Global News Update

CHINA - Early Rain Covenant Church

On Easter Sunday, International Christian Concern -- a human rights organization that assists persecuted Christians -- reports that members from the Early Rain Covenant Church were once again targeted. During an online worship service, several members were arrested and removed from their homes.

Security officials entered the Christian’s homes, pretending to casually talk with them. As soon as the sermon from ERCC’s imprisoned pastor Wang Yi began, officials immediately shut it down. Zhang Jiangqing was warned by the police, “Don’t participate in already banned [religious] activities anymore! Don’t listen to Pastor [Wang]’s sermons anymore! If you do this again, we will deal with it seriously and take you away!”

Another member of ERCC said, “At the time I was also in the Zoom call, but there was a long period of time where I did not hear a thing. I thought it’s the network connection issue at first, but I soon heard a quarrel erupt. Our coworker Wang Jun was questioning some people, [saying], ‘Who are you to do this [to us]?’”

Wang and five other leaders were taken away. One member had the electricity to their home cut off and others received notice that the police were coming. Since 2018, local authorities have monitored and harassed ERCC members, trying to get the church to disband.

Located in Sichuan, ERCC has not been able to meet in person since the Chinese government cracked down on them in December 2018. Their pastor, Wang Yi, has been in prison since 2018 and subsequently had been sentenced to nine years for subversion of power and illegal business operations. He has lost all his political rights, was fined approximately $72,000 and his personal assets seized. (See our previous article on Pastor Wang Yi posted on January 2, 2020.)

Pray for Chinese Christians and the embattled Early Rain Covenant Church.

 ISRAEL – A United Government and COVID-19 Vaccine

After a year of political gridlock, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his opponent Benny Gantz announced this week a three-year power-sharing governing coalition. Over the course of many months, Israel has held three elections without any political party winning enough seats to form a government. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it became necessary for leaders to form a cohesive unit to respond to the crisis.

Professor Jonathan Gershoni and his team of researchers from Tel Aviv University have successfully found a way to target the family of coronaviruses that could potentially lead to a vaccine against COVID-19. They have isolated the most vulnerable part of COVID-19’s protein structure – the Receptor Binding Motif (RBM) – which allows the virus to bind to cells within the body.

CBN News quotes Gershoni, “The discovery and production of a functional RBM for the new coronavirus is fundamental and critical for the production of the vaccine we propose. Our successful isolation and reconstruction of such a functional RBM will allow the industry to incorporate it into a vaccine, which will be produced by a pharmaceutical company.” A vaccine could be available within the next year to year and a half.

Pray for unity of leadership in Israel and for an end to this global coronavirus pandemic.

UNITED STATES – Pro-life Activist Arrested

Pro-life activist David Benham, along with seven others, was arrested earlier this month for violating North Carolina’s stay-at-home order because they were counseling women entering an abortion facility. In a video of the arrest, he was heard telling police “We are offering essential services to these mothers, and you know this. And we are practicing social distancing. We are doing everything well within the ordinance, well within the provisions.” He said that the officers were suppressing religious expression by selectively enforcing the order.

Benham, along with his twin brother Jason, are known for having a show based on their successful real estate business scrapped from HGTV because of their conservative Christian views.

It is important to note that throughout the United States, currently all non-essential and elective surgeries have been halted. Several states such as Ohio, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas have heroically sought to put a temporary ban on abortions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pray for David Benham and the other pro-life activists who were arrested and pray for all states standing up for life!

Turkey and Russia Reach Ceasefire in Syria

Turkey and Russia have agreed to a ceasefire deal in Syria’s Idlib region according to their two leaders after talks in Moscow to contain a conflict which has displaced nearly a million people in three months. Russian President Vladimir Putin, standing next to his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, said he hoped their agreement would lead to a halt of military action in Syria’s last major rebel stronghold in the northwest of the country. “I express hope that these agreements will serve as a good basis for a cessation of military activity in the Idlib de-escalation zone (and) stop the suffering of the peaceful population and the growing humanitarian crisis,” Putin said.

Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria’s nine-year conflict, with Moscow supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. The latest offensive in Idlib by Assad’s forces, backed by Russian air strikes, sparked what the United Nations says may be the worst humanitarian crisis yet in a war that has driven millions from their homes and killed hundreds of thousands.

The Russian military has, however, repeatedly played down any talk of a refugee crisis and accused Turkey of violating international law by pouring enough troops into Idlib to make up a mechanized division. Turkey, which has the second largest army in the transatlantic NATO alliance, has funneled troops and equipment into the region in recent weeks to resist the Syrian government advance and prevent a wave of refugees over its southern border. Russia also raced to reinforce its troops in Syria by sea and air before the Putin-Erdogan talks.

Assad himself has vowed to recapture “every inch” of Syrian territory, but his depleted military depends heavily on Moscow’s power and Iranian-backed militias on the ground. Iran was not a party to Thursday’s deal. Apart from Idlib, a large stretch of northern Syria remains outside Assad’s control, held by Turkey and its rebel partners, and by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces.

The Kremlin said the two leaders had spoken for three hours on their own before being joined by their officials. They agreed to establish a secure corridor near the M4 highway, which runs east to west through Idlib, and hold joint patrols along the road. In a joint statement, they said the corridor would stretch 6 km to the north and 6 km to the south of the M4 - effectively advancing Russia’s presence further north into Idlib.

The deal did not spell out - as Erdogan has repeatedly demanded - that Syrian forces withdraw to the edge of the Idlib “de-escalation zone”, around which Turkey has stationed a dozen military observation posts, most of them now surrounded by Russian-backed Syrian government forces. The fighting, which raised the prospect of a direct clash between Russia and Turkey, has killed around 60 Turkish troops in the region since last month. Two hours after the joint announcement Turkey’s defense ministry said two soldiers were killed after Syrian government forces opened fire in Idlib.

Ahead of the talks, at least 16 civilians were killed when Russian air strikes hit a gathering of displaced people near the town of Maarat Misrin in Idlib, according to civil defense workers helping clear the rubble and search for survivors. Russia denies targeting civilians. Turkey hosts some 3.6 million Syrian refugees and says it cannot handle more. Seeking to extract more funding and support from Europe over Idlib, Ankara said last week it would no longer abide by a 2016 deal in which it stopped migrants crossing into the European Union in return for billions of euros in aid. While this is certainly good news, the tension is still very tense and could escalate quickly.

Pray- Pray that the ceasefire would hold and that the refugees in the area would be safe.

Prophetic Warnings

The challenge of the global pandemic brought on by the coronavirus has the world on edge. Many are asking is this the end of the world? Are we already in the Tribulation Period? The immediate answer is NO! We are not in the Tribulation. The Rapture has not occurred and the Antichrist has not been revealed. This is not the end of the word!

But what is happening is serious. Thousands of people are being affected worldwide by this epidemic. I believe it is a precursor of things to come. It is a warning from God. As terrible as the current crisis is, it is but a glimpse of the king of global judgments that one day will come upon the whole world.

The Book of Revelation predicts a series of divine judgments that will occur in the future. Seven seals reveal the wrath of the Lamb (Christ) on the unbelieving world (6:1-8:1). From the seventh seal came forth seven trumpets of judgment (8:2-11:15) and finally seven bowls of judgment, also called the seven last plagues (15:1-16:17). In each series of judgment, the wrath of God is poured out on the unredeemed world that has been left behind at the Rapture.

For the born-again believers, Jesus’ word is clear and reassuring. In Matthew 24:42-46, He told us to 1. “Keep watching for you do not know what hour your Lord will come.” 2. “Be ready, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man will come.” 3. “Keep serving until he comes. “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he comes will find so doing.”

In Luke 21:11, Jesus predicted “And great earthquakes shall be in many places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Then He added “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws night (Luke 21:25).

Practical Steps in Light of Bible Prophecy

What can we know for sure?

