Welcome to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr., and along with my brother Rick, we examine current events in the light of God's prophetic word. You know, all of the events that we are looking at are against the backdrop of Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy begins to unfold after the next event on God's timeline, which is the rapture of the church. First mentioned in John chapter 14.
And then later on, Paul mentions it in 1 Thessalonians 4. It's also associated with Revelation chapter 4, verse 1. That's the rapture of the church. Everything that we examine is setting up for events that take place after the rapture of the church, which would be Revelation chapter 6 to Revelation chapter 9, would be the first three and a half years of the tribulation period, the seven seals and the seven trumpet judgments. Beginning with the seven seals, The white horseman, which is associated with the man of peace or the antichrist.
The red horseman, which is representative of war, which is Ezekiel 38 and 39. The black horseman, we've always talked about, talks about famine. And then, of course, the Pale Horseman. This rider represents mortality and disease, followed closely by Hades. That means that half of the world's population will be wiped out before the midway point of the tribulation period.
And the last half of the tribulation is the great wrath that comes when all of the world is drawn to the city of Jerusalem, Zachariah 14, to wipe out the nation of Israel. That's all talked about in Bible prophecy, and that's why we examine the events that we examine on our program. Today we've got a full program. With Ken Timmerman, David Dolan, Winky Madot is back again to help us to understand what's going on in the Middle East. And Mike Jendren today, your eschatology determines your theology, and that's going to be so important as we listen to Mike, how one person's eschatology could determine the policy of the United States.
Well, let's get started with our program, Rick. We've got a lot to cover with Ken Timmerman. That's right, Jimmy. I have Ken Timmerman with us. He is our expert in geopolitical affairs.
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 joining us today. Thanks for having me on, Rick. It's always a pleasure.
Ken, things continue to happen in Iran right now, more military action, as you predicted. Could you give us an update on the status in the area right now?
Well, we're on our seventh day of strikes by the United States, counter-strikes by the Iranians. The ceasefire is off. Both sides have declared that, by the way. And President Trump said on Thursday that he expected that next week would be bridges and power plants week. The Iranians responded by saying if you hit our civilian infrastructure, we will crush the infrastructure.
all across the Persian Gulf. On Friday, they hit a desalination plant in Kuwait, giving us perhaps a preview of what they were looking at. Desalination plants, Rick, are incredibly important in this region. Kuwait gets 90% of its water from the Persian Gulf that it desalinates through reverse osmosis, a very expensive process, but they don't have very many choices. The same thing for Saudi Arabia, I think it's 86%.
Bahrain and the other Gulf countries, they are all using these very large desalination plants. They're easy targets. And the Iranians are essentially threatening to take out their water systems. I mean, it's pretty extraordinary when you think about it. This regime does not want peace.
I think people need to understand that. I think Vice President Vance needs to understand it. I think President Trump has gotten the message. He understands that these people are crazy, to use his own words. They're lunatics.
They make a deal one day, and within two hours, they're launching drones and launching. Missiles, despite the deal that they signed. Look, Rick, even Khalibov, their negotiator, said on Wednesday that Iran was, quote, in an essential and existential war with America. This is the guy that's supposed to be the moderate. This regime does not want peace, they don't want a deal.
They want victory and they want victory on their terms and they believe. That they can beat us militarily by destroying the entire region that they live in.
Well, Ken, you're giving us an update, but insight also into how Iran thinks. And, you know, you wrote a book, The Iran House: Tales of Revolution, Persecution, War, and Intrigue. I want you to use that insight, if you could, to take us behind the scenes there. You've already done that a little bit, but what is going on with the government?
So many layers of leadership were destroyed. Give us your thoughts on what it's like there right now.
Well, right now, I think the IRGC, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, is running the country. Wahidi is the power behind the scenes. He is the commander of the Revolutionary Guards. And, you know, President Trump likes to say this is the third group of leaders, the third class or crop of leaders. Wahidi has been there since the beginning of the revolution.
So has Khaliba, by the way. These people have been around from the get-go. Mohsen Razai, major general, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, now supposed to be the military advisor to the new supreme leader, if he's alive. He has been around from the get-go as well. These people do not want peace.
Can you talk about how the IRGC is still in control? Given the tightness of that control, is there any chance or possibility of regime change? You know, Rick, I have been briefing government leaders for years, and I talk about this in the Iran House, on what I call the green orchestra. And this is the movement around the country, the pro-freedom movement around the country. And it starts at the periphery, at the edges of the country, close to Pakistan, close to Azerbaijan in the northwest, close to Iraq, down on the Persian Gulf, also close to Afghanistan.
All these areas are Sunni. They're not Shiite, as the regime is. And you start the revolt in those areas. People grab the guns from the Revolutionary Guards and besiege armories. They have armories all over the country.
They have liberated spaces, liberated areas. The United States and Israel can provide overwatch for these liberated areas. And the Revolutionary Guards do not have enough force. Forces to suppress a rebellion from the East and the West at the same time. You know, a couple of weeks ago, we talked about this Iranian commentator who admitted that in January, they were close to losing control of 100 cities around the country.
And the only way they stopped it was by opening fire and killing, now what President Trump says, 54,000 demonstrators. Enormous, enormous carnage inside the country. In the U.S., it would be the equivalent of 250,000 people. Imagine if ICE killed 250,000 people, Rick. Imagine if I killed 10 people.
Look what happens when ICE kills one person. This is 250,000 people killed by the Revolutionary Guards and their militias in the streets. And the international community does nothing, and the Iranian people have been staying in their homes pretty much ever since then. It's time for us to call them back out. and to give them the support that they need to take over the country.
Many people seem to think that there needs to be a leader. That leader may be Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. Can you talk about him?
Well, many people inside Iran believe that they need a leader. And Reza Pahlavi's name has been the one that's most often chanted in the streets, the only one really being chanted in the streets. In January, people were chanting his name, and they continue to do so today when they do come out in these much, much smaller demonstrations. Look, I've known Reza Pahlavi for well over 30 years. I talk about him again.
I write about him in the Iran House. In fact, the title of the book, The Iran House, is named after my house in Kensington, Maryland, where I introduced him to a senior Israeli official who is in charge of Iran policy, Uri Lubrani, at a dinner, at a very private dinner over a Tabriz carpet.
So, this was a very, very special event. I think Reza Pahlavi has the maturity today. I think he has the experience today to lead his people towards freedom. And he does not aspire to be the Shah. This is the thing that many people do not understand.
He doesn't want to be the Shah. He didn't want Be president. He wants to lead his people to freedom so they can elect a constituent assembly, so they can elect a parliament, so they can decide on a new constitution and decide on a new form of government, whatever it may be. And if they want him to play a role, he'll play a role, but he's not looking to be king. And I'm pretty convinced of that.
Final question for you, Ken Vice President J D Vance seeming to blame Israel for the failure of the memorandum of understanding that he helped to negotiate. Can you talk a little bit about this?
