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. And it is the weekend after Thanksgiving. And I'm sure, like me, you have had your full of family, food, football, fellowship.
You know, that's what we're going to be doing for eternity, Rick. Can you believe that?
Well, maybe not the football. Maybe not the football, but we are going to be doing the fellowship. In fact, Jimmy, do you know how to spell fellowship? How do you spell fellowship, Rick? F-O-O-D.
I know you've heard that one before many times. Our dad would always tell that joke, and his point was that's what we're going to be doing for eternity. And so we do look forward to that, and we basically got a head start on it this week. We're practicing, that is for sure.
Well, I trust that you had a great Thanksgiving day and Friday weekend time as we're getting ready for the reason to be thankful, which is the season coming up ahead of us here. Christmas, and we also have the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah that we will be talking about. Not today, but as we approach Hanukkah, we'll be talking about the reason for the festival of lights. You know, in ancient Israel, when the people of God gathered at the temple to worship the Lord, they began by chanting a psalm. Psalm 104: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.
Be thankful to him and bless his name. Name. The psalmist opened this course, inviting fellow worshipers to share in his excitement and joy and exhilaration. Make a joyful noise to the Lord. All the earth.
Well, we've got an exciting program today, Rick, with our usual broadcast partners, Ken Timmerman, David Dolum. Dr. Paul Blair will come and talk to us about the rest of the story about the pilgrims, and I'm looking forward to that. Paul Sharp is coming to talk to us about the Psalms and Thanksgiving.
Well, this is how this works. We examine places, people, and prophecy. We understand from the scriptures the nations and the people that will be involved, and we are looking at events that are happening in those areas of the world that pertain to prophecies that will take place after the rapture of the church. We've got a lot to cover today, so let's get going, Rick, with our first Ken Timmerman.
Well, that's right, Jimmy. I have Ken Timmerman with us. He is 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.
And it's Gravity Ulrich. It's always a pleasure. Ken, quickly before I get started, I trust you had a great Thanksgiving. Indeed, thank you. And I was with my family.
I trust you were with yours. We certainly were, and we had a wonderful time.
Well, let's get to the news of the week. And the negotiations continue with Russia's Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky from Ukraine. Could you give us the latest?
Well, Putin was in Kyrgyzstan. He gave a vigorous hardline speech where he basically said we're ready to fight to the last Ukrainian. By the way, there are a lot of people in the U.S. Congress who feel that way too. But he essentially confirmed that Russia was going to pursue its hardline demands, which the White House seems to be increasingly ready to accept.
And they are that Ukraine must acknowledge that it has lost the Crimea.
Well, the Crimea has been gone since 2014. Ukraine must also acknowledge Russia's territorial gains in the Donbass.
Well, they've also been in the Donbass since 2014. But most importantly, Putin is saying you've got to get rid of all of those areas in eastern Ukraine that we don't yet occupy. And that's going to be a part of the negotiation. But look, people say Putin is taking a hard line. Putin is taking the same line he's been taking from the beginning.
He's been saying these things all along, Rick.
So it's not really new. What's new? Is the way that the media is treating it, and what's especially new are the leaks coming out of the White House. One of those leaks I'm assuming you're talking about is there was a leak of the President's negotiator Steve Witkoff on a call with a senior Russian official. Can you tell us about this?
This is very disturbing. It's reminiscent of Trump's first term when you had this pro-Ukrainian faction in the White House, people at the NSC. These are permanent government employees, not Trump loyalists. And they were leaking like mad from the Trump White House. This is the first time, really, that we've seen it in this second administration.
I think it's very serious. Witkoff had a discussion with Putin's top diplomatic advisor, a guy named Ushekov, and they were talking about how the deal was going to be negotiated. The leakers say that Witkoff coached Putin's top diplomatic advisors on how he should talk to Trump, that he should congratulate Trump for negotiating the Hamas deal. And let's see if we can do something similar to that here in that particular vein.
Now, what I find disturbing is not that Witkoff had this conversation, because Witkoff's been saying the same stuff in public, by the way. It's not a revelation. In terms of content, Witgoff has not been revealed as a double dealer. Nobody's saying he's saying one thing in private and something else in public. No.
What's really significant to me, Rick, is the fact that this WhatsApp call was leaked. And actually, a transcript of the call was published by Bloomberg.
So that does not augure well for what's going on inside the White House. WhatsApp is supposed to be fairly secure, so somebody had to be on the inside of that call and get a transcript and that leak it. That means there's problems in the White House.
Well, that certainly is concerning. But let me ask you one more question, just from a slightly different angle. The EU has told Ukraine they need to convict corrupt officials in this corruption we've talked about it in this program before. And of course, we all support Ukraine, but this corruption has always made things a little complicated, hasn't it? It's not just made it complicated, Rick.
It's one of the reasons there are many people in Congress who are very wary about sending Ukraine more money, and it's why President Trump says $350 billion under Biden is enough. We can't, the Ukrainians cannot account for a lot of that money. Here we're talking about something like $100 million in oil revenues that have gone into the pockets of corrupt officials who are close to Zelensky. And I think it's rather refreshing to hear the European Justice Commissioner, Michael McGrath, say that European governments would not support Ukraine to join the EU until Ukraine actually indicts those corrupt officials. Remember, I've said this many times on the show, Rick.
Ukraine has been at the bottom of Transparency International's list of corrupt countries, the most corrupt country on earth. It hasn't stopped because of the war. Money is going into the pockets of Zelensky's. Top friends, his allies, his officials, and the EU is saying, Enough is enough. It's got to stop if you want to join the EU.
By the way, that is a big concession by the Russians, and people forget this. In 2014, Ukraine's desire to join the EU was actually what caused the Russian takeover of Crimea and the Russian secret invasion by the little green men in eastern Ukraine.
So it's a big deal that Putin is actually not even saying anything about this in public. He's essentially granted this concession that. Ukraine can join the U EU if the Europeans will have them.
Well, let's move away from r the Russia-Ukraine crisis and let's go to China where there is some uh things going on between China and Japan, and it's getting kind of testy. Can you tell us about that? The new Prime Minister, Senai Takachi, a woman, has taken a very hard line towards China, surprised a lot of China watchers, and gotten the Chinese, pretty upset. She told Parliament last week that should the Chinese attack Taiwan, it could actually lead to a Japanese military action against China. It's the first time I have heard a Japanese prime minister use such harsh terms when referring to communist China.
So it's a big deal, but here's again the kicker rick. We now know because of reporting in the Wall Street Journal that Trump talked to her and told the Prime Minister, look, you've got to dial this down because we've got a very dicey trade relationship with China now. We've got this truce going on. We don't want to exacerbate it any longer. And the transcript of that call leaked out as well.
So here are two calls this week, very sensitive conversations from the White House that have leaked to the media. I repeat, there's something bad going on inside the Trump White House. You're listening to Ken Timmerman for Prophecy Today. And can your latest book, The Iran House, Tales of Revolution, Persecution, War and Intrigue, detail what you know about Iran based on your time spent dealing in that part of the world. And there is some news coming out of Iran, and that's that the Supreme Leader gave a speech.
