The number one headline in Iran in 2020 has to be the assassination of the Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp

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JD: I do happen to believe probably in Iran itself the main headline may have been the assassination by the United States of Soleimani who was the head of the Revolutionary Guard, the Quds Force etc. What are your thoughts?

SH: Well that was a major major blow to the hierarchy the Iranian Revolutionary Guard which basically the way I try to explain it to people is that the IRGC would be like a combination of the FBI and the CIA along with special forces. Soleimani headed up the Quds Force. Just for the audience Dr. DeYoung the words al Quds in Arabic and from the Quran is for the name that they have for Jerusalem. That's basically the name of the Jerusalem force. The mission of the IRGC and the mission of Soleimani ultimately going back if you remember to the Beirut bombings of 84 and so far and so on. He has continued to advocate for the destruction of Israel and for the destruction of Jerusalem and ultimately the Jewish people.

So this is a major major blow to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard by President Trump to take out Soleimani. Now there's a new head of the IRGC was saying Salami it was a major operation. By the way can I say I believe that one of the reasons the President acted in particular taking them out in Iraq was because there was some talk that they were planning on taking US hostages again in Iraq potentially from the Embassy. I think you could have seen a repeat of 1979, 444 days. Trump was not going to be Jimmy Carter and I think that was a motivation. There was some evidence that they had, some intel that they had that could have been what he was planning on doing to basically rub it in the face of the United States and Trump wasn't going to play that game like Jimmy Carter did. He was going to be like Reagan and said you better release them or else.

JD: Shahram Hadian explaining why the assassination of General Soleimani was the number one headline in Iran in 2020. 

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

President Trump's decision to assassinate General Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Core was a decision that is tangible evidence of how the Lord directs political leaders, Revelation 17:17 to accomplish His will for the end times. Iran will be a major player in God's end time scenario, Ezekiel 38:5. And this satanic leader, General Soleimani had done all God needed for him to do at this time.

Religious Jews in Israel have been concerned about Judea, Samaria and the Temple Mount in 2020

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JD: How has politics played a role in the areas of Judea and Samaria?

WM: Well there are all of these problems because we're still under a military government in a technical since. Therefore, certain issues dealing with the military government, dealing with the civil administration. I'm not even relating to any of the security instances that have of course come up recently now which I call natural living is still problematic in terms of getting everything authorized and decided upon.

JD: But in reality it is a promise from God that He would give the Jewish people this area of Judea and Samaria. So you are in essence living in a promised land and watching that promise unfold aren't you?

WM: Jimmy, we see God's promise and success in the prophetic message. Everything that we are doing here is showing that indeed the promises being fulfilled. 

JD: One other focus that is always key to understand is the Temple Mount and the city of Jerusalem its the most sacred piece of real estate for the Jewish people. There will be a Temple Mount up there some day. But that controversy does not settle down. It only expands does it not?

WM: Yes it does unfortunately. I can just point our listeners in the direction of Turkey which has been heavily interfering in certain Jerusalem aspects in terms of putting in money, buying property, declaring that Al Aqsa is the next issue. Al Aqsa of course meaning the Arab of buildings up on the Temple Mount. As his next agenda item the fact that we still cannot openly pray at the Temple Mount as Jews. We're still considered visitors and there are also other lacking religious freedom issues which both Christians and Jews suffer at the site. I'm sure there could be some sort of compromise or accommodations figured out but it's becoming very very difficult with what we call Waqf Authorities those religious Islamic authorities who are in charge of the site.

JD: Winkie Medad explaining the concerns of the religious Jews in Israel over real estate that God has promised the Jews, Judea, Samaria and the Temple Mount.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Judea, Samaria and the Temple Mount have been promised to the Jewish people by God, that's Ezekiel 34 and II Samuel 7. These promises from God cannot be broken. Any conflict over these pieces of real estate will be settled by God. God cannot break His promises.

In 2020 more Jews visited the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem, then anytime in the last 2000 years

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JD: Let me talk to you about what the Bible, the ancient Jewish prophet Zechariah mentioned there in chapter 12 verse 2 about Jerusalem and in particular the Temple Mount being the center of controversy in the last days. There has been an effort to keep Jews off the Temple Mount this last year. However as I understand it there have been more Jews able to go up onto the Temple Mount this year than any other year, is that correct?

DD: That is correct. A substantially greater numbers of Jews mostly Orthodox Jews went up and prayed on the Temple Mount during the various holidays. Now a couple of the times the Temple Mount was completely closed off because of the Coronavirus but never the less again people are traveling. Israeli's love to travel abroad as you know but very few doing that this year. Many of the synagogs had limitations, all of them did in fact had limitations on how many could attend and this sort of thing. So where are they going to go pray? Well the Western Wall is one place but there are restrictions there but why not on the Temple Mount itself. So there has been a steady stream of Jews going up there. We're hearing larger numbers than every before in Israel's modern history. Of course the desire is to have that opened up entirely. 

But just a reminder earlier this week Jimmy that it's still a center of controversy. We had a young Palestinian go up there with a machine gun and open fire on the Israeli police post on the Temple Mount and he was shot dead. Just a reminder that this is a continuing crisis. He was shouting out that Arabs should not be visiting from abroad, from other countries the Temple Mount. This is a exclusively Muslim zone and until Jews are not there at all Muslims should not be coming up there in support of Israel in this essence is what he was saying.

