THE BATTLE FOR THE TEMPLE MOUNT

It is Thursday evening and I am sitting on the patio of my new home in the Judean hills, some 10km from Jerusalem. I am looking out onto a lovely green forested hillside and the gentle breeze is making that special susurration that only Jerusalem pines seem to make. The tensions and troubles of Jerusalem over the past weeks seem worlds away, but that is merely an illusion. 

The view from my home looking towards Jerusalem

Life in Jerusalem is returning to normal (whatever that is around here) after two weeks of tension and rioting, mainly around the Temple Mount area. It all began when three terrorists, who had brought guns onto the Temple Mount compound, opened fire and killed two Israeli policemen (see my previous blog). To prevent any further such attacks Israel imposed a temporary closure for Muslims wanting to pray at the Al Aksa Mosque, and set up metal detectors and security cameras at the entrance. This seemed like a reasonable response but the Muslim authorities did not see it that way, and once again accused Israel of changing the 'status quo'. The Waqf, the Muslim authority that controls the Temple Mount, forbade Muslims to pray at the Al Aksa Mosque and as a result, thousands gathered on the streets around the Old City to pray. This lead to a number of skirmishes and riots, and at least a thousand people were injured as a result. To me, it all seemed rather petty and childish to say the least.  After all metal detectors and surveillance cameras are a normal part of everyday life in Israel. To enter bus stations, train stations, supermarkets, shopping malls and many other places, including the Western Wall compound, one must pass through a metal detector and have one's bags searched. So why did the Muslim Waqf react so strongly to the installation of metal detectors there? All I can say is that there are elements who are just looking for any excuse to accuse Israel of 'changing the status quo' and threatening the Al Aksa Mosque. Actually, it was Muslims who changed the 'status quo' by bringing in arms and carrying out a terror attack at their own so-called 'holy site'. 

After two weeks of tensions and rioting, Israel finally removed the metal detectors and other security measures. The Waqf has allowed Muslims to once more at the Al Aksa Mosque and has declared victory.  In the Arab mind, Israel's removal of the metal detectors is not seen as a conciliatory move but rather one of weakness in the face of Islamic superiority. For this reason there has been much criticism here in Israel of the Government's handling of this affair. In this part of the world it is very dangerous to appear weak.

We should not be surprised by these events of the past few weeks. This is just one more skirmish in the ongoing battle for the Temple Mount.  Many Christians are uncomfortable with the idea of religious wars or 'holy' wars, but like it or not, we are all engaged in a serious spiritual war. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

The Temple Mount is the place that God chose to be His special point of communication with mankind on Earth, and the place where his Name dwells. When Solomon dedicated the first Temple, God spoke to him saying, 

 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

2 Chronicles 7: 16 (my emphasis)

Solomon's Temple was eventually destroyed and later the Second Temple, which was constructed after the return from Babylon and restored in the time of Herod the Great, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The buildings may not currently exist but the site is still the place in which the Name of the LORD rests forever, perpetually.  You could say it is the center of God's kingdom here on Earth, the center of the spiritual world, and therefore the focus of the great battle for power between the LORD and Satan. 

It is therefore no wonder that the Enemy, Satan, is doing everything he can to destroy the connection of God with this place. Those of us who live here can certainly testify to the viciousness and the intensity of the spiritual war for Jerusalem, and especially for the Temple Mount. One of Satan's tactics was to engineer the rise of Islam, the Islamic conquest of the Holy Land, and the consequent building of the Dome of the Rock (pictured below) and the El Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount Site. This is a direct challenge and affront to the LORD God of Israel. I think the photo below tells it all. It shows Muslim men praying in the direction of Mecca. Note the direction of the 'rear ends' - they are pointing directly at the Dome of the Rock, which is believed to be the site where the Temples and the Holy of Holies once stood. In Arab culture it is also considered extremely disrespectful and insulting to point the sole of your foot towards another person. Not only are the 'rear ends' pointing towards the dwelling place of God's presence but so are the soles of their feet. Could they dishonor the LORD God more?

Muslims praying on the Temple Mount
http://www.camera.org/images_user/afp%20prayer%2008.jpg

 Islam is not the only weapon that Satan is using these days. Summer is in full swing here in Jerusalem, and it has been especially hot this year, with July temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s most days. The children are on vacation from school and there are many festivals and events taking place here in Jerusalem. This week the annual Gay Pride Parade took place in Jerusalem with record breaking numbers of at least 20,000 people taking part. 

In the Church and amongst believers today there is much confusion about homosexuality. We are living in a world in which there are strong pressures to accept homosexuality as being something normal and acceptable.  It is a very divisive issue and one which splits believers into opposing camps. We do not want to appear narrow-minded or judgemental, and as a consequence we are more and more falling into compromise on this issue. However what the Bible has to say about homosexuality is, in my opinion, quite clear: 

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.

Leviticus 18:22

The Hebrew word here translated as 'abomination' is תועבה (to'eva), which literally means 'something morally disgusting or abhorrent'. This word is used many times in Scripture and mostly to describe idol worship, the eating of unclean foods, intermarriage with idol worshippers, child sacrifice and witchcraft.  In Leviticus 20:13 it says " If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."  That is pretty clear! 

In the New Testament book of Romans homosexuality is described as the result of idolatry in which God gives people over to the degrading and unnatural act of homosexual sex, 

 Professing to be wise, they became fools,  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

 For this reason 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.

 Romans 1:22-27

I believe we who profess Yeshua as Lord need to receive and love all men and women, regardless of their sins, homosexuals included, but we need to be clear that in the community of believers there can be no compromise with sin, in whatever form it takes. For this reason, although I support the rights of the gay community to live in safety and without persecution, I find the prideful flaunting of this sin in the streets of the Holy City an abomination, and yet another demonstration of the lostness of the people of Israel in our generation. Many have turned away from the God of Israel and have turned to the modern forms of idolatry, including the worship of foreign gods of Hinduism and other religions, witchcraft and occult practices, materialistic and hedonistic humanism, and the worship of ourselves.  Consequently God has given many over to the 'lusts of the flesh' and 'vile passions' including homosexuality among other sinful sexual acts.  The people of Israel, like people everywhere, have a desperate need to hear the pure gospel of truth in Yeshua. 

My new home is in the town of Mevasseret Zion, which name translates to 'the preaching of the good news of Zion' or 'the herald of the good news of Zion'. My neighborhood, although known colloquially as the Castel, is officially called Maoz Tsur, the stronghold of rock, or as it is often translated into English 'the Rock of Ages' understood by Christians to be a reference to the Messiah, Yeshua.  We are located at the western entrance to Jerusalem in the hills of Judea, the inheritance of the Tribe of Judah.  I think these place names have deep spiritual significance and I pray that from here the gospel will go up to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to all the world. Our congregation has already established a thriving cell group here in Mevasseret and this week we will be starting another, which will, initially anyway, be meeting in my home.  Please pray for us as we work to establish a 'stronghold of rock' and proclaim the good news of Yeshua here at the entrance to Jerusalem. 

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

 

 

When disaster strikes it can be difficult to see the truth of these words. What can be good when families lose everything they have in a fire or an earthquake? Why does God allow these disasters? Why do people have to suffer?  These are hard questions and I don't have a total answer. But I am reminded of the Bible passage which says,

 



For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts

Isaiah 55: 8-9

 

In my last update I told you about the terrible fires that struck Israel in the week between the 21 -28th of November.  On the following Friday (2/12) a rain system arrived and most of the country received  some good, soaking rain, which has cut the fire risk dramatically. Thank you all for your prayers.

 

 

 

Fire in Haifa
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VoHMmuI1CTU/hqdefault.jpg

 

 

Now the task of rebuilding begins. In Haifa alone some 527 apartments and 80 buildings were totally destroyed  and 1600 people were left homeless. The cost of rebuilding is estimated to be around 5 billion shekels.  In the town of Zichron Yaacov some  10 homes were completely destroyed and around 30 damaged. In the settlement of Halamish, near Jerusalem, 45 homes were damaged of which 18 were completely destroyed.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4886966,00.html. Other towns and settlements also suffered losses. Some 20,000 dunams ( around 5000 acres) of forest land was also destroyed. Perhaps you can put a figure on the material damage but the emotional trauma and loss to the people involved cannot be calculated.

 

Take a look at this video of the aftermath of the fires in Haifa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ty2TkphAUU

 

A woman returns to her home
http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/161123071548-04-israel-fires-1123-super-169.jpg
 

 

The pine and cedar forests of Israel are naturally a fire-climax ecosystem. That is to say periodic fires  are a natural part of their life-cycle and are necessary to maintain a healthy forest.  The heat of the fires cause the seeds in the cones to be released and as soon as the rain comes, the seeds begin the process of regeneration. It will take at least 30 years however before the forest regenerates to maturity.
 

 

Young cedars regenerating after a fire.

Young cedars. Photo: KKL-JNF Photo Archive

http://www.kkl.org.il/fr/forestry-and-ecology/fire-prevention/

 

Likewise natural disasters can also bring new life out of the ashes. I do not wish to trivialize the suffering or the trauma that people have experienced, but at the same time many seeds have been sown during this time. Stories are coming in of many instances where the hand of God has been evident in all of this.

 

One of my friends, lets call her E,  took in a friend who had been evacuated from Haifa. A few days later E phoned  and told me that her friend's apartment had been the only one in the whole street that had not been destroyed, and not only that, her friend's daughter's apartment, in another part of Haifa, had also been the only one in her street not damaged. My friend, an adamant atheist,  was blown away by this and commented, ' God must be real after all'.  Please pray for E as her heart has been opened of late and this was yet another demonstration to her that God is real and active, and answers prayers.

 

When the religious settlement of Nataf had to be evacuated the first time their rabbis warned them not to take refuge in the adjacent Messianic moshav, Yad Hashmona. Some days later the settlement of Nataf had to be evacuated yet again and this time some of the people did go to Yad Hashmona where they were warmly welcomed, given lodging in the hotel there and food in the restaurant.

 

Many Messianic congregations and aid organisations have swung into action to help the various communities affected. You can read more about this by going to this link:



https://kehilanews.com/2016/12/08/local-messianic-believers-in-israel-assist-fire-victims-around-the-nation/  One of the most touching stories in the report is quoted below:

“In one case we [the Bible Society] gave some financial help and an Old Testament. The home owner who knows that we are Messianic Jews asked if this Bible contains both Old and New Testaments,” Kalisher said. “I told her that we brought a Bible with an Old Testament only since we did not want them to think that we use this opportunity for anything other than just showing our love and care for them. She then answered, ‘I want a bible with a New Testament, It is time that I will read it.’”

If you wish to donate to the restoration work you can find links to do so on the kehila news link above.

Please pray for rain in Israel as since that Friday we have had no further rain and we need much more. The Land is desperately thirsty. The Land is also spiritually thirsty so please also pray for the spiritual rain that will water the many seeds that have been sown in lives during this ordeal. Pray that God will water and nurture these ones and bring them to saving faith in due course.


There have been many other heart-warming stories that have come out of this disaster.  For example,  some Israeli-Arab businessmen was asked to give an estimate for the repair of a synagogue damaged in the Haifa fires. They refused to take accept any payment and are carrying out the repairs pro-bono. "I decided to help and not receive any payment," said Walid abu-Ahmed, a wood panel supplier based in Haifa, "Jews and Arabs live together in Haifa, and there is no discrimination. We must continue with this co-existence and promote peace." http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4886966,00.html

The ongoing regional drought, the Israeli love of the trees which fill our cities and surround our settlements, and the growing threat of opportunistic arson for 'nationalistic' motivation' (PC speak for Palestinian terrorism), combine to create an ongoing and serious threat of the same sort of fires, on even perhaps a larger scale, in the coming years.  Please pray that our fire services, civil defense and community leaders will take this threat seriously and made preparations accordingly. After the huge fire in 2010 on the Carmel, Israel has purchased a 'squadron' of small fire fighting planes of the sort that can drop water or fire-retardant on wildfires. However these proved insufficient in the sort of conditions we experienced in November. It wasn't until we received help from the USA and Russia in the form of the big supertankers  which can scoop up huge amounts of water from the sea, without having to land, that we began to get the fires under control. It took several days for these to arrive. We need some of these supertankers here in Israel.

Apart from the threat of fires, the ongoing drought, perhaps the worst in the last 100 years, is also cause for concern. The rivers and lakes are drying out. The underground aquifers seriously depleted and many are becoming infiltrated by salt water as fresh water levels drop. Thousands of sinkholes are threatening the shores, the road and the tourist centers around the Dead Sea as ground water levels shrink and salt deposits are eroded by fresh water drainage.


Israel leads the world in water management and has exported her knowhow and technologies to many other nations around the world. Thanks to the reverse-osmosis desalination plants we  can now provide enough drinking water for the whole country without using rain water.  Tight water restrictions and  incentives to save water, coupled with a high public awareness of the need to conserve water. also helps. In addition Israel now recycles 80% of its waste water for use in agriculture. This is far and away higher than for any other country. The next best country is Spain which recycles 17%. The USA recycles only 5%.

 https://www.entitymag.com/art-water-conservation-israel/.

The recycling reservoirs also serve as wildlife refuges. Pictured below are some of  thousands of pelicans that stop off in their spring and autumn migrations to 'refuel' at a wastewater recycling reservoir in Emek Hefer (near Netanya).  

Pelicans and Cormorants in a waste-water recycling reservoir in Emek Hefer (near Netanya, Israel)
Photo: Talia Good
 

Those who advocate economic sanctions and boycotts against Israel  (the BDS movement) need to think carefully about the consequences of their actions. Israel contributes a great deal to world welfare and economy. Apart from the fact that the representatives from many arid or drought-stressed countries have visited Israel to learn from our experts, and many of our experts have gone to those countries to help, Israel leads the world in many other ways too. For example, Israeli scientists have identified a protein that can actually destroy the HIV virus that causes AIDS, and it can reduce the virus in infected patients by 95% in less than a week. The drug is currently undergoing stringent testing but we could be just weeks or months away from announcing to the world a cure for AIDS!   As the Times of Israel asks, "Will those in need of the medication snub the Israeli discovery to make their point against Israel (as unjustified as it has been?) or will they look the other way and adopt the new miracle cure?" http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/will-bds-activists-reject-the-new-israeli-cure-for-the-aidshiv-virus/

Meanwhile large sectors of the world continue to vilify Israel. On Wednesday the 30th of November the United Nations passed six resolutions against Israel, one of which stated
that "any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to immediately cease all such illegal and unilateral measures."  On that day 147 nations, including all the European nations, the UK, France, Russia, Germany and  Italy voted in favor of this resolution. Only 6 voted against, the USA, Canada and 4 tiny Pacific Island nations (God richly bless them!), the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru and Palau, voted against.  Australia, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Vanuatu abstained.  Another of the six resolutions, passed by 103 votes for to 56 against and 6 abstentions demanded that that Israel withdraw from all of the Golan Heights up to the line of June 1967 and hand it over to Syria. http://www.zimbabwestar.com/index.php/sid/249818177

The modern Muslim narrative that is gaining worldwide support denies the right of Jews to the Temple Mount, claiming that it is a Muslim holy site and not a Jewish one. This flies totally in the face of historic fact and even Islamic history. Muslim claims to the Temple Mount are based on the belief that Mohammad ascended to heaven from it in his night journey as recorded in the Quran  passage "Night Journey". Mohammed never actually visited Jerusalem and the Night Journey claims to record a dream or vision Mohammed had in which he ascended to heaven from the al-Aqsa mosque. The al -Aqsa mosque translates to the farthest (or most distant) mosque (from Mecca) which at the time was near Jir'rana in the Arabian Peninsula. At the time of Mohammed there were NO mosques in Jerusalem. The first mosque on the site of the current al-Aqsa mosque which stands at the southern end of the Temple Mount (not to be confused with the Dome of the Rock) was built by Umar during the Rushidun caliphate that was established after Mohammed's death.

The denial of Jewish history on the Temple Mount is a very recent one even amongst Muslims. Right up until the 20th century Muslim scholars and leaders had no problem identifying the Temple Mount as the site of the Jewish temples. Even the Grand  Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, friend of Hitler and bitter enemy of the Jews, 
"allowed his Supreme Muslim Council to issue a visitor’s guide to the Temple Mount, which asserted that “its identity with the site of Solomon’s Temple is beyond all doubt. This, too, is the spot, according to universal belief, on which ‘David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.’” (“A Brief Guide to Al Haram Al Sharif“, 1925, p.4) ". Even more recently in 1961 the mayor of East Jerusalem, then under Jordanian rule, stated in his book   "A Detailed History of Jerusalem"   that the remains of the Jewish Temple were beneath the al-Aqsa Mosque. https://kehilanews.com/2016/11/11/temple-mount-showdown-will-islamic-narrative-destroy-islamic-history/.

Jewish claims to the Temple Mount and Jerusalem clearly predate those of the Islamic world, as the Bible repeatedly and emphatically testifies. Those countries which stand against Israel in this risk falling under the curse of Genesis 12:3.  If you live in one of those nations pray fervently for a change of heart.

I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you...

Genesis 12:3

 

 

 

 

 

  AT THE APEX OF ABSURDITY

 

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

 

This week the United Nations organization that is responsible for education, science and culture (UNESCO) voted to rewrite history exchanging truth for a lie.  With this, it seems the world has reached the very apex of absurdity. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. 

 

The draft proposal, which is entitled "Occupied Palestine", was submitted by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Sudan on behalf of the Palestinians, was approved at the committee stage by 24 votes to 6, with 26 abstentions in Paris on October 13 (the day after Yom Kippur no less!). The resolution will go before UNESCO's Executive Board, which is made up of these same nations, for adoption next week.

 

Twenty-four countries voted in favor of the proposal: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chad, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Vietnam.


Six countries voted against it: Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States.


While 26 countries abstained from the vote: Albania, Argentina, Cameroon, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and Nevis, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Ukraine.

Serbia and Turkmenistan were absent from the vote.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4866113,00.html

The proposal affirms the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions, but then goes on to list a great many accusations against Israel, which it refers to as the "Occupying Power". Many of these are gross exaggerations or simply factually erroneous. Israel's rightful claim to her holy sites of worship and her historical connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall is ignored while Palestinian claims are emphasized. Israeli grievances are not mentioned.  The full text of the proposal can be seen on this website - it makes for interesting reading:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-new-unesco-resolution-on-occupied-palestine/

Although the document does not blatantly state that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall it strongly implies this by omission. The Temple Mount and the Western Wall are referred to only by their Muslim names.

Reaction in Israel has been strong. Prime Minister Netanyahu said this."
 

“To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall is like saying that China has no connection to the Great Wall of China or that Egypt has no connection to the pyramids... By this absurd decision, UNESCO has lost what little legitimacy it had left.”

 

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/30272/Default.aspx

The Temple Mount and the Western Wall. The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as el-Harem al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) with it's golden Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine and lead-domed al-Aqsa mosque, dominates this aerial view of the Old City of Jerusalem, 2 October, 2007 David Silverman/Getty Image

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-jerusalem-unesco-motion-jewish-ties-temple-mount-noble-sanctuary-el-harem-al-sharif-a7360776.html

And on his facebook page Netanyahu said: "Is it any wonder the UN has become a moral farce when Unesco, the UN body tasked with preserving history, denies and distorts history?"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-jerusalem-unesco-motion-jewish-ties-temple-mount-noble-sanctuary-el-harem-al-sharif-a7360776.html

The President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin,  commented:

“No forum or body in the world can come and deny the connection between the Jewish people, the Land of Israel and Jerusalem – and any such body that does so simply embarrasses itself. We can understand criticism, but you cannot change history.” 

And the opposition leader Isaac Herzog said UNESCO is giving a “bad name to diplomacy.”

“Whoever wants to rewrite history, to distort fact, and to completely invent the fantasy that the Western Wall and Temple Mount have no connection to the Jewish people, is telling a terrible lie that only serves to increase hatred...On this matter there is no disagreement among the people of Israel, and I urge UNESCO to withdraw this bizarre resolution and to engage in protecting, not distorting, human history.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/unesco-backs-resolution-ignoring-jewish-link-to-temple-mount/

Even the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has spoken out against this proposed resolution, saying,  

"Jerusalem is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam...

“To deny, conceal or erase any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site, and runs counter to the reasons that justified its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list [in 1981]."

 

Until now all previous resolutions have referred to the area using both the Jewish/Christian term  the Temple Mount and the Muslim name Al-Haram Al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary). Over the past year however the Palestinians have submitted a number of resolutions that have referred  to the Temple Mount area only as Al-Haram Al-Sharif and the Western Wall only by its Muslim name of Buraq Plaza.   

 

Bokova has consistently fought against this trend, and she said that Jerusalem is

a  “microcosm of humanity’s spiritual diversity” and is a place where “different peoples worship the same places, sometimes under different names... The recognition, use of and respect for these names is paramount. The Al Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram al-Sharif, the sacred shrine of Muslims, is also the Har HaBayit – or Temple Mount – whose Western Wall is the holiest place in Judaism, a few steps away from the Saint Sepulcher  and the Mount of Olives trees revered by Christians.”

 

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/UNESCO-Director-General-criticizes-harmful-drive-to-erase-Jewish-ties-to-Temple-Mount-470135

 

While this all might seem a trivial matter of semantics, it is no such thing. It is a subtle and pervasive effort to undermine and deny Israel's right to exist and the right of both Jews and Christians to worship in their holy places. It is shocking that so many nations and individuals are buying into the Lie. Only 6 of the 56 nations represented in the UNESCO committee had the insight and courage to vote against this proposal. They were Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States. How many will vote against it when it comes up for approval at the Executive Board next week. How will your country vote? Pray for your leaders that they will have the wisdom, understanding and courage to stand up and be counted amongst those who stand with God and His Holy Chosen People.  I fear for those nations who do not stand with Israel in these times. God will judge those nations, for he has never revoked the blessing on Israel:

 

I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;

Genesis 12:3

 

We know that there will be a time of deception in the end times, during which many, even from the elect, will be deceived into believing a Satanic Lie, and Jesus himself prophesied, 

 

 

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. ³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin^[ is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He  who now restrains will do so until He  is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

II Thessalonians 2 

However we also know that the Lord has chosen Zion and one day will  establish His Kingdom centered on the Holy Mountain. He will not be mocked.

 Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, ² “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal;
With great fervor I am zealous for her.’

³ “Thus says the Lord:

‘I will return to Zion,
And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth,
The Mountain of the Lord of hosts,
The Holy Mountain.’
Zechariah 8: 1-3

 

^{To live in such times as these we who call on the name of God must determine to walk in truth, to take courage and above all stand up and be counted.}

 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

Ephesians 6: 10-13.

 

http://data.whicdn.com/images/194316532/large.jpg

 

 

WHEN LEADERS LEAD.... OR NOT

 



Devorah and Barak
http://www.biblebios.com/judges/deborah/barak_deb.jpg



 

Sometime last week I was reading in the Book of Judges and after reading one chapter, I paused and asked the LORD to speak to me through the passage. The very next verse I read was this:



“When leaders lead in Israel,
When the people willingly offer themselves,
Bless the Lord!..."

Judges 5:2  (NKJV)

And I thought - how apt!!! Last week our coalition government, under the leadership of Benyamin Netanyahu, collapsed, less than two years into its term, and this will now propel us into new elections on March 17th, 2015. The coalition was never a comfortable one and the writing has been on the wall from its beginning. Zach Beauchamp writing in the online magazine of Vox media, explained it this way:

The timing is a big surprise — but that fact that Israel's government has fallen apart isn't. Netanyahu's coalition was riven by a deep, fundamental contradiction between its hard-right and centrist members. The two blocs have irreconcilably different views of Israeli society: no possible government could have kept them both happy forever. The big question now is whose vision wins in the next election. 

The coalition fell apart when Netanyahu fired his Finance Minister, Yair Lapid, and Justice Minister, Tzipi Livni. Lapid is the leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, which holds the single largest number of seats of any party in the Knesset. Livni heads Hatnua, a smaller centrist party.

Without these parties, Netanyahu's government no longer has majority support in the Knesset. So he needed either to add new parties to his coalition or call a new election. Netanyahu chose the latter. 

 http://www.vox.com/2014/12/2/7320115/new-israeli-elections

The fuse that lit the final explosion was the introduction of the controversial "Israel State Law"  to the Knesset legislatorial process. Israel does not have a Constitution as such but a series of Basic Laws. This new Basic Law is intended to define and cement the Jewish character of the State of Israel. Critics claim it is unnecessary, undemocratic and provocative in the current political and security climate. The fate of this law is unclear now and will be shelved at least until the new elections take place.

Hamas was quick to make use of this opportunity to add some feathers to its nest.  Arutz 7, Israel's National News online, reported Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, as saying,
"The collapse of the Israeli coalition is another example of our victory and of Netanyahu’s defeat in Gaza" http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/188167#.VIMVpJscRLM. Of course this is nonsense. Or is it? One of the results of the Gaza war, and the increase in violence within Jerusalem and other parts of the country over the months following, is that opinion in Israel has shifted to the right. This perhaps has given confidence to the political right wing, lead by Netanyahu, to take harsh measures against the rioters and terrorists, and to introduce the State Law to the legislature, which moves caused a backlash from the more left wing coalition partners.  

Perhaps I should explain the meaning of 'right' and 'left' in Israel, since it is different than in other countries. Although 'left' and 'right' do apply to economic policies, the primary meaning here is one of religious and political stands regarding the Land and the relationship with the Palestinians. The right wing is capitalistic, conservative, and religious,  and takes a strong position stating that the Land belongs unequivocally to the Jews and that the Palestinian Arabs have no place here. The more extreme right wing is in favor of ending the occupation by removing the Arabs and settling the entire historical extent of the Land of Israel, by force if necessary.  It supports expanding the Settlements in the occupied territories, swift retaliation for terrorism, including the demolition of terrorist family homes, and is opposed to the 'two-state solution'.   The left wing, is socialist, liberal and secular and wants to make peace with the Palestinians by means of negotiation, land swaps and the 'two - state solution'. The majority of the Israeli public takes a more or less centrist stand but in recent times has become more polarized because of the ongoing violence, missile attacks and wars. There has also been a certain shift to the right as we saw during the recent Gaza War. Initially Netanyahu enjoyed massive support but as the operation dragged on and on, and finished without any clear resolution, he lost a lot of support from those who felt  he had not taken a strong enough stand causing Israel to miss yet another opportunity to get rid of the cancer of Hamas once and for all. In general there seems to be less support for a two state solution and an increasing feeling of despair that any negotiated settlement with the Palestinians is possible.

We are also seeing a similar move to the 'right' in Palestinian society with a dramatic increase in fundamentalist rhetoric, incitement and acts of violence. We feel more and more that there is no one with whom to talk peace. Over the last few months it has been the voice of the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, who has been shouting loudest of all the message of incitement to violence (for example see http://www.timesofisrael.com/abbas-israel-sparking-devastating-religious-war/). He and others have been accusing Israel of defiling and plotting to destroy the mosque of Omar, accusations without any basis whatsoever in fact. Yet, truth is irrelevant in this part of the world; what matters is what people believe. Sad to say that thanks to Abbas and others like him, some 86% of Palestinians now believe this libel against Israel (http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/25629/Default.aspx). It is a very dangerous libel and can only breed more violence as Muslims see this as a deep offense and a threat to the very core of their religion.

In this context the coming elections in Israel will be a crossroads in our history. If the right wins we will likely see more Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the end of any hope for a negotiated peace or two state solution, rising despair and anger amongst the Palestinians and more violence. If the left wins, we will try to restart the peace talks, but with whom? 

The elections this time will also be about internal social issues and economics. Netanyahu's government has promoted the usual capitalistic view that if you make the rich richer, then the money will somehow trickle down to the 'lower' classes. Although the rich have got richer during his time as Prime Minister, we in the 'lower classes' have not seen any trickle down effect, and poverty and hardship have been inexorably on the increase. This situation is untenable long term, and already there have been stirrings of a popular uprising against the rampant price increases we see in our supermarkets and in the housing market especially, the erosion of welfare benefits  and the desperate state of our hospitals and schools. Any new government will have to address these issues or we will face serious internal unrest as well as all the external threats.

Several months of political wheeling and dealing lie before us as our politicians, and their myriad political parties, jostle for power and influence.  It makes me long for the days when our 'leaders will lead' according to the direction of God through his prophets, as Barak lead the army of Israel against  the armies of the Canaanite King, Jabin, according to the prophetic word brought to him by Devorah, thus bringing Israel victory over her enemies and peace in the Land for 40 years. How many of our leaders are willing to subjugate their personal ambitions and opinions to the will of God, and willingly offer themselves for sake of the people of the Land?

