SUNAT PALSU

Daftar Isi: ENSIKLOPEDIA: SUNAT PALSU ; Sunat Palsu Ke atas SUNAT PALSU [Ensiklopedia] Dengan kata yg sengaja bersifat menghinakan ini (katatome, Flp 3:2), Paulus tidak melecehkan sunat, tapi menuding mereka yg tanpa mengingat kebenaran rohaninya, memaksa orang Kristen bersunat (bnd Gal 5:12). Kata yg asalnya sama (katatemno) dipakai (Im 21:5, LXX) bagi pengudungan-pengudungan terlarang yg dilakukan oleh bangsa-bangsa lain. Bagi orang Kristen, yg 'bersunat' secara rohani (Flp 3:3) pelaksanaan tanda yg ketinggalan zaman ini sama dengan pengrusakan tubuh ala kafir. JAM/HH/HAO

Circumcision-3

Circumcision
sûr -kum -sizh´un ( מול , mūl , מולת , mūlōth ; περιτομή , peritomḗ ): The removal of the foreskin is a custom that has prevailed, and prevails, among many races in different parts of the world - in America, Africa and Australia. It was in vogue among the western Semites - H ebrews, Arabians, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Egyptians, but was unknown among the Semites of the Euphrates. In Canaan the Philistines were an exception, for the term "uncircumcised" is constantly used in connection with them. Generally speaking, the rite of circumcision was a precondition of the enjoyment of certain political and religious privileges (Exodus 12:48; Ezekiel 44:9 ); and in view of the fact that in the ancient world religion played such an important role in life, it may be assumed that circumcision, like many other strange customs whose original significance is no longer known, originated in connection with religion. Before enumerating the different theories which have been advanced with regard to the origin and original significance of circumcision, it may be of advantage to consider some of the principal references to the rite in the Old Testament.

1. Circumcision in the Old Testament

In the account of the institution of the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham which Priestly Code (P) gives (Gen 17), circumcision is looked upon as the ratification of the agreement. Yahweh undertook to be the God of Abraham and of his descendants. Abraham was to be the father of a multitude of nations and the founder of a line of kings. He and his descendants were to inherit Canaan. The agreement Thus formed was permanent; Abraham's posterity should come within the scope of it. But it was necessary to inclusion in the covenant that every male child should be circumcised on the 8th day. A foreigner who had attached himself as a slave to a Hebrew household had to undergo the rite - the punishment for its non-fulfilment being death or perhaps excommunication. According to Exodus 12:48 (also P) no stranger could take part in the celebration of the Passover unless he had been circumcised. In the Book of Josh ( Exodus 5:2-9 ) we read that the Israelites were circumcised at Gilgal ("Rolling"), and Thus the "reproach of Egypt" was "rolled away." Apparently circumcision in the case of the Hebrews was prohibited during the Egyptian period - circumcision being a distinctive mark of the ruling race. It is noticeable that flint knives were used for the purpose. This use of an obsolete instrument is one of many proofs of conservatism in religion. According to the strange and obscure account of the circumcision by Zipporah of her eldest son (Exodus 4:25 ) the performance of the rite in the case of the son apparently possesses a vicarious value, for thereby Moses becomes a "bridegroom of blood." The marriage bond is ratified by the rite of blood (see 4 below). But it is possible that the author's meaning is that owing to the fact that Moses had not been circumcised (the "reproach of Egypt") he was not fit to enter the matrimonial estate (see 3 below).

2. Theories of Origin

The different theories with regard to the origin of circumcision may be arranged under four heads: (1) Herodotus (ii.37), in dealing with circumcision among the Egyptians, suggests that it was a sanitary operation. But all suggestions of a secular, i.e. non-religious, origin to the rite, fail to do justice to the place and importance of religion in the life of primitive man.

(2) It was a tribal mark. Tattooed marks frequently answered the purpose, although they may have been originally charms. The tribal mark enabled one member of the tribe to recognize another and Thus avoid injuring or slaying a fellow-tribesman. It also enabled the tribal deity to recognize a member of the tribe which was under his special protection. A mark was placed on Cain to indicate that he was under the special protection of Yahweh (Genesis 4:15 ). It has been suggested, in the light of Isaiah 44:5 the Revised Version, margin, that the employer's mark was engraved (tattooed) on the slave's hand. The prophet represents Jews as inscribing on their hands that they belong to Yahweh. The walls of Jerusalem are engraved on Yahweh's palms ( Isaiah 49:16 ). On the other hand "cuttings in the flesh" are prohibited in Leviticus 19:28 because they were common in the case of the non-Jewish religions. Such tattooed marks might be made in conspicuous places when it was necessary that they should be easily seen, but there might be reason for secrecy so that the marks might be known only to the members of the tribe in question.

(3) It was a rite which celebrated the coming of age of the person. It signified the attainment of puberty and of the right to marry and to enjoy full civic privileges.

(4) As human sacrifices began to be done away with, the sacrifice of the most easily removed portion of the anatomy provided a vicarious offering.

(5) It was a sacramental operation. "The shedding of blood" was necessary to the validity of any covenant between tribes or individuals. The rite of blood signifies the exchange of blood on the part of the contracting parties, and therefore the establishment of physical affinity between them. An alliance based on blood-relationship was inviolable. In the same way the tribal god was supposed to share in the blood of the sacrificed animal, and a sacred bond was established between him and the tribe. It is not quite obvious why circumcision should be necessary in connection with such a ceremony. But it may be pointed out that the process of generation excited the wonder and awe of primitive man. The prosperity of the tribe depended on the successful issue of the marriage bond, and a part of the body which had so much to do with the continuation and numerical strength of the tribe would naturally be fixed upon in connection with the covenant of blood. In confirmation of the last explanation it is urged that in the case of the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham circumcision was the rite that ratified the agreement. In opposition to (3) it has been urged that among the Hebrews circumcision was performed in infancy - when the child was 8 days old. But this might have been an innovation among the Hebrews, due to ignorance of the original significance of the rite. If circumcision conferred upon the person circumcised the right to the enjoyment of the blessings connected with membership in the tribe it was natural that parents should be anxious that such an initiatory act should be performed early in life. The question of adult and infant baptism is capable of similar explanation. When we examine explanations (2), (3), (4), (5), we find that they are really different forms of the same theory. There can be no doubt that circumcision was originally a religions act. Membership in the tribe, entrance upon the rights of citizenship, participation in the religious practices of the tribe - these privileges are interdependent. Anyone who had experienced the rite of blood stood within the scope of the covenant which existed between the tribe and the tribal god, and enjoyed all the privileges of tribal society. It is easily understood why the historian carefully relates the circumcision of the Israelites by Joshua on their arrival in Canaan. It was necessary, in view of the possible intermingling of the conquerors and the conquered, that the distinctive marks of the Abrahamic covenant should be preserved (Joshua 5:3 ).

3. Spiritual Significance

In Jeremiah 9:25 and Deuteronomy 30:6 we find the spiritual significance of circumcision. A prophet like Jeremiah was not likely to attach much importance to an external act like circumcision. He bluntly tells his countrymen that they are no better than Egyptians, Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites. They are uncircumcised in heart. Paul uses the term concision for this outward circumcision unaccompanied by any spiritual change ( Philippians 3:2 ). The question of circumcision occasioned a protracted strife among the early Christians. Judaizing Christians argued for the necessity of circumcision. It was a reminiscence of the unrelenting particularism which had sprung up during the prolonged oppression of the Greek and Roman period. According to their view salvation was of the Jews and for the Jews. It was necessary to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. Paul consented to circumcision in the case of Timothy "because of the Jews" (Acts 16:3 ). But he saw that a principle was at stake and in most of his epistles he points out the sheer futility of the contention of the Judaizers. (See commentaries on Romans and Galatians.)

4. Figurative Uses

In a few suggestive passages we find a figurative application of the term. For three years after the settlement in Canaan the "fruit of the land" was to be considered as "uncircumcised" (Leviticus 19:23 ), i.e. it was the property of the Baalim, the gods of Palestine The fruit of the fourth year belonged to Yahweh. Moses with characteristic humility describes himself as a man of "uncircumcised lips" (Exodus 6:30 ). Jeremiah charges his contemporaries with having their ear uncircumcised (Jeremiah 6:10 ) and their heart (Jeremiah 9:26 ). "An uncircumcised heart is one which is, as it were, closed in, and so impervious to good influences and good impressions, just as an uncircumcised ear (Jeremiah 6:10 ) is an ear which, from the same cause, hears imperfectly; and uncircumcised lips (compare Exodus 6:12 , Exodus 6:30 ) are lips which open and speak with difficulty" (Driver on Deuteronomy 10:16 ).