Can you tell us what he said?
Well, he gave a speech, first of all, behind a lectern without an audience. And that was kind of interesting. He has, in the past, appeared at Friday prayers or at public meetings of top Iranian government officials, and he. actually commented on this in the speech. He said, Boy, I wish I could be here with you in person, but since June, we think this is not quite advisable.
Well, what happened in June? We know what happened in June. The Israelis were able to assassinate 13 top officials inside the Iranian nuclear weapons establishment, including top generals in the IRGC.
So the Supreme Leader makes a speech. He does this all the time. He says, we're not going to talk to the United States.
Okay, that's not new. He also denies media reports that he had essentially sought to convince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, to talk to Trump while he was in Washington last week and convince Trump to open at least three-way conversation with Iran through the Saudis. He said, no, no, no, the Trump administration is not worthy of being approached by Iran. We don't need to talk to them. There's nothing going on here.
There's no there there. The Saudis are not going to be our intermediaries.
Well, it turns out it was the Iranian president, Pazheshkin, who had contacted Mohammed bin Salman, and he said so publicly.
So this is just factional infighting. We've seen this for 40 years inside Iran. Today, Khamenei, 86. Is still in charge, but tomorrow he could be dead.
So, that to me is the real significance of this. Pezheskin, the president, is much, much younger. He is trying to find allies in different places of the regime. He would like to end the conflict with the United States because he sees that Iran is dying, literally shriveling up from lack of water in Tehran. He said a couple of months ago that they would have to move the capital if they couldn't solve the water crisis.
So, they need help from Israel and from the United States to survive as a nation. That's very serious. And Khamenei, the supreme leader, is basically just conducting a rearguard operation to keep his faction afloat. Ken Timmerman for Prophecy Today. Ken, as always, we appreciate your insight.
Look forward to talking to you again soon. Thanks so much, Rick. God bless.
Well, we need to take a break. And when we come back, our Middle East News update with David Dolan, right here on Prophecy Today weekend. I'm Ruth Kramer with Mission Network News. As you give thanks for God's blessings today, would you remember the world's refugees in your prayers? Nearly half of the people in this group originate from the Middle East and North Africa, a region also known as MENA.
The team at MENA Leadership Center sees this reality as a call to action. This is Fadi Sharia. The task is to enable and build the capacity of the churches, the different ministries, how to do refugee ministry properly. Earlier this month, the center hosted a conference focusing on trauma healing for refugees. Pray that the impact on refugee ministries would resound far past the event.
Pray also for the MENA Leadership Center team. Remember that we are working in a very difficult area. We are maneuvering around very tough situations all over the region and we try to meet those needs. And November is Native American Heritage Month. You may not realize that Native Americans were the first mission field in North America.
Ron Hutchcraft of Hutchcraft Ministries explains. After four hundred years of missions, only four per cent are estimated To have a relationship with Christ. Yet, Jesus is deeply relevant to the Native experience. He was a tribal man from the tribe of Judah. He lived on land occupied by others.
Jesus was also a victim of gross injustice, as many Native Americans have been. These connections are transforming Native young people through Hunchcraft Ministries, On Eagle's Wings Outreach. With an understanding of suffering, injustice, and abuse. And with the warrior spirit, when all of that comes under the lordship of Christ. Fasten your seatbelt.
Thanks for listening to Mission Network News' service of one-way ministries. This month, Sat7 invites you to dare to believe. It's the inspiring memoir of founder Dr. Terence Ascott. Discover powerful stories of faith under persecution and the birth of a media ministry reaching millions across the Middle East.
Get your free sample chapter at the Banner Ad at MissionNews.org. I'm Ruth Kramer. Welcome back to Prophecy Today Radio, the program that looks at current events in the light of Bible prophecy.
Well, this is a 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.
Glad to be with you, Rick. Dave. Typically, you give us an update, and especially this week, a lot of activity in the north. What's the latest? Oh, yes, Rick.
That's where the main kinetic activity this week, military activity took place Although there was also other things, of course, in Gaza and in Judea, Samaria, the West Bank. But in the north, the week began with a very daring Israeli strike in Beirut that killed the second in command of Hezbollah, the Hezbollah terrorist group. He was officially the chief of staff, but he was acting as the deputy to Naim Qassam, who is the overall leader. And Israel said it was because this man and others were planning another attack upon Israel, that they were stepping up their we've talked about this in previous weeks, stepping up their preparations for another round and saying that out loud. He was killed and a few others also with him in South Beirut.
Of course, the Lebanese government condemned it, and Hezbollah went a little bit ballistic over it, at least verbally. But on Friday, Naim Kassam, the overall Hezbollah leaders, gave a speech and he said, We have the quote right to respond to these abhorrent crimes and we will determine the timing.
So Israel has been on full alert in the north. All week Rick waiting for a possible Hezbollah response, and they do expect something will happen because, again, this was their second in command, and they have to show that they're still around. And then next door in Syria, we had more activity during the week. In fact, we had the largest IDF action there since the fall of the Assad regime over a year ago. That was in the town of Beitjin.
That's not far from the Golan Heights. Israel knows that there's a Sunni Muslim fundamentalist group that operates in the town, Jama Ismailiyah. They're well known in the area.
So Israel was launching a raid to arrest some of them. There was fighting back, and in the end, Syria said 13 people in the village were killed. They said some of them civilians. Israel said it was all the members of this group and some of their family, though, were caught up in it, apparently. And Syria responded to the government very, very strongly also and said this is a war crime and a full-fledged war crime, their foreign minister said, and indicated that they will do something about it.
We'll See about that. And then, of course, next door, Rick, we have the Pope, the Catholic Pope, coming to Lebanon. I think it's on Monday. And that'll be the first of his visits abroad, actually. He went to Turkey first and then to Lebanon.
And the Israelis are not real thrilled that he went to Turkey first. Of course, they still have some trouble there. And it was actually announced during the week that a terror group that Hamas is running in the West Bank in Judea and Samaria is being headed by a Palestinian that lives in Turkey. And that's an arms smuggling ring into that area. And they arrested some of the members on the ground, not in Turkey, but on the ground that were part of this smuggling ring.
Well, David, while that was going on in the north, we know that Hamash returned another body to Israel. Can you tell us about this? Yes, Rick, during the week, Droor Orr, he was a well loved member of the Kibbutzberry Dairy. He ran the dairy there, I should say. That, of course, the community that was most struck during the horrific attack a little over two years ago.
He was shot dead defending his home, Rick. He got his two kids out of a window as his home was set on fire. They were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. He was shot dead, and his wife was shot dead, but their bodies were taken into Gaza. Thankfully, the two kids were freed in the November 23 hostage release.
