As a bestselling author, speaker, and biblical scholar, how do you determine what topics to study and share through your ministry?
With study, it depends on what the Lord is leading and revealing. With sharing, every week at The Jerusalem Center I speak on every possible topic touched on by the Word of God. People are always surprised when they come from around the country to attend when I don’t always speak of prophetic things. Of course, when a new or prophetic revelation comes forth, I will almost always share it first at The Jerusalem Center. But when I speak across the nation and world, it will usually be a prophetic word for the hour.
Describe the process of decoding Bible prophecy as you read through Scripture and consider how it points to future global events.
It has always come as a download, and yet in many different ways. With The Harbinger, I was standing on the corner of Ground Zero when the Lord directed by focus to the tree that had been struck down on that spot. I knew I was to seek out what I was seeing. It became the first puzzle piece of a revelation that kept getting bigger and bigger. With the newest book The Paradigm, it happened the same way. The Lord drew my attention to one particular event. From that one thing, the revelation kept getting bigger and bigger. Sometimes the next piece of the mystery will begin as a thought that comes into my mind, or a word spoken by another, even by things appearing on the internet that I had no idea were there. For example, some of the most stunning revelations in The Paradigm, where the ancient blueprint pinpoints the exact dates of some of the greatest happenings or calamities of our time – that all came to me while I was lying in bed. I got up, made sure not to wake up my wife, went to the web, and I could hardly move… what had come to me in my bed was all true. When people tell me that they’re blown away by what’s in the book, I answer that I was blown away as well.
This month, Israel celebrates 70 years since it was re-established as a nation in 1948. What makes this particular milestone so significant as biblical prophecy unfolds?
Anything with Israel is significant as it stands at the center point of biblical prophecy. But the period of 70 years is particularly significant. Seventy years is one of the time periods in the Bible linked to a generation or lifetime. But 70 years has also been especially critical in the history of Israel. When Israel was captive into the Babylonian Exile, it was prophesied to last for a period of 70 years. From the time the Temple was destroyed to the time of its rebuilding was also a period of 70 years. Now we’re approaching 70 years since the rebirth of the nation of Israel. We never want to put God in a box, but the combination of the time period and the events they relate to certainly gives us reason to take note.
What other current events in Israel are now aligning with Scripture to fulfill prophecy in these last days?
Every day that Israel survives is prophetically significant and leading up to the scenario given in end-time prophecy. The fact that much of the Middle East still seeks Israel’s destruction is also critical. Beyond that, the Bible says that all nations of the world will come against the tiny Jewish nation. The fact that this is virtually the case today, the fact that the United Nations has again gathered to condemn Israel (particularly over the issue of Jerusalem) is precisely in alignment with end-time prophecy. On the positive side of prophecy, every day Israel is reclaiming deserts, planting trees and forests, rebuilding ancient cities, and making the deserts bloom. On top of that, the final piece of end-time prophecy is the return of the Jewish people to the Messiah. That too is moving forward as more and more Jewish people (and Israelis) are coming to receive and follow Yeshua, Jesus, as the long lost Messiah of Israel.
Recently, the United States changed its policy on Israel by officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital. What makes that decision so spiritually significant?
America’s recognition of Israel was nothing short of seismic. It shook the world. It was the first time that any major power had specifically recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in modern times. In fact, the last power to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was the Roman Empire! It only heightens the conflict over Jerusalem as prophesied in Zechariah 12. The nations of the world responded by condemning America. This global conflict over a tiny, geographically insignificant city of rocks is only more striking evidence that the Bible is the Word of God and that end-time prophecy is coming to fulfillment.
As relations between Israel and the United States are strengthened, how do you think other nations will respond?
There may be some who follow America’s lead. (As of this writing, there has been only one). But on the whole, I would expect most nations to react negatively. Already the Muslim world has gathered together to proclaim Jerusalem the capital of Palestine.
Tensions between Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem – and around the world – are still very high. Do you expect to see that worsen or improve in the coming months? Why?