Well, it was slightly more nuanced than that, but he gave a three-hour interview on Joe Rogan. Probably a huge mistake for a sitting vice president. A sitting vice president should not be yapping on a talk show for three hours and speaking his mind about everything from the Epstein files to Israel's interference with public perceptions of the Iran Memorandum of Understanding. What he said was the Israelis had hired lobbyists or hired people to influence public opinion. It's probably true.
It's probably true. And I wouldn't blame the Israelis for doing that. The Memorandum of Understanding, as it was being reported at the time, was an absolute disaster. I think now we've understood a lot more about it. I call it the Trump trap.
And I believe what Trump did was essentially cheat the Iranians in a carpet shop. I mentioned the story a couple of weeks ago. Michael Ledin, friend of mine, during Iran contra, goes into a carpet shop in Tehran, wants to buy a carpet. The guy shows him one. He said, I'll take it.
How much is it? He says, $1,000. Michael says, I'll take it right there. The guy said, what? You're going to take it?
You're not going to, you know, you're going to take it? And he said, yes, I'll take it. Here's $1,000. He said, you've cheated me. If I had known you were going to give me what I wanted, I would have asked you for $2,000.
The Iranians got everything they wanted in that MOU, and they think they're being cheated because they didn't ask for more and because they didn't read the fine print. And the fine print, and that's what I call the Trump trap, the fine print is that they had to deliver. before they got all of the goodies.
So look, I understand that the Israelis would want to get involved in that. We've talked about it on this show. Lots of people were talking about the MOU. Nothing untoward about it. But For the vice president to go on air on a three hour talk show and start talking about that, spreading rumors about the Epstein file, musing aloud conspiracy theories and not providing information.
This is a guy who is in power. He has access to intelligence and information, and instead he goes shooting off his mouth for three hours. I think it was a huge mistake on his part, and I think it's going to come back to haunt him. Ken Timmerman for Prophecy Today. Ken, thanks so much.
Thanks so much. God bless, Rick. Great job as always, Ken. And we're going to talk a little bit more about Vice President Vance's conversation with Joe Rogan coming up in the program with Mike Jendron. We've got to take a break, and when we come back, our Middle East news update with David Dolan, right here on Prophecy Today, weekend.
Mm-hmm. I'm Ruth Kramer with Mission Network News. Renewed strikes between Iran and the United States continue to put other Middle Eastern states in crosshairs. Already in the past week, Iran has attacked systems or U.S. military bases within Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Samuel with Redemptive Story says cross-border strikes like these will likely continue as Iran leverages whatever influence it has to pursue its own goals. I mean, the Iranians are not going to back down because they've already lost so much and they're just going to keep fighting. And we've seen that over and over again. Just their honor imposes upon them the continued pressing forward of this war. Samuel says political moves by the U.S.
have ramifications on gospel workers in the Middle East, since Christianity is often associated with the West. Find strategic prayer points and more in the full conversation at our website. And if you've ever tried to share the hope of Christ with a Muslim friend or co-worker, they may have told you, we already know about Jesus, he's in the Quran. But don't let that deter you. John, a gospel worker focused on Sudan, says, There are many, many Muslims who have not heard truth about who Jesus is.
In the Quran, Jesus has no divinity, he is a prophet. They deny the crucifixion. The fact that Jesus will come back again someday is in the Quran, but totally stripped of divinity. In the Muslim mind, Jesus offers no assurance of salvation. Thankfully, Jesus is revealing his truth to Muslims.
You can read testimonies from Muslim background believers in the full report at missionnews.org. God is drawing people, he's directing his work, just like he did with Paul and the Macedonian man in his vision, telling them where to go. Thanks for listening to Mission Network News' service of one-way ministries. Keys for Kids is offering free devotionals for kids and teens and a set of Bible highlighters. Each story applies to the truth of God's word in ways that are understandable for your young person.
Get yours free when you click on the banner at missionnews.org. I'm your friend. 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.
Blessed to be with you, Rick.
Well David as always never a shortage of news in Israel could you give us the latest from this week Well, of course, Rick, the main story this week was the Re-escalating war with Iran between the United States and Iran. Israel still sitting on the sidelines of that, but. Prepared, fully prepared to join at any second, particularly if Israel is attacked. And on that basis, we had another warning from several Iranian leaders that they would. Attack Israel, US bases in Israel, they're saying, but still in Israel.
If the US strikes Iranian bridges and power plants and solidization plants, et cetera, which is happening now, that began on Friday.
So we'll have to wait and see. The problem there is, Rick, that there are thirty-three currently as of Friday at least. U. S. refueling jets at Ben-Gurion Airport, the main international airport near Tel Aviv.
And the US is flying this weekend another twenty to thirty refueling jets, another sign that this war is escalating and is expected by the US to go on. for um some time But the Israeli government had earlier asked during the week that the Japs at Ben-Gurion be moved to Several Israeli Air Force bases because they need the slots, the parking spaces for commercial jets. It's the summer.
Now tourism is, of course, way down, but we expect a huge influx of Israelis in the next couple of months that are living abroad or working abroad because the elections, the national elections for the next Knesset have been now established for october twenty seventh, And many Israelis come back for those because you're not allowed to vote absentee from abroad. You have to be in the country.
So they needed those parking spaces. But mainly, they're afraid that Iran will start attacking the revolutionary guards. That is, we'll start attacking the main airport there, and that would be very, very bad. They struck Syria, a former US base in Syria on Friday, the first time that country has been struck. And then of course, still Lebanon remains very much a factor.
We had in Syria at the border with Iraq, Rick, we had an oil tanker, and it didn't have oil in it, it was packed. with weapons, drones and missiles and all sorts of things. Aimed for Hezbollah coming from Iran through Iraq, and it had made it to the Syrian border, and the new Syrian regime discovered it. And took it all out and laid it out on a field, and it looks like an arms factory has been opened.
So that was heading.
So again, another sign that Iran still wants to back Hezbollah, and Hezbollah's feels like they're going to stay in power. But the Israelis took up some journalists this week, Rick, to see an underground compound that they discovered several weeks ago when they captured the Beaufort Castle Ridge. Above the Galilee region, and I could see it from my home in northern Israel, actually, a crusader castle. And it's an amazing underground city. They had bathrooms and kitchens and bunk beds everywhere and all sorts of military supplies.
Obviously, planning to put forward forces there, these Rudwan fighters there. Where they could be underground, hidden for days or weeks, and then suddenly come out one night. and attack the northern Israeli border like Hamas did. The Gaza border.
So that was something to see, and it's another reason that Israel's in there. And we did have more talks between Lebanon and Israel during the week. They started on Friday this pilot program, Rick, to pull all Israeli forces out of two different areas. They started in the north of the Latani River, where there isn't many. IDF forces and the Lebanese army is coming in in their place.
and is supposed to disarm Hezbollah. We'll see. If it works there, then they'll go to the second zone south of the Latani, which is very much has a lot of Israeli forces in there, and that's in the security zone that Israel's established. And if that works, then there'll be more. further Israeli withdrawal.