Source:

Bible Encyclopedia

Circumcise-Verb

Circumcise
Circumcise - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CIRCUMCISE, v.t. To cut off the prepuce or foreskin of males; a ceremony or rite in the Jewish and Mohammedan religions. The word is applied also to a practice among some nations of performing a like operation upon females.

Circumcision-2

Circumcision
sûr -kum -sizh´un ( מול , mūl , מולת , mūlōth ; περιτομή , peritomḗ ): The removal of the foreskin is a custom that has prevailed, and prevails, among many races in different parts of the world - in America, Africa and Australia. It was in vogue among the western Semites - H ebrews, Arabians, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Egyptians, but was unknown among the Semites of the Euphrates. In Canaan the Philistines were an exception, for the term "uncircumcised" is constantly used in connection with them. Generally speaking, the rite of circumcision was a precondition of the enjoyment of certain political and religious privileges (Exodus 12:48; Ezekiel 44:9 ); and in view of the fact that in the ancient world religion played such an important role in life, it may be assumed that circumcision, like many other strange customs whose original significance is no longer known, originated in connection with religion. Before enumerating the different theories which have been advanced with regard to the origin and original significance of circumcision, it may be of advantage to consider some of the principal references to the rite in the Old Testament.

1. Circumcision in the Old Testament

In the account of the institution of the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham which Priestly Code (P) gives (Gen 17), circumcision is looked upon as the ratification of the agreement. Yahweh undertook to be the God of Abraham and of his descendants. Abraham was to be the father of a multitude of nations and the founder of a line of kings. He and his descendants were to inherit Canaan. The agreement Thus formed was permanent; Abraham's posterity should come within the scope of it. But it was necessary to inclusion in the covenant that every male child should be circumcised on the 8th day. A foreigner who had attached himself as a slave to a Hebrew household had to undergo the rite - the punishment for its non-fulfilment being death or perhaps excommunication. According to Exodus 12:48 (also P) no stranger could take part in the celebration of the Passover unless he had been circumcised. In the Book of Josh ( Exodus 5:2-9 ) we read that the Israelites were circumcised at Gilgal ("Rolling"), and Thus the "reproach of Egypt" was "rolled away." Apparently circumcision in the case of the Hebrews was prohibited during the Egyptian period - circumcision being a distinctive mark of the ruling race. It is noticeable that flint knives were used for the purpose. This use of an obsolete instrument is one of many proofs of conservatism in religion. According to the strange and obscure account of the circumcision by Zipporah of her eldest son (Exodus 4:25 ) the performance of the rite in the case of the son apparently possesses a vicarious value, for thereby Moses becomes a "bridegroom of blood." The marriage bond is ratified by the rite of blood (see 4 below). But it is possible that the author's meaning is that owing to the fact that Moses had not been circumcised (the "reproach of Egypt") he was not fit to enter the matrimonial estate (see 3 below).

2. Theories of Origin

The different theories with regard to the origin of circumcision may be arranged under four heads: (1) Herodotus (ii.37), in dealing with circumcision among the Egyptians, suggests that it was a sanitary operation. But all suggestions of a secular, i.e. non-religious, origin to the rite, fail to do justice to the place and importance of religion in the life of primitive man.

(2) It was a tribal mark. Tattooed marks frequently answered the purpose, although they may have been originally charms. The tribal mark enabled one member of the tribe to recognize another and Thus avoid injuring or slaying a fellow-tribesman. It also enabled the tribal deity to recognize a member of the tribe which was under his special protection. A mark was placed on Cain to indicate that he was under the special protection of Yahweh (Genesis 4:15 ). It has been suggested, in the light of Isaiah 44:5 the Revised Version, margin, that the employer's mark was engraved (tattooed) on the slave's hand. The prophet represents Jews as inscribing on their hands that they belong to Yahweh. The walls of Jerusalem are engraved on Yahweh's palms ( Isaiah 49:16 ). On the other hand "cuttings in the flesh" are prohibited in Leviticus 19:28 because they were common in the case of the non-Jewish religions. Such tattooed marks might be made in conspicuous places when it was necessary that they should be easily seen, but there might be reason for secrecy so that the marks might be known only to the members of the tribe in question.

(3) It was a rite which celebrated the coming of age of the person. It signified the attainment of puberty and of the right to marry and to enjoy full civic privileges.

(4) As human sacrifices began to be done away with, the sacrifice of the most easily removed portion of the anatomy provided a vicarious offering.

(5) It was a sacramental operation. "The shedding of blood" was necessary to the validity of any covenant between tribes or individuals. The rite of blood signifies the exchange of blood on the part of the contracting parties, and therefore the establishment of physical affinity between them. An alliance based on blood-relationship was inviolable. In the same way the tribal god was supposed to share in the blood of the sacrificed animal, and a sacred bond was established between him and the tribe. It is not quite obvious why circumcision should be necessary in connection with such a ceremony. But it may be pointed out that the process of generation excited the wonder and awe of primitive man. The prosperity of the tribe depended on the successful issue of the marriage bond, and a part of the body which had so much to do with the continuation and numerical strength of the tribe would naturally be fixed upon in connection with the covenant of blood. In confirmation of the last explanation it is urged that in the case of the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham circumcision was the rite that ratified the agreement. In opposition to (3) it has been urged that among the Hebrews circumcision was performed in infancy - when the child was 8 days old. But this might have been an innovation among the Hebrews, due to ignorance of the original significance of the rite. If circumcision conferred upon the person circumcised the right to the enjoyment of the blessings connected with membership in the tribe it was natural that parents should be anxious that such an initiatory act should be performed early in life. The question of adult and infant baptism is capable of similar explanation. When we examine explanations (2), (3), (4), (5), we find that they are really different forms of the same theory. There can be no doubt that circumcision was originally a religions act. Membership in the tribe, entrance upon the rights of citizenship, participation in the religious practices of the tribe - these privileges are interdependent. Anyone who had experienced the rite of blood stood within the scope of the covenant which existed between the tribe and the tribal god, and enjoyed all the privileges of tribal society. It is easily understood why the historian carefully relates the circumcision of the Israelites by Joshua on their arrival in Canaan. It was necessary, in view of the possible intermingling of the conquerors and the conquered, that the distinctive marks of the Abrahamic covenant should be preserved (Joshua 5:3 ).

3. Spiritual Significance

In Jeremiah 9:25 and Deuteronomy 30:6 we find the spiritual significance of circumcision. A prophet like Jeremiah was not likely to attach much importance to an external act like circumcision. He bluntly tells his countrymen that they are no better than Egyptians, Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites. They are uncircumcised in heart. Paul uses the term concision for this outward circumcision unaccompanied by any spiritual change ( Philippians 3:2 ). The question of circumcision occasioned a protracted strife among the early Christians. Judaizing Christians argued for the necessity of circumcision. It was a reminiscence of the unrelenting particularism which had sprung up during the prolonged oppression of the Greek and Roman period. According to their view salvation was of the Jews and for the Jews. It was necessary to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. Paul consented to circumcision in the case of Timothy "because of the Jews" (Acts 16:3 ). But he saw that a principle was at stake and in most of his epistles he points out the sheer futility of the contention of the Judaizers. (See commentaries on Romans and Galatians.)

4. Figurative Uses

In a few suggestive passages we find a figurative application of the term. For three years after the settlement in Canaan the "fruit of the land" was to be considered as "uncircumcised" (Leviticus 19:23 ), i.e. it was the property of the Baalim, the gods of Palestine The fruit of the fourth year belonged to Yahweh. Moses with characteristic humility describes himself as a man of "uncircumcised lips" (Exodus 6:30 ). Jeremiah charges his contemporaries with having their ear uncircumcised (Jeremiah 6:10 ) and their heart (Jeremiah 9:26 ). "An uncircumcised heart is one which is, as it were, closed in, and so impervious to good influences and good impressions, just as an uncircumcised ear (Jeremiah 6:10 ) is an ear which, from the same cause, hears imperfectly; and uncircumcised lips (compare Exodus 6:12 , Exodus 6:30 ) are lips which open and speak with difficulty" (Driver on Deuteronomy 10:16 ).

Source:

Bible Study

Circumcision

Circumcision
Circumcision - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Cutting around. This rite, practised before, as some think, by divers races, was appointed by God to be the special badge of his chosen people, an abiding sign of their consecration to him. It was established as a national ordinance (Gen. 17:10, 11). In compliance with the divine command, Abraham, though ninety-nine years of age, was circumcised on the same day with Ishmael, who was thirteen years old (17:24-27). Slaves, whether home-born or purchased, were circumcised (17:12, 13); and all foreigners must have their males circumcised before they could enjoy the privileges of Jewish citizenship (Ex. 12:48). During the journey through the wilderness, the practice of circumcision fell into disuse, but was resumed by the command of Joshua before they entered the Promised Land (Josh. 5:2-9). It was observed always afterwards among the tribes of israel, although it is not expressly mentioned from the time of the settlement in Canaan till the time of Christ, about 1,450 years. The Jews prided themselves in the possession of this covenant distinction (Judg. 14:3; 15:18; 1 Sam. 14:6; 17:26; 2 Sam. 1:20; Ezek. 31:18).

