VOL. 53                     NEWSLETTER          FEB./MARCH 2006

Dear Friends of Israel and “Or Tzion”,

“Why do the Gentile nations rage and are in an uproar, and the peoples imagine and devise a VAIN and FUTILE thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together AGAINST the L-RD and His Anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bands asunder, tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!'”¹

This Word, quoted in Acts 4:25-26, was fulfilled at the time of Yeshua’s arrest, and shall be again prior to His Second Coming. Why do the nations rage against Israel and the kings and rulers of the earth gather together and take counsel against the land and people of Israel and their capital, Jerusalem?

IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH THE LORD YESHUA’S SECOND COMING AS KING OF ISRAEL AND JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH! 

For this is how the Holy One of Israel answers the kings and rulers of the earth and the raging Gentile nations: “-- as for Me, I have already installed My King upon Zion, My holy hill.”²

Indeed, all wish to do away with G-d’s laws and the Messianic Reign despite the fact that G-d has already determined what shall be. For example, nations refuse to acknowledge Jerusalem as the CAPITAL of Israel, putting their embassies in Tel Aviv instead. Israel is the sole country in the world whose capital is not acknowledged. Why?

This becomes plain in light of Zechariah 12:2-3 – “Yeshua shall return to Jerusalem.” Yeshua’s return is this event all hell is desperately trying to abort by turning the nations against Israel in attempt to annihilate her. 

Only a small portion of Christianity has understood this and the consequences of not standing with Israel and her capital, Jerusalem.

Israel’s Prime Minister Arik Sharon was challenging the Almighty, defying His oath and violating His covenant by ordering the expulsion of Jews from their homes built on convenanted land. Now, just a few months later, he lies helpless in a coma and shall never rule over Israel again.

How long will it be before man understands that his life is but a breath³ – it comes and goes - yet he acts as though he lives forever?

Each Israeli Prime Minister who acquiesced to the UN and American demand: “Bow down, that we may pass over you..”⁴  has been divinely removed from office. Beginning with Menachem Begin, the nations have made Israel’s “back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over...”, forcing her to sign agreements which violated G-d’s holy covenant He had confirmed with an oath⁵/a. But God cannot be mocked!

"G-d will punish all who do evil  – G-d’s anger will be poured out upon them…on the Jew first and also on the Gentile.”⁶ G-d’s retribution for violating His covenant is more severe on the Jewish leader - it is Arik Sharon who lies comatose in hospital, not President Bush.

“The time has come for judgment to begin with the household of G-d; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of G-d?”⁷

Evangelist Pat Robertson, alone to speak the truth about Sharon's demise, was castigated as having been “wholly inappropriate and insensitive and ill-timed"⁸. Yet, G-d never "waits" for convenience's sake, nor do his prophets apologize for speaking His truth.

Jeremiah spoke God's truth NOT when it was convenient but at a time when it was NEEDED. When G-d had meant for His rebellious people to escape with their lives by surrendering to the Chaldeans, it was His way of exercising mercy in judgment over the great apostasy of Jerusalem and Judah.

Yet Jeremiah was mistreated for his prophecy, for the Jewish leaders claimed that his words could never be from G-d⁹. Likewise was Pat Robertson punished. The Israeli Tourism Ministry, in reaction to his comments, cancelled a multi-million dollar joint tourism project with CBN of a Bible Theme Park near the Sea of Galilee.

Subsequently Pat Robertson apologized with a 2-page letter to Sharon’s son (under investigation for fraud). While Pat did not recant what he had said, he did say the timing of it was “inappropriate and insensitive.”

His apology grieved me. Did the loss of the $ 50 million Theme Park provoke this expression of regret? For on the heels of the apology, the project was confirmed.

Prior to all of this I had received a word for Pat Robertson. This was God's charge to the Church at Ephesus: "They had fallen from their first love."¹⁰

The Lord is indeed speaking to Pat with this message to the Ephesians! 

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans, when churches across the nation outdid one another with rushing to the aid of this sinful city, I heard the Lord say: “If I were to overthrow Sodom and Gomorrah today, the churches would go and rebuild them.”

There is a dangerous misconception spreading as to G-d’s nature. As our heavenly Father, He practices steadfast love and  faithfulness toward us, with much mercy, grace and compassion. Notwithstanding, He IS The Almighty, greatly to be feared, terrible and dreadful in judgment. Therefore the Scriptures tell of G-d’s discipline for those He loves¹¹, warning that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living G-d¹², and counselling, “The fear of the L-RD is the BEGINNING of WISDOM.”¹³