Finally! Optimistic News on Church Attendance

Church Attendance on the Rise in the United States

Median in‑person worship attendance in the United States has reached its highest level since before the COVID‑19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research (HIRR). The findings come from HIRR’s Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) project, which released its latest analysis of worship attendance across U.S. faith communities. The report is based on a survey* of 7,453 congregations from a wide range of religious traditions, conducted between September and December 2025.

Researchers found that median in‑person worship attendance in 2025 reached 70 people per congregation. This represents an increase over the median of 65 attendees reported just before pandemic-related lockdowns in 2020, and a sharp rebound from the pandemic low of 45 attendees. According to the report, attendance has steadily increased each year since that low point.

The EPIC researchers described the 2025 figures as “the first positive gain in median attendance in 25 years,” though they cautioned against overinterpreting the results. While the recent increase is notable, the current median remains well below past highs. In 2000, the typical congregation reported a median attendance of 137 people. As a result, the report emphasizes that the recent growth should be understood within a much longer historical pattern of decline. Attendance levels also vary significantly by religious tradition. Catholic and Orthodox congregations reported the highest median attendance at approximately 200 people. Evangelical Protestant congregations reported a median of 75 attendees, while Mainline Protestant churches averaged 50. Other religious traditions reported a median attendance of 22.

“What we’re seeing is not a revival — it’s a recalibration,” said Allison Norton, co‑investigator on the EPIC project. She noted congregations have endured an extended period of disruption and change, and many are now emerging with greater clarity about their identity and mission. According to Norton, that renewed focus is beginning to appear in attendance data in encouraging ways.

Despite ongoing discussions about the growth of religiously unaffiliated Americans, other recent research suggests that the decline in religious practice may be slowing. In January, Lifeway Research cited Pew Research Center data indicating that younger adults show a modest increase in religious engagement compared to slightly older peers, though they remain less religiously active than older generations. “The findings don’t give a simple picture of religion in America,” said Lifeway Research senior writer Aaron Earls. “There are reasons for optimism and concern.”

Biblical Connection: What amazing news to hear! The decline of Christianity in America that was so prevalent over the past five years, especially through the Covid pandemic, has finally seemed to stabilize. While the nation certainly is not in the same place that it was spiritually thirty years ago, any positive movement is a good thing. Churches need to jump on this positive trend with a new emphasis on evangelism and outreach. People are looking for answers in a broken world. Many of them tried to find these answers through science and government only to see them not having true answers and fail miserably. It is time for the American Church to rise once again and reach out to a broken world. If the church fails to capitalize on this momentum and this opportunity, it may not receive it again and the United States might go down a similar path to Europe. May that not be the case. May we rise up and reach out to our neighbors with the Gospel and the love of Jesus.

PRAY: Pray this increase in church attendance won’t just be a blip but will go beyond renewal and be the start of spiritual revival that will spread globally.

*This survey carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

What do mid- and post-Tribulation advocates believe and why? How would you refute their arguments?

The advocates of a mid-Tribulation position remind us that it is at that point of the Tribulation — 3-1/2 years into the seven-year-period — when things go from “bad to worse,” so to speak. Until that time, the Antichrist will be consolidating his power on a massive scale while world events grow serious enough to demand his assumption of global leadership. Thus, according to this view, for the first half of the Tribulation, believers will not be forced into choosing either following the Antichrist or an almost certain death.

 At the midpoint of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:26-27). It is then that he will go into the newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, proclaim himself God, and demand worship as such (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). He will, in conjunction with his assistant, the False Prophet, also implement the Mark of the Beast at that time, without which no one can buy or sell (Revelation 13:16-18). Those who choose to reject the Antichrist’s mark will be pursued and martyred by his forces, as this mark is in essence a symbol of loyalty to him and his Satanic system.

 Mid-Tribulation Rapture advocates believe, as we do, that God has not appointed us to wrath:

“For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

 But those of the mid-Tribulation position believe this wrath only begins at the midpoint of the Tribulation, rather than at its beginning, for the reasons we have indicated. However, they neglect to take into account that all of the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments of the Book of Revelation also comprise the wrath of God. See, for example, Revelation 6:16-17. As these judgments are unleashed beginning at the onset of the Tribulation, they also fall under the heading of the “wrath” from which we are protected according the 1 Thessalonians 5:9. So, since the entire Tribulation is a time of the wrath of God, the pre-Tribulation position still has the most merit.

 Those of a post-Tribulation position point out that at no time in Church history has God spared His people from persecution. Jesus Himself promised us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Throughout the Church Age, this has certainly been the case. In fact, Christians today are being persecuted throughout the world. But they are experiencing the wrath of Satan or the wrath of man — not the wrath of God. The Bride of Christ is the object of His love, not of His wrath.

 The Tribulation is a time of trouble that Jesus said would be unprecedented:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened,” Matthew 24:21-22.

 The Tribulation is the judgment of God upon an unbelieving world. It is specifically directed to Israel, to compel them to turn to Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Thus, the Prophet Jeremiah called it “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

 Jesus assured us He will come again and receive us to Himself and take us to Heaven (John 14:1-3). He cannot do that at the Second Advent, because He is coming here to Earth to implement His Millennial Reign (Revelation 20). So He must do so before that time.

 Also, a post-Tribulation position presents Christians making a “U-turn” in the air, going up to meet Christ and then returning with Him to fight the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). This does not provide time for Christians to go through either the Judgment of the Believer’s Works (2 Corinthians 5:10) or the Marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).

 Although the advocates of these other positions do have arguments that may on the surface appear persuasive, it is clear that the pre-Tribulation position makes the most sense in light of all prophetic Scripture. Therefore, it is the one we advocate.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds First Amendment Protection

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a Colorado law that bans licensed professionals from engaging in therapy with minors seeking to change their sexual orientation or help children with gender dysphoria accept their sex. In an 8-1 decision in the case of Kaley Chiles v. Patty Salazar, executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, the high court concluded that Colorado’s ban unlawfully regulated the speech of Christian therapist Kaley Chiles.

Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the opinion of the court, writing that “we conclude that the courts below failed to apply sufficiently rigorous First Amendment scrutiny in this case. While the First Amendment protects many and varied forms of expression, the spoken word is perhaps the quintessential form of protected speech. And that is exactly the kind of expression in which Ms. Chiles seeks to engage,” said Gorsuch. “Colorado’s law does not just regulate the content of Ms. Chiles’s speech. It goes a step further, prescribing what views she may and may not express.”

Gorsuch noted that “the First Amendment stands as a shield against any effort to enforce orthodoxy in thought or speech in this country” and that “any law that suppresses speech based on viewpoint represents an ‘egregious’ assault on both of those commitments.” The opinion reverses the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision and sends the case back for further legal proceedings, with the majority opinion.

