tribulation – Hope and Passion Ministries

Prophecy of Anti-Semitism

Posted on October 31, 2023 by admin

Peruse these haunting current headlines:

British Jews are “full of fear, like I’ve never seen before” ;

Antisemitic graffiti in Paris worries French leaders; and

Open hatred of Jews surges globally, inflamed by Gaza war.

Anti-Semitism (hostility toward Jews) is on the rise in a way not seen since the Holocaust. War has been the impetus, but the undercurrent of such hatred has been with us throughout history, and it swelled in the early twentieth century. As far as I can see on the timeline of biblical prophecy, the final crescendo of Anti-Semitism will happen under the rule of the Antichrist.

We must not forget what the Bible predicts of the future event of the “Great Tribulation” – that “the man of lawlessness”, the Antichrist, will seek to devour the entire people group of Israel (called such because they have descended from the patriarch, Jacob, whose name was changed by God to “Israel.” In fact, the Great Tribulation is referred to in Jeremiah 30:7 as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.”

The prophet Daniel follows a description of this time of end-time warfare on God’s chosen people in chapter 11, verses 40-45, with an apt reminder, “At that time [of the Great Tribulation] Michael, the great prince [archangel of Israel] who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people [the Jews] who are found written in the book will escape.” (Daniel 12:1, HCB) Jesus Himself refers to the prophecy of Daniel during His famous Olivet Discourse, as He warns that the Jews during the time of the Great Tribulation will need to “flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:16).

Many of God’s chosen people will return to the Messiah during the time of tribulation. This will be God’s selected era to bring the Jews back to Himself. During this current age of grace, the Lord is drawing Gentiles into the kingdom of God, but He has not given up on Israel, and He will work during the end times to save them, too. (Romans 11:25-27) The world shall witness of revival of God’s chosen people, through whom God gave us His Son (Jewish, by earthly heritage) and the holy Scriptures.

The trendline we see of growing anti-Semitism is concurrent with the swelling antichrist spirit in the world. Jesus is for the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus died for the world. He came to break down the barrier between the Jews and non-Jews (Ephesians 1:11-18). God has a special place in His heart for those He chose through whom to bless all the nations (Genesis 12:3). As the world more and more rejects the plainness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the narrative of God’s Word concerning His overarching plan for both Jews and Gentiles, we will see a move toward anti-Semitism, which will ultimately culminate with the evil, one-world ruler to come.

God brings all evil to a head, so that He may eliminate all evil and set up His righteous kingdom. Sure enough, during antichrist’s delusional reign of wickedness, God will “gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle” (Zechariah 14:2). Then, at Armageddon, the Lord Jesus Christ will win the final victory against all the earthly evil Hell could bring together in the flesh of humankind. (Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:1-15)

All of the clearly outlined prophecy in the Word of God allows us to properly “discern the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32) in which we live. We must evaluate news in light of the Bible. Holding God’s Word at the helm of our heart and life, we live with confidence, knowing where current events and all of history is headed. As devastating as the newsfeed is recently, we know that the Lord is coming soon to eliminate sin. He will defeat the “man of sin,” under whom the world will soon be held in wicked lunacy.

This is no time to hang your head. This is precisely the time to live the truth and tell the truth so that people may be convicted to put their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. To tell and live the truth, you must know the truth. Pray, and then open your Bible. Read. The time is drawing near.

– Shelli Prindle

Twice the Courage

Posted on November 29, 2010 by admin

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV)

We ought to thank Jesus continually for His honesty. The Biblical Christian worldview is the accurate view, because it accounts for all aspects of life – including the trouble. As our Lord was getting ready to go the cross and preparing His disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus reminded His followers that life would be rough. He said, “In this world you will have trouble.” How true! When we repeat this statement of Jesus, we may do so with a tone of affirmation, or meekly through a veil of tears. Why? Because one thing we know is that trouble is part of our lives.

The Greek word for trouble here is one that means “a pressing” or “pressure.” The difficulties and heartbreaks of life press in on us, and Satan’s hope is that we would cave in under the strain. After all, his goal is to destroy us (John 10:10). When the crushing force of tribulation comes, do not give in through thoughts of hopelessness! Refuse to allow your vision to be limited to what is temporal! Trust in the God is who is bigger than the burden!

