentagon for so many years, and that is part of your experience.
But you are also a Christian worldview. You have a prophetic worldview. You've written many books. If you go to amazon.com, put in Colonel Bob McGinnis, you will find all those books talking about the threats that are facing us here in the United States from China and Russia. The deep state, as you said, many, many different things.
And you're still writing books. You're just talking about that beforehand, so we can keep up with that as we go along. But if we were to look at this from a big picture perspective, threats to the United States based on your Christian, prophetic worldview, but also your experience, I'm looking at Russia, Vladimir Poland. Putin and his kind of desire to reinstitute the old Soviet Union. You look at China and their desire for world dominance, but also maybe on a broader sense, you look at Islamism in the world today and the threat that they pose.
If you could, threats to the United States, give us an idea where we should be prioritizing, what does the future look like there? Yeah, a few years ago I wrote a book, Divided We Stand, and domestically. Most anyone that's Watched the news for more than five minutes over the last year understands that we're a very divided nation. And as a result, you know, we have people that vigorously, violently oppose. Yeah, some of the things the Trump administration has Uh trying to push, uh whether or not it's downsizing the government or it's, you know, going after uh illegal aliens or you know, trying to shut down uh pro-Hamas uh ravels that are inside our you know, Columbia or or academic institutions and the like.
So there there's a lot of that going on.
So internally, we we we have major struggles. Externally, you have totalitarians that are feeling their oats. The though the Chinese have economic issues, they're still spending almost as much as we do on national defense. and arguably more based upon the their system they have. And they are you know all but ready, I would say, to expand their horizon, certainly to include Taiwan.
But they threaten Japan, the Philippines, Southeast Asia and beyond that. They're That which I just described is the first island chain, but there are three island chains, and the third one includes the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. and the Hawaiian Islands and Do I see that they ultimately challenge the world? Yes. Statements out of President Qi are very clear.
He's ambitious. He's hegemonic for world control and a Chinese. way of looking at the world. I'm under no pretenses other otherwise. And and Putin, as you've indicated, Rick, is very aggressive in what he's doing.
He, you know, would like to resurrect not only the former Soviet Union and the Warfall Saul Pact of Eastern Europe that was under Moscow's control, but he would like to return to the time of the Tsars in which they were more expansive in even that.
So you have those. You have the Ayatollah feeling his oats, of course, a couple of times last year firing directly on Israel. And the problems continue with Hamas, Hezbollah, and of course, Houthis firing ballistic missiles and upsetting cargo passing through the Red Sea.
So the world is Uh still very evil. very chaotic. Um uh he I My my last book, most recent book. Um preparing for World War three, I I still think it's very relevant. I think a lot of Americans are excited that Mr.
Trump has come into office, albeit he's only going to be there at most. Four years. And Though I'm I'm optimistic that Vance and could be you know replacing him and would carry on uh the vision. Um I've been around Washington for over fifty years, and I've seen ups and downs. good people and bad people.
And I I'm very concerned that Yeah, so You know, right now there was great optimism coming out of the November the fifth election and Mr. Trump's inauguration and the great job that I think he is doing now. Can it sustain? Will evil reemerge. Oh yes, evil will Re-emerge.
It's already here. It's just a matter. It hasn't found a headship yet amongst the human world. We know what Satan and his demonic armies are doing.
So, you know, we, I don't think we're ever out of the wood the woods until Christ returns. And so, you know, we'll see ups and downs in the political regimes. We'll see good leaders and terrible leaders, as we've experienced not all that long ago. And I do believe that as Christians, Our focus needs to be on Christ. On the the the end times that might be around the corner because we just don't know given.
You know, the technologies, you know, I'm certainly working my new book on uh tech. technologies that are just absolutely Beyond the understanding, but we're being inundated with things that we don't quite understand. And so I think that the threats. are not just. from these Rancid leaders that are communist or Marxist or Socialist or Islamist.
And the like, though they're very bad. But I think that there's a good chance in the not-so-distant future that we'll have other. adversaries. of uh major Threat to humanity and especially to Christians, and I go into that and Maybe in the in the future broadcast, we can talk about those issues. You certainly could.
Well, retired Lieutenant Colonel Bob McGinnis, I appreciate your thoughts. I appreciate your experience and let us know what is going on. But as I said, you have a Christian worldview, and I could not have said it better myself. Let's keep our focus on Christ. Let's keep our focus on Christ's return.
