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Shalom from Zion,
The US Embassy moves to Jerusalem on May 14th, Israel's 70th birthday by the Gregorian calendar. Since Chuck travels to the UK right afterward, we will not deal with that topic now. Yet to keep up-to-date please sign up for IFI's Friday Prayer Alerts. Coming soon: IFI's website makeover here: www.ifi.org.il
Prophecy & blood
Winds of war swirl around Israel, yet the spirit of liberalism and humanism that sits in the modern church, blinds many to the truth that God's prophetic word often comes to pass through bloodshed and death – the most obvious example being Messiah's bloody death which fulfilled many prophecies. His resurrection affirms our salvation only because His real death redeemed us.
Ezekiel 37 says Israel will be restored from hopeless graves, a perfect picture of the Holocaust: real death leading to a real restoration, including becoming an exceedingly great army.
Each time Israel is attacked, it possesses more of its God-given possessions (Oba. 1:15-17). With much of the Promised Land not yet under Israeli rule, how else will it get these areas?
When Messiah returns, there will be war, blood and death. If we do not recognize this truth, we can misjudge much of what God is doing. Without this, we cannot watch and pray effectively.
At IFI, while we never pray for war, we are often restrained by His Spirit from praying against it. How could we even hear that if we thought that God is only love? He is love, but He is so much more – including a Man of War
(Ex. 15:3).
Jerusalem – God's city (Psa. 48:1-2, 8; Matt. 5:35)
In Zechariah 12:2-3, God states, Behold, I,
not US President Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, I will make Jerusalem a cup of intoxication to all people around it, when they shall besiege Judah and Jerusalem. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone to all the people: all that burden themselves with it shall be utterly cut in pieces, even if all nations of the earth gather together against it.
It is our God who is making Jerusalem the center of world controversy today!
Yet Palestinian Authority [PA] President Abbas, a Muslim, who serves another god, rejects the fact that Jerusalem is God's chosen city. Reacting to Trump's recognition of the city as Israel's capital, Abbas said, "Jerusalem is the key to peace if it is our capital, and if it is not – it is the key to war." Yet much of the Arab world was not enraged over Trump's move, showing us that "the Arab world is actually distancing itself from hardline Palestinian positions vis-a-vis Jerusalem." ("Abbas Threatens War if Trump Doesn't Rescind Jerusalem Declaration," Israel Today, 17 Jan. 2017)
British columnist Melanie Phillips sees the UK government's vote at the UN against Trump's Jerusalem decision as a rejection of "America's right to decide its own foreign policy…" Also, once again the UK "failed to stand up for Zionism and Judaism against the lie which underpins the century-old attempt to exterminate the national home of the Jewish people – that the Jews have no rights in Jerusalem at all…" ("Palestinianism is over – someone please tell the British," M. Phillips, JP Op-ed, 18 Jan. 2018)
Dedicating an exhibit on Jerusalem at the UN in March, Bibi rebuked the over 125 nations "that support Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem" as its future capital. He was referring to the UN General Assembly resolution against Trump's Jerusalem decision, declaring it "null and void."
The Israeli-sponsored exhibit traced Jewish life in Jerusalem centuries before Yeshua, showing long history between the city and the Jews. Noting a disclaimer at the entrance saying, "Holding of the exhibit on UN premises does not imply endorsement by the UN," Netanyahu said, "Of course it doesn't represent the UN. It represents the truth…"("PM rebukes nations that dispute Jewish link to Jerusalem," Israel Hayom, 9 Mar. 2018)
Zionist Organization of America President M. Klein spoke out against the lie that Jerusalem is holy to Muslims. "Jerusalem was …never, ever, the capital of any other nation except Israel." When Muslims conquered Palestine in 716, Ramla was their capital, and historically, Arabs never built in it. When Jordan controlled the city from 1948-67, they built in Amman, while in Jerusalem they destroyed 58 synagogues. This history should not shock anyone, as the city "is never mentioned in the Quran…" ("Jerusalem is not holy to Muslims, enough with this lie!" Arutz 7, 16 Mar. 2018)
Trump, the businessman-president
At the January Davos World Economic Forum, Trump said unless the PA is willing to negotiate with Israel, the US would cut off all financial aid. Then turning to Netanyahu who was sitting with him, he said, "You won one point," i.e., Jerusalem, "and you'll give up some points later in the negotiations…"("…If Palestinians don't want peace, US has nothing to do with them," JP, 25 Jan. 2018) Dealing with Jerusalem as a business deal – is just bad business!
