Hope you are not espousing a pre-twist Doctrine.
One needs to look hard at where there beliefs originate from and when.
There is nothing but utter deception in that doctrine.

Brorodj

--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, James Albright <jamesdalbright@...> wrote:
>
> The destruction of the temple in 70 AD fulfilled Luke 19:44, which is not
connected to the Antichrist.
> Luke 19:44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not
recognize the time of your visitation."
>
> Brief Recap of Roman History
>
> King Romulus founded Rome in 750 BC. Around 509 BC The Republic of Rome was
founded which was ruled by a Senate. However, conquests by Julius Caesar caused
the people of Rome to give him a lifetime mandate to rule the Republic of Rome
as a dictator, which resulted in his assassination by Senate members. In 27 BC
Caesar Augustus became the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. Tiberius followed
and was the Emperor when Jesus was crucified. Afterwards Caligula Nero became
emperor and was responsible for the persecution of Christians, which included
the execution of Peter and Paul. After Nero committed suicide Vespacian became
emperor in 68 AD. Vespacian was assigned to put down the Jewish rebellion in
Judea. However, after he became emperor he assigned the task to his son Titus
who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. This sparked persecution of the Jews in the
Roman Empire. Titus then ruled from 79 AD to 81 AD and was succeeded by his
brother Domitian who ruled until 96 AD. In 132 AD the Jews rebelled and were put
down by Hadrian who built a temple to their god Jupiter on the temple mount and
renamed Judea, Syria Palestina. Israel was dispersed for approximately 19
centuries and became a nation again on May 14, 1948 after Hitler was defeated.
During the exile the Byzantine, Muslims, Crusaders, Egyptian Marveloks, Turks
and then the British occupied Jerusalem. During this time some Jews returned to
Jerusalem and settled among the Arabs, who are now called the Palestinians.
> In 326 AD Constantine, a Christian, moved the capital of the Roman Empire to
Constantinople.
> Rome's challenge came from the Carthaginian Empire, which was located just
south on the African coastline. The Phoenicians who were from a city called Tyre
founded Carthage in 814 BC. Before Carthage was founded the Phoenicians had
already made their mark on the world. They developed the written form of
language(?) The Phoenicians were the Canaanites whom the Israelites encountered
when they entered the Promise Land. King Ahab married a Phoenician named Jezebel
who introduced the worship of the idol Baal to the Israelites. It was Jezebel'
great niece who founded Carthage. As Carthaginian Empire and the Roman Empire
grew wars called the Punic Wars broke out. In 146 BC Carthage was completely
destroyed by the Romans, which enabled the Romans to dominate the world for
centuries. Rome was defeated by bands of invaders in the 5th and 6th centuries.
>
>
> Bro. James D Albright
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

There always has been a remnant that God has for his own.
There are those that remained and believed and followed Christ Jesus from the
Beginning.
We have to acknowledge this. There is and alway will be the Original Israel ,
branches that were never broke off.
The Church is the Grafted in wild branches that have become part of the True
Israel of God.
So do not say That Israel (Jews) are Not Gods Chosen People.
To be true one must be an attached branch.
There is only one true Israel as there is only one true Child of God.
Both come to be a Child and a true Israel of God in the same manner.
Through Jesus Christ.
But what I think you are speaking of is those that call themselves Israel that
is not Israel.
The Only Blood that matters id Jesus Christ Blood.
There is no true blood Lineage except through the Blood of Jesus.

Brorodj


--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, peter shanab <pashanab@...> wrote:
>
> THE JEWS ARE NO LONGER GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE
>
>
> Harry Bethel
> BethelMinistries. com
>
> NOTICE: This writer does not advocate illegal discrimination or racism or
violation of civil rights of Jews or any other group. This article and website
is NOT anti-Semitic. Christians should love the Jews and pray for them.
>
> It is a lie from Satan that Jews are God's chosen people and many pastors
embrace and teach Satan's lie that Christians should support the State of Israel
(Zionism). Also, another lie from Satan is the teaching that God blesses those
who bless Israel and He curses those who curse them. (That has not been true for
more than 1900 years.)
> Jews claim to be God's chosen people, but they were His chosen people. Only
the elect of the Jews (which is an extremely small minority) will be saved.Jesus
Christ, who is God incarnate, pronounced judgment on the Jews for rejecting Him:
> The Jews generally rejected Jesus, the true Messiah, therefore Jesus cursed
the fig tree, which represents Israel, saying, "May you never bear fruit again!"
(Mat. 21:18).
> When the Jewish chief priests and elders questioned Jesus' authority He said
to them, "I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and
given to a people [Gentiles] who will produce its fruit" (Mat. 21:43).
> When Jesus told a parable to the Jewish chief priests, scribes, and elders
(Lk. 20:19), they knew He was talking about them when He said that the
vine-growers, to whom the owner had sent his son, killed his son. Then in the
parable Jesus asked what will the owner of the vineyard do to those who killed
his son, to which He said, "He will come and destroy these vine-growers [Jews]
and will give the vineyard to others [Gentiles]."
> After hearing this and knowing that Jesus was talking about them, those Jews
"tried to lay hands on Him that very hour...and they watched Him, and sent spies
who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some
statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the
governor" (Lk. 20:9-20).
> A loving, longsuffering and merciful God sent Jesus to "His own [the Jews],
and His own received Him not" (John 1:11). The reason that the Jewish prophet
John (the Baptizer) came baptizing with water was to reveal Jesus to Israel
(John 1:31). And Jesus said that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel
(Mat. 15:24).
> Near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry Jesus said, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed
to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. (Mat.
23:37-38).
> Paul quoted Isaiah in his epistle to the Christians in Rome, "Concerning
Israel he [Isaiah] says, 'All day long I [God] have held out My hands to a
disobedient and obstinate people [the Jews]'" (Rom. 10:21).
> After the apostle Paul had preached the Gospel to Jews in cities throughout
Asia and was, for the most part, rejected by them, he turned to the Gentiles and
ministered to them.
> Near the end of Paul's ministry, when he was in Rome under house arrest, he
spoke to a large gathering of Jews. Paul explained and declared to them the
kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and
from the Prophets.
> The great apostle concluded his sermon by saying, "The Holy Spirit spoke the
truth to your [Jewish] forefathers when He said through Isaiah the prophet: 'Go
to this people and say, 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you
will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become
calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their hearts and turn and I would heal [save] them.' Therefore I want you to
know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen"
(Acts 28:17-28).
> When the Jews cried out over and over to crucify Jesus, and Pilate wanted to
release Him, all the Jews said, "Let His blood be on us and on our children!"
(Mat. 27:25).
> Jesus prophesied God's destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in 70
A.D. at the hands of the Roman general Titus (Mat. 24:1-2; Lk. 19:41-44).
According to Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, more than 1,000,000
Jews died when Jerusalem was laid siege to and destroyed as Jesus had prophesied
40 years earlier.
> That horrific suffering was second only to the suffering of the twentieth
century Holocaust under Hitler. This was because of the general rejection of
Christ by the Jews, and until this day they still reject Jesus Christ as the
Messiah and Savior and the only way to heaven.
> Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man [including Jews]
cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (Jn. 14:6). There are very few Jews today who
will repent of their sins and be born again and receive Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior and only way to God to Father.
> In 614 A.D. the Persians captured Jerusalem and massacred the inhabitants. The
so-called "Christian" Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099. Several times since
then Jerusalem has fallen into the hands of Moslems and "Christians. " There is
no reason to believe that the Crusaders were truly born-again Christians,
anymore than the vast majority of Roman Catholics.
> The Jews have continued to reject Christ throughout the centuries and the last
great slaughter of Jews was during the Holocaust. It is claimed that six million
Jews were killed in a few short years under the hand of Hitler (the number is
probably exaggerated) . (Also killed were Christ-rejecting Gypsies, homosexuals,
and a few others.) All of this mass-killing took place as a sovereign and just
God looked on.
> Paul in Romans 9:27 referred to Isaiah when he wrote, "Though the number of
the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant shall be
saved."
> The apostle Paul (a born-again Jew) said that the minds of the Jews have been
made dull and to this day a "veil" covers their hearts when the Old Covenant is
read, and only in Christ is it taken away (2 Cor. 3:14-16).
> Paul wrote concerning the Jews, "You who brag about the Law, do you dishonor
God by breaking the Law? As it is written: 'God's name is blasphemed among the
Gentiles because of you'" (Rom. 2:23-24).
> Justin Martyr, in 116 A.D. wrote, "The Jews were behind all the persecutions
of the Christians. They wandered through the country everywhere hating and
undermining the Christian faith."
> Albert Einstein, a Jew, and an atheist said in a letter to philosopher Eric
Gutkind dated 1/3/1954 that Jews were not God's chosen people. The renowned
physicist wrote, "For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation
of the most childish superstitions. " Einstein said, "And the Jewish people to
whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no
different quality for me than all other people." He wrote, "The word God is for
me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a
collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless
pretty childish."
> Concerning the Jews Einstein wrote, "As far as my experience goes, they are no
better than other human groups...I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."
> President Harry S. Truman wrote in his diary on 7/21/1947, "The Jews, I find,
are very, very selfish...[W] hen they have power, physical, financial or
political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or
mistreatment of the underdog."
> Reportedly, in 1977 Israel passed a law that prohibits anyone, including
Christians, from leading the Jews to change their religion.
> What should be the attitude of Christians toward Christ-rejecting Jews?
> Christians should love the Jews just as we should love the heathen in Africa.
Paul wrote that "all Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26), but the apostle also
wrote that "though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the
sea, [only] a remnant shall be saved" (Rom. 9:27).
> All true Israel is only a remnant. During the Great Tribulation 144,000 Jews
will be saved, but this is only a small remnant compared to the millions of Jews
living today. The Christ-rejecting Jews are no different than anyone else who
has not repented of their sins and been born again. Pray for the Jews, love
them, ask God to have mercy on them, and share the true Gospel with those who
will listen.
>
>
> http://www.bethelmi nistries. com/jews_ are_not_gods_ chosen_people. htm
>
>
>
> God Bless You!
> St. James
> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
> The Moderator
> Jerusalem, Palestine
> E-mail: PalestinianChristia ns@yahoo. com
> http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Palestinia nChristians
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Israel the People of God.
Yet today so many have no understanding of what this means.
Today so many actually have been blinded as unto the Original Branches.
Jesus came to save Israel
The branches attached to Him the Vine the true vine all branches are attached
to.
Now.
There is only One Israel of God.
Who is this Israel?
Who is the Israel that says it is Israel but is not Israel the New Covenant
writings speaks of?
The True Israel of God is attached To Jesus Christ, the Vine the Heart and
creator of Israel.Who does the Bible says Israel is?
The original Branches  and the Wild Branches that have been Grafted in.
That is Israel.
That is the True Israel.
That is The All Israel that will be saved.
If any one says All of Israel will be saved then They are saying every man and
woman Child all Humans will be saved.
Because all are of Israel and Christ came that All Might be saved.
Didn't he say that?
Unfortunately all will not be saved , Only those attached By being born again
unto the Vine, That means all that are grafted in and Only those that are
attached to the Vine will be saved.
This is the all that Romans is speaking of.
It says when the Gentile dispensation ends that when all of those that will be
grafted in whether the Wild or those broken of when the last one that will come
in , comes in. Then All of Israel that means all those that came in.
They are the Only Israel of God.
They belong to the Kingdom. They are saved.
That will be it for any.
So We can not stop being a witness to the Broken off branches.
They will be lost if they do not wake up and grab the Lord by the Vine and get
back in the Life giving Blood of Jesus.
This is what I see in Scripture and this is what I preach and will to The master
returns.
Amen
Brorodj


--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, "BibleProphecyOnTheWeb"
<bibleprophecy_ndbpsa@...> wrote:
>
> Deut.7:6    For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy
God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that
[are] upon the face of the earth.
>
> Deut.7:7   The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye
were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people:
>
>
> Deut.14:2       For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the
LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the
nations that [are] upon the earth.
>

Why do we struggle or sin?

John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that
cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall
never thirst.

The Lord tells us today, the main reason we suffer in life is because
we do not acknowledge Him and believe in Him.

The Lord is everywhere and there is nowhere one can go away from Him.
His Throne is in Heaven but his presence is everywhere. Even if we
have sinned very much yet the Lord can be on hand only if we
acknowledge Him. The reason we sin also is because we do not believe
in Him and acknowledge that He is right next to us.

Just imagine if God was man and stood right next to us, how well
behaved would we have been. But since is Spirit we acknowledge Him
only when we are in need of Him, else we shut our conscience and think
no one is seeing what we are doing. The other reason why we sin is
also because we love to believe in lies but not in truth. We believe
that gratification of the flesh (our carnal self) will give us
pleasures forever. Although we all know this is not true, yet for that
given period of time when we are in that situation under temptation,
we sense to believe in the lie; like Adam and Eve did.

It will amaze you to know in the Bible the grammar of the words also
tell us if we need to get out of temptation get out of the situation,
not necessary in place physically or in time but could also be in
feelings. It is only when we escape that situation will we realize the
mistake we would have fallen into.

The easiest way to escape the situation is to redirect our focus by
acknowledging the presence of the Lord or coming / calling unto Him.

Know your God and believe in Him, and all our problems will be like an
ant in front of us.


[Prayer Starter]
Lord, God forgive us for the times when we fell because we did not
acknowledge your presence. We shut our spiritual eyes and continued
doing the wrongs we did ignoring your presence. We know You alone are
life for us and your Word gives life yet we chose to believe in lies
and gratify our carnal self. Lord, remind us at all times that You are
there with us and in us so that your glory surrounds us...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[Reference Scriptures]
James 4:1-8
1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence,
even of your lusts that war in your members?
2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot
obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts.
4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of
the world is the enemy of God.
5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that
dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the
proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you.
8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands,
ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.


T@MZ
http://www.SavedByFaith.info
http://www.ToMountZion.com

Deut.7:6    For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy
God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that
[are] upon the face of the earth.

Deut.7:7   The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye
were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people:


Deut.14:2       For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the
LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the
nations that [are] upon the earth.

ALL Israel (Gen.49:28 below) will be saved, as it is written.

As touching the election Israel are beloved for God the Father's sake
(Rom.11:26-28 below).

God blots out Israel's transgressions for His own sake, and He will not remember
Israel's sins (Isa.43:25 below).


Gen.49:28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob): and this is it that
their father (Jacob/Israel) spake unto them, and blessed them; every one
according to his blessing he blessed them.


Rom.11:26  And so ALL Israel shall be saved (Gen.49:28 above): as it is written,
There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from
Jacob:

Rom.11:27  For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their
sins.

Rom.11:28  As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as
touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes (Isa.43:25
below).


Isa.43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions FOR MINE OWN
SAKE (Rom.11:28 above), and will not remember thy sins.



Patricia Š

Today's Message: Teach One to Reach One
We as Christian's are commanded by God to teach anyone who does not know Jesus
how they can come to know Him. We can not be ashamed of what we know nor be
afraid to tell others about Him. Jesus gives us the strength and protection to
withstand all persecution as we seek to teach one to reach one.

The book of II Timothy is the 16th book of the New Testament, the 55th book of
the Bible, and contains 4 chapters. The author of the book is Paul and it was
written to Timothy. The purpose of the letter was to challenge Timothy to assume
responsibility for the ministry which the apostle was handing over to him. What
we are to learn from the book is that each person who knows Christ is to teach
one to reach one with the Gospel.

Paul wrote this book from prison as he knew he would soon be executed for his
faith. Paul reminds Timothy that his mother and grandmother had faithfully
taught him and that he should not be ashamed to teach what he learned to others
as well. "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience,
that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled
with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which
dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded
that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the
gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be
not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner:
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of
God; " - II Timothy 1:3-8. God gives all who accept and follow Christ the
ability to teach others about the Gospel of Jesus. As a child I may not have
known what the meaning of Christmas was, but I knew who Jesus was and that
Christmas day was His birthday. Of course, now I know more, but at least as a
child I had some sort of remembrance of the faith my mother had in Jesus. We can
not live in fear of our beliefs, we will all face persecution, but rest assure
that Jesus is with us and gives us the strength and protection to withstand all
afflictions, it is only by His power and love that we can declare that Jesus is
the truth, life, and way and know that no matter what we face we have the power
of God on our side.

