This is an election like no other. The stakes have never been higher. Many of us have groaned through nearly eight years of a U.S. President who devalues Christian faith, defies the law, violates the Constitution, honors Islam, befriends thugs and dictators, apologizes for America and destabilizes the planet. Lawlessness is Obama’s real legacy.

Sleeze-a-palooza

Emotions are high. People are fired up to the point of physical assault. A recent headline in The New York Times said it all: He Likes Trump. She Doesn’t. Can This Marriage be Saved? Mental health professionals state that Campaign 2016 further destabilized most of their clients as they couldn’t bear the stress of this year’s election.

Both corruption and character flaws have highlighted this campaign season. One journalist rightly said that the whole year has been a “sleeze-a-palooza.”

Perplexity and Turmoil

Luke 21:25 predicts a time that will be characterized by “distress with perplexity.”  This is ultimately played out in the Tribulation and we’re in a run-up to that.  The literal meaning is a time when problems will be so severe mankind won’t have a solution.  Options include weather problems, economic woes, and this year — election issues.

Comments on our Facebook suggest that many are going to sit this election out. Others plan to write in the names of silly characters. Others will vote for a third party. They say it’s all about conscience. This at a time when real issues are legion: Healthcare, life, national security, Supreme Court, immigration, religious liberty and persecution, transgender, and more. Whoever thought bathrooms would be on the ballot? Did they debate this in Noah’s day? Probably.

Is Israel the Key?

The writers of this article would like to suggest that this election is about far more than just a transfer of power. We suggest it really comes down to one major issue: Israel.

Israel is now alone on the world stage, the first time since her re-birth in 1948.  America is not her ally although Barack Obama insists he is. Yet he initiated a nuclear deal with Iran that insures us that Armageddon is on the horizon and that Iran has the capability to obliterate Israel.

God had a plan for America and it was that she would be linked to Israel. What if America’s role in the last days is like Jonathan to Israel’s David? Jonathan loved David as a close friend and brother. He stood with him, supported him, and protected him.

Looking at History

Consider history for a moment:

• Harry Truman was the first U.S. President to stand with Israel and recognize her as a nation.
• American technology has contributed to Israel’s growth and defense.
• The U.S. military has trained and supplied her.
• American aid has been substantial–a cumulative total of $124 billion.
• God used a flawed U.S. President–Richard Nixon–to save Israel during the disastrous Yom Kippur War. He rushed needed aid to Golda Meier.
• Before Barack Obama, U.S. Presidents warned Israel’s hostile neighbors that they would answer to America if they attacked her.
• Starting with Harry Truman, America became the nation that welcomed Jews to the country. We became a haven for the Jewish people. Here they could prosper and be a blessing to the whole world.

President Truman was one of the very first world leaders to sign onto Israel’s independence in May of 1948.

Dangerous Territory

If this election is all about Israel, we are in dangerous territory. Maybe our election turmoil is really just further judgment on our nation. This was suggested by our “Understanding the Times 2016” conference speakers October 15.

Barack Obama and many on the Left have done everything possible to harm Israel, including meddling in their election a year ago.

Genesis 12:3 warns that God blesses or curses all who come against His people. Joel 3:2 warns that He will judge the nations for their treatment of His people.

The American Left seems obsessed with Israel’s existence. Yet a remnant of believers prays for her daily and who is to say that God will not allow another Jonathan moment for America? God may grant a delay in total lawlessness before the predicted rise of the Antichrist and onset of the Tribulation.

Israel’s last pioneer, Shimon Peres, died recently. The White House initially stated that Obama’s attendance would be in “Jerusalem, Israel.” Six hours later they corrected the statement saying that Jerusalem, was, in fact, disputed territory. Israel has no claim to Jerusalem. Shame on Israel for claiming ownership to the Holy City.

Delay the Decay

God may be asking us to delay the decay and spread the gospel message just a bit longer — but for that to happen, we must vote and vote to stop the Israel-bashing. He may want us to further occupy until He comes.

Israel faces the fight of her life on November 9. Then all election pretense will be over. The cries to harm her, divide her land, end settlement building, and more, will be shrill.

Presidents, kings, fuehrers, generals, pharaohs, and ayatollahs could care less about biblical warnings but God’s people care. We cannot disregard the warnings.