In exchange, Israel sent back 13 Palestinian bodies, remains, to the Gaza Strip. And, Rick, there were more incidents where Palestinian fighters were trying to attack Israeli positions during the week, more Israeli response to that, more fighters coming out of tunnels in the south in Rapah.
Some of them were killed.
Some of them tried to fight back.
So action there. And then the biggest story in terms of the Palestinians, Rick, occurred late in the week, and that was up in the West Bank in Samaria, in the city of Jenin. Of course, that's been a hotbed of Palestinian militancy for decades. Decades, and known terrorist groups operate there. On Wednesday, after the stabbing on Tuesday to death of a 71-year-old Israeli man at a junction near Hebron, the Army launched an operation up there on Wednesday in Jenin, and helicopters were involved, etc.
But on Friday, Rick, They uh were trying to get some uh suspected terrorists out of a building, and uh they uh actually uh ran through the front door and uh were negotiating uh over loudspeakers with these guys inside for about two hours. Finally, uh a couple came out. And they had their hands up, they were surrendering, they went to their knees. But then, and this is all caught on video, then suddenly they jumped up and tried to go back into the building. At that point, the Israeli special forces they were shot at them and both were killed.
This was all again caught on video, so it produced an immediate firestorm. The UN condemned it wildly. The US condemned it. We had the Palestinian Authority issuing a strong statement about it as saying you're killing our young people, where th they were men in their twenties and thirties. But nevertheless, Rick, the Israelis launched an investigation immediately, and they said that it does seem like these soldiers were justified in firing back because again, they had these men, they had surrendered and then they tried again to escape back into the building.
So that took place, and we'll see what the final outcome of that is. We'll keep you updated on that, but let's move to another story which I think has both political and prophetic significance, and that is the fact that the Israeli government undertook an immigration drill this week, where they are preparing for potential large amounts of immigrants. Can you talk about that? Yes, Rick, on Thursday, it was both the Immigration Minister and other elements of the government working with. Several private groups, nonprofits that help immigrants, et cetera.
They launched a full day drill. to see if they would be able Israel would be able to absorb in a short short period of time thousands of Jewish immigrants. In fact, the drill was designed to absorb 60,000 Jews. Within just a couple months, something like 800 a day. Could they do that?
Do they have the capabilities? Where would they put them? What needs to be planned? This being on the premise, Rick, that these people are coming from an unnamed country where the government basically collapses or authority collapses and attacks are being launched against the Jewish community, physical attacks, and people have to quickly flee the scene. how they weren't thinking of the United States, even though we know especially in New York, we have a great deal of anxiety amongst the Jewish community there, Rick.
During the week, we had a interfaith meeting at City University in New York, Rick. And a Muslim was there who was going to speak next to a Jewish woman scheduled to speak. He didn't know she was Jewish. When he found out and found out she's a Zionist, he stood up and said, I'm not speaking here, I'm leaving. I want all of you Muslims in the room to follow me out, and 100 did.
But before that, he gave a little short speech saying Sharia law should be imposed upon New York and the area. and the fingers of the wealthy should be cut off. because they are pressing us, et cetera. And he said some other very incendiary things, Rick.
So Jews are nervous, but the drill was really designed for maybe an African country or an Asian country, maybe even in Europe. Smaller Jewish population that would have to flee fairly suddenly. But of course, it might be the case from the United States at some point, and especially from the New York area.
So they did all that. They found flaws in the system. They found things that need improving, and a lot more preparation is needed. But just the fact that Israel is thinking very seriously about this. to actually run a government-private uh joint drill.
shows that the anti Semitism on the rise around the world really has the attention of Israel, and they're determined to be prepared as much as possible to receive Jews from anywhere on as short a notice as possible If they can do that. Very interesting.
Well, one final question. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, and of course I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, David, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving, David, you come on the program every week and tell us about all the chaos that is taking place in the Middle East, unfortunately. But as believers, as Christians, we know the end story, we know who wins in the end, and that is something that we can be thankful for, isn't it? It is Rick, and we know that the Lord is bringing back the people of Israel, the Jewish people from around the world, to Zion, as he promised to do And he said he would use fishers and hunters. Fishers, of course, saying, hey, move to Israel, it's a great place, et cetera.
Hunters being. these anti Semites that are literally now getting to the point of Actual violence against Jewish communities.
So it is sad, but it's all fulfilling God's purposes. Israel is returning. Jewish people are returning, and Zion is their capital once again. And that's not going to change until the Lord comes. And when He comes, He doesn't ban that, He just enhances it with His rule and reign over all the earth.
from its capital city, Jerusalem. Dave Dolan for Prophecy Today. Dave, as always, we appreciate your insight, both political and prophetic. Thank you so much. Look forward to talking to you again soon.
You're welcome, Rick. God bless.
Great job, as always, David. And we always talk about the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, Aliyah. We talk about the anticipation for peace, the arrangements for the temple, and the alignment of the nations.
Well, we got to take a break, and when we come back, Dr. Paul Blair and Paul Sharp on the program right here on Prophecy Today weekend. I'm Ruth Kramer with Mission Network News. The search continues for more than 260 remaining students and staff kidnapped from school in northwest Nigeria on Friday. Greg Kelly with Unknown Nation says they're hearing that Fulani bandits are behind the kidnapping, and they're not after ransom, but rather forced conversions to Islam and marriages.
The gospel is the only answer for Nigeria's spiritual battle. Pray for grieving families. Pray also that Christians in the South will boldly take the gospel to the North. Then it's estimated that there'll be five to six million veterans after the war in Ukraine ends. Steve Prince of Warriors Set Free, a ministry of Set Free, says the veteran experience includes learning to heal from the traumas of war.
Churches must be ready to care for these defenders, leaning on older veterans grounded in faith. The ministry is also equipping Ukrainian veterans to support fellow soldiers. They offer mentorship and training that point toward healing. Pray that the church is prepared to serve them as well. You've been listening to Mission Network News upon Ukraine.
Welcome back to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr., and along with my brother Rick, we've been examining current events in the light of God's prophetic word. Coming up in the second half of this half hour, Philip Paul Scharf will be talking to us about the Thanksgiving Psalms. But before we get to that, I'd love to go. With Dr.
Paul Blair behind the story, or as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story, Rick. Let's go to our good friend, Dr. Paul Blair. And we do have Pastor Paul Blair with us today. Pastor Paul Blair, he's a former NFL lineman who has been a pastor for close to 20 or over 20 years now at the Fairview Baptist Church in Oklahoma.
And he's also the president of an organization called Reclaiming America for Christ. Paul, thank you for joining us today. Rick, always a pleasure. Love your dad, love the DeYoung family, and glad to be on with you.
Well, thank you very much for those nice words. I have a couple of questions for you today, Pastor. But in the first one, I want to talk to you about in your role as a pastor and with the Reclaiming America for Christ organization, Can you talk to us? And I know you myself, we've spent a little bit of time together, and I know you to be a great patriot, but a Christian first.
So if you could tell me, what role are Christians to play in politics? And and essentially, how do we balance out our patriotic side with our Christian side?