Paul knew that his life would soon end when he wrote this letter and he was
deeply concerned that Timothy, remain faithful to God. Paul knew that the
Scriptures would prepare him to be responsible to carry out the Lord's commands.
"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure
hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth
himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen
him to be a soldier." - II Timothy 2:1-4. Paul knew that for Timothy to remain
faithful in the midst of trials and disappointments, he would need to diligently
study the Word of God as essential for spiritual wisdom. This is a lesson for us
all to learn, we must keep God's Word in us daily, this will also allow us the
teach the truth to others and to not be afraid as a soldier would prepare for
battle, we too are to prepare for spiritual battle. Every Thursday I go with my
church into the local community and we invite people to church (who do not have
a church), but more important than inviting people to church is making sure that
they know for sure they are going to heaven. We have gone into some pretty rough
neighborhoods, but not once were we afraid because we knew that God was with us
and would protect us along the way.

Paul also encouraged Timothy to remember that the Holy Scriptures are necessary
to make us wise and teach us many things. The power of God is only found in the
Scriptures. Those who choose to read through the Bible as God arranged it, see a
fuller revelation of every subject. It's of utmost importance to read all of it
to obtain a full and true understanding of any doctrine. "All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." - II Timothy 3:16,17. The
Word of God is the true source of reproof. Added to reproof is "rebuke" which
means we are also to encourage or bring comfort through discipline. Rebuke
without encouragement may defeat the purpose of the rebuke. Long-suffering is a
necessity if exhorting is to be profitable. Since the truth can never be out of
season, meaning, always available - nothing compares to the necessity of knowing
God's Word. There are no options, no substitutes, no alternatives. This is a
doctrine of vital importance to the Church in this generation. The King James
version of the Bible was the first Bible written in the English language. The
Almighty God controls all the affairs of the universe and nothing could have
been more vital than His control over the men whom He inspired to translate it
into English more than 400 years ago. Never let anyone tell you that this book
was not inspired by God, there are countless documents proving that although
there were some different words used to translate a meaning into English all
translations had the same doctrine. Both New and Old testaments are the Word of
God and we must study both in order to understand God's message. The terms "old"
and "new" are used to distinguish between God's agreement with man before and
after the death of Jesus Christ.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and Merry Christmas
God Bless You,

I KNOW YOU ALL GET TIRED OF HEARING ME , BUT I HAVE TOMLET YOU KNOW HOW BLESSED
I AM , IN NOV  IWAS IN SO MUCH PAIN , I TOLD GOD THAT I DIDN'T WANT BE HERE , IF
IT WAS TIME , LET ME GO HOME TO BE WITH HIM , BUT IF IT WASN'T TIME , TO
RELEASE  ME FROM THE PAIN , SO I COULD HIS WORK , I'M HERE TO DAY ,BECAUSE OUR
GOD IS A GOOD GOD , I CAN DO HIS WORK , WHEN I PUT EVERYTHING IN HIS HANDS , I
LET GO , HE  HELD ME UP WHEN YOU SEE WALKING IT'S NOT ME, IT'S HIM MOVING ME
AROUND , RIGHT THERE'S ONLY  ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS , HE'S CARRYING ME , I HOPE
THIS ENCOURAGES SOME ONE TO KNOW YOU CAN DEPEND ON GOD TO DO WHAT HIS WORD SAYS
, IT'S JUST SO MUCH THE ENEMY IS TRYING HIT ME WITH , EVERYTIME GOD HITS A HOME
RUN , I'M SO BLESSED , KEEP PRAYING AND KEEP PRAYING FOR YOU ALL
 
YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST
CECIL JACOB



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dec. 14 SparkysHeart — HEBREWS 5-7
Sparky's Prayer: Help us, Lord God, to grow daily in You and Your Word. Help us
to put the foolish and childish things behind us, so that we will become all You
desire us to be. Help us to move forward in our faith by maturing in our
relationship with Jesus and to never fallout of God's grace. Help us to never
put Jesus to shame by our disobedience. Help us to always have a life of action
by showing the work of the Lord in the harvest. In Jesus' mighty saving name, we
pray. Amen.
http://www.thestreamtv1.com/

Colossians 1:28-29 — Blessing of Grace
PAUL'S PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, source of our energy: We do hope in You
because our Lord lives His life through us and blesses others through the
genuine love which He gives. Grant us to proclaim Him, warning and teaching
everyone in all wisdom, so that we can present people mature in Christ. Grant
that we will strive for this with all the energy, which You mightily inspire
within us. All good things are from You. There is no blessing except by Your
grace. We live because of You! In Jesus' saving name, we pray. Amen.
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/praying_paul/pwp.pl?348

VERSE: Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ~ 1 Corinthians
12:14 (NIV)
THOUGHT: The human body is an amazing collection of parts, members, vital
organs, systems, and interdependent structures. When the body is healthy and
these different elements of the body work in concert with one another, the human
body can do amazing things. The same is true with the Body of Christ! As long as
we do our part and offer it for the good of the whole, Christ can do amazing
things with us!
PRAYER: Holy and loving Father God, please help us to know our place in the Body
of Christ so that we can serve faithfully and productively and bring glory to
the Lord and His Body. In Jesus' mighty saving name, we pray. Amen.
http://www.heartlight.org/

WHAT JESUS DID! — The Emotional Truth
Matthew 27:27-31 (NLT) Some of the governor's soldiers took Jesus into their
headquarters and called out the entire battalion. They stripped Him and put a
scarlet robe on Him. They made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on His
head, and they placed a stick in His right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt
before Him in mockery, yelling, "Hail! King of the Jews!" And they spit on Him
and grabbed the stick and beat Him on the head with it. When they were finally
tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him
again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.
WJD THOUGHT: Matthew tells it so matter-of-fact. His account is devoid of
emotion or nuance. The brutality and cruelty is just simply recited. But each
fact shakes us like a lightning strike a little too close for comfort. They took
His clothes and put on a robe. They put a crown of thorns on His head. They put
a mock scepter in His hand. They mocked Him as King. They spat upon Him. They
beat Him with a stick on His head. They led Him away to be crucified. But for
those of us who believe, our hearts break. This emotionless account stirs deep
emotions within us. This is our beloved Jesus. This our Savior. This is our
Lord. He did this for us ... for me! How could they do such things? More than
simple historical facts, these events are the basis of our salvation and the
cost paid to redeem us from our sin. They remind us of God's love. Simple and
emotionless words stir something deep within us and make us cry, both in delight
and in horror. This is our King. We bow to Him. He rules forever. Yet He held it
all in, and suffered this horrible set events for one reason: He loves us and
wants us in His family.
WJD PRAYER: Gracious Father God, as a mere mortal, there is no way that we can
understand or feel what must have penetrated Your heart when these events
occurred. But we thank You. We thank You Father God for sending Jesus to be our
salvation. We thank You for withholding Your power so that power could be
directed to remove our sins. We thank You for loving us when we have not always
been lovable. We thank You that this is not the end of Jesus' story, but the
beginning of Your grace. In Jesus' mighty saving name, we pray. Amen.
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/1214-wjd.html

WHAT JESUS DID! — It is Finished!
Mark 15:37 (NLT) Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last.
WJD THOUGHT: Jesus finishes His work as our ransom from sin and death. Please
ponder the incredible words of Mark 15:37. God in human flesh dies. He dies
because He allows His life to be taken. He dies as one of us. He dies in pain,
humiliation, rejection, and ridicule. He dies because He loves us and wants to
free us from our sin by His blood. He completes the work that God has given Him
to do in His incarnation.
WJD PRAYER: Almighty Father God, we cannot even begin to imagine how this moment
of Jesus' death impacted Your heart and the hosts of heaven. In our human
hearts, just reading this story makes us want to shout "Hallelujah!" in praise
to Your Son for the victory He wins by laying down His life. At the same time,
our hearts break at the thought of our human rebellion — our utter sinfulness —
that placed Jesus on the Cross both physically and spiritually. During this time
of year as we think of Jesus' birth, we are reminded once again that He was born
to pay this horrible price. Thank You for our redemption. Thank You for paying
such a horrible price to win that redemption. All praises be to You, O God, the
Father of grace and to Your Son and our Savior Who paid the price for our sins.
Hallelujah! In Jesus' mighty saving name, we pray. Amen.
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/mark/1214-wjd.html

WHAT JESUS DID! — You are Right ... But Wrong
Luke 22:63-71 (NLT) At daybreak all the leaders of the people assembled,
including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led
before this high council, and they said, "Tell us if you are the Messiah." But
He replied, "If I tell you, you will not believe Me. And if I ask you a
question, you will not answer. But the time is soon coming when I, the Son of
Man, will be sitting at God's right hand in the place of power." They all
shouted, "Then You claim You are the Son of God?" And He replied, "You are right
in saying that I am." "What need do we have for other witnesses?" they shouted.
"We ourselves heard Him say it."
WJD THOUGHT: The irony of this event is that Jesus' enemies are right in their
accusation — He is the Messiah, the Son of God. They are also wrong — they will
not believe in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God, but instead are intent on
killing Him. They are the vivid reminder that we can say the right things and
yet refuse to believe them. We can say the right things, but say them in
ridicule and be guilty of sin. The battle we face is an issue of our hearts. Are
we seeking God's will, or are we protecting our religious interests? Let us
continually seek to have our hearts open for God's truth and God's will.
WJD PRAYER: Father God, as we seek truth, help us seek You and Your will first.
We know that we cannot authentically live in obedience to Your truth without
seeking to honor You. Purify our hearts and create a right spirit in us. In
Jesus' mighty saving name, we pray. Amen.
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/luke/1214-wjd.html

WHAT JESUS DID! — Mary!
John 20:14-16 (NLT) She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing
behind her. It was Jesus, but she did not recognize Him. "Why are you crying?"
Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?" She thought He was the gardener.
"Sir," she said, "if you have taken Him away, tell me where You have put Him,
and I will go and get Him." "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned toward Him and
exclaimed, "Teacher!"
WJD THOUGHT: "My sheep know My voice!" Jesus had said. Indeed, they do. While
Mary did not recognize Jesus at first, as soon as He said her name, she knew!
One of these days Jesus will say each of our names and we will rise to meet Him
and go home to live with Him forever. Our assurance of this future is rooted in
what happened here to Mary — her Lord died, was buried, was raised and has given
each of us the promise of life with Him forever.
WJD PRAYER: Almighty Father God, how can we thank You for such a wonderful hope!
Thank You for Mary, whose faith held firm through her sorrow, despair, and
confusion. Thank You for her experience, which helps us anticipate the day when
Jesus will say our name and we will see Him face to face. In Jesus' mighty
saving name, we pray. Amen.
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/john/1214-wjd.html

Daily Guide to Miracles from Oral Roberts Ministries
God's Hitching Post — by Oral Roberts
Back in the days when horses were the chief means of transportation, a
small-town church held a revival. During one service, a man walked forward to
accept Christ as his Savior. Everyone knew the man. He was the one who tied his
horse to the local saloon's hitching post each evening.
Word of his conversion spread like wildfire. People were skeptical, doubting
that his commitment to God was real. The next time he rode into town, the people
peeked through their curtains to see where he would go. After a stop at the
general store, he got on his horse, and it headed instinctively toward the
saloon. "I knew he would go there," someone scoffed. But suddenly the man yanked
on the reins, turned the horse around, and headed home.
"Well, I believe he is really been converted," the skeptic said. "He is changed
his hitching post."
That is what Christian conversion is-a change in our hitching posts. Instead of
being tied to sin, we are tied to Christ. Changing to God's hitching post, Jesus
Christ, makes a real and wonderful change in us. We experience a new birth,
receive a new life, and become a new creation.
Second Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) says, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!
My Declaration of Faith for Today: I walk in the freedom Christ gave me when I
gave my life to Him.
Remember, "Something GOOD is going to happen to you!"
prayer@...
Visit the Make Your Day Count website: http://www.makeyourdaycount.com

Barrels On Stilts
Proverbs 6:6-8 — Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It
has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest. (NIV)
Psalm 119:103 — How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my
mouth! (NIV)
As I stood gazing out the front window watching the goats, I could not believe
how fat they had become. The three of them looked like barrels on stilts with
their huge rounded bellies and stick-like legs. Lucy was so stout that her
stomach swung from side to side as she ambled over to the feed box to stick her
nose in yet once again.
According to my daughter, who raises these animals, as well as the Guide on
Goats, they are supposed to look like this as we go forward into the winter
season. They instinctively know that there will be long, cold, hard days ahead,
and this extra bulk will see them safely through until the sunshine and warmth
of spring's return.
Watching the goats this Advent season has reminded me of the importance of
growing fat on God's Word. God's people waited and watched for a very long time
for the Saviour's first appearance. Amidst that period, times were often
difficult, hard — even cruel — for His own. The faithful, however, were
sustained, as they rested in and on the promises of Scripture. Those who were
fat in the Word survived the harshness of lean times.
Likewise, this Advent, as we celebrate looking back to the manger yet also ahead
to the second coming of Emmanuel, God with us, let us not forget the wisdom
found both in the goats and in today's Scripture about the ants. Christ is
coming again. What hard times will lay ahead for His people before that day we
are not privileged to know. Most of us, however, do have the freedom and
privilege to know His Word. Each of us, through reading and memorization, can
become fat on faith through His promises and truth — fodder, which will see us
safely through any lean times yet ahead as we await the sunshine and warmth of
Christ's second coming.
We come in agreement with Lynne's Prayer: Father God, thank You that we can
count on Your Word at all times. Thank You, Lord God, that we have opportunity
to study and memorize Scripture. Motivate us this day, Jesus, to chow down on
Your precepts, that we might indeed be fat upon Your Word through lean times. In
Jesus' mighty saving name, we pray. Amen.
Lynne Phipps — lynnephipps@...
Atlin, British Columbia, Canada
http://daily.presbycan.ca/

WHAT JESUS DID! — When the Jews protested, I was forced to appeal to Caesar
Acts 28:19-20 But when the Jews protested, I was forced to appeal to Caesar,
though it was not, because I had any charge to make against my nation. [20] This
is the reason therefore, why I have begged to see you and to talk with you,
since it is because of the Hope of Israel (the Messiah) that I am bound with
this chain.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IBGN-IBEGOODNOW-NEWSLETTER/

*THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 13
*God can do anything He wants to have done. He does not want what you can do ...
Instead, He wants you.*
PARIS — GraceNtheTruth@...

 >God’s armour - Part 5: Assurance
> >
> >" AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION… " EPHESIANS 6 : 17
> >
> >Some parts of a Roman soldier’s armour were elaborate, because they
> >were designed to make a statement of strength and authority. Apart
> >from his shield, his helmet made the biggest impression. It was
> >bronze, with feathers on the top, and made him look ten feet tall!
> >
> >By calling this “the helmet of salvation,” Paul could not have made a
> >more powerful statement about your redemption. When you truly
> >understand that you are eternally and absolutely saved – you’ll stand
> >ten feet tall! And people will notice the difference. When everyone
> >around you is “losing their cool,” they’ll notice you keeping yours,
> >because of the joy of your salvation.
> >
> >Because the helmet of salvation covers your head, Paul is saying that
> >your mind must be focused at all times on the most basic of all
> >spiritual truths – you are saved! Keep that in the forefront of your
> >thinking.
> >
> >When the disciples returned to Jesus, rejoicing in the miracles
> >they’d done, He said, “…rather rejoice, because your names are
> >written in heaven” (Lk 10:20). None of the blessings of this life
> >compare to eternal life in Christ! When the enemy brings up your
> >past, remind him that he has no authority over you. He can’t touch
> >what belongs to God. He can’t set foot in the life of anyone who’s
> >been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. When you take that
> >position, you stand ten feet tall in the Spirit!


to GOD be the GLORY, love, peace, happiness,and joy to you , remember, I CAN DO
ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS ME ,FATHER, WE WORSHIP, MAGNIFY AND
LIFT YOU UP TODAY , IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS,
AMEN
, I set myself inline with all your prayers and petitons , if two or more are
joined in prayer , GOD is always in the midst
may the holy spirit come into your life and dwell forever
your brother inCHRIST
CECIL JACOB 
 



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Daniel 9:27 - A Misconception of the False Prophet and a Seven-Year Covenant -

The beast/false prophet (Re.13:11) will not be on the world scene seven years
prior to the Seventh Trumpet (1 Thess.4:16-17) to be able make a seven-year
covenant.