Particularly if this election is all about Israel.

Jan Markell and Jill Martin Rische co-authored this article. Jill is the daughter or Dr. Walter Martin. She is on our radio team and manages our social media. Learn more at www.waltermartin.com.

What incredible times we live in — like no previous generation. The world is heading pell-mell for a conclusion though nobody knows the timing on this. But we are privileged to look at signs that are like clouds forming on the horizon. In the 1970s there were only a few events that were prophecy-related happening. There were minor shakings but sometimes connecting the dots was even a stretch!

Fast forward to today and there are so many prophecy-related events happening daily and hourly that it presents a major dilemma for those of us watching the signs of the times to know just where to focus. As I post stories daily on my website, I agonize that I must leave off so many as space and time won’t allow readers to zero in on all that is happening!

It is a privilege and a challenge to be born for such a time as this. Very little that is predicted to happen in the “last days” is good news and who wants a steady dose of bad?But if one can “look up” one can bear the heartache of looking around as the signs of the times explode on our news outlets.

The Bible asks us to be “watchmen” (Ezekiel 33). We’re to be sounding an alarm. Trouble is ahead. Time is short. And I have never felt such a sense of urgency and the realization that time is, indeed, short.

I am watching signs “converge.” They are stunning and breathtaking. But most pastors will not talk about them!

LifeWay Research is a Nashville-based, evangelical research firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect the church. They report that a third of America’s Protestant pastors expect Christians to be Raptured — or taken up in the sky to meet Jesus — as the last of the last days begin. Over 36% believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture. In spite of this glorious good news, their pulpits remain silent.

Over 50% of Protestant pastors, according to the survey, believe in a literal Antichrist — but their pulpits are silent.

Most pastors hold to the basic teachings of Christ’s Second Coming — but their pulpits are silent.

This same survey says almost 50% of Protestant pastors believe in a coming Millennium and hold to premillennialism. At this time we finally do away with the curse and fallen human nature — but their pulpits are silent.

Pastor Tom Hughes leads The 412 Church in San Jacinto, California. He has written a thoughtful article titled, “Five Reasons Pastors Don’t Teach Bible Prophecy.” He writes, “Prophecy fills the Bible. End time prophecy touches every person alive today. Jesus taught on it. So did John, Paul, Peter, James, and Jude. Yet only a small percentage of churches teach this crucial part of God’s message to our generation.

“Some pastors don’t teach it for theological reasons. They don’t believe it, don’t think it applies to us, consider it symbolic, or whatever. Others believe we’re probably living near the end of the age, but still refuse to touch the topic. They see it as an elective part of God’s curriculum. Take it or leave it.”

Hughes continues, “That’s not how Jesus saw it. He reprimanded the Pharisees and Sadducees for not discerning the times. ‘When it is evening you say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.’ ” (Matthew 16:2-3 NKJV)

Hughes concludes, “More than a quarter of the Bible is prophecy — much of it yet to be fulfilled. How can we give congregations a well-rounded understanding of scripture if we leave out such a vital part of it?”

He then goes on to list these five reasons pastors may not be sharing these issues in the pulpit:

1) They don’t understand prophecy.

2) They fear offending members of the church.

3) They sense this will scare people.

4) People might not tithe if they think we’re close to the end.

5) There is fear in looking like the “loony-tune fringe. The Harold Campings have done great damage.

The prophecies of the first coming of Christ were fulfilled. They stand as evidence that the Bible can be trusted. Prophecies of His second coming work the same way, except we get to witness these events in our time, often with our own eyes.

The nations of the world seem moved, as though by a hidden hand, into exactly the right positions on a global chess board. What an amazing thing to see it happening before our eyes! It builds faith and draws our attention God-ward. And it is a fantastic evangelism tool.

I think the church is headed into the home stretch of her history! I base that not on emotions or wishful thinking. I base that on what I see happening daily. Man can live for a week or two without food. We can live only days without water. But our spirits are crushed within hours without hope.

We have the good news of the ultimate hope — the “blessed hope.” (Titus 2:13) His glorious appearing. Pastors, please don’t remain silent! Share the only good news out there.

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