Raphael Ahren says the impression one gets of Trump's view of the "peace" process has little to do with "diametrically opposed historical narratives." He seems to see the Middle East [ME] "conflict more as a real estate dispute that a savvy mediator can solve…"
Also Trump and Netanyahu see the conflict's "root causes from very different perspectives." Bibi focuses on the lack of Arab "recognition of Israel as a Jewish state," since if they reject "Jewish sovereignty anywhere" in this land, "genuine peace is impossible."
At Davos, Trump's remarks "were bereft of historical, legal or religious themes. It was not about ideology; it's about reciprocity"; he sees the solution "via financial and diplomatic transactions," which is a new way of seeing the conflict. He said that in endless "peace proposals," no one he asked ever talked about the huge amounts of money that America has given the PA. Trump did talk about it, saying "That money is on the table. Because why should we do that as a country if they're doing nothing for us?"
The PA attacked Trump's idea that he has solved the Jerusalem issue. Senior negotiator Erekat said, "Those who say Jerusalem is off the table are saying peace is off the table," adding, "Trump could buy many things with his money, but he won't be able to buy the dignity of our nation."
While this is a "net gain for Israel" today, Bibi must remember "that the businessman-president doesn't like it when a deal" he wants to close fails. As Trump said, if negotiations are restarted, he expects Israeli payback. ("For Trump, ME peacemaking is all about give and take," R. Ahren, TOI Analysis, 25 Jan. 2018)
Analyst Daniel Pipes said, "Trump has taken two unprecedented steps highly favorable to Israel: recognizing Jerusalem as its capital and cutting funds to the UN Relief & Works Agency," an organization whose aim is Israel's demise through Palestinian immigration. These moves break historic logjams, "and offer fresh opportunities to resolve" this conflict, but both "were undertaken for what appear to be the wrong reasons…"
Trump said affirming Jerusalem as Israel's capital settles that issue, and for this he "intends to exact an unspecified price from Israel." Yet his action "made Jerusalem an unprecedented center of attention and contention." Still, God is orchestrating all of this – just as He said He would (Zech. 12:2-3).
Finally, Trump withheld $65 million from UNRWA, not to punish it for "inciting Palestinians against Israel, encouraging violence against Jews," and increasing the number of refugees, but to pressure "the PA to restart negotiations…" ("US-Israel honeymoon may not last," D. Pipes, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 9 Feb. 2018)
PA President Abbas unmasked
In his speech to the PLO's Central Council meeting in January, Abbas "did what he is so good at doing," blaming everyone else for the Palestinians' situation, "from the US, to Israel, Hamas, and even the Europeans, for their role in sending the Jews to Israel," saying, "Israel is a colonialist project…" ("Did Abbas just give his valedictory speech, blaming everyone for his failures?" TOI, 14 Jan. 2017)
Abbas said Trump's "peace plan," which is not yet revealed, has "insulted the Palestinians." They reject it, and reject the US as the "sole mediator between us and Israel," and demand "international sponsorship" for further negotiations.
He cursed Trump, saying, "May [Allah] demolish your house"; blasted US Ambassador to Israel Friedman for saying "there is no such thing as the 'occupation' of Palestine"; and laughed at the US' UN Ambassador Haley for "protecting Israel in high heels…"
Abbas said the Oslo agreement was dead, for which we thank God. Now may Israel also see this truth. ("Bitter Abbas to Trump: We reject your peace 'deal of the century'," TOI, 15 Jan. 2017)
Melanie Phillips called the speech a "deranged rant." Abbas rejected all connections between the land and the Jews, yet the Land of Israel is "central to Judaism and the Jews are the only people for whom Israel was ever their national homeland."