JD: David Dolan revealing that more Jews visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in 2020 than any time in the last 2,000 years.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Dave's report helps us to understand what the ancient Jewish prophet Zechariah was saying some 2,500 years ago. Zechariah's statement in Zechariah 12:2 revealed that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem would become the most controversial piece of real estate in the world and that would be just prior to the return of Jesus to the earth. Jews in 2020 made more visits than ever to the Temple Mount which actually sets the stage for Zechariah 12:2 to be fulfilled.

Russia has been a major player in the Middle East in 2020

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JD: Well Russia today is and has been in 2020 key to the Middle East and to the activities unfolding there. Talk to us about Russia and as it relates to Syria. Russia is a major player there in the country, nation of Syria.

KT: Well that's right and Russia has solidified its position in Syria. There is a military base and a naval base part two so there are bases there. They are now intrenched just as they were in the last decade and a half if you wish of the Cold War. So Russia has military bases in Syria which five years ago they did not and they have tremendous political clout in Syria and with Iran. Iran of course is engaged all over. 

But let me put a caveat on this, the Russian's are a weakened nation. They do not have the economic clout of China, but they don't have the economic reach of China. They do have extraordinary fiber capabilities and that's really what I'm most worried about when it comes to Russia. I'm worried about their ability to work together with China and Iran as a coalition to take down the United States in all aspects of our power starting with a cyber attack. They just demonstrated these past two weeks when they infiltrated a large portion of our national security apparatus. That's how they would start a cyber attack on the United States it could then expand. I know you've had Peter Pry on this program to explain to you it could expand to take down our national electrical power grid and we would probably never recover from that type of attack.

JD: Ken Timmerman with a report on Russia, a look back in the year 2020. 

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Ken's analysis of Russian activity in 2020 is somewhat of a precursor for Russia's future in 2021. With Russia in the Middle East and President Putin of Russia saying that his military is set to stay in Syria. That is becoming a page of the prophetic passages of God's word, that would be Ezekiel 38:2 which foretells of the Russian leadership role in the Gog - Magog war. Magog of course referring to modern day Russia. That Gog - Magog war to take place right after the Rapture of the church in the first half of the Tribulation period, that stage is set for fulfillment. 

There has been a miraculous and mysterious birth reported to have taken place, in a shepherds field near Bethlehem in Israel

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We have a report of a birth taking place in an open field near the little Arab village of Bethlehem. The Shepherds are reporting they have found the newborn babe with his parents. The babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger, a food trough for the animals. There are also reports that last night there were unidentified flying objects, UFOs in the skies over and around Bethlehem. Some of the Shepherds are saying that the UFO’s were actually angels, and this host of angels were actually singing joyful songs of the birth of the long-awaited Jewish Messiah.

There are unconfirmed reports that this little baby is the one that has been spoken of by the ancient Jewish prophets for hundreds of years. The one to be born in Bethlehem and to become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of God.

And that’s the latest in our Middle East News Update.

We report this information because it did set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

The Birth of Jesus Christ fulfilled all the prophecies in the Bible for the presence of God with us, Emmanuel. And it does actually set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

For over 2,000 years the story of the birth of Christ which is recorded in four chapters of the Bible Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2, actually only 168 verses. This story has been responsible for authors writing so many books that one library could not contain all of the volumes. The composers have penned the music and lyrics for musical manuscripts with Jesus Christ as the theme of these musical numbers. The most used theme in all of music history. Though Jesus Christ never traveled more than 100 miles from his hometown, men and women have traveled to the far reaches of this earth to tell others the story of this man, the God-man, born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem.

It is interesting to note that the Messiah, Jesus Christ started in a cradle, a manger. He carried His cross to where they would crucify Him but death could not keep Him. He arose from the dead three days later. As He left this world to go back to heaven He promised that He would come again to earth, this time wearing a crown. This God-man, Emmanuel, God with us came by way of the cradle to the cross and soon He will come wearing a crown. Jesus Christ the Messiah who has and will fulfill Bible prophecy.

In Israel, at Christmas time, it will be a silent night in the "Little Town of Bethlehem"

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JD: We've been asking and will ask all of our broadcast partners to give us the details about their most interesting Christmas. Now I want to ask David Dolan who is the man covering the Middle East with his Middle East news update to come now. David, you've live there so many years in Jerusalem and you know what it's like at Christmas time in the Middle East. I would love for you to share with us what your favorite thoughts are about Christmas which I believe is going to be pretty much of a silent night in the little town of Bethlehem this year. What are your thoughts about Christmas?

DD: Well Jimmy my first Christmas was exactly 40 years ago, December 1980. I had just arrived in Israel a few weeks before and that probably remains my most pleasant Christmas. I was in Bethlehem as you know many many years covering Christmas celebrations for Wells, CBN, Moody Radio and then CBS Network. But I was working every time I was doing that. I enjoyed it but I was working and getting interviews and hustling and bustling around. 

The very first one 40 years ago I went with some friends from the Kibbutz I was living on a settlement in Northern Israel to Jerusalem and we just had a private quiet Christmas. We stayed in a youth hostel there. We went out to Bethlehem and we went to out Shepherd's Field and sang some carols. I was just a tourist, just a pilgrim there that year, not working and I really really was blessed by that and the reality that I was right there the very town, the very area where our Lord and Savior was born nearly 2,000 years ago was just a fantastic time. I will never forget that even though I was back in Bethlehem many other times. I've talked about how Yasser Arafat's car almost ran me over, that's just one of the things that was just a little more dramatic and more newsy, but that was just a worshipful time and I was very blessed by it.