But of course the escalating war and the IRGC attacks this week continuing don't give a very good sign that Hezwell is going to voluntarily do anything. And again, the worry is the Lebanese army is just not strong enough to do that, that the IDF will have to, in the end, disarm Hezbollah, and nobody's looking forward to that. And finally, Rick, I'll just say an opinion poll came out on Friday showing that in this upcoming election, Gaddy Eisenkocht who's a former chief of staff. who formed a new party recently called Yashar. which in Hebrew means straight.
But in the Bible, it usually means righteous. He was a straight man. He lived a straight life, meaning he was righteous before the Lord. And that's the name of his party. He is on Friday equal with the ruling Lakut party, 22 seats each.
And he has a bunch of other smaller parties, some of whom are now part of the Likud coalition, Netanyahu's government, that say they will back him instead in October.
So it's looking more and more like this very unknown to most of the world Israeli leader. His parents are both from Morocco. He's a Sephardic Jew. He would be the first fully Sephardic Prime Minister in Israel's modern history. A conservative man in his his personal life.
He's fairly observant. of Judaism, uh etcetera. He's very popular actually with the people, a strong leader people feel. It looks like he will probably emerge as Israel's next leader, if Nets and Yahoo can't pull it off. But his poll ratings have been slipping, Rick, every week for this pretty much this whole year.
Well, we certainly will be following those elections in the fall, but I'd like to follow up on something you talked about earlier, and that is the fact that Iran is not hitting Israel yet. Of course they did earlier this year, but since the resumption of the hostilities they have not. Can you tell me why that is?
Well, unlike hitting Kuwait, hitting the UAE, hitting Oman, they've been bombing Iraq, Syria. These countries all have military forces, obviously, but nothing like the IDF, nothing like the Israeli Air Force. very hardened fighters, flyers. experienced because, of course, they've been in an active war now for over two years. pretty much flying every day, defending their country, et cetera.
They've already proven in the first wave of this war in February and March That Israel has a long-range capability. It can hit anywhere in Iran. It's willing to take even more daring. Action than the U.S. is at times.
I've heard. I've read that and heard that from.
Some of my sources. And so, you know, the Iranians fear Israel more than they do the other parties. other than maybe the US itself. Nevertheless, it is from Lebanon that Ben-Gurion, if it's hit, would probably be attacked. because there's only a couple minute warning when a ballistic missile is coming from Lebanon.
to the Tel Aviv area as opposed to the eight or nine minute warning that we have when they're launched from Iran itself. And of course, between Iran and here, we have US forces shooting them down. We have Jordanian forces. The Syrians have done that. The Iraqis have done that.
The Kuwaitis, the others have as well, in their own self-defense, of course, but They are successfully doing that. Israel can do that, of course, as well and has done in the past. But if you fire from Lebanon, again, it's a much quicker action and what they actually worry about, Rick, is a cover. that Iran wood fire some rockets from its own land, but only after they first launched from Lebanon.
So there's a lot of concern about that. And What can the Israelis do but be on full alert? And they are, and they're watching everything very closely. But yes, so far we haven't had any attacks from there in this current round, but nobody's holding their breath that it isn't coming.
Well, it certainly does seem that way, David, and this is just another reminder that we need to continue to pray for this situation there in the Middle East, pray for the believers in the region, pray for the people of Israel. We know that this was all foretold of in Bible prophecy, and we need to be prepared for what is coming in the future, don't we?
Well, we do. And we had the vote this week in the U. S. Congress proposal to cut off all military aid to Israel three billion a year. I point out that all of that money, according to U.S.
law, must be spent back in America. It immediately turns around and comes back to U.S. defense companies and even the makers of the Israeli uniforms are based in the States, and so that money comes right back. But half of the Democratic Party voted for that, half in the Congress. Another sign that the turning away from Israel is underway, not only in the US but around the world.
Many things are giving evidence of that. But again, that's what the scripture said the situation would be like in the very, very end. And so it doesn't cause despair. It's again another fulfillment of what the word says. And if it's right about the bad things, if you will, it's right about the good things.
That's all in preparation for the complete salvation of Israel as As the Apostle Paul spoke about and others, and the Lord's return.
So, as bleak as it looks on the ground, it's what we knew was going to come at some point, and that means that The one who's coming, the Lord God. The Son of God coming back to rule and reign in Jerusalem is also true. Amen to that. Dave Dolan for Prophecy Today. Dave, thanks so much.
You're welcome, Rick. God bless. Got to take a break, and when we come back, Winky Medad and Mike Jindren, right here on Prophecy Today, Week In. Why do science? This is Ken Ham inviting you to the full-size Noah's Ark at Ark Encounter.
As Christians, why should we study God's creation?
Well, one scientist of the past put it this way When we study God's creation we're thinking God's thoughts after Him. The more we look at what God has made, the more we're drawn to glorify Him for His wisdom. We can also get ideas for how to fight the effects of the curse in our world that is broken because of sin. Many of God's designs hold the answer to cures for diseases or better technology and innovation. But science won't save us.
Our hope shouldn't be in technology or innovations, but in Jesus Christ, who solved our biggest problem, sin. Plan your family's visit to the world-class Ark Encounter with its full-size Noah's Ark and Zoo at AnswersRadio.com. Welcome back to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr., and along with my brother Rick, we are examining current events in the light of God's prophetic word. Dave said something very interesting at the end of his interview, and he said that politics in America seems like it's turning against Israel.
And we hope that that's not the case, because if it is, that would be the end of America as a powerful nation. But we thought it would be good to bring back Winky Mad to talk to us about an incident that took place. And then, of course, right after Winky, we're going to go to Mike Jendren, who will talk to us about the Eschatology of the Vice President of the United States. But first let's go to our good friend, Israel Madad.
Well, that's right, Jimmy. I have Yisrael Madad. We call him Winkie because that's his nickname. He comes to us from his home in Judea and Samaria. He's a frequent contributor to this program.
Winkie, thanks for being with us. Thank you again for having me on.
Well, I said you live in the area of Judea and Samaria.
Now, that is also called the West Bank or the quote-unquote occupied West Bank by the mainstream media. And there was news coming from that part of the world this week. An American Congressman Roe Khanna from California says he was detained by Israeli settlers.
Now, as soon as I heard about this story, I knew that we had to get in touch with you because you could shed some light on it. Could you give us what you know about this story?
Well, the area in which he his first stop was in a place called Zanuta. is in the southern Hebron Hills, and it's in an area Uh there is Actually, it has been highlighted by an Oscar award-winning film, if I'm not mistaken. Um But of course you know, once you get into the det details you realize that it's not all that it's presented to be. There are several large towns in that area south of Hebron. For example, the Dura.
And Yata. And what happens is during some of the time for grazing or otherwise. Families, Arab families, moving to other locations instead of coming home from the pasture or. even agriculture that that can be done there. And in addition to that, Some of them Have been paid?
By the Palestinian Authority with money from the European Union, by the way. to do this on purpose in order to take over land. And this is basically the story of Zanutu, which was A recognized archaeological site by the British, already known was before nineteen forty eight. and until about twenty years ago There was nothing there.