I believe that the day that the blessed saints of the most High come to the 1335
days (Dan.12:12 below) prior to the Seventh Trumpet, the ascension, coincides
with the beast/false prophet (Re.13:11) ascending from the bottomless pit
(Re.9:1-2).  (1335 days/3 years, 8 months, 15 days.

The beast/false prophet will ascend from the bottomless pit AFTER the beast of
Revelation 13:1.

The beast of Revelation 13:1 will be allowed to then CONTINUE (Re.13:5) with the
beast/false prophet (Re.13:11) once the beast/false prophet has ascended from
the bottomless pit.

BOTH these beasts will then come against those blessed who have come to the 1335
days prior to the Seventh TRUMPET.

A misunderstanding of Daniel 9:27 (below) occurs when we look at that Scripture
as referring to the false prophet.

A misunderstanding of that Scripture also occurs when we look at the time frame
of that Scripture as YEARS instead of DAYS, as it is written.

Daniel 9:25 speaks of Messiah the Prince.

Daniel 9:26 breaks the continuity of thought between Daniel 9:25 and Daniel
9:27, so that the "he" referenced at Daniel 9:27 refers back up to Daniel 9:25,
Messiah the Prince.

Messiah the Prince is the Prince of Princes/Jesus Christ (Dan.9:25 below).

Messiah is the false prophet (Dan.9:26 below).

He (Dan.9:27 below) refers to Messiah the Prince (Dan.9:25 below), Jesus Christ.

ONE WEEK (Dan.9:27 below) prior to the Seventh Trumpet, the ascension (1
Thess.4:16-17), Messiah the Prince (Jesus) will confirm the covenant with many.
The many during that last week will be the 144,000.

With the slaying of the two prophets (Re.11:8-12), Messiah the Prince (Jesus)
will cause the sacrifice and the oblation of the saints of the most High to
cease (Matt.24:9, Dan.7:21, Dan.7:25, Dan.8:24, Re.12:17, Re.13:7, Re.13:15,
Re.16:6, Re.17:6, Dan.12:6-7). The slaying of the two prophets ends the
tribulation except for the 144,000 who will endure to be those who are alive and
remain at the ascension.

For the overspreading of abominations that have occurred (Dan.9:27 below),
Messiah the Prince (Jesus) shall make the earth desolate, even to the
consummation and that determined (the seven last plagues - Re.16:1), will be
poured out upon the desolate (Gentiles - 1 Thess.4:5, Eph.2:12) remaining upon
the earth after the ascension.


Dan.12:12     BLESSED (Re.14:12-13) is he that waiteth, and cometh to the
THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE AND THIRTY DAYS. (1335 days)


Dan. 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince
(Jesus) shall be SEVEN WEEKS (49 days), and THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS (62 weeks,
or 1 year, 2 months, 14 days): the street shall be built again, AND THE WALL,
even in troublous times.

Dan. 9:26     And after THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS (62 weeks, or 1 year, 2 months,
14 days) shall Messiah (the false prophet - Dan.7:20, Dan.7:24, Dan.7:25,
Dan.8:9, Dan.8:11, Dan.8:24-25, Dan.11:36, Dan.11:37-38, 2 Thess.2:4,
Re.13:11-17, Re.17:8) be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the
prince (Satan) that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the
end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined.

Dan. 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one WEEK: and IN THE
MIDST OF THE WEEK he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and
for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.



Patricia Š

THE JEWS ARE NO LONGER GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE


Harry Bethel
BethelMinistries. com

NOTICE: This writer does not advocate illegal discrimination or racism or
violation of civil rights of Jews or any other group. This article and website
is NOT anti-Semitic. Christians should love the Jews and pray for them.

It is a lie from Satan that Jews are God's chosen people and many pastors
embrace and teach Satan's lie that Christians should support the State of Israel
(Zionism). Also, another lie from Satan is the teaching that God blesses those
who bless Israel and He curses those who curse them. (That has not been true for
more than 1900 years.)
Jews claim to be God's chosen people, but they were His chosen people. Only the
elect of the Jews (which is an extremely small minority) will be saved.Jesus
Christ, who is God incarnate, pronounced judgment on the Jews for rejecting Him:
The Jews generally rejected Jesus, the true Messiah, therefore Jesus cursed the
fig tree, which represents Israel, saying, "May you never bear fruit again!"
(Mat. 21:18).
When the Jewish chief priests and elders questioned Jesus' authority He said to
them, "I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given
to a people [Gentiles] who will produce its fruit" (Mat. 21:43).
When Jesus told a parable to the Jewish chief priests, scribes, and elders (Lk.
20:19), they knew He was talking about them when He said that the vine-growers,
to whom the owner had sent his son, killed his son. Then in the parable Jesus
asked what will the owner of the vineyard do to those who killed his son, to
which He said, "He will come and destroy these vine-growers [Jews] and will give
the vineyard to others [Gentiles]."
After hearing this and knowing that Jesus was talking about them, those Jews
"tried to lay hands on Him that very hour...and they watched Him, and sent spies
who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some
statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the
governor" (Lk. 20:9-20).
A loving, longsuffering and merciful God sent Jesus to "His own [the Jews], and
His own received Him not" (John 1:11). The reason that the Jewish prophet John
(the Baptizer) came baptizing with water was to reveal Jesus to Israel (John
1:31). And Jesus said that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Mat.
15:24).
Near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry Jesus said, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you
who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to
gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but
you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. (Mat. 23:37-38).
Paul quoted Isaiah in his epistle to the Christians in Rome, "Concerning Israel
he [Isaiah] says, 'All day long I [God] have held out My hands to a disobedient
and obstinate people [the Jews]'" (Rom. 10:21).
After the apostle Paul had preached the Gospel to Jews in cities throughout Asia
and was, for the most part, rejected by them, he turned to the Gentiles and
ministered to them.
Near the end of Paul's ministry, when he was in Rome under house arrest, he
spoke to a large gathering of Jews. Paul explained and declared to them the
kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and
from the Prophets.
The great apostle concluded his sermon by saying, "The Holy Spirit spoke the
truth to your [Jewish] forefathers when He said through Isaiah the prophet: 'Go
to this people and say, 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you
will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become
calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their hearts and turn and I would heal [save] them.' Therefore I want you to
know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen"
(Acts 28:17-28).
When the Jews cried out over and over to crucify Jesus, and Pilate wanted to
release Him, all the Jews said, "Let His blood be on us and on our children!"
(Mat. 27:25).
Jesus prophesied God's destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in 70 A.D.
at the hands of the Roman general Titus (Mat. 24:1-2; Lk. 19:41-44). According
to Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, more than 1,000,000 Jews died
when Jerusalem was laid siege to and destroyed as Jesus had prophesied 40 years
earlier.
That horrific suffering was second only to the suffering of the twentieth
century Holocaust under Hitler. This was because of the general rejection of
Christ by the Jews, and until this day they still reject Jesus Christ as the
Messiah and Savior and the only way to heaven.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man [including Jews]
cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (Jn. 14:6). There are very few Jews today who
will repent of their sins and be born again and receive Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior and only way to God to Father.
In 614 A.D. the Persians captured Jerusalem and massacred the inhabitants. The
so-called "Christian" Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099. Several times since
then Jerusalem has fallen into the hands of Moslems and "Christians. " There is
no reason to believe that the Crusaders were truly born-again Christians,
anymore than the vast majority of Roman Catholics.
The Jews have continued to reject Christ throughout the centuries and the last
great slaughter of Jews was during the Holocaust. It is claimed that six million
Jews were killed in a few short years under the hand of Hitler (the number is
probably exaggerated) . (Also killed were Christ-rejecting Gypsies, homosexuals,
and a few others.) All of this mass-killing took place as a sovereign and just
God looked on.
Paul in Romans 9:27 referred to Isaiah when he wrote, "Though the number of the
children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant shall be saved."
The apostle Paul (a born-again Jew) said that the minds of the Jews have been
made dull and to this day a "veil" covers their hearts when the Old Covenant is
read, and only in Christ is it taken away (2 Cor. 3:14-16).
Paul wrote concerning the Jews, "You who brag about the Law, do you dishonor God
by breaking the Law? As it is written: 'God's name is blasphemed among the
Gentiles because of you'" (Rom. 2:23-24).
Justin Martyr, in 116 A.D. wrote, "The Jews were behind all the persecutions of
the Christians. They wandered through the country everywhere hating and
undermining the Christian faith."
Albert Einstein, a Jew, and an atheist said in a letter to philosopher Eric
Gutkind dated 1/3/1954 that Jews were not God's chosen people. The renowned
physicist wrote, "For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation
of the most childish superstitions. " Einstein said, "And the Jewish people to
whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no
different quality for me than all other people." He wrote, "The word God is for
me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a
collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless
pretty childish."
Concerning the Jews Einstein wrote, "As far as my experience goes, they are no
better than other human groups...I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."
President Harry S. Truman wrote in his diary on 7/21/1947, "The Jews, I find,
are very, very selfish...[W] hen they have power, physical, financial or
political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or
mistreatment of the underdog."
Reportedly, in 1977 Israel passed a law that prohibits anyone, including
Christians, from leading the Jews to change their religion.
What should be the attitude of Christians toward Christ-rejecting Jews?
Christians should love the Jews just as we should love the heathen in Africa.
Paul wrote that "all Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26), but the apostle also
wrote that "though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the
sea, [only] a remnant shall be saved" (Rom. 9:27).
All true Israel is only a remnant. During the Great Tribulation 144,000 Jews
will be saved, but this is only a small remnant compared to the millions of Jews
living today. The Christ-rejecting Jews are no different than anyone else who
has not repented of their sins and been born again. Pray for the Jews, love
them, ask God to have mercy on them, and share the true Gospel with those who
will listen.


http://www.bethelmi nistries. com/jews_ are_not_gods_ chosen_people. htm



God Bless You!
St. James
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
The Moderator
Jerusalem, Palestine
E-mail: PalestinianChristia ns@yahoo. com
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Palestinia nChristians







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

What is the Sanctuary?

      The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the
central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: "Unto two thousand and
three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Dan_8:14. These had
been familiar words to all believers in the Lord's soon coming. By the lips of
thousands was this prophecy repeated as the watchword of their faith. All felt
that upon the events therein foretold depended their brightest expectations and
most cherished hopes. These prophetic days had been shown to terminate in the
autumn of 1844. In common with the rest of the Christian world, Adventists then
held that the earth, or some portion of it, was the sanctuary. They understood
that the cleansing of the sanctuary was the purification of the earth by the
fires of the last great day, and that this would take place at the second
advent. Hence the conclusion that Christ would return to the earth in 1844.

      But the appointed time had passed, and the Lord had not appeared. The
believers knew that God's word could not fail; their interpretation of the
prophecy must be at fault; but where was the mistake? Many rashly cut the knot
of difficulty by denying that the 2300 days ended in 1844. No reason could be
given for this except that Christ had not come at the time they expected Him.
They argued that if the prophetic days had ended in 1844, Christ would then have
returned to cleanse the sanctuary by the purification of the earth by fire; and
that since He had not come, the days could not have ended.

      To accept this conclusion was to renounce the former reckoning of the
prophetic periods. The 2300 days had been found to begin when the commandment of
Artaxerxes for the restoration and building of Jerusalem went into effect, in
the autumn of 457 B.C. Taking this as the starting point, there was perfect
harmony in the application of all the events foretold in the explanation of that
period in Dan_9:25-27. Sixty-nine weeks, the first 483 of the 2300 years, were
to reach to the Messiah, the Anointed One; and Christ's baptism and anointing by
the Holy Spirit, A.D. 27, exactly fulfilled the specification. In the midst of
the seventieth week, Messiah was to be cut off. Three and a half years after His
baptism, Christ was crucified, in the spring of A.D. 31. The seventy weeks, or
490 years, were to pertain especially to the Jews. At the expiration of this
period the nation sealed its rejection of Christ by the persecution of His
disciples, and the apostles turned to the Gentiles, A.D. 34. The first 490 years
of the 2300 having then ended, 1810 years would remain. From A.D. 34, 1810 years
extend to 1844. "Then," said the angel, "shall the sanctuary be cleansed." All
the preceding specifications of the prophecy had been unquestionably fulfilled
at the time appointed.

      With this reckoning, all was clear and harmonious, except that it was not
seen that any event answering to the cleansing of the sanctuary had taken place
in 1844. To deny that the days ended at that time was to involve the whole
question in confusion, and to renounce positions which had been established by
unmistakable fulfillments of prophecy.

      But God had led His people in the great advent movement; His power and
glory had attended the work, and He would not permit it to end in darkness and
disappointment, to be reproached as a false and fanatical excitement. He would
not leave His word involved in doubt and uncertainty. Though many abandoned
their former reckoning of the prophetic periods and denied the correctness of
the movement based thereon, others were unwilling to renounce points of faith
and experience that were sustained by the Scriptures and by the witness of the
Spirit of God. They believed that they had adopted sound principles of
interpretation in their study of the prophecies, and that it was their duty to
hold fast the truths already gained, and to continue the same course of Biblical
research. With earnest prayer they reviewed their position and studied the
Scriptures to discover their mistake. As they could see no error in their
reckoning of the prophetic periods, they were led to examine more closely the
subject of the sanctuary.

      In their investigation they learned that there is no Scripture evidence
sustaining the popular view that the earth is the sanctuary; but they found in
the Bible a full explanation of the subject of the sanctuary, its nature,
location, and services; the testimony of the sacred writers being so clear and
ample as to place the matter beyond all question. The apostle Paul, in the
Epistle to the Hebrews, says: "Then verily the first covenant had also
ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a
tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the
shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the
tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and
the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden
pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat." Heb_9:1-5.

      The sanctuary to which Paul here refers was the tabernacle built by Moses
at the command of God as the earthly dwelling place of the Most High. "Let them
make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exo_25:8), was the direction
given to Moses while in the mount with God. The Israelites were journeying
through the wilderness, and the tabernacle was so constructed that it could be
removed from place to place; yet it was a structure of great magnificence. Its
walls consisted of upright boards heavily plated with gold and set in sockets of
silver, while the roof was formed of a series of curtains, or coverings, the
outer of skins, the innermost of fine linen beautifully wrought with figures of
cherubim. Besides the outer court, which contained the altar of burnt offering,
the tabernacle itself consisted of two apartments called the holy and the most
holy place, separated by a rich and beautiful curtain, or veil; a similar veil
closed the entrance to the first apartment.

      In the holy place was the candlestick, on the south, with its seven lamps
giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night; on the north stood the
table of shewbread; and before the veil separating the holy from the most holy
was the golden altar of incense, from which the cloud of fragrance, with the
prayers of Israel, was daily ascending before God.

      In the most holy place stood the ark, a chest of precious wood overlaid
with gold, the depository of the two tables of stone upon which God had
inscribed the law of Ten Commandments. Above the ark, and forming the cover to
the sacred chest, was the mercy seat, a magnificent piece of workmanship,
surmounted by two cherubim, one at each end, and all wrought of solid gold. In
this apartment the divine presence was manifested in the cloud of glory between
the cherubim.