There has been tension and conflict between Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem for centuries. I don’t expect that to change. Any action toward sealing or strengthening Jerusalem’s position as Israel’s capital will intensify that tension and conflict. And any action on the part of the Muslim world or by the Palestinian Authority to do likewise will further intensify that tension and conflict. Israel is, as it has long been, between a rock and a hard place. But at least in Israel’s case, the rock is the Lord.
Bible prophecy points to a time when the Third Temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount. How close are we to this prophecy being fulfilled?
There are organizations in Israel dedicated to this very thing, the recreation of the objects and offices needed for the restoration of the Temple. At the same time, the government of Israel knows that to initiate such an action would likely cause a world war. It would thus appear that some catastrophic or cataclysmic event, along with the hand of God, would be needed for this to become a reality. Biblical prophecy certainly gives us several candidates. It is important to keep in mind that Israel has never returned to the land and not built the Temple. America’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was a giant step toward that ultimate goal. The newly reformed Jewish Sanhedrin has even just recently announced that they will be issuing a Temple standard that will bear the image of Donald Trump!
As believers, why is it so important that we pay attention to the “signs of the times” as it relates to Israel and the world?
The Lord commanded us to. Elijah had to know the signs of the times in order to fulfill his calling. Paul had to know the signs of the times in order to fulfill his calling. And as end-time believers, we must certainly know the signs of the times in order to fulfill our calling – for such a time as this. We need to be alert, vigilant, and as watchmen on the walls looking for the approach of the dawn. And as, in the Hebrew wedding, the bride eagerly and in joyful expectation looks into the distance for the first signs of her bridegroom’s approach – so must we.
What are some practical things believers can do to support Israel and get in agreement with God’s plan concerning this nation of promise?
The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, so we must continually lift up the nation of Israel in our prayers. We should also show our love in practical ways by blessing the nation of Israel with support, help, and works of compassion where this is needed. We must also stand in support of Israel, ready to defend her against the attacks of the world. Remember that the greatest gift we can give the Jewish people is the gift they first gave to the world: Messiah Jesus, the Gospel of salvation, eternal life! We must not only support those ministries getting the Gospel to Israel, but we must ourselves give that Gospel. We may not live in Israel, but there’s a good chance that a child of Israel, a Jewish person, is living by us. It is the salvation of the Jewish people, more than any other fact, that will usher in the coming of Messiah.
End time prophecy can often point to very troubling and tragic world events. How should the body of Christ respond to these predictions?
When people first started reading The Harbinger, many were scared – but many others told me that they were comforted. The reason is that the book, as well as end-time prophecy itself, not only speaks of what is yet to come, but also shows that God is in control. He is overall things! So, if your life is in God and in His will, then you have nothing to fear. The same One who is in control of end-time events is in control of your life. But if you’re not in God or in His will, then there is reason to fear – but then get your life into God and into His will and you will have nothing to fear.
As you continue your study of God’s Word, can you give our readers some insight on what the Lord is showing you?
The most recent insight and revelations as to where we are now is revealed in The Paradigm – we are at a critical moment. The warnings, signs, and progressions that took place in the days of Israel’s judgment have been manifesting in America. At the same time, Israel was given a reprieve, a window of time, in which to return to God. This was begun with the rise of Jehu. The man called ‘Jehu’ is revealed in The Paradigm as the mystery that lies behind the rise of Donald Trump. And America is right now in the midst of that same window and reprieve. We must seek, pray for, labor for, and live in revival as never before. Without revival, America will have no hope.
What would say to encourage believers as we draw closer to the fulfillment of end time prophecy and the return of Christ?
If you could only watch one fifteen minute segment of a movie, which would it be? It would be the last fifteen minutes. So it is with the end-times. I am just now beginning to work on the next book to open the mysteries of God’s workings in end-time prophecy, Israel, Jerusalem, the church, and the last days. I can’t go into the details now, but to say we are living in the most exciting of times. The Kingdom is coming. Even better than that, the King is coming. What more exciting time could there be to live in but that? If the dark is getting darker, then we are to grow brighter. If the times are ungodly, then we have the high honor of standing with Messiah for such a time as this – as did the apostles. For those who will live uncompromised, all out, and on fire for Him, He will show Himself mightily and these will be for them, despite the world, the most glorious of times.