From tragedy to triumph: Behind the scenes in Israel

Israelis need to be very strong today to endure what is going on in the land of Israel (and also to endure what may soon be happening, if a war breaks out). They will need to have the same strength of zeal for God, Torah and Israel (i.e., for the people of Israel) that Pinchas exhibited in ancient times. But, this will not happen by thrusting through with a sword all men and women who are being immoral before the entire congregation of today. People will need to have enough zeal to restore themselves to God – and to the commandants as they were observed biblically – and in this way to fulfill Bible prophecy in their own way as an individual.

In the meantime, to those who are under-educated and uninformed, things are looking bleak indeed! Christians are continuing to be persecuted in radical Moslem countries (e.g., like the Sudan and Lebanon) without very much of an outcry from other Christians around the world. According to “Aren’t Christian Lives of Importance?” in Free-Lebanon:

The Lebanese were victims of Arafat’s terror in Beirut for years of the conflict, and today they are victims of Syrian-backed political and human abuses. There is no freedom today in Lebanon. Christians are living in a constant fear and the world is silent regarding this matter. It is a dangerous matter for the Belgium court to take sides with one faction against another, especially when that same side pleading is the one that aggressed Lebanon and inflicted thousands of innocent casualties.

There are a few Christian groups (and individuals) who are trying to help their persecuted brothers and sisters around the world, but so many more Christians are needed to be involved with prayer and financial support for those who are suffering needlessly in radical Moslem countries (i.e., just because they happen to be Christians).

We also need many more people to become involved in fighting for the rights of the Lebanese people, for real justice in terms of criminal charges being brought against Elias Hobeika – instead of Israeli PM Ariel Sharon – for the murder of Palestinians at the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla in Lebanon. The Belgium trial of Ariel Sharon will be a great opportunity for justice to be done in this regard, since there are witnesses waiting to come forward to testify in spite of threats of consequences to their families from Syrian terrorists.

On the state of Israel side of “appearances,” we mostly only hear about the terrorism of Israeli Defense Forces (soldiers who are defending Israeli civilians against attack) and the murder of civilians – whether within the green line of Israel proper, or in the “disputed territories” of Gaza, Samaria and Judea. But there are very important things going on of which most people today are totally unaware – and that’s the eventual triumph of the redemption of God’s people, and the precursor “spiritual elevation” of Jews everywhere which is happening through their return to God, Torah and Israel.

Due to the tragedy of persecution (and anti-Semitism), the first phase of the physical return has been fulfilled. What’s happening today, as a result of continued persecution, this time by radical Islam, is that there’s a second phase “spiritual return” going on. This is called the “Third-Temple Movement,” and it will not result in a bombing of the Dome of the Rock shrine (as some hate mongers would have you to believe). The historic precedence to this view is that King David was not allowed by God to build the first temple, because he had blood on his hands. The Tabernacle of David will be restored (Amos 9:11) when the people will have “merited” it by longing for it and by working on themselves “spiritually” in preparation for all this to happen.

In Ezekiel 11:18-20, it says:

I will gather you (the exiles) from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again. They will return to it, and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them. And I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws, and I will be their God.

The first part of this tragedy (of exile and persecution)-to-triumph (of the redemption) began to be fulfilled in the late 1900’s with Zionism – the physical return. But the second element of this tragedy-to-triumph prophecy (i.e., spiritual return) is happening today as a result of the world’s indifference to radical Islam’s persecution of Jews and the lack of support for the Jewish people to be allowed to worship God as He had commanded them.

This spiritual redemption is the “return” to the biblical ways-methods of observing the “commandments” (i.e., not in a remembrance form, but just the way the Jewish people’s ancestors had observed them) and this is bringing about great joy and excitement about the final and complete redemption that is fast approaching for the entire world.

For example, for the first time since Emperor Hadrian forbade the minting of a pure silver coin to observe the giving of a holy half-shekel each year at Purim, Israelis (and Jews around the world) are now able to purchase just such a coin minted for this purpose and to donate it to the temple treasury (yes, the third temple now has a bank account). Some pro-Israel Christians from the United States are getting involved by inviting Reuven Prager (of this Levitical ministry) to speak at their churches and their congregations about this spiritual revitalization and re-JEWvenation that’s occurring within Israel, so they can support it and actively renounce religious persecution.

We are living in exciting times of prophecy fulfillment! The restoration of biblical commandments is something that has to happen before the coming of the Mashiach. So let’s focus on the positive elements of what is occurring, and come alongside to assist (and share in the joy) if you are at all able.