      After the settlement of the Hebrews in Canaan, the tabernacle was replaced
by the temple of Solomon, which, though a permanent structure and upon a larger
scale, observed the same proportions, and was similarly furnished. In this form
the sanctuary existed--except while it lay in ruins in Daniel's time--until its
destruction by the Romans, in A.D. 70.

      This is the only sanctuary that ever existed on the earth, of which the
Bible gives any information. This was declared by Paul to be the sanctuary of
the first covenant. But has the new covenant no sanctuary?

      Turning again to the book of Hebrews, the seekers for truth found that the
existence of a second, or new-covenant sanctuary, was implied in the words of
Paul already quoted: "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of
divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." And the use of the word "also"
intimates that Paul has before made mention of this sanctuary. Turning back to
the beginning of the previous chapter, they read: "Now of the things which we
have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the
right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Minister of the
sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man."
Heb_8:1-2.

      Here is revealed the sanctuary of the new covenant. The sanctuary of the
first covenant was pitched by man, built by Moses; this is pitched by the Lord,
not by man. In that sanctuary the earthly priests performed their service; in
this, Christ, our great High Priest, ministers at God's right hand. One
sanctuary was on earth, the other is in heaven.

      Further, the tabernacle built by Moses was made after a pattern. The Lord
directed him: "According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the
tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye
make it." And again the charge was given, "Look that thou make them after their
pattern, which was showed thee in the mount." Exo_25:9; Exo_25:40. And Paul says
that the first tabernacle "was a figure for the time then present, in which were
offered both gifts and sacrifices;" that its holy places were "patterns of
things in the heavens;" that the priests who offered gifts according to the law
served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," and that "Christ is not
entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true;
but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Heb_9:9;
Heb_9:23; Heb_8:5; Heb_9:24.

      The sanctuary in heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf, is the
great original, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy. God placed His
Spirit upon the builders of the earthly sanctuary. The artistic skill displayed
in its construction was a manifestation of divine wisdom. The walls had the
appearance of massive gold, reflecting in every direction the light of the seven
lamps of the golden candlestick. The table of shewbread and the altar of incense
glittered like burnished gold. The gorgeous curtain which formed the ceiling,
inwrought with figures of angels in blue and purple and scarlet, added to the
beauty of the scene. And beyond the second veil was the holy Shekinah, the
visible manifestation of God's glory, before which none but the high priest
could enter and live.

      The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to human vision
the glories of that heavenly temple where Christ our forerunner ministers for us
before the throne of God. The abiding place of the King of kings, where thousand
thousands minister unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before
Him (Dan_7:10); that temple, filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where
seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration, could find, in
the most magnificent structure ever reared by human hands, but a faint
reflection of its vastness and glory. Yet important truths concerning the
heavenly sanctuary and the great work there carried forward for man's redemption
were taught by the earthly sanctuary and its services.

      The holy places of the sanctuary in heaven are represented by the two
apartments in the sanctuary on earth. As in vision the apostle John was granted
a view of the temple of God in heaven, he beheld there "seven lamps of fire
burning before the throne." Rev_4:5. He saw an angel "having a golden censer;
and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the
prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne."
Rev_8:3. Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment of the
sanctuary in heaven; and he saw there the "seven lamps of fire" and "the golden
altar," represented by the golden candlestick and the altar of incense in the
sanctuary on earth. Again, "the temple of God was opened" (Rev_11:19), and he
looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. Here he beheld "the ark
of His testament," represented by the sacred chest constructed by Moses to
contain the law of God.

      Thus those who were studying the subject found indisputable proof of the
existence of a sanctuary in heaven. Moses made the earthly sanctuary after a
pattern which was shown him. Paul teaches that that pattern was the true
sanctuary which is in heaven. And John testifies that he saw it in heaven.

      In the temple in heaven, the dwelling place of God, His throne is
established in righteousness and judgment. In the most holy place is His law,
the great rule of right by which all mankind are tested. The ark that enshrines
the tables of the law is covered with the mercy seat, before which Christ pleads
His blood in the sinner's behalf. Thus is represented the union of justice and
mercy in the plan of human redemption. This union infinite wisdom alone could
devise and infinite power accomplish; it is a union that fills all heaven with
wonder and adoration. The cherubim of the earthly sanctuary, looking reverently
down upon the mercy seat, represent the interest with which the heavenly host
contemplate the work of redemption. This is the mystery of mercy into which
angels desire to look--that God can be just while He justifies the repenting
sinner and renews His intercourse with the fallen race; that Christ could stoop
to raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin and clothe them with the
spotless garments of His own righteousness to unite with angels who have never
fallen and to dwell forever in the presence of God.

      The work of Christ as man's intercessor is presented in that beautiful
prophecy of Zechariah concerning Him "whose name is the Branch." Says the
prophet: "He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory,
and shall sit and rule upon His [the Father's] throne; and He shall be a priest
upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between Them both."
Zec_6:12-13.

      "He shall build the temple of the Lord." By His sacrifice and mediation
Christ is both the foundation and the builder of the church of God. The apostle
Paul points to Him as "the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also," he
says, "are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
Eph_2:20-22.

      "He shall bear the glory." To Christ belongs the glory of redemption for
the fallen race. Through the eternal ages, the song of the ransomed ones will
be: "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, . . .
to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Rev_1:5-6.

      He "shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His
throne." Not now "upon the throne of His glory;" the kingdom of glory has not
yet been ushered in. Not until His work as a mediator shall be ended will God
"give unto Him the throne of His father David," a kingdom of which "there shall
be no end." Luk_1:32-33. As a priest, Christ is now set down with the Father in
His throne. Rev_3:21. Upon the throne with the eternal, self-existent One is He
who "hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows," who "was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin," that He might be "able to succor them
that are tempted." "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father."
Isa_53:4; Heb_4:15; Heb_2:18; 1Jn_2:1. His intercession is that of a pierced and
broken body, of a spotless life. The wounded hands, the pierced side, the marred
feet, plead for fallen man, whose redemption was purchased at such infinite
cost.

      "And the counsel of peace shall be between Them both." The love of the
Father, no less than of the Son, is the fountain of salvation for the lost race.
Said Jesus to His disciples before He went away: "I say not unto you, that I
will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you." Joh_16:26-27.
God was "in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2Co_5:19. And in the
ministration in the sanctuary above, "the counsel of peace shall be between Them
both." "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Joh_3:16.

      The question, What is the sanctuary? is clearly answered in the Scriptures.
The term "sanctuary," as used in the Bible, refers, first, to the tabernacle
built by Moses, as a pattern of heavenly things; and, secondly, to the "true
tabernacle" in heaven, to which the earthly sanctuary pointed. At the death of
Christ the typical service ended. The "true tabernacle" in heaven is the
sanctuary of the new covenant. And as the prophecy of Dan_8:14 is fulfilled in
this dispensation, the sanctuary to which it refers must be the sanctuary of the
new covenant. At the termination of the 2300 days, in 1844, there had been no
sanctuary on earth for many centuries. Thus the prophecy, "Unto two thousand and
three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," unquestionably points
to the sanctuary in heaven.

      But the most important question remains to be answered: What is the
cleansing of the sanctuary? That there was such a service in connection with the
earthly sanctuary is stated in the Old Testament Scriptures. But can there be
anything in heaven to be cleansed? In Hebrews 9 the cleansing of both the
earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught. "Almost all things are by
the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was
therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be
purified with these [the blood of animals]; but the heavenly things themselves
with better sacrifices than these" (Heb_9:22-23), even the precious blood of
Christ.

      The cleansing, both in the typical and in the real service, must be
accomplished with blood: in the former, with the blood of animals; in the
latter, with the blood of Christ. Paul states, as the reason why this cleansing
must be performed with blood, that without shedding of blood is no remission.
Remission, or putting away of sin, is the work to be accomplished. But how could
there be sin connected with the sanctuary, either in heaven or upon the earth?
This may be learned by reference to the symbolic service; for the priests who
officiated on earth, served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things."
Heb_8:5.

      The ministration of the earthly sanctuary consisted of two divisions; the
priests ministered daily in the holy place, while once a year the high priest
performed a special work of atonement in the most holy, for the cleansing of the
sanctuary. Day by day the repentant sinner brought his offering to the door of
the tabernacle and, placing his hand upon the victim's head, confessed his sins,
thus in figure transferring them from himself to the innocent sacrifice. The
animal was then slain. "Without shedding of blood," says the apostle, there is
no remission of sin. "The life of the flesh is in the blood." Lev_17:11. The
broken law of God demanded the life of the transgressor. The blood, representing
the forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim bore, was carried by
the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil, behind which was
the ark containing the law that the sinner had transgressed. By this ceremony
the sin was, through the blood, transferred in figure to the sanctuary. In some
cases the blood was not taken into the holy place; but the flesh was then to be
eaten by the priest, as Moses directed the sons of Aaron, saying: "God hath
given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation." Lev_10:17. Both
ceremonies alike symbolized the transfer of the sin from the penitent to the
sanctuary.

      Such was the work that went on, day by day, throughout the year. The sins
of Israel were thus transferred to the sanctuary, and a special work became
necessary for their removal. God commanded that an atonement be made for each of
the sacred apartments. "He shall make an atonement for the holy place, because
of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their
transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the
congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness." An
atonement was also to be made for the altar, to "cleanse it, and hallow it from
the uncleanness of the children of Israel." Lev_16:16; Lev_16:19.

      Once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, the priest entered the most
holy place for the cleansing of the sanctuary. The work there performed
completed the yearly round of ministration. On the Day of Atonement two kids of
the goats were brought to the door of the tabernacle, and lots were cast upon
them, "one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat." Lev_16:8. The
goat upon which fell the lot for the Lord was to be slain as a sin offering for
the people. And the priest was to bring his blood within the veil and sprinkle
it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. The blood was also to be
sprinkled upon the altar of incense that was before the veil.  {GC 419.1}
      "And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and
confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their
transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and
shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat
shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited."
Lev_16:21-22. The scapegoat came no more into the camp of Israel, and the man
who led him away was required to wash himself and his clothing with water before
returning to the camp.

      The whole ceremony was designed to impress the Israelites with the holiness
of God and His abhorrence of sin; and, further, to show them that they could not
come in contact with sin without becoming polluted. Every man was required to
afflict his soul while this work of atonement was going forward. All business
was to be laid aside, and the whole congregation of Israel were to spend the day
in solemn humiliation before God, with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of
heart.

      Important truths concerning the atonement are taught by the typical
service. A substitute was accepted in the sinner's stead; but the sin was not
canceled by the blood of the victim. A means was thus provided by which it was
transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering of blood the sinner acknowledged
the authority of the law, confessed his guilt in transgression, and expressed
his desire for pardon through faith in a Redeemer to come; but he was not yet
entirely released from the condemnation of the law. On the Day of Atonement the
high priest, having taken an offering from the congregation, went into the most
holy place with the blood of this offering, and sprinkled it upon the mercy
seat, directly over the law, to make satisfaction for its claims. Then, in his
character of mediator, he took the sins upon himself and bore them from the
sanctuary. Placing his hands upon the head of the scapegoat, he confessed over
him all these sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the goat.
The goat then bore them away, and they were regarded as forever separated from
the people.

      Such was the service performed "unto the example and shadow of heavenly
things." And what was done in type in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary
is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary. After His
ascension our Saviour began His work as our high priest. Says Paul: "Christ is
not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the
true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."
Heb_9:24.

      The ministration of the priest throughout the year in the first apartment
of the sanctuary, "within the veil" which formed the door and separated the holy
place from the outer court, represents the work of ministration upon which
Christ entered at His ascension. It was the work of the priest in the daily
ministration to present before God the blood of the sin offering, also the
incense which ascended with the prayers of Israel. So did Christ plead His blood
before the Father in behalf of sinners, and present before Him also, with the
precious fragrance of His own righteousness, the prayers of penitent believers.
Such was the work of ministration in the first apartment of the sanctuary in
heaven.

      Thither the faith of Christ's disciples followed Him as He ascended from
their sight. Here their hopes centered, "which hope we have," said Paul, "as an
anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within
the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high
priest forever." "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood
He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for
us." Heb_6:19-20; Heb_9:12.

      For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first
apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent
believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins
still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a
work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ's work for the
redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of
sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2300 days
ended. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered
the most holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work--to cleanse the
sanctuary.

      As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin
offering and through its blood transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary,
so in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ
and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary. And as the typical
cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it
had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished
by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But
before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of
record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are
entitled to the benefits of His atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary
therefore involves a work of investigation--a work of judgment. This work must
be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His people; for when He
comes, His reward is with Him to give to every man according to his works.
Rev_22:12.

      Thus those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that,
instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844,
Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the
closing work of atonement preparatory to His coming.

      It was seen, also, that while the sin offering pointed to Christ as a
sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as a mediator, the scapegoat
typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will
finally be placed. When the high priest, by virtue of the blood of the sin
offering, removed the sins from the sanctuary, he placed them upon the
scapegoat. When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His
people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will
place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment, must bear the
final penalty. The scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, never to
come again into the congregation of Israel. So will Satan be forever banished
from the presence of God and His people, and he will be blotted from existence
in the final destruction of sin and sinners.
by EGW,

Posted by brunie

THE JEWS ARE NO LONGER GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE
Harry Bethel
BethelMinistries.com


It is a lie from Satan that Jews are God's chosen people and many pastors
embrace and teach Satan's lie that Christians should support the State of Israel
(Zionism). Also, another lie from Satan is the teaching that God blesses those
who bless Israel and He curses those who curse them. (That has not been true for
more than 1900 years.)

Jews claim to be God's chosen people, but they were His chosen people. Only the
elect of the Jews (which is an extremely small minority) will be saved.

Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, pronounced judgment on the Jews for
rejecting Him:

The Jews generally rejected Jesus, the true Messiah, therefore Jesus cursed the
fig tree, which represents Israel, saying, "May you never bear fruit again!"
(Mat. 21:18).

When the Jewish chief priests and elders questioned Jesus' authority He said to
them, "I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given
to a people [Gentiles] who will produce its fruit" (Mat. 21:43).

When Jesus told a parable to the Jewish chief priests, scribes, and elders (Lk.
20:19), they knew He was talking about them when He said that the vine-growers,
to whom the owner had sent his son, killed his son. Then in the parable Jesus
asked what will the owner of the vineyard do to those who killed his son, to
which He said, "He will come and destroy these vine-growers [Jews] and will give
the vineyard to others [Gentiles]."

After hearing this and knowing that Jesus was talking about them, those Jews
"tried to lay hands on Him that very hour...and they watched Him, and sent spies
who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some
statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the
governor" (Lk. 20:9-20).

A loving, longsuffering and merciful God sent Jesus to "His own [the Jews], and
His own received Him not" (John 1:11). The reason that the Jewish prophet John
(the Baptizer) came baptizing with water was to reveal Jesus to Israel (John
1:31). And Jesus said that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Mat.
15:24).

Near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry Jesus said, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you
who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to
gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but
you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. (Mat. 23:37-38).

Paul quoted Isaiah in his epistle to the Christians in Rome, "Concerning Israel
he [Isaiah] says, 'All day long I [God] have held out My hands to a disobedient
and obstinate people [the Jews]'" (Rom. 10:21).

After the apostle Paul had preached the Gospel to Jews in cities throughout Asia
and was, for the most part, rejected by them, he turned to the Gentiles and
ministered to them.

Near the end of Paul's ministry, when he was in Rome under house arrest, he
spoke to a large gathering of Jews. Paul explained and declared to them the
kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and
from the Prophets.

The great apostle concluded his sermon by saying, "The Holy Spirit spoke the
truth to your [Jewish] forefathers when He said through Isaiah the prophet: 'Go
to this people and say, 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you
will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become
calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their hearts and turn and I would heal [save] them.' Therefore I want you to
know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen"
(Acts 28:17-28).