Well, obviously, the Bible is the standard for all truth, and that was what was so unique about the United States of America, is we had that biblical worldview. And pastors, especially at that time, we've kind of lost touch with it now, Rick. We have Christianity has adopted a form of American Gnosticism, I would say, where we have compartmentalized our lives. You know, we have certain subjects that we can talk about in church. But there are other subjects that we can't talk about in church.
So we have our spiritual box, which is really very small. We talk about our missions program and vacation Bible school and soul winning and Sunday school. And then we have our secular lives, where we live the vast majority.
Well, that's not biblical at all. You know, from a Hebraic worldview, as the Apostle Paul conveyed in his traveling through Asia and preaching the gospel, you know, whatever we do, or to glorify God in it. And most pastors would recognize that God established three institutions on planet Earth. God established the home, God established the church, and God established this realm called civil government. And he had a specific purpose for civil government and limitations for the civil government.
They're not supposed to do everything.
So the idea that we can't talk about civil government in church. when we say that God is the one who established civil government is A contradiction. Whatever we do, we should be approaching from a biblical perspective. whether that be our business ethics, our work habits, uh our relationships to our husbands or wives how we raise our children, the biblical standard and limitations of human sexuality, and quite frankly, what the civil government was supposed to be there for. in contrast, in comparison to, and quite frankly, supplemental to Self-government, family government, church government.
And then there's the role of civil government. Beginning with John Robinson's influence on the pilgrims that settled at Plymouth 400 years ago, they had this idea of church from a small group from the membership up where they would choose their own pastors and create a covenant, church covenant, and church bylaws and church constitution, which governed and sanctioned that church. That was very unusual from the top-down dictatorial government of England. and the same structure of church government.
So when the pilgrims landed off course in November of 1620. Their patent that they had received from England was of no value, so they were really in a state of anarchy. But these men being so heavily influenced by the preaching of Pastor John Robinson knew that they had no hope of existing in the New World, in this wilderness of the New World, without staying unified together.
So on november eleventh of sixteen twenty, they drafted the Mayflower Compact. which was the first time ever in history a group of equals constituted a limited general government and then pledged to be governed by the law.
Well, from that grew the influence on all the settlers that came into Massachusetts And again, that local congregational form of church government what bled over to how they formed their their political systems. And of course, you had Roger Williams that came out of that group and he settled Rhode Island. You had Thomas Hooker being given the patent to settle Connecticut. These men were all pastors. and they were also brilliant political leaders.
And they didn't consider it a contradiction. They applied a biblical perspective or a biblical worldview. to the proper role and limitations of civil government.
So what we've enjoyed in America, this American exceptionalism, where we all have the right to own property and buy and sell and trade. We all have the freedom to worship God in spirit and in truth according to the dictates of the Holy Scripture as we read the Bible. And as a consequence Of those truths, we've been able to enjoy liberty. And really, Rick, the only time in Christian history. that we Christians haven't been persecuted for our faith.
So what we have in America is unique, and it is an exceptional country, but it's only because of that biblical foundation that our forefathers built this system on. And sadly, as we are getting away, as we are we are leaving biblical truth and being drawn toward this postmodernistic world which is being taught in our schools and promoted in the secular media. We're we literally are coming apart at the seams at this very moment. Boy, Paul, I love talking to you because you are such a wealth of information. And I think about that's the reason my dad asked you to be on our video in America in Bible Prophecy.
And, you know, there's several parts to that video, but the first part was when you and my dad were in Plymouth and you were talking about the role that Christianity played. And now, the time of Thanksgiving, we can kind of rehearse that and realize, like you said, those principles that have allowed us so many great freedoms.
Well, that group in Plymouth. I I admire greatly. You know, there are certain areas in our history And America is the greatest nation in world history, in my opinion. Of course, you got old Israel, and of course, God's not done with Israel. I know what we have been so blessed here in America.
And there's three periods that I really love and admire. One is the pilgrims. Then that era from 1740 with the Great Awakening through our Declaration of Independence and winning that war to secure our independence.
So from about 1740 to 1785, you had a group of men that were on their face before God, begging God to bless them and direct them. And then my parents' generation, the World War II generation. when you had a bunch of innocent farm boys living in Missouri and Arkansas and Oklahoma. And all of a sudden, America gets attacked. And they read it in the newspaper on December the eighth, and they all go down and sign up and enlist, and we go to war against two professional armies.
one Imperial Japan and and one Hitler's Germany, and in three and a half years we win. Those eras just amaze me. But the the Pilgrims were truly a a miraculous group. You know, they had religious liberty when they had fled England. and went to Holland.
But the primary reason they came to America and it's stated in the Mayflower Compact and it's also stated in William Bradford's history called Of Plymouth Plantation But the one of the main reasons they chose to leave Holland and come and start over in the United and what we now know as the United States was they wanted to evangelize the native population in North America. If Jesus is the only way to heaven, then it's important that the natives in North America need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the pilgrims were so genuine in their faith. I mean, they didn't just talk it on Sundays. They lived it in every facet of their lives.
So their credibility among with Massasoit and the Wampanoag Indians and all the others over here was so strong. They were such principled men and women of integrity. That the the the Wampanoag tribe embraced uh the religion of the white man. In fact, um There's a a a little known story Sadly, our history books don't teach this anymore. But uh there was a a warrior named Habamak that was sent to keep an eye on Squanto.
Esquanto was basically babysitting. our pilgrim forefathers. And Habelmach actually, you know, Squato died in 1622, and Habelmach continued to have a relationship with the pilgrims. He was so taken by the God of the white man that he became a Christian. In fact, he built a village next to Plymouth So you had Habamox Village adjacent to Plymouth.
and the Indians and the white men just they they went back and forth. As a matter of fact, Winslow wrote in an account that he had sent back to England that they felt safer walking amongst the Indians in their communities than they did walking the streets of England.
So the influence on Christianity in that in the New World was amazing. There's an abundance of truths there about our Pilgrim forefathers that we all need to know. They were largely to be admired. Absolutely so. And in fact, this is such an appropriate time of the year to remember that as we are getting ready for Thanksgiving.
Well, one, and I've just got a brief moment here, but on Prophecy Today, as you know, we deal with current events in the light of God's prophetic word. And sometimes the events that are taking place around the world can be satanic events. And so sometimes we deal with a lot of heavy issues and a lot of tough subjects. But I know at this time of the year, as a pastor, you're preparing a message for Thanksgiving. And I just would like to know what you are preparing to tell your people as we come to this special time of the year.
You know, those pilgrims had endured sixty-six days at sea. below deck on a small ship that was literally rocking back and forth from one side to the other. No privacy, no place to cook a hot meal, no privacy to go to the bathroom, the seasickness. the amazing uh hardships that they endured. just to land at Cape Cod in the middle of winter.
and with no Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn to greet them. They endured that first winter, and although they 102 successfully crossed the North Atlantic. Forty seven died over the next four months. and they get through to March. And miraculously, they're still there.