Justice Elena Kagan authored a concurring opinion, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing that if Colorado had enacted “a viewpoint-neutral law, it would raise a different and more difficult question.” “Once again, because the State has suppressed one side of a debate, while aiding the other, the constitutional issue is straightforward,” she continued. “We need not here decide how to assess viewpoint-neutral laws regulating health providers’ expression because, as the Court holds, Colorado’s is not one.”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissent, arguing that, as a licensed medical professional, Chiles does not enjoy the broad First Amendment protections others do. Jackson believes that Colorado had the right to ban the therapy for minors due to multiple mainstream medical organizations denouncing the practice.

In 2019, Colorado passed the Minor Conversion Therapy Law, which prohibited “gay conversion therapy” for minors, after multiple similar bills had failed in previous legislative sessions. Daniel Ramos, executive director of the LGBT advocacy group One Colorado, released a statement at the time saying that it was a “significant step in protecting our LGBTQ youth.” “No young person should ever be shamed by a mental health professional into thinking that who they are is wrong,” stated Ramos. “Mental health care should be ethical and affirming for all people — including LGBTQ young people.” Chiles challenged the law in September 2022, claiming the measure violated the Free Speech Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Biblical Connection: While it is good news that the Supreme Court struck down the law, the fact it was able to be passed in the first place shows just how much power and influence the LGBT agenda has accumulated over the past ten years. Something clearly so unbiblical would never have been allowed for much of America’s history and shows the tremendous spiritual decline America has suffered.

PRAY: Pray this will halt the madness of the LGBT agenda and allow medical professionals to tell the truth to minors about how God masterfully created them.

What is America’s place in Bible Prophecy?

All major nations will be a part of the “world” of the End Times. If the United States still exists at that time, it would be included in the prophecies of the future global economy, world government and world religion. However, there are no definite prophecies in the Bible about the United States per se. In none of the prophecies of the end times, including that of the Battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39, and the Battle of Armageddon predicted in the Book of Revelation, do we find the United States listed specifically. Thus, we have come to the conclusion the United States is not a major factor in the prophetic scenario. So, the question we must ask is “Why?”

One of the reasons for this may be simply because the United States did not exist in Biblical times, so God did not lead the Biblical authors to write about a nation that was not to be founded for thousands of years in the future. That is a possibility. Yet, as powerful and influential as our nation is, we must explore other possibilities as well. For instance, by the time last-days prophecies are fulfilled:

1. The United States may have been destroyed and eliminated as a result of an act of war or terrorism.

2. The United States may decline into a second-rate nation and no longer be a major power player in the end times – possibly as a result of war; possibly due to financial decline.

3. The United States may be led by someone in the last days who refuses to come to the aid of the nation of Israel in her most desperate hour.

4. The United States, no longer able to “go it alone” on the world scene, may be compelled to join forces with the Antichrist and become a part of his revived Roman Empire.

One important factor worth considering, especially in relation to that last point, is the effect of the Rapture of the Church. If there really are literally millions of genuinely Born-Again Christians in America, the effect of the Rapture of the Church would be to immediately force the United States into second-rate status among the nations of the world.

The loss of millions of people in America would have a catastrophic effect on the world economy, and on the balance of military and political power in the world. The world would be left in chaos. There would be an immediate cry for someone to lead America and the world out of confusion and despair and back to peace and prosperity. The Bible tells us that such a call will be answered by the Antichrist.

This is not to say that the Rapture would not affect other nations around the world. Certainly, it would, because the Church, the Body of Christ, exists in every nation. But in America particular, the loss of just several million people would place the nation in political, economic and military chaos and confusion.

So, after the Rapture comes, and the Lord calls the Church home to be with Him, we can certainly understand how a great world leader could come on the scene and become a world dictator, trying to stabilize the global economy and bring peace, change and stability for the future. In such a scenario, the United States would become a follower rather than a leader. Thus, any prophecies concerning the Antichrist and his kingdom also become pertinent to America as this nation comes under his umbrella, so to speak, in the end times.

PRAY: We do not know the day or hour of the return of Jesus Christ. Until that day, pray for the Gospel to be spread to all areas of the globe and for the Holy Spirit to bring lost souls to salvation while there is still time.

Dictatorship over Democracy in Europe

Have you ever heard someone say that the Antichrist could never just take over places like Europe or the United States? Well, one in five Europeans believe that in certain cases a dictatorship is preferable to democracy, according to a survey shared with POLITICO. A strong minority across the continent holds anti-parliamentary views reveals the survey, conducted by pollster AboutPeople in five countries: Greece, France, Sweden, the U.K. and Romania. The study comes at a time of rising support for populist and nationalist forces across the continent.

“Traditional divisions between European countries are receding and the landscape is becoming more complex,” said Dimitris Papadimitriou, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, referring to categorizations such as Western, Eastern and Southern Europe.

“Countries such as Romania, which have experienced rapid economic growth in recent years, do not seem to be establishing greater confidence in liberal democracy,” Papadimitriou said. “Rich countries such as Sweden are seeing their democratic institutions come under pressure and citizens’ trust in them decline. France, and to a lesser extent Britain, are in deep crisis. Greece seems to be balancing uncomfortably between a general crisis of confidence in its institutions and a somewhat nebulous belief in the ideals of democracy.”

The research, conducted between Nov. 25 and Dec. 16 and first published by POLITICO, found widespread dissatisfaction with how democracy works in practice, rather than with democracy itself. Some 76 percent of Greeks, for example, expressed discontent with how democracy works in their country, compared to 68 percent in France, 66 percent in Romania, 42 percent in the U.K. and 32 percent in Sweden.

Shockingly, one in five — 22 percent — say that in certain cases a dictatorship may be their preferred option, one in four — 26 percent — also agreed with the statement: “If there was a capable and effective leader in my country, I wouldn’t mind if they limited democratic rights and were not accountable to the citizens for their actions.”

However, 69 percent of respondents rejected the idea of authoritarian rule. “The survey does not express a general dissatisfaction or an uncritical rejection of the democratic system,” said George Siakas, assistant professor at the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece. “It expresses citizens’ dissatisfaction with the way it works, with clear anti-elite and ‘anti-establishment’ characteristics.”

In terms of trust in institutions, the European Union fared best at 43 percent, trumping the media at 27 percent and political parties on 24 percent. A third of those asked disagreed with the view that the rise of the far right poses a danger to democracy. Greek respondents had the biggest sense of estrangement from their political parties, with 55 percent saying they don’t feel close to the party they voted for in the most recent elections, versus 53 percent in Romania, 47 percent in the U.K., 43 percent in France and 32 percent in Sweden.

