VOL. 45                     NEWSLETTER           JANUARY 2003

Dear Friends of Israel and “Or Tzion”, 

Grace to you and shalom from G-d our Father and the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach in Whom you are sanctified and called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach. Blessed be the G-d and Father of our Lord Yeshua, the Father of mercies and G-d of ALL comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by G-d¹. 

Indeed, if not for this comfort, life would be like living in a desert without shade or water, smitten by a consuming sun. But we whose hope is in the Lord take shelter in the shadow of the Almighty and renew our courage in the love and support of His saints! 

Before I write this newsletter I want you to understand this: I feel very much like Jeremiah! He was a very unpopular prophet because the messages G-d gave him were very unpopular. Imagine this: your city is besieged by the enemy who wants to take and plunder it, and you inside the city are doing everything to defend yourselves. Then comes this prophet and says, that everyone remaining in the city [Jerusalem] would die by sword, starvation or disease, but anyone surrendering to the Chaldeans would live². Of course, Jeremiah knew what the reaction would be toward such a message – “This fellow must die. That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few soldiers we have left, and of all the people too. This man is a traitor.”³

Furthermore, Jeremiah prophesied and wrote the exiles in Babylon to build houses, plant gardens, get married, for their exile would be a long one. Then Shemaiah of Nehelam wrote to the exiles in the name of the Lord (although the Lord had not instructed him), calling Jeremiah a mad man, asking why he was not rebuked and put in stocks and a collar for his message⁴. And Pashur the priest (i.e. a religious leader) even beat Jeremiah for the words G-d gave him to speak and put him in stocks⁵. 

And I want to complain like Jeremiah did because of the messages the Lord has given me through the years and is giving me now, “For the Word of the L-RD has become for me a reproach and a derision all day long. So I say to myself, ‘I just won’t say anything, I just keep this word to myself.’ But I can’t quit! For then his word in my heart is like fire that burns in my bones, and I can’t hold it in any longer.”⁶

Therefore I shall now proceed with this letter, fully aware of what the reaction of many of you may be. But I must speak what I have heard, and share what the Holy Spirit has shown, though it does not agree with the words your prophets have spoken to you⁷. 

On and on we hear these “mantras” like drum beats --- Boom! Boom! Boom! War is indeed being waged by America’s President, politicians, and Media --- on the American people’s mind! Day and night the sound of these drums is heard: “Saddam Hussein is evil! You must go to war against Iraq! Save the world from Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction ⁸! You must go to war against Iraq!” 

And so Americans believe it their duty and obligation to go to war against Iraq! Boom! Boom! Boom --- the drums are beating! “September 11th!” “War against Terror!” “Al Quaida – Osama Bin Laden!” “For the safety and security of the United States of America --- relinquish your legal rights and rights to privacy! In the name of freedom --- waive your freedom! Give up your lives for America!” 

Somehow people don’t realize --- America is THEM!!! 

Horrified at what is happening I prayed for America and the President who claims to be a “Christian” who “loves” Jesus. I reminded the Lord that President Bush had been His choice over Al Gore and Lieberman to re-establish a standard of righteousness and justice in America, and prove a true friend to Israel. Deplorably, he has displayed an appalling double standard, scolding Israel for her war against terrorism while assuring the Palestinians of their state on G-d’s covenanted land! Furthermore, in the name of safety and security he introduced laws that have effectively stripped the American people of their democratic rights. In the name of “September 11th” freedom, equality, justice, and the right to privacy are no longer a reality but rather a “mirage”. 

Alarmed, I asked the Lord to explain. How could the man of His choice turn out so wrong? “Remember Saul?” He answered. “I Myself chose Saul to be prince over my people, to be their head as my trustworthy servant. Failing to rely on Me he proved false, and so I rejected him. And this President, whom I favored above his rival, has proven false as well, for like Saul he hearkens to the voice of men and not to my voice.” 

“But why does he insist on going to war against Iraq, Lord? Why would he lead America’s soldiers to the slaughter?” 

Then I heard the Lord say, “American pharaoh!” 

The Lord did not elaborate any further, but left me to discover what He meant. 

And this is what the Holy Spirit gave me to understand: like the Pharaoh of Moses who turned a deaf ear to the counsel of his wise men and to Moses’ request, “Let my people go!”, so has President Bush Jr. turned a deaf ear toward the voices of warning. Egypt paid a high price for Pharao’s stubborness. What price will America have to pay for Bush’s fixation? Is it really about Saddam’s “weapons of mass destruction;” about the “war against terror,” and about “safety and security for America?” Or are these reasons “excuses” to induce the American people to go to war, while the “hidden agenda” is the vast oilfields of the Middle East, the strategic landmass between the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, and the control of an area effecting world politics and world markets? 

It certainly looks like another step toward the establishment of a one world government.

Despite his faith in Jesus Christ, Bush Jr. has proven unable to resist the forces [hidden in the shadows of financial and corporate powers and secret meetings of the nations’ mighty ones] coming to bear upon him. He has compromised as king Saul had done, and did not turn to G-d for guidance and counsel. The power of the American presidency has gone to his head and hardened his heart. He is obsessed with going to war against Iraq to overthrow Saddam. 

Bush, as G-d’s man, was to establish a faithful alliance with Israel, thereby effecting a reversal of several judgments pending over America. He has failed in this mission as king Saul with Amalek, and is determined to attack Iraq, the land the rivers Euphrates and Tigris divide ⁹, and create a power base in the Middle East militarily.^a