As a rite of the church it ceased when the New Testament times began (Gal. 6:15; Col. 3:11). Some Jewish Christians sought to impose it, however, on the Gentile converts; but this the apostles resolutely resisted (Acts 15:1; Gal. 6:12). Our Lord was circumcised, for it "became him to fulfil all righteousness," as of the seed of Abraham, according to the flesh; and Paul "took and circumcised" Timothy (Acts 16:3), to avoid giving offence to the Jews. It would render Timothy's labours more acceptable to the Jews. But Paul would by no means consent to the demand that Titus should be circumcised (Gal. 2:3-5). The great point for which he contended was the free admission of uncircumcised Gentiles into the church. He contended successfully in behalf of Titus, even in Jerusalem.

In the Old Testament a spiritual idea is attached to circumcision. It was the symbol of purity (Isa. 52:1). We read of uncircumcised lips (Ex. 6:12, 30), ears (Jer. 6:10), hearts (Lev. 26:41). The fruit of a tree that is unclean is spoken of as uncircumcised (Lev. 19:23).

It was a sign and seal of the covenant of grace as well as of the national covenant between God and the Hebrews. (1.) It sealed the promises made to Abraham, which related to the commonwealth of Israel, national promises. (2.) But the promises made to Abraham included the promise of redemption (Gal. 3:14), a promise which has come upon us. The covenant with Abraham was a dispensation or a specific form of the covenant of grace, and circumcision was a sign and seal of that covenant. It had a spiritual meaning. It signified purification of the heart, inward circumcision effected by the Spirit (Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Ezek. 44:7; Acts 7:51; Rom. 2:28; Col. 2:11). Circumcision as a symbol shadowing forth sanctification by the Holy Spirit has now given way to the symbol of baptism (q.v.). But the truth embodied in both ordinances is ever the same, the removal of sin, the sanctifying effects of grace in the heart.

Under the Jewish dispensation, church and state were identical. No one could be a member of the one without also being a member of the other. Circumcision was a sign and seal of membership in both. Every circumcised person bore thereby evidence that he was one of the chosen people, a member of the church of God as it then existed, and consequently also a member of the Jewish commonwealth.

Source:

Bible Dictionary

Bangsa Amori atau Amorite

Amorites
am´o -rı̄ts; Amorites ( אמרי , 'emōrı̄ , always in the singular like the Babylonian Amurrū from which it is taken; Ἀμορραῖοι , Amorraı́oi ):

1. Varying Use of the Name Explained

2. The Amorite Kingdom

3. Sihon's Conquest

4. Disappearance of the Amorite Kingdom

5. Physical Characteristics of the Amorites

The name Amorite is used in the Old Testament to denote (1) The inhabitants of Palestine generally, (2) The population of the hills as opposed to the plain, and (3) a specific people under a king of their own. Thus (1) we hear of them on the west shore of the Dead Sea (Genesis 14:7 ), at Hebron (Genesis 14:13 ), and Shechem (Genesis 48:22 ), in Gilead and Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:10 ) and under Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:8; Deuteronomy 4:48 ). They are named instead of the Canaanites as the inhabitants of Palestine whom the Israelites were required to exterminate (Genesis 15:16; Deuteronomy 20:17; Judges 6:10; 1 Samuel 7:14; 1 Kings 21:26; 2 Kings 21:11 ); the older population of Judah is called Amorite in Joshua 10:5 , Joshua 10:6 , in conformity with which Ezek (Joshua 16:3 ) states that Jerusalem had an Amorite father; and the Gibeonites are said to have been "of the remnant of the Amorites" (2 Samuel 21:2 ). On the other hand (2), in Numbers 13:29 the Amorites are described as dwelling in the mountains like the Hittites and Jebusites of Jerusalem, while the Amalekites or Bedouins lived in the south and the Canaanites on the seacoast and in the valley of the Jordan. Lastly (3) we hear of Sihon, "king of the Amorites," who had conquered the northern half of Moab ( Numbers 21:21-31; Deuteronomy 2:26-35 ).

1. Varying Use of the Name Explained

Assyriological discovery has explained the varying use of the name. The Hebrew form of it is a transliteration of the Babylonian Amurrū , which was both sing. and plural. In the age of Abraham the Amurru were the dominant people in western Asia; hence Syria and Palestine were called by the Babylonians "the land of the Amorites." In the Assyrian period this was replaced by "land of the Hittites," the Hittites in the Mosaic age having made themselves masters of Syria and Canaan. The use of the name "Amorite" in its general sense belongs to the Babylonian period of oriental history.

2. The Amorite Kingdom

The Amorite kingdom was of great antiquity. About 2500 bc it embraced the larger part of Mesopotamia and Syria, with its capital probably at Harran, and a few centuries later northern Babylonia was occupied by an "Amorite" dynasty of kings who traced theft descent from Samu or Sumu (the Biblical Shem), and made Babylon their capital. To this dynasty belonged Khammu-rabi, the Amraphel of Genesis 14:1 . In the astrological documents of the period frequent reference is made to "the king of the Amorites." This king of the Amorites was subject to Babylonia in the age of the dynasty of Ur, two or three centuries before the birth of Abraham He claimed suzerainty over a number of "Amorite" kinglets, among whom those of Khana on the Euphrates, near the mouth of the Khabur, may be named, since in the Abrahamic age one of them was called Khammu-rapikh and another Isarlim or Israel. A payment of a cadastral survey made at this time by a Babylonian governor with the Canaanite name of Urimelech is now in the Louvre. Numerous Amorites were settled in Ur and other Babylonian cities, chiefly for the purpose of trade. They seem to have enjoyed the same rights and privileges as the native Babylonians. Some of them were commercial travelers, but we hear also of the heads of the great firms making journeys to the Mediterranean coast.

In an inscription found near Diarbekir and dedicated to Khammu-rabi by Ibirum (= Eber), the governor of the district, the only title given to the Babylonian monarch is "king of the Amorites," where instead of Amurrū the Sumerian Martu (Hebrew mōreh ) is used. The great-grandson of Khammu-rabi still calls himself "king of the widespread land of the Amorites," but two generations later Babylonia was invaded by the Hittites, the Amorite dynasty came to an end, and there was once more a "king of the Amorites" who was not also king of Babylonia.

The Amorite kingdom continued to exist down to the time of the Israelite invasion of Palestine, and mention is made of it in the Egyptian records as well as in the cuneiform Tell el-Amarna Letters , and the Hittite archives recently discovered at Boghaz-keui, the site of the Hittite capital in Cappadocia. The Egyptian conquest of Canaan by the kings of the 18th Dynasty had put an end to the effective government of that country by the Amorite princes, but their rule still extended eastward to the borders of Babylonia, while its southern limits coincided approximately with what was afterward the northern frontier of Naphtali. The Amorite kings, however, became, at all events in name, the vassals of the Egyptian Pharaoh. When the Egyptian empire began to break up, under the "heretic king" Amenhotep IV, at the end of the 18th Dynasty (1400 bc), the Amorite princes naturally turned to their more powerful neighbors in the north. One of the letters in the Tell el-Amarna correspondence is from the Pharaoh to his Amorite vassal Aziru the son of Ebed-Asherah, accusing him of rebellion and threatening him with punishment. Eventually Aziru found it advisable to go over openly to the Hittites, and pay the Hittite government an annual tribute of 300 shekels of gold. From that time forward the Amorite kingdom was a dependency of the Hittite empire, which, on the strength of this, claimed dominion over Palestine as far as the Egyptian frontier.

The second successor of Aziru was Abi-Amurru (or Abi-Hadad), whose successor bore, in addition to a Semitic name, the Mitannian name of Bentesinas. Bente-sinas was dethroned by the Hittite King Muttallis and imprisoned in Cappadocia, where he seems to have met the Hittite prince Khattu-sil, who on the death of his brother Muttallis seized the crown and restored Bente-sinas to his kingdom. Bente-sinas married the daughter of Khattu-sil, while his own daughter was wedded to the son of his Hittite suzerain, and an agreement was made that the succession to the Amorite throne should be confined to her descendants. Two or three generations later the Hittite empire was destroyed by an invasion of "northern barbarians," the Phrygians, probably, of Greek history, who marched southward, through Palestine, against Egypt, carrying with them "the king of the Amorites." The invaders, however, were defeated and practically exterminated by Ramses III of the 20th Egyptian Dynasty (1200 bc). The Amorite king, captured on this occasion by the Egyptians, was probably the immediate predecessor of the Sihon of the Old Testament.

