October 7: Three Years On

Good morning,

The extraordinary and unknowable chain of consequences that followed Hamas’s demonic attack on Israel three years ago today offers proof of a powerful truth: that biblical prophecy makes sense of otherwise bewildering world events.

[BRIEF]

• Exhibit A: Go back and read editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s feature story in the Trumpet issue following the attacks. His takeaways have even greater relevance now, 36 months later. Consider where the Bible’s warnings drew his mind:

1) Demonic Jew hatred: Hamas’s savage attack signaled influence by evil spirits against the Jews in particular. Mr. Flurry’s article explained:

[T]hat spirit of evil exists far beyond Gaza and far beyond those mourning towns. And there is a specific reason why it targets the nations of Israel, the Jewish state and Jerusalem.

• Globally, sympathy for Israel’s suffering was quickly eclipsed by condemnation for its self-defense. Three years on, the Jewish state is more isolated and persecuted than ever.

2) Breaking the brotherhood: In 2023, Joe Biden was president, and his administration was openly hostile to Israel. Mr. Flurry pointed to a prophesied “rift between America and Israel” that he called “very dangerous, especially to the Jews”:

Zechariah 11:14 prophesies that in the end time, God will “break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel” [which] could be a specific forecast of a separation between these two countries that will leave Judah dangerously alone.

• President Trump has since returned to power and thrown unprecedented military support behind Israel. Yet stunningly, the two nations’ cooperation has not reversed this prophesied trend. Open antipathy against Israel both among America’s radical left and within the political right has surged in the past three years.

3) Tactical victories, strategic defeats: In the ceaseless warfare that followed the attack, Israel has struck some 100,000 targets, inflicting deadly blows against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria and Iran. Yet, except for Hezbollah (whose ouster from Lebanon is also prophesied), these enemies have shown stunning resilience and remain mortal threats.

• This vividly underscores the prophesied curse on the Jewish state (and America)—that its considerable strength, however audaciously and expertly expended, would fail. As Mr. Flurry wrote:

Another curse listed in Leviticus 26 is that our “strength shall be spent in vain” (Leviticus 26:20). As Israel spends its strength retaliating against Hamas, remember this verse. Will these efforts actually solve the problem of Islamist terrorism?

• One of Mr. Flurry’s strongest points regarded the national sins for which God sends this curse. This gets to the heart of why events have unfolded so unfavorably in three years.

4) Bonding with Germany: Prophecy foretells Israel turning to Germany for protection and inviting German-led European armies to defend Jerusalem. Israel has tightened its relationship with Germany, including its military cooperation. Mr. Flurry warned:

We need to watch Israel’s relationship with Germany very closely. Remember, the closer these two nations become, the closer we are to the Tribulation.

5) Foreshadowing worse: The sharpest point Mr. Flurry made was that the bloodshed of October 7 is “A Sign of Worse to Come”—a forewarning of unprecedented suffering prophesied to come upon the modern Jewish state and the English-speaking nations descended from ancient Israel.

The violence that unfolded in Israel on October 7 portends an explosion of volatility and violence that will lead to these armies surrounding the Holy City.

That is the clarion warning of the Bible, given by God out of loving concern and a desire to protect you from it. I urge you to read Mr. Flurry’s article and think on, and respond to, its prescient message of loving correction, made more forceful by all that has transpired since.

Lab Leak in Russia?

The world is holding its breath over a potential pneumonic plague outbreak. Darya Shipilova, 28, was reportedly hospitalized on September 29 and died of pneumonia on October 2 at a Russian hospital in Shelekhov.

• Russian authorities insist there is no reason to be alarmed, but the world is concerned because Shipilova worked at the Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia.

While playing down the event in its official channels, Russian authorities have imposed strict quarantines and other anti-epidemic measures in Siberia, such as hospital closures and mask requirements.

• At least 200 people were reportedly put under medical observation within the first few days of the incident. Russia continues to deny having imposed the quarantine measures.

The concern is over what we don’t know. Six years after the coronavirus lab leak in Wuhan, the Chinese government is still suppressing the evidence. There are reasons to be concerned that the Russian government is being less than forthcoming.

Worse to come: In “Coronavirus and Other Modern Plagues in Prophecy,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry warned:

Jesus Christ Himself said pandemics of pestilence would happen before His return: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be … pestilences … in divers places” (Matthew 24:7; see also Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:11). Pestilence in this context means disease outbreaks on a massive scale.

These are not dusty old prophecies. They are mostly for our time today! They are dramatic, dire prophecies whose fulfillment lies directly before us! Multiple millions of people are prophesied to perish from sickness and disease!

It’s too early to tell the broader implications of recent events in Russia. But prophecy is certain: As long as our world ignores God’s law and His prophecies, plagues will increase until millions die. That’s the plain truth right from the pages of your Bible, as Mr. Flurry’s article explains.

German State’s New Far-Right Leader

Tobias Rausch of the Alternative für Deutschland was elected president of Saxony-Anhalt’s state parliament yesterday. A far-right legislator hasn’t held this position, the most powerful in the state parliament, since World War ii.

• Also, AfD candidate Hans-Thomas Tillschneider was elected deputy president of the state parliament.

The vote took place during the first session of the state parliament since the AfD’s historic win on September 6, when it secured nearly 44 percent of the vote, a larger share than any other party.

• The AfD is not a typical right-wing party. Along with advocating for immigration restrictions, radical Islam and transgenderism, its candidates have also called for celebrating Germany’s world war “accomplishments.”

What is notable about Rausch’s election is that the AfD has only 39 of the 83 seats in Saxony-Anhalt’s parliament, yet Rausch received 48 votes. Those extra votes came from the left-wing Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht party and likely from members of the mainstream Christian Democratic Union.

• Despite the AfD being an extremist party, other parties have helped appoint one of its members to preside over the state parliament.

The “firewall,” an unofficial agreement of parties in Germany not to support the AfD and other extremist, right-wing parties, has been breached in Saxony-Anhalt. Extremist beliefs are increasingly tolerated and even supported in Germany—a favorable political climate for a tyrant to take power, just as the Bible prophesies will happen.

IN OTHER NEWS

A naked statue of Donald Trump went on display in the European Parliament building in Strasbourg yesterday. Titled “The Orange Plague,” the “artwork” shows an oversized Donald Trump sitting on the shoulders of a much smaller man. The Danish artist, Jens Galschiot, says it portrays the president’s interference in global warming issues. The three-day display is officially sponsored by an individual member of the European Parliament and was allowed by the body’s authorities. It is another clear demonstration of Europe’s contempt for America and its president, detailed in “Without NATO, Europe Will Erupt.”

Putin oversees major Russia-China military maneuvers: Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the “Center 2026” military drills in the Ural Mountains on Friday, which involved troops from Russia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan and Tajikistan. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said the combined maneuvers simulated “liberating the occupied territory” of a Central Asian nation and “creating a security zone in the neighboring territory.” The training highlights growing military cooperation between Russia, China and a wider group of Asian nations—a developing alliance that biblical prophecy says will soon shake the world.