When the Jews cried out over and over to crucify Jesus, and Pilate wanted to
release Him, all the Jews said, "Let His blood be on us and on our children!"
(Mat. 27:25).

Jesus prophesied God's destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in 70 A.D.
at the hands of the Roman general Titus (Mat. 24:1-2; Lk. 19:41-44). According
to Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, more than 1,000,000 Jews died
when Jerusalem was laid siege to and destroyed as Jesus had prophesied 40 years
earlier.

That horrific suffering was second only to the suffering of the twentieth
century Holocaust under Hitler. This was because of the general rejection of
Christ by the Jews, and until this day they still reject Jesus Christ as the
Messiah and Savior and the only way to heaven.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man [including Jews]
cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (Jn. 14:6). There are very few Jews today who
will repent of their sins and be born again and receive Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior and only way to God to Father.

In 614 A.D. the Persians captured Jerusalem and massacred the inhabitants. The
so-called "Christian" Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099. Several times since
then Jerusalem has fallen into the hands of Moslems and "Christians." There is
no reason to believe that the Crusaders were truly born-again Christians,
anymore than the vast majority of Roman Catholics.

Paul in Romans 9:27 referred to Isaiah when he wrote, "Though the number of the
children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant shall be saved."

The apostle Paul (a born-again Jew) said that the minds of the Jews have been
made dull and to this day a "veil" covers their hearts when the Old Covenant is
read, and only in Christ is it taken away (2 Cor. 3:14-16).

Paul wrote concerning the Jews, "You who brag about the Law, do you dishonor God
by breaking the Law? As it is written: 'God's name is blasphemed among the
Gentiles because of you'" (Rom. 2:23-24).

Justin Martyr, in 116 A.D. wrote, "The Jews were behind all the persecutions of
the Christians. They wandered through the country everywhere hating and
undermining the Christian faith."

Albert Einstein, a Jew, and an atheist said in a letter to philosopher Eric
Gutkind dated 1/3/1954 that Jews were not God's chosen people. The renowned
physicist wrote, "For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation
of the most childish superstitions." Einstein said, "And the Jewish people to
whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no
different quality for me than all other people." He wrote, "The word God is for
me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a
collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless
pretty childish."

Concerning the Jews Einstein wrote, "As far as my experience goes, they are no
better than other human groups...I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."


--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, "BibleProphecyOnTheWeb"
<bibleprophecy_ndbpsa@...> wrote:
>
> God did not break His covenant with Israel when Israel sinned; God punished
them (Eze.36:19 below).
>
> God remembers His covenant with Israel (Lev.26:44-45 below).
>
> After Israel's punishment, God will take Israel from among the heathen, and
bring Israel into their own land (Eze.36:24 below).
>
> The gifts and the calling of God are without repentance (Rom.11:29 below),
they are irrevocable.
>
> God will bring Israel back from the countries where they were scattered, and
God will give them back the land of Israel (Eze.11:17 below).
>
>
> Eze.36:19  And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed
through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I
judged them.
>
> Eze.36:24  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of
all countries, and will bring you into your own land (Eze.11:17 below).
>
> Eze.11:17  Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from
the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered,
and I will GIVE YOU the land of Israel (Eze.36:24 above, Matt.2:20-21).
>
>
> Lev.26:44  And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I
will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and
to break my covenant with them: for I [am] the LORD their God.
>
> Lev.26:45  But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their
ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the
heathen, that I might be their God: I [am] the LORD.
>
>
> Rom.11:29  For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
>
>
>
> Patricia Š
>

i thank GOD for you and your families ,i'm thankful for all your prayers ,and
thank GOD for us being alive to pray for others , may your holidays be blessed ,
your brother in CHRIST
cecil jacob


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

All of the events taking place in Israel are tied to the fulfillment of Dan 9.
The fulfillment of seven weeks found in Dan 9:25 took place after WWI when
England gave the land of Israel to the Jews and while they were in the midst of
returning the British changed their mind and stopped them.  The end times is
embedded in the prophecy and the fulfillment thereof when Israel went into
captivity for 70 years and when they were released and began rebuilding the
temple they were stopped for a time.     
Dan 9:25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to
restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks
and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times
of distress.
This caused the violent ones in Israel to arise, which  resulted in the British
leaving before they planned to leave. It was when the British left that the
sixty two weeks began. 
The reconstruction of the temple will be included in the peace treaty that the
Antichrist orchestrates. However, after they build it and begin sacrificing
again and he sees that there is something to this he will decide to break the
peace treaty capture Jerusalem and he and the False Prophet that he will employ
will set up the abomination of desolation in Jerusalem. When the Satanic signs
begin they will begin their own teachings which will cause all of the unsaved to
believe that their name is written in the book of life while they persecute
Christians.
According to Dan 8:12 the Israel is allowed to be captured by the Antichrist
because of their sins.
Dan. 8:12 And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the
horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and
perform its will and prosper. 

Thought they are not mentioned directly the vision below describes the demise of
the Palestinians in Har-magedon. The Palestinians are connected to the ten
nation-kingdom and the ten-nation kingdom, which includes Lebanon, Syria,
Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey and the
kings who are the terrorist leaders that arise with in these nations are
destroyed in the battle of Har-magedon.

Vision of China's Revival and Battle
Jan. 25th, 2000 
Vision 
I have had a burden for the nation of China, which has grown since the beginning
of this year. As I was praying for this nation this morning, this is what I saw
in my mind: I was out way above the earth, in the heavens, looking down upon the
earth. My attention was drawn to a very dark spot on the earth. The Lord was
with me.  "What is that dark spot?" I asked the Lord.  "That is the nation of
China," the Lord replied. "Come and see."  The Lord and I seemed to draw closer
to this dark spot on the earth that the Lord had told me was China. I saw as if
it were prison bars completely surrounding the entire nation. The nation was in
almost total darkness, and even the small, faint light that there was, was dim
and gloomy looking. 
There were people from within China pressed up against the prison bars
surrounding their country. They were very thin, were in rags, their clothes
tattered and filthy. They appeared as if they had been physically beaten. They
had blindfolds over their eyes. They were reaching through the bars they were
pressed up against, and they were weeping and crying out, "Come to us !!!! Come
to us and feed us !!! We are so very hungry. Come to us !!!!" Over and over
again they cried these things out.
"I have surely heard their prayers and their cries," the Lord said to me.
"Behold !!!" 
The Lord stretched out one of His arms towards the heavens. I looked and saw the
sun rising. It was a tremendous, glorious sunrise. The sun was as if it were on
fire. The higher the sun came into the sky, the fiercer it burned. It began to
permeate the nation of China. The rays of the sun were as flames of fire, and
reached down right into the heart of China. 
When the sun's rays hit the ground in China, the rays became as flames of fire
spreading over the whole ground and nation. The blindfolds on the people's eyes
were burned off. The flames entered into their mouths, and they began to "grow
fat" before my eyes. They began to sing and shout and dance and rejoice. It was
as if the entire nation caught fire and was fully and totally illuminated by the
sun, which was now high in the sky directly over China.
"Behold, it comes," the Lord said. His voice was filled with tremendous
sadness. 
I felt a sense of impending doom and began to glance uneasily around me. Then, I
felt a chill. The chill began to creep across the nation of China. Some of the
Chinese people began to feel this chill also. 
"Work harder !!! Work harder !!! " they cried out to the people around them.
"The night is coming. Work while it is yet day and while the glory of the Lord
continues to shine upon us."
"It is come," the Lord said. 
I felt tremendous fear enter into my heart. Then, a darkness began to creep
across the flaming sun. I glanced up at the sun. It was like an eclipse was
taking place. But when I looked closer, I saw that it was a small red dragon
that was creeping across the sun. The further across the sun the red dragon
crept and covered, the larger the dragon grew. And the darker and dimmer the
light of the sun became.
The Chinese people were beginning to glance around fearfully and to cry out in
terror. "What is it?" they cried out. "What is happening?"
The red dragon began to roar. When the Chinese people heard the roars of the
dragon, they fell on their faces to the ground, with their hands over their
heads and ears. I heard their cries of fear and terror, and felt so much fear
and helplessness myself as I saw this transpiring.
"They come," the Lord said. 
When I looked at Him, I became aware that He was weeping over China.
I looked back up into the heavens. I saw a large group of smaller dragons
forming behind the red dragon. They all began to roar, and to grow larger. 
Then, with a mighty roar, the red dragon and the dragons following behind him,
descended as a lightning bolt into the very heart of China. They brought with
them a thick darkness that could be felt.
Dan. 11:44 "But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he
will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. 
I could see nothing. I felt the Lord put His hands over my eyes. When I opened
my eyes back up, I could see into the darkness of China to what was beginning to
transpire.
The red dragon had a very long tail. With its tail, it had completely covered
China. The smaller dragons were beginning to enter into people. When they
entered into people, the people would rise up, stand up very tall and straight,
with their eyes staring straight ahead. A sword was given unto them, and they
began to form in line after line after line, one behind the other; forming a
tremendous army. 
The red dragon continued to roar. Then, when the army of people was formed, the
red dragon positioned himself at the head of the army of people. They all faced
forward and began to move. As the red dragon, the other dragons, and the vast
army of Chinese people began to move, everything that came across its path, was
devoured. 
The red dragon continued to grow larger and larger as it devoured all before it.
The smaller dragons and the vast army of Chinese people continued to march. I
could hear the sound of their boots as they marched, and it was as thunder. The
red dragon, the smaller dragons, and the army of Chinese people marched across
the face of the earth; devouring whole nations and peoples as they went. 
Dan 11:39 "He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help
of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will
cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price. The
Chinese army kept its face staring steadfastly straight ahead, never looking to
the right or to the left. I saw the red dragon, the smaller dragons, and the
Chinese army approaching a sparkling city. This city appeared to be of gold, and
had like a gauzy veil over it.
"What city is this?" I asked the Lord. 
"This is Jerusalem," the Lord replied. "My Bride."
Rev. 16:12   The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the
Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the
kings from the east.  13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out
of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three
unclean spirits like frogs;  14 for they are spirits of demons, performing
signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for
the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.  15 ("Behold, I am coming like a
thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will
not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.")  16 And they gathered
them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-magedon. 
The red dragon, the smaller dragons, and the Chinese army gave one loud roar,
and began to run towards the city the Lord had told me was Jerusalem. The
Chinese army had their swords pointed straight ahead. They never seemed to
blink. They acted almost like they were robots or zombies.
When the red dragon, the smaller dragons, and the Chinese army roared and
charged and advanced on Jerusalem, I heard a shout from next to me. I glanced to
my right, and saw the Lord. His face was filled with fierce anger. Then, the
Lord was gone. 
I began to glance around, looking to see where the Lord had gone. I heard a
shout coming from above my head. I glanced up, and saw the sky above me
splitting wide open. I saw a large hole forming in the heavens above me, and
such intense light began to pour forth from this hole, that I was knocked down
by its brilliance. I felt as if I had been blinded by this light, but when I
looked back up, I could still see.
I saw a white horse erupt through the hole that had split in the heavens above
my head. The Lord was on this white horse's back. The Lord had a flaming sword
in His hand, and a shield of pure glittering gold in His other hand. He had a
crown of gold upon His head, and was dressed all in white. 
Then, the Lord and His horse was through the hole in the heavens, and army after
army came charging out of the hole behind the Lord. This heavenly army was also
all dressed in white, and also had flaming swords and shields of gold. They were
also seated on white horses. These were the largest, most magnificent horses I
had ever seen. The heavenly army went charging after the Lord, and gathered
themselves over the city of Jerusalem.
Rev. 19:11   And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat
on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages
war.  12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He
has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  13 He is clothed
with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  14 And the
armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were
following Him on white horses.  15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that
with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of
iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.  16
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD
OF LORDS." 
The red dragon, the smaller dragons, and the Chinese army continued to run
towards Jerusalem. They continued to roar. 
Rev. 19:19   And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies
assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army
The Lord and His armies gave a shout, then they charged at the red dragon, the
smaller dragons, and the Chinese army. A terrible battle began. 
I could hear thunders, see lightnings, hear the shouts and roars and cries of
both armies ~~ the Lord's armies, and the red dragon and his Chinese army. The
earth was shaking and quaking and being torn open. Buildings were falling and
toppling from within Jerusalem. I heard screams and shouts from the people from
within the city of Jerusalem. 
Then, I heard a deafening blast, such as a dynamite blast, only much much
greater. Then, there was a tremendous silence. 
I heard no more shouts, no more roars, no more screams or cries. All was silent
and quiet. When I tried to look around to see what had happened. It was as if I
could see nothing. There was a very very thick dark cloud covering the whole
scene of this battle.
Rev 19: 20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who
performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received
the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown
alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.  21 And the rest were
killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and
all the birds were filled with their flesh. 
Then, I heard another shout, and I knew it was the lord. I glanced up, for the
shout had come from up above me. I saw a city coming down from the heavens, but
it was also a bride. 
As she descended from the heavens, the Lord gave another shout. I glanced
around, then located the Lord on His horse on a mountain. His armies were
gathered around Him at the base of the mountain. When the Lord shouted the
second time, His armies began to shout also, and it was the shout of victory.
The city bride continued to descend from the heavens.
Rev. 20:4   Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to
them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their
testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not
worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their
forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years. 
Then, the vision ended.