We'll monitor these things, but of course, we don't have to worry. We know that the end story was written well. Look forward to having you back on again in the future. Thank you for being with us today, and we'll talk to you again soon. Thank you, Rick.
Have a great day. Colonel Bob McGinnis.
Well, we've got to take a break, and when we come back, our legacy series continues with Dr. Jimmy De Young teaching the book of Isaiah this week, Isaiah chapter 2. Right here on Prophecy Today Weekend. Welcome back to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy the Young Jr., along with my brother Rick, we've been examining current events in the light of God's prophetic word.
Rick, we have a trip to Israel coming up soon, don't we? We sure do, Jimmy, May 5th through the 15th. If anybody is interested, this is another one of those senior trips. If you want to call and talk about it, call us at 423-825-6247. It's time to go back to Israel, the greatest place to study the Bible, to look at Israel, past, present, and prophetic.
We'd love for you to come with us. If you're interested, give us a call. We'd love to talk to you. Yes, it's a great trip. And, Rick, you and I always say, hell, it's kind of the best classroom ever, isn't it?
Absolutely. Yeah, sure is.
Well, this week we're going to continue our study in the book of Isaiah, and this week we go to Isaiah chapter 2. This is a passage that relates to the kingdom, a time when each and every one of us will go up to Jerusalem to the Temple Mount to hear the word of God taught by the Messiah, Jesus Christ, when Jesus will be the master teacher. This is a great topic for today. Dr. Jimmy D.
Young and the Legacy Series. Come now. Let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be of scarlet. They shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson. They shall be as wool.
In this pronouncement of judgment, Through the prophet Isaiah. God even comforts These people. who've rebelled against him. Though your sins be of scarlet, They shall be as white as snow. Surety.
Sin red. White purity. Look at chapter 2 just for a moment. In chapters 2 to 5, he's dealing with the judgment, the reason for judgment. Notice what he says in chapter 2.
The word of Isaiah the son of Amos. Saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Here he's focusing on Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all the nations shall flow into it. And many people shall go and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.
For out of Zion, Zion synonymous with Jerusalem, out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. You know what that is? That is a kingdom promise. Right here, he's going to Attack and go after and chastise. These rebellious people, the Jewish people.
And even in the context of that, he's going to say, wait a minute. Wait a minute. There's a kingdom coming. Messiah is going to come back. He's going to set in a temple on the Temple Mount in the city of Jerusalem.
And from that spot, he's going to teach. All will say, come and let us go to the mountain of the Lord, the house of the Lord, the city of Jerusalem, and study at the feet of Jesus Christ. Wow, can you imagine? That's our eternal existence, sitting at his feet, studying his word from the master himself. Oh, far superior to any Bible teacher you've ever studied from.
It's going to be that time. But this is really focused on the Jewish people, to those in Jerusalem, to those in Judah. The Jewish people, the southern tribe, this is going to happen. I'm going to chastise you. But I'm going to give you the promise at the same time, this is going to happen.
Look at chapter 6. This is the call of the prophet Isaiah. And when you read the book of Isaiah, this is basically the chapter where you ought to start reading. Chapter 6, chronologically, is the first chapter of the book of Isaiah. I want to show you here the confrontation that Isaiah has with Jesus Christ, the conviction he comes under, the cleansing of the prophet Isaiah and his commission.
Look here in chapter 6 and verse 1. In the year that King Uzziah died, Now, this was a 12-month period of time. Remember, over in chapter 1, he said he was going to be prophet during the time of Uzziah. That would be a 12-month period of time. But in that year that Uzziah died, and he was somewhat of a decent king of Judah, not as bad as Ahaz.
Ahaz was a terrible king of Judah, very, very disobedient himself. Thus were his people as well. But in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Now what this is saying here And some have suggested this is a vision. I am not quite sure that this was a vision. I believe this was actually what did take place. At no place does it say it's a vision. Interpreters have decided that this is a vision.
But it says, I saw the Lord. High and lifted up. It's interesting, he said, Uzziah, because Uzziah, remember, I told you, went into the temple. As the king of the Jewish people of Judah, he was not allowed to go into the temple, only the priests were. He went in, he got leprosy.
He would end up dying an early death. But I believe Isaiah actually went into the temple. And in order to see Jesus lifted up, and this is the only person of the Godhead he can see, if you see God the Father, you die immediately, the text tells us. If you can't see the Holy Spirit, He's a spirit. The only member of the Godhead you can see is Jesus Christ.