3. Sihon's Conquest

Egyptian influence in Canaan had finally ceased with the invasion of Egypt by the Libyans and peoples of the Aegean in the fifth year of Meneptah, the successor of Ramses II, at the time of the Israelite Exodus. Though the invaders were repulsed, the Egyptian garrisons had to be withdrawn from the cities of southern Palestine, where their place was taken by the Philistines who thus blocked the way from Egypt to the north. The Amorites, in the name of their distant Hittite suzerains, were accordingly able to overrun the old Egyptian provinces on the east side of the Jordan; the Amorite chieftain Og possessed himself of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:8 ), and Sihon, "king of the Amorites," conquered the northern part of Moab.

The conquest must have been recent at the time of the Israelite invasion, as the Amorite song of triumph is quoted in Numbers 21:27-29 , and adapted to the overthrow of Sihon himself by the Israelites. 'Woe unto thee,' it reads, 'O Moab; thou art undone, O people of Chemosh! (Chemosh) hath given thy sons who escaped (the battle) and thy daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.' The flame that had thus consumed Heshbon, it is further declared, shall spread southward through Moab, while Heshbon itself is rebuilt and made the capital of the conqueror: "Come to Heshbon, that the city of Sihon (like the city of David, 2 Samuel 5:9 ) may be rebuilt and restored. For the fire has spread from Heshbon, the flame from the capital of Sihon, devouring as far as Moab (reading ‛adh with the Septuagint instead of ‛ār ), and swallowing up (reading bāle‛āh with the Septuagint) the high places of Arnon." The Israelite invasion, however, prevented the expected conquest of southern Moab from taking place.

4. Disappearance of the Amorite Kingdom

After the fall of Sihon the Amorite kingdom disappears. The Syrians of Zobah, of Hamath and of Damascus take its place, while with the rise of Assyria the "Amorites" cease to be the representatives in contemporary literature of the inhabitants of western Asia. At one time their power had extended to the Babylonian frontier, and Bente-sinas was summoned to Cappadocia by his Hittite overlord to answer a charge made by the Babylonian ambassadors of his having raided northern Babylonia. The Amorite king urged, however, that the raid was merely an attempt to recover a debt of 30 talents of silver.

5. Physical Characteristics of the Amorites

In Numbers 13:29 the Amorites are described as mountaineers, and in harmony with thins, according to Professor Petrie's notes, the Egyptian artists represent them with fair complexions, blue eyes and light hair. It would, therefore, seem that they belonged to the Libyan race of northern Africa rather than to the Semitic stock. In western Asia, however, they were mixed with other racial elements derived from the subject populations, and as they spoke a Semitic language one of the most important of these elements would have been the Semites. In its general sense, moreover, the name "Amorite" included in the Babylonian period all the settled and civilized peoples west of the Euphrates to whatever race they might belong.

Literature

Hugo Winckler, Mitteilungen der deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft (1907), No. 35, Berlin; Sayce, The Races of the Old Testament , Religious Tract Soc., 1890.

In Mission and Vision of Messianc JEWS

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Who We Are Our Mission and Vision We exist to transform lives and see all Israel saved. It is the mission of Jewish Voice Ministries to: Proclaim the Gospel Grow the Messianic Jewish community Engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people Jewish Voice carries out this mission through a many-faceted ministry that includes humanitarian medical outreaches, large-scale international festivals, congregation planting and leadership training, television, print media, digital channels, and speaking engagements. The Early Days Louis Kaplan, founder of Jewish Voice Broadcasts radio program. Louis Kaplan’s commitment to use his voice to declare the mighty acts of God to his generation and to the next is the foundation for the work of Jewish Voice Ministries International (JVMI). Kaplan, a Jewish follower of Yeshua, launched Jewish Voice Broadcasts in 1967, a weekly 15-minute radio program It was an outgrowth of his decades of work as a traveling evangelist,. The radio program and the program first aired on Christian radio in Phoenix, Arizona. 1967 was a watershed year in Jewish history. Israel reclaimed the city of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War on June 7th, 1967. This miraculous act was a fulfillment of a prophecy in Luke 21:24 that directly connects the reestablishment of Jerusalem with the times of the Gentiles being fulfilled. Louis Kaplan believed he’d followed his Savior to the crossroads of prophetic history. He’d committed his life to Yeshua at age 19 at the height of the Great Depression after attending a revival meeting at a nearby church. He said, “After the service, I hesitantly approached the minister and asked him privately if a Jew could be saved. “He replied: ‘Salvation is of the Jews, and Peter and Paul and the prophets were all Jews.’ “I was astonished at that time to know that Christianity sprang from Judaism and that the first Christians were Jews!” After he committed his life to his Jewish Messiah, Kaplan returned to the home of his parents in New York City in order to tell them about his decision. After a bitter argument, his family asked him to leave the home never to return. God provided for Louis’ needs as an older believer opened her home to him, and spent time daily discipling him (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Kaplan began preaching in churches and revival meetings. After a return to the workforce managing a real estate office during World War II, he was convicted that he was missing the calling God had placed in his heart: to give his life over to the proclamation of the Good News to his generation and to the next. The Holocaust and the world events following, including the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, convinced Kaplan that our world was moving toward the End of Days prophesied in the Bible. Kaplan said, “The greatest sign, warning, proof, and evidence to the world and to the Church of the end of this age is the restoration and resurrection of the House of Israel after being entombed in the graves of exile for many centuries.” After traveling around the country for years proclaiming God’s salvation to the Jew first, and also the Gentile (Romans 1:16), Kaplan received a call from God to begin a radio program. In January 1967, just months before the outbreak of the Six-Day War, Jewish Voice Broadcasts began airing a simple message: Yeshua heals, saves, and sets His beloved children free! To learn more about Louis Kaplan’s life story, click here. Impossible Shoes To Fill Jonathan Bernis, President & CEO of Jewish Voice Ministries International The ministry grew and flourished, touching countless lives and introducing many to Yeshua the Messiah. The baton of leadership was passed to Jonathan Bernis in 1998 when Kaplan suffered a debilitating stroke. Bernis founded Hear O’ Israel Ministries, an outreach organization that produced large-scale, international Festivals of Jewish Music and Dance throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. In 1999, Louis Kaplan passed away. Bernis quickly realized Kaplan’s shoes were impossible to fill. Kaplan was beloved by the staff and volunteers, and in the early days, Bernis struggled to figure out how to lead the ministry forward. He visited Kaplan’s widow, Chira, and told her dejectedly, “I can’t do this anymore. I’ll never be able to fill Brother Kaplan’s shoes.” At those words, Chira got up from the table saying, “I have something for you.” She returned with three shoeboxes containing her deceased husband’s shoes. Bernis said, “Now it so happens I have a very unusual shoe size – an 8-1/2 EEE. Guess what size they were? That’s right, 8-1/2 EEE.” It was a transforming moment in Bernis’ life. “Under my own power, my own strength, and my own strength, I was inadequate. But through the Lord’s power, because of His calling on my life, I could fill Brother Kaplan’s shoes.” Under Bernis’ leadership, the Jewish Voice Broadcasts continued to reach people, building on Kaplan’s legacy. Bernis oversaw the merger of Hear O’ Israel! Ministries with those of Jewish Voice in 2001, becoming Jewish Voice Ministries International (JVMI) —now a multi-faceted ministry still committed to proclaiming one unchanging message to a new generation. Today…And Tomorrow Our message hasn’t changed. We are called to be a voice to the Jewish people. We exist in order to transform lives and see all Israel saved. Our mission—“To proclaim the Gospel to the Jew first around the world, engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people, and build the Messianic Jewish Community”—has been unwavering. The strategy, the methodology, the technology, and the geographic locations of our outreaches have changed over the decades as Jewish Voice has grown and adapted with the times, but our mission will never change. We will remain diligent to this calling and mandate until the Lord returns. JVMI produces a daily television show, Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis, to educate viewers in the U.S. and abroad on the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, Bible prophecy, and world events relating to Israel and the Middle East. JVMI also educates and shares our message through social media, seminars, webcasts, and print publications, including Jewish Voice Today magazine. Our broadcast ministries exist in order to inspire our viewers to become a part of our mission to bring clean water, humanitarian aid, and the Good News of Yeshua to Jewish people scattered around the globe. JVMI provides practical compassionate assistance through recurring medical and dental clinics to impoverished Jewish people around the world, including Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, India, and Israel. The ministry also performs large-scale international festivals of Jewish music and dance in Eastern Europe and South America. These heritage events provide a unique opportunity to share our faith with attendees. Should the Lord tarry, we will continue to build on the past in order to raise our voices to proclaim to this generation and the next that Yeshua is Lord. Won’t you partner with us in this life-saving, life-changing work? Hear from Jonathan Bernis about the vision and purpose of Jewish Voice Take at look at highlights from five decades of ministry at Jewish Voice About About Jewish Voice Our Founder Jonathan Bernis What We Believe Endorsements Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