JD: David Dolan with the details of his first Christmas in Bethlehem. 

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

We discussed the birth of Jesus in the little town of Bethlehem because the Bible tells us that's where the coming Messiah had to be born, that's Micah 5:2. There are over 300 prophecies of the first coming of Jesus and Jesus fulfilled each of them in absolute detail. However, there are five times as many prophecies of His second coming which will be fulfilled as well. We know that because all prophecies for His first coming were fulfilled.

There are Christians in Iran who will celebrate Christmas this year in the nation that has the fastest growing Christian community in the world

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JD: I wanted to ask you, I understand you left Iran with your family when you were about 8 years old born there in Iran. Was there anything like Christmas at that time when you left in Iran?

SH: Absolutely Dr. DeYoung, Iran was an amazing place. Under the Shaw there was a movement towards westernizing it. Many Iranians, many Muslims who are cultural like my parents actually had Christmas trees. We would put up a Christmas tree. Now they probably were not celebrating what Christmas actually means in the sense of the birth of Christ but many of them had Christmas trees because that's what westerners did and they wanted to be so much like westerners and so there was a spirit of that. Of course there were many Jews in Iran, there were Armenian Christians. Today there are actually many Iranians who are Muslim who have now converted to Christianity the fastest growing church in the world numerically. Now Iranian Persians are actually celebrating the true meaning of Christmas which is that they're celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. Isn't that amazing?

JD: That is amazing and it is a great report. All of us need to pray for that growing Christian community in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Well I would like to wish you and your family a blessed Christmas time and a wonderful New Year. By the way have a very blessed Christmas buddy.

SH: You too Dr. DeYoung, Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Blessing to you guys and all of your listeners may we truly worship the Lord fully this year. And can I say no canceling Christmas, I reject that. Let's celebrate Christmas, let's celebrate the birth of the Savior. Merry Christmas to all of you guys.

JD: Shahram Hadian giving us the details about Christmas in Iran where we find the fastest growing Christian community in the world. 

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

You may not have been aware that some Iranians celebrate Christmas. Shahram also made us aware that the fastest growing Christian community in the world is in Iran. This report is very prophetic. Remember Jesus said through the apostle Peter in II Peter 3:9 that He is not slack concerned His promise of the Rapture but that He is not willing that any should perish but all should come to know Him as Savior. In II Peter 3:12 it says that we can hasten that Rapture by winning people to Jesus as they are there in Iran.

Political leaders are setting the stage for the prophetic scenario found in the Bible for the Islamic Republic of Iran

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JD: The Iranian President making the statement no doubt that Joe Biden when he becomes President, if indeed he does, will bow to Iranian demands to lift sanctions.

KT: Well the way its expressed of course is typical Iranian bluster however, a substance he's right. The Biden team has already acknowledged that they are going to return to the Iran deal which means lifting US sanctions. Tony Blinken who is supposed to be Biden's designatory for Secretary of State and Jake Sullivan the designatory for National Security Advisor they were both key players in negotiating this bad Iran deal to begin with. Rouhani is correct to believe that a Biden Administration will lift sanctions and return to the deal. 

Now here's the other interesting thing that Rouhani said, he said that Biden knows that Iran believes that keeping its ballistic missile force is critical and key to its security and therefore the United States under Biden would not even dare to demand that Iran get rid of there long range missiles something the Trump team has been doing. Now what I find interesting about this statement is that he said Biden knows. There have been rumors around that there have been contacts between the Biden national security advisors during the campaign with the Iranian government. Remember if you go back to December 2016 what was General Michael Flynn who was the incoming National Security Advisor for Donald Trump what was he accused of? And that was having contacts with the Russian Ambassador to the United States. I haven't heard any suggestion that the FBI should launch criminal prosecution against the Biden team. The Biden team has already been reaching out to other countries and doing it quite publicly. There is clearly a double standard in Washington on whether that type of contact before you're in power is legitimate or not. 

JD: Ken Timmerman with the details of how political leaders are making decisions that will make Iran's prophetic scenario found in the word of God to come to fulfillment.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

President elect Joe Biden and his potential foreign policy team have made political decisions that are actually in lock step with the prophetic passages of God's word that would be Ezekiel 38:5. That's where the prophet mentioned Persia which is modern day Iran. God's plan for the end times will be fulfilled. 

As we look at Jupiter and Saturn come together in the month of December, could that be what the "Star of Bethlehem" was some 2000 years ago

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JD: Interesting report coming out of a heavenly event on December 21st. That's when Saturn and Jupiter will align and become a very bright light. An amazing event, a double planet light I think they call it. It is an amazing event that's going to happen on the 21st. 

DD: Actually Jimmy Jupiter and Saturn are very close together all through December. Maybe the closest on the 21st but for several weeks there is that show in the sky.

JD: Is this what happened at the birth of Christ? The star of Bethlehem, is this what it was?

DD: Well you know Jimmy there are several ideas about what the star was that led the wisemen. Some have suggested that it was a comet in the night sky. Some have said maybe it was an exploding star something we call a supernova. Then this latest suggestion that it was a gathering of planets which does become unusual in the sky. However Jimmy I would say that each one of these natural explanations falls short of this story in the book of Matthew. For example when the planets come close together there are still multiple lights the wiseman were following a single light in the sky, a single star. I think also from Matthew if you read carefully the wisemen were the only ones who saw this light. When they arrived in Jerusalem Herod asked them the time they saw this. If it had been a comet or a gathering of planets it would have been in the news, everyone would have saw it. 