1.     Life in a fallen world is full of trouble (Job 14:1)

2.     Belief in the Rapture does not mean believers can always avoid trouble in this life (2 Timothy 3:12)

3.     The promise of the Rapture will deliver us from the wrath of God, not the wrath of man or nature (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:9).

4.     God can overrule the worst of circumstances to bring about His ultimate good purpose (Romans 8:28).

5.     Our present suffering is temporary in light of our eternal glory (Romans 8:18).

6.     Until the Lord returns to call us home our main goal is to glorify God with our lives (1 Corinthians 6:20).

7.     In the meantime, pray for God’s grace, wisdom and protection on your family (Deuteronomy 4:30-31).

8.     Live each day in the will of God (Romans 12:2).

9.     Trust God to face each new day being led by His Spirit (John 14:16-18).

10.  Spread the Gospel of grace and hope to family, friends and acquaintances (Mark 16:15).

Use this time to pray more, read God’s Word more, search your soul, share your faith and live each day to God’s glory. God bless you and your family.

God is There in Tough Times

In his second letter to the Christians in Corinth, the Apostle Paul gave words of comfort in times of trouble. He reminded them as he reminds us of several important truths.

REALITY (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) Trouble is a part of life in a fallen world. We all deal with it time and again. Everybody has problems. Abraham lied. Moses fled. Elijah hid. Peter denied. Paul suffered. But despite his suffering, Paul reminds us God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (vs. 3). He comforts us in all our troubles (vs. 4), not from them. Suffering is part of God’s purifying work in our lives. The Apostle Peter tells us that believers are often called to suffer for the cause of Christ and the sake of the Gospel (1 Peter 1:19-21).

RESOLVE ( 2 Corinthians 1:6-7) Problems change us one way or the other. Peter’s failure led to his tears of repentance and his ultimate restoration (Luke 22:61-62; John 21:15-17). Judas’ betrayal led only to remorse and suicide (Matthew 27:5). In each case we learn there is a right way and a wrong way to deal with our problems and failures. Whatever we decide to do in the face of crisis we make us better or bitter. The choice is up to us. We must resolve to face each challenge with God’s help. So Paul could say whether we are afflicted or comforted we will receive the consolation and salvation of God Himself (v. 6-7).

RESOURCE (2 Corinthians 1:8-10) Our problems and suffering cause us to turn to God for help. Challenges like the coronavirus pandemic make us realize we cannot trust in ourselves alone for the answer. When we are in trouble…pressed beyond measure…despaired even of life, or like Paul, feel we have the sentence of death (v. 8-9), we can only trust in God who hath delivered us (in the past) and doth deliver us (in the present) and will yet deliver us in the future (v. 10). He alone is our ultimate resource in times of trouble.

RELATIONSHIPS (2 Corinthians 1:11-12) While God is our ultimate resource, He works through our relationships with other believers to encourage us. As Paul faced his own problems, he reminded the believers they had helped him in two significant ways to get through it all. First, he said ye (you all) also helping together by prayer. In times of trouble we need to know that other believers need to know that other believers are praying for us. We need your prayers and you need to know that we are praying for you. Second, Paul said that their gift bestowed on us helped him to carry on God’s work on their behalf (vs. 11).

What can we learn from 2 Corinthians 1:3-11?

1. Everybody has problems.

2. God is greater than our problems.

3. God can overrule our problems.

4. God can use our problems to His glory.

5. He will comfort us in all our troubles.

6. We must choose how we will respond when trouble comes.

7. God will ultimately deliver us from our problems.

A MESSAGE FROM DR. ED HINDSON 3-19-2020

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…He shall deliver you…from the perilous pestilence. Psalm 91:1-3

The coronavirus pandemic of the past several weeks has the world on edge! Virtual shutdowns of schools, restaurants and even some airlines have shocked the world into facing the seriousness of a global disaster. As a result, government authorities stepped up to mandate restrictions in an attempt to control the spread of the virus and mitigate its potential deadly consequences.

Thousands of people around the world are dealing with everything from serious health issues to global financial markets, business, industry and even sports and entertainment challenges. Gary Hamrick, pastor of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA said: “It feels apocalyptic!” He points out that pestilence (wide-spread disease) is a harbinger or precursor to the End Times. Luke 21:11 (KJV) states: “And there will be earthquakes in various places and famines and pestilence.