Denying "the Nazi genocide," and lying "about the 850,000 Jews …driven out of Arab lands after 1948, claiming Israelis forced them to leave for Israel," Abbas proved he is an "anti-Semite, unhinged conspiracy theorist and paranoid Holocaust denier." Many have exposed this, yet the West, including many Jews, continue to treat him "as a rational, moderate statesman-in-waiting who would head a peaceful, civilized state of Palestine." His speech showed that all the pro-Palestinian State backers are backing "an openly unhinged Jew-hater…" ("Palestinianism is over – someone please tell the British," M. Phillips, JP Op-ed, 18 Jan. 2018)
In March, Abbas told PA leaders that US ambassador to Israel, Friedman, had said settlers are building on their own land. "You son of a dog; building on their own land?! You are a settler and your family is settlers!" J. Greenblatt, Trump's #1 "peace" envoy urged Abbas to halt his "hateful rhetoric" and focus on improving the lives of his people, adding that despite these "highly inappropriate insults" America is still "committed to the Palestinian people and the changes that must be implemented for peaceful coexistence." A US State Dept. spokesperson agreed with that assessment. So faced with this obvious rejection of Israel and the US, Trump continues, yet if it were a business deal, he would have bailed out long ago. Has the "peace" demon oppressed him, as it seems to do to all who want to be the maker of "the ultimate deal"? ("US slams Abbas over 'outrageous' insult of its Israel envoy," TOI, 20 Mar. 2018)
Netanyahu's insight on Abbas' verbal attacks is classic. "Something is happening that has not happened in decades," at least "since the PA was established: The American administration has stopped spoiling the Palestinians." And like a spoiled child, "suddenly being told: 'Enough, no more," they're in shock, "losing their senses and truth is coming to light: They are not interested in dialogue and they are refusing to make peace."("The US stopped coddling the PA and its driving Abbas crazy," Arutz 7, 21 Mar. 2018)
EU unmasked
Nothing the EU does with Israel surprises us anymore. It's under God's judgment in many ways – the most obvious being jihad via immigration. Wherever there is a mosque becomes wakf territory – Allah's land – which must be defended to the death. And most EU leaders are so humanistic that they freely open their nations' borders and, by default, welcome in the sovereignty of Islam.
An enfeebled EU refused to respond as Abbas accused it of exploiting "its Jews for a 'colonial project'." An EU spokesman said, "Our policy is not to comment on comments," however he affirmed their commitment to a negotiated two-state solution. Yet the EU responds negatively to "Israeli plans to build… beyond the 1967 lines," and has been "very vocal in condemning the US …recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital." ("EU mum on Abbas speech because 'we don't comment on comments'," TOI, 18 Jan. 2017)
In February, after a meeting "between 28 EU foreign ministers and a delegation of Arab foreign ministers," EU foreign policy chief Mogherini told a press conference that both groups were in complete agreement on preserving the two-state solution as the only solution and on seeing "Jerusalem as both the capital of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine…" ("EU foreign policy chief warns US on 'false steps' to Israeli-Palestinian peace," JP, 27 Feb. 2018)So now a post-Christian continent has, as she said, "full convergence of purpose" with Muslim nations!
There are refugees & there are Palestinian "refugees"
The PA sees their refugees' "right of return" as "sacred and not open to bargaining," yet Israel refuses to allow these so-called "refugees" to enter and become "an existential demographic threat." Of the approximately 600,000 "refugees who left or were forced out of Israel" during its 1948 War of Independence, less than 30,000 "are still believed to be alive." But their descendants, counted as refugees under a "unique designation afforded by the UN to Palestinians, number in the millions."
For decades, Israel has demanded the UN to use "the same criteria it applies for other refugee populations," but to no effect. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees oversees assistance "to other refugee groups," that is, to original refugees only – not their descendants – yet Palestinians receive help from their own UN group – the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The US is cutting UNRWA funds, and the PA is accusing it of blackmail. "This will not dissuade our people from holding on to the sacred right of return and it will not exonerate Israel from the crime of ethnic cleansing it committed in 1948," a PA statement said. "Netanyahu's illusions of foiling the right of return won't materialize because international resolutions that created Israel" also "accepted the right of return…"
Israel did not commit ethnic cleansing – or if it did, it was the worst job of ethnic cleansing in history. Also, the Arabs rejected the 1948 UN Partition Plan, so that second excuse carries no weight.("Amid UNRWA cuts, PA says refugees' status, right of return are 'sacred'," K. Abu Toameh, TOI, 1 Feb. 2018)
With whom can Israel negotiate peace?
Former Israeli PM Golda Meir said that when the Arabs love their children more than they hate the Jews there will be peace. That day has not come for the Palestinians, and by passing their hatred for the Jewish State on to their offspring, their next generation is being placed under God's curse (Num. 24:9).