So more and more it looks like this star of Bethlehem was a very special light and maybe a third reason for its uniqueness. After the wisemen are in Jerusalem it says that the star leads them to Bethlehem and stands over the house where the Lord is. Well all of these natural objects, planets, comets, supernovas they all move across the sky from east to west however, from Jerusalem to Bethlehem is from north to south, a very unusual movement. From all of that Jimmy I would conclude that the star of Bethlehem was a supernatural light and beyond our explanation. 

JD: Dr. Don DeYoung and his explanation of the star of Bethlehem. 

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

As Don said the star of Bethlehem was a very special star used by God to lead the wisemen to the new born son of God, Jesus Christ. He was a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. 

Some are asking, "Is the new Corona Virus Vaccine connected to the "mark of the Beast"?

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JD: David another issue was the question of how we should respond to a government mandate as believers.

DJ: So later on in the email our listener wrote this: It also appears the Covid - 19 vaccine will be mandatory or possibly not mandatory but without it people won't be able to fly, shop and etc. Jimmy I think this is where it gets even trickier when combined with moral concerns about some of the vaccines. Also side effects are another complicating factor. These have included pain, fever, Bell's palsy and even anaphylactic shock. We have no idea what the long term effects might be. 

JD: David I've got one final point that involves whether or not the corona virus vaccine could be tied to the mark of the beast in Revelation 13. 

DJ: I see that come up a lot on social media along with people constantly saying we're seeing prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes. The fulfillment of biblical prophecy doesn't begin until the Rapture of the church which is the next event on God's prophetic calendar as you often say and then the remaining fulfillment starts to kick in. 

Our listener wrote this, sounds like Revelation 13, 16 and 17 is nearing fulfillment and we're seeing the shadows of it. So she's not suggesting the vaccine is the mark of the beast or the fulfillment of prophecy as some are. In my email reply to her I said this, concerning the mark of the beast I doubt there is any connection and the mark is post Rapture which makes it a non issue for those who are currently believers. For those during the Tribulation to become believers it looks like it won't necessarily be taken unwittingly but is a conscious decision to accept the beast system. And we know Jimmy the beast system will involve worship the antichrist who will declared himself to be God and see people through false signs and wonders, that's II Thessalonians 2. As with all state setting the entire Covid crisis makes even more clear how all prophecy will be fulfilled quite literally in ways we might not even been able to imagine a few years ago. 

JD: David James with insight into the corona virus vaccine and why many are asking could it be connected to the mark of the beast.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Dave gave us the prophetic passages that is the prophecy pertaining to the antichrist and the mark of the beast found in Revelation 13. As David said that mark of the beast comes into play at the mid way point of the seven year Tribulation period. Therefore no Christians should worry about the mark of the beast since all Christians leave earth at the Rapture three and a half years before the mark comes into play. As to whether you take the corona virus vaccine that will be a personal decision.

The body politic of America may be disappointed with the recent elections but they will be encouraged as they read the Scriptures

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JD: Now you and I both know that Romans 13:1 and Revelation 17:17 play key roles in whoever is going to be ultimately the President of the United States. Romans 13:1, God ordains all that are in higher authority, that would be the President. Then Revelation 17:17 talking about the Lord Jesus putting into the hearts of political leaders to make political decisions that will actually fulfill the will of God. Even with that being said from the Scriptures it's still pretty hard for us Conservative Christians with what is going on today would you not agree?

SR: Jimmy I would agree and I think you went to the heart of the issue that most concerns me because when we talk about government we talk about authority, Romans 13, all authority which is civil government but it's also the individual and family. God has ordered and ranked all authority all being under Him but then it says civil government. God specifically gives to them the sword of justice to effectively carry out the nature and the character of God and His justice to enact and effectuate what is God's flaw among man kind. If any civil authority does that then God will bless that nation. You cited that I think what we're witnessing now as we walk into these end days which we have to agree it is God continues to move about the nations of the world. 

As Nebuchadnezzar said the book of Daniel, when God put him on his knees because he was a proud man the first thing he did when his sense came back to him as he stood and he lifted his hands to heaven and said I do extol the God of heaven who is able to lift up and to put down those He will. I think we need to have that confidence as believers today in this nation. God is doing something right now in regard to what power what authority will come to be in this nation as the whole world watches. So I think we're in very very eventful days. God is doing something big because He is the one who raises up and puts down and He is the one who is aligning the nations of the world today ultimately to be focused right there in the Middle East around Israel. But we're standing a little far off, but we're watching it none the less.

JD: Sam Rohrer explaining why we must go to the Scriptures for encouragement about the recent elections.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Sam and I in our discussion pointed to the Biblical passages that encourage us of our God being in control today, but He is also in control of the future as well.

The state of Israel is going to a national election, the fourth in a two year period of time

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JD: I cannot believe it a fourth election in two years. I can almost say tell me its not so Winkie but it does seem like it is going to come about doesn't it?

WM: Well the government has been stalled for a good few months now. I'm going to blame both sides since I'm not a in the government or in the Knesset. But the facts are that a primary reading of a bill to dissolve the Knesset has passed. In out Parliamentary system there another three votes that have to be taken on that but they are advancing. They have set up a date more or less just a week before the Passover holiday towards the middle of March, they are getting ready. Whether this is a game of what I use to call when I was much younger playing chicken. Which person is going to yield first I do not know. It's just not working out with the combination of the left party and the Likud religious coalition with the Blue & White faction. 