Bro. James D Albright



--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, "James" <senecharnix@...> wrote:
>
> Peter:
>
>        I deeply sympathize with Palestinians and hope that their plight will
soon end. As you are no doubt aware, however, the reality of the situation
suggests that their suffering and humiliation will continue until circumstances
culminate in a cataclysmic eruption of strife and turmoil. Those who support
Israel's asininity toward the Palestinians believe that they are helping ensure
Israel's survival. Ironically, they are only digging Israel's grave deeper and
faster, while adding nails to her coffin. God despises how she treats the
Palestianians and will punish her to the utmost someday for her iniquity. I know
that is little consolation. Alas, it is the only consolation that the
Palestinians can look forward to in political and sociocultural terms. It is
imperative that they resist giving in to their despair and letting such combust
into rage. Instead, they must do their best to become friends with as many
Israelis as possible. The time has come for the children of Hagar and Sarah to
reconcile. If they fail to do so, both will suffer immensely in the
not-so-distant future and perish.
>
>
>
> Love and best wishes,
>
> James Trusty
>
> www.sphyrex.com
>
>
>
> --- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, peter shanab <pashanab@> wrote:
> >
> > World Council of Churches - News Release
> > Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe. org
> >
> >
> > For immediate release - 11/12/2009 16:12:00
> >
> > A PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN CALL TO END THE OCCUPATION
> >
> >
> > A group of Palestinian Christians representing a variety of churches and
church-related organizations have issued an animated and prayerful call for an
end to occupation of Palestine by Israel.
> >
> > The call, issued at a 11 December meeting in Bethlehem, comes at a time when
many Palestinians believe they have reached a dead end. It raises questions to
the international community, political leaders in the region, and the churches
worldwide about their contribution to the Palestinian people's pursuit of
freedom. Even in the midst of "our catastrophe" the call is described as a word
of faith, hope and love.
> >
> > Referred to as "The Kairos Palestine Document" the call echoes a similar
summons issued by South African churches in the mid-1980s at the height of
repression under the apartheid regime. That call served to galvanize churches
and the wider public in a concerted effort that eventually brought the end of
apartheid.
> >
> > The authors of the Kairos Palestine Document, among them Patriarch Emeritus
Michel Sabbah from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Lutheran Bishop of
Jerusalem Munib Younan, and Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna of Sebastia from
the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, have raised the challenge of the
urgency for peace with justice to religious and political leaders in Palestinian
and the Israeli society, international community, and to "our Christian brothers
and sisters in the churches" around the world. They believe that current efforts
in the Middle East are confined to managing the crisis rather than finding
pertinent and long term solutions to the crisis.
> >
> > Decrying empty promises
> >
> > Expressing their pain, the signatories of the call decry the emptiness of
the promises and pronouncements about peace in the region. They remind the world
about the separation wall erected on Palestinian territory, the blockade of
Gaza, how Israeli settlements ravage their land, the humiliation at military
checkpoints, the restrictions of religious liberty and controlled access to holy
places, the plight of refugees awaiting their right of return, prisoners
languishing in Israeli prisons and Israel's blatant disregard of international
law, as well as the paralysis of the international community in the face of this
tragedy.
> >
> > Rejecting Israeli justifications for their actions as being in self-defence,
they unambiguously state that if there were no occupation, "there would be no
resistance, no fear and no insecurity."
> >
> > They argue: "God created us not to engage in strife and conflict but
together build up the land in love and mutual respect. Our land has a universal
mission, and the promise of the land has never been a political programme, but
rather the prelude to complete universal salvation. Our connectedness to this
land is a natural right. It is not an ideological or a theological question
only." They reject any use of the Bible to legitimize or support political
options and positions that are based upon injustice.
> >
> > Declaring the occupation of Palestinian land as a sin against God and
humanity, they steadfastly adhere to the signs of hope such as "local centres of
theology" and "numerous meetings for inter-religious dialogue", recognizing that
these signs provide hope to the resistance of the occupation. Through the logic
of peaceful resistance, resistance is as much a right as it is a duty as it has
the potential to hasten the time of reconciliation.
> >
> > Asserting that this is a moment demanding repentance for past actions,
either for using hatred as an instrument of resistance or the willingness to be
indifferent and absorbed by faulty theological positions, the group calls on the
international community and Palestinians for steadfastness in this time of
trial. "Come and see [so we can make known to you] the truth of our reality",
they appeal.
> >
> > Poignantly, they conclude, "in the absence of all hope, we cry out our cry
of hope. We believe in God, good and just. We believe that God's goodness will
finally triumph over the evil of hate and of death that still persist in our
land. We will see here 'a new land' and 'a new human being', capable of rising
up in the spirit to love each one of his or her brothers and sisters."
> >
> > The authors are:
> >
> > • Patriarch Michel Sabbah
> > • Bishop Dr Munib Younan
> > • Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna
> > • Rev. Dr Jamal Khader
> > • Rev. Dr Rafiq Khoury
> > • Rev. Dr Mitri Raheb
> > • Rev. Dr Naim Ateek
> > • Rev. Dr Yohana Katanacho
> > • Rev. Fr Fadi Diab
> > • Dr Jiries Khoury
> > • Ms Sider Daibes
> > • Ms Nora Kort
> > • Ms Lucy Thaljieh
> > • Mr Nidal Abu Zulof
> > • Mr Yusef Daher
> > • Mr Rifat Kassis - coordinator of the initiative
> >
> > Media contact in Jerusalem: Ranjan Solomon         +972-54-733- 7857
> >
> > Full text of the Kairos Palestine Document:
> >  * In English
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_En. pdf
> >  * In Arabic
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_Ar. pdf
> >  * Auf Deutsch
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_Ger. pdf
> >  * En français
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_Fr. pdf
> > For the list of signatories:
> > http://kairospalest ine.ps/?q= node/2
> >
> > Churches in the Middle East: solidarity and witness for peace:
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/?id= 3113
> >
> >
> > Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe. org
> >
> > The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and
service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches
founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox,
Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in
over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The
WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in
Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

The destruction of the temple in 70 AD fulfilled Luke 19:44, which is not
connected to the Antichrist.
Luke 19:44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not
recognize the time of your visitation.”

Brief Recap of Roman History

King Romulus founded Rome in 750 BC. Around 509 BC The Republic of Rome was
founded which was ruled by a Senate. However, conquests by Julius Caesar caused
the people of Rome to give him a lifetime mandate to rule the Republic of Rome
as a dictator, which resulted in his assassination by Senate members. In 27 BC
Caesar Augustus became the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. Tiberius followed
and was the Emperor when Jesus was crucified. Afterwards Caligula Nero became
emperor and was responsible for the persecution of Christians, which included
the execution of Peter and Paul. After Nero committed suicide Vespacian became
emperor in 68 AD. Vespacian was assigned to put down the Jewish rebellion in
Judea. However, after he became emperor he assigned the task to his son Titus
who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. This sparked persecution of the Jews in the
Roman Empire. Titus then ruled from 79 AD to 81 AD and was succeeded by his
brother Domitian who ruled until 96 AD. In 132 AD the Jews rebelled and were put
down by Hadrian who built a temple to their god Jupiter on the temple mount and
renamed Judea, Syria Palestina. Israel was dispersed for approximately 19
centuries and became a nation again on May 14, 1948 after Hitler was defeated.
During the exile the Byzantine, Muslims, Crusaders, Egyptian Marveloks, Turks
and then the British occupied Jerusalem. During this time some Jews returned to
Jerusalem and settled among the Arabs, who are now called the Palestinians.
In 326 AD Constantine, a Christian, moved the capital of the Roman Empire to
Constantinople.
Rome’s challenge came from the Carthaginian Empire, which was located just south
on the African coastline. The Phoenicians who were from a city called Tyre
founded Carthage in 814 BC. Before Carthage was founded the Phoenicians had
already made their mark on the world. They developed the written form of
language(?) The Phoenicians were the Canaanites whom the Israelites encountered
when they entered the Promise Land. King Ahab married a Phoenician named Jezebel
who introduced the worship of the idol Baal to the Israelites. It was Jezebel’
great niece who founded Carthage. As Carthaginian Empire and the Roman Empire
grew wars called the Punic Wars broke out. In 146 BC Carthage was completely
destroyed by the Romans, which enabled the Romans to dominate the world for
centuries. Rome was defeated by bands of invaders in the 5th and 6th centuries.


Bro. James D Albright

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

121309 – HOME BIBLE FELLOWSHIP LESSON
This Home Bible Fellowship Lesson can be used by you to help start bringing the
Church into your own home! You start by having your own personal devotions, then
bring your experience into a family Home Bible Fellowship and then open the
doors of your home by starting a neighborhood Home Bible Fellowship.

GET A DIVINE APPOINTMENT FOR LUNCH!
"So you want to be led by God's Spirit? Then get an appointment in God!"

WORSHIP – Thank God! He is not boring! He is exciting and worth living for! Say
out loud to Jesus, "You are my leader and my Lord!"
Psalm 111:1-4 Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly. [2] Great are the works of
the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them. [3] Splendid and majestic
is His work, And His righteousness endures forever. [4] He has made His wonders
to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and compassionate.

WORD – So your trying to live the spirit filled life without the Lordship of
Jesus, huh? Times of prayer are becoming harder to find? Asking God to give you
"divine appointments" to bless others in a new thing?. Let us get back on track!
It is not your will but God's will that counts!
Luke 22:40-43 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may
not enter into temptation." [41] And He withdrew from them about a stone's
throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, [42] saying, "Father, if You are
willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." [43] Now
an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

I. Peter took his lunch hour to seek God's will in prayer!
Acts 10:9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city,
Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.

A. As a Christian, Peter was more hungry for God than food!
Acts 10:10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were
making preparations, he fell into a trance;

B. Peter's "hunger" for God in prayer attracted the presence of the Holy Spirit!
You can experience the same!
Acts 10:11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming
down, lowered by four corners to the ground,
Matt 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be satisfied.

C. Peter started to daydream through the help of the Holy Spirit!

D. The Holy Spirit likes to use dreams and visions to help teach us. Expect them
in your prayer times!
Acts 2:16-18 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: [17] 'AND
IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON
ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN
SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; [18] EVEN ON MY
BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And
they shall prophesy.
Acts 10:11-14 and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet
coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, [12] and there were in it
all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds
of the air. [13] A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" [14] But
Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and
unclean."

*DISCUSSION QUESTION: What keeps us from being hungry for the reality of God in
our lives? Are you satisfied with your Christianity?

II. Peter was trained and sent on a divine appointment!
Acts 10:15-16 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed,
no longer consider unholy." [16] This happened three times, and immediately the
object was taken up into the sky. [17] Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in
mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had
been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at
the gate; [18] and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also
called Peter, was staying there. [19] While Peter was reflecting on the vision,
the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] "But get
up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them
Myself." [21] Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are
looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?"

A. Pray at lunchtime! – Let the Holy Spirit tear walls down in your life
concerning reaching out to different kinds of people!
Acts 10:15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no
longer consider unholy.

B. Pray at lunchtime! – Let the Holy Spirit give you Words of knowledge about
your divine appointments!
Acts 10:19-20 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him,
"Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] "But get up, go downstairs and
accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself."
1 Cor. 12:7-8 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the
common good. [8] For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and
to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

C. Pray at lunchtime! – Learn to go without any doubts!
Acts 10:20-21 "But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings,
for I have sent them Myself." [21] Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold,
I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?"

*DISCUSSION QUESTION: Can some afternoons get boring without "high noon" prayer?
Should we expect gifts of the Spirit in prayer?

III. Divine appointments are "set" to spread God's word!
Acts 10:21-48 Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are
looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?" [22] They said,
"Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the
entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you
to come to his house and hear a message from you." [23] So he invited them in
and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them,
and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. [24] On the following day
he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together
his relatives and close friends. [25] When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and
fell at his feet and worshiped him. [26] But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand
up; I too am just a man." [27] As he talked with him, he entered and *found many
people assembled. [28] And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it
is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet
God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. [29] "That is
why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for
what reason you have sent for me." [30] Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this
hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood
before me in shining garments, [31] and he *said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has
been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. [32] 'Therefore send
to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is
staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.' [33] "So I sent for you
immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here
present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord." [34]
Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not
one to show partiality, [35] but in every nation the man who fears Him and does
what is right is welcome to Him. [36] "The word which He sent to the sons of
Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)-- [37] you
yourselves know the thing, which took place throughout all Judea, starting from
Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. [38] you yourselves know the
thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the
baptism which John proclaimed. [38] "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God
anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing
good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. [39]
"We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in
Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. [40] "God
raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, [41] not to
all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to
us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. [42] "And He ordered
us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has
been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. [43] "Of Him all the
prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him
receives forgiveness of sins." [44] While Peter was still speaking these words,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. [45] All
the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of
the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. [46] For they were
hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, [47]
"Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received
the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" [48] And he ordered them to be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

A. Let God introduce you and your friends to others that you have never met
before! Break out of your Christian cliques!
Acts 10:22-27 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing
man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a
holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you."
[23] So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up
and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
[24] On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for
them and had called together his relatives and close friends. [25] When Peter
entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. [26] But
Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man." [27] As he talked
with him, he entered and *found many people assembled.

B. Let God break your comfort zones! Let the walls fall!
Acts 10:28-29 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a
man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has
shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. [29] "That is why I
came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what
reason you have sent for me."

C. Let God inform you why this appointment is special!
Acts 10:30-33 Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my
house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining
garments, [31] and he *said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your
alms have been remembered before God. [32] 'Therefore send to Joppa and invite
Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of
Simon the tanner by the sea.' [33] "So I sent for you immediately, and you have
been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear
all that you have been commanded by the Lord."

D. Let God move through your words and actions!
Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell
upon all those who were listening to the message. [45] All the circumcised
believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit
had been poured out on the Gentiles also. [46] For they were hearing them
speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, [47] "Surely no one
can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit
just as we did, can he?" [48] And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

WORK OF GOD: Start praying for those divine appointments! It will take time to
schedule them! Remember to "look them up" in lunchtime prayer!

121309 — Home Bible Fellowship Lesson
SPARKY'S PRAYER PAGE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR YOU!
QUICK STUDY WITH RON HEMBREE AND SPARKY

Dec. 13 — HEBREWS 3-4
Sparky's Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your great miracles in our lives. Help us
to never take them for granted relegate them to mere "coincidences". Help us to
keep Jesus in the center of our thinking for a good life and to remember that we
are God's House being built according to His plans and purposes. Help us to
become better and not bitter when we need to be corrected and to encourage
others in their faith to stay close to Jesus. In Jesus' wonderful name we pray.
Amen.

Dec. 14 — HEBREWS 5- 7
Sparky's Prayer: Help us, Lord, to grow daily in You and Your Word. Help us to
put the foolish and childish things behind us, so that we might become all You
desire us to be. Help us to move forward in our faith by maturing in our
relationship with Jesus and to never fallout of God's grace. Help us to never
put Jesus to shame by our disobedience. Help us to always have a life of action
by showing the work of the Lord in the harvest. In Jesus' wonderful name we
pray. Amen.

Dec. 15 — HEBREWS 8-10
Sparky's Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that the way is open so we can come right into
the presence of God. Help us to always express deep reverence for You in all we
think, talk, and act. Thank You for making a way for us to draw closer to God.
Help us to find hope when we become discouraged and to help others along their
walk in faith. Thank You for the fellowship and strength of other believers and
the faithfulness of God. In Jesus' wonderful name we pray. Amen.

Dec. 16 — HEBREWS 11-13
Sparky's Prayer: Help us, Lord, to be faithful to You in all of our experiences
in our lives. Help us to please You in our homes, marriage, use of money, and
our social life. Help us to keep on loving and forgiving each other as brothers
and sisters in the Lord and to always be hospitable to others. Help us to bring
comfort and help to those who are hurting. Help us to find satisfaction where we
are and with what we have to please Jesus. In Jesus' wonderful name we pray.
Amen.

Dec. 17 — JAMES 1-5
Sparky's Prayer: Lord, help us to be very practical in our faith and to be aware
of the great needs around us. Give us strength as we move forward to make a
difference. Help us to hear fast and slow to give an answer, so that we will not
bring shame to the Word of God and to keep our anger in check to show the
righteousness of God. Help us to plant God's Word in our hearts to show peace
and joy. Help us to care for those God loves. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Dec. 18 — 1 PETER 1-5
Sparky's Prayer: Forgive us, Heavenly Father, for the many times we have not
reacted to insults and hurts in the way You instructed us to do and to follow
Christ' example when these things happen and to follow in the footsteps of our
Lord in how we should live. Help us to be like Jesus, regardless of accusations
against us and not to give retaliation or threats. When we are accused if true
or false and put our fate in the hands of God. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Dec. 19 — 2 PETER 1-3
Sparky's Prayer: Help us, Lord, to live carefully and prayerfully in the light
of Your return. While we are waiting, help us share Your great good news with
all those around us and to keep our thinking straight by staying in Your Word.
Help us to be on the watch for those who are false Christ's in these last days.
Help us to share Your Word to give everyone the opportunity to live to know the
great love of Jesus and His soon returning. In Jesus' wonderful name we pray.
Amen.

What seems to be our solution can be our shame, when we do it our way instead of
in Jesus' name.
GOD'S GRACE IS GOD'S RICHES AT CHRIST' EXPENSE.
FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE THESE 3 NAILS PLUS 1 CROSS = 4 GIVENESS FOREVER
PUSH MEANS PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS

PRAYER
PRAISE THE LORD THAT WE CAN
REPENT AND CHANGE OUR DIRECTION AND
ASK THE LORD TO HELP US TO
YIELD TO HIS WILL AND WAY.
EVERYTHING WORKS FOR GOD'S GLORY.
REJOICE AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE.

Losing by taking away


Psalms 23:1 - The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Some of you may laugh when I tell you; in the start when I was not in
the Lord the scripture we received for the day, was a great hurdle for
me. I used to say the scripture without the semicolon and that changed
the whole meaning of the scripture. Every time I used to feel odd
saying the scripture, thinking why someone would not want the Lord as
a shepherd.

You may find this silly but unknowingly may of us are doing the same
with many of the scriptures by taking away a little of it.

Do you know that the Old Hebrew language had no punctuations so by
argument I was not wrong, but then one should also be aware that the
language is an expressive language, the way it is said is where the
punctuations come. The Lord knowing this made it mandatory for the
Israelites to literally teach their children the scriptures by heart
verbally. It was during the times of Daniel and Joel, around 500BC to
300BC that the Greek version of the Old Testament was made (these are
approximate dates and we actually have a full Manuscript copy of those
times).

