Messianic Perspectives

Liz Aiello: We often hear prophetic teaching about God's plan for end times, but did you know Satan also has a plan? Stay tuned as Dr. Gary Hedrick discusses Satan's Plan for the End Times right here on Messianic Perspectives.

Shalom and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinctively first-century Jewish point of view. This is Liz Aiello. Today, our Bible teacher is Dr. Gary Hedrick, president of CJF Ministries in San Antonio, Texas. You can reach our offices by dialing 1-800-926-5397.

Gary's subject today is Satan's Plan for the End Times. I'll be back a little later with information about a special offer, so have your pencil and paper ready. And now, with today's installment, here is Gary Hedrick.

Dr. Gary Hedrick: It's good to have you with us today as we conclude this series of studies on Satan's plan for the end times. We've been talking about the fact that God isn't the only one with a plan for the end times; the enemy also has a plan for the end times. We saw in Matthew chapter 4 on the last program that Satan has a comprehensive understanding of the Messianic mission. That includes not only God's plan 2,000 years ago when He came the first time, but also His plan today.

The devil knows what God is doing, and he uses specific techniques to try to thwart what God is doing. He evidently has a pretty good understanding of prophecy, too, because the Bible says when he realizes his time is short during the tribulation period, the devil will intensify his activities. He will redouble his efforts to thwart God's purpose. In Revelation 12:12, it says the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Now, as we come to the end of this study on Satan's plan for the end times, let's talk about some specific things we can be watching for if it's really true that we're living in the end times. What is Satan's strategy going to be? One of his main strategies is antisemitism. As we get closer to the end, we can expect antisemitism worldwide to continue to spread. You say, Gary, what does the devil have to do with antisemitism? That's a good question. What does the devil have to do with antisemitism? The answer is he has everything to do with it.

I used to wonder years ago when we first got into this ministry why I could never make any headway when talking to an antisemite. They would write to us or sometimes call us and send us all this propaganda. Usually, they wanted to be anonymous because most of them are not only cooks, they're also cowards. But the few who were willing to actually engage in a discussion, I tried to reason with them, but I never got anywhere.

We spent literally days and even weeks sometimes researching the crazy claims of these antisemites. But even when we showed them the facts, even if we proved that they were wrong, it was like they didn't care. That was something I just couldn't understand because if I'm wrong about something, I want to know about it. I guess I just assumed the antisemites were the same way, but they weren't. Their attitude was, don't confuse me with the facts, man; I hate the Jews and I don't care what you say.

No one was going to talk them out of it. Finally, I figured out why. It's because antisemitism is not a matter of the head so much as it is a matter of the heart. It's not so rational as it is spiritual. What we've been talking about for the past two weeks here on this program is really the crux of the whole thing. Antisemitism is satanic. Satan has always hated the Jewish people and he always will. Why do you think that is?

It's because of what they represent. The plan of God revolves around Israel and specifically around Jerusalem. In the Bible, Jerusalem is literally the center of the earth. In fact, if you ever go with us on one of our tours to Israel, we'll take you down under the Temple Mount in the Rabbis' Tunnel. There's a place down there in that tunnel where you'll see a plaque mounted on the ceiling over your head. It says you're standing right under the center of the world, the site of the ancient Holy of Holies.

We don't know if that's exactly true. A lot of it is based on tradition. We can't really point to one spot and say definitely that's the center of the earth, but we can point to a city. We do know that Jerusalem is the center of the earth as far as God is concerned. North in the Bible means north of Jerusalem. South in the Bible means south of Jerusalem. East in the Bible means east of Jerusalem. Everything revolves around Jerusalem, and Satan knows that.

Geographically, everything in the prophetic plan of God revolves around Jerusalem. Spiritually, everything revolves around the Jewish people. Prophetically, the Bible says that everything will come full circle. That is, the Jewish people gave us the law, they gave us the covenants, they gave us the prophecies, and most of all, they gave us our Messiah. He came through the tribe of Judah. He was born in Bethlehem. He was Jewish.

Then his own people rejected him. John says he came unto his own and his own received him not (John 1:11). So then the gospel was offered to the Goyim, or to the Gentiles. For 2,000 years, the Lord has been building his church, which we call the Messianic community. He's been building this body of believers in the Messiah, Jews and Gentiles who believe in Yeshua. But then the whole process comes full circle according to prophecy.

The next thing that happens is that God begins to deal once again with his earthly people, Israel. Read Ezekiel 37 sometime. We don't have time to do it right now, but read where the prophet tells about the resurrection of national Israel and how someday God will breathe the breath of life into them once again. This is what Paul was talking about in Romans 11:26 when he said all Israel will be saved. They will be delivered at the end of the great tribulation. They will all come to faith in their Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth.

At that point, the gospel will have come full circle back to where it started with the Jewish people. You see, that's why Satan hates the Jewish people. Why do you think in virtually every age of world history there has been some attempt to destroy the Jews? I know there have been other people and other races who've been persecuted, but can you name any other people who have been consistently and systematically hounded and persecuted for almost 4,000 years?

There has to be a reason, and the reason is that they are God's people. Satan wants to destroy them because they are God's people, and Satan knows God has a plan for them. Satan knows God is not finished with the Jewish people. Satan knows they have a future. Now, isn't that something? Satan knows more than the Amillennialists know. They say Israel has no future, but the devil knows that's not true.

Just read Revelation 12 sometime. That's where a pregnant woman symbolizes Israel and the dragon represents Satan. It says the dragon stood in front of the woman waiting for her to give birth so that he might devour her child when he's born (Revelation 12:4). This child is the Messiah. Revelation 12:5 says the woman gave birth to a male child who would rule the nations, the Messiah. But then the child is snatched up to heaven and the woman flees into the desert.

You see, that's the church age. Israel is sent out into the desert or the diaspora, and the dragon pursues her, it says here in Revelation. The woman is Israel, the dragon is the devil, and it says the dragon is enraged at the woman and makes war against her and her offspring. You see, antisemitism is satanic. It's the dragon. It's hatched in the pit of hell. What you see going on today, the way the world is turning against Israel, this is all part of the war, and it's going to get worse.

The world community will side against Israel more and more as we get closer and closer to the end. We're already seeing it, and this is exactly what the prophets said would happen. The dragon would make war against the woman. By the way, did you know that the old dispensationalists were the only ones who saw this coming? They predicted long before May of 1948, long before it ever happened, they predicted there would have to be a modern state of Israel.

National Israel would have to be reborn. The Amillennialists didn't see it. The Postmillennialists didn't see it. The Preterists certainly didn't see it. Nobody but the dispensationalists. Sure enough, on May 14, 1948, the modern state of Israel was born, and everything is shaping up. The stage is being set. Yes, just like God has an agenda for the end times, so does Satan. As we get closer to the end, we will see him intensify his efforts.

That means the world community will continue to coalesce into a united global political system because part of his plan, part of Satan's plan, is to establish a counterfeit kingdom. The Bible has a code word for this end-time kingdom of the Antichrist: it's called Babylon. There will also continue to be an unprecedented worldwide proliferation of false religion, and Jerusalem will continue to be the focus of world attention.

The Middle East peace process will continue to frustrate world leaders because there will never be true peace anywhere in this world without the Prince of Peace, and that's especially true in the Middle East. Well, that's all we have time for. Thanks for joining us for this series of studies on Satan's plan for the end times. I hope you've enjoyed it. This is your friend Gary Hedrick saying God bless you. Take care. Bye-bye.

Liz Aiello: Thank you, Gary. And thank you, listening friend, for tuning in today. Today, we've been listening to our Bible teacher, Dr. Gary Hedrick, talking about Satan's plan for the end times. If you found today's program especially helpful and insightful, you'll be glad to know that we have placed the entire series of programs on compact disc. The title is Satan's Plan for the End Times.

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And as always, when you're in touch with us, please mention the call letters of this station. If you're listening to our webcast or podcast, we need to know that too. I'm Liz Aiello. Join us next time, won't you, as Dr. Gary Hedrick begins his series on Star Trek: The Original Series, right here on Messianic Perspectives.