Yeshua HaMashiach

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Yeshua HaMashiach – Anointed to Save Published on July 23, 2018 Who is Yeshua HaMashiach? Yeshua HaMashiach (Yeh-SHOO-ah Ha-Mah-SHEE-akh) is Hebrew for “Jesus the Messiah.” Yeshua is a shortened version of the name Yehoshua (Yeh-HO-shoo-ah), which means “Adonai saves.” Mashiach is the Hebrew word for Messiah and means “anointed one.” Old Covenant Scriptures speak of the coming Messiah who would be God’s anointed One to deliver Israel and all mankind. Most Jewish people living at the time of Jesus believed the Messiah would physically save them from their oppression under Roman rule. They did not recognize that the prophets foretold of a much greater freedom. Israel has had many enemies over the millennia, but none so dangerous as the one who seeks to keep her from recognizing God’s sole provision for eternal reconciliation to Him. Satan prowls and roars, schemes and steals, attacks and accuses (1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10, Ephesians 6:16, Revelation 12:10). He does everything in his power to mislead, blind, confuse and distract people, particularly the Jewish people, from the Messiah. While the Jewish people looked for a savior to physically free them from bondage to Rome, God sent Yeshua HaMashiach to spiritually save us from bondage to sin, offering us eternal spiritual freedom. The prophets foretold many details of the Messiah’s coming. Differing biblical descriptions have led some Jewish people to believe there would be two Messiahs: one who would suffer and die, and one who would conquer and reign. The Scriptures, in fact, describe two separate comings of one Messiah – Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Anointed One.   Anointed to Serve In His first coming, Yeshua HaMashiach came as the Suffering Servant we see in Isaiah chapter 53. He came to fulfill our irreparable need of reconciliation to God. He proved Himself a humble servant offering us undeserved love and grace. “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our pains” (Isaiah 53:4).   “…because He poured out His soul to death and was counted with transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12b).   “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).   “…He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around Him…” (John 13:1‒16).   Anointed to Suffer and Die Yeshua HaMashiach was appointed by God to suffer and die on our behalf. Anti-Semitic ideology wrongly blames the Jewish people for Yeshua’s death. But the Bible is clear that it was man’s sin that placed Jesus on the executioner’s stake. “Because of oppression and judgment, He was taken away. As for His generation, who considered? For He was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people ‒ the stroke was theirs. Yet it pleased Adonai to bruise Him. He caused Him to suffer” (Isaiah 53:8, 10a).   “His appearance was disfigured more than any man, His form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52: 14b).   “But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).   “From that time on, Yeshua began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and ruling kohanim and Torah scholars, and be killed, and be raised on the third day” (Matthew 16:21).   “But letting out a loud cry, Yeshua breathed His last. Then the curtain of the Temple was split in two, from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing in front of Him, saw the way Yeshua breathed His last, he said ‘This Man was really the Son of God’” (Mark 15:37‒39). “Was it not necessary for Messiah to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26). Get the "A Rabbi Looks at Jesus of Nazareth" Book With warmth and transparency, Jewish Voice’s own Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis shares a compelling case for Jesus as Messiah and presents overwhelming evidence that can be traced to the Torah itself.  Get Product Anointed to Save Yeshua HaMashiach took upon Himself the penalty that we deserve for our sin (Isaiah 53:8). In doing so, He provided for and offered us complete atonement. “The Righteous One, My Servant, will make many righteous and He will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11b).   “We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way. So Adonai has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).   “She will give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).   “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16–17).   “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of Adonai shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).   Anointed to Rise Scriptures prophesied that, while God’s Anointed One would suffer and die, He would also rise from the dead. Yeshua HaMashiach did just that. “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let Your faithful one see the Pit” (Psalm 16:10).   “He was cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of my people… If He makes His soul a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the will of Adonai will succeed by His hand” (Isaiah 53:8a, 10).   “He is not here. He is risen, just as He said! Come see the place where He was lying” (Matthew 28:6).   “For I also passed on to you first of all what I also received ‒ that Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Kefa [Cephas, or Peter], then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time” (1 Corinthians 15:3‒6a).   Anointed to Return At His Second Coming, Yeshua HaMashiach will return as the conquering King foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. At this time, the Jewish people will recognize Him as their Messiah. “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which lies to the east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a huge valley” (Zechariah 14:4).   “Then I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication, when they will look toward Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son and grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).   “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26).   “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him. Yes, amen!” (Revelation 1:7).   Anointed to Reign After the Messiah returns, God will usher in the long-awaited Messianic age in which Yeshua HaMashiach will reign eternally. “The scepter shall not pass from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet until he to whom it belongs will come” (Genesis 49:10).   “When your days are done and you sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed, who will come forth from you after you, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish his royal throne forever” (2 Samuel 7:12–13).   “He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end” (Luke 1:33).   “Then the seventh angel trumpeted, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, ‘The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Anointed One. And He shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15).   Yeshua HaMashiach ‒ Jesus is the Messiah To learn more about how Yeshua HaMashiach fulfilled Messianic prophecies of the Tanakh, click to read “Who is Yeshua HaMashiach?” Discover the astounding mathematical probabilities that one man could fulfill even a small number of the hundreds of prophecies that Jesus did.  Get Yeshua's Final Passover DVD In this inspirational DVD, filmed on location in Jerusalem in the Upper Room, Rabbi Jonathan Bernis teaches us how to observe the rich traditions of the Passover Seder — just as Yeshua (Jesus) did with His disciples over 2,000 years ago, known as the Last Supper.  ADD TO CART Share this article Recent Blog Posts Spoiler Alert: Israel Knew A new resource to enrich your walk with God Israel Destroys ISIS Terror Cell After Attack SEEKING THE LORD FOR MORE IN MUDANDA! The Good News is delivered ... thanks to YOU! Blog Categories Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

Another Reason I LOVE ISRAEL

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Another reason I love Israel Published on July 20, 2018 Israel’s MaxTech Networks’ marketing tagline is “Connecting you when no one else can.” But the Israeli company took that to a whole new level last week when it supplied the vital technology necessary to save 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave with dwindling oxygen and little food. “On every rescue mission, you need to coordinate the rescue team and to know at all times where they are, and what their status is,” explained Uzi Hanuni, MaxTech’s CEO. “These caves are very long, and you can’t send messengers back and forth through them. The divers need to be in constant contact with their base so that everyone knows where they are.   “No other system could work here, except ours,” said Hanuni, adding that it was essential to keeping the first responders alive.   Thanks to the hard work of MaxTech and many others around the world, the entire team and their coach were rescued. But few in the watching world realize just how much they relied on Israel’s innovation. Israeli Technology Helps the World, Even Her ‘Enemies’ “Israel has a long record of developing innovative technologies for emergency situations,” says Israel21c, a nonprofit organization that publishes an online news magazine and maintains a website about 21st century Israel. “Those have led to devices such as Water-Gen, a portable machine that can generate drinking water from the atmosphere and purify existing water sources; Pocket BVM, a collapsible resuscitation and respiratory support device; SkySaver, a personal rescue device that can evacuate a person from a building of up to 120 stories tall; and the Agilite Instant Harness, a rappelling harness that was used to save the lives of South African miners trapped underground in 2013.” And Israel extends its technology assistance even to her enemies, through such programs as Operation Good Neighbor, which Israel launched in 2016. Through that initiative, soldiers frequently open gates on the Syrian border to welcome injured and sick men, women and children in need of Israel’s advanced medical technology.   “The Syrian war came to a point where people started showing up on our border looking for help,” explained Major Dr. Sergei Kotikov, a senior IDF officer. They had no trust and could not rely on their government, instead turning to (Israel), which for 50 years they were told was the enemy.”    “Everyone who comes here only has good things to say about the treatment they receive,” a Syrian mother told The Jerusalem Post. Her son was among those who had received treatment in Israel. Israeli Technology: Its Role in Israel’s Survival This same innovation keeps Israel at least one step ahead of attempts by Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas to decimate her. “In a recent speech, the deputy commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) boasted that the ‘Islamic army in Syria’ in the Golan Heights was awaiting orders to eradicate the ‘evil regime’ of Israel,” The Times of Israel reported on July 9. Hossein Salami estimated that Iran had 100,000 missiles aimed at Israel. But Israel’s advanced, technologically acquired information allows her to prepare and defend herself. Israel has for years used its advanced technology and intelligence techniques to wage a quiet campaign to keep Iran from entrenching itself in Syria, on Israel's border. The effort became less quiet in 2018. In February, Israel shot down an Iranian drone carrying explosives and responded with a counterattack on an air base in Syria. In May, Iran sent 32 rockets toward Israel’s border with the Golan Heights border. Israel shot down four, and the rest destroyed infrastructure in the Golan Heights. Israel responded with a two-hour bombing of Iranian targets in Syria, destroying several Syrian air defense systems. Lately, Hamas launched incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza into Israel, resulting in large fires that destroyed crops. The situation escalated and Israel deployed its Iron Dome missile defense batteries across central Israel on July 15. “The IDF is determined to continue to defend citizens of Israel and is prepared for a variety of scenarios that may intensify,” said a spokesperson for Israel’s army this week.    “The Israeli military said it would take harsh action in response to any attack from the coastal enclave, including in the form of incendiary kites and balloons,” reported The Times of Israel, adding, that IDF is “bracing for possible retaliation by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.”   There is Hope Several U.S. news outlets reported that Presidents Trump and Putin discussed working together to ensure Israel's safety during their summit in Finland on Monday. “Both countries will work jointly,” President Trump said. “Creating safety for Israel is something that both President Putin and I would like to see very much.”   “This will bring peace to the Golan Heights and bring a more peaceful relationship between Syria and Israel and also to provide security for the state of Israel,” President Putin said. Please pray with us: As we thank God for how He has blessed Israel and that Israel, in turn, is blessing the world with its technology That Israel’s good works will help in the fight against anti-Semitism That Jewish people’s eyes will be opened to see Yeshua (Jesus) as their long-awaited Messiah That those who hate Israel will also hear the truth of the Good News Donate Now Share this article Recent Blog Posts Spoiler Alert: Israel Knew A new resource to enrich your walk with God Israel Destroys ISIS Terror Cell After Attack SEEKING THE LORD FOR MORE IN MUDANDA! The Good News is delivered ... thanks to YOU! Blog Categories Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

