Happy Birthday Israel

Celebrating 60 years of Spirituality, Democracy and Statehood.

I was privileged to have three weeks in Israel this March, including a glorious and fascinating 12 day tour from Dan to Bersheva. It was hosted by Jim Jackson of CBU in North Carolina, along with ourselves. The Israeli tour guides of course, were superb, and to say they were knowledgeable would be an understatement. We were three busses full of excited Pilgrims, most of whom were experiencing the Holy Land for the very first time.

Although my sixth time there, I had not taken the guided tour of the Land since 1980. Caesarea, Mount Carmel and Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee seemed unchanged, but Tiberius is now a bustling resort city for Israelis, and everywhere, they are planting, growing and building and developing. The economy is booming, including the tourist industry, as Christian tours are arriving from Korea, Philippines, China, Japan and Nigeria. It is no longer just Europe and North America.

Israel’s Dept. of Archeology has been extremely active, excavating the ancient city of Dan in the north and uncovering the idolatrous temple of Jeroboam, now minus its golden calf. At Beth Shean (Bet Shan) 17 miles south of the Sea of Galilee they have uncovered extensive ruins of the Roman city Scythopolis, destroyed by an earthquake in 749 AD. This is the city that King Saul and his sons were nailed to the city wall, and soon after, retrieved my the men of Jabesh Gilead for a decent burial. The ruins tell the story from Egyptian / Canaanite times, to Saul and David’s time to Greek and Roman times including the time of the life of Jesus.

And if Archaeology has become a national treasure in Israel, then the digs around Jerusalem are the crown jewels. Much of the western wall and the entire southern wall of the temple mound have been cleared showing how it was 2000 years ago during the time of the second temple and the time of Jesus. The original streets, paving stones, the arches and the walls are there for all to see and walk upon. Truly the rocks are crying out that the Bible is true and the prophecies of Jesus were fulfilled “ . . not one stone will be left upon another that will not be thrown down” Matt 24:2. But the Prophecies fulfilled in 70 AD are giving way the prophecies being fulfilled in our day.

Jer. 31:8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country,
And gather them from the ends of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child
And the one who labors with child, together;
A great throng shall return there.
Jer. 33:7 And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first. (NKJV)

These prophecies of Jeremiah and dozens of others have been fulfilled before our eyes as modern Israel has become the prophetic greatest sign in recent history. The restoration of Israel is a fact. The fig tree is putting forth its leaves. The fulfillment of these prophetic words to return the Jews to their land in the last days is there for all the world to witness. On Nov. 29, 1947, the United Nations voted 33 to 13 (with 10 abstaining) in favor. UN resolution 181 laid the legal foundation for the creation of the state of Israel; its declaration of independence soon followed on May 14th 1948 – Sixty years ago. It has been 60 stormy years with many wars and skirmishes, yet Israel, according to prophecy, is not only surviving, but prospering miraculously through it all.

I found the attitude of the Israelis positive and hopeful for the most part - joyful even. Young IDF male and female soldiers are everywhere , brandishing their M-16’s and courteously yet diligently manning their posts while they deal with the ever present threat of suicide bombers and terrorist strikes. They are proud to serve their country, fully aware of the risks. While we were there in March, a terrorist came out of East Jerusalem and machine-gunned Yeshiva students from a Jerusalem seminary while they were enjoying lunch. Seven were killed; thirty-five were wounded. It shocked the nation yet again, and further hardened their resolve.

But in spite of the continual threat of violence, fruit trees are blooming everywhere, wheat is growing, and farmers are plowing and cultivating their fields and tower cranes dot the skyline of the cities. It is especially so in Jerusalem where high-rise apartments and new shopping malls are springing up in all the new neighborhoods. And then there is the Wailing Wall, which is a 24 x 7 prayer meeting with Orthodox Rabbis and young Yeshiva students praying, and diviting with their rhythmic chanting and motion. The beginning of Sabbath at the Wailing Wall brings sights and sounds and crowds never to be forgotten.