Okay? It was, you know, like Bedouins sometimes, but even less. And eventually there was a a dust up about the whole thing, and it was revealed what they were doing, and they were told they couldn't go there anymore. In fact, To do so, the army took over the area and closed the wood. For a while, all did a closed Uh z zone.
And it's a favorite spot for this group called Breaking the silence. which has been caught out many times uh Editing clips and also you never get the true story or the whole story. And they took him on a ride. And so in the nearby areas. Which is only a few kilometers away, they saw this.
Semi-convoy coming law and they Like a lot of us do, we say, Well, what's going on there? We say, You can't go in that area. And they immediately called the army.
So, in other words, Detained was like, wait a second, let's clear this up. Not I'm gonna rest you, pin you to the floor, put your hands behind your back. And stomp on you.
Okay? So I don't know how the story got out of hand.
Well, I have a good guess. It's called propaganda. And Tally would. And that's the basis of the story. I mean, there are other elements as well.
if you want to know, but that's the core story. Hoinky, when I first heard about the story, the congressman was claiming that it was a violent encounter with Israeli settlers, gun-toting Israeli settlers, they said. He feared for his life, which I think he has since backed away from a little bit. But certainly, I was at first concerned. Like, was this something of course you know that we have an affection for Israel.
We believe in Israel's right to exist and even in the right to exist in their traditional homeland there in Judean Samaria. But you know, something like this could be really bad publicity for Israel. But it certainly has all the earmarks of a publicity stunt, doesn't it? Absolutely. I mean, if they wanted to do him any harm, let's see, they could have shut out his tires.
Uh, they could have taken away any water in the car. I can think of all sorts of things that would have had any bad advantages. They simply were saying. You're moving into an area that's fairly restricted or you shouldn't be in. And between you and me, right?
They've had a lot of experience of breaking the science, bringing in journalists and politicians and diplomats and all sorts of things. And these people don't come. to learn both sides. There's therefore only one side of the story.
Now if the congressman Would have contacted as he almost did, but didn't. uh the Israeli embassy in Washington. They say, Listen, I'm going over there. Uh I'm very interested in the Palestinians, but Could you provide an hour, ninety minutes for Mr. Maidad?
Or Mr.
So-and-so to brief me so I at least have both sides of the story. Right. But it's not he wasn't interested in coming to learn, he was interested to pose. He was interested to Uh set himself up. I think as a potential candidate for higher office mayor, But possibly down the road.
And he did it in such an artificial fashion. For example, he came out. Across the valley from me. The Arab village of Turmas Ayah.
Okay, and you can see that in some of the clips, some of the, I've seen it on the on Twitter, X. You can see that the mansions in the background, right, of the poor, oppressed, underdeveloped. undernourished Palestinians in Samaria.
Now it just so happens. That back in nineteen seventy five, an Arab American from Turmasiah placed. and explosives Leyden refrigerator in Zion Square. which killed twelve people, one of them an American. And I think about Three years ago.
Another returning Arab from America with American citizenship. shot dead a Jewish high school student. just north of here. Coming from Turmessiah, he that Aaron.
So, I mean, he could have heard stories about violence on both sides, rights of both sides, you know. These progressives, someone like this Congressman, He's not interested in learning the truth. He's interested in portraying himself. And propping up falsification of material and and knowledge. Of course, Winky, all of this comes against the backdrop of a vote that was held in the U.
S. Congress this week to end all military aid to Israel.
Now, that vote did not pass, but about half of all Democrats voted to end that aid to Israel, Rocana being one of those. And uh the fact that this congressman decided that a publicity stunt to make Israel look bad was something that would gain him favor in the Democratic Party and maybe in a general election and maybe, as he said, in an election for the presidency of the United States. What does that say to you about the relationship between some in America and Israel?
Well, look, I I don't want to be too nasty to anybody. But if I'm not mistaken, to become an American citizen, you have to pass a simple knowledge test. To get a driver's license, you have to pass a test. with knowing what the signs are and how to make turns and all sorts of There are various things that in life you you should be able to profess knowledge and prove that you know something about the issue. Between you and me and everybody listening, Very, very few of the congressmen or senators.
who consistently vote against Israel, from Bernie Sanders to all the way to uh you know ro Hanna. They know nothing. They don't know dates, they don't know history, they don't know diplomacy. They have AIDS, I'm sure, that try to feed the new material, but I think they should be able to have to pass a test before voting on Israel. Or even any other foreign affairs issue.
It's unfortunate because they're caught up by an ideology. by progress progressivism. by colonialism. By all sorts of things that put things in cubicles and and boxes. but don't allow you to actually study the truth or to hear the other side.
I think it's very unfortunate. Across the board were American politics.
Well, education on the issue is what we like to do on this program, and that's what we ask of you, and we appreciate you doing that for us.
Well, before I let you go, I want to change the subject just a little bit, and we continue to see the Iran Um Crisis unfolds and the United States is back involved. In military action against Iran, because, of course, that memorandum of understanded did not work out, which is not a surprise to most of us as we look at the history of the Islamic Republic there in Iran. But one thing that has been interesting, and I just wanted to get your take on this last question before I go.
So far, anyways, Iran has not. They have attacked their Gulf State neighbors. They have responded in kind there, but they have not. attacked Israel. Could you let us know why you think that might be and what do you think might happen in the future?
I do not know. I can make a very good guess. We probably blessed Iranian structure. Institutional structures. I'm talking about Uh electricity.
dams, roads, bridges. We simply bring the country to a halt. I mean, I think Mr. Detaniero has made that clear. I think Iran knows that it cannot argue with Israel.
It hopes that it can with America because of the oil in the Straits of Hormuz. And it's playing it out as much as possible. And I think that they know That Mr. Trump is in a political situation, shall we call it, between elections, between economics. It's better to play around with him.
rather than with Israel. Because playing around with Israel will simply make The election victory for Mr. Daniel easier? And would make the damage that he would be able to do with the Iran worse. That's my Educated guess.
Well, let me just follow up on that real quick. And the elections are going to play into to what happens with the the United States, the elections we have coming up the midterms in the fall. But you're saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu might be emboldened by the elections. I mean, that would that isn't a a political reality in Israel. And there is probably the fact that most people support in Israel, whether you're on the left or the right, most people support more action against Iran, don't they?
The short answer is yes. I mean, we really do see And I would hope that President Uh And even Vice President Vance. Who's wavering a little bit would see what they're doing with their nuclear. Weapons production. I see every couple of days, and you know, and I'm sure you can attest.
On my ability to go through Twitter and other platforms, I see clips and pictures of improvements on nuclear sites, airfields. They're hard at work. Trying to reconstitute their military. Uh infrastructure And you're only going to do that for one reason. To use it.
And Mr. Nathaniel will not allow them to use it and they know it's Mr. Trump is just simply trying to impress upon them. the strength of American military power, but he's not going in The coup de grace, as they say. And uh We'll have to wait and see what develops next week or the next two weeks or three.