The Mayflower returns. Nobody goes back to England. And about the same day the Mayflower departed is when Samoset and Squanto come walking into camp on back to back days. You know, think about this. Here they are in the middle of North America, and all of a sudden you have an English-speaking Indian that loves white people and knows the ways of the white people that shows up in camp.
And really, if not for Squanto, they never would have made it.
Well, after that first year, they learned how to plant and how to harvest, God had blessed them, and it was obvious that they were going to make it. coinciding with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, The pilgrims had a feast thanking God and celebrating his provision over that year. And of course, it was a difficult year when you consider the entirety of it, the trip, the loss of life, but here they were. They had established a home and they'd been blessed with this first harvest. And they celebrated in the Wampanoag.
Some ninety braves along with their wives and children came. and they ate deer and turkey and ate everything in sight and fellowship and shot guns and had foot races and wrestling matches. Three days of eating and fellowship, and that was the first Thanksgiving. But one thing I tell our people is Pastor John Robinson was the pastor of the Pilgrims, and he mentored them and trained them and prepared them for this journey. And he gave them three parts of points of advice before they took off.
uh leaving uh Old England. He said, first of all, you guys are going to have some difficult times. Make sure your SIN closet is empty. Make sure you recognize that you're just going to experience some difficulties because they're difficult. Don't bring any additional obstacles on yourself because of your own disobedience.
So stay prayed up. Stay keep your sin closet empty and stay repented of sin. Then the second thing he said was don't intentionally offend one another. and don't be thin skinned and be easily offended. Because going through times of stress, it is imperative that we stay unified as a church body.
That's what Paul says in Hebrews 10. We're not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
so we can encourage one another and provoke them to love unto good works.
So Pastor Robinson knowing how stressed they were going to be.
next year, a year and a half, two years, as they cross the North Atlantic. and settled in the New World, gave those three pieces of advice that was sage counsel to hold that church together. And quite frankly, it's applicable to us. And in a tough year where we're facing all these threats, we're under a lot of pressure here now. We need to apply those same three instructions to our lives as Christians in our day, just as relevant for us today as they were in 1620.
Such great advice. Thank you so much for being with us. I look forward to having you back again with us sometime soon. My pleasure, Rick. God bless you.
Well, I talked to our broadcast partners on a regular basis, and I called my good friend Paul Scharf, and I. Found out that he has a message that he's been preaching on Thanksgiving, and it comes from the book of Psalms.
So I thought, man, I got to get you on the program, Paul.
So, Paul, welcome back to the program today. Hey, thank you, Jimmy. It's so great to be here, especially for this wonderful time of Thanksgiving.
So, let's talk about this. Why is and You know, psalm, and I think you said the pilgrim psalm. Tell us all about what is the pilgrim's psalm.
Well, Jimmy, it's Psalm 107. It's the Pilgrim's Psalm. I call it the Pilgrim's Psalm of Praise. That's my own little addition that I've made. But the the Thanksgiving pilgrims look to this psalm and Governor Bradford wrote about it in of Plymouth Plantation.
And he paraphrased from Psalm 107. And some even believe that the pilgrims meditated on this text. uh in on the Lord's Day as they were you know in the harbor disembarking from the Mayflower and coming into what would become Plymouth Colony. And if you read Psalm one hundred seven, Jimmy, You'll get a clue as to why it's called this and why the Pilgrims. Really?
Thought this psalm pointed to them. And I'm talking about Psalm 107, Jimmy, beginning in verse 23. through thirty two, which is one of four parallel sections In this amazing Psalm 107. You know, the very first verse: Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. What a great thought about thinking and sitting around the table this Thanksgiving and thinking about Psalm 107.
Well, isn't Psalm 105 and 107, 105 through 107? How do they fit together?
Well, they're called a trilogy, Jimmy, and it's amazing because. They're not written at the same time. Psalm 105 Is written apparently commissioned by David through ASAP. Because we know that because it copies verses from First Chronicles sixteen. When the arc Came back to a tabernacle that David built for it.
This is First Chronicles sixteen. And there was a special celebration at that time And God's people rejoiced at the return of the Ark of the Covenant in that way. But this Psalm 105 is is probably written then. In Psalm 106, and one hundred seven seem to be written later after the return from the Babylonian captivity, and yet they're placed together in the Psalter And it seems that from ancient times there was a connection drawn. Between these three psalms, different as they are in their original writing, and you hit on one of the keys, Jimmy.
Look at the beginnings of each of these three Psalms. O give thanks to the Lord, Psalm one oh five. Call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Psalm 106, praise the Lord, O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. And as you mentioned, uh Psalm one hundred seven, which seems to describe the pilgrims Talks about thanksgiving.
That's appropriate, isn't it? Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures. Forever. And so these three Psalms, and as you read them, it's not only that the first verses are similar. But the Psalms go together and really give a A um comprehensive Survey of the history of Israel and God's working in his people.
Through the centuries, all built. on God's faithfulness to the Abrahamic covenant. which is such a key. In fact, let me read to you from the lead into Psalm 106. excuse me, to Psalm one hundred and seven is the end of Psalm one hundred and six.
where the psalmist writes Verse forty-five: For their sake, God remembered his covenant. He remembered the Abrahamic covenant. And then it says in verse forty seven, Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles to give thanks to your holy name. to triumph in your praise. And that seems to be, Jimmy, a prayer Perhaps for what we would call the final future restoration of Israel that we're still awaiting.
When God regathers all His people Israel, Jesus said he would send his angels to gather the Elect from the four winds. And the psalmist ends Psalm 106 saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting, and let all the people say, Amen. Praise the Lord. And that's the prelude that takes us into Psalm 107, the Pilgrim Psalm. Wow.
You know, a lot of people tie the Feast of Tabernacles to the Pilgrims, and that the Pilgrims modeled that dinner, the time that they were celebrating and giving thanks to the Lord after the Feast of Tabernacles.
So when you're talking about the restoration of the land and the people, the Jewish people, and those covenants, when those covenants are fulfilled, that will take place during the time period when we will be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles or when Jesus Christ comes back to the earth.
So let's talk about this. What's the structure of Psalm 107 and what groups are addressed there?
Well, Jimmy, it's fascinating. It addresses four different groups, and people, if they mark their Bibles, they might want to highlight. And these sections become very evident because you see a repetition Verse six, verse thirteen. Verse 19, verse 28 of Psalm 107. Talk about.
In their distress, they cried out to the Lord, and He delivered them, He answered them, He saved them. And then versus eight. and fifteen and twenty one and thirty one, also, oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
So we see these four sections that each contain basically the same verses Two different of them in each of the four categories. And people can read this Psalm and see those four groups for themselves. The first group is really a group of of poor people who are fainting and really starving and hungry and without a place uh to to dwell and so forth. Maybe we have some listeners who can relate to that in some way, Jimmy. Um The second group Begins in verse 10.