The answer Jesus gave to the tribulation of His people is not that the trials would disappear. No, Jesus loves us enough to tell us the truth. Things will get wild, my friends. You will suffer and be persecuted. You will face hardships sometimes unimaginable, sometimes just enough to deter your focus.

Here is the answer Jesus gives, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” The original language behind “take heart” is “be of good courage.” In fact, Jesus uses the verb two times in a row here. He actually says, “Be of good courage; be of good courage.” Okay. I need the second reminder. Jesus drives the point home. He does not simply give mediocre courage; my courage in Him is doubly sure!

Our Savior also says, “In me you may have peace.” The Greek gets to the heart of the requirement, as it informs us that we are to “have, possess, or lay hold of” the peace. The unredeemed person may believe that peace is some wishy-washy concept, or that peace is impersonal and just floats down upon people who desire it. Quite to the contrary, peace is strong and personal. Peace can only be found in the Savior, and it is something of which we must really lay hold. We must walk with Jesus and determine to be blessed by His strength in the midst of difficulty.

The kind of peace Jesus offers is real. It is not the blind faith of those who do not know Him and are just “hoping for the best.” Jesus boldly proclaims in this verse, “I have overcome the world.” Indeed, He has! The world can certainly “bring it on” as far as crushing heartache and troubling circumstances, but Jesus has overcome the world. He stands transcendent over everything that happens. He is weaving together the circumstances of the entire universe to fulfill His plan. The word for “world” here is the same word from which we get “cosmos.” God is telling us that He has overcome the aggregate of all things earthly; all the world affairs – personally and nationally – are under His sovereignty. There is no doubt that I will witness His grand deliverance and resolution with my own eyes. This reminds me of the words of the great man, Job, who declared, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God” (Job 19:25-26).

As the pressure comes, trust in the Overcomer of the Cosmos. The courage He gives is doubly strong.

Troubled by the Tribulation

Posted on April 30, 2010 by admin

Recently a group of second grade students at my school was very much troubled by the tribulation. Some had become fixated on the number “666” as their little minds pondered the end times. A few had actually become afraid of the devil’s work as the day of Christ’s return approaches.

As a principal who loves my students and loves the Word of God, I was happy to visit the classroom personally and attempt – by God’s Holy Spirit – to calm these precious souls.

I emphasized three basic points for these adorable, inquisitive kids:

1) The reality of God’s power and control,
2) The reason for Jesus’ second coming for Christians, and
3) The status of heart Jesus wants us to have regarding the end of time.

I found that the reiteration of these basic, Biblical principles did me a world of good! I hope a brief discussion of each vital concept will lift your heart today.

1) The reality of God’s power and control

Follow-up: No one made God because He is the biggest and most powerful. He had no beginning, and no one can stop Him or His plan!

Question: Who made Satan?
Answer: God.

Follow-up: Though first created as Lucifer, an angel of light, the devil is only a created being. Therefore, He is nothing compared to God, His Creator. He is no match for Jesus in any way, shape, or form! (Even in the desperation of the end times.)

2) The reason for Jesus’ second coming for Christians (based on Hebrews 9:28)

Question: Why is Jesus coming back the second time?
Answer: To rescue us!

Follow-up: We are forgiven because Jesus came to Earth the first time to bear our sins on the cross.

When He comes the second time, He will rescue us from all of sin’s effects and influence.

In the Greek, the word for “salvation” here is equated to “deliverance” or “rescue.”

Jesus is coming back to make us completely safe! No more will we battle sin, no more will people hurt one another, no more will anyone be sick or die.

3) The status of heart Jesus wants us to have regarding the end of time.

Follow-up: When we think about the New heaven and the New Earth that Jesus is making for us, we ought to do so with a heart that is untroubled.

Though Jesus has left the Earth for now, He wants us to know that He is completely trustworthy. He made this world and all its glorious contents, and He is making the next world. The difference is that the world to come will be perfect and complete because God will have His way unhindered there!

In the meantime, do not become unduly focused on the details of the end of time. Rather, become intently focused on the God of all power, Who is returning to rescue us, and Who wants us to be untroubled in the meantime.”

May this response to a second grade concern comfort our adult hearts. God’s Word is beautiful in its simplicity for all!