JERUSALEM - Impressions of a Believing Young Adult Israeli

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Jerusalem - Impressions of a Believing Young Adult Israeli Visiting the city of Jerusalem for the first time is, without a doubt, an exciting and unique experience – unforgettable, actually. Ancient times come alive as you approach the walls of the Old City at the bottom of Jaffa Street. You might ask yourself, “How did they get those big stones one on top of the other?” The same question arises as you overlook the remnant of the Temple outer wall – known as the Western Wall. A loose translation of Psalm 122:3–4 describes this city as something that is “crammed together.” Yes, there is a sense of coziness at best – some would say crowding – as you walk through the Old City where Jews, Arabs, Orthodox Christians and Christian Armenians all share life within the walls. Because of possible conflicts or dangers of hostility, IDF soldiers are also a common sight. Outside, life has sprawled in all directions, with many kinds of people groups living in close quarters. But experiencing Jerusalem for a few days on a tour or even a week or two as a visitor doesn’t come close to revealing what it is to live in the city as an Israeli. The novelty of the ancient environment soon slips into the background of your life as you go about your daily business. Buses, the light rail, taxis and walking are the main forms of inner-city transportation. Yes, there are plenty of cars, but that is an expensive venture – not just the cost of the car but also paying for parking, not to mention gas (or delek). It’s a rare convenience to have a car to drive out of the city or down the hills to the beach in Tel Aviv. That trip takes about an hour, if there’s no traffic. In another direction, the Dead Sea is only about an hour away. But in the city, it’s best to keep it simple and easy on the wallet by using public transport. Jerusalem is, to be sure, a crowded – and often tense – city. You must become accustomed to constant crowds, stares and even pushing. Public transportation is an opportunity to meet the diverse population of Jerusalem. Although there are many Israelis who do not announce their religious choice through their dress, many do. On the bus or light rail, you’re likely to see men of many ages dressed identically in long black robes, wearing hats and sporting curls on each side of their faces – where you might have seen trendy sideburns in the 1960s. Anywhere you go, you’ll notice various “kippahs,” which you might know better as yarmulkes (pronounced yah'-muk-ahs), each designating a specific denomination or sect of Judaism. There are women with head coverings – scarves and shiny wigs. Arab Muslim women are covered head to toe, usually with a synthetic fabric, likely to leave you wondering how they survive the summer temperatures. Some Jewish women wear more fashionable head wraps. The current style is to wear a larger doughnutshaped structure under the head-covering that adds height, with an abundance of fabric, resulting in a sort of high-rise balanced on the top of the head. You’ll see priests dressed all in black and some nuns in a more modern outfit, while others still wear the traditional habits. And everywhere there are beards and more beards. Trendy young men, priests, Orthodox Jews and Muslims all sport beards. As a Messianic Jew or a Christian, you probably will be looking for a place of worship. Unlike in the U.S., you’re not going to find a “church on every corner.” There are no presentation boards telling the passing public when the next meeting is and the name of the upcoming sermon. There are places of worship (kehilot as they are called in Hebrew), but you find them by looking on the internet or learn of them by word of mouth. Jerusalem is known as a magnet for people who feel strongly that their religion defines them. People who have grown up in the city feel they need to be differentiated from the other religions surrounding them. For about 90 percent of those living in Jerusalem, personal identity is rooted in religion. By contrast, in Tel Aviv, the atmosphere is very different. This city by the beach is notable for having more of a give-and-take attitude. Religion is not so dominant. There is more of a sense of acceptance for who you are. A taxi driver who lives in Jerusalem but prefers to work in Tel Aviv described this by saying that Jerusalemites are more “violent” about who they are and to what group they belong. Nevertheless, there is much interaction between Israeli Arabs and Jews, with the obvious political conflicts taking a back seat to the business at hand. In this sixth edition in the Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures series: El Shaddai, God Almighty, you’ll meditate on inspiring verses describing our sustaining Almighty God. This encouraging volume contains Old and New Covenant verses written in English, Hebrew and the transliteration from Hebrew. Add To Cart So, in this context, it is a challenge for Believers to come to the “Holy Land” and not understand why they can’t be as openly evangelistic as they want to be. It doesn’t really work well to open with, “Hey, come here; let me tell you about Yeshua!” It is a slow and steady process to explain the Gospel to a stubborn population. So how does a city like Jerusalem with such a varied population carry on its day-to-day activities in relative peace and goodwill? Despite their own fierce adherence to their religions and identities, people here are, at the same time, tolerant and even sensitive to others around them. But it’s important to remember that Israel is not a Christian country. You have to be Jewish to have Israeli citizenship. That means you can’t simply buy a plot of land and build a church building. And sometimes when Messianic Israelis want to rent a space for worship, they – as well as the landlord – will be threatened by ultra religious Orthodox groups. The result is often that the property is not available to them for rent. Street evangelism is not really recommended. It can easily result in a big fight with the ultra-Orthodox not holding back in their demonstrative objections. You see, Israel is seen by Jewish people, at large, as the one place they can live and have a right to their religion without a threat from the outside world. Indeed, some have come just to get away from Christianity. No description of life in Jerusalem is complete without mentioning the constant economic pressure that faces all people groups. To put it simply, Jerusalem is a city with the salaries of Detroit and the expenses of Manhattan! A simple falafel (a non-meat street food) costs about $5-6 – and that is before buying a drink. There is no free parking, and city fines are levied frequently and efficiently. People really struggle here, as elsewhere in Israel, with the high cost of apartment rents. With all the crowdedness in the city, outer neighborhoods have been built, but they, also, are very expensive. If you are single and living in Jerusalem, be prepared to have a roommate until your dying day! And you’ll probably not live in the main part of town. The days of buying an apartment in central Jerusalem are just about over. The result of these struggles is often exhaustion, but a true Israeli knows how to handle all this and still laugh. Until the move of the American Embassy to Jerusalem became a major news story, many around the world did not realize that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Tel Aviv was never the capital! Israeli government is centered in Jerusalem, which is also home to the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as the address of the Holocaust Museum and the large Israel Museum with its many exhibitions. A most beautiful and interesting event in Jerusalem is the summer light show, which takes participants through the Old City to view compositions, sculptures and performances. It’s one event that brings all residents together. As people chatter and parents call to their children, you will hear an abundance of languages. While there are many mother tongues in the city, Jerusalem is also a city where English is very commonly spoken, which visitors enjoy. Children start learning English by third grade, so many young Israelis speak English fairly well. Jerusalem is its own world, full of tension, religions, work, and of course, the Israeli/ Palestinian situation. That topic alone could fill an entire book. But it is definitely a city with a spiritual presence, as anyone spending time there seems to notice; it is woven together into a sturdy fabric that only God may fully understand. Author JVMI Staff Writer Categories Israel Share this article Related Articles Moving the Embassy is the Right Thing To Do Why We Should Care About Israel Today Hope for the Forgotten Jerusalem - God's Timeclock Standing With God for the Salvation of Israel Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

