Friday, April 19, 2024
Last Saturday night, Iran, the world’s most notorious sponsor of terrorism, launched an aerial attack on Israel with hundreds of suicide drones, rockets and missiles. But Israel and her allies were able to successfully destroy most of those airborne warheads before hitting any targets in Israel. Iran and its Hamas and Houthi proxies suffered a humiliating defeat given their intention of inflicting a mass casualty event upon the people of Israel. Given where the world is regarding the end-times, this war against Israel will escalate and draw in other Middle East Islamic nations intent on Israel’s destruction. And more specifically, I believe this Iranian attack, this new level of war against Israel, has all the potential of drawing out “the son of perdition” (2 Thess. 2:3). In the near term, Iran, unsurprisingly, thinks itself exempt from Israeli retaliation and vows that if Israel does retaliate, Iran will use a weapon “never used before” against Israel. (Source) Today, Israel is now striking back. This will likely ignite much broader and deadlier Middle East wars.
Another end-time reality in Israel that heralds “the man of sin” (2 Thess. 2:3), the Antichrist, is the fact that Israel is very near to the time of offering a red heifer in sacrifice for the purification of the Jewish people and Israel’s third Temple. This article says “The recent developments about this ceremony has recently gained worldwide attention. According to reports, plans are in motion for the sacrifice, which might happen as early as Passover 2024.” The red heifer sacrifice should not be underestimated because it’s a biblical end-time marker. The article also says “In a speech delivered 100 days into the present conflict, Hamas claimed that the red heifers’ arrival had an impact on their choice to launch the October 7th strikes in Israel, which ignited the conflict.”
This says, “The red heifer sacrifice needs to take place on a plot of land on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It is believed that the land has been acquired. The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, is a location deemed suitable for the ceremony without the need for a new temple to be constructed. This aligns with certain interpretations of biblical prophecy, which foresee the rebuilding of the Temple as a precursor to the Messianic era…[and] As of right now, people are still alleging that the red heifer sacrifice will commence either right before passover on April 22nd, 2024 or 50 days later on Shavuot.” The Jewish “Shavuot” festival commemorates God giving the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Certain Christian Judaizers believe Christians must celebrate this and other Jewish feasts and festivals under the OT Mosaic Law. I don’t agree with that due to the glaring absence of New Testament commands for such rituals.
This article by Charisma News states in part, “But I do believe that the Temple Institute fully intends to conduct a red heifer sacrifice at some point in 2024. And when that happens, Israel’s enemies are going to go haywire. As CBS News has reported, Hamas has actually admitted that the red heifers were one of the reasons why they attacked Israel on Oct. 7.[and that] Once Israel’s enemies realize that a red heifer has been sacrificed, they are going to go absolutely nuts. So this is a really big deal.” Indeed, regarding the signs of the times for the end-times, Israel offering the red heifer sacrifice is a very big deal. It’s believed that “the son of perdition” will be the one that, as part of his “covenant with many” (Dan. 9:27), will grant Israel permission to build their third Temple which will allow the resumption of sacrificial animals being offered for the forgiveness of sins which will be an absolute abomination before God in view of the fact that Christ died and shed His blood “once for all” (Rom. 6:10; Heb. 7:27, Heb. 9:12, Heb. 10:10, and Jude 1:3) for the cleansing and remission of sins for whoever will by grace through faith believe in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. But unbelieving Jews of Judaism loathe the very name of Jesus Christ, but the day is coming when they will realize that they’ve been entirely self-deceived in rejecting Him.
Herein Jesus warned, “when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes” (Matt. 24:15–18). It’s important to know that “when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”, this event occurs at the middle of the seven-year tribulation when Antichrist “in the middle of the week [breaks his 7-year covenant] he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Dan. 9:27). Thus, Antichrist permits Israel to sacrifice animals for 42 months, but then breaks his “covenant” and forces the world to worship him and take his mark or the number of his name, Rev.13:16–17).
Last week, with regard to the total solar eclipse which could signal judgments, I said “Other judgments will come; another nation striking our homeland; illegal aliens and terrorists crossing our border may create something worse than another 9/11; or multiple nations descending upon proud America.” Well, consider, if Israel enacts its red heifer sacrifice, it will bring judgment to the entire world, not just the United States, because it could reveal “the man of sin”, who would accordingly allow Israel to reinstitute their OT animal sacrifices, the red heifer, being relevant for the beginning of the final seven years of this present age. Now, please don’t misquote me, I didn’t say this “will” occur, but am suggesting that, not only is the time fitting for this to occur, but that it could occur, especially given the fact that if the red heifer passes the three-year-old mark Israel would by its own religious mandates loose the opportunity to offer the red heifer.
Antisemitism has increased dramatically, yes, even in the halls of world governments, which is also another sign of the end-times. Hatred of Jews will increase until “all nations of the earth are gathered against it” [Jerusalem] (Zech. 12:3). Anyone discerning the signs of the times knows that right here in the US antisemitism has grown exponentially, especially at elite universities and colleges. We’ve watched presidents Obama and now Biden steadily turn against Israel.
Now regarding the month of April, it’s noteworthy that historically there have been numerous human catastrophes synonymous with April. This article by The Vigilant Citizen reminds us of some shocking April events that in time past has wrought havoc. Might the remainder of April 2024 prove catastrophic for America? Will the remainder of April bring God’s judgment upon our nation? This is of legitimate concern because America is a nation which has freely had the gospel for centuries, but has in the past seven decades utterly turned its back on the gospel of Christ and by many abominations of Pride rejected the God of the Bible. In this, Israel is our example. After much rebellion and unbelief, God divorced Israel. And God doesn’t change!
My new book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS” with the subtitle “God’s Call, Your Response, Your Life Journey, Through The Tribulation, Until The Rapture” reveals many daily and end-time truths of great importance that you will never hear from your organized evangelical church leadership.
Marlin J. Yoder