Biblical Connection: Since the fall of the major dictatorships of World War 2, Europe, outside of Russia, has predominantly stayed away from dictatorships, focusing instead on the democratic process. However, in the future, if the Antichrist will come from Europe, which is possible based upon Daniel 7 with the little horn coming out of the Roman Empire, then it would make sense that Europe could potentially be warming up to the idea of a “good dictator”. The Antichrist will come to power quickly after the Rapture so it makes sense that the ground would already be fertile for a leader like him to be able to take power.

PRAY: Pray for eyes to be opened against dictatorships. Pray as we are moving toward the Rapture that we will reach as many with the Gospel as possible.

Widening Access to Abortion

A Christian legal rights group -- the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) -- is opposing moves by European lawmakers that would allow women to travel to another country on the continent to obtain abortions under a “My Voice My Choice” (MVMC) initiative. The MVMC initiative was submitted to the European Commission on Sept. 1, 2025. The European Parliament then held a public hearing and, on Dec. 17, voted in favor of the measure.

The European Parliament then invited the European Commission to consider an opt-in financial mechanism, supported by EU funding, to help finance and facilitate cross-border access to abortion in accordance with the domestic laws of participating member states. 

More than 170 civil society organizations from all 27 European Union (EU) member states have sent a joint letter to the European Commission calling for a positive and decisive response to the plan aimed at widening access to abortion services.  

According to the ECLJ, this could allow a French woman who is between 14 and 22 weeks pregnant — outside France’s legal time limit — to travel to the Netherlands for an abortion.

Abortions for children diagnosed with Down syndrome are illegal in Poland, but under the proposed rules, a Polish woman carrying an unborn child with Down syndrome could travel to France for an abortion, with funding from the EU. 

The ECLJ called the plan “scandalous,” and Grégor Puppinck, director of the ECLJ, sent a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission; Stéphane Séjourné, former French minister and vice president of the commission; and the 25 other European commissioners, denouncing the strategy and what he described as an infringement of state sovereignty on this issue.

“The commission’s assessment of the MVMC initiative concerns a proposal that would place Union financial instruments at the service of facilitating access to abortion, including through measures that risk circumventing national legislative frameworks adopted through democratic processes,” wrote Puppinck. “Such an approach would involve using Union action to neutralize or bypass national law in an area of profound moral sensitivity that remains primarily within the responsibility of the member states.”

According to Puppinck, pursuing this course would risk a loss of credibility with citizens and member states opposed to abortion.

Puppinck, writing on behalf of the ECLJ, outlined five reasons why the initiative should be rejected. First, the limits of EU competence and the principle of subsidiarity in matters relating to abortion. Second, the absence of a recognized right to abortion under European and international human rights law. Third, the institutional context and impartial assessment in which the MVMC initiative has been developed and promoted. Fourth, the medical, psychological, and social implications of abortion for women. Fifth, consistency and procedural fairness in the commission’s treatment of ideologically opposed European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs), notably in comparison with the One of Us initiative.

Biblical Connection: Genesis 1:27 reminds us that God created all of mankind in His own image and Psalms 139:14 tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” It is hard to imagine that Europe has walked away from its Christian roots to such an extent that it would subsidize abortion, but that is exactly where we are.

PRAY: Pray for European nations to recognize the sanctity of life and stop endorsing the murder of the unborn.

Chicago Bulls Release Player Over LGBT Views

The Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association released one of their players, Jaden Ivey, for what they described as “conduct detrimental to the team”. In a league that routinely has players arrested, players with drug issues and all sorts of legal troubles, one would have to assume that to be kicked off the team in such a way that Ivey must have down something incredibly serious.

However, Ivey had not been arrested or faced any kind of legal trouble. He did not have a drug or gambling problem. No, instead he had simply made some statements online against the LGBT agenda. In many ways, this is deemed an even greater crime than anything else Ivey could have done.

On his personal Instagram, Ivey made several statements. He said on a video, “They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA. They say come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness. They proclaim it.” Obviously, Ivey was referencing the NBA’s endorsement of “Pride Month” where they have signage on their courts and jerseys that support the rainbow agenda.

Ivey hasn’t always been so public about his faith. In fact, it was only recently that he posted “I’ve been dealing with knee soreness in my knee. I’m sure people can call it out that I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. But the old J.I. is dead. I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.” Ivey suffered a horrific leg injury when he broke his fibula during a terrifying play on New Years Day 2025. He was out through Nov. of that year, and then experienced knee soreness when he tried to come back. It seems like it was during this time that Ivey really started to take his faith a little more seriously. He has also stated previously that he was struggling with drinking and pornography addiction before finding Jesus. Ivey had a reputation as a “preacher” in the locker room before he got to the Bulls, and there were rumblings he liked to talk to teammates about their faith.

Apparently, talking about his own faith and standing on his Christian convictions have cost him his job. Why would this have occurred? The NBA, which has always been the most liberal of the major American sports leagues, does not want to be seen as being “transphobic” or “homophobic”. After all, billions of dollars are tied up in marketing and tv deals for the league. It is “bad business” to be seen as against the LGBT agenda and therefore, if a player stands up for their faith so openly, then they are a problem to the league and must be dealt with accordingly.

Biblical Connections: In Romans 1-2, Paul describes what happens to a people who fall into unrighteousness. God “gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” That the LGBT agenda has such power in the United States that its threat can cause a basketball player to lose his job just because he dares to speak Biblical truth shows just how powerful this agenda is in many parts of our society. Organizations are terrified to cross it.

PRAY: Pray the NBA will stop its religious discrimination against Christians. Pray the LGBT agenda will be stopped and will lose power and influence in our nation.

The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection

The resurrection guarantees our eternal salvation. It provides continuing proof of the forgiveness of our sins. Paul says about Jesus Christ, “who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification,” Romans 4:25.

A more concise translation of that verse should be that He was “delivered because of our offenses, and raised again because of our justification.” God judicially placed our sins upon Christ, who died in our place on the cross. This price for sin, the blood of Christ, became the key to the redemption of all mankind. God accepted that redemption as a valid gift, and so the death of Christ on Calvary truly produced the forgiveness of every sin.

We know this because of the resurrection. In the resurrection, Jesus Christ is “declared to be the Son of God with power” (Romans 1:4). Because of the resurrection, the Bible says that Christ is able to deliver us from all sin.

“For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him,” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

The resurrection is indicative of the new life we have, to live in Christ. He said, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). He was speaking, not about that present moment, but about all moments subsequent to that, built on the living life of Jesus Christ. In other words, He was saying to all who believe in Him, “If you accept Me as your personal Savior, the life that I have brought from the dead becomes yours. You have a new life to live.”

