Will Nuclear War Happen?

Today is the 75th anniversary of an atomic bomb devastating Nagasaki, Japan. Three days earlier in 1945, the first atomic bomb used in warfare was dropped on Hiroshima. Historians have debated whether the United States was justified in using those bombs. It’s tragic how the bombings killed tens of thousands of people. However, many more lives would have been lost had the U.S. needed to invade the country that four years earlier initiated hostilities with the attack on Pearl Harbor. President Truman’s goal for authorizing the bombings was to convince the Japanese to surrender and bring a quicker end to World War II.

I grew up during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Fears of a nuclear exchange were triggered by watching made-for-TV movies like “World War III” and “The Day After.” Although the USSR dissolved in 1991, Russia still has nukes as well as a few other countries. Rogue nations like Iran have made progress in developing their own weapons of mass destruction. It’s scary to think about what would happen if they follow through on their numerous threats against Israel and the West.

However, I believe prayer plus a strong military has protected the United States and other countries from a nuclear attack. God wants to bring in a large end-time harvest of souls. Things will be different once the church is raptured. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 says, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

Certain Scriptures some scholars have considered symbolic could be descriptions of a nuclear conflict. Revelation 6:12-13 says, “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” The “stars from heaven” could be missiles from space.

Zechariah 14:12 gives an accurate description of someone exposed to an atomic explosion: “And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.” This and similar prophecies could be about the Battle of Armageddon or another future conflict like the war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38.

Do these scenarios frighten you? They shouldn’t if you know Jesus. Psalm 91:7 says,“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.” God knows how to protect His people. If you are uncertain of your eternal destiny, don’t delay getting your life right with the Lord. Tomorrow may be too late.

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” - 1 Thessalonians 5:9

In Pursuit of Peace

During the holiday season, we are often reminded of what the angels declared when the Son of God was born in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” The New Living Translation of this verse reads, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Jesus came to reconcile all sinners to the Father but that doesn’t happen to everyone by default. One must choose to be in right standing with God.

Still, there are individuals who persist in finding peace apart from Jesus Christ. Some dabble in cults or other belief systems because they want to continue living in sin. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Other unbelievers try to categorize Christianity with other religions claiming they’ve been the cause of every war on this planet.

Most everyone wants peace in their house and for their country. They should begin by looking to the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He also said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.”

The Bible is full of other verses associating Jesus with peace. The Lord often said to His disciples “Peace to you!” He rebuked a windy sea by declaring, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39)  After the woman with the issue of blood received her healing, Jesus told her, “Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48) Many of the epistles began with the greeting, “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Of course, following Jesus comes with a cost. If you’ve been a disciple for any length of time, then you soon found out not everyone was thrilled with your decision to become a Christian. You probably had friends and even family members shun you. The Lord made this paradoxical statement in Matthew 10:34-36…

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’”

I’ve had sinners tell me Christianity is confusing. Yet 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” Ephesians 6:15 says we are shod “with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Every believer should be ready to offer God’s peace to those who don’t know Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Many people campaign for world peace but that won’t become a reality until the Second Coming. Before Jesus Christ returns to the earth to set up His millennial reign, the antichrist will set up a false sense of security that will last a short period of time. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 says, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

One of John Lennon’s best-known songs has the lyric “All we are saying is give peace a chance.”  I offer this advice to any non-believers reading this: “Give the Prince of Peace a chance.”

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” - Isaiah 26:3

The Six-Day War...50 Years Later

Tomorrow will be the golden anniversary of a noteworthy event relating to end-time prophecy. On June 5th, 1967, Israel launched attacks on six neighboring countries that amassed troops near their borders threatening invasion. The war ended just five days later. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Israel routed her enemies and possessed additional territory including the eastern half of Jerusalem. For the first time in 2,000 years, the entire city was in Jewish hands.

Since the Six-Day War, Israel has given up some of her territory in hopes of lasting peace with her neighbors. Shortly after the Gaza Strip was turned over to the Palestinians in 2005, rockets from there were fired upon Jewish settlements. The PLO’s charter still calls for the destruction of Israel.

This past week, President Donald Trump delayed his promise in moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. According to a White House statement, this was done “to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians.” Well-meaning politicians need to wake up to the fact you cannot negotiate with terrorists.

There will be a temporary peace in the Middle East when the Antichrist oversees the signing of a seven-year treaty (Daniel 9:27). Ultimately, war will cease in this region once the Lord Jesus Christ returns to see up His Millennial reign upon the earth. 