JD: Winkie I know as you said just a moment ago you're not a prophet nor are you a son of a prophet but what is your forecast? Who could win if there is a fourth election?

WM: Oh Jimmy it's a little bit too early for that. One Likud member of Knesset. A prominent one I should say because he has been a minister in at least three different ministries over the years, resigned from the Knesset in order to set up a new party just to the right of the Likud but without the fan for air of Bennett and his religious background. Immediately in the polls the Blue & White at the bottom fall out as did the Lapid the future party. So everything is really up in the air. It also might destroy Bennett's chances because he's also losing votes because there are a lot of people in the center moving over to Qassar while he is a traditional Jew is not religious and he's more secular. 

JD: Winkie Medad with the details of a fourth election in two years in the Jewish state of Israel.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Winkie's report is tangible evidence of the Lord establishing human government some 4,500 years ago right after the flood, that's Genesis 9:6. God establishes human government in order to have the nations of the world make political decisions that would accomplish His will. He does that by putting into the hearts and minds of political leaders to make those decisions, that's Revelation 17:17. 

Israel normalizes relations with another of the Arab states, Morocco

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JD: David it seems like good news Morocco and Israel normalizing relations. This is the fourth of these nations, these Arab nations coming together and finally deciding to have a relationship with Israel. Good news is it not?

DD: Oh definitely good news Jimmy although not terribly unexpected because Israel and Morocco did actually have diplomatic relations following the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. And of course Jimmy its very exciting to many Israelis because the second largest group of immigrant Jews in Israel are Moroccan Jews. Over a million people in Israel trace some of their family at least back to Morocco. That was the largest Jewish community in any Arab country over the centuries. A highly educated community because France basically controlled the area, before that Spain. It's very Europeanized but definitely Sephardic Jews. A little bit darker in color usually and a very religious. The religious party is largely made up of Moroccan Jews, Jews of that decent. They have a strong culture. 

So there's always been those ties but of course after the second Palestinian uprising in 2000 King Hassan broke the diplomatic relations that had been established. Now they've have been re-established by King Mohammed the new king there. It's very exciting news and it's going to be another destination for Israeli tourist to feel comfortable in and just an exciting move indeed. And another fruit of the Abraham Covenant that President Trump and Jared Kushner who was very involved by the way in negotiating this deal behind the scenes with the Foreign Minister of Morocco produced.

JD: David Dolan with the details behind the normalization of relations between the Jewish state of Israel and Morocco.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

The Arab nation of Morocco is the fourth Arab nation to normalize relations with the Jewish state of Israel. That makes six Arab nations all together to have a peace agreement with Israel. Many believe that these peace accords between Israel and the Arab world may seem to be pushing back the prophetic scenario of the Arab states trying to destroy the Jewish state. However, these events only enhance the fact the peace agreements which will make way for the antichrist to come on the scene to confirm these peace accords when they fall apart, that's Daniel 9:27.

China is setting up military operations 90 miles off the coast of Florida, in the Bahamas

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JD: Closer to home there's another story coming out I want you to talk to us about Ken. That is that the Chinese military are considering or maybe even moving forward in putting up bases there in the Caribbean about 90 miles off the shores of the state of Florida. 

KT: The Chinese have been expanding their soft power around the world. They call it the Belt Road Initiative where they're building ports establishing companies, buying up assets in Africa. I think it's pretty disturbing where they are actually buying port facilities in the Bahamas and elsewhere. This is something that has been really really been off of the radar screen here in the United States. So they're in the Bahamas. This is right off of our coast in Florida. This is kin to what the Soviet Union did in 1961 with Cuba 90 miles off of the United States coast except they don't have as far as we know nuclear missiles. These are commercial sea ports. But this has been part of a Chinese pattern. 

They are getting closer and closer to the United States and would like to control the Panama Canal. Those assets would allow them to incircle us in the event that they decide the moment is right for an actual shooting war. Remember the Chinese have said they want to become the world's hegemon by 2049, the hundredth anniversary of the Chinese Communist Revolution. They seem to be pushing up that date because they also said they would allow Hong Kong to remain free for 50 years after the turn over in 1999. As of today Hong Kong is now fully under the control of Communist China. So that 2049 date could be pushed up by 15 or even 20 years and the Chinese are inching closer to the American homeland.

JD: Ken Timmerman reporting that China is setting in place military operations off the Florida coast in the Bahamas.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Ken's report is tangible evidence that China wants to be the number one military power in the world today. This report is also a precursor to the prophetic scenario for China in the near future. That will come about because half of the world's population at the midway point of the Tribulation will be gone, that's Revelation 6:7 & 8 and Revelation 9:16 & 17. China one of the kings of the east, Revelation 16:12 will be the major military force to go to Jerusalem to meet the return of Jesus Christ, that's Zechariah 14:2.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights is a prophecy of Jesus Christ, "the Light of the World"

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JD: David earlier I was speaking with Steve Herzig about Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. I thought it would be helpful for us to continue the theme of light and its importance throughout the Scriptures, so help us do that.

DJ: Well Jimmy light is obviously a major theme throughout the Scriptures and that theme actually begins with light being the first part of the physical universe that God created. In Genesis 1 we read God said let there be light and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light day and the darkness He called night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. This thread, this theme runs throughout Scriptures. 