The first group was verses 4 through 9. The second group is verses 10 through 16. These are really prisoners. And maybe we're reaching some today, Jimmy, who've had to go down to a low. Place where the Lord could reach them.
They're described in these verses and how God brought them up out of their darkness in the shadow of death and broke their chains in pieces. Yeah. But then, Jimmy, I'd like to spend just a moment on the third group, verses 17 through 22, because all of us fit here at some point or another. This is us when we make just some really foolish choices. And I don't know about you, Jimmy, but I'll raise my hand and say I've done that.
Me too, Paul. And maybe during this last year, maybe there's something we just need to kind of wash through our souls here at this Thanksgiving time. When we've done something that brought us even to the place where we abhorred all manner of food, verse eighteen. and drew near to the gates of death, But then They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. And notice verse 20.
This is how we find healing in those times when we've been foolish. He sent His word and healed them. He healed them by his word. He delivered them from their destructions. He rescued our lives.
from destruction. And therefore, they're to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his wonder his works with rejoicing. Verse twenty two. Wow, what great. I mean, just, and I love the Psalms, and I start out each day by reading the Psalms.
I think it's so very important that we should read the Psalm on Psalms on a daily basis and really look at it. Why is it important to study the Pilgrims? And this is the time of the year when we would do that. Why is it so important that we. see and understand the pilgrims.
Well, Jimmy, it's so important for us Who live in America to understand our history, what a heritage God has given us. These incredibly brave. Strong people, the fathers and mothers of our country. Who came and came here to seek religious freedom and to share the gospel in the new world and There are so many lessons we can learn. And it just to me, it's just a wonderful thing to think about at Thanksgiving time.
I love studying the Pilgrims. I've been teaching about the pilgrims for almost thirty years now and I I just love learning more about them. And Jimmy, to wrap up our idea from Psalm one hundred seven, there They're the fourth group. Here. Again, it's not a prophecy of the pilgrims, I don't believe specifically, but let me just read a couple of the statements.
Beginning in verse twenty three, those who go down to the sea in ships who do business on great waters And it talks about God commands and raises the stormy wind, verse twenty five, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths. their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man or at their wit's end. That sounds like the Mayflower Voyage, doesn't it?
Yes. If people if people know anything about it, And uh And yet, God delivered them. And that's the story of the pilgrim journey to come here for freedom in the new world and to come here to share the gospel. Just in spite of overwhelming odds against them at every trial really, you could imagine the Pilgrims decided they wanted to launch into a worldwide evangelism program And what a model they are for us down to today. It is.
It sure is.
Well, Paul. Excellent stuff. Excellent. I'm going to ask you if you do me a favor, if you hang around to the end of the program, I want you to come back when we take a look at the book. And I want you to explain to us and all of us, explain to me and all of us, why is Thanksgiving so important?
In the scriptures, we find things related to the issue of Thanksgiving nearly from cover to cover. Individuals offered up sacrifices out of the gratitude in the book of Genesis. The Israelites sang a song of thanksgiving as they were delivered from Pharaoh's army after the crossing of the Red Sea and Exodus. Later in the Mosaic law, set aside three times each year when the Israelites were to gather together. All three of these times, unleavened bread, also called the Feast of Passover, harvest or Pentecost.
And the feast of in-gathering or tabernacles involved remembering God's provisions and grace. The book of Psalms is packed full of songs of thanksgiving, both for God's grace to the Israelite people as a whole through his mighty deeds, as well as for his individual graces. to each of us.
Well, we've got to take a break, and when we come back, we'll talk more about the blessings that God has provided for us and why we should be so thankful at this Thanksgiving. That's all I had right here on Prophecy Today weekend. Welcome back to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr. Along with Rick, we examine current events in the light of God's prophetic word.
Rick, it's December, and you know what that means, don't you? That's right, Jimmy. We are looking towards Christmas, and this is our commemoration of what we consider, and I know most of our listeners do as well, the most important event in all of history: the coming of God-man, Jesus Christ, to the earth. And we talk about that at this time of the year. We remember that time.
And, Jimmy, you know, we have Bethlehem Beyond the Christmas story. We go in depth as we look at the Christmas story, the arrival of Jesus to the earth. And you can get that at our website at prophecytoday.com. You can order it there. And it is a great gift to give away at Christmas.
Well, Rick, as we begin our study in this month, in which we celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ, which of course is the Christmas story. Doctor de Young will spend some time looking at some of the interesting facts and details related to the Christmas story. This is a special time of the year. We love this time of the year, as many others do as well.
So we're going to spend some time looking at all the details surrounding the first coming of Jesus Christ, which basically sets the stage for the second coming as well. Dr. Jimmy D. Young and the Legacy series. As we begin our Bible study this month, I thought it would be very interesting to focus on the season in which we are living.
This is one of the greatest times of the year for many of us. I love the Christmas season.
Well, we want to spend a couple of weeks looking at some very interesting facts, some details related to the Christmas story. For example, this time we're going to look at how John the Baptist has a real connection to the Christmas story. This will amaze you as we consider the prophetic word of God as it relates to the coming not only of the Messiah Jesus Christ, but to the forerunner, and that would be John the Baptist, had the Jewish people believed. More on that in just a few moments. By the way, we're going to talk next time we get together about how we get the 25th day of December to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Is it a possibility that Christ could have been born in the wintertime there in the shepherd's fields just outside of Bethlehem? Many have questioned the possibility of those little shepherd boys watching over those sheep at night during those cold winter nights in Bethlehem in December, and many have speculated that it was probably sometime in the summer that Jesus Christ was born.
Well, we'll look at the December 25th date and how that came about. It was the early church fathers who decided on that date, and I'll tell you why. And there's an interesting connection with Jesus Christ as it relates to that date as well. And then we'll further look into the fact that could it have been in the wintertime? And what about those shepherds?
Were they really little fourteen or fifteen year old boys there in the fields outside of Bethlehem? Or were they grown men? And if they were grown men, why did they have to be grown men?
Well, we'll look into that as well.
Some of the details, some of the facts surrounding the Christmas story. And finally, on Christmas Eve, we'll spend some time studying the Word of God to determine exactly the location of where Christ was born. And why was it that when the angels said, This will be a sign unto you, these shepherds went with haste to the exact place where Jesus Christ would be born? And in fact, if you had studied the Old Testament, it was not only Bethlehem that was significant, but it was a special place in Bethlehem that the Messiah had to be born. You know, it's very interesting that in the Bible there are only 168 verses that deal with the birth of Jesus Christ.
That's found in four chapters of the Bible: Matthew chapters 1 and 2, and Luke chapters 1 and 2. 168 verses. Not a lot of space allotted to the birth, the most magnificent birth in all of history, the birth, the coming of the Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us. We're going to start our study today in the book of Luke chapter 1 and verse 5. Zacharias, who would be the father of John the Baptist, who we're going to focus on in our study, was a priest serving in the temple.