Are you ready for His return?

“And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” - Zechariah 12:3

Rest in Peace

This past Monday, Bobby Vee died at 73 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Although I wasn’t a big fan of the singer, his death hit close to home. Bobby’s first concert in February 1959 (following the plane crash in Iowa that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper) was five blocks from the house in Moorhead, Minnesota where I spent most of my childhood. At that time my dad went to Fargo Central High School with Bobby and shared an art class with him. 

Another famous singer who died this past week was Pete Burns of the English band Dead or Alive. They are perhaps best known for their 1985 hit “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”, a song I used to play as a nightclub disc jockey.

Whenever people die, those who care about them will often say “rest in peace.” Sometimes the initials R.I.P. are engraved on real headstones as well as Halloween decorations. R.I.P. originated from the Latin phrase “requiescat in pace.”

The truth is that all dead people are not resting in peace. When a person dies they either experience great joy in heaven or eternal torment in hell. There is no in-between place such as purgatory. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”

One doesn’t magically change into an angel or get a free pass into heaven just because they had a rough life or were “good.” The Lord said in Isaiah 48:22, “There is no peace…for the wicked.” The wicked are not select individuals the world considers “bad people.” All of us have broken God’s laws and need a Savior. 

If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Once you do that, then you can truly have rest and peace in this life and the next.

“For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.” - Isaiah 57:2 (NLT) 

Princely Encounters

In the fall of 1985, I moved to Minneapolis to pursue a career in the recording industry. One thing that inspired me to do so was a local musician who had become a superstar. Prince put the Twin Cities on the musical map by pioneering what was known as the “Minneapolis sound.” 

Although I never sought assistance from the Purple One, we had a very brief encounter in 1990 when I was cast as an extra in his movie “Graffiti Bridge.” Initially, I wore sunglasses on the set until Prince approached me in between takes and asked me to take them off. After I removed my sunglasses, Prince said, “You look better without them.”

There were other memorable encounters I had with individuals associated with Prince. The previous year I worked at a music store selling keyboards and other pieces of sound equipment. One day a pastor and his wife stopped in to buy a synthesizer. They mentioned Prince’s former bodyguard "Big Chick” Huntsberry attended their church and offered to introduce me to him.

The following Sunday I drove out to this church but Big Chick couldn’t be there. That night the church hosted a Peters Brothers seminar, which exposed the evils of secular rock music. Although I agreed with some of the things they said, I walked out near the end of the seminar. I was disturbed with the Peters Brothers quoting portions of song lyrics to where I thought they were taken out of context (years later I learned that was done to avoid lawsuits from record companies).

A few days later, I heard Big Chick speak at a different church. After former Prince guitarist Dez Dickerson sang a couple of Christian songs, Chick gave his testimony. I was pleased to hear he got delivered from drug addiction but couldn’t relate to his declarations of loving Jesus Christ. I thought, How could you love somebody you can’t even see? Back then I had a hard time believing in the supernatural. Fortunately, I recognized my need for the Lord in 1991 and committed my life to Him.

Then in February 1995, I attended a business presentation in downtown Minneapolis. Three men took turns describing a new software program being released. One of them was referred to as “Chris” and soon I recognized this man with a British accent. Chris Moon had previously owned a recording studio where Prince made a demo tape that eventually helped him land his first recording contract. When the presentation was over, I chatted with Chris who gave me his business card.

Two years later, I called Chris Moon to see if he would listen to a demo tape I had put together since becoming a Christian. To my surprise, Chris invited me over to his house. What I thought would be a brief meeting lasted 2½ hours. Because I didn’t know what Chris’ spiritual beliefs were, I originally planned on being quiet about mine and let my music do the ministering for me. However, Chris kept asking me questions and we talked for about 90 minutes before he would listen to my music.

After hearing my demo and giving me some suggestions, Chris said he always thought of himself as a godly person. I asked Chris, “Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”

He replied, “Well, I’d like to.”

So I offered to pray with Chris and he repeated the prayer of salvation with me in his living room. The next night at church, I shared this praise report with a friend of mine named Wendy. She dated Chris ten years before and since then had been praying for his salvation. Wendy was literally dancing around in circles when she found out her prayers were answered!

