A Prophetic Escape

This series of events occurred back in the early 90s after the First Gulf War.

After moving to our fourth apartment in Jerusalem less than four years after making aliyah (the owner of our third apartment having been killed by a car bomb in Turkey), the Lord released us to travel back to America to see our families and to share His Word in a few churches.

We energetically and happily prepared for our trip, especially our two sons, Michael, who remembered America, and Jed who didn’t. The day finally came.

Friday very early in the ‘morning’, like 1:30am, as we packed-up the cab that had arrived to take us to the airport, our good friend, neighbor, and gentile brother in the Lord, T.W, was awake, came out, and told us that he would be praying for us. We knew he would.

We arrived at the airport in the middle of the night and as the airline receptionist checked us in, she looked at me and said, "Sir, do you know that your sons’ American passports are expired?"

I had no clue. Adult passports are good for ten years, but children under a certain age were only issued passports good for five years and I never thought to check – and the travel agent we used hadn’t mentioned it.

I said to Yeshua, “You could have alerted me to this fact, Lord!” But He had not. He wanted us to go through this situation. I confess that at the time, I was very upset with Him.

Although the woman trying to help us did all she could, in the end, we were turned away. Jed looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said, "Abba, they’re not gonna let us fly?"

We were all shocked and personally I experienced an intense emotional storm – more than I should have, with overwhelming feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and the thought that we were trapped here forever. Yet He allowed this all – including my raging emotions – for His purposes.

We had to reverse the taxi process to get back to Jerusalem and arrived just before dawn. Normally living in Jerusalem was exactly where we wanted to be – but on this night I wanted to be in a plane, flying out of Zion.

Now being the spiritual man that I am, I did what many spiritual people do in a time of crisis; I went back to bed, hoping that when I woke up it would all be a bad dream.

Later that morning, I woke up still in a real nightmare. I had no clue what to do, even where to start, or who to see and I was still in shock. Worse, it was Friday morning. Shabbat was coming and by midday most offices in Jerusalem would be closed.

The US Embassy was still in Tel Aviv then, but a consulate was fairly close. As I went out the door to see if the Consulate could help, who should just happen to drive up? T.W. He was shocked to see me and asked what happened. When I told him, he said, "Don't worry about a thing, Chuck. I know exactly what you need to do. Get your family, your tickets, your checkbook and your passports and come with me." We were back outside in record time, this time bringing everything we needed.

It was a whirlwind ride and by noon that day we had new passports for our sons, new tickets to fly out on that Sunday, and T.W.'s wife told us she had been wondering who to invite for Shabbat dinner! Plus, they gifted us with the amount we spent for the taxi ride back from the airport!

The only thing we did not have was an answer concerning why God allowed this to happen. Yet we had walked with the Lord long enough to know that what He does or does not do with us is His business and if we need to know – He will reveal it.

Sunday morning: After a semi-relaxing Shabbat, we were ready to try it all over again. By that time we actually had to leave our apartment because someone was coming to live in it during the time we were in the States and they were arriving later that afternoon. As we were waiting for our ride to the airport, there was a knock on the door. It was T.W. He said he had been praying for us while on the bus and that the Lord gave him a word to share with us.

T.W. started by praying, "Lord, make Chuck and Karen prophetic voices to the Church in America." As soon as I heard those words, God revealed to me why He had us go through this experience. This is what He showed me:

A time is coming when the Jews will very much want to return to Israel from their homes in exile, but will be stopped from leaving. This will happen suddenly and at the last moment. This is why I had that storm of over-the-top emotions when we were turned away – feeling helpless, hopeless, trapped and not knowing what to do next.

Yet there is hope for God's people even in that situation. It will be their gentile friends and neighbors in the Body of Messiah who understand how vital it is for the Jewish people to return home. It is all about His coming kingdom and His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven. His servants will arise and do!

There will be gentile believers who will do what T.W. did. They will drop their own plans and help the Jews in whatever way is needed – know-how, finances, transportation, even meals, and of course, prayer – lots and lots of prayer. The hope for the Jews who will be trapped in exile rests with the gentile members of the Body of Messiah. Biblically this is the Christians' obligation to the people from whom their Savior came.

Everywhere that I have shared this story, a light has come on for some saints in those meetings. For example, some testimonies have been that they now know why God had them buy that field out in the middle of nowhere, or build a hidden place somewhere, or engage in other preparations.

The one I remember best was on that very first trip back to America. After sharing this in a congregation in Florida, a black brother very excited came up to me and said, "Now I know why God has me getting my helicopter pilot's license! I will be able to fly into places that are hard to reach and help airlift the Jews out to safety!"

I said, "That's great, brother! What’s your name?"

"Mohammed!"

Yes Lord! Mohammed will be flying a chopper to save Your Jewish people when the time comes. Hallelujah!

Is this what we are seeing in the world even today, when many borders have closed suddenly and many flights are almost non-existent, when the number of Jews wanting to come home has skyrocketed, but most of them are not able to do so because of the corona virus restrictions? Is this that time He warned us of? If not, it is a clear example that a time like this can come suddenly, leaving millions of Jews trapped in exile – with riots, instability and chaos leading to rising anti-Semitism.

Whatever God may be saying to you through this story is between you and Him. But please be open to hearing Your Shepherd's voice.

One final note: All I heard T.W. say was what I related above. But in the moment that God was revealing to me what He did, Karen heard what T.W. said next. "And tell them that the time is short."

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 on their shoulders.Isaiah 49:22

Chuck & Karen Cohen

PS: If what you read has stirred you to get involved with this end-time move of God, we are not the proper address for this. Both Intercessors for Israel and Watchmen from Jerusalem are called to pray, to teach and to watch.

Below are links and a brief, incomplete, description of organizations that are involved with helping the Jewish people come home, or once they are here, helping them to get settled and remain. There are other excellent organizations as well, but these are ones we are familiar with. Check out their websites to see how you can help.

Nefesh b'Nefesh is a Jewish organization that has been very successful in bringing Jews from the West and getting them established in Israel. If there is one Jewish organization you would like to support, this is one we would recommend.

Ebenezer Emergency Fund Operation Exodus started during the 1991 Gulf War at the Jerusalem Prayer Conference. This Christian organization has helped close to 200,000 Jews to return and helps them to get settled in the land.

The International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem, has a major program to bring Jews to Israel. They also aid with many of the new immigrants' needs once they are need.

Bridges for Peace and Christian Friends of Israel also work with new immigrants to supply them with various needed things for them to settle into life in Israel. This aspect of helping the aliyah – supporting new immigrants to be able to remain and thrive here – is vital.