We find in the very last verses of the Bible in Revelation 22 concerning the new Jerusalem. It says, "there will be no night there, they need no lamp nor light of the sun for the Lord gives them light, they shall reign forever and ever. This same apostle John who pinned those words wrote I John 1:5, this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Then John goes on to discuss this in terms of our own personal relationship with Jesus when He says if we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanses us from all sin. So Jimmy this contrast between light and dark, between good and evil is found throughout the Scriptures. This is especially important as we think of the Christmas season and Hanukkah as we understand that Jesus came into the world and He is spoken of as the light of the world.

JD: David James with information on how Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights is a prophecy of the first coming of Jesus Christ.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

David in my conversation with him mentioned that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the light of the world, that's found in John 8, 9, 11. These are passages where the word light is used some 26 times in the Gospel of John. Notice that I left John 10 out. In that chapter it reveals that Jesus Christ went up to Jerusalem in the winter to celebrate the Feast of Dedication also known as Hanukkah and the Festival of Lights, that passage is John 10:22. In the book of Revelation 22:5 Jesus again is referred to as the light of the world and in that passage for eternity future as well. 

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is very important to the Jewish people but also to the Christians as well

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JD: Hanukkah is a very important holy day is it not?

SH: Hanukkah is considered a minor Feast.

JD: Steve, would you give us a brief story of what Antiochus Epiphanies did and what brought about ultimately there in the Temple, the abomination of desolation in thus Hanukkah?

SH: Antiochus Epiphanies, he was actually going to Egypt and he came through the land of Israel. He decided he would continue Alexander's desire to hellenized all of the area. And so when he got to Jerusalem he stopped the sacrifices. He desecrated the Temple and actually sacrificed a pig on the alter and then sent his soldiers throughout the area to make sure that the leaders in the local areas all hellenized. 

One of the places that his soldiers went to was located north east of Jerusalem called Modiin. There was a family there called the Maccabees family. Mattathias refused to compromise and only would believe in the one true God. What took place is Mattathias and his sons overtook those soldiers, killed them and then fled to the mountains. Over a three year period between 168 bc. 165 bc they arrived at the Temple it had been totally polluted but they rededicated the Temple. After defeating Antiochus's army and re-establishing the Temple they found a small cruise of oil filled with the high priestly seal. That 24 hour cruise of oil served for eight days enough time to have more kosher oil to keep the menorah burning all the time. 

And Jimmy you know very well that in John 10 the only place that Hanukkah or in this case the Feast of Dedication is mentioned we know that Jesus Himself celebrated Hanukkah. It tells us so in John 10. It says He was at Jerusalem the Feast of Dedication and it was winter. It is the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev. They celebrate the first day of Hanukkah and it runs eight days. It's a wonderful time.

JD: Steve Herzig with the story of the Jewish holy days of Hanukkah.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Steve's rehearsal of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is a reminder of how the Lord protected the Jewish people once again. At the same time this date, Kislev 25 or December the 25th is how we as Christians got our date for the birth of Jesus Christ. This Jewish tragedy turned into the glorious date of the first coming of Jesus Christ.  

Many world leaders fear a space war in the near future, and at the same time, the Bible predicts that space war will happen

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JD: The possibility of war in space. President Trump has put together his US space force and other nations across the entire world are doing the exact same thing. When you talk about that Don it brings to my mind a question of the possibility of war in space. Now this would be a major problem if it were to take place. Do you not think this would just destroy all the scientific and technological exploration in space if they started fighting in the area we know as space today? 

DD: Well yes Jimmy it would certainly change things. Might remind ourselves that military activity is going on in space and has been for some years. We have spy satellites, we have surveillance satellites. It would become dangerous if we would start to attack each others satellites. That's the main area, you know those are vulnerable. If you go after those things you could quickly shutdown a country's economy, their whole finance system. Yes, there's potential for great shake ups on the earth below.

JD: However, I am now thinking about the book of Revelation 12:7-17 where it does talk about a war in space. That's when the archangel Michael who is the commander and chief of the good angels and then Satan who is the commander and chief of the evil angels. They're going to have a battle, a war in space and Satan and his evil angels will be thrown down to the earth.

DD: Well yes Jimmy those kinds of spiritual battles are in the future and in the end times. This kind of war fair between angels we're not sure just what kind of weaponry is involved whether it be something we're familiar with or something on a whole different level. Certainly that's a time when the earth is shaken. The outcome is the Lord's army wins but this spiritual type battle in the heavens will certainly be a drastic time.

JD: Don DeYoung with the details on space wars now and in the near future.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Astronomer Dr. Don DeYoung came to explain the potential for space wars between nations of this world and the prophetic space war as foretold in Revelation 12:7-17. It's only speculation about the space wars between nations but its absolute about the heavenly angelical war to happen in the Tribulation period. That battle will set the stage for God's plan to be fulfilled.

There is a controversy in the Middle East over who controls the Temple Mount

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JD: In the Middle East we see that the Jordanian King, King Abdullah had a meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. They met and they also talked about their custodial responsibilities on the Temple Mount. What can you tell us about this story?

DD: Well the rumors continue to circulate that when Prime Minister Netanyahu held a secret but not so secret meeting with Salman the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in a Saudi town that during that time Netanyahu offered Saudi Arabia control over the Temple Mount. That would mean that Jordan would no longer have that role. As I mentioned a week or two ago when we were speaking the Jordanians and the Saudis are close allies. So its not as if they were offering it to Turkey. 