A few weeks later, I was doing volunteer work at a Christian nightclub called the New Union. Before the start of a new band tournament, Dez Dickerson (who was one of the judges) shared his testimony of coming to know the Lord in 1980. During the next three years, his performing Prince songs with sexual themes began to trouble his conscience. Dez left Prince after the “1999” tour and attempted a solo career before starting a Christian record company. I talked with Dez about my meeting with Chris Moon. He was pleased to hear Chris had become a brother in the Lord.

On his album covers and at awards shows, Prince gave thanks to God despite writing lyrics that were often profane (the Peter Brothers suggested the god Prince served was his genitals). After I got born again, I often prayed for Prince’s salvation. He did become a Jehovah’s Witness in 2001 and stopped performing his more explicit songs. Unfortunately, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society does not acknowledge the deity of Jesus Christ.

This past Thursday Prince died at the age of 57. His death surprised me since I heard he was very health conscious. Ironically one of Prince’s last tweets was “I am #transformed.” I hope he really knew the Prince of Peace.

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” - Psalm 146:3 (NIV)

A Deal With Destruction

Romans 12:18 says we should aim to “live peaceably among all men.” However, that’s not always possible. Until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to set up His millennial kingdom, there will always be people influenced by demons who seek to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

This past Tuesday, President Obama announced a deal made with Iran that will supposedly curb their ambitions to make a nuclear weapon. Known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the agreement would give Iran 24 days (not hours) to prepare for U. S.-led inspections of their nuclear facilities. This is comparable to a drug dealer given three weeks notice before the police search his home for illegal substances. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal a “bad mistake of historic proportions.” Bible prophecy expert Perry Stone wrote on Facebook this “...may be the stupidest agreement with any nation, ever penned on paper...at least in my lifetime.”

This echoes an infamous treaty made in 1938. British prime minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler and declared, “I have returned from Germany with peace for our time.” A year later, Hitler's armies triggered the start of World War II by invading Poland. Chamberlain’s successor Winston Churchill later said, “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

Since their Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran has sponsored terrorist activities around the world including countless murders of American military personnel, diplomats, foreign aid workers and other civilians. Nevertheless, Iran will receive $150 billion in “sanctions relief” while they continue to hold American citizens captive.

Just as Hitler was vocal about his intentions toward European Jews and Christians, Iranian leaders have made repeated declarations to “wipe Israel off the map” and encourage their citizens to chant “Death to America!” This nuclear deal may help set the stage for an end times war prophesied in Ezekiel 38. Persia (the former name of Iran) is mentioned in verse 5 as one of the nations that will unsuccessfully attempt to conquer Israel.

Barring an Israeli airstrike or Congress blocking this deal, it will be a matter of time before Iran will be capable of exploding a nuclear missile over U. S. airspace. The resulting electromagnetic pulse could take out the nation’s power grid and disable our infrastructure. Some experts predict nine out of ten Americans would die within a year following an EMP attack. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 says, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

Regardless of the present state of the world, protection and provision are available to God’s people. Make sure you are in right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. You certainly don’t want to leave earth without Him!

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” - Psalm 4:8

This Land Is My Land

Despite my spending much time in Florida, I never experienced a hurricane there. The only time I have was in September 2003 while staying with friends just outside Washington, DC. That month, Hurricane Isabel hit the area with high winds, torrential rains, and flooding. I questioned how a storm that like could come to the nation’s capital until seeing on TV then-President George W. Bush hosting King Abdullah of Jordan at Camp David with the purpose of discussing the so-called “road map to peace."

Over the last two decades, other disasters have occurred at the same time the U.S. government enacted foreign policy against Israel (for the latest information on this issue, check out www.watch.org). This week Hurricane Earl approached the east coast of the United States while President Obama met with Middle Eastern leaders in an attempt to negotiate a peace settlement. The President said from the White House, “I have the utmost confidence in him [Mahmoud Abbas - President of the Palestinian National Authority] and his belief in a two-state solution in which the people of Israel and the Palestinians are living side by side in peace and security.” Perhaps the President needs to be reminded of a statement made last year by Abbas, “A Jewish state, what is that supposed to mean? You can call yourselves as you like, but I don't accept it and I say so publicly.” (Source: Arab News - April 28, 2009)

When will political leaders wake up and realize you cannot negotiate with terrorists? Nonetheless, additional talks are scheduled to take place in two weeks. Therefore, we need to continue praying that the Obama Administration come to the realization that the Holy Land belongs to Israel. Trying to pressure them to give up land will bring additional judgment upon the United States.

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.” – Joel 3:1-2