I believe Satan knows the return of Jesus Christ is drawing near! A growing number of people are equating world peace with the elimination of Israel. Many also are explaining the troubles in the world by blaming the presence of Christians on earth. Many people who are naturally inclined to seek easy liberal solutions to social issues are succumbing to the evil rancor of Muslims who are settling in numerous European countries and American states who have an engrained hatred toward Jews and any who support them.  Rising pro-Nazi movements that also feed this general spirit of anti-Semitic, and Anti-Christian fervor.

Many of these countries have abandoned the Bible for past decades in favor of a more humanistic and globalistic outlook.  To the maximum extent, they  have abandoned the idea of supernatural revelation through the Bible.  For these and other reasons, many have become intellectually and morally lazy. The result is a general disinterest in the problems in the middle east and a growing desire to take a hands-off approach to resolving these issues. “If Islam is interested in getting rid of the Jews and the Christians,” some might reason, “well then, maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.” This kind of lazy thinking can even occur, and sometimes does occur,  below the level of conscious awareness.  I think this may influence the great delays in both action and follow through from our leadership in America.

Yet the problems are real, and avoiding or ignoring them will only allow those who seek the obliteration of the Jew and the people of the cross to have a freer hand to kill, steal and destroy.  This is Satan’s three-fold strategy to bring about his ideal world order. (John 10:10) Yet Jesus’ purpose is stated in the second part of that verse and in stark contrast to Satan: “I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly!”

Satan’s goal of destroying Israel and marginalizing the Christian Church is what is being pushed and accepted today with growing regard and even respectability among many movie stars and others of notoriety.

Anti-Semitism and Christian bashing has become trendy! It escapes the typical European and American that the Islamic takeover and murder of those in “far away” countries today, also can mean the destruction of America and those same European societies tomorrow! Radical Islam will not stop so long as there are vulnerable people to subjugate or destroy, property and equipment to steal, or caliphates to establish. Erasing Israel or the churches will  not satisfy them.  All along, seeming by-standers, Like America, and leaders, like President Obama (and there are others) often give the appearance that they are more interested in being entertained or noticed then in actually working to resolve problems by addressing them boldly and honestly!  This is a part of the spiritual blindness that Satan brings and which will worsen as the Lord’s coming draws nearer (2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:1f)

The disregard for God, the Bible, and biblical morality even in small measure here in America and other nations that serve as Israel’s allies does a great deal to induce a vile murder rampage in other parts of the world, say, in Gaza, or in Iraq.  It is an inviolable principle of Scripture:  “Be not deceived, God is not (will not be) mocked, for whatsoever a man (or a nation) soweth, that shall he also reap!” (Galatians 6:7) Sin in a person’s life, or family, or nation, gives opportunity, also called, “permission,” or “ground” to Satan to effect others both within our sphear of influence and out side of it, as God gives permission for the Devil and His demons to do so. (See Daniel 10:12-14; Ephesians 4:27; 6:10-18)

As Satan and his demons are given opportunity through sin, missiles are fired unprovoked, by Hamas into Israel.

Churches are burned and murdered in Iraq. Even the members of the Yazidis sect are targeted by ISIS because they claim to be a mix of Christian, Zoroastrian and Islamic religions.

Remember that because of Satanic hatred, radical Islam is an equal opportunity murderer!

Our willful spiritual blindness here in America, through blasphemous support of abortion, pornography, abandonment of the biblical definition of marriage, etc. will be magnified, through demonic influence wherever Satan is most desiring to advance his evil!   Lack of real prayer, and proclamation of biblical truth which is lived out consistently, will, through direct and indirect means, foster greater advances of evil.  So, our own sins and disregard for God, gives opportunity for Satan to work more evil in the world!

Isaiah predicted that God would one day “go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy as a man of war, He shall cry, yes, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies.” Isaiah 42:13) This was written in the context of prophecies of both the first and second comings of Jesus Christ.

First Jesus was to come as a suffering servant (Isaiah  42:1-4; see also this fulfillment in Matthew 12:18-21). Then, Jesus was to come back to the earth, specifically, the middleast, and Israel, to completely overthrow and destroy His enemies.(Isaiah 42:8-25; 63:1-4).

This is why present events in Iraq, with the burning of churches and destruction of anything Christian, or Jewish, and all that is non-Islamic is being carried out with such zeal. It is perhaps because the devil knows that he has only a short time. (Revelation 12:12)

There is little or no prophecy in the books of other religions besides that of the Bible.  This is what really distinguishes the Bible from religious books, like, the Quran.  In Isaiah 41:20-22 the challenge is given that for one to authoritatively speak for God he must be able to write what God intends to do in the future.  Prophecy is a distinguishing mark of Divine revelation and authority. The many

biblical Prophecies that have already come true add credibility to those prophecies which have yet to be fulfilled.  Yet for centuries, as well as today, millions have followed religious teachers and founders who’s writings contain no prophecy.  The Apostle Peter assures us that we have a “more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well to take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place (like the evil world we live in). (2 Peter 1:19)

In the Bible there are many prophecies yet to come to pass.  The Bible shows itself to be the world’s only valid and historically verifiable book of God’s revelation of Himself and of His truth for all mankind. The clear prophecies of Scripture are one key reason why this is true.  Only the One true God can declare the future before it happens!  Only the Bible contains these prophetic Divine declarations!  Isaiah records the very words of God as he writes:  “Behold, the former things are come to pass (which God foretold through His biblical prophets) and new things do I declare: Before they spring forth I tell you of them!” (Isaiah 42:9)

Jesus, and the New Testament writers prophetically warned of rising persecution against Israel and the Church in the latter days. (Read Matthew, chapters 24-25, and, 1 Peter 4:7-14) This is why, while we are greatly concerned about the rise of hatred today, we do not need to be fearful, but prayerful.  For, as Christians, knowing the prophecies of the Lord’s coming, we can be hopeful and even joyful in the midst of these trials while we watch for Him!  The Bible assures us that Jesus will return to catch us away to heaven at the rapture. (John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)  All of  these events serve as markers for us that the Bible is true and that Jesus Christ is coming soon!  (Luke 21:28)