The Lord is our Shepherd but by not taking His Word literally, we deny
Him as our shepherd. Just think if the sheep do not listen to very
call of the shepherd to turn left or right; what will happen to the
sheepfold?

This is exactly the reason why we have so many Christian
denominations; we all are adding or subtracting from the Word of God.

Trust in the Lord and stick to the Word, even if we make a mistake He
surely corrects us. What matters is; is our focus fully on the Word?

Yesterday I heard an acronym of the Bible - Basic, Instructions,
Before, Leaving, Earth.

By taking away anything from the Bible we will not follow the
instructions and land up somewhere else instead of Heaven.


[Prayer Starter]
Lord God, You gave us the Word to give us unto You. Lord, help us that
we stick to every letter of the Word, having faith in You. It is your
Word that guides and helps us see into the spiritual world. It helps
us know You and your ways...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[Reference Scriptures]
Deuteronomy 4:10
10  Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in
Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and
I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the
days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach
their children.

Deuteronomy 6:4-12
4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt
talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest
by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall
be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
10  And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee
into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac,
and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou
buildedst not,
11  And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and
wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees,
which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
12  Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth
out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.


T@MZ
http://www.SavedByFaith.info
http://ToMountZion.com

In the "new" earth, Israel and Judah will live in their own land (Eze.37:14
below), and they shall dwell in the land that God gave to Jacob (Amos 9:15),
where their fathers had dwelt (Gen.13:17, Gen.15:18, Gen.17:19, Gen.28:3-4,
Gen.28:13); and they will dwell therein, THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR
CHILDREN'S CHILDREN For Ever (Eze.37:25 below).

In the "new" earth, the saints of the most High will possess the kingdom of God
FOR EVER, EVEN FOR EVER AND EVER (Dan.7:18, Dan.7:22 below).  Saints of the most
High are of the HOUSEHOLD of God (Eph.2:19).


Eze.37:14  And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place
you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and
performed [it], saith the LORD.

Eze.37:25  And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my
servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, [even]
they, and their children, and their children's children for ever (Gen.13:17,
Gen.15:18, Gen.17:19, Gen.28:3-4, Gen.28:13): and my servant David [shall be]
their prince FOR EVER.


Dan.7:18  But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess
the kingdom (Dan.7:22 below) for ever, even for ever and ever.

Dan.7:22   Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints
of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom
(Dan.7:18 above).



Patricia Š

God did not break His covenant with Israel when Israel sinned; God punished them
(Eze.36:19 below).

God remembers His covenant with Israel (Lev.26:44-45 below).

After Israel's punishment, God will take Israel from among the heathen, and
bring Israel into their own land (Eze.36:24 below).

The gifts and the calling of God are without repentance (Rom.11:29 below), they
are irrevocable.

God will bring Israel back from the countries where they were scattered, and God
will give them back the land of Israel (Eze.11:17 below).


Eze.36:19  And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed
through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I
judged them.

Eze.36:24  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all
countries, and will bring you into your own land (Eze.11:17 below).

Eze.11:17  Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from
the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered,
and I will GIVE YOU the land of Israel (Eze.36:24 above, Matt.2:20-21).


Lev.26:44  And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I
will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and
to break my covenant with them: for I [am] the LORD their God.

Lev.26:45  But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors,
whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that
I might be their God: I [am] the LORD.


Rom.11:29  For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.



Patricia Š

I appreciate your understanding of the plight of the Arab Christian who are
under occupation.

I believe in a just God a Loving God who put things right in his time,
as He did 2000 years ago.  Jesus is our Saviour.

Peter



--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, "James" <senecharnix@...> wrote:
>
> Peter:
>
>        I deeply sympathize with Palestinians and hope that their plight will
soon end. As you are no doubt aware, however, the reality of the situation
suggests that their suffering and humiliation will continue until circumstances
culminate in a cataclysmic eruption of strife and turmoil. Those who support
Israel's asininity toward the Palestinians believe that they are helping ensure
Israel's survival. Ironically, they are only digging Israel's grave deeper and
faster, while adding nails to her coffin. God despises how she treats the
Palestianians and will punish her to the utmost someday for her iniquity. I know
that is little consolation. Alas, it is the only consolation that the
Palestinians can look forward to in political and sociocultural terms. It is
imperative that they resist giving in to their despair and letting such combust
into rage. Instead, they must do their best to become friends with as many
Israelis as possible. The time has come for the children of Hagar and Sarah to
reconcile. If they fail to do so, both will suffer immensely in the
not-so-distant future and perish.
>
>
>
> Love and best wishes,
>
> James Trusty
>
> www.sphyrex.com
>
>
>
> --- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, peter shanab <pashanab@> wrote:
> >
> > World Council of Churches - News Release
> > Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe. org
> >
> >
> > For immediate release - 11/12/2009 16:12:00
> >
> > A PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN CALL TO END THE OCCUPATION
> >
> >
> > A group of Palestinian Christians representing a variety of churches and
church-related organizations have issued an animated and prayerful call for an
end to occupation of Palestine by Israel.
> >
> > The call, issued at a 11 December meeting in Bethlehem, comes at a time when
many Palestinians believe they have reached a dead end. It raises questions to
the international community, political leaders in the region, and the churches
worldwide about their contribution to the Palestinian people's pursuit of
freedom. Even in the midst of "our catastrophe" the call is described as a word
of faith, hope and love.
> >
> > Referred to as "The Kairos Palestine Document" the call echoes a similar
summons issued by South African churches in the mid-1980s at the height of
repression under the apartheid regime. That call served to galvanize churches
and the wider public in a concerted effort that eventually brought the end of
apartheid.
> >
> > The authors of the Kairos Palestine Document, among them Patriarch Emeritus
Michel Sabbah from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Lutheran Bishop of
Jerusalem Munib Younan, and Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna of Sebastia from
the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, have raised the challenge of the
urgency for peace with justice to religious and political leaders in Palestinian
and the Israeli society, international community, and to "our Christian brothers
and sisters in the churches" around the world. They believe that current efforts
in the Middle East are confined to managing the crisis rather than finding
pertinent and long term solutions to the crisis.
> >
> > Decrying empty promises
> >
> > Expressing their pain, the signatories of the call decry the emptiness of
the promises and pronouncements about peace in the region. They remind the world
about the separation wall erected on Palestinian territory, the blockade of
Gaza, how Israeli settlements ravage their land, the humiliation at military
checkpoints, the restrictions of religious liberty and controlled access to holy
places, the plight of refugees awaiting their right of return, prisoners
languishing in Israeli prisons and Israel's blatant disregard of international
law, as well as the paralysis of the international community in the face of this
tragedy.
> >
> > Rejecting Israeli justifications for their actions as being in self-defence,
they unambiguously state that if there were no occupation, "there would be no
resistance, no fear and no insecurity."
> >
> > They argue: "God created us not to engage in strife and conflict but
together build up the land in love and mutual respect. Our land has a universal
mission, and the promise of the land has never been a political programme, but
rather the prelude to complete universal salvation. Our connectedness to this
land is a natural right. It is not an ideological or a theological question
only." They reject any use of the Bible to legitimize or support political
options and positions that are based upon injustice.
> >
> > Declaring the occupation of Palestinian land as a sin against God and
humanity, they steadfastly adhere to the signs of hope such as "local centres of
theology" and "numerous meetings for inter-religious dialogue", recognizing that
these signs provide hope to the resistance of the occupation. Through the logic
of peaceful resistance, resistance is as much a right as it is a duty as it has
the potential to hasten the time of reconciliation.
> >
> > Asserting that this is a moment demanding repentance for past actions,
either for using hatred as an instrument of resistance or the willingness to be
indifferent and absorbed by faulty theological positions, the group calls on the
international community and Palestinians for steadfastness in this time of
trial. "Come and see [so we can make known to you] the truth of our reality",
they appeal.
> >
> > Poignantly, they conclude, "in the absence of all hope, we cry out our cry
of hope. We believe in God, good and just. We believe that God's goodness will
finally triumph over the evil of hate and of death that still persist in our
land. We will see here 'a new land' and 'a new human being', capable of rising
up in the spirit to love each one of his or her brothers and sisters."
> >
> > The authors are:
> >
> > • Patriarch Michel Sabbah
> > • Bishop Dr Munib Younan
> > • Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna
> > • Rev. Dr Jamal Khader
> > • Rev. Dr Rafiq Khoury
> > • Rev. Dr Mitri Raheb
> > • Rev. Dr Naim Ateek
> > • Rev. Dr Yohana Katanacho
> > • Rev. Fr Fadi Diab
> > • Dr Jiries Khoury
> > • Ms Sider Daibes
> > • Ms Nora Kort
> > • Ms Lucy Thaljieh
> > • Mr Nidal Abu Zulof
> > • Mr Yusef Daher
> > • Mr Rifat Kassis - coordinator of the initiative
> >
> > Media contact in Jerusalem: Ranjan Solomon         +972-54-733- 7857
> >
> > Full text of the Kairos Palestine Document:
> >  * In English
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_En. pdf
> >  * In Arabic
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_Ar. pdf
> >  * Auf Deutsch
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_Ger. pdf
> >  * En français
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/fileadmin/ files/wcc- main/2009pdfs/ Kairos
Palestine_Fr. pdf
> > For the list of signatories:
> > http://kairospalest ine.ps/?q= node/2
> >
> > Churches in the Middle East: solidarity and witness for peace:
> > http://www.oikoumen e.org/?id= 3113
> >
> >
> > Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe. org
> >
> > The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and
service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches
founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox,
Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in
over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The
WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in
Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The fullness of the Gentiles (1 Cor.10:32 below) will comes in at the same time
that the partial blindness of Israel is lifted (Rom.11:25 below).  These two
events will occur at the Sixth Seal appearance of the Lord with power and
majesty (Re.6:12-17 below).

From that day and FORWARD the house of Israel will know that Jesus Christ is the
Messiah, the Savior (Eze.39:22).   Believing on Jesus Christ, the house of
Israel will become a "new" creature (2 Cor.5:17, Gal.6:15), they will have
become the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 below), fellow members of Jesus' living
body, Jews and Gentiles in Christ.

After the partial blindness of Israel is lifted (Rom.11:25 below), the world
will consist of the church of God and Gentiles (1 Cor.10:32 below).

The times (years) of the Gentiles will be FULFILLED (Lk.21:24 below) at the
Seventh TRUMPET (1 Thess.4:16-17), the ascension.


1 Cor.10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to
the church of God.

Rom.11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened
to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles (1 Thess.4:5, Eph.2:12) be come in.

Re.6:12  And I beheld when he had opened the SIXTH SEAL, and, lo, there was a
great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon
became as blood (Acts.2:20, Joel 2:31);

Re.6:13  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth (Matt.24:29 below), even as
a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Re.6:14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and
every mountain (Ps.104:6 below) and island were moved out of their places
(Isa.2:19).

Re.6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and
the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man,
hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains (Isa.2:19,
Isa.13:7-8);

Re.6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE (Lk.21:27, Isa.2:19), and from THE WRATH
OF THE LAMB (Re.6:17 below):

Re.6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come (Re.6:16 above, Joel 2:31,
Jer.30:7); and who shall be able to stand (Lk.21:36)?

Lk.21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away
captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.



Patricia (c)

God gave this land to the seed of Abraham, THe Christ.

Believers in the One God are Heirs to this promise, Jews Christians and Moslems
who believe in the God of Abraham.

Is Ra El has many meaning and to assume that Judean Jews of today are the Israel
of the Bible is far from the truth.

Israel is not the Land Ishrael is the tribe of El the believers in God


Peter


--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, "BibleProphecyOnTheWeb"
<bibleprophecy_ndbpsa@...> wrote:
>
> God gave the land FROM the river of Egypt TO the great river Euphrates to
Israel as an EVERLASTING covenant (Gen.17:8 below).
>
> The land is Israel's FOR EVER, upon this earth and throughout eternity
(Gen.15:18, Eze.37:25, Eze.39:16 below).
>
>
> Gen.15:18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto
thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river,
the river Euphrates (Gen.17:8 below):
>
> Gen.17:8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land
wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting
possession; and I will be their God.
>
>
> In the NEW Earth -
>
> Eze.37:25  And they shall dwell in the land that I have GIVEN unto Jacob my
servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, [even]
they, and their children, and their children's children for ever (Gen.13:17,
Gen.15:18, Gen.17:19, Gen.28:3-4, Gen.28:13): and my servant David [shall be]
their prince for ever.
>
> Eze.39:26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses
whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in THEIR land,
and none made them afraid.
>
>
>
> Patricia Š

The judgment of God



General Robert E. Lee returned to his campsite late one evening only to see a
handcuffed soldier being held for a hearing on an alleged misconduct.
 
The soldier was shaking and obviously terrified of the trial, as well as the
judgment he was facing from the general.
 
"Relax, Corporal," General Lee said, "You'll get justice here."
 
The trembling soldier replied, "That's exactly what I'm ‘a-feared’ of,
General!"

The judgment of man is very different from the judgment of God.
 
While man focuses on guilt or innocence-
God's judgment is so much more.
 
That's because God already knows our guilt from sin.
He needs no evidence of that.
 
But what He does want to know is that we acknowledge our sin and offer a
willingness to change.
 
He wants us to recognize that our sin has separated us from Him and wants us to
express a mourning that cries out for His mercy through faith in what Jesus did
on the cross – dying to pay the penalty for our sin.
 
It is only through this process that we can experience God's perfect justice and
God's perfect mercy.

======================================
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If you are blessed by this devotional,please forward it to your friends or send
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Never mind how many times the lands in question were taken away from the
Israelites, and later, the Jews. If Israel does not change her wicked ways, it
will happen again.

Chapter 17

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and
said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I
will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3
And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
  4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of
a multitude of nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but
thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made
thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of
thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
  7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee
throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee
and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after
thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting
possession; and I will be their God. 9 And God said unto Abraham, And as for
thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout
their generations....

Judgng from the above, it seems that God intended for Abraham's descendants
(seeds)to include many nations and peoples.
Whatever the case, God has made it abundantly clear to me what shall happen to
the Israelis if they fail to start acting right and trusting Him instead of
merely paying lip service to Him and doing whatever they please, while putting
their faith in their military might and money. In Matthew 24, Jesus suggested
that the inhabitants of the Holy Land would suffer terribly, during the final
acts of the  end times. Only those who manage to flee to the wilderness of
Jordan shall survive:
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a
testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When therefore
ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the
prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand), 16 then
let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains: 17 let him that is on the
housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house: 18 and let him
that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 19 But woe unto them
that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! 20 And pray ye
that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a sabbath: 21 for then shall
be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world
until now, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days had been shortened,
no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be
shortened....

Then there is this:
Ezekiel
Chapter 9

1 Then he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause ye them that have
charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his
hand. 2 And behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lieth
toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man
in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. And
they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. 3 And the glory of the God of
Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the
house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's inkhorn
by his side. 4 And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city,
through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men
that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst
thereof.
  5 And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him,
and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity; 6 slay utterly the old
man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not
near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began
at the old men that were before the house. 7 And he said unto them, Defile the
house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and
smote in the city. 8 And it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was
left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou
destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon
Jerusalem? 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah
is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wresting
of judgment : for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah seeth
not. 10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity,
but I will bring their way upon their head. 11 And behold, the man clothed in
linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done
as thou hast commanded me.

JT


--- In BibleProphecy@yahoogroups.com, "BibleProphecyOnTheWeb"
<bibleprophecy_ndbpsa@...> wrote:
>
> God gave the land FROM the river of Egypt TO the great river Euphrates to
Israel as an EVERLASTING covenant (Gen.17:8 below).
>
> The land is Israel's FOR EVER, upon this earth and throughout eternity
(Gen.15:18, Eze.37:25, Eze.39:16 below).
>
>
> Gen.15:18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto
thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river,
the river Euphrates (Gen.17:8 below):
>
> Gen.17:8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land
wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting
possession; and I will be their God.
>
>
> In the NEW Earth -
>
> Eze.37:25  And they shall dwell in the land that I have GIVEN unto Jacob my
servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, [even]
they, and their children, and their children's children for ever (Gen.13:17,
Gen.15:18, Gen.17:19, Gen.28:3-4, Gen.28:13): and my servant David [shall be]
their prince for ever.
>
> Eze.39:26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses
whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in THEIR land,
and none made them afraid.
>
>
>
> Patricia Š
>

My Manna
 
 
"If your hand causes your downfall, cut it off...And if your foot causes your
downfall, cut it off...And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out". Mark
9:43, 45, 47.