Another possession we have because of the resurrection is power. The Apostle Paul describes this power as “the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19). The word for “power” is kratos, which is the overarching power by which God presides over the world. It is the ultimate word for power in any language, and it’s hard to believe, but we have that kind of power! Because of this power of Christ, expressed in His resurrection, He is “...able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20.

We have a living Christ, who dwells within us — “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). He is ours, and His resurrection makes marvelous things possible, as we strive to fulfill the hope of His calling.

So, the resurrection proves that we have the forgiveness of every sin; it shows that we have a new life to live; and it endows us with power from on high, so that we can live a life that will bring credit to our risen Lord.

Finally, consider what the Apostle Paul said which is perhaps the key text in this matter:

“... if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain, ye are yet in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,” 1 Corinthians 15:17-22.

The Significance of Palm Sunday

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was the fulfillment of a very specific prophecy in the Book of Zechariah regarding the coming King of Israel:

 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey,” Zechariah 9:9.

 This prophecy was fulfilled to the letter in Matthew 21. Jesus even instructed two of His disciples to go to an adjoining village to find a donkey and its colt. The owners of the animals voice no objection when the disciples took them, after having stated their Master’s need of them.

 Interestingly, only animals who had never been used as beasts of burden could be used for sacred rituals. In the Mosaic Law, for example, the red heifer used for sacrifice must be one “on which a yoke has never come” (Numbers 19:2). When the Philistines sent the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel, they built a new cart drawn by two milk cows “which have never been yoked” (1 Samuel 6:7). Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a religious as well as a political occasion. He was coming as their Savior as well as their King. Thus, the donkey on which He rode was one who had previously borne no burdens.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, people laid palm branches in His path. In the ancient Middle East, it was customary for people to scatter plants and sometimes their garments in the streets when a person of honor was entering the city. The palm branch in particular was selected because it was a symbol of triumph and victory. These branches were used in celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in the Old Testament (Leviticus 23:40). John also saw the Tribulation saints rejoicing in Heaven, holding palm branches (Revelation 7:9).

 When Jesus entered the city, the people cried, “Hosanna,” a Hebrew term meaning “Please save,” and “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). These salutations are quotes from Psalm 118:25-26, a Messianic Psalm. When the Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples for what they believed was this unwarranted praise, our Lord replied:

 “... I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out,” Luke 19:40.

 The first 69 weeks of years of the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 had been completed. Four hundred and eighty-three years had passed since the Persian Empire had given permission for the Jews to return from Babylonian Captivity to Jerusalem, there to reconstruct the city and the Temple. It was time for Jesus’ triumphal entry, right down to the very day.

 Palm Sunday is truly a beautiful illustration of Old Testament prophecy’s fulfillment in the Earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.

God’s Prophetic Plan

With so many prophetic events yet future, it is understandable how one could become confused as to their sequence. The following is a list of most of the major prophetic occurrences with a brief description and the order in which they will happen. While each event is accompanied by a Scripture passage or two, this does exhaust all that the Bible has to say on that particular subject.

First in order of occurrence is the resurrection of the saved dead accompanied by the translation of the living saints, commonly called the “Rapture” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). These individuals, upon their entrance into Heaven, will be judged at the bema, referred to as the “judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment is not for salvation, but rather to ascertain whether their labor was worthy of reward (Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). When this has been concluded, they then go to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).

Upon the removal of the Church from the Earth, the Antichrist makes his appearance, posing as a man of peace (Revelation 6:2). He is received with special favor by the nations of the world, and especially by the Jews with whom he makes a covenant which grants them special favor (Daniel 9:27). For the first 3-1/2 years of this period, known as the 70th week of Daniel, all goes well. However, at that point, he violates his covenant with Israel and reveals himself to be the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10). This inaugurates the great tribulation, the time known as “Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 12:1). It is during this seven-year period, commonly called the “Tribulation,” that the judgments pictured by the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls of Revelation Chapters 6-18 unfold.

The Antichrist’s reign is brought to an end at the Battle of Armageddon. Here, Christ, accompanied by the armies of Heaven, crushes the armies of the Earth which have gathered in the Mideast in an attempt to exterminate the nation of Israel (Revelation 19:11-21). This great victory, resulting in the virtual annihilation of those vast military forces, is followed by the doom of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, who both are thrust alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). Then ensues the binding of Satan, who is placed in the bottomless pit, there to be incarcerated for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-13). 

These events have now prepared the way for the glorious reign of Jesus Christ on the Earth during the Millennium, the 1,000 years of Heaven on Earth (Isaiah 11-12, Revelation 20:6). It is during this time that the restoration of Israel will be accomplished under the totalitarian rule of Jesus Christ on the Earth. At the conclusion of the 1,000 years of Christ’s Kingship, Satan is released (Revelation 20:7), the purpose being to test the reality of the conversions of those who professed faith in Jesus Christ during His reign. The sad truth that many were not genuine is demonstrated by the fact that Satan is able to gather a large number of rebels who join forces against Jesus Christ and the saints of God in the battle of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7-9). Following their destruction, Satan is banished forever, joining the Antichrist and the False Prophet in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

The plan continues with the resurrection of the unsaved, where at the great white throne they are judged according to their works (Revelation 20:12-13). Here only the unsaved appear, with the dreadful result that each is banished eternally to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

Some provision must be made for the righteous who lived in the Millennium as well as for any righteous who may have died during that period. It is entirely possible that a rapture and a resurrection would take place at this time, drawing those people up to Heaven. The purpose would be to ensure their safety while the Earth is destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:10-12).

The final phase of the prophetic program pictures a new Heaven and a new Earth (Revelation 21:1), and a new Jerusalem described in great detail (Revelation 21:2, 9-27). Here, the saved of all ages will dwell with God for all of eternity.

Doctors Held Accountable

Over the past decade, the Trans movement, as a part of the larger LGBT movement, has become a powerful and dangerous movement that has been responsible for both confusion and physical harm. However, this powerful movement might have hit a major roadblock as a 22-year-old woman who thought she identified as a boy in her teen years won a $2 million decision in a landmark lawsuit against New York doctors accused of pushing a double mastectomy on her when she was a minor.

Fox Varian had the life-altering surgery when she was just 16-years old, getting approval from a psychologist and a surgeon, both of whom a jury found liable of medical malpractice on Jan. 30, The Epoch Times reported. Varian, now 22 and considered a “detransitioner,” was awarded $1.6 million for past and future pain and suffering, and an additional $400,000 for future medical expenses — in the first detransitioner malpractice lawsuit in the nation to go to trial and win.