Oh, we certainly will have to wait and see, and we'll be here to report that and talk about it as well. Winky, as always, we appreciate your on-the-ground perspective there in Israel, both on what's happening in Judea and Samaria, but also what is happening in the entire Middle East, especially as it pertains to Iran. Thanks so much. Look forward to talking to you again soon. Thank you.
Goodbye to you and our listeners. Speaking of politics, Christians navigate politics in diverse ways. We always know that, and reflecting various interpretations of the Bible. And while some emphasize spreading the gospel to change hearts rather than relying on government, others believe that faith requires active engagement, such as voting, to promote righteousness and human flourishing. And the views diverge widely depending on the community or denomination.
The Christian right, heavily associated with conservative evangelicalism, this movement emphasizes traditional moral values, religious liberty and policies against abortion, secularism and public institutions, and organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals discuss how believers navigate a complex political landscape where no party Perfectly aligns with biblical principles. And then you have the Christian left. This group, alongside progressive Christian movements, focuses on the social gospel. And then you have independent and non-partisan engagement. Many Christians avoid strictly aligning with a single party, instead, choosing to focus on civil discourse, community development, and addressing structural social needs.
Well, we thought it would be good to bring Mike Jindra back on the program today to discuss just that. Christians in Politics.
Well, that's right, Jimmy. I have Mike Gendren from Proclaimingthegospel.org with us. He's been on the program many times before. He was in the Catholic Church for over 30 years.
Now he runs an organization called Proclaiming the Gospel. You can find out more about him and his ministry by going to proclaimingthegospel.org. Mike, thanks for being with us today.
Well, it's good to be back with you, Rick.
Well, Mike, we have you on from time to time. And there were some things that were taking place this week. I wanted to talk to you about Vice President Vance.
Now, the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran broke down. Instead of blaming it on where I think the blame should be placed on, which is the fact that we should not be dealing with the leadership there at the IRGC and the Iranian regime right now, Vice President Vance was blaming it on the Israelis and the Jewish influence in the media.
Now, this brings to mind to me Vice President Vance converted to Roman Catholicism several years ago, and I was wondering, from your perspective, how might this Catholic doctrine influence the way he is thinking, especially when it comes to the nation of Israel?
Well, you're right. JD Vance converted to Roman Catholicism in twenty nineteen. in his conversion by his own words was not based on any theological reasons. Instead, he was drawn to the church's historical roots, their traditions, and their liturgy.
So in light of this, Rick, we know that a large part of Catholic history is anti-Semitic. especially during the medieval period from the sixth to the fifteenth century. That was really the height of the Catholic Church's anti Judaism. And so it's really heartbreaking to see that JD's conversion to Catholicism is happening more and more places around the country because many Protestants Are following in his footsteps, converting to Roman Catholicism, not because of theological reasons, but because. They're looking to the Roman Catholic Church's history.
They're saying it's the one true church. Catholic apologists now are really going unabated on the social media, and I think that's a big draw For Protestants to leave their churches and join the Catholic religion. They're saying that you cannot be saved without the Eucharist and you cannot be saved outside of the Catholic Church. And so This is really heartbreaking to me because These Roman Catholic apologists are not basing anything on the Bible. They have to go outside the Bible.
and encourage people to read the early church fathers, which Of course, that's what JD Vance did as well in his Formation in the Roman Catholic religion.
So When you look at Vance's statements, he publicly rebuked Israeli officials especially those on the far right for criticizing the agreements between Israel and America. He stated that Donald Trump is the only head of the state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment. But then he warned Israel not to attack its only powerful ally. And so Vance added, you can't just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem.
So he describes some Israeli strikes as unacceptable.
So it's really interesting as all this plays out. because we know in the end that all the nations of the world will come against Israel, and that would include the United States of America. In Zachariah fourteen, we say that God will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it. The city will be captured, the houses ransacked and the women raped.
So We know from Bible prophecy this is what we can expect. We don't know how it's going to happen, but when we see. J.D. Van's making statements like this. It definitely raises eyebrows to wonder just where he is in this whole.
his position with Israel.
Well, a couple of things to follow up on there. Let's talk about the Catholic doctrine, their understanding of God's covenant with Israel.
Now, of course, we take a dispensational, literal interpretation of the Scripture as we look at Bible prophecy, but that is not necessarily true with the Catholic Church. Can you talk a little bit about how they view eschatology, the study of the end times, and then how that relates to the nation of Israel? Yes, that's a good point because more and more we're seeing a movement toward Our millennialism which is a denial of the literal thousand year reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ as King of the earth. the Roman Catholic Church has forever rejected that. They are on mail.
They think it's a figurative thousand year period. And they actually believe that we're in the millennial period now where. Satan is bound by a large a long chain, I guess. I mean, that's the only way to describe it because we know what's going on in the world. Satan is alive and well.
But when you look at the position the Catholic Church has, it It wasn't until 1993 that the Vatican formally recognized Israel as a sovereign nation, and that was forty-six years after Israel's declaration of independence, which occurred in 1948. And so the Roman Catholic religion did this for a reason. They said that they replaced Israel is The children of God.
So when Israel was formed as a nation in 1948, the Catholic Church. didn't know what to do with it, so they kept waiting and waiting, thinking that soon they would go away, but eventually they had to recognize it some 46 years later. And so your eschatology, when you look at the Catholic Church, They believe that Jesus will not return to rule and reign until the whole world has become Roman Catholic. And we've said this on previous broadcasts. That's why there's such an aggressive ecumenical movement by the papacy to not only gather all Christians under the power and influence of the Pope, but also all the nations of the world.
And so all we can do is see Bible prophecy being fulfilled as all these things play out. Can you expound a little bit on the Catholic Church? And they have long been accused of fostering anti-Semitism. Again, you talked about how they did not recognize the nation of Israel, and it certainly seems like their belief and their theology is coloring the way they look at the world right now, almost as if the nation of Israel is an affront to their theology.
Well, it really is. In fact, that's why I think more than ever, they are hoping that the nation of Israel goes away. because it definitely goes against their theology. There can only be one Children of God in the Catholic Church has stake the claim on that, that they are the children of God. And of course, we know that as replacement theology, and that's even bled into the Protestant.
The nominations were They don't see a future for Israel, and they think the church has replaced Israel. But that's the furthest thing from the truth because We know that the church will be raptured prior to the seven-year tribulation when God turns his attention to Israel and the Jewish nation. And that's when all hell breaks loose and At the end of that tribulation period, we know that all Israel will be saved. Albeit only a third of the population that entered the tribulation, but they will look upon the one they have pierced, and then all Israel will be saved. And so for the Catholic Church to go against that, it just goes to show you their biblical ignorance.
their desire to follow ungodly traditions rather than the infallible and errant inspired word of God. Mike, when I called you earlier, we were talking about getting you on the air for this subject. And you basically were saying to me, Look, this is all going on around us.
Now, obviously, we're concerned about this. We live in this world. We have a Christian worldview. We want our leaders to act as much as they can in accordance with our Christian worldview. But as we look at these things that are going on, there's a kind of encouragement as well.