Former Voice of Israel Radio Arabic language broadcaster, Dr. A. Gross, read over 200 Arabic textbooks, past and present, to see what Palestinian students are learning. His research showed that the PA school system brainwashes its pupils: there is no "Israel," or if there is, this "Zionist entity" must be destroyed.
He concluded, "There is no chance for peace and reconciliation between," Israel and the Palestinians at this time, as the textbooks "demonize the Jews and Israel, and encourage the violent struggle to liberate Palestine from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea." He also stressed that the texts become more extreme with each passing year. ("Palestinian textbook problem," Yaakov Ahimeir, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 11 Feb. 2018) Where are the human rights groups to protest against this blatant Palestinian child abuse?
Bassam Tawil, a ME Muslim, said the Hamas terrorists who rule Gaza, see all Israel as one big settlement, and all Jews living in it as "occupiers" who must be expelled. To most Palestinians the "occupation" started with Israel's birth in 1948, so when they "say they want an end to the 'occupation,' they really mean an end to Israel's existence;" as it is all wakf land and is forbidden to be given to a non-Muslim. Thus no Palestinian leader "can accept anything less than 100%," that is all of Israel, in a peace deal.
At a Gaza rally a Hamas official told a throng of supporters that all Jerusalem "is and will remain the capital of Palestine." This shows the core of the Israeli-Arab conflict, "that many Arabs and Muslims have still not accepted Israel's right to exist inside any borders." Most Palestinians still see Israel "as a foreign entity… imposed on Arabs and Muslims by Western superpowers," despite Jews having lived here for 4,000 years, as shown by archeological findings proving the accuracy of the Bible. ("Palestinians: Israel is One Big Settlement," B. Tawil, Gatestone Institute, 26 Feb. 2018)
"International law expert Alan Baker said the term 'Palestinian territories' has no legal or political basis. There has never been a Palestinian state, and no international agreement defines the territories as Palestinian; therefore, they never belonged to the Palestinians. No foreign sovereign power possesses the West Bank, which legally means it can't be 'occupied'." ("Respect Israel's Sovereignty," Earl Cox, Christian Coalition, 5 Mar. 2018)
In March, after meeting Trump in Washington, Netanyahu was asked by reporters if he supported the creation of a Palestine as part of the still undisclosed US peace plan. He said, "Palestinians should have the power of government, except the power to threaten us." He told Trump Israel has "no desire to govern the Palestinians, but we have every desire to protect ourselves…"
The issue is what kind of state will a Palestine be? "Is it Costa Rica or Hamastan? Is it Switzerland or Iran? Is it demilitarized?" Who guarantees it remains demilitarized? Only Israel can. "Does that comport with what the world calls a state? I don't know. But it comports with the solution that I need."("Netanyahu says he told Trump Israel doesn't want to rule over the Palestinians," TOI, 6 Mar. 2018)
Hamas' "March of Return"
Times of Israel editor David Horvitz exposes Hamas' real goals in the recent "peaceful" Gaza border demonstrations. "Just in case anybody forgot, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip to the pre-67 lines in 2005." Thousands of Israelis were uprooted and all military sites dismantled.
In 2007, Hamas "seized power…in a violent takeover" from the PA. "Having attempted to terrorize Israel into capitulation with its strategic onslaught of suicide bombers in the 2nd Intifada," it has "continued its efforts," by firing thousands of rockets arbitrarily across the border, and digging terror tunnels underneath it.
Hamas continues to exploit its people, "storing its rockets near or even inside mosques and schools," shooting from residential areas, and digging tunnels under homes and civilian institutions. It subverts "all materials that can be utilized for the manufacture of weaponry," forcing a "stringent Israeli security blockade whose main victims are the Gazan civilians.
The current "March of Return" has Gazans face off against IDF troops. They call this "campaign non-violent," yet it is just "the latest iteration of Hamas' cynical use of Gazans as human shields for its aggression."
Israel's Gaza withdrawal could have led to other withdrawals and the creation of "Palestine" had Gaza remained calm, but – and we see God in this – Hamas changed all that. After three mini-wars, Israelis now reject unilateral moves and are even uptight about leaving adjacent territories. But Hamas is not interested in Palestinian statehood – just Israel's annihilation.
