This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
I first began studying Bible prophecy in 1955, shortly after becoming a Christian. In 1956, I attended a lecture at Rice University in Houston. Colonel Robert B. Thieme spoke for more than two hours showing how the Suez Crisis of 1956 fit into the predicted scenario of end-time events.
He said that Russia would back Egypt and the Muslims in their struggle against England, France, Israel, and much of the west. He also detailed how Russia would later become the driving force of a Muslim coalition that would eventually attack Israel and start the first phase of the war of Armageddon.
Needless to say, I was hooked. As all of this played out on the world stage, it gave me an assurance that the Bible had to be the Word of God. For nothing man created could be that accurate about specific events that would happen hundreds and, sometimes, thousands of years later.
In 1969, when I wrote The Late Great Planet Earth, the Soviet Union was approaching its zenith as the world's other superpower. But, according to Bible prophecy, Gog is to be a strong regional power, not a world conqueror. That meant that God had to stop the Soviet Union before it became a world-dominating power which wouldn't fit into prophecy.
He did.
This week, I'm going to review how Russia is becoming the Gog described by the ancient prophets. Against all odds, including the improbable collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia's subsequent rise from the ashes as a strong regional power, national alignments that seemed impossible 40 years ago are now falling into place. Russia, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the European Union are all players that have, in some cases, made complete U-turns in their historical roles. Just as the prophets predicted.
That means that if the Bible is right about these things, then it's right about everything else. And that includes Jesus Christ's promise to redeem you from your sin. But Satan, the accuser of the believers and the father of lies, wants you to think otherwise. In fact, he will try to convince you that you're not REALLY forgiven. He'll tell you that even though you've confessed your known sin and regained fellowship with God, "He won't forgive you this time."
If we confess our sins to God but still do not believe that we are truly forgiven, then we have unresolved guilt that will keep us from believing God in the future and walking in the Spirit. If we mistakenly believe (as Satan wants) that God is still holding something against us, then we will spiral into an ever-deepening estrangement from God.
This week, I'm going to share with you how to overcome that attack of Satan and fully claim God's gracious cleansing. And if there's one thing we all need in these final days, it's that unimpeded fellowship with God that allows His Spirit to fill us and empower us.
As we commemorate Veterans Day on Monday, I want to express my deep and heartfelt gratitude to the men and women of our armed forces who stand guard around the world for our liberty, security, and freedom. Most of all, I want to say, "Thank you" to the fallen and to the families and friends of those soldiers and patriots who "gave the last full measure of devotion." Without their sacrifice, there would be no liberty, security, or freedom, indeed, no United States of America. We owe you more than we can ever repay.
On Veterans Day, 2013, let's remember that the blessings we enjoy today were secured by the sacred sacrifices made by millions of Americans. We must not allow those sacrifices to be made in vain.
God bless the men and women of our armed forces. God bless America!
PROGRAMMING NOTE: This week, "The Hal Lindsey Report" will not be seen on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) or The Word Network. We'll return next week, though.
Don't miss this week's Report on Daystar, CPM Network, the stations of the CET network (KETH, KITU, KHCE, KLUJ, WJEB, and WTCE), various local stations, www.hallindsey.comor www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.
God Bless,
Hal Lindsey