I believe God is using this natural catastrophe to warn us of worse things to come in the future. In fact, a whole series of natural disasters have occurred in recent years to get our attention- hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes have shaken our planet time and again. Imagine what our world will be like when the Rapture occurs and the Tribulation begins! Global panic will be out of control, resulting in the rise of a global leader who will immediately impose government sanctions on the global economy so that no one can buy or sell without the approval of his mark (Revelation 13:16).

Biblical prophecies that once seemed unimaginable to the unbelieving world now appear imminent and foreboding. Jesus warned there would be “signs” in the last days that would cause men’s hearts to fail for fear (Luke 21:25). He urged, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh” (Luke 21:28).

Serious students of Bible prophecy have long understood the dual principles of Rapture (believers) and Tribulation (unbelievers). Believers understand that God is in control of the details of our lives: whether we live or die, heaven is our destiny. At the Rapture, the dead in Christ will rise and the living will be “caught up” with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Therefore, we live with confidence in the future because we know Who holds the future.

At the same time, our hearts go out to nonbelievers who will face being left behind in a world under the judgment of the wrath of God. The current crisis is but a glimpse of a far greater disaster that awaits the unbelieving world when multiplied millions will die (Revelation 6:8). In light of the recent events on our planet we are challenged to several biblical responses: 1. Trust the grace of God in the details of your life. 2. Pray for God to get the attention of unbelievers to draw them to Himself 3. Witness to family and friends who may be more open to the gospel than ever before.

The integrity of sincere and authentic Christianity speaks volumes to a lost world that is desperate for meaning, purpose and security. Do not underestimate the spiritual impact that your testimony has on those who have no answers to the overwhelming problems of life. When we live out our faith with authenticity and boldness, we capture the attention of the watching world. God bless you as you live for Him in the days ahead.

Ed Hindson

A MESSAGE FROM DR. ED HINDSON

The past month has been one of great challenge for many Americans dealing with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. While there are certainly physical factors involved in the spread of this disease, we must also recognize God is warning us of even greater judgments to come in the future. This should be no surprise in light of America’s (indeed the worlds) continual rejection of God’s will and purposes for the human race.

I have often been asked: What will it take for America to have a spiritual awakening and revival of biblical truth? We have wandered so far away from God that ordinary calls for repentance often fall on deaf ears and hard hearts. I have often responded that it unfortunately will take: 1. A major war 2. Economic collapse 3. Biblical plague

God warned His people Israel that they would lose His blessing and experience “all these cursed will come upon you” (Deuteronomy 28:15), which include “consumption, fever, inflammation, etc. (28:22) America is not a covenant nation, nor theocracy as was Israel. Therefore, we are not automatically guaranteed God’s blessing or cursing as were they. 

Nevertheless, the basic spiritual principles of obedience and disobedience apply to all nations as the prophet Isaiah (34:1) declared: “Come near, ye nations, to hear and hearken ye people: let the earth hear and all that is therein; the world and all things that come forth of it.”

America cannot keep running away from God, rejecting His laws and moral principles and continue promoting an immoral lifestyle to the rest of the world and then expect God to come to our rescue in spite of ourselves! While many innocent people unfortunately suffer the consequences of such illnesses, we must take our national responsibility seriously.

Please stand with us as we call America to turn and seek the Lord. While we take every human precaution, He is the only One who ultimately can protect and deliver us. Please join with us in prayer for God’s grace, mercy and protection for believers everywhere. Pray also for His mercy toward unbelievers who need to come to faith now more than ever before while there is still time and opportunity to seek the Lord.

Fighting for Religious Freedom

Florida Cross Allowed to Stand

Earlier this week, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed itself and decided that the 34-foot cross at Bayview Park in Pensacola, Florida does not have to come down. The cross had been donated in 1949 by the Pensacola Junior Chamber of Commerce to honor one of its past presidents.