The Bible said this was going to happen. The Bible said there would be signs, and that's what we're seeing right now.
So, in a way, this is an encouragement to us, but also a call to action for us as believers, isn't it?
Well, it is. can't overemphasize the importance of what you just said. The whole reason for the church is to gather together as a holy huddle on Sunday. To be trained and equipped and encouraged to go out and evangelize the world. That's the reason we're still here.
That's the reason we're not taken to heaven the moment we're born again. We've been given the great privilege and the awesome responsibility to be ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ. And to take his message throughout the world.
So that is why we're here. And as we see the The end coming near based on Bible prophecy. We have to recognize it. Those people that are unconverted at the rapture, they will not have a Christian witness on the earth. And so we need to reach out to our loved ones and f family members and all of our friends and coworkers with the gospel of Christ.
There may not be much time left because the rapture could occur at any moment.
Well, that's my final question to you. As we talk about this, another thing we were talking about before we went on air, the rapture of the church.
Now, you're talking about a dear friend that we both know that is getting ready to pass on into glory. And we even mentioned my dad five years ago, next month. And dad always believed that he was going to go in the rapture.
Now, the Lord called him, his faithful servant, home early, but Boy, as you look at all this that's going on, the rapture of the church cannot be far away, can it? You're right. The stage has been set for so long. And I think more than anything, one of the signs that has really been prevalent that signifies the end could be nearer, the rapture could be closer. the increase in technology with AI and everything going on, we know how the devil is going to use that to form his global religion and global government and global economy.
So yes, we really need to be prepared to jettison out of here any moment. Amen to that, Mike.
Well, before I let you go, can you just let us know? You've got Bible prophecy conferences coming up. You've got your websites. You've got your newsletter. How can people follow your ministry and maybe even get a chance to maybe be at one of these conferences or places that you speak at?
Well sure Rick, thanks for asking. We always publish our Speaking schedule and our conference schedule in our monthly newsletter that goes out via email on the first of every month. And we have all of our newsletters archived on our website, proclaimingthegospel.org.
So we've got a lot of resources there too. Anybody that wants to know How to reach their Catholic family members. There are 1.4 billion Catholics that need to hear the gospel.
So you can also call us at our number anytime, 817-379-5300. We'd be glad to encourage you and equip you for the work of an evangelist.
So, thank you, Rick, for the opportunity to be on your show again. Mike Gendron from Proclaimingthegospel.org. Mike, as you said, it could happen at any moment. We always end our program saying, let's keep looking up until, and that means that we know that it could happen at any time. We should keep our eyes open.
Mike, thanks so much. Look forward to talking to you again soon. Always a blessing. Welcome back 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.
Well, Jimmy, it's been great to talk to our broadcast partners today as we look at current events taking place around the world and how they're setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. That's what we've been doing on this program. For over 25 years now, and it's so important to us. And what is very also important to us is that we have a group of people that continue to pray for us, continue to support us financially. We just wanted to say on this program, thank you so much for doing that.
And please continue to pray. If you'd like to support us financially, go to our website, prophecytoday.com. We appreciate everything that you do to help keep this program on the air and to keep sharing the prophetic news of the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I agree wholeheartedly, Rick. And I also want to say thank you to the radio stations that continue to carry us every week.
We are just amazed at how God is working in our lives.
Well, on the legacy series today, we're going to go back to study the events that lead up to the return of Jesus Christ back to the earth at the end of the seven-year tribulation. But first, we're going to go to the book of Ezekiel with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, and he's going to remind us how the book of Ezekiel unfolds. Dr. Jimmy DeYoung.
And the Legacy series. Ezekiel is divided into two parts. The first part is the first 32 chapters. It's a message of retribution. Retribution.
Ezekiel lays out for us the message that God gave to him to give to his people and the neighbors, the enemies of the Jewish people. Chapters 1 to 24 is a message of retribution to the Jews, and then chapters 25 to 32 is a message of retribution to the neighbors of the Jewish people. Chapter 33 then begins another series of messages. This would be the messages of restoration. He's going to restore the kingdom people, the Jewish people, and he's going to restore their practices, the kingdom practices.
Chapter 37 is the deal that helps us to get underway. It's the first prophecy that is of major importance. By the way, look back at chapter 33 just a second. Chapter 33, I want to show you what happened, verse 22.
Now, when the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, before he that was escaped from Jerusalem, it's talking about, had opened my mouth until he in the morning. And my mouth was open, and I was no more dumb. God loosens his tongue and gives him a message of restoration. Chapter 37, it's the valley of dry bones. Look at verse 7.
So I prophesied as he commanded, and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a shaking, and his bones came together, bone to bone. Verse 8: And when I had beholded, lo, sinew and flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them from above, but there was no breath in them. Verse 9. Then he said, Preach unto the wind. Verse 10: So I prophesied at the commandment, and breath came in unto them, and they lived, and they stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Now that's apocalyptic literature. What in the world is it talking about? Bones coming together, flesh coming on the bones, breath of life being breathed into them. It's a three-part prophecy. The bones coming together are the regathering.
The flesh coming on the bones are the restoration, and the breath being breathed into them is regeneration. Regeneration, regathering, restoration of whom?
Well, how did I tell you to interpret apocalyptic literature? Keep reading. Look at verse 11. I went to verse 10. Look at verse 11.
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. He's talking about the Jews who had been scattered to the four corners of the earth. I'm going to find them and bring them into the land. Go back to chapter 34. Chapter 34 of the book of Ezekiel.
I'm not giving you a complete teaching on Ezekiel. I'm trying to whet your appetite, but I'm trying to show you how this is key to understanding what God's going to do. Verse 11, chapter 34. For thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I, even I will, will search out my sheep and seek them out. Middle part of verse 12.
So will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them from all the places where they have been scattered. Verse 13, I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from their countries. Verse 14, I will feed them in a good pasture. Verse 15, I will feed my flock and I will cause them to lie down. Verse 16, I will seek that which was lost.
Do you hear me repeating the phrase? I will. The Lord is telling the Jewish people. I will. If you read from verse 11 all the way to verse 31, you'll see that God says it 18 times: I will find my people where they have been scattered.
I will gather them in. I will bring them into their land. I will feed them like a good shepherd feeds his flock. I will. Look, it settles if he says one time.
What about if he says it eighteen times? You better be paying attention. Go to chapter 36. He talks about the land in chapter 36. You see, what is going on is I'm going to bring the people from all over the world.
It's called Aliyah. Say that word in Hebrew. Aliyah. Say it again. Aliyah.
That means to go up to Jerusalem. But today it's applied to those Jews coming from all over the world. Since Judy and I moved into Jerusalem in 1991, in the first five years we were there, 1.3 million Jews from Russia came. You go to Jeremiah chapters 16, 23, 31. You'll see they'll bring them out of the north, and that's where Russia is.
Because Ezekiel 5:5 says Jerusalem is in the center of the earth. That was an increase in the nation of 37%. A nation that was approximately three and a half million people became five million people. In just a couple of years. I will.