Turkey wants that control and there's no way that the Israelis would allow that with the Turkish leaders being so hostile but again Saudi Arabia has become really quite a close if quiet ally to Israel. They control the holy sites in Mecca and Medina so this would just be going along the same lines. The Jordanians are apparently protesting this. But Jimmy I think in the end I think they would accept it if it did happen. There are some in Israel though warning that the Saudi government could be overthrown. It's definitely a target of Iran and if it did ever fall the hostile anti-Israel forces then you would have this conundrum of them having a piece of ground right in the center of Jerusalem. So we'll see if it goes anywhere but there is continuing talk about it all over the place really.

JD: David Dolan with the details surrounding the controversy over who is controlling the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Dave's report gives emphasis to the prophetic passage in Zechariah 12:2, more on that in a moment. At this present time the Jordanians have custodial responsibilities for the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. However, Saudi Arabia who has those same responsibilities over Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, the two most important locations in Islam would like to have custodial control over Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. As mentioned the ancient Jewish prophet Zechariah says that sacred spot will be a major controversy in the last days, that again is Zechariah 12:2. However, remember God has chosen to give this holy site to the Jewish people now and forever, that's II Samuel 7:10.

China is a major threat to the United States

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JD: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been in the Middle East he is also in the European Union. He went to the last meeting of NATO that he will be able to attend in that position but at that same meeting NATO brought to the attention of all the member states that they must consider Chinese military power. It is going to be stronger than everybody's been thinking about and especially what they German Foreign Minister had to say.

KT: Well this is pretty interesting to finally hear a European official and in this case a German Foreign Minister not just anybody but the Foreign Minister of the strongest economy in Europe to speak out about communist China and China's domination of Asia. The threat that they pose to Europe's allies in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea. I thought this was pretty significant and its something the US Administration has been talking about for a number of years. 

So the Democratic party has consistently been weak on China. They have been weak on China for 25 years. I've been reporting on it for 25 years. The Republicans now especially with Pompeo and with the Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe somebody who is very well respected. They have been warning about the China threat, the rise of the Chinese Navy. Rattcliffe gave a recent briefing to Congress but also to former Vice President Joe Biden about China's military capabilities. He warned that look China already has war ships than the United States. They have been building amphibious landing craft at an alarming rate. They are used to land at amphibious landing group on foreign shores. China has long warned that it would invade Taiwan at some point to make them rejoin China. I think the fact that NATO is finally looking at China significant and the DNI John Rattcliffe has warned the former Vice President of the China threat is significant. I doubt Biden is going to listen to it but I think its significant never the less.

JD: Ken Timmerman reporting on the threat that China is to the United States.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Ken's report should get the attention of the United States and the next Presidential Administration. China has a desire to be the most powerful nation in the world militarily and economically. Today red China is close to fulfilling their goals. Bible prophecy reveals to us that China will achieve those goals with the help of the antichrist in the near future. Look at Revelation 16:12 and Revelation 13:15-18. God's plan for the future is coming very close to being fulfilled.

We all need to have an "attitude of gratitude"

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JD: David in thinking about what the Bible has to say about giving thanks and being thankful let's start with the Old Testament since that lays a foundation for what we learn in the New Testament. 

DJ: The first occurrence of Thanksgiving in the Old Testament is in Leviticus 7 where we read in verses 11 & 12. This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the Lord if he offers it for a thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is connected with a peace or fellowship offering which symbolizes a persons desire for fellowship with the Lord. That word Thanksgiving occurs 25 times in the New King James version and 21 of those times it translates the Hebrew word Todah. Todah is found many times in the Psalms. But the bottom line Jimmy is that the giving of thanks and the idea of praising the Lord are really inseparable. They're both directly connected with worship. And so it would be impossible to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth apart from being thankful. You just can't worship if you don't have a thankful spirit.

JD: Ok now David that was the Old Testament foundation. Let's go to the New Testament.

DJ: Well as you would expect there is some carry over from the Old Testament that's for sure. It does lay the foundation. But there does seem to be a little bit of a shift or at least a development. The word thanks in our English Bibles translate the word cottage. Now our listeners may recognize cottage because that word is often translated as grace so we use it even in English. 

And for those who may be familiar with the Roman Catholic mass not that we're supporting that in anyway but just to give an idea. The eucharist is what we call communion but its call eucharist in Roman Catholicism. Although we understand communion very differently from Catholics it's from the Greek word for thanks or thanksgiving. Maybe we can think of the Hebrew idea as focusing on the action of associated with being thankful like offerings as well as praise and worship. The Greek idea seems to focus more on what we might call an attitude of gratitude. In other words being grateful for what someone has done for us especially thankfulness to God and of course that should lead to actions that flow from being thankful. So it should produce actions in how we go about our daily life and how we treat others.

JD: David James with Bible in hand giving us the details from the Old Testament and the New Testament on God's exhortation to be thankful.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

God's word is definite on the fact that we need to have an attitude of gratitude. I want you to notice however that unthankfulness is a sign of the end times. A time when the prophetic scenario of God's word will be played out, that's found in II Timothy 3:1&2. 

God has a ministry to the "Halls of Congress"

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JD: Talk to me about your ministry. I know it's Hope Ministry International, tell me what you're doing there.

DK: We have the ministry on Capital Hill called Hopes to the Hill. We actually just go in and try and minister one on one with members of Congress, members of the Senate. God has given us a great in roads there. Our ministry on Capital Hill has been going 90 miles an hour plus we have had greater opportunity to develop and cultivate relationships with members of Congress and Senate then we ever had before. So this has been prime time for us on Capital Hill.