In spite of the importance of breaking decisively with everything of which
Christ cannot approve, some Christians hide sins and are not willing to get rid
of them.
 
Let there be no illusion about this!
No one can maintain their spiritual freshness as long as they allow known sin to
remain and take root in their lives.

This matter of spiritual freshness is decided-
- not by living on the defensive,
- but by living on the offensive.
 
It involves making definite decisions!
-Decisions such as saying "Yes" to all that Christ offers.
And saying "No" to all that sin offers.

"Christianity,"said someone," is-
- not a prohibition,
- but a privilege!"
 
But-
I would add that it does, however, have a prohibition in it.
 
In our text for today-
Jesus says that if your "hand" or your "eye"causes you to sin, then do something
about it.
 
In other words-
Do not tolerate anything that cuts across the central purpose of your life.
 
From head to foot-
You are to belong to Christ.

The order in these verses is important.
The order is hand, foot, eye.
 
The "hand"represents the doing of evil,
- the "foot" the approach toward evil,
- and the "eye" the seeing of evil with desire from afar.
 
What' s the message in all this?
 
Quite clearly-
The message is that sin must be cut out at every stage.
 
The place to begin, of course, is with the "eye" - the place of desire.
Take care of that, and you won' t have to worry too much about the "hand" and
the "foot."
=============================
If you are blessed by this devotional,please forward it to your friends or send
us their email addresses that we may send them My Manna. If you want us to pray
for any need,please join our prayer group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/myprayergroups/


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Certain of Israel were elected by God to see that Jesus is the Messiah (Rom.11:5
below).

Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for, but the election has obtained
it, and the rest were blinded (Rom.11:7 below).  The rest were given the spirit
of slumber, eyes that will not see and ears that will not hear (Rom11:8 below).

Through the fall of Israel salvation has come to the Gentiles (Rom.11:11 below).

Because of unbelief unbelieving Israel's branches were broken off of the good
olive tree (Rom.11:20, Rom.11:24 below).

If Israel does not abide still in unbelief, Israel shall be grafted in, for God
is able to graft them in AGAIN (Rom.11:23-24 below).

The partial blindness of Israel (Rom.11:7-8 below) will be lifted when the
fullness of the Gentiles comes in (Rom.11:25 below).


Rom.11:5 Even so then AT THIS PRESENT TIME ALSO THERE IS A REMNANT ACCORDING TO
THE ELECTION OF GRACE (Rom.11:7 below).

Rom.11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the
election hath obtained it (Rom.11:5 above), and the rest were blinded.

Rom.11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of
slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;)
unto this day.

Rom.11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but
[rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to
provoke them to jealousy.

Rom.11:20  Well; BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF THEY WERE BROKEN OFF, and thou (Gentiles)
standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Rom.11:23   And they also, if they abide NOT STILL in UNBELIEF, shall be graffed
in: for God is able to graff them in AGAIN.

Rom.11:24 For if thou (Gentiles) wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by
nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much
more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own
olive tree?

Rom.11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened
to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.



Patricia Š

The article reproduced below was written in May/June 1998. The situation today
is considerably worse and the stranglehold on the media throughout the western
world is even tighter. Speaking from personal experience, I am inclined to
believe that the average well-meaning western Christian tends to believe the
distortions peddled by the controlled media and turn a blind eye to rampant
Zionist crimes in the Holy Land. 
Sami Joseph
 
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/media/halsell.html
 
WHATCHRISTIANSDON’TKNOWABOUTISRAEL
By Grace Halsell
[Grace Halsell was an award-winning journalist and author. Her books include
Journey to Jerusalem and Prophecy and Politics. She passed away in 2000]


Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
May/June 1998
American Jews sympathetic to Israel dominate key positions in all areas of our
government where decisions are made regarding the Middle East. This being the
case, is there any hope of ever changing U.S. policy? President Bill Clinton as
well as most members of Congress support Israel—and they know why. U.S. Jews
sympathetic to Israel donate lavishly to their campaign coffers.
 
The answer to achieving an even-handed Middle East policy might lie
elsewhere—among those who support Israel but don’t really know why. This
group is the vast majority of Americans. They are well-meaning, fair-minded
Christians who feel bonded to Israel—and Zionism—often from atavistic
feelings, in some cases dating from childhood.
 
In my early 20s, I began traveling the world, earning my living as a writer. I
came to the subject of the Middle East rather late in my career. I was sadly
lacking in knowledge regarding the area. About all I knew was what I had learned
in Sunday School.
 
And typical of many U.S. Christians, I somehow considered a modern state created
in 1948 as a homeland for Jews persecuted under the Nazis as a replica of the
spiritual, mystical Israel I heard about as a child. When in 1979 I initially
went to Jerusalem, I planned to write about the three great monotheistic
religions and leave out politics. “Not write about politics?” scoffed one
Palestinian, smoking a water pipe in the Old Walled City. “We eat politics,
morning, noon and night!”
 
As I would learn, the politics is about land, and the co-claimants to that land:
the indigenous Palestinians who have lived there for 2,000 years and the Jews
who started arriving in large numbers after the Second World War. By living
among Israeli Jews as well as Palestinian Christians and Muslims, I saw, heard,
smelled, experienced the police state tactics Israelis use against Palestinians.
 
My research led to a book entitled Journey to Jerusalem. My journey not only was
enlightening to me as regards Israel, but also I came to a deeper, and sadder,
understanding of my own country. I say sadder understanding because I began to
see that, in Middle East politics, we the people are not making the decisions,
but rather that supporters of Israel are doing so. And typical of most
Americans, I tended to think the U.S. media was “free” to print news
impartially.
“It shouldn’t be published. It’s anti-Israel.”
In the late 1970s, when I first went to Jerusalem, I was unaware that editors
could and would classify “news” depending on who was doing what to whom. On
my initial visit to Israel-Palestine, I had interviewed dozens of young
Palestinian men. About one in four related stories of torture.
Israeli police had come in the night, dragged them from their beds and placed
hoods over their heads. Then in jails the Israelis had kept them in isolation,
besieged them with loud, incessant noises, hung them upside down and had
sadistically mutilated their genitals. I had not read such stories in the U.S.
media. Wasn’t it news? Obviously, I naively thought, U.S. editors simply
didn’t know it was happening.
 
On a trip to Washington, DC, I hand-delivered a letter to Frank Mankiewicz, then
head of the public radio station WETA. I explained I had taped interviews with
Palestinians who had been brutally tortured. And I’d make them available to
him. I got no reply. I made several phone calls. Eventually I was put through to
a public relations person, a Ms. Cohen, who said my letter had been lost. I
wrote again. In time I began to realize what I hadn’t known: had it been Jews
who were strung up and tortured, it would be news. But interviews with tortured
Arabs were “lost” at WETA.
 
The process of getting my book Journey to Jerusalem published also was a
learning experience. Bill Griffin, who signed a contract with me on behalf of
MacMillan Publishing Company, was a former Roman Catholic priest. He assured me
that no one other than himself would edit the book. As I researched the book,
making several trips to Israel and Palestine, I met frequently with Griffin,
showing him sample chapters. “Terrific,” he said of my material.
 
The day the book was scheduled to be published, I went to visit MacMillan’s.
Checking in at a reception desk, I spotted Griffin across a room, cleaning out
his desk. His secretary Margie came to greet me. In tears, she whispered for me
to meet her in the ladies room. When we were alone, she confided, “He’s been
fired.” She indicated it was because he had signed a contract for a book that
was sympathetic to Palestinians. Griffin, she said, had no time to see me.
 
Later, I met with another MacMillan official, William Curry. “I was told to
take your manuscript to the Israeli Embassy, to let them read it for
mistakes,” he told me. “They were not pleased. They asked me, ‘You are not
going to publish this book, are you?’ I asked, ‘Were there mistakes?’
‘Not mistakes as such. But it shouldn’t be published. It’s
anti-Israel.’”
 
Somehow, despite obstacles to prevent it, the presses had started rolling. After
its publication in 1980, I was invited to speak in a number of churches.
Christians generally reacted with disbelief. Back then, there was little or no
coverage of Israeli land confiscation, demolition of Palestinian homes, wan ton
arrests and torture of Palestinian civilians.
The Same Question
Speaking of these injustices, I invariably heard the same question, “How come
I didn’t know this?” Or someone might ask, “But I haven’t read about
that in my newspaper.” To these church audiences, I related my own learning
experience, that of seeing hordes of U.S. correspondents covering a relatively
tiny state. I pointed out that I had not seen so many reporters in world
capitals such as Beijing, Moscow, London, Tokyo, Paris. Why, I asked, did a
small state with a 1980 population of only four million warrant more reporters
than China, with a billion people?
I also linked this query with my findings that The New York Times, The Wall
Street Journal, The Washington Post—and most of our nation’s print
media—are owned and/or controlled by Jews supportive of Israel. It was for
this reason, I deduced, that they sent so many reporters to cover Israel—and
to do so largely from the Israeli point of view.
 
My learning experiences also included coming to realize how easily I could lose
a Jewish friend if I criticized the Jewish state. I could with impunity
criticize France, England, Russia, even the United States. And any aspect of
life in America. But not the Jewish state. I lost more Jewish friends than one
after the publication of Journey to Jerusalem—all sad losses for me and one,
perhaps, saddest of all.
 
In the 1960s and 1970s, before going to the Middle East, I had written about the
plight of blacks in a book entitled Soul Sister, and the plight of American
Indians in a book entitled Bessie Yellowhair, and the problems endured by
undocumented workers crossing from Mexico in The Illegals. These books had come
to the attention of the “mother” of The New York Times, Mrs. Arthur Hays
Sulzberger.
 
Her father had started the newspaper, then her husband ran it, and in the years
that I knew her, her son was the publisher. She invited me to her fashionable
apartment on Fifth Avenue for lunches and dinner parties. And, on many
occasions, I was a weekend guest at her Greenwich, Conn. home.
She was liberal-minded and praised my efforts to speak for the underdog, even
going so far in one letter to say, “You are the most remarkable woman I ever
knew.” I had little concept that from being buoyed so high I could be dropped
so suddenly when I discovered—from her point of view—the “wrong”
underdog.
 
As it happened, I was a weekend guest in her spacious Connecticut home when she
read bound galleys of Journey to Jerusalem. As I was leaving, she handed the
galleys back with a saddened look: “My dear, have you forgotten the
Holocaust?” She felt that what happened in Nazi Germany to Jews several
decades earlier should silence any criticism of the Jewish state. She could
focus on a holocaust of Jews while negating a modern day holocaust of
Palestinians.
 
I realized, quite painfully, that our friendship was ending. Iphigene Sulzberger
had not only invited me to her home to meet her famous friends but, also at her
suggestion, The Times had requested articles. I wrote op-ed articles on various
subjects including American blacks, American Indians as well as undocumented
workers. Since Mrs. Sulzberger and other Jewish officials at the Times highly
praised my efforts to help these groups of oppressed peoples, the dichotomy
became apparent: most “liberal” U.S. Jews stand on the side of all poor and
oppressed peoples save one—the Palestinians.
 
How handily these liberal Jewish opinion-molders tend to diminish the
Palestinians, to make them invisible, or to categorize them all as
“terrorists.”
 
Interestingly, Iphigene Sulzberger had talked to me a great deal about her
father, Adolph S. Ochs. She told me that he was not one of the early Zionists.
He had not favored the creation of a Jewish state.
 
Yet, increasingly, American Jews have fallen victim to Zionism, a nationalistic
movement that passes for many as a religion. While the ethical instructions of
all great religions—including the teachings of Moses, Muhammad and
Christ—stress that all human beings are equal, militant Zionists take the
position that the killing of a non-Jew does not count.
 
Over five decades now, Zionists have killed Palestinians with impunity. And in
the 1996 shelling of a U.N. base in Qana, Lebanon, the Israelis killed more than
100 civilians sheltered there. As an Israeli journalist, Arieh Shavit, explains
of the massacre, “We believe with absolute certitude that right now, with the
White House in our hands, the Senate in our hands and The New York Times in our
hands, the lives of others do not count the same way as our own.”
 
Israelis today, explains the anti-Zionist Jew Israel Shahak, “are not basing
their religion on the ethics of justice. They do not accept the Old Testament as
it is written. Rather, religious Jews turn to the Talmud. For them, the Talmudic
Jewish laws become ‘the Bible.’ And the Talmud teaches that a Jew can kill a
non-Jew with impunity.”
 
In the teachings of Christ, there was a break from such Talmudic teachings. He
sought to heal the wounded, to comfort the downtrodden.
 
The danger, of course, for U.S. Christians is that having made an icon of
Israel, we fall into a trap of condoning whatever Israel does—even wanton
murder—as orchestrated by God.
 
Yet, I am not alone in suggesting that the churches in the United States
represent the last major organized support for Palestinian rights. This
imperative is due in part to our historic links to the Land of Christ and in
part to the moral issues involved with having our tax dollars fund
Israeli-government-approved violations of human rights.
 
While Israel and its dedicated U.S. Jewish supporters know they have the
president and most of Congress in their hands, they worry about grassroots
America—the well-meaning Christians who care for justice. Thus far, most
Christians were unaware of what it was they didn’t know about Israel. They
were indoctrinated by U.S. supporters of Israel in their own country and when
they traveled to the Land of Christ most all did so under Israeli sponsorship.
That being the case, it was unlikely a Christian ever met a Palestinian or
learned what caused the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This is gradually changing, however. And this change disturbs the Israelis. As
an example, delegates attending a Christian Sabeel conference in Bethlehem
earlier this year said they were harassed by Israeli security at the Tel Aviv
airport.
 
“They asked us,” said one delegate, “‘Why did you use a Palestinian
travel agency? Why didn’t you use an Israeli agency?’” The interrogation
was so extensive and hostile that Sabeel leaders called a special session to
brief the delegates on how to handle the harassment. Obviously, said one
delegate, “The Israelis have a policy to discourage us from visiting the Holy
Land except under their sponsorship. They don’t want Christians to start
learning all they have never known about Israel.”
First Article in Booklet: Christians Discriminated Against by Israel
Final Article in Booklet: Orthodox Jewish youths burn New Testaments in Israel





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

praying. Please keep us updated.

Your friend, Linda Cross
God Bless You.


--- On Fri, 12/11/09, josephylee@... <josephylee@...> wrote:


From: josephylee@... <josephylee@...>
Subject: BibleProphecy [EMERGENCY] prayer requests - Brian's and Susan's baby
son
To:
Date: Friday, December 11, 2009, 7:39 PM


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,


My name is Brian Lim and  friend of Joseph Lee.


My wife Susan and I would like to ask  you for your
prayers. Our son JD (John-David) was born prematurely
at 26 weeks of pregnancy.  He is currently in neonatal
intensive care unit in LA and will be there for about  2-3
months.  During that time, we'd like to ask you to join
us in uplifting him to the Lord.  We'll send regular
updates and prayer  requests on his behalf.  We
are eternally grateful for every  prayer.


JD is doing pretty well considering his prematurity,  but
just had surgery done this week to close his ductus
arteriosus (which is a blood vessel connecting his aorta
and lung).   Also, there is a blood clot in JD's IVC (inferior
vena cava), which is the largest vein in the body.  Please
pray for quick recovery from his surgery and that this clot
will resolve on its own without causing any complications.



Thank you so much for your prayers.  We will send an
update very soon.



Love in Jesus, 
Brian




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]