Thirty-five times in chapter thirty-six it refers to the land. Notice what he says in verse 6, Prophesy, therefore, concerning the land. Verse 8. But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches. Verse 11: I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they shall increase and bring fruit.
Look at here at the last part of verse 11. And I will settle you after your old estates, how it was with your forefathers. And I will do better unto you than at your beginnings, and you shall know that I am the Lord. He's going to bring him into the land. Why is he going to bring him into the land?
A Jewish rabbi, when I was witnessing to him in my office in New York City, after I got finished, he said this. And his name was Merrick Gahana. I don't know if you ever heard of that rebel-rousing Jew. He was the one killed just before 9-11 by the same people who did the 9-11 thing. He said when I got finished, he said, Jimmy, I want to tell you why God does anything for an Orthodox Jew like me or a born-again Christian like you.
And he brought me to chapter 36, verse 22. Therefore, say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God: I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, I do this for my holy aim's sake. When God could swear by nothing greater, He swore, I will bring the people back. God's not finished. And what have we been watching?
Over the last 100 years, out of 108 nations of the world, Jews have been coming into the land. Jeremiah 31, 23 says, When I bring them into the land, I'll give them their pure language. Zephaniah 3.9, a parallel passage. When I bring him into the land, I'll resurrect. Their language.
Awesome. what he's doing. And I do it. For my holy name's sake. Let me just give you something.
Chapter 35. Notice what chapter 35 says. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Mount Seir. And prophesy against it. And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am, O Mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.
Who is Mount Cyr? Chapter 36 of the book of Genesis. God tells Esau. No longer can you live here. Chapter 37, verse 1.
Jacob and his family is going to live here. Chapter 36, verse 7. The riches of both of you boys is too much for this land. You're going to Mount Seir. Where's Mount Cyr?
Lower third of modern day Jordan. Who went there? Esau and the Edomites changed his name to Edom.
Now that piece of real estate in biblical times is called Edom. It's called modern-day Jordan. They went to a place called Petra. And there they headquartered.
Now he says, I'm going to destroy you, Mount Seir. But remember what God told Rebekah The mother of Jacob and Esau. Two nations. are in thy womb. Jacob is Israel.
Esau. the Palestinian people. of today. He said, I'm going to wipe you out. Why is he going to wipe him out?
Look here in verse five. Because thou hast a perpetual hatred, Esau said in chapter 27 of Genesis: when my father dies, I will kill Jacob. Perpetual hatred and has shed the blood of the children of Israel. Verse 10, because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it. Hamas, on the front page of my website today, prophecytoday.com.
Hamas, we will eliminate the Jewish state. We're not going to negotiate for a second state, Palestine. We'll eliminate the Jewish state, and all of Israel will be Palestine. This is so up to date, it's like reading the front page of the newspaper. Chapter 38, it talks about the alignment of the nations coming together.
We just touched on that on chapter 11 of Daniel, and I said Syria will be the first major player to move. Egypt will form a coalition in Daniel 11. I'm sorry, I just can't go through all of this. I'm trying to whet your appetite to study it yourself. But notice what it says up here.
Verse 2: Son of man, set thy face against Gog in the land of Magog. I told you, that's modern-day Russia. That's where Jepeth's son went to live. And the chief prince of Meshech in Tubal, go to verse 6, Gomer, all of his bands in Tagarmah. That's modern-day Turkey.
Tayyip Erdogan wants to be the pan-Islamic leader of the world. The spread of Islam stopped in Turkey. He wants to restart it. That's his whole purpose today. Look here in verse 5: Persia.
Until 1936, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan were called Persia. They have three different names today, but Iran still speaks Persian, Ethiopia, and Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Libya. And if I could take you to Psalm 83, I would show you the state of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon will join. And these nations will come to destroy the nation of Israel. When will they come?
Look at verse 8. After many days, thou shalt be visited. In the latter years, thou shalt come up to the land that brought back out of the sword. Look at the last part of it. Where they are dwelling safely, all of them.
Verse 11. And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, and I will go up to them that are at risk, that dwell safely. When are the Jewish people going to ever dwell safely in the land? After the rapture of the church, the Antichrist appears. What does he do?
Chapter 9, verse 27 of Daniel confirms a peace treaty. They think he's the Messiah.
So they lay down their weapons, and That's what verse 11 says. You know, at the time Ezekiel wrote this 2,500 years ago, he didn't know about F-16s, Mark Vautanks, the most sophisticated tank in the world. He didn't know about Apache attack helicopters. He knew that the only way you would defend yourself was a wall around the city.
So he says they'll be living in unwalled villages. and they will come under attack by a coalition of nations. What's the lowest common denominator? of those coalition of nations. They're all Islamic.
That is key. They have to come. to wipe out Israel. Joel, remember I talked about the Garden of Eden? Joel 2 and 3 says: largest army ever formed on the face of the earth will go to the Garden of Eden.
They want to set up a covifat. That's a worldwide kingdom. The must thee, the Messiah in Arabic. is about to appear. We'll send An atomic weapon, a nuclear weapon of mass destruction into Israel.
We can hit every target in there. Point of stage is set. What's God going to do? Verse 18, he said, in chapter 38, it'll come to pass at that time, God shall come against the land of Israel. And they're going to come and he's going to destroy him.
Look at chapter 39, verse 2. And I will turn thee back of thee, but a sixth part of thee. What's he going to do? He's going to wipe out the Islamic world. That's key.
Where's the Antichrist during this first three and a half years of the tribulation period? He's in Rome, Italy. He's building a false church. Islam doesn't coexist with a false church. They're an exclusive religiosity!
So, Islam has to be wiped out for God's plan to unfold. 9-11 was the beginning of the end. They're the major players still today. Rapture happens. Islam is key.
But then they attack Israel. They are signing their death No. Five out of every six.
so that the Lord can set up a plan He has unfolding. And the end times. Um God's plan for the end times, as foretold in Bible prophecy. will be fulfilled. the Lord will bring the Jews into the land of their forefathers.
By the way, the land that the Jewish people have to day is only ten per cent. of what He will give them ultimately. When in the land an alignment of nations will attack the Jewish State, only to be destroyed by the Lord. The Jews are in the land. And the nations of the Middle East are preparing to try and wipe Israel off the earth.
We don't let current events drive our understanding of Bible prophecy.
However, after we study God's end time scenario, we can then look at current events and see where we are on God's time clock for the future.
Next week, as we continue our study of Ezekiel, I'll take you through the last eight chapters of the book, which gives us what I believe is the greatest evidence of the soon coming of Jesus Christ back to the earth. We'll study about the coming Jewish temple to be built in Jerusalem. Dr. Jimmy D. Young in the legacy series.
Wow, we're so thankful that we're able to study God's Word. It's still relevant, even with the current events that are going on. Gotta take a break, and Rick and I will come back with a look at the book right here: Prophecy Today Weekend. Mm-hmm. I'm Steve O'Dell with Mission Network News.