The lawsuit was brought by four atheists and made it to the U.S. Supreme Court which returned the case to the lower court for a second look. Upon review, the federal appeals court decided the cross did not violate the establishment clause in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Last summer we reported on the case American Legion v. American Humanist Association in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a 40-foot memorial cross in Bladensburg, Maryland. Known as the Bladensburg Peace Cross, this monument was erected in 1925 to honor 49 local men who died in WWI.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Stephen Breyer, Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagen, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas ruled that it is permissible for a monument in the shape of a Christian cross to be on public land. Alito argued for presuming that “longstanding monuments, symbols, and practices” are constitutional.

This latest decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is perhaps a positive movement towards less hostility from the courts toward religious expression in the public square.

Students Granted Right to Exercise Their First Amendment Rights

Four Wheaton College students were banned from evangelizing in Chicago’s Millennium Park. They are members of the Chicago Evangelism Team sponsored by the Wheaton College Office of Christian Outreach. This group meets on Friday nights to proclaim the Gospel “in the city of Chicago to whomever we find there.”

Last September, the students filed a lawsuit, arguing that the city government’s ban limited their ability to engage in “protected activity.” Federal Judge John Robert Blakey granted a temporary injunction and ruled that the students must be allowed to exercise their First Amendment rights until the legal dispute is resolved.

Pray for these students as this case moves forward. We are thankful that, for now, they can boldly proclaim the Gospel in Millennium Park. Pray their efforts will not be in vain.

All Life Is Precious

Earlier this week, the remains of 2,411 aborted babies were given a dignified burial. These remains were discovered by the family of Dr. Ulrich Klopfer after he passed away last September. Klopfer performed abortions in South Bend, Indiana where he left behind medically preserved aborted babies in his garage and in the trunk of his car.

Republican Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill promised that he would provide a proper and dignified burial for the babies. During the service, Attorney General Hill commented, “Each of these 2,411 was a life—a life that was terminated—and each deserve to be secure in a final resting place, with dignity and respect, as should be afforded all human beings. May each of the 2,411 buried here, now and forever, rest in peace.”

The Christian Post reports that “In the 43 years Klopfer worked as an abortionist, he’s said to have performed around 30,000 procedures before his medical license was indefinitely suspended in 2016 by the Indiana Medical Licensing Board.”

Mike Fitcher, president of Indiana Right to Life, said although Klopfer “cannot be punished because he is deceased,” he wants to know whether former employees were complicite and if the “bodies were being preserved to sell to universities or research facilities,” he told NBC affiliate WNDU at a news conference.

The abortion clinics in Illinois and Indiana where Klopfer operated in are now closed.

Virginia Lawmakers Repealing Laws that Protect Life

Notoriously pro-abortion Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, along with the Democratic majority in both houses of the state legislature are on a rampage to end most of the state’s protections for the unborn.

One such bill would remove the requirement for a woman to obtain an ultrasound or wait 24 hours before getting an abortion. “In less that two weeks’ time, we’ve watched the General Assembly rip away over 30 years of pro-life law,” said Olivia Gans Turner, president of the Virginia Society for Human Life. The bill passed the Senate and a similar bill also passed through the House. Gov. Northam is expected to sign it into law.

Last year, when defending a bill that would allow a pregnant woman to request an abortion even if she was moments away from giving birth, Gov. Northam in a radio interview supported a hypothetical situation in which an infant who was severely deformed or unable to survive after birth could be left to die.

Election News

Several Democratic candidates running for president have radically expressed that there is no room for pro-life Democrats within their party. During a forum in Vermont, MSNBC host Sephanie Ruhle asked Senator Bernie Sanders if he believed it was possible to be pro-life and a Democrat.

“By this time in history, I think when we talk about what a Democrat is, I think being pro-choice is an essential part of that,” stated Sanders.

Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats For Life of America, asked Pete Buttigieg at an Iowa town hall how his campaign would welcome pro-life Democrats.

Buttigieg responded, “Well, I respect where you’re coming from and I hope to earn your vote. But I’m not going to try to earn your vote by tricking you. I am pro-choice. And I believe a woman out to be able to make that decision.