Psychologist Kenneth Einhorn and surgeon Simon Chin was held responsible in Westchester County Supreme Court in White Plains for ignoring standards of care and procedural guardrails by pressuring the minor into addressing gender dysphoria with permanent surgery, the jury decided. Lawyers for Varian pointed the finger at Einhorn, saying he “drove the train” and was “putting the idea in Fox’s head” that she needed to change her gender with surgery, according to the report. Varian’s mother, Claire Deacon, testified that she was against the surgery, but consented to it out of fear her daughter would commit suicide, according to the outlet. “This man was just so emphatic, and pushing and pushing, that I felt like there was no good decision,” Deacon told The Epoch Times. “I think it was a scare tactic. I don’t believe it was malice, I think he believed what he was saying, but he was very, very wrong,” she said.

The so-called “top surgery” left the girl physically ill and deeply unhappy, she said in court papers reported by The Epoch Times, and which have since been sealed. The jury was not asked to rule on the ethics of gender-related surgical procedures for minors, but instead whether the medical professionals took appropriate steps before suggesting the threshold-crossing measure.

Lawyers for Einhorn and Chin argued that Varian lived allegedly happily as a male for several years after the 2019 surgery before filing the lawsuit in 2023. They further claimed Varian first came to them using male pronouns, verbally identified as a “trans male,” and that she first presented the idea for chest surgery. 

The doctors should have ensured Varian did not have other psychological conditions, such as depression, ADHD, autism, or body dysmorphia before suggesting the surgery, her lawyers argued, according to The National Review. Instead, they saw an opportunity to push their own agenda on a minor and are now paying the price for that action.  

Biblical Connection: The Bible clearly teaches in the creation account in Genesis that God made mankind man and female. This Satanic idea that God somehow made a mistake and was putting people in the wrong type of bodies has been pushed for far too long, especially to young children who do not know any better. Hopefully this lawsuit will open the floodgates against these doctors and psychiatrists who are manipulating or allowing these children to do permanent damage to their God-given bodies, and we will see a dramatic shift away from this Trans movement that has been so prevalent and so powerful over the past decade. 

PRAY: Pray for the young people who have been so inundated and conned by this movement, that they would see the lie that it is and would instead trust God knows what is best for them.

Is Time Running Out?

Earlier this week, the leaders of the United States and Israel declared the launch of a broad, coordinated military operation against the Iranian regime, beginning with massive waves of airstrikes across several areas in the country. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the start of “major combat operations in Iran,” explaining that the objective “is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime” … and to “the great and proud people of Iran: The hour of your freedom is at hand.”

 When you see this news, you can’t help but wonder, “What in the world is going on? What is happening in the Middle East? Could this be the last days, the End Times?”

We need to remind ourselves that we can’t determine the future based on the news alone. You do not interpret Bible Prophecy through the lens of current events. You interpret current events through the lens of Bible Prophecy!

The future is in the hands of God, and one day, Christ will return and call the Church home to Heaven. When He does, He will then usher in a time of Tribulation, wrath and judgment on the Earth, like the world has never seen before.

 When we look at the Middle East through the lens of the Bible, the Prophet Ezekiel has given us details of a coming war in the Middle East. In Ezekiel 38 and 39, these chapters tell us that this battle will take place in the last days, in the years to come (Ezekiel 38:8, 16). This passage also provides us with a list of nations that will be involved in a war against Israel.

 When this passage was written, Ezekiel was a captive of the Babylonian Empire. He was in Iraq when he received a vision about Iran in the future. This is a prophecy about an Iranian invasion of Israel in the last days.

 The Ezekiel prophecy tells us that in the last days, an invading army will come “out of the north parts” (Ezekiel 38:15). The description of the allies – Iran, Russia, and nations that surround Israel – indicates that they are coming from every quarter of the ancient world to destroy Israel.

 Yet verse 19 says, “in that day there shall be great shaking in the land of Israel.” God will intervene. God will throw the invading army in confusion, and “every man’s sword shall be against his brother” (Ezekiel 38:21).

 This is an unconditional prophecy. It will come to pass. “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken,” Ezekiel 39:8.

 As we take the Word of God, and we look at the world in which we live, we realize very quickly that the stage is being set for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

 There is NO event in the Bible that must be fulfilled before the Rapture of the Church could occur. But there are a number of things that could occur before the Rapture takes place. Just because the end is near, it does not necessarily follow that the end is here. We do not know how much time we have left.

 The Bible makes it very clear that nobody knows the time of Christ’s return, not even the angels of Heaven (Matthew 24:36).  Many have tried to guess the exact date of the Second Coming and have been proven wrong.

 In the meantime, we live in a window of God’s grace, a time when there is still an opportunity for people to come to faith in Jesus Christ. The mandate to take the Gospel message is also part of the prophetic plan of God:

 “… this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come,” Matthew 24:14.

 PRAY: There are believers in Iran, brothers and sisters in Christ, who are sharing the Gospel throughout their nation. Join us in praying for their safety and the effectiveness of their witness. The only hope for our world is Jesus Christ. Pray also for any new leaders who emerge to reject the ideology of the destruction of Israel and who would push for peace in the Middle East.

Why do people suffer? Is it always because of sin in their lives?

Many people feel that this is the case, but that is not necessarily true. A question about sin and suffering was asked by Jesus’ disciples, who, upon encountering a blind man, asked the Lord:

“…Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” John 9:2.

Jesus’ answer was, “Neither.” It was necessary, rather, to minister to this man, manifesting the work of God in him by healing him of his blindness.

Job’s friends certainly felt it was because of sin. Take, for example, the words of Bildad the Shuhite, who said to Job about God:

“If thou wert pure and upright, surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase,” Job 8:6-7.

Job’s other friends echoed this sentiment through most of their discourses, that somehow Job’s sin was responsible for his misfortune. In Job’s case, this was not true, as was shown by God’s words to Eliphaz the Temanite at the conclusion of the book:

“…My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath,” Job 42:7.

Why, then, is there suffering? While it is not possible to know the entire mind of God on this or, for that matter, any subject (Romans 11:33), we can suggest several observations based on Scripture:

1. Punishment – As we have mentioned, not all suffering is a result of a person’s wrongdoing, but some of it certainly is. The Bible gives us the principle that what a man sows, so shall he reap (Galatians 6:7). Sometimes, there is a direct cause and effect in this area. For instance, those who abuse their bodies stand a high risk of contracting an illness based on the harm in which they indulge. Those who commit crimes against the government, which God has said is in place for society’s benefit (Romans 13:1-7), will likely be punished by the government.