For the most part, all is quiet on the temple mound. Tourists are allowed to visit reverently, but no longer enter the Mosques. Orthodox Jews refuse to go up on it; nor would they be welcome. There is a tense peace there, as the Muslim police patrol their sacred sites. The Palestinian areas of Jericho, Hebron and Gaza are of course off limits, along with Ramalla, Janin and many other centers under Palestinian control. We did visit Nazareth and Bethlehem, two important cities for Christians, that used to have a Christian majority, but now more and more have a Muslim majority. Christian Arabs who are caught in the middle of the conflict, are choosing rather to emigrate. Passing through the Israeli 50 foot high barrier wall and checkpoint into Bethlehem was an interesting experience. One is reminded of how serious the situation really is, yet once inside, the vendors there are delighted to see tourists and begin offering a vast assortment of postcards, flutes, stuffed camels and drinking water. You can see the desperateness in their eyes, as they are feeling the squeeze of isolation and containment. Thankfully there are people like Karen Dunham of Living Bread International, who are working in the refugee camps in Bethlehem and Jericho and Hebron. She is bringing help, hope and much needed milk, food and relief to these precious people who are losing all hope, and now are becoming more open than ever to the gospel of love and the Bibles which she brings them. The power of the Holy Spirit and the message of ‘soaking in His Presence’ is breaking through.

And also among Israelis, I sensed there is a new tolerance to Evangelical Christians who love Israel. They are realizing that believers like you and me are perhaps the only friends that Israel has in all the world. There is the tension of Messianic Jewish believers who are increasing in the nation, and most of them are not quiet about their beliefs. There are now dozens of congregations of them, from one end of the country to another, and they are sharing a bold witness that Jeshua is the Meshiach of Israel. We met them in Tiberius, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Bersheva, and Arad. They speak Russian, Spanish, Hebrew and English, and they are asking the question “Why does Rabbinical Judaism accept a heretical group that is promoting a false messiah, (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994)) but ostracizes Jews who believe in Yeshua?” Or “Why is it OK for a Jew to be a Communist, an Atheist, a New Ager or even a Hindu?” “These can still retain their ‘Jewishness’ but not if they believe in Jesus?” Comments and questions like this are slowly but surely undermining a strong national prejudice towards Christians. It is rooted in the Holocaust and in centuries of persecution and anti-semitism, often carried out in the name of Christ. A visit to the Holocaust Museum is a shocking reminder of the brutal systematic killing of six million of their people, whose only crime was ‘being Jewish,’ and it happened just over 60 years ago, in a so called Christian nation!

Religious fervor in Israel is increasing. There is a revival happening in Judaism. More and more Jews are taking their religion seriously, and Jerusalem is now about seventy percent Orthodox Jews. There is serious talk of rebuilding the Temple one day soon. Much of the necessary furniture is already prepared and made ready. A huge new solid gold Minora or Lampstand is positioned outside in a thick glass protective case facing the Temple mound as if to say “I am ready to let my light shine again once the Temple buildings are in place.”

What will it take for Israel to finally recognize Jesus as their true Messiah? It will take Supernatural revelation! And indeed some encouraging signs are appearing. There are many congregations of Messianic believing Jews now in the Land, as I mentioned. More tolerance toward them and also toward us as Christians is being noticed. Many of them really love the River of God’s Presence and love to ‘soak in the Spirit’ for boldness and grace. Then there is the Christian Embassy and the Feast of Tabernacles in which many hundreds of Christians take part. It is all making an impact.

There are also prophetic signs that are encouraging. One such sign was the abundance of Almond Blossoms this spring. Our friends, Benjamin and Reuven Burger, long time residents of Jerusalem commented that no one can ever remember seeing such an abundance of Almond blossoms ever before. They were like confetti sprinkling and beautifying the streets and pathways. The Almond is a prophetic sign to Israel. Aaron’s rod that budded and sprouted almonds is an ancient symbol to Israel. The Hebrew word for almond is déqDv shaqed. The same word (almost) also means ‘watching’ Jer. 1:11 The word of the LORD came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” (déqDv shaqed) Jer. 1:12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching (dåqDv shaqad) over My word to perform it.” (NAS) Could it be that this abundance of almond flowers, the first of the flowering trees in the land to blossom in spring, is a sign that the Lord is drawing very near, to watch over and perform His promises to Israel.