My heart is with the rulers of Israel
Who offered themselves willingly with the people.
Bless the Lord

Judges 5:2,9
 

Please pray for godly and righteous government in Israel.

THE WORST ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY

On Tuesday night last week 5 million liters of crude oil gushed out of a broken pipeline and flooded the Ein Evrona Nature Reserve about 20 km north of Eilat. The spill has created a 7 km long river of oil in the Reserve posing a great danger to the many plants and animals in this very sensitive and fragile ecosystem. Many have already died, and in the coming months and years others will succumb to the effects of the toxic and carcinogenic soil and fumes. Massive cleanup efforts are in progress in a race to clean up as much of the contaminated soil as possible before heavy rain arrives. Flash flooding could wash the oil down the Arava Valley and into the Red Sea, causing an even greater ecological disaster to the beautiful coral reefs and beaches, which are a major tourist attraction in both Israel and Jordan.  





http://rt.com/news/211551-oil-spill-devastates-israel/

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.631095.1418261700!/image/3845521757.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_640/3845521757.jpg

FAMILY ATTACKED BY ACID SOUTH OF BETHLEHEM

As I am writing reports are coming in of a family of seven that was attacked by terrorists who threw acid upon them through an open window in their car  stopped at an intersection south of Bethlehem. They were all injured in the attack.

This is just the latest in the ongoing violence in our city and its surroundings. The strict anti-terrorism measures, the strong police presence and the strategic placement of concrete barriers does seem to have calmed things down a bit over the last couple of weeks, but isolated violence is still occurring.

Two days ago a Palestinian Member of Parliament died of a heart attack during a scuffle with Israeli police. Videos of a policeman purportedly grasping him around the neck have gone viral on the internet, even though it looked more like he grasped his shirt collar to me. Of course Palestinian leaders are blaming Israel for his death and claiming he was murdered. He was honored as a shahid (a martyr) at his state funeral on Thursday. One should ask however why a man in such fragile health, who was both diabetic and had already had several heart attacks, was staging a demonstration and provoking the police in the first place? In his condition, any excitement or stress could have caused a fatal heart attack. However, as I have already said, truth is not relevant here but what people believe. The accusation has gone out, and it will undoubtedly give rise to more terrorist attacks in the coming days, like the acid attack on the family described above,  and the attempted running down of soldiers at a checkpoint yesterday.

A video made available by the Middle East Media Research Institute this week records  a spontaneous sermon recorded at the Al Aksa Mosque on November the 28th,  in which Sheikh Omar Abu Sara proclaimed that battle with the Jews draws near, and he praised the Islamic State “caliphate” as one of the vehicles for the Jewish people’s destruction. He is quoted as saying:

“I say to the Jews loud and clear: The time for your slaughter has come. The time to fight you has come. The time to kill you has come…Please do not leave in our hearts a single grain of mercy towards you, oh Jews, because when the day of your slaughter arrives, we shall slaughter you without mercy.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/al-aqsa-speaker-the-slaughter-of-the-jews-is-near/



Sheikh Abu Sara
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8w9fPNXH9DU/mqdefault.jpg

Where will all this incitement, hatred, violence and bloodshed end? Whatever lies ahead, only one thing is sure. God will never allow Israel to be destroyed. He has put his name on the people of Israel forever and promised that one day he will destroy all our enemies. Perhaps that time is near? I don't know but please continue to pray for Jerusalem and this whole region and all its people, Jew and Arab alike. We all need to know the peace of Yeshua (Jesus), the peace that only He can give. We all need so badly the Messiah  to come and sort out this mess. Until then may more and more individuals have revelation of the love of God for them regardless of their ethnic origin, and for His love for His chosen people, Israel.

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming...

 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem...

Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations....

And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be  -
“The Lord is one,” ...

The people shall dwell in it (Jerusalem);
And no longer shall there be utter destruction,
But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

       Zechariah 14 (NKJV)

MAY THE MESSIAH, YESHUA COME SOON!