This week, Lebanon and Israel agreed on further details about a pilot zone process. Under the plan, Israel would withdraw from two small areas in southern Lebanon, and the Lebanese army would step in to establish control. If you've followed the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, you know that this is a difficult and complicated plan, but God is at work. Pierre Hosni with Horizons International says despite the destruction in southern Lebanon, local churches are seeing many people come to Christ. A lot of Muslims are just, even if they don't come to Christ, they're open.
Christian activity. They see us as a blessing in their community. Learn more in the full report at our website. But for now, pray for local churches as they serve people experiencing displacement, trauma, and anxiety. Pray that these churches will continue to grow in spiritual strength and gospel reach.
Next, Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy, but Patrick Anthony with FMI explains how things have taken a turn for the worse. We've heard from our Indonesian believers a consistent story of the economy is bad, and they will tell us that it's very bad. Young people, especially, are frustrated because it's just very hard to find good jobs. Oil prices increased, which raises, often we hear, raises the prices of almost everything. Yet, in challenge, there is opportunity.
Indonesia places a high value on social harmony, often keeping believers from risking that harmony to share Jesus. But the economic struggles are giving Christians a natural way to share their faith to people desperate for hope. Pray for economic relief and boldness for believers. Thanks for listening to Mission Network News, a service of one-way ministries. This month, Keys for Kids is offering free devotionals for kids and teens and a set of Bible highlighters.
Each story applies the truth of God's word in ways that are understandable for your young person. Get yours free when you click on the banner ad at missionnews.org. I'm Steve Odell. Welcome back to Prophecy Today. I'm Jimmy DeYoung Jr.
Along with Rick, we've been examining current events in the light of God's prophetic word. Rick, I started out the program today with giving the timeline of Bible prophecy beginning, and really all the events that we look at are setting up. For prophecies to be fulfilled after the rapture of the church. That's when God's timeline of the future begins with the rapture of the church, mentioned in John chapter 14, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, and Revelation chapter 4, verse 1.
Now, after Revelation chapter 4 comes chapter 5, which is a big, a good picture of the throne room of heaven and Jesus Christ, who is not seated on his throne, but seated next to God who is on his throne. Jesus Christ takes the title deed and he opens that first seal. That's Revelation chapter 6: the revealing of the man on the white horse, which is the man of peace or the Antichrist. Then the second horse, the second seal. is released, and that is a man on a red horse which represents war.
And I believe that that is Ezekiel thirty eight and thirty nine. The third seal, which would be the black horse, represents the horse of devastation of financial ruin and And really, famine throughout the land. And of course, the fourth horseman represents, which is on the pale horse, represents. Death. And within that first three and a half years of the tribulation period, One half of those people that are left on the earth, half of the world's population will be wiped out.
As a ministry, we look at four items that we keep our eyes on consistently: Aliyah, the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. And we look at the anticipation for peace, one of the most talked about news items in the world. When will peace be around the world? And as we have seen it, Rick, it doesn't look like it's going to come anytime soon to the Middle East. But the anticipation for peace, a man on a white horse, the man on the red horse represents war, and we believe that that is an alignment of nations that come against the land of Israel to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
And it's not just once, it's twice, because at the end of the tribulation period, we have the Battle of Armageddon, which takes place. And that's when all nations that Mike Jendrum was talking about are gathered to the city of Jerusalem to wipe the Jewish nation off the face of the earth. And then, of course, the arrangements being made right now as we speak for a temple, the third temple that will stand in the city of Jerusalem, which is really, I believe, the catalyst that will bring all the Islamic nations of the world to the city of Jerusalem. A mighty army of locusts talked about in the book of Joel, where they will come to try to wipe out the Jewish people just because they want to build a temple.
So these are the things that we keep our eyes on consistently, Rick.
Well, that's right, Jimmy. You have just laid out the four major trends in Bible prophecy. And I remember 30 years ago, you and I working with Dad to write his book, Sound the Trumpets. And we talked about it, those brought about those four major trends. We've been watching those trends throughout these years, and there's been so many developments and developments each and every week, like you just talked about.
And we talk about them here on the program. But, you know, and dad loved alliteration, if you didn't notice, all of those started with A, right? And I think if we were to rewrite that book right now, we would have to add another major trend. And I think that major trend would be anti-Semitism as we look at what is going on around the world. Of course, in Europe, you know, we saw anti-Semitism.
And World War II, and that was prevalent there. But it's come to the America as well as we look at. All ends of the political spectrum, both left and right. We see the Jewish people being scapegoated, the nation of Israel being blamed. And I was thinking about this, Jimmy, and maybe you could expound on it a little bit.
We know why the Islamic world is anti-Semitic because they believe in Muhammad. And if the Jewish people and the nation of Israel was to survive and thrive, then that is attacking their idea of who God is. Maybe there's those that are not religious or don't believe in a religion.
Well, they don't want to see that miracle of the Jewish people returning to the land, and they look at the nation of Israel, and that's an offense to them as well. And then even Christians, Jimmy, we teach that God has a plan for the Jewish people. We look at that. But there are those that believe in the Christian world and different Catholicism. We talked about that with Mike Gendren, but even in the Protestant world, and there are those who believe that the church has replaced the Nation of Israel.
Now, if we look at scripture, it's not what scripture says, and that's what we believe. But there are so many reasons for people to have antipathy. Towards the nation of Israel. And so, this anti-Semitism, I believe, is a fifth major trend that is letting us know where we stand in God's timeline. Yeah, I wonder what dad would think about that.
You adding another A to the four items that we keep our eyes on. But you're absolutely right. Anti-Semitism is growing around the world, and it is something that we keep our eyes on. But it's really because people do have a wrong view of future events. We've always said your eschatology determines your theology.
And if you call yourself a Christian, and I talked about this before we interviewed Mike today, I talked about Christians and politics and how you have the Christian right. There's actually not a right party that fits all of what we believe as Christians. But there's the Christian right, there's the Christian left, and then there are those that are independents. There are those that are nonpartisan that are really just involved with social issues.
So, you know, when we look at anti-Semitism, we have stopped teaching that in our churches today. And really, that's the bottom line. We don't understand God's program for the Jewish people. We're not a Jewish program, but we do focus on the Jewish people because when you look at Bible prophecy, when you look at everything against the backdrop of Bible prophecy, you have to understand, and then that helps you to really see why the world is acting as it is and why they are turning against the Jewish people. And I just think this is something that's going to continue to get worse until.
Jesus Christ comes back to the earth, as David Dolan said, when Jews will be saved. And of course, They're not just saved like when Jesus Christ appears. They have to. Acknowledge that he is the true Messiah. He was sent by God to die on the cross for all of the sins of all of mankind, and they have to come to God, the same way that you and I do.
And that's what Jesus said: I am the way, the truth, and the life. There's no way to the Father except through me.
Well, that's right, Jimmy. And I'm glad that we're able to share on this program as we look at that blessed event and we hope for it to happen maybe even today. Yes. I love what you said with Mike Jendren. We always finish out our program, and with everything that we've seen today, the rapture of the church can't be that far away.
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.