2. Discipline – As members of God’s family, we can come under His discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11). This may or may not be the result of sin. It may simply be an effort on God’s part to refocus our priorities on Him, as we are so prone to wander away to other sources of fulfillment. Disciplinary suffering can produce in us a transforming effect to make us more Christ-like by producing in us those qualities that would make us conform to Him. These include patience (James 1:2-4) and faithfulness (1 Peter 1:6-9), among others. The goal here is to bring us into a closer relationship with the Lord, as we learn to trust and depend upon Him.

3. Testimony – Sometimes we suffer simply because we are Christians. Suffering for this reason was quite prevalent in the early Church and still is in many places in the world today. Even here in some areas of the U.S., some are losing freedoms once had to publicly honor God and exhort others to do the same. When we suffer for this reason, and do so patiently, it can have a positive effect on others, even our enemies, that would cause them to ask about the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). An ancient Church father once observed, “The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church.” When people saw Christians suffer and die for their faith, it drew people to Christ rather than repelling them.

When we suffer – for one of these reasons, for another reason, or even if we do not know the reason – we are to remain faithful to God and trust Him under all circumstances. We must remember the “big picture” that God has for us as Christians, that we have a hope that the world does not. The eternal home that God has prepared for us will make the obstacles that we may encounter between here and there fade into insignificance:

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

One in Seven Christians Face Persecution and Discrimination for Their Faith

Christian persecution reached an unprecedented scale worldwide in 2025. The findings of Open Doors US annual World Watch List show that the 388 million Christians facing high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith — more than one in seven — marks an increase of more than 8 million over the previous year. Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors US, said there are multiple dynamics at play beneath the surface of such trends, but noted there is “expansion of the levels of really extreme violence that are taking place.” He added that much of it is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to 14 countries on the watch list.

Nigeria is “at the center of a lot of the things going on,” and is the primary hotspot for deadly violence, accounting for the most faith-related killings globally. This region of more than 720 million people, nearly half of whom are Christian, remains a critical area of concern. Of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith, 3,490 were Nigerian, which is an increase from 3,100 last year.

Somalia landed as the second-most dangerous country for Christians for the fourth consecutive year. Aweis Ali, son of a Muslim cleric and a convert to Christianity, recounted the violence Christians face there. “Somali Christians are among the most extremely persecuted in the world,” he said. “You could be sitting in a cafeteria, enjoying your meal, and somebody could come and attempt to decapitate you, to cut your head off.”

Syria is also highlighted. It achieved its highest-ever score on the ranking system after experiencing the most significant single-year increase in Christian persecution recorded by any country since the nonprofit's ranking methodology began in 2014. Intensified pressures on the Christian community amid ongoing conflict has lingered on for more than a decade. The militant Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, which took power after the Assad regime collapsed, at first engaged in dialogue. They expressed that Syrians “could worship freely and different faith persuasions would have a seat at the table,” Brown said. “While we haven't necessarily seen the difficulties at the hand of the central government, we have seen, due to the weak rule of law, that there have been vacuums of power that have been created throughout the country, and extremists have stepped into those vacuums,” he said. Brown added that Christians are suffering elsewhere because of similar examples of extremists filling a power vacuum.

The World Watch List is not just an informational resource, but also a prayer resource. Persecuted Christians are asking fellow believers around the world to pray for them. The list offers specific prayer points for each of the 50 countries that are detailed. “These are prayer points that our brothers and sisters on the ground have told us … the things that they are praying for,” explained Brown.

PRAY: Let us pray and intercede on behalf of our fellow believers experiencing terrible persecution and even death.

Programmable Digital Currency

Globalist leaders are actively working to introduce central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). A CBDC is a digital currency that is issued directly by a central bank, such as the Federal Reserve in the US, the European Central Bank in the EU’s eurozone, and the Bank of England in the UK. Critics say that these CBDCs are part of the dream of being able to control the global economy and therefore controlling people’s lives. Several of those steps are already a reality, including shutting down dissent and free speech. In Europe, people are routinely fined and arrested for saying things their government does not like.

The Oxford-educated, German economist Richard A. Werner warned in an interview, “The push for CBDCs is the final step in a multi-decade program by central planners to increase their power over the people and over countries. This is the ultimate step because the powers of CBDCs are so extraordinary that, I mean, even the worst dictators of past centuries could only have dreamt of having such enormous power over the lives of so many people.

“We are talking about a very dystopian future if we allow central banks to issue central bank digital currencies. You know, even if the original designers and heads of central banks who are launching this are super well-meaning, you know, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt, we just know what human nature is like and history is the best guide…”

“I think the power would be abused, if not by the original generation of launchers, then by the next generation.... It will be a completely totalitarian system of such frightening proportions, it’s hard to imagine...The micromanaging decision about your spending will then be automated and... you have no right to appeal the algorithm... You just won’t be able to use your money for certain things and then there is nothing that you can do... That by definition endsfreedom....” he continued.

CBDCs will indeed be “programmable”: In 2021, the Bank of England asked for ministers to have the final word on whether a central bank digital currency should be “programmable”, meaning that the central bank would have a veto over how people would spend their money, the Telegraph reported. Tom Mutton, a director at the Bank of England, said during a conference that programming could become a key feature of any future central bank digital currency.

According to Mutton, “There could be some socially beneficial outcomes from that, preventing activity which is seen to be socially harmful in some way. But at the same time, it could be a restriction on people’s freedoms. That is a delicate debate that needs to be had. It is not something we can settle ourselves, that is for the Government to lead on.” Programming, Mutton made it clear, would enable the state or an employer “to control how the money is spent by the recipient.”

Not only is such a scenario horrifying beyond words, but half the world is already hurtling towards this nightmare: A study by the Atlantic Council last year found that 134 countries — including the U.S. at the time — were pursuing central bank digital currencies, with almost half of those countries at an advanced stage in this process. The Biden administration was working towards an American CBDC. But, in May 2024, the House of Representatives passed a bill to prevent the Federal Reserve from introducing a CBDC. Shortly after coming into office, President Donald Trump banned the establishment of a CBDC in the United States. The European Union is barreling ahead towards a central bank digital currency for those EU countries that are a part of the eurozone, which includes most EU countries.

Biblical Connections: While CBDCs are not inherently bad in themselves, one can see how this type of power could one day be used by the Antichrist. He could control the global economy to such an extent it would be almost impossible to buy or sell goods without permission, as outlined in Revelation 13.

PRAY: Pray those in power making the decisions on these types of massive digital overhauls will be wise and thoughtful in their actions.