Day wrote a column for USA Today in which she voiced her opinion that he did not properly answer her questions, “… instead [Buttigieg] focused on his unyielding support for abortion and did not really seem to want the vote from me or people who share my views.”

Turkey and Russia in Disagreement about Syria

As we have seen over the past few months, Turkey and Russia have been working together, alongside Iran, to push into Syria and grow Russia’s influence in the region. However, some cracks are starting to emerge in the Turkish/Russian agreements. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan recently has attacked Russia’s escalation on the Syrian border and their escalation of military force in the region. Erdogan said that Ankara [the capital of Turkey] was losing patience with the military assault in Syria’s Idlib region, adding that Russia is violating agreements aimed at stemming conflict. Renewed bombardments by Russia-back Syrian government forces on Idlib have raised concerns in Turkey of a new refugee wave from the area, which borders Turkey and is home to 3 million people. Turkey has already received a large flow of immigrants from Syria and does not want any new military action that would cause such a large group to flood north into their land as political refugees. They have threatened to send the refugees to Europe if Western Europe attempts to intervene against Turkey.  

Turkey and Russia, which support opposing sides in Syria, have recently been working together to create a demilitarized zone in Syria so that there would no longer be a need for refugees to continue to flee north into Turkey. And, they have proposed the possibility to create a zone where Turkey could resettle the refugees that have already entered their nation. Despite several ceasefire agreements, fighting continues in the last remaining rebel bastion in the country’s nearly nine-year war. Erdogan, speaking to reporters, said Turkey is building houses in northern Idlib to shelter civilians fleeing the bombing. He said he also told Russia they are running out of patience.

Turkey had hoped that their recent agreement with Russia and Iran would solve these types of issues, but Russia has also made agreements with Syria. Syria, with Russia’s backing, is not afraid to violate the cease-fire agreements because they know Turkey is unwilling to risk a future escalation with Russia. Syrian government forces recently entered a town in southern Idlib. However, Turkey, who has 12 observation posts around the city, warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad they would retaliate against any aggression. A Turkish military convey, consisting of 30 armored vehicles, was sent to the region and is expected to establish a new observation post to detect Syrian aggression.

Meanwhile, the third member of the alliance, Iran, has their own plans for the region and would like to have a greater influence into Syria in order to use the location as a base for a future strike into Israel. Consequently, all three players in the region, supposedly working together to demilitarize the region, also have their own reasons and goals in mind.

While Ezekiel 38-39 speaks of a future Russian, Turkish and Iranian alliance in the battle of Gog and Magog, this does not automatically mean that this event will occur soon or even in our lifetime. The three nations could easily overcome these challenges and work together to try to invade Israel as Ezekiel described or their alliance may break up to be recovered in the future. Ultimately, only God knows the timeline for these events, and we can only pray for peace and do our part to reach as many lost souls as we can in the meantime. God will ultimately bring these events to their conclusion when He chooses, and we must simply continue our work for God’s kingdom.

Pray- Pray for peace in the region. Pray for the refugees that have had their entire lives disrupted by this long civil war.

Two Sobering Anniversaries

47th March for Life

Friday, January 24 marked the 47th March for Life held in Washington, D.C. This march has been held every year since 1974, one year after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling led to legalized abortion nationwide.

President Trump became the first sitting president to speak in-person at this largest pro-life human rights demonstration in the world. He told the crowd that “every child is a precious and sacred gift from God.”

“Together we must protect, cherish, and defend the dignity and the sanctity of every human life,” he continued. “When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God’s creation. When we hold a newborn in our arms, we know the endless love that each child brings to a family.”

The Christian Post noted that more and more young people are joining the March for Life. The 2020 march was attended by “countless high school and college students.”  Students from Oakcrest School in Vienna, Virginia lead the march, holding the official March for Life banner.

Catalina Scheider Galinanes, the 16-year-old president of Oakcrest’s Respect Life Club, spoke at the rally. She said this was her seventh March for Life, “From the moment I realized that the abortion industry was ending the lives of millions of babies and lying to women everywhere, I knew God was calling me and each of us to act to defend human dignity and protect the lives of generations to come. That is what we are doing here today.”