And Jesus Christ is throughout the entire Old Testament.
So I would see this as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ in the throne room. Where is Christ going to be enthroned when he comes back of King of Kings and Lord of Lords? In the Holy of Holies, in a temple in the city of Jerusalem, beyond the veil. Where the Ark of the Covenant is. The Ark of the Covenant, of course, had the two cherubs who would cover the mercy seat, and the glory of the Lord rested between these two cherubs on the mercy seat.
We know that from the study of Ezekiel and other locations in the Bible. But when Isaiah walks in, he sees the Lord. And the only one he can see is Jesus Christ. High and lifted up. By the way, that's where the Jews should have been going to the temple.
Isaiah goes to the temple. God's going to confront him and give him a special responsibility. This is so precious. It's so rich. I hope you will read it later.
Verse 2. And above it were the seraphim. That's another branch of angelic creation. The cherubs, they're described in Ezekiel chapter 1. They had four wings, they had four faces: the face of a man, the face of an ox, the face of a lion, and the face of a dove, or an eagle, rather, excuse me.
And they represented the person of Jesus Christ in the Gospels. They had four wings that reached out and four wings that covered their body. These seraphim, a different segment of angelic creation, have six wings. Two cover their face, two cover their feet, and two by two they fly. And then there's a third segment of angelic creation, chapter 4, the book of Revelation, the throne room.
Angels, and they're different than both the cherubim and the seraph. But we see the seraphim, not a lot written about him. We see the seraphim here. Each of them had six wings. With twine he covered his face.
With twine he covered his feet. And with twine he did fly. Verse 3. And one cried unto the other, said, Holy, holy, holy. Holy is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of his glory. And the post of the door moved at the voice of him that cried in the house was filled with smoke. Filled with smoke. That's talking about. Do you remember how the children of Israel, when they wandered in the wilderness, knew how to travel?
It was the pillar of the cloud or the Shekinah glory in the daytime. At night, it was a pillar of fire. And the smoke filled the room. And here's Jesus. That was Jesus leading them.
And here's Jesus now. In the throne room, I believe, I don't think it's a vision, I think he actually saw him. Look what it says here in verse 5. Then said I, Woe is me. For I'm undone.
Because I'm a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. Notice, for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts, who will be the king? Jesus Christ, he's not the king today, he will be the king. God will give him a kingdom. Daniel chapter 7, verses 13 and 14.
It will be an eternal kingdom. He will be known as King of kings and Lord of lords. I believe he saw Jesus Christ in the throne room, in the temple, in the city of Jerusalem. And he came under conviction. He got close.
To Jesus. and was convicted. His cleansing And then one of the seraphim flew with a coal from the altar. Maybe the altar outside the temple that doesn't specify. Maybe the altar of incense is a hot coal and came and touched the lips and cleansed.
Isaiah of his sin. and of his guilt. In verse nine and following he says, Look at the last part of verse 8. And so I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and whom shall go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me.
and he's commissioned and he goes forth to do his ministry. It is so packed with information. This book talks more about the kingdom than any other book in the Bible. It lays out the process of the kingdom, the procedure to bring it together, the perpetuity of the kingdom. This book talks more about Jesus Christ and prophesying.
It talks about his cradle experience, his cross experience, his crown experience. There's more dealing with the prophecies of the coming Messiah than any other book in the Bible. The knowledge of Isaiah is unbelievable. Let me illustrate in three chapters and we'll conclude. Go to chapter 17 of the book of Isaiah.
Now, I'm just pinning out three. If you got chapter 17, look at chapter 44 just a moment. Chapter 44 and chapter 45. Let me show you how specific this all is. How God is showing the world that this is a prophet.
The test has been applied to Isaiah. If he speaks it and it comes to pass, it's me giving the message to him. Have you got Isaiah 44? Look at the last verse. That saith, and he's given a prophecy about at the end of the Babylonian captivity what's going to happen.
And then he said, And that saith of Cyrus, he's my shepherd, and he shall perform all of my pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built. and the temple, thy foundation shall be laid. Chapter 45, verse 1. Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of the kings to open before him, and the two leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut. You know what this is talking about?