JD: Well praise the Lord for that report. Dave joined me in Washington DC when we were doing the production of my DVD documentary "Is the United States in Bible Prophecy?" And David one of the questions I asked you at that time was what happened as the Pilgrims arrived there in Plymouth Massachusetts and the establishment of self government. That's the foundation for our government today and I asked you at that time is our government today moving ahead with what was established the Biblically principled establishment of human government, self government there in Plymouth Massachusetts is that going on today or not?

DK: Dr. Jimmy we have moved far a field from what took place there in 1620. In 1607 the first permanent English settlement came to the shores of what we now call the United States. They settled in Jamestown Virginia. The group we call the Pilgrims of storm sent them way north. They ended up not settling in Virginia but instead settled in Plymouth Massachusetts. They wrote their own charter before they exited the ships there in Plymouth and that charter was called the Mayflower Compact. And Dr. Jimmy in that charter they stated why they were coming. They said, "we're coming for the advancement of the Christian faith." So they were coming Jimmy to propagate the gospel in this new world. That was God's direct and divine intervention to cause that to happen the way it did. But boy have we move far a field from that experiment and self government since those days. Now Dr. Jimmy we're a mere shadow of what the Pilgrims intended. 

JD: Dave Kistler with the details on his ministry, In the Halls of Congress and the status of the government established by the Pilgrims some 400 years ago.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Dave's report on his ministry In the Halls of Congress was exciting. May I suggest that you can have a ministry in Congress as well. I Timothy 2:1-4 exhorts us to pray for those which are in higher authority. That will allow us to live a peaceful life and win people to Jesus Christ. Soul winning is what will bring the Rapture quicker, that's I Peter 3:12.

The government of the United States came into existence some 400 years ago when the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts

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JD: You said the Mayflower Compact, it's a prototype of the Constitution of the United States based upon Biblical principals was it not Paul?

PB: You know Jimmy as I've studied those separatist that were pastored by James Robinson had such a devout understanding of the Jewish foundation of scripture and really studied it from a Jewish prospective. Quite frankly came to the right conclusions on everything for all human history going back to Nimrod. Always had the idea of the king or in the divine right of kings the man that would ascend to the mountain top to commune with the gods and then bring God's message down to man. You know it was always a top down rule. Whenever the king spoke the people were his subjects and he spoke and they jumped. But as the Bible had been translated into English and the Englishmen were able to ready it for themselves and see what it actually said rather than what the bishops were telling them it said. 

There were a couple of groups of decenter. One were the Puritans they sought to stay within the church of England and attempt to purify the church from within. The other was what we call the separatist and a group of them were the Pilgrims who said the church is so messed up we're going to study the Bible and do it God's way. They organized local congregations of the people. Then as the New Testament gives instruction they were to choose out from among themselves pastors and deacons. So they would constitute a church government. It was that exact same style that they crafted. 

They were tough a comprehensive Biblical worldview, no such thing as compartmentalizing their faith. But when they got to the new world they crafted the same thing. That had never happened in human history. There had never been a time where equals came together and created their own government, their own rule of law and then pledge to be subject by that rule of law recognizing that there was no superior authority or divine right of kings that they would chose out among themselves their governors to govern righteously. So once a year they would cast a ballot to elect their governor who is considered the most trusted man to lead the community.

JD: Paul Blair rehearsing the story of the Pilgrims in Plymouth Massachusetts establishing the government that is in place here in America.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Paul's account of the first human government set up here in America is a government that followed the Biblical principal from Genesis 9:6. It is a government where God ordains its leadership, that's Romans 13:1. This government will be a government under the leadership of Jesus Christ in the near future. 

Israel is the greatest sign that we are living in the End Times

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JD: Basically your an historian who is reporting on current events, those historic events that we can look back on.

DD: There's an ongoing story in the 90s and that was of course the huge flux of Jews that moved to Israel from the then crumbled Soviet Union coming from all over the place, the Soviet satellite states. I did dozens of stories about their arrival at the airport and their assimilation in the land and how life was for them over the years and that sort of thing. And of course the Ethiopian aliyah as well was another highlight again knowing as I did and most of my colleagues did not that this was all prophesied. The Bible said I'll bring you back from North, South, East and West the four corners of the Earth, bring you back to your land. I've seen the population triple from just over 3 million to nearly 9 million Jews there today. So those are all miracles. And just everyday as you know, you've lived there. Everyday you just see the miracle of Bible prophecy being fulfilled because you're literally living in the middle of it.

JD: The recent signing of the peace agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan they're just about ready to sign that agreement. That is a part of how prophecy is coming better into focus on a daily bases so to be able to report the political today watching it setting the stage for the prophetic to be fulfilled that is an exciting opportunity for any person at any time isn't it David?

DD: Oh absolutely Jimmy. You know and I think most of your listeners will know that the Psalm said that when the Lord's favor return to Jerusalem. In other words when He was favoring that city again, building it up again and in the context of Jews being back there and ruling there and living there that that would be the era that the Lord would return to the Earth. So until you see that happening 300 or 400 years ago the Lord wasn't coming back because His favor hadn't yet come upon it. But we've seen that in our modern era. I've been reporting that all these years and looking at the skies because He is coming back. Israel is the sign of all signs that we are in that time period and that is thrilling indeed.

JD: David Dolan a journalist in the Middle East sharing the historic events that he has covered over some 35 years.

We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Dave's coverage of historic events in the Middle East is also the account of the prophetic scenario that is found in the Bible that helps us to recognize that the Jewish state of Israel and the events happening there are tangible evidence that we are in the times of the end. A time when Jesus Christ will come to take us to be with Him forever.