The news that President Trump has succumbed to the Covid virus is still reverberating around the world. The man who has consistently played down the significance of the virus has now been caught in its net. The consequences of this for the future of the USA have global significance. If he is unable to campaign in advance of the presidential election next month will that dramatically increase the likelihood of a Democrat victory? Or is it more likely that the election itself may be postponed until next year?

These are indeed extraordinary times, because if we are to believe reports coming from America of the disturbances in many cities, there appears to be a gathering momentum of forces seeking to challenge the institutions of law and order, preparing the way for a full-scale assault of revolutionary political ambitions. These are the objectives of some of the groups involved in the Black Lives Matter campaign. What began as a valid protest movement against the injustices being suffered by people of colour at the hands of the police has already developed into something bigger, and could well escalate into much more serious political upheavals still.

Jesus warned that there would be times of unprecedented disturbance and uncertainty in the days before his second coming.

Law and Order Challenges

These disturbances are coinciding with the growing popularity of climate change campaigns that are supported by many young people who fear the threat to their future unless there are major changes in the pollution of the atmosphere and the decimation of the rainforests. The combination of these social and politically revolutionary forces present an unprecedented challenge to global stability, particularly in the Western nations. The expectation of the resetting of worldwide financial practices at the end of the corona pandemic by advocates of a New World Order adds to the uncertainty facing the nations today.

Times of the Gentiles

Jesus warned that there would be times of unprecedented disturbance and uncertainty in the days before his second coming. He said, “On earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world. For the heavenly bodies will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26). Jesus preceded this prediction by the statement, “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Lance Lambert, an outstanding biblical scholar and a giant among Messianic Jews, said that he believed the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled on the 6th and 7th June 1967 when the Israeli army entered Jerusalem, establishing it as the capital of the free State of Israel for the first time in thousands of years. It had been occupied by the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans for 500 years before Christ and has been occupied for nearly 2,000 years since then.

Lance Lambert’s word

Writing in the printed magazine Prophecy Today, March 1988, Lance said, “I believe there are only two peoples in the world with whom God has made an everlasting covenant – the Jews through Abraham (Gen 17:17), and the true church of God with whom he made a true and eternal covenant.

“These are the only two peoples throughout history to have suffered horrifically and continuously. They have been hounded from pillar to post, persecuted, denigrated, devalued, drowned, burnt, buried alive and beheaded. I cannot understand it when people try to explain that the true church has suffered because it is the apple of God’s eye and that the Jewish people suffer because they have been rejected by God. This simply does not make sense. Instead, I believe that the reason for this suffering has to do with both peoples being bound up with a divine destiny.

“Both peoples share the same origin, the same revelation of God, the same prophets, the same Scriptures, the same Messiah. Indeed, both believe in the future coming of the Messiah: the Christians that he will return, the Jew that he will come for the first time. They both believe that the Messiah will bring in the Kingdom of God and establish it on earth, resulting in the knowledge of the glory of God covering the earth as the waters cover the sea.”

Shaking the Nations

There can be little doubt that God is fulfilling his promises in Scripture to shake everything including the physical world through earthquake, wind and storm, as well as all the political, social and economic foundations of the nations. Clearly, these things are happening today, but where is the voice of the church? Why are we not hearing from the rooftops the message of the gospel of Jesus who said that these things would happen shortly before his second coming?

If Jesus comes when both his people of the new covenant and the Abrahamic covenant are asleep, it will surely mean judgement upon us all. Jesus urged his followers to declare the gospel while it is still light because a time of great darkness is coming when no one will be able to work. Unprecedented forces of evil are gathering in the world today and God is allowing them to do so as Paul foresaw in the days preceding the second coming of Jesus: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.” (2 Thes 2:3)

There can be little doubt that God is fulfilling his promises in Scripture to shake everything.

Persecution

Preparing for persecution was the central theme of the message to the seven churches of Asia Minor sent by the Apostle John from exile on the island of Patmos. That is why we are planning a nine-week webinar covering the messages to these churches that were facing unprecedented uncertainty – bringing them strength and clear direction in messages from Jesus that need to be heard by all Christians today.

‘Becoming Overcomers’

More webinars in the ‘Relevance for Today’ series

A second interactive webinar course of nine sessions is planned for Issachar Ministries on Wednesday afternoons to start on 14 October 2020. Click here to see and hear more from Clifford and Monica Hill who will be leading the webinars on the Seven Churches of Revelation. You can reserve your place with Jacqueline on 07759 042 315 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please note, there is a £50 charge for this series.