Finally, "in case anybody forgets the context for [Hamas'] latest escalation of violence," its head man in Gaza said the Israel-Gaza border must disappear because "Our people can't give up one inch of the land of Palestine."("Just in case anybody forgot what Hamas' 'March of Return' is really all about," D. Horovitz, TOI Op-ed, 31 Mar. 2018)
Bassam Tawil sees this as "not a protest by poverty-stricken and miserable Palestinians against a blockade…" If it were, protests would face the Egyptian border where there is a "real blockade." In 2017, Egypt's border was open less than 30 days; yet the Israeli border "was open for more than 280 days." Israel has a naval blockade, to prevent terrorists smuggling weapons into Gaza, yet it keeps its border open for humanitarian purposes. ("Palestinians: A March to Destroy Israel," Bassam Tawil, Gatestone Institute, 2 Apr. 2018)
An American wrote to the JP Editors: "The uproar about Israeli forces killing Gazan Arabs trying to violently force their way into Israel is disingenuous." Many terrorists are identified among the dead. "When combatants hide among civilians, it's worse than using human shields; it amounts to using bait for the international news media to heap wrath on the Jews."
A group monitoring Palestinians in Syria said that from the start of its civil war, 3,685 have been killed. Yet who "complains to the UN about" this, or the Syrian government's massacre "of hundreds of thousands of Arabs." Apparently, people only care about dead Arabs if "they are killed while trying to murder Jews or overrun the Jewish state." ("The uproar over Gaza," Desmond Tuck, San Mateo CA, JP Letters to the Editor, 7 Apr. 2018)
Earl Cox notes that while Hamas' soldiers wear kaffiyehs and have assault rifles, its leaders wear coats and ties and use what author William Safire labeled, "the gimmicky, slick use of the communications media to play on emotions." Hamas' allies in this "jihad of the pen," are a "biased, anti-Israel media," which backs them completely – yet "truth" is their "Achilles heel."
Using taqiyya – the Islamic approved tactic of lying to gain victory for Allah, Hamas labels the marches as "peaceful and non-violent." Yet from day one, "peaceful" marchers "hurled rocks and firebombs, and fired weapons at IDF soldiers defending their country's borders…" Still, top diplomats from the EU, the Arab world and the UN, criticized Israel's aggression against these "peaceful" ones. ("Selling Illusions," E. Cox, JP Op-ed, 17 Apr. 2018)
The Spirit of Persia vs. God & Israel
At Davos, Netanyahu again warned that the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, "gives Iran, the pre-eminent terrorist state of our time, the wherewithal to produce nuclear weapons" they could give to their "proxies, to terrorists," or use themselves. It is vital "to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear arsenal," since Iran spreads terrorism globally and openly aims for Israel's annihilation. ("Netanyahu: Nuclear deal allows Iran to produce 200 bombs," Israel Hayom, 26 Jan. 2018)
While Israel and Russia have a decent relationship, Bibi has warned Putin that he will not allow Iran to establish military bases in Israel's backyard. "If Iran is not stopped from entrenching itself militarily in Syria or turning Lebanon into a 'factory for precision missiles' aimed at Israel, then Israel will stop it…" ("PM to Putin: We will stop Iranian entrenchment in Lebanon, Syria," JP, 30 Jan. 2018)
Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Halevi, while with Bibi in Moscow, told the Russians, "Israel cannot accept the formation of a 'Shi'ite crescent' along its" Syrian and Lebanese borders, with Hezbollah and pro-Iranian militias on the Golan and in Lebanon, "armed with Iranian weapons and an arsenal of precise missiles."("Russia the primary address," Oded Granot, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 30 Jan. 2018)
David Weinberg of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies wrote, "Perusing global media coverage of the sharp skirmish on Israel's northern border" in February, it was shocking how few reports "focused on the Iranian aggression," behind it. Most saw it as a fight between Israel and Syria. This "serious error in analysis" reveals a "dangerous trend: the tendency of Western observers to ignore the root of so much evil in the region – Iran."
Many Western diplomats, visiting Israel, are clueless to Iran's "belligerence and ambition, or the transformative tectonic threat to regional stability posed by Iran." Instead, they think the nuclear deal has the Iranian regime focused "on rebuilding their society and economy." Yet nothing could be further from reality as Iran is not even hiding its goals: "to export its brand of radical Islamism globally, to dominate the region and to destroy Israel…"
The Ayatollah Khamenei often labels Israel "a cancerous tumor in the ME that must be removed," and calls for the liberation of "Palestine…through holy jihad." Israel and Iran have "been at war, indirectly, since the early '80s," with Hezbollah's creation. "But now Iranian generals and military forces have camped on Israel's border with Syria and shifted to direct and open military confrontation with Israel." ("Waking up to the Iranian threat," D. M. Weinberg, Israel Hayom Op-ed, 16 Feb. 2018)
An April summit between the presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey had Israeli defense officials concerned. The three talked about the Syrian civil war's aftermath, and how to divide up the spoils. One Israel official said Iran saw the summit's outcome "as a green light to continue entrenching itself in Syria," which is a very "disconcerting development for Israel."
Iranian President Rouhani's presence, along with Russia's Putin and Turkey's Erdogan, is seen as a "sign of gratitude to Iran for its efforts to help salvage Assad's regime in Syria," and "a guarantee of Iran's future role there." And while Russia is really not wanting to have an Iranian power base in Syria, it"not only is not doing anything to stop this process, it is actually hastening it."
Israel sees "the only power capable" of disrupting Iran's ME goals is the US, but it has had little success in getting America to take a more active role. ("Israeli officials warn against Iran's 'dangerous empowerment' in Syria," Israel Hayom, 9 Apr. 2018)
Prophecy
Iran: Large public prayer meetings are being held over Iran's severe water crisis, as "2017 saw the lowest levels" of rainfall in 50 years. At one meeting, a Shi'ite cleric said, "We have to [stop] sinning, repent and ask for forgiveness…Drought, earthquakes, [and] disasters" are warnings. "When people don't respect divine, individual, and social rights, doors of divine blessing are shut."
And when a nation's leaders continually curse Israel, then that nation is under God's curse (Gen. 12:3; Num. 24:9).("Iranians Pray for Rain amidst Brutal Drought." ICEJ News, 18 Jan. 2017)
Iran has other signs of God's judgment. Protests against the current regime are ongoing, as a recent video of an Iranian mosque showed people shouting slogans, saying "Iran's real enemy is the Islamist regime and not the US or Israel."
Graffiti in Tehran also expresses anger at Iran's foreign policy, as one reads, "Leave Syria, think about us! No to Yemen! No to Lebanon and Hezbollah! Our lives for Iran."
Iran's currency, the Rial, has lost almost half "its value against the dollar since Sept. 2017." Inflation is rising and unemployment "may have reached a staggering 45% …" ("Why Iran is escalating conflict with Israel," Y. Visser, Arutz 7 Analysis, 25 Apr. 2018)
Christian Zionists: "Israel's founding fathers, who etched a commitment to encouraging Jewish immigration into the declaration of independence, might be surprised" that 70 years later, Israel relies "on Christians to fulfill that promise." Christian Zionists today fund about 33% of all Israeli immigrants, a fruit of the "ever tightening relationship between Israel and its evangelical Christian allies…"
Rabbi Y. Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, said, "After 2000 years of oppression and persecution," today Christians are helping the Jews. And Bibi told a Christian media summit in Jerusalem that Israel has "no better friends in the world than the Christian communities…" ("Christians emerge as key patrons for Jews moving to Israel," AP, 8 Mar. 2018)
Thus says the Lord YHWH, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the Gentiles, and set up My standard to the people: and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Isa. 49:22
Watch & pray
But the end of all things is at hand: therefore be sober-minded – and watch unto prayer.
(1 Pet. 4:7). The last days began on Shavuot, when Peter said, This is that which was spoken by the prophet,
and then quoted from Joel 2:28-32 (Acts 2:16-21). With the Jews back in their land after almost two millennia in exile, and with many other prophecies fulfilled, we must be near the end of those last days and the return of Messiah. So how should we watch unto prayer
? And what are we supposed to watch?
A watchman guards and warns a city of approaching dangers. To know today's dangers, we must know all of God's Word, and the New Testament is not enough. Let us have all of His Word in our spirits by reading and studying it. Understanding it totally is not to be expected this side of glory, but that is no excuse to not store every "jot and tittle" in our inner man. With His Word in our hearts, renewed by daily reading it, the Spirit can anoint our understanding – when we need to have it (2 Sam. 23:2).
Try praying this verse before you read. [Lord], open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law [teachings].
(Psa. 119:18)
Chuck & Karen Cohen