In Luke chapter 1 and verse 5, we see that in the days of Herod, the king of Judah, that means it had to be around 4 BC. Remember, Herod died in 4 BC. Jesus Christ was born before Herod died, and so we're talking about 4 BC, the birth date of Jesus. Of Jesus Christ almost 2,000 years ago. But in the days of Herod, there was a priest, a certain priest, called Zacharias.
And notice in verse 5, it says, He was of the course of Abia, and his wife was a daughter of Aaron. That means she was a part of the priestly tribe, the tribe of Levi. Her name was Elizabeth. But by the way, they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. In other words, they were an older couple.
Zacharias went to serve at the temple, and he had the unique privilege of being selected by Lot, by the casting of the lot, to be the one who would take the incense and pour them on the altar of incense.
Now, this altar of incense would be right before the veil of the temple, and Zacharias would go and get some hot coals, put them on the altar of incense, and then come and very gently allow these incense to fall from his hands onto the burning coals, which would then send smoke up through the 21-story high building, out the hole in the roof, and towards the heavenlies. This was symbolic of the prayers being offered up by the Jewish people.
However, while that was happening, the angel Gabriel, an archangel, appeared to Zacharias, and he gave Zacharias a prophecy, a prophecy that he and Elizabeth were going to have a son. They were to call him John, and he would be the forerunner of the Messiah. Jesus Christ. Zacharias was taken aback by this. You know, he really did not think that was possible, since his wife had been barren all of her life.
He didn't think that at her age she'd be able to have a child.
Well, because of his unbelief, the angel Gabriel made Zacharias dumb not dumb stupid, but dumb can't talk. And in fact, the angel said, You'll not be able to talk until the eighth day in the life of your son when you bring him to the temple for his circumcision. Zacharias finished his priestly responsibilities. The text tells us as you read chapter 1 of the book of Luke. And in verse 33, it says, And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his administration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Now, remember, he lived in Charim, which is out to the west of the Temple Mount, about seven miles. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and And she was ready to bring forth a child in fulfilment of what the angel Gabriel had told Zacharias would happen. Luke chapter one, starting in verse fifty seven, gives us the record of the birth of this Son, who would be a cousin to the Messiah Jesus Christ, but would have a very unique role in the ministry of God man here on the earth. After John was born on the eighth day, his mother and father, Zacharias and Elizabeth, brought him to the temple, as was the custom for the circumcision service that would take place and at that point in time the mouth of Zacharias the priest was loosed, and he spoke and he praised God. But in addition to praising God, he gave a prophecy about what would happen.
Verse 76, and thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the highest. Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us. What a prophecy Here was John to be the forerunner for his cousin Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God man, Emmanuel, coming to earth. You know, there is an Old Testament prophecy that foretold there would be a forerunner to the Messiah, and in fact, the one spoken of, a prophet by the name of Elijah, had to appear and be the forerunner for the Messiah, Jesus Christ, or Jesus Christ would have not been the Messiah. I'm referring to the prophecy in Malachi 4 and verse 5, where it says, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
That's a prophecy that indeed could have been fulfilled in John the Baptist. And I make that statement based upon what Jesus Christ said. In Matthew chapter 11, starting in verse 11, Jesus said unto all those listening to him, teach, Verily I say unto you. Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. That's verse eleven.
Verse fourteen says And if you will receive him, this is Elijah, which was for to come. Indeed, John the Baptist, according to the words of Jesus Christ, could have been the forerunner called for by the ancient Jewish prophets.
However, the Jewish people not only rejected John the Baptist, They rejected their Messiah, Jesus Christ, as well. but that prophecy will be fulfilled in the future. John the Baptist had to be involved in the ministry of Jesus Christ at the first coming. John, the cousin of Jesus, would play a key role in the Christmas story. One of the unique prophecies of the first coming, of which there are over 300.
That is unique in itself. That one man, Jesus Christ, fulfilled over 300 prophecies about the man who would come to be the Messiah. And of course, those prophecies were all fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Had the Jews believed, John the Baptist could have been the Elijah of Malachi 4 and verse 5. But that means Elijah still must come.
There's a song that's very popular. We're living in the days of Elijah. I believe as you look at the prophecies surrounding the second coming of Jesus Christ, we have the evidence that we're quickly approaching the time when Elijah will appear before that great and dreadful day of the Lord, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 4 and verse 5. You see, at the first coming, Jesus Christ fulfilled all of the prophecies that foretold a Messiah would come to the earth.
Now, that's key because that gives us then a foundation upon which we can have assurance that all of those prophecies yet to be fulfilled will be fulfilled just exactly like they were given in absolute detail. Remember, John the Baptist was the one to be the forerunner at the first coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. And Elijah will fulfill that second coming prophecy. He will come on the scene before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. We're speaking about the second coming of Jesus Christ.
And as you look at the scenario that's going to unfold in the end times, as we're thinking about the Christmas story and how all of those prophecies were fulfilled, remember there are five times as many prophecies about the second coming of Christ, and those have to be fulfilled in absolute detail as well. But again, I remind you: the fulfillment by Jesus Christ of all the prophecies focusing on the first coming give us the evidence that the second coming will happen exactly like the Bible tells us it will take place. In chapter 4 and verse 1 of Revelation, it talks about an event that will happen before the tribulation period and the return of Christ will take place, and that is the rapture of the church. When Jesus shouts, the archangel shouts, and the trumpet of God sounds, and we're caught up to be with Him in the air forevermore. You know, as we celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ, it gives us solid evidence that the prophecies for the second coming will be fulfilled as well.
And I do believe, as we look at all that's happening in our world today and compare it to Bible prophecy, those prophecies for the second coming. could be fulfilled in the very near future.
Okay. As I said several times in our study today. that first coming of Jesus Christ, and the fulfilment of all of the prophecies surrounding the birth of God man, Emmanuel, the Messiah Jesus Christ, all of those prophecies were fulfilled in the absolute detail that they were given by the ancient Jewish prophets. There are five times as many prophecies about the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the Christmas story, which is a record of the fulfillment of all of those prophecies surrounding the first coming of Christ, give us a foundation upon which we then can be assured that the second coming will happen. just exactly as He has told us.
This should cause all of us to consider the claims of Jesus Christ, who said He was the Messiah, and through Him we could have a relationship with His Father, and not only for now, but for ever.
Next week on the broadcast, we're going to discuss the issue of the date that we celebrate the birth of Christ, December the 25th. I think this will be of great interest to you. Thank you, Dr. DeJoung, for that teaching. I'm sure we'll be looking forward to next week when we study and understand why we use December 25th as the date for the birth of Jesus Christ.
Remember, if you'd like to get the DVD, Bethlehem, a Christmas story, you can get that at our website at prophecytoday.com. Where we're going to take a break, and when we come back, Rick and I will wrap up the program by taking a look at the book and rehearsing what we talked about today on the program. That's all ahead, right here on Prophecy Today weekend. I'm Ruth Kramer with Mission Network News. Ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria is burning the hearts of believers around the world.