In 2019, we witnessed New York, Illinois and Vermont expand abortion up to birth. The State of Virginia’s General Assembly, currently in session, is seeking to loosen existing regulations on abortion, one of which would also legalize abortion up to birth.

Praise God that 10 states with majority pro-life legislatures and governors passed laws requiring clinics to meet health and safety standards and placed limits on abortion. Pray that other states would follow their lead. And pray for God to raise a pro-life generation who will ultimately change the culture in those states which have removed regulations!

What can we do today? We can support mothers and fathers. We can speak for the unborn through our votes, in our churches, in our communities and with our families. Together, we can end abortion and create a culture of life!

Remembering the Holocaust

Last week, more than 200 Holocaust survivors and their families gathered at Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp 75 years after it was liberated on January 27, 1945. This event commemorated the more than one million people murdered at Auschwitz, the vast majority of whom were Jewish.

NBC News reports that many of the survivors described their experiences. “My number was 45,554,” said Bat-Sheva Dagan, who is originally from Lodz, Poland. “They tattooed my number on me and it’s just as visible today as it was back then. It was tattooed very well,” the 94-year-old added.

“I would love Hitler should be alive to see what I accomplished—that I’m alive,” said survivor David Marks, who now lives in Sherman, Connecticut.

On January 23, more than 40 dignitaries attended the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem marking it as one of the largest political gatherings in Israeli history. World leaders in attendance included Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Prince Charles, Vice President Mike Pence and the presidents of Germany, Italy and Austria. The event was highlighted by a three-hour-long ceremony called “Remembering the Holocaust: Fighting Antisemitism” at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.

Tel Aviv University researchers noted a significant rise in anti-Semitic violence in 2018. They recorded 400 cases of violent attacks against Jews, with the largest reported number of Jews killed in anti-Semitic acts in decades. The spike in violence was most dramatic in western Europe. For instance, in Germany there was a 70% increase. In addition to shooting attacks, assaults and vandalism, the research also noted increased anti-Semitic vitriol online and in newspapers, as extremist political parties grew in power in several countries.

Middle East Peace Plan

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released this week a plan for peace in the Middle East. Arab Ambassadors from Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates attended the announcement and expressed a desire to work towards peace.

In spite of growing support of the Peace Plan by multiple Arab nations, Palestinians have soundly rejected it and instead have called for a “Day of Rage” to attack the Jewish people and Americans in protest.

We must continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And, we must stand against anti-Semitism and pray for the protection of Jewish people worldwide.

Chinese Pastor Sentenced to Prison

Pastor Wang Yi has been sentenced to nine years in prison for subversion of power and illegal business operations. Located in Chengdu, China, Wang is the pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church, one of China’s largest unregistered churches. According to a statement for the Intermediate People’s Court of Chengdu, in addition to the nine years in jail, he will also lose his political rights, will have a fine of approximately $7,2000 and his personal assets seized.

In December of 2018, authorities raided the Early Rain Covenant Church’s offices, a kindergarten, a seminary, a Bible college, and searched the homes of many of its members. At that time, Wang was arrested along with his wife, Jiang Rong, and more than 100 members of his congregation. They forced church members to sign a pledge to not attend the church anymore. Jiang was eventually released after six months.

The New York Times noted that Wang had become known for taking high-profile positions on politically sensitive issues, including forced abortions and the massacre that crushed the Tiananmen Square democracy movement in 1989. Ahead of his arrest, he wrote, “I believe this Communist regime’s persecution against the church is a greatly wicked, unlawful action. As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely. The calling that I have received requires me to use non-violent methods to disobey those human laws that disobey the Bible and God. My Savior Christ also requires me to joyfully bear all costs for disobeying wicked laws.

“Those who interrogate me will finally be questioned and judged by Christ. When I think of this, the Lord fills me with a natural compassion and grief toward those who are attempting to and actively imprisoning me. Pray that the Lord would use me, that He would grant me patience and wisdom, that I might take the Gospel to them.”

