The Tribulation Period is called a “day of darkness” in the Bible (Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:15).
It is not hard for some Christians to believe that spiritual darkness is descending on Israel, the U.S., the world and the Church.
First, in Israel on April 22, 2019 (the day after Easter Sunday in the U.S.), an estimated 100,000 Jews went to the Wailing Wall at the base of the Temple Mount to receive the annual Passover blessing from Jewish priests.
On the same day, Jewish priests from the Temple Institute sacrificed a lamb without blemish at a location in sight of the Temple Mount.
They chose a location in sight of the Temple Mount because there is no Temple, but the article said “the Temple Institute is dedicated to rebuilding the Temple on Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem.”
All of these things (trained priests, blessings, a growing number of worshippers, an animal sacrifice, etc.) are moving toward a rebuilt Temple and Israel going back under the Law (descending into spiritual darkness) during the Tribulation Period.
Thankfully, all Israel shall be saved, so Christians should support Israel (Rom. 11:26).
God will bless those that bless Israel (Gen. 12:3).
For whatever it is worth, some Bible prophecy teachers think the Temple should be rebuilt at a freshwater spring called Gihon near, not on, the Temple Mount.
Notice that the Temple Institute is dedicated to rebuilding the Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, not at the Gihon spring (see II Chron. 3:1).
Second, in the U.S., the spiritual darkness is growing on a daily basis (terminating babies after they are born is a good thing; Rep. Ilhan Omar said Jesus is a Palestinian; Mayor Pete Buttigieg believes he is gay because God created him that way; the Boy Scout “Perversion File” shows 12,254 victims of sexual abuse, etc.).
The U.S. has the Word of God, but foolish hearts have been darkened; and professing themselves to be wise, many have become fools (Rom. 1:21-32).
Third, in the world on Apr. 21, 2019 (Easter Sunday), Muslims blew up eight churches and luxury hotels, killing about 250 people and injuring almost 500 in Sri Lanka.
This story made the mainline news for days; but most of these stories don’t get reported, or if they do, the fact that Muslims are often involved is omitted.
Anyway, Open Doors USA said an average of 105 churches and/or Christian buildings are burned or attacked every month (an average of more than 3 per day), and this is expected to escalate all over the globe.
God loves His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18).
He has given real Christians a message of hope and light (the Gospel) that is a cure for the descending darkness that this article is documenting, but the world is persecuting and killing the messengers just like Jesus said they would (Matt 24:9).
Fourth, in Canada on Apr. 25, 2019, it was announced that the Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled a new one-dollar commemorative coin with the image of two men kissing.
Canada’s Federal Finance Minister said, “We should all recognize that we are not at the end of this path – We have more to do.”
I started to write that he is sticking his finger in the eye of Canadian Christians; but no, he is sticking his finger in the eye of God, deceiving others and deceiving himself (II Tim. 3:1-5, 12-13).
The only thing that will change this is the judgment of God, and that will come.
Fifth, in France, a Roman Catholic Cathedral called Notre Dame recently burned, and someone suggested that it be rebuilt with a Muslim minaret on top.
A final decision hasn’t been made, but French Pres. Macron definitely thinks it should be rebuilt in line with diversity.
He is a globalist with a dark desire for world government, open borders, the two-state solution in Israel, and now we can add world religion.
The politically correct like to remind the citizens of the world that Arabs are descendants of Abraham (but they don’t believe what Abraham believed). Muslims believe in God and Jesus (but not the God and Jesus of the Bible); Muslims believe in peace (but their idea of peace is the death of all non-Muslims and the establishment of an Islamic world government and world religion), etc.
The spiritual darkness is great when the leader of a major nation thinks a Muslim minaret on top of an old burned out Roman Catholic church building will promote peace between the religions of the world.
It will encourage more Muslim violence, not less, because they will conclude that they are winning.
They like to have their Muslim buildings and symbols higher than Church buildings because they think that it shows that their religion is greater.
World peace is a wonderful idea, but it will not happen until the Prince of Peace (the Light of the World) comes to deal with the darkness and rule the world.
Sixth, in the Church in late April 2019, it was reported that anti-Semitism is rising in the U.S., young people are leaving the Church when they head off to college, a growing number of pastors are afraid to speak out on moral issues, etc.
This descent into darkness and departing from the faith fulfills Bible prophecy.
Repentance and revival are badly needed.
Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com