Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

World history centers around Israel. As news unfolds, now and in the future, the key nation to watch is not the U.S. or China, but Israel. The Bible says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6, NIV).

In recent weeks, we’ve seen political upheaval spread through Arab countries of the Middle East. Regardless of the short-term outcome in each place, underlying all of this conflict is radical Islam. Much of this effort, publicly or secretly, is under the banner of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that was founded in Egypt decades ago and has been active in many countries ever since, including the United States. Its two most basic goals are to replace governments and constitutions in order to bring nations under Sharia law, and to destroy Israel and drive Jews into the sea.

The political turmoil we have witnessed in Egypt could eventually result in the Muslim Brotherhood coming to power there. A leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, speaking a few days ago to the Arabic-language news media, said that under any new Egyptian government, “the people should be prepared for war against Israel.”

Whatever happens, the Bible tells us the ultimate outcome. “The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares: ‘I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. … On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem’” (Zechariah 12:1–2, 9).

The Bible also declares that the last battle of history will be fought on the plains of Armageddon in northern Israel when the nations of the world fight against the Lord. My friend, these things are coming.

Before then, there will be tribulation—the Great Tribulation. There will be a one-world monetary system where people must receive the mark of the beast on their right hand or forehead. People will not be able to buy or sell or trade without this mark. Already today, many people in this country, Europe, and other countries around the world want to develop a unified worldwide monetary system. According to reports in the New York Times, even the pope has suggested that an answer to international economic upheaval would be to establish a “true world political authority” with power to regulate the global economy.

In the midst of all this, what are we to do? Dig a hole and hide? Throw up our hands and quit? No. We are to take the Gospel to people everywhere. The Gospel is the only message that can save. The Bible says, “With the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. … Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:10, 13, NASB). All people are sinners, and all sinners are doomed to judgment. But God doesn’t want anyone to perish (see 2 Peter 3:9). He wants people saved from a judgment that leads to everlasting torment.

The Gospel is the “power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16). It is a spiritual atomic bomb that destroys the power of sin. This is incredibly good news—salvation is available to all who commit themselves to the Lord Jesus, believing that He died for our sin, shed His blood on the cross, was buried in the grave, rose to life on the third day, and gives us eternal life with Him. This is our hope.

That is the message we are proclaiming in cities across North America this year from the Jersey Shore to Southern California, and from the Colorado Rockies to the Great Lakes to the Great Plains of Manitoba. It is what we will also proclaim in cities of Asia and Europe and Africa.

I will preach March 25–27 at a Crusade in Liberia, a West African country that has had strong historic ties to the United States going back a century and a half. Over the last 20 years, Liberia endured two ruinous civil wars fueled by ethnic and political rivalries, devastating the country. The nation is just beginning to recover, and people are very open to the Good News about Jesus Christ. Pray that the life-changing hope of the Gospel will penetrate many hearts.

People see nations torn apart by war, the Middle East in turmoil, and our own country struggling with massive economic and social problems. The only hope for each and every person is Christ.

We need your prayers and your support as we take the Gospel to the men and women of our generation and to the young people of the next generation. This is urgent work. People are dying every day without Him. Let’s not allow evil to triumph; let’s not give up striving to make Christ known.

Thank you for standing with us. I won’t give up. Satan is the author of confusion and destruction, but our God is “mighty to save” (Isaiah 63:1).