Hope for the Forgotten

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Hope for the Forgotten It was unimaginable for them. Today’s Holocaust survivors witnessed countless atrocities when they were children. They had parents, siblings and other family members wrenched from them to be executed as part of Hitler’s plan to exterminate God’s chosen people. Holocaust survivors lived through one of the darkest times in modern history, making it all the more tragic that for some of them currently living in Israel, their final years are filled with loneliness, poverty, disease and pain. Their suffering should have ended, but for many, it has not. Today’s Holocaust Survivor There are approximately 180,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel, and that number is dwindling every day. Their average age is 87. Survivors are typically in worse physical, emotional and financial shape than other people their age. The effects of starvation, frostbite, torture, medical experimentation and lack of medical and dental care when they were children have only served to exacerbate the normal problems of aging. Many lost their entire family to the Holocaust and now have no one to care for them in their old age. Tens of thousands of them in Israel live below the poverty line, and as a result, these people – who suffered more intensely in their lives than we can imagine – find themselves once again enduring hardship, with incomes so meager they must often choose between the medications they need to survive and adequate food. Their meager incomes provide for the bare necessities, but don't allow for a properly prescribed pair of glasses or extensive dental treatments that will help ease pain and bring comfort to their final years. Israel does provide special rights for Holocaust survivors, but Israel’s welfare minister has reported that more than 20,000 survivors in Israel have never received the government assistance owed to them. Accessing that assistance is an oftenoverwhelming bureaucratic maze for these survivors to go through – especially since so much of it is online, and many of these people have no one to advocate for them. No wonder so many of them feel forgotten and alone. In this sixth edition in the Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures series: El Shaddai, God Almighty, you’ll meditate on inspiring verses describing our sustaining Almighty God. This encouraging volume contains Old and New Covenant verses written in English, Hebrew and the transliteration from Hebrew. Add To Cart Changing the Outcome That’s why Jewish Voice Ministries is committed to serving them with vision and dental care. After all they’ve endured in their lives, it’s a joy to do what we can to bridge the gap of unmet needs for these fragile Jewish people in Israel, specifically in the areas of vision and dental care. When eyeglasses and dental care are beyond the reach of national aid and monthly income, Jewish Voice is providing free examinations, custom prescription eyeglasses and extensive dental work. Proper eye care will enhance their quality of life immeasurably, allowing them to read and write more easily, watch television, or even navigate safely through their daily lives. If dental problems are left untreated, the pain can lead to malnutrition, and the infections stemming from poor oral hygiene can lead to heart disease. Our JVMI staff is currently working with four dental clinics in Israel to provide much-needed dental work to Holocaust survivors. But our outreach isn’t going to stop at that. It’s been estimated that by 2025, all of the remaining survivors will have passed away. That’s why we’ve set an aggressive goal to add three more dental clinics this year, as well as expand our vision care program. We want to help every Holocaust survivor within our reach while there is still time. Filled with interesting stories and background information, Dr. Michael Brown’s comprehensive guide answers the 60 most common questions Christians ask about Jewish people and culture. As a Messianic Believer, Dr. Brown provides articulate answers to questions about modern and historical Jewish practices and beliefs. Add To Cart The reason for our work is simple: to help Holocaust survivors live out their final years with the dignity and comfort they deserve and to share the love of Yeshua (Jesus). The average cost for Jewish Voice Ministries to provide dental care for one Holocaust survivor is $800, but it can often be higher if a lack of dental care over time has led to other health issues, like malnutrition or heart disease. This is where we need your help today! More funds are needed. We want to continue to grow our healthcare work with survivors, and additionally begin to expand our program work to help survivors in other practical ways, such as food vouchers and heating in their homes. The need is great. The more funds we receive for this program, the more Holocaust survivors we can help! Please give now to bless these people through the work of Jewish Voice Ministries in Israel and around the world. Use the enclosed response form to send your gift of support today. To thank you for your wonderful partnership, we’d like to send you a gift of appreciation. Your support means so much to us, but it means even more to the Holocaust survivors we’re able to help because of your generosity. Thank you for your faithful support. In this sixth edition in the Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures series: El Shaddai, God Almighty, you’ll meditate on inspiring verses describing our sustaining Almighty God. This encouraging volume contains Old and New Covenant verses written in English, Hebrew and the transliteration from Hebrew. Add To Cart Author JVMI Staff Writer Categories Israel Share this article Related Articles Moving the Embassy is the Right Thing To Do Why We Should Care About Israel Today Jerusalem - God's Timeclock Standing With God for the Salvation of Israel Jerusalem - Impressions of a Believing Young Adult Israeli Featured Resource Add To Cart Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