Increased Aid to Nigeria to Protect Vulnerable Christian Populations

The United States has signed a $5.1 billion, five-year bilateral health agreement with Nigeria, directing substantial new funding toward Christian faith-based healthcare providers to expand health services and protect vulnerable Christian populations. The move marks a new phase in U.S.-Nigeria cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy. The America First Global Health Strategy, launched in September, covers countries receiving U.S. health assistance. The memorandum of understanding, formalized over the weekend, commits nearly $2.1 billion from the U.S. government toward prevention and treatment of HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, polio and maternal and child health, according to the U.S. State Department. Nigeria has pledged an accompanying $3 billion in domestic health investment over the same period, the largest co-investment made by any nation under the strategy to date.

Of the U.S. funding, around $200 million will go to more than 900 Christian health facilities operating across Nigeria. These clinics and hospitals serve over 30% of the population, despite representing just 10% of healthcare providers, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria said in a statement. The agreement ties U.S. support to recent Nigerian government reforms aimed at protecting Christian populations from targeted violence. It includes provisions to expand integrated services for infectious diseases and maternal and childcare at Christian-run facilities. 

Northern Nigeria is predominantly Muslim, with many states enforcing Sharia law alongside federal law, and religious police like the Hisbah regulating public morality. The south is largely Christian, with no religious law and a strong presence of churches and Evangelical movements. This divide influences politics, education and social life, while the central Middle Belt region remains religiously mixed and often experiences violent clashes rooted in both faith and ethnicity. Tens of thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed in the last decade, while many others have been displaced amid the rise of Islamic extremist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the northeast and the increase of attacks carried out by radicalized Fulani militias against predominantly Christian communities in the Middle Belt states.

The global Christian persecution watchdog Open Doors has warned in recent years that more Christians are killed in Nigeria for their faith annually than in all other countries. The State Department said these investments are designed to complement public-sector efforts and strengthen Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure. 

The MOU was signed in the context of a larger U.S. push to recalibrate global health assistance toward bilateral cooperation models. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott said the agreement is part of a new strategy that seeks increased financial participation from partner nations and a stronger focus on healthcare system resilience. Nigeria’s maternal and child health indicators remain among the worst globally, with the country accounting for 30% of the worldwide malaria burden.

The State Department said the U.S. president and secretary of state retain authority to pause or end assistance programs that no longer align with national interests. U.S. officials said they expect continued progress from Nigeria in addressing extremist violence affecting Christian communities.  

Biblical Connections: Christian persecution in Nigeria has been brutal and unchecked for over a decade. While it is good to see the United States is finally attempting to address mass persecution, it is also a reminder that for years this has been occurring with basically zero visibility or intervention throughout the world. When Christians are persecuted, it is rarely worldwide news, and non-Christians do not seem to care about it. It should remind Christians that one day, when the Antichrist arises during the Tribulation and turns on the Tribulation Saints, the world at large is not going to stand up to him.

PRAY: Pray for the persecuted Christians in Nigeria and that the United States will push to protect Christians throughout the world that are under persecution.

Palestinian Authority Refuses to Reform National School Curriculum

A report by the Israel- and United Kingdom-based Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE) found that the Palestinian Authority’s 2025-2026 national school curriculum has not been reformed to eliminate inciting and hateful elements, despite promises to do so. The report, released by the educational watchdog organization, represents the first comprehensive review of the full corpus of educational materials used by the Palestinian Authority since its previous report in 2021.

The European Union and the Palestinian Authority signed a Letter of Intent in 2024, in which the EU agreed to restore funding to the PA, which had been suspended over the inciting curricula, based on the promise of significant reforms to the curricula. That letter of intent led to the transfer of over €400 million ($462 million) from the European Union to the PA on the commitment to initiate significant reforms in its curricula. In a familiar phenomenon when dealing with the PA, the letter of intent, published in English, made clear statements regarding “substantial and comprehensive reforms of the Palestinian Authority.” However, PA officials, speaking in Arabic, told a different story to their public than the one told to the EU.

IMPACT-SE found that PA curricula “continues to systematically violate UNESCO principles and educational standards,” through material which “incites antisemitism and violence, promotes jihad and martyrdom, glorifies terrorism, rejects peacemaking and the two-state solution, and erases Israel from maps.” IMPACT-SE found little change from the modest reforms first established during the 2016 reform cycle.

Specifically, the survey of PA curricula found that despite both the PA and the European Union claiming that the materials for Grades 1-4 and Grade 12 would be reformed and “fully aligned with UNESCO standards of peace and tolerance,” in actuality, the materials were virtually unchanged since 2021. The differences between the newer materials and those from 2021 represent shortening of material through formatting adjustments, “and not an effort to expunge problematic content.”

In September 2024, after receiving the transfer of funds from the EU, Abdul Hakim Abu Jamous, head of the Humanities Division in the Palestinian Ministry of Education, told the PA-affiliated Al-Quds news network, “The Ministry of Education has not approved any modifications to the Palestinian curriculum.” He even stated that “not a single word has been deleted or altered in textbooks.” IMPACT-SE stated that “Antisemitism remains a central feature of the curriculum. Hate and collective accusations specifically directed toward Jewish people appear across grades and subjects, depicting them as deceitful, manipulative, or inherently corrupt enemies of Islam, drawing on classical Islamic polemic, historical distortions, and modern antisemitic motifs used to describe the current conflict.”

The report found that in some materials, Israelis are depicted as “demonic monsters, laughing while committing atrocities, slaughtering children, and extinguishing life.” Other materials accuse the Israeli government of fabricating Jewish holy sites to steal Palestinian land. IMPACT-SE found that jihad is always interpreted in a militant sense connected to the conflict with Israel and presented as an obligation that leads to divine reward. Such subjects are imposed upon the curriculum, even when no direct connection is necessary.

According to IMPACT-SE CEO Marcus Sheff, “The obvious conclusion of this report is that barring long-overdue, deep and sustained intervention by the international community, the systematic indoctrination of Palestinians via extremist education is here to stay.”

PRAY: Pray the heart of sin and darkness that leads to generational hate will be softened and the push to create more evil in the coming generations will cease.

Sunday Morning Attack

On Sunday January 21, Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota was invaded by around 36 protestors, including former CNN host Don Lemon. Chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee” the agitators chose to terrorize the church during morning services.

Pastor Jonathan Parnell issued a statement on the church’s website stating in part:

“Jesus is real. When we gather on Sunday mornings to worship him, we are gladly giving ourselves to what is most central and sacred in our life together. On Sunday, January 18, a group of agitators jarringly disrupted our worship gathering. They accosted members of our congregation, frightened children, and created a scene marked by intimidation and threat. Such conduct is shameful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated.

“Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, lived, died, and rose again for the rescue of all who put their faith in him. He offers a love that transcends cultures, borders, policies, and politics. As those who have been loved and rescued by him, we will not shrink from worshiping Jesus, nor will we stop ‘teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah’ (Acts 5:42). Church buildings are meant to be places of peace and solace, where worshipers can hear and live out this message. We therefore call on local, state, and national leaders to protect this fundamental right. We are evaluating next steps with our legal counsel.”

Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, posted on social media that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating federal civil rights violations by “these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers. A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws!”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem promised the agitators “will soon be held accountable.”

Citing FACE, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances & Places of Worship Act, there is precedent for lawsuits to be files against the protestors trespassing in the house of God. The First Amendment to the Constitution established the right of every American citizen to exercise religion, assemble peaceably and speak freely.

Political theater cloaked as activism has no place in churches, synagogues or other places of worship.

Biblical Connections: Jesus reminds us in John 15:18-19, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Jesus was hated without cause, and further on in Chapter 15, He says that “the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” During the End Times, the church and Christians will experience extreme opposition and persecution. We should not be surprised by this latest example of hatred. However, we must continue to share the Good News of the saving grace of God.

In the prophetic plan of God, does the Church replace Israel?

This is an often taught but erroneous doctrine that is making its rounds in prophetic circles. This view teaches that all the covenant promises God made to Israel in the Old Testament are conditional. Advocates of this doctrine believe that because Israel failed, and rejected the Messiah, God has taken the Kingdom away from them. Instead, He has given the Kingdom blessings to the Church. So, the Church is literally the Kingdom of God on Earth today, and we can claim Kingdom authority. 

Sometimes, there is confusion between the unconditional prophecies of the Old Testament and the conditional prophecies. God said to Abraham, “I will bless you unconditionally. I will make a great nation of you, a great name, and a great people, and you will be a blessing to all nations” (Genesis 12:1-3). God cut the covenant with Abraham. The power of God, represented by fire, moved between the pieces of the animals when they cut that covenant in Genesis 15. God did it while Abraham was asleep in a trance. God was saying, “I will keep this covenant. I will make this happen.” It is an unconditional covenant. The promise to give the land to the nation of Israel is an everlasting promise — a covenant — of God. 

If the promise of the everlasting covenant of the land to Israel were not everlasting, then we would have cause to wonder if we, in the New Testament, can depend upon the promise that everlasting life is indeed everlasting, or if it is conditional as well. Of course, we know that everlasting life is an unconditional promise of God. Likewise, the Bible makes it very clear that God has not cast away His people Ismael. 

“I say, then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I am also an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people whom he foreknew...,” Romans 11:1.

As Paul writes about his burden for Israel in Romans 11, he says, “Yes, they have rejected the Messiah. Yes, they are under the judgment of God. But God has not abandoned them. God has not cast them away. God forbid,” Paul says. In Romans 11:11, he says, “Have they stumbled, that they might fall, and never get up again? No, not at all.” Their temporary blindness (Romans 11:25) is to provoke them to jealousy, while God gives His blessing to the Gentiles.

Paul sees the distinction between the Church and Israel. God is blessing the Church in the New Testament age, so that Israel will ultimately see that they have missed the blessings of God. They have been provoked unto jealousy that will ultimately and irresistibly draw them to the Savior. That will convince them Jesus Christ really is their Messiah and Lord. In Romans 11:25, Paul said this would go on until the “fullness of the Gentiles” has become complete. God is still in the process of building His Church today. In the process of building that Church, many Gentiles will come into the family of God. Some of the Jewish people will come into the family of God as well. They will come to believe that Jesus indeed died on the cross for their sins. 

The Scripture says it is all according to the grace of God, who calls Jew and Gentile, Black and White, male and female, Arab and Israeli. He calls every one of us to put our trust in Jesus Christ, because only Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins. Only Jesus shed His blood for us. Only Jesus rose from the dead. And only Jesus is coming again to take us home to the Father’s house.

December Arrests Target Christians in China

Chinese persecution of Christians continues to rise. On December 15, more than 1,000 police, SWAT and paramilitary units carried out a crackdown on Christian churches across at least 12 congregations in Yayang Town, Zhejiang province. According to the U.S.-based advocacy organization ChinaAid, led by veteran rights activists Bob Fu, several hundred people were detained within the first two days, and at least four more were taken into custody by Dec. 17.

Roads were sealed off around churches and Christians were barred from entering. A heavy police presence remained in the area during the five-day operation. As of Jan. 6, at least one church has undergone destruction of property. Items belonging to targeted Christians were confiscated.

Two of the primary targets were 58-year-old Lin Enzhao and 54-year-old Lin Enci. Both described as key figures in the local church and listed on wanted notices as leaders of a “criminal organization,” with a reward offered for information. The listed offense was “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a common charge used in political cases.

These men have long been involved in church affairs and were previously targeted for opposing the removal of crosses from church buildings. Officials reportedly labeled them “gang-related,” but church members viewed them as defenders of religious space. Their resistance to the forced installation of national flags at churches was given as one source of tension.

Religious institutions are required to display the Constitution, national laws and party slogans, and adapt religious practices to political directives, under a policy titled “Five Entries and Five Transformations.” These requirements have led to conflict and confrontation between local churches and government officials.

Information about the crackdown was swiftly removed from online platforms and communication was heavily restricted. On the night of Dec. 15, a fireworks display was held in the town square. There was no official celebration on the calendar, and residents suspected the timing was meant to distract from the raids. Fireworks videos were widely circulated online along with posts from state-linked accounts repeating slogans such as “Listen to the Party, follow the Party," according to ChinaAid. These accounts described the fireworks as a public celebration of a crackdown on crime.

In 2014, Zhejiang province launched a campaign to remove crosses from the churches. Christian groups in Yayang Town pushed back against the demolition. In 2017, clashes broke out when officials tried to install surveillance cameras, multiple injuries were reported.

A previous incident in June 2025 reportedly involved the mayor of Yayang leading a group that dismantled church gates and walls to raise the Chinese national flag on the property. Church members said this encroached on religious space and violated their rights.

Following the latest operation, a rally was held in Yayang on Dec. 18 titled “Elimination of Six Evils.” Police vehicles, SWAT units and riot officers were displayed in public to reinforce the anti-crime narrative. Residents claim officers stationed near Christian homes had asked them to accuse the detained leaders of wrongdoing. ChinaAid described posters and statements circulating that framed the community as part of a cult or criminal group.

The exact number of people formally detained across Yayang’s churches remains unknown. Initial counts suggest more than 20 individuals may have been charged. In September, at least 70 Christians were arrested during a separate wave of raids targeting unregistered churches, with accusations ranging from fraud to illegal assembly, according to Open Doors, which monitors anti-Christian activity across the world.

PRAY: Pray for the believers in China that are constantly under the threat of violence and arrest, that they would be safe but more importantly that they would continue to promote the cause of Christ.