This is 150 years before the fact. The children of Israel have not gone into the Babylonian captivity yet. Over in Isaiah chapter 39, there's going to be a prophecy that Isaiah gives them because of something that Hezekiah does, opening up the entire temple complex and all the treasuries of the temple to the Babylonians. He says, You're going to have to face Babylonian captivity.
Now that's 100 years before the fact, 150 years before the fact, God gives Isaiah the name of the man who is going to allow the Jews to go back and rebuild the temple. Not only does it say it's going to happen, he gives his name. How much more detail can you get? And that is fulfilled. You know where the fulfillment is?
Ezra chapter 1. Cyrus was the leader of the Medo-Persian Empire who defeated the Babylonians. Cyrus then said, Hey, 50,000 of you Jews can go back under Zerubbabel. To Jerusalem to rebuild your temple. And in fact, I'll help raise the funds to rebuild that temple.
With my treasures. God. Give it to Isaiah. An amazing prophecy. In the 27th chapter of the book of Isaiah, we don't take time to look at it now.
In the 27th chapter, he says, I will regather the Jews. After they have been dispersed to the entire earth. And over the last 100 years, out of 108 nations of this world, God has gathered Jews back into Jerusalem. Every world leader that visited this anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. Every one of them, without exception, said, This is a miracle.
This is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. There are so many prophecies that God has given to Israel through the prophet Isaiah. Many of these prophecies have already been fulfilled. This first book of the seventeen Old Testament books of prophecy. is so awesome.
So much for us to learn. You must come back next week as we continue our study of this prophetic masterpiece. Please be sure to join us next week as we open the pages of this book for more truth from God. Dr. Jimmy DeYoung and the Legacy Series.
You know, if you're interested in more of the series that we have, you could go to our Prophecy Today bookstore and see some of the series that are still available. But also, we play a lot of his series on our Prophecy Today radio network, prophecytoday.com. We're going to take a break, and when we come back, Rick and I will take a look at why we study Bible prophecy right here on Prophecy Today weekend. I'm Ruth Kramer with Mission Network News. A judge in Pakistan has resigned after allegedly being linked to a blasphemy business gang.
Floyd Brabelle with the Voice of the Martyrs Canada explains. It was quite unethical that the way they were trying to trap people into some sort of blasphemy against Islam or against Muhammad or against the Quran, and then making sure that those charges would go through. The judge from the Lahore High Court stepped down earlier this month, citing personal reasons. The court has pushed for an investigation into the growing number of blasphemy cases where Christians and other religious minorities are often the target. We need to pray that the truth would continue to come forward, that people would be courageous in exposing what is happening with this group.
And hopefully seeing that this group would be dismantled. And for six long years a stomach ulcer plagued Samrina's childhood in India. Doctors couldn't even help. Then, Samrina's parents heard about Mission India's Ten Day Children's Bible Club. Although they weren't believers, her parents figured it would be a fun distraction.
At the Bible Club, Samrina heard the gospel for the first time, and with childlike faith she prayed for healing in Jesus' name. Raina Miller with Mission India says By the end of that ten day Bible Club, Samrina was healed. She was finally free from pain. She eventually regained her strength fully. And her parents knew that it was a miracle.
You can help more Indian children like Samrina know freedom in Christ. From now till April 21st, every dollar donated to Mission India's Ten Day Children's Bible Club will be doubled. Find your place in the story at missionnews.org. Thanks for listening to Mission Network News, a service of one-way ministries. We're listeners supported by people just like you.
So by giving to Mission Network News, you enable us to keep the stories of God's kingdom coming.
So join us here on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also find us on Alexa, iTunes, or TWR360. Look for links at missionnews.org. I'm Ruth Kramer. Welcome back to Prophecy Today.
I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr., and along with Rick, we've been examining current events in the light of God's prophetic word. Rick, great program today. And I you know, I started out and I finished out when we got done with Ken Timmerman saying, you know, this would be a scary world that we live in if it wasn't For the reason of having God's word. And that's one of the benefits of studying Bible prophecy. It certainly is, Jimmy.
That's why we do it. We look at these situations. It gives us peace, it gives us comfort because we know that there's an overarching plan. There has been a plan since the creation of the world, and now it's coming to fruition, Jimmy. And this is something we talk about often: the importance of studying Bible prophecy.
And it's something we do, and it's something we focus on on this program because the vast majority of churches today are not teaching Bible prophecy. That's right. You know, studying Bible prophecy is profitable for our lives. That's what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2, 2 Timothy chapter 3. Talks about all of Scripture is given by inspiration of God.