8247. déqDv shaqed [1052b]; from 8245; almond (tree):—almond tree(2), almonds(2) 8245. dåqDv shaqad [1052a]; a prim. root; to watch, wake:—intent on doing(1), keep watch(1), keeps awake(1), kept in store(1), lie awake(1), watch(2), watched(1), watching(4).

For Carol, my wife, the abundance of Almond petals falling profusely was a sign of the Bridegroom preparing for His wedding. It really deeply ministered to her. And of course the Lord is preparing His Bride. The church is learning to love and enjoy His Presence as something that is of the utmost importance to provide power and boldness to share the Gospel of His Kingdom, yes, but also to fortify your inner man with intimacy and inner strength and to keep us focused on the issues of the heart. Remember, our God is a ‘heart’ God, and I hope many of you will join us for our ‘Soaking in God’s Glory’ Conference this fall at the end of October in Toronto. Conferences like this one are designed to bring you into His intimate Presence to be strengthened by the depth of that relationship. May the Almond flowers fall on you, and give you a fresh sense of His Presence drawing very near to you, who would be the bride of Christ.

On a final note, I found a very interesting and prophetic true story: An old and beloved Rabbi died in Israel by the name of Yitzchak Kaduri. (also spelled Kadouri and Kadourie) He died January 28 2006, and was a renowned Sephardic Orthodox Haredi rabbi and kabbalist who devoted his life to Torah study and prayer on behalf of the Jewish people. Born in Bagdad, he came to Israel in the ‘20’s and at the time of his death, estimates of his age ranged from 106 to 117. He was greatly loved and respected. 300,000 mourners followed his body for burial just over two years ago.

But in his later years, he claimed to know who the Messiah was; that he had been revealed to him and had come to him in a dream. He left an envelope that he gave clear instructions was not to be opened until one year after his death. This envelope was just opened around the first of February of last year, 2007.

[For Ref. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzchak_Kadouri And http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=128&view=item&idx=1347]

Shortly before he died, one of Israel's most prominent rabbis wrote the name of the Messiah on a small note, which he requested would remain sealed for one year. When the note was opened, it revealed what many have known for centuries: Yehoshua, or Yeshua (Jesus), is the Messiah.

With the biblical name of Jesus, the Rabbi and kabbalist described the Messiah using six words and hinting that the initial letters form the name of the Messiah.

The secret note said: Yarim Ha’Am Veyokhiakh Shedvaro Vetorato Omdim Concerning the letter abbreviation of the Messiah’s name, He will lift the people and prove that his word and law are valid. This I have signed in the month of mercy, Yitzhak Kaduri . . .

The Hebrew sentence (translated above in bold) with the hidden name of the Messiah reads: Yarim Ha’Am Veyokhiakh Shedvaro Vetorato Omdim.

The first letter of each word spell the Hebrew name of Jesus, Yehoshua.

Yehoshua and Yeshua are effectively the same name, derived from the same Hebrew root of the word “salvation” as documented in Zechariah 6:11 and Ezra 3:2. The same priest writes in Ezra, “Yeshua son of Yozadak” while writing in Zechariah “Yehoshua son of Yohozadak.” The priest adds the holy abbreviation of God’s name, ho, in the father’s name Yozadak and in the name Yeshua.

With one of Israel’s most prominent rabbis indicating the name of the Messiah is Yeshua, it is understandable why his last wish was to wait one year after his death before revealing what he wrote.

Jesus had revealed Himself to this Rabbi, and he wanted to share it with his people.

As the prophetic clock and timetable of God bring all of us ever nearer to the close of this age, Jesus will more and more be revealing Himself to His brothers, the Jews, as He did to Rabbi Kaduri. It is a fulfillment of the story of Joseph. I suspect that ‘Joseph’ (Who became a ruler over Gentiles and is a faithful type of Jesus) can no longer restrain Himself from revealing Himself to His brothers.

Gen. 45:1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
Gen. 45:2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
Gen. 45:3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. (NKJV)

And so, Happy Birthday Israel. Congratulations for Sixty years of victory, survival, perseverance, democracy and tremendous astonishing progress. Truly the desert is blossoming like a rose.
Is. 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

John Arnott
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship