Monday, February 14, 2005

PRAYER UPDATE FROM ISRAEL (FEBRUARY 13, 2005)

THE WONDERFUL RAINS CONTINUE, AND WITH THEM HAS COME THE BLOSSOMING OF THE ALMOND TREES. THESE BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMS ARE THE FIRST TO BURST FORTH IN ISRAEL, AND AS SUCH ARE SYMBOLIC FOR THAT WHICH PRECEDES AND WATCHES OVER THE REST. IN FACT, ONE HEBREW WORD FOR "WATCHING" IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE WORD FOR "ALMOND". IN JEREMIAH 1, GOD SHOWED THE PROPHET AN ALMOND BRANCH AS A SIGN, AND INTERPRETED, "I AM WATCHING OVER MY WORD TO PERFORM IT." WE THANK OUR LOVING, SOVEREIGN GOD FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL SIGNS THAT HIS WORD WILL NEVER PASS AWAY, AND EVERY PROPHECY WILL BE FULFILLED.

1. VISIONS LOST, VISIONS EMBRACED.

Two present-day Israeli paradigms regarding Israel's existence and future came sharply into focus last week, the first secular, and the second religious.

At the peace summit in Egypt (see '2' below), Ariel Sharon made the following statement, "Actions alone, and not words – this is the only way to attain the vision of two states living side by side in peace and tranquility [this last, taken from President Bush’s phrase]. I have already said that Israel has no desire to continue to govern over you [i.e. The Palestinian Arabs] and control your fate. WE IN ISRAEL HAVE HAD TO AWAKEN FROM OUR DREAMS, painfully . . ." [emphases ours].
Israeli papers were quick to interpret what was meant by 'dreams' ... "Sharon made clear that Israel has given up its dream of Greater Eretz Yisrael" (i.e. with Biblical borders). These words in effect reflect the viewpoint of vast numbers of "secular" Israelis, those who are agnostic, atheist, or non-observant of rabbinic Judaism. Although nothing new for more liberal "left wing" Israelis, to a genuine conservative such as Sharon, such a view may in truth be "painful".

He however, sees no other way. Given the dilemma of overseeing land, populated predominantly by a people of another race and ideology; faced by a modern world, much of which is hostile towards Israel’s existence in the first place, and none of which countenances ANY nation’s right to be "chosen" and under different rules than everyone else, he has come to believe that there is no alternative. The late PM Rabin ended his life saying that the Bible could not be considered as relevant in the establishment of Israel’s borders. The more conservative Sharon seems to have found himself drawn to voice, albeit reluctantly, similar conclusions.
As with the ancient Greeks, the spirit leading the thought and decisions of our secular leaders is one which exalts and deifies human reason, rather than the word of our Creator. To human reason, Israel’s Biblically chronicled history and "call" become as irrelevant as dreams in determining her present existence, governance and plans for the future.

Meanwhile, the recently "re-established Sanhedrin" convened for its monthly meeting in Tiberias this week to discuss the precise location of the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah. The original Sanhedrin was a council of 71 rabbis and sages, which served as the highest Jewish-legal tribunal in the Land of Israel from several decades B.C. until around 425 A.D. It is mentioned in Matthew 5:22; 26:59; John 11:47; and a number of places in Acts.
The Torah scholar Maimonides, in the 12th –century outlined the processes necessary for reestablishment of the Sanhedrin. Several centuries later, an attempt was made to do so in the city of Safed (T'sfat), but opposition between various factions led to its soon demise.
This most-recent attempt took place last October in Tiberias. Those appointed to its initial ranks cover a large spectrum of religious Judaism, "Hareidi, religious-Zionist, Sephardi, Ashkenazi, hassidi, and many others." Plans are that it be eventually relocated to Jerusalem. The organizers are quick to say that this is probably not the "ultimate" Sanhedrin, "but the goal is to have one rabbinic body in Jerusalem that will convene monthly and issue rulings on central issues. This is the need of the generation and of the hour."

It would be easy to write this off as merely another religious fringe group seeking notoriety. Yet Arutz-7, an Orthodox news service in Israel, is obviously taking it seriously. In a Jan 9th news story covering the Sanhedrin’s monthly meeting, it referred to the tribunal as "ideally, Judaism's top legal assembly." As mentioned above, the agenda included "expert testimony on the various opinions as to the exact part of the Temple Mount upon which the Holy Temple stood." Identification of the spot "has serious ramifications for those wishing to visit the Temple Mount. It is also critical for the renewal of the Passover sacrifice, and ultimately for the building of the third and final Holy Temple."
Opinions were presented by rabbis, professors and archaeologists and "a final presentation on the matter will be given to the Sanhedrin by a subcommittee now in formation...which is then to make a final decision." A spokesperson observed that it was appropriate to discuss the lofty matter of the Temple's location this week since the Torah and Haftarah portions for the week dealt with preparations for building the Tabernacle and the Temple (Exodus 25-27:19; I Kings 5:12-6:13).

Nor had PM Sharon’s remarks gone without notice in Tiberias: "…it was heartening to see that despite talk of withdrawal from parts of the Land of Israel, and despite Prime Minister Sharon’s declaration that Israel has 'given up its dreams,' the Sanhedrin continues to move toward strengthening the nation of Israel…As all these things happen all around us, the Sanhedrin is researching ways to renew the deepest roots of our faith – to renew Temple service, reunite Jewish legal tradition and inspire the Jewish people to aspire to greatness. Our people have one path before us, and we will continue to march toward our destiny."

While the thought in present-day "democratic" Israel of the emergence of a religious governing council in Jerusalem which would be "Judaism’s top legal assembly" seems at first remote, even far-fetched, it may be wise to bear in mind (even as the ultra-Orthodox population in the Capital continues to burgeon) that in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) prophecies regarding events in Israel preceding the final days before His return (see, for instance, Luke 21) there appears to be a governance of power in place which will include Religious Judaism (see, for instance, the mention and use of the synagogue in Luke 21).

While, as Believers, we will not be able to accept all of the conclusions drawn by our secular leaders, we must also be aware that the spirit behind the rise of a religious government in Israel is not a "Holy" one. The Holy Spirit of Truth was sent by the Father at the request of Yeshua to be a guide to those who loved and obeyed Him (John 14:15-17).
In rejecting God’s Son, Israel’s religious leaders consequently rejected the Holy Counselor; instead of receiving a Spirit of Truth, we have embraced spirits of deception. Ultra-Orthodoxy has thus not only replaced the Holy Word with the religious interpretations and traditions of man; it has also become laced with an occult mysticism in which ancient rabbis are often worshipped as re-incarnations of the holy Fathers.
Lastly, it should be mentioned that almost all of the mentions of the Sanhedrin in the New Testament refer to forums in which Jewish Believers in Yeshua were undergoing persecution at the hands of the religious Jews. The spirit behind any resurrected Sanhedrin will certainly be anti-Messiah (anti-Christ), and the rise in authority of such a structure will mean intense persecution against Jews who become believers.

PLEASE PRAY:

*For Ariel Sharon that he will realize that the laws and prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures are not “dreams" but indeed divine "laws" of nature itself, which cannot be annulled. That he would seek in his Bible (upon which he allowed himself to be sworn into office at the Western Wall) the God who desires to mantle the leaders of Israel with wisdom and grace.

*That the anti-Messiah spirit which binds Orthodox Judaism would not be allowed to gain ascendancy in the governing of Israel before its time.

*That the growing body of Believers in Israel would not be influenced by the secular spirit of humanism, or by the religious spirits which teem over this land, but would be strengthened and trained in the power and wisdom of the HOLY Spirit so as to do exploits for the Most High in the years ahead – both in government, society and the military.

*For intercessors for Israel in the nations….that they will not become intoxicated with the romance of eschatological theories and pop books on "prophecy", eagerly (and foolishly) anticipating "signs" which will point towards a possible rise of anti-Christs and temples and armies coming against Israel, oblivious to the horrors such signs will truly portend. That they would rather in sobriety seek the wisdom and discernment of the Sons of Issachar, who knew the times and seasons, and how to pray into them with accuracy, power and compassion.



2. PEACE AGREEMENT…AGAIN.

"SHARON, ABBAS: THIS TIME IT’S FOR REAL" read the headline for Feb. 9th in one Jerusalem paper, referring to yet another peace summit, this time between the Israeli Prime Minister and the newly elected Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The summit took place in Sharm e-Sheikh Egypt, was hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The result? Abbas says that Palestinians will halt all violence against Israelis; Sharon says that Israel will stop military activity against Palestinians, and will halt targeted killings against wanted Palestinians as long as the Palestinian Authority keeps them under control. In PA contolled areas, Israel will coordinate with PA security if they wish to arrest someone. As a good-will gesture Israel will release 500 Palestinian prisoners, with another 400 to be released later.

There will be joint Israeli/Palestinian committees to determine criteria for the release of Palestinian prisoners and to oversee a gradual withdrawal of Israel’s forces from Palestinian cities they are currently patrolling. The two leaders will visit each other at their private homes to discuss further issues. And, for the first time since the outbreak of the Intifada in late 2000, Egypt and Jordan will return ambassadors to Israel. Israel will also dismantle roadblocks within Judea and Samaria. A day before the summit, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the two leaders in Jerusalem and Ramallah (a picture released of her standing next to chairman Abbas had a picture of the late Yassir Arafat behind them on the wall). Rice, on her first visit to the Middle East, spoke of the painful decisions ahead for Israel, and of a large monetary grant which America will be releasing to the Palestinian Authority to help them get off the ground.

A difficulty with all this, of course, is how much of it Israel has seen before. Headlines around the world made it appear that two equally responsible combatants had mutually agreed to lay down arms. The reality is that Israel already has pulled out of the Palestinian towns time and time again, only to return when terrorists from those towns entered Israeli territory and murdered its civilians, without the Palestinian Authority having lifted a finger to stop them. Millions and millions have been poured into the PA, but have evaporated in the network of corruption, little if any ever reaching the citizens for whose welfare it was earmarked. Israel has time and again released prisoners, only to have many of them resurface in terrorist attacks.

And although Mahmoud Abbas has managed to get the militants to give tacit agreement to a temporary "quiet down", there is no sign at all that Hamas is remotely considering a permanent ceasefire. In fact, two days ago a barrage of over 25 mortars and rockets were fired at a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip within the space of a few hours. Chairman Abbas responded by firing a number of top security commanders in the Strip. But whether he truly desires to bring under control the huge violent factions of violence, spawned and nurtured for decades in hatred for Jews and Israel, and if so, whether he will command among his people the authority and power to do so are questions whose answers must soon surface. Today (Sunday) it was reported that the Iranian-backed Hizbullah, based in Lebanon and operating, it is thought, some 500 agents in the Palestinian Authority, may be considering assassinating Abbas because of his efforts to reach an agreement with Israel.

PLEASE PRAY:

*That the God who "removes kings and establishes kings…who knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him" (Dan 2:21-22) will watch over Israel, bring to light any evil plots being devised during the current lull.

*That Israel will not make foolish "goodwill" gestures to impress the world, while not receiving verifiable reciprocal gestures from the Palestinian Authorities.

*That God's will be done on earth in Israel as it is in Heaven, and that Believers in and out of the Land will understand what that will is and release it in intercession.

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