It's His words to us. And, you know, when you look through the Word of God, 30% of God's Word, the way that He communicates with us, is pertaining to Bible prophecy.
So, Rick, it's very profitable for our lives to live a peaceful life. Life and you know, without anxiety, there are times when I'm anxious about what's happening in the world, but I just need to keep my mind focused on what God gives us in His Word. We can do that, Jimmy, because it's proven. And of course, you know, we love alliteration here. You said it's profitable.
I'm saying it is proven because, Jimmy, there are over 1,000 prophecies in the Bible. Of those, 500 have been fulfilled, and most of those fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ. And 500 are still to be fulfilled.
So we look at those 500 that were fulfilled. It gives us an assurance that those 500 that are to come will be fulfilled. And 2 Peter 1:19 says, We also have a more sure word of prophecy, where you do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. You know, when you think about that, it has to be a great track record. If one of those first 500 prophecies didn't come true, we could throw out the remaining 500 prophecies, and we would all be very anxious about the days in which we're living.
Bible prophecy is not only. Profitable and proven, but again, sticking with the alliteration, it is practical, just as practical as discerning the daily weather. And that's what Jesus told. You know, those men that were standing around him up at Matthew chapter 16, they asked for a sign, and he said, Hey, you can discern the weather. And, you know, that's one of the things that we all do.
Very first thing that we do in the morning is get up. We can determine what the weather's going to be. Through the day, even if we didn't have the weather channel, we could just look at the sky. But the Lord used that as a lesson to folks: He goes, Look. You can discern the weather, but you can't discern the signs of the times.
What we're trying to do, Rick, every time we open the Word of God, every time we open this microphone. Every radio station that's with us is helping us to help the body of Christ to discern the times in which we're living. Jimmy, as we continue the alliteration, we look at it. It is purifying. If we look at this world that we're living in right now, knowing that Christ can return at any moment should make every moment count.
And my mind goes back, Jimmy, to the many, many, many times that you and I have stood there in Megiddo, overlooking where the Battle of Armageddon is going to take place. And we look and we visualize what is going to happen in the future if that's not a purifying thought, if that is not a motivating thought to help us to understand how we should live our lives, you know, reaching out to as many as we can, living our lives in that purifying way to share the gospel, to let people know what Bible prophecy says is going to take place and where we need to be. where each individual needs to be perfect. Personally, to be ready for that moment. Yes.
1 John 3, verses 2 and 3 says, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man and woman that hath this hope in Him purifieth themselves, even as He is pure. Having this hope within us is what helps us to live. And we often end up our program by saying it helps us to live a pure, productive, holy life in an unholy world. And really, by having that information, it does help us to live a pure life and productive as we continue along this path in the world in which we live.
It is promised, Rick. There is a eternal reward for the students of Bible prophecy. There certainly is, Jimmy. 2 Timothy 4:8, For I am now ready to be offered, and at the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. It is promised there is an eternal reward for students of Bible prophecy. Yes, and that's what I love. You know, each and every single one of us that know Jesus Christ is our personal Savior, we're looking. And if you listen to the program today, from everyone, from Ken to Dave, to even Israel Modad talking about the Jewish people, Paul Sharf talking about the signs and what's going to take place in the future for Israel and why it's all there.
All of this is to help us to be prepared right now for the rapture of the church, that next event that could happen at any moment in the twinkling of an eye. I mean, it just, we are so close to. to that event taking place. And realizing that each and every single one of us in the next moment could be standing before the Lord to give an account to how we lived our lives and then to be given crowns. And one of those crowns is that we love and we were looking for his appearing and we understood God's words for the times in which we're living.
Rick. Great message for today. May we encourage those people that listen to us on these fine radio stations. May we be prepared. May the body of Christ continue to run their race, to press for the mark for the prize of the high calling.
I appreciate what you've done, Rick. Thank you so much. We look forward to being with you again next week. I'll be here, Jimmy, as we continue to look at current events in the light of God's prophetic word. When we look at the events that we cover today, we can't help but say that the rapture of the church can't be too far away.
Knowing that, how then should we live our lives? Let's keep looking up. Until. Thank you so much for joining us today. This is Jay Johnson, inviting you to join us again next week for more of Prophecy Today.
Prophecy Today is a listener-supported production of Shofar Communications in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