Voice of the Martyrs Canada partner, Reverend Yanusa Nadu, says he doesn't believe the present government is aiding the killing of Christians. We are saying that government, not just this government, even past government, have not done enough to protect the lives of Christians. The murders and abductions of thousands of Nigerian Christians in the last few years, including more than 300 kidnapped children last week, are well documented. The evil is just unimaginable. He says all terrorists must be found and held accountable.
So people are emboldened to commit more atrocities because when one atrocity is committed, nothing was done. And during the winter, Heart for Lebanon works to provide people with clothes and supplies needed to survive. Camille Melke tells us: In southern Lebanon, it's a very damp winter, a lot of rain. Most of those families live in tense settlements or in makeshift homes where it is very moist and water gets into the house. You have a lot of challenges like that.
In the Bekaha Valley, it's very cold. You're up on high elevations.
Some of these refugees and locals live in areas where snow can fall significantly. But if Israel invades southern Lebanon, the needs will become even more extreme as people are displaced.
So please join us in praying against invasion and attacks and pray for the love of Christ to be proclaimed through this ministry. You can find your place in the story at missionnews.org. Thanks for listening to Mission Network News' service of one-way ministries. This month, Sat7 invites you to dare to believe. It's the inspiring memoir of founder Dr.
Terence Ascott. Discover powerful stories of faith under persecution and the birth of a media ministry reaching millions across the Middle East. Get your free sample chapter at the Banner Ad at missionnews.org. I'm Liz Gregory. Welcome back to Prophecy Today.
I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr. Along with my brother Rick, we've been examining current events in the light of God's prophetic word. Rick, great interview with Pastor Paul Blair. He's a great friend of our family, great friend of dad's over the years, very knowledgeable on the Pilgrims. And I know that Pastor Blair explained about the pilgrims.
Did you know, Rick, that the original Thanksgiving celebration was held by the pilgrim settlers in Massachusetts during their second winter in America in December of 1621? The first winter had killed 44 of the original 102 colonists. At one point, their daily food ration was down to five kernels of corn apiece. Wow, how times have changed. But then an unexpected trading vessel arrives, swapping them beaver pelts for grain, providing for their severe need.
The next summer's crop brought hope, and Governor William Bradford decreed that December 13th, 1621, be set aside as a day of feasting and prayer to show the gratitude of the colonists that they were still alive. Isn't that an amazing time? And the time in which we're celebrating Thanksgiving sometimes now. Times have changed, haven't they? They certainly have, but it does look to our.
Our heritage and our roots here in this country as we go forward and the way this country was put together. And we've talked about this. We've been in Plymouth with Paul Blair and Dad as we shot the video. And it was just so interesting to rehearse the fact, the trust that those first pilgrims had in scripture and how they were planning on forming a government underneath biblical principles, at least at the beginning, anyways. You know, that first government that they used to establish.
And a lot of these pilgrims, as Pastor Blair said, they used the scriptures in forming their first government. Scripturally, we find things related to the issue of Thanksgiving nearly from cover to cover. Individuals offer up sacrifices out of gratitude in the book of Genesis. Rick, the Israelites sang a song of thanksgiving as they were delivered from Pharaoh's army after the crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus chapter 15. Later the Mosaic law set aside three times each year.
When the Israelites were to gather together, going up to Jerusalem, making Aliyah up to the city of Jerusalem, all three of these times, on leavened bread, also called the Feast of the Passover. In Exodus chapter 12, the harvest or Pentecost. That's in Leviticus chapter 23, and the feast of ingathering or tabernacles, which, by the way, we're going to be celebrating. In the future during the millennial period, they involved remembering God's provision. And grace.
And this time of the year, we really should take time out to remember those. Pilgrims In Plymouth in sixteen twenty one and As they were just giving thanks for being alive. But I think as we move forward, we as the body of Christ, as the church, should give thanks for the times in which we're living, shouldn't we? We sure should, Jimmy. And then you look back at it, and you talked about those pilgrims, and you talk about the fact that they laid down biblical principles that we are now reaping the benefits of.
They had helped us to establish the nation that we live in right now.
Now we've gotten away from some of those biblical principles, but we are still a very blessed nation and a very blessed people. And what blessings we do have come from Where we have adhered to God's word. Yes. I'm reminded in the New Testament. I mean, you know, we've talked about the Old Testament, and I think those pilgrims use the Old Testament a lot for forming themselves as a government, as a body, as believers, that we're praying each and every day, thanking God for whatever they had for that day.
But I'm reminded. And I want to encourage Christians today always to rejoice. Pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. That's 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 16 and 18. I also want to say be anxious for nothing.
But in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. That's Philippians 4:6. And, Rick, when you'd say be anxious for nothing, man, we live in a day where people are anxious about the future. I want to remind people what Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2, verse 1. Therefore, I exhort, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men.
And really, Rick, that's a pattern for praying for all of us today. When we pray, we are to pray and bring the needs of others, supplying our needs, praying our prayers, interceding on the behalf of others, and of giving of thanks that should be for all men. That's right, Jimmy. And also, I think we should focus at this time of the year when you talk about Thanksgiving. We talk about God's plan through the ages for us here, and we talk about the Old Testament pointing towards.
Towards the most important event in all of history: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And even now, as we continue on into the future, all that we do points back to that one time that we should give. Thanks for this gift, this gift that is given, and what must we do to accept this gift? Yes. We like the pilgrims, Rick.
We have a choice, don't we? In life, there will always be those things that we can complain about. The pilgrims had lost many loved ones, but there's also much to be thankful for. And I think this year I want to encourage all of us to be thankful for what God has given us: life, family, the pursuit of happiness. I mean, you could go on and on, couldn't you?
Absolutely.
So much to be thankful for. But I love Christmastime, Rick, and it's something that has always been very special in our family. Really, this time of the year reminds me of an illustration that dad used to use. And the illustration goes something like this. Mom and dad were driving along, I think, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and they saw beautiful Christmas decorations.
And when my mom saw the Christmas decorations, he said, boy, I can't wait for Thanksgiving. You know, we do love Thanksgiving. Every other year, we get together with mom's family.
So you can tell that she loves Thanksgiving. And Dad just looked at her and he's like, you're crazy. Why? When you see Christmas decorations, does it make you think of Thanksgiving?
Well, the illustration goes to prove what we do here on Prophecy Today Radio is we look at events that are going to take place in the end time and how current events in the world today are setting the stage for these prophecies to be fulfilled. But you know what? Just like Thanksgiving comes before Christmas, the events that are going to take place in the future take place in the tribulation period. And before that, the rapture of the church must take place. That's a great analogy.
And as a matter of fact, I think we'll be playing a portion of that. And you'll hear a message during our legacy series in the month of December where he does tell that story.
Well, Rick, so much is happening in our world. We use Bible prophecy to help us to understand the times in which we're living, and again, to live a pure, productive, holy life. in an unholy world. With so much that's happening in our world, we encourage you to 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.