Open Doors USA World Watch List ranks China as the 27th worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution. The Chinese Communist Party has increased their efforts to destroy all religious institutions, yet the Church continues to expand under persecution.

PRAY: We must pray for Pastor Wang Yi as he serves his prison sentence. Pray that he can withstand all that he will face and pray that he will be able to lead others to Christ. We must also pray for perseverance for our brothers and sisters in China. Pray for the Lord to strengthen them and allow their faith to be a light in such heavy darkness and persecution.

PRAY: As a "message to Christians worldwide," ISIS executed 11 Christian men the day after Christmas. The terrorists released a gruesome video showing one man being shot and 10 others beheaded. For the last two years, there has been an increase in violence against Christians, with an estimated 1,000 killed in 2019 and at least 2,400 in 2018. Open Doors USA's World Watch List ranks Nigeria as the 12th worst nation in the world for Christian persecution. Please pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria!

Russia-Turkey Collusion in Syria

Russia and Turkey have reached an agreement that would put a combined Russian-Turkish force into northern Syria after Turkey had invaded the region and in support of Russia’s Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad, the leader of Syria. The agreement will allow Turkey to keep its holdings that it has already taken from its recent invasion and place a combined force in the rest of the border region. With the withdraw of United States forces from the region, this move fills the power gap and strengthens both Turkey and Russia’s hold and influence in the region.

Russia has long been a supporter of Iran and now seems to be making greater headway into a Russian-Turkish alliance. President Vladimir Putin of Russian and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey met for six hours to discuss the negotiations and formalized the agreement.

Erdoğan stated afterward, “I believe that this agreement will start a new era toward Syria’s lasting stability and it being cleared of terrorism.” However, pundits of the invasion view this as a move to increase Turkish power and influence in the region, with the support of their new friend Russia.

President Putin has emerged as the dominant force in Syria and a major power broker in the broader Middle East — a status showcased by Mr. Erdoğan’s hastily arranged trip to the Russian president’s summer home in Sochi. And it looks increasingly clear that Russia, which rescued the government of Syrian President al-Assad with airstrikes over the last four years, will be the arbiter of the power balance there.

Reuters reports “Russia is the Syrian government’s most powerful ally and helped it turn the tables in the country’s civil war by retaking much of the country from rebels in 2015. The Turkish-Russian deal last week allowed Syrian government forces to move back into border regions from which they have been absent for years.”

Putin already has strong ties in the region and has attempted to increase Russian influence through various means, including working with Iran. His goal is to make Russian the dominant influence in the region and secure both influence and resources, including oil, for Russia.  

That Russia is working with both Turkey and Iran should not come as a surprise to scholars of the Bible. This could easily be the beginning of the foundation of the alliance spoken of in the book of Ezekiel in chapters 38-39, called by scholars the battle of Gog and Magog. Ezekiel speaks of an alliance between several nations that invade Israel and are only defeated by divine intervention. Magog has long been associated with the Russian people, tying back to the table of nations in Genesis 10 to settling in the Caucus region that eventually became part of Russia.

Persia, ancient Iran, is also mentioned as an ally of Magog in the text and so is the Ethiopia, Libya and Gomer and Togarmah, both which would be associated with modern day Turkey. Today, outside of Russia, these nations are primarily Islamic and Russia has worked very hard to develop relations with both Iran and Turkey. Iran and Turkey both view Israel as an enemy in the region and hope to both lesson Israeli influence and territory while expanding their own.

While this does not necessarily mean that the battle of Gog and Magog will happen soon, it should alert us that the pieces of this battle described by Ezekiel are being put into place and could very easily occur, especially now that Russia and Turkey are becoming more aligned in their goals.

Turkey had long been a staunch opponent of Russia as a part of NATO, but is turning into a more cooperative Russian ally in the region. This combined Turkish and Russian alliance should send red signal warnings to us that something prophetically significant may be occurring in the region.

PRAY: Pray for God’s sovereign will to be done in this region.