December 2, 2016
For almost eight years now, the Unites States has suffered under the litigious and divisive rule of President Barack Hussein Obama, famed for ruling with his pen and phone by executive orders. Enforcing his anti-American open borders, Obama provided a haven for Islamic terrorists.
Obama tried to destroy the sanctity of marriage as being between a man and woman. He proudly bathed the White House in the LGBTQ rainbow colors while suing at law and financially ruining various Christian businesses for exercising their biblical convictions and constitutional rights.
The whole world has been under the dark cloud of President Obama: the U.S. nearly at war with Russia; Iran captured and humiliated U.S. Navy sailors but Obama did nothing; China threatens the U.S. over its meddling in the South China Seas; Obama increased disrespect for Israel, and overwhelmingly nations of the world openly disrespect the United States of America.
But now the world breathes a collective sigh of relief, thanks to President-Elect Donald Trump and V.P.-Elect Mike Pence. Quite literally, Wall Street rejoices! The DOW soars above 19,100, breaking all previous records. And seemingly, consumer confidence is being restored.
And let’s not overlook the fact that, DEFCON, the U.S. defense and war-readiness indicator, was literally dialed back from 3 to 5. In other words, the November 8, 2016 presidential election of Donald J. Trump reversed the imminent threat of WW3…but only temporarily. It’s yet coming.
I’m grateful that Trump and Pence were elected to run the affairs of the United States upon their inauguration on January 20, 2017. Pray with me that they actually make it to the inauguration without some event and possible martial law that could disrupt the process, for Trump and his Cabinet are truly a reprieve unto repentance from unbelief of Jesus’ end-time teachings.
As born again Christians, we should recognize the signs of the times. Furthermore, God’s Word says, “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), and on that basis we know that God will bring this age to an end according to Jesus’ end-time Word at Matthew 24:32–35. The signing of the “covenant with many for one week” (Dan. 9:27) is near. The tribulation start is equally near.
With that in mind we know that Trump and Pence are not our hope, but they’ve simply provided a short reprieve of the destruction and tribulation soon to come. Yet, many incorrectly interpret the Trump / Pence election as meaning that all is well. But, no it’s not! The State of Israel and Pope Francis are on the cusp of officially signing the Dan. 9:27 “covenant with many”.
Having the mind of Christ, we remember that God said of world rulers, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed” (Psa. 2:2). Government leaders refuse to govern by the commands and teachings of God and His Anointed Christ, and Trump and Pence are now poised to become part of those “rulers”.
Therefore, the reprieve we now see is indeed temporal. But many are saying this is now a time of peace and safety, hopefully as regards the restoration of religious freedoms here in America and safety for the land of Israel, as both Trump and Pence have intimately close ties to Israel. But God’s Word warns of this time, “when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’” (1 Thess. 5:3), beware!
There’s a dual application to the end-time warning, “when they say, “Peace and Safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3). The first will likely occur at the start of the tribulation at the signing of the “covenant with many” (Dan. 9:27); and the second, certainly at the tribulation mid-point.
First, pre-trib rapture believers have been promised the deceiving lie that Christ gathers them before the seven-year tribulation even begins. They believe this lie because they love and trust the words of their pastor who ignores Jesus’ truth that He gathers His elect, “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31).
Consequently, when the seven-year “covenant with many” (Dan. 9:27) is signed, and tribulation forces become evident, many who disbelieved Jesus’ end-time teachings, “will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (Matt. 24:10). This offense and hatred will cause a sudden and great falling away from the Christian faith just as Christ and His Spirit foretold.
The second application of, “when they say, “Peace and Safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them” (1 Thess. 5:3) occurs when Antichrist breaks his “covenant with many” at the middle of the tribulation, “when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (Matt. 24:15).
Antichrist, the embodiment of Satan, who, pre-trib rapture believers were told they would never see, will, at the middle of the seven year covenant, enter the rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem where Orthodox Jews sacrifice animals, for the “covenant with many” permits the same, and he will stop those animal sacrifices, “showing himself that he is God” (2 Thess. 2:4).
With the breaking of Antichrist’s covenant, God said, “from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days” (Dan. 12:11). This latter period of time will be the last three and a half years of this age that Jesus called the “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21). But more must first be fulfilled.
For all intents and purposes, Turkey has declared war on Syria as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has now militarily invaded Syria with the express intent to, “end the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad”. (Daily News 12/01/2016) Essentially, NATO, through its member, Egypt, has also declared war on Russia which is fighting to defend Bashar al-Assad.
Simultaneously, wild fires rage through Israel causing much destruction. And wild fires rage through Tennessee with great destruction to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, while tornadoes destroy in the mid-south. Earthquakes and volcanoes escalate globally, and oceans become increasingly toxic with nuclear poisoning, causing massive fish and marine die-offs.
I must ask: are you born again by faith in Jesus Christ? Do you believe His end-time Word or do you, like most Roman Catholics, believe your pastor or the pope above the written Word of God? Place yourself in humility before the Lord Jesus to embrace His Truth, and allow His Truth the rightful place in your life, and reject traditions of men.
If you have not believed the Word of the Lord Jesus, I invite you to bow your heart and life in humility to Christ, to confess and repent of the sin of unbelief put there by a pastor or traditions, and turn to true faith, believing the Words of the Lord Jesus who guides the sincere and humble of heart through, “the narrow gate and difficult way which leads to life” (Matt. 7:14).
The sobriety of the gospel and being a follower of Christ is not humorous. In fact, Jesus warned, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it” (Luke 14:28). Translation: to follow Christ means to deny oneself and believe Him, not just select parts, but especially the difficult, to endure to the end of this age.
There may be a short reprieve unto repentance as a result of Trump winning the White House, but do not lose sight of the truth that ours is the last generation of this present age. We know this by Jesus’ parable of, “the fig tree” (Matt. 24:32–35), which tells us that the generation that sees Israel reborn, prosper and mature, must faithfully endure the tribulation to the day of the rapture.
Recently, I was asked how I know the parable of “the fig tree” is about Israel. Here’s how: God called Israel His fig tree. Note these two examples: “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season” (Hos. 9:10); “For a nation has come up against My land…He has laid waste My vine, and ruined My fig tree” (Joel 1:6–7).
The global elite are seething about the Trump / Pence upset to their ungodly One World Order and corrupt rule of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The global elite will not go quietly into the night, as Satan yet has his agenda for world domination and the Vatican’s Jesuit Pope Francis will accomplish it. Do you recognize the signs of the times?
Dear saints, do not be lulled into a false sense of security; do not let your heart be deceived into believing the world now has “Peace and Safety!”, because this evil world is imminently closer to end-time disasters than before Trump and Pence were elected. Seek God’s truth in Christ, and reject traditions of men; inform yourself in righteousness; believe Jesus Christ and be saved.
Marlin J. Yoder