Why we should care about Israel today

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Why We Should Care About Israel Today Many Believers today, especially in the younger generations, have serious questions about why they should stand with the people of Israel. What connection, they wonder, does the modern State of Israel have with ancient biblical prophecy? After all, didn’t Paul state in Romans 9:6 that “not all Israel is Israel”? And why should Christians stand with Israel when Israel is allegedly guilty of committing atrocities against the Palestinians? What about standing on the side of justice? Why focus on the salvation of Jewish people as if their salvation were more important than the salvation of any other people group? To give priority to the salvation of Israel would imply favoritism (or even racial discrimination) on the part of God, they assert. These are serious questions that deserve thoughtful answers, so let’s examine them carefully, following Paul’s discussion in Romans 9–11. When it comes to Romans 9:6, we need to remember that Paul devoted three chapters to the subject of Israel in this letter. He had not yet been to Rome to preach the Gospel, and he wanted to be sure that, before he arrived there, the Believers clearly understood the foundations of the faith. That’s why, right up front, he declared, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). And notice that he put a priority on the Gospel going to the Jewish people. (As many top Bible scholars recognize, when Paul said “to the Jew first,” he was speaking of priority and not just history.) Paul next speaks of the wrath of God on sinful human beings, making plain that all people, both Jews and Gentiles, are guilty in God’s sight (Romans 1:18–3:31). Filled with interesting stories and background information, Dr. Michael Brown’s comprehensive guide answers the 60 most common questions Christians ask about Jewish people and culture. As a Messianic Believer, Dr. Brown provides articulate answers to questions about modern and historical Jewish practices and beliefs. Add To Cart Then, in Romans 4–5, Paul lays out the extraordinary message of justification by faith, continuing with his teaching on victory over sin and life in the Spirit in chapters 6–8. These are not trivial matters. In Romans 9–11, he focuses on Israel, which was obviously as important to him as the other, foundational subjects he had just covered. As one of my colleagues at FIRE School of Ministry has said, if you don’t understand Israel, you don’t understand Paul’s gospel. Yet there are pastors who actually skip over Romans 9–11 when preaching through the book, thinking it is not relevant for Believers today. Talk about a serious error! The big question for Paul was this: Did God’s Word fail? After all, the Lord had made many promises to Israel in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), and yet as a nation, they missed the Messiah when He came. What happened? Paul first reiterates that the covenant promises still belong to Israel, writing, “to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises” (Romans 9:4). But there is a mystery here that Paul unfolds, explaining that there is a believing remnant within the nation, an Israel within Israel. He writes, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s] offspring” (Romans 9:6-8). Unfortunately, many of those who are familiar with this passage are not familiar with what comes next, and so they miss the whole point Paul was making. They also misinterpret this verse as if Paul were saying here that Gentile Believers are Israel (something he never says; in fact, in Romans 11, he states the opposite). Instead, Paul was making a spiritual observation, pointing out that God’s faithfulness continued to be manifest in the remnant within Israel – like the 7,000 who didn’t bow the knee to Baal, to use imagery that Tragically, throughout much of Church history, professing Christians have driven Jews away from Jesus, to the point that many religious Jews today associate the Holocaust with Christianity. - DR. MICHAEL BROWN But here is what so many Bible teachers miss. Paul then speaks of Israel 10 more times, and every single time, he is referring to the nation as a whole, the natural children; not to the Israel within Israel, the spiritual children. (Don’t take my word for it; keep reading from Romans 9:8 to the end of Romans 11). Here is where it gets exciting. Paul explains to the Romans that, while a remnant of the Jewish people embraced Jesus as Messiah, the rest of the Jews fell and were hardened. But that is not the end of the story. “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall [the NIV says, “fall beyond recovery”]? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous” (Romans 11:11). Here we have the first part of Paul’s major answer to the question, “Why should I care about Israel’s salvation?” It is because the Gospel has come to the Gentile world “so as to make Israel jealous.” And there’s more: “Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!” (Romans 11:12). This is glorious beyond words. The “full inclusion” of Israel, which we’ll see shortly, speaks of their national turning to the Messiah, which will bring about something that makes the current worldwide harvest of Gentile Believers actually look small. Israel’s salvation is mega-important, with massive implications for the entire population of the world. That’s why it is so important for Gentile Believers, whom Paul addresses as Gentiles rather than as spiritual Israel, to provoke the Jewish people to spiritual jealousy. Tragically, throughout much of Church history, professing Christians have driven Jews away from Jesus, to the point that many religious Jews today associate the Holocaust with Christianity. In fact, Martin Luther, who wrote some of the most ugly, anti-Semitic words in history, has been called the John the Baptist of Adolf Hitler. As the great Old Testament and Hebrew scholar Franz Delitzsch wrote, “The Church still owes the Jews the actual proof of Christianity’s truth. In this sixth edition in the Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures series: El Shaddai, God Almighty, you’ll meditate on inspiring verses describing our sustaining Almighty God. This encouraging volume contains Old and New Covenant verses written in English, Hebrew and the transliteration from Hebrew. Add To Cart Is it surprising that the Jewish people are such an insensitive and barren field for the Gospel? The Church itself has drenched it in blood and then heaped stones upon it.” (For more on this subject, see my book, Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People.) Before getting back to Paul’s words, as a Jewish Believer in Jesus, I can say from the heart that this is another reason the Church should show love and solidarity to the people of Israel. It is only tears of love and acts of love that can wipe away the stain of “Christian” anti-Semitism. Returning to Romans 11, Paul wrote, “Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them” (Romans 11:13-14). And once again, he wants the Gentile Believers in Rome to understand the implications of Israel’s salvation, writing, “For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15). Did you catch that? Paul speaks of life from the dead, also known as resurrection. He is saying that Israel’s salvation is intimately tied to the return of the Messiah, and when He returns, the righteous dead are resurrected, and living Believers receive their glorified bodies. You’d better believe that Israel’s salvation matters! Peter emphasized this as well, preaching to his Jewish people in Acts 3 and saying, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the [Messiah] appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3:19-21). Jesus taught this as well, ending His denunciation of the hypocritical leaders in Matthew 23 with a warning and a promise: “Your house [speaking of Jerusalem] is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’ ” (Matthew 23:38–39). In other words, Yeshua will not return until the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem recognizes Him as Messiah and says, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (see the Messianic usage of this phrase in Matthew 21:9). Yeshua will not return until the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem recognizes Him as Messiah. - DR. MICHAEL BROWN It is not that God shows favoritism. It is not that God is guilty of ethnic discrimination. It is that He keeps His promises, and He has promised to save the people of Israel, a people that has suffered greatly for many centuries because of being specially chosen and specially judged (see Amos 3:1; Romans 2:9–11). Since the Law and the prophets and the Messiah and the apostles are all from Israel, and since the Gentile Believers have been grafted into the commonwealth of Israel—into Israel’s olive tree (see also Ephesians 2:11–22)— they should be humble rather than prideful. And so Paul warns, “Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you” (Romans 11:18). In Romans 15:27, Paul goes so far as to urge the Believers in Rome to help support Jewish Believers living in Israel, since they are spiritually indebted to them. Paul explains that the great bulk of the nation remains hardened and outside of the Messiah (and therefore lost), but that hardening is only “in part,” meaning, it is not for all the people (there is always a remnant that believes), and it is not for all time. As he writes, “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). Paul was concerned that the Gentile Believers would think that they were the new Israel and that they had replaced the old Israel. (Sadly, this had been taught through much of Church history, resulting in much suffering for the Jewish people, not to mention much spiritual darkness in the Church.) He emphasized that Israel’s hardening was only partial, waiting until the full harvest of the Gentiles would come in. This clearly speaks of the climax of the Great Commission. Paul then writes, “And in this way [meaning, on the heels of the fullness of the Gentiles coming in or provoked by that fullness], all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob. And this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins’ ” (Romans 11:26–27). This is what God declared through Jeremiah more than 2,500 years ago: “At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be My people” (Jeremiah 31:1). And this is why the Lord called for prayer for Jerusalem in Isaiah 62, urging His people to give Him no rest until Jerusalem became the praise of all the earth (see Isaiah 62:1–7). To repeat: This is not a matter of divine favoritism; it is a matter of the faithfulness of God. He always keeps His promises! And so Paul concludes, “As regards the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28-29). Filled with interesting stories and background information, Dr. Michael Brown’s comprehensive guide answers the 60 most common questions Christians ask about Jewish people and culture. As a Messianic Believer, Dr. Brown provides articulate answers to questions about modern and historical Jewish practices and beliefs. Add To Cart How strange it is that we understand grace when it comes to God’s dealing with the Church – and with us as individuals – but we don’t understand when it comes to His dealings with Israel. You might be wondering, “But how do I know if the modern State of Israel is the fulfillment of prophecy?” The answer: When God blesses, no one can curse, and when He curses, no one can bless. When He opens a door, no one can shut it, and when He closes a door, no one can open it. In the same way, when He scatters, no one can gather, and when He gathers, no one can scatter. It is He who scattered the Jewish people in His wrath, preserving us under His discipline as He promised (see Jeremiah 31:35–37), and therefore it is only He who can regather us. The fact that we have been regathered to the Land, especially in the aftermath of the horrors of the Holocaust, can only be explained as a glorious act of God. As for Israel’s alleged atrocities against the Palestinians, the reality is actually quite the opposite, and the fact remains that if the Palestinians put down their weapons, there would be no more war. But if the Israelis put down their weapons, there would be no more Israel. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and is America’s most significant ally there, and so standing with justice means standing with Israel, which includes calling them to account when there is injustice against the Palestinians, a people loved by God as well. But most important are the larger implications. The Church should stand with Israel because of its spiritual, historic debt, since salvation is from the Jews (John 4:22). The Church should stand with Israel to help eradicate the horrible history of “Christian” anti- Semitism. And, the Church should stand with Israel and share the Gospel with the Jewish people because Israel’s salvation means life from the dead and the return of the King. I’d say that’s pretty important. Author Dr. Michael Brown Categories Israel Share this article Related Articles Moving the Embassy is the Right Thing To Do Hope for the Forgotten Jerusalem - God's Timeclock Standing With God for the Salvation of Israel Jerusalem - Impressions of a Believing Young Adult Israeli Featured Resource Add To Cart Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

Moving US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Moving the Embassy is the Right Thing To Do From the first announcement that the U.S. Embassy would move to Jerusalem, I have commended Donald Trump for doing what past presidents promised but never delivered: recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Moving our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is just a natural outgrowth of that recognition. In fact, many Americans initially expressed confusion at this news; they couldn’t imagine why anyone would think Jerusalem was not the capital of Israel. And why should anyone think otherwise? The national Legislature, the Knesset, meets there. A resolution passed by the U.S. Congress last year recognizes Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. And would it surprise you to know that the platforms of both major U.S. political parties – Democrat and Republican – state that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel? So President Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is the right thing to do and really shouldn’t be controversial at all. We made a decision as a country to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move our embassy there way back in 1995. So why wasn’t the embassy already in Jerusalem? Because each President has signed a delay order every six months stopping the move. Expect A Blessing So truly, it wasn’t President Trump who decided to move the embassy. That decision was made more than two decades ago. The difference is really what Trump didn’t do: He decided not to authorize the delay any longer. So the embassy move is happening, first to a temporary location, which occurred in May, and soon, to a permanent one. And I believe it will result in unprecedented blessing for our nation. Why would this action bless the United States? Because, in the Bible, God said “I will bless those that bless Israel” (Genesis 12:3). History has demonstrated that this decree is just as true today as it was when first promised some 4,000 years ago. The Amelekites, Jebusites, Canaanites – all the “ites” of history who persecuted Israel – have vanished. Only the Israelites remain. America has experienced the unprecedented blessings of God during our nearly quarter-millennia history, in part because of our treatment of the Jewish people. The Lord warns that anyone who touches her will be punished (see Zechariah 2:8-9). As Believers, we must look at Israel through God’s eyes and understand that He gave the Land of Israel to the Jewish people as an “eternal possession.” It is not the U.N. but Scripture that determines who the Land belongs to. God in His sovereignty gave this Land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Who are we to question His decision? While we don’t condone all that Israel does, we must understand that this is an unconditional promise in God’s Word. Moving our embassy is a concrete and irrefutable statement that we support Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This, by extension, reiterates Israel’s right to exist – something her Middle East neighbors will not yet acknowledge – and states loudly that the U.S. stands with Israel. And standing with Israel and the Jewish people is a central part of our mission at Jewish Voice. In this sixth edition in the Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures series: El Shaddai, God Almighty, you’ll meditate on inspiring verses describing our sustaining Almighty God. This encouraging volume contains Old and New Covenant verses written in English, Hebrew and the transliteration from Hebrew. Add To Cart Surprising Opposition The Jewish State of Israel is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. But those seven decades have been a long struggle from day one. Surrounded by enemies dedicated to its destruction, Israel has miraculously survived against all odds. Most recently, the opposition to Israel has come from a place we have sadly grown to expect: the United Nations (U.N.). While supposedly dedicated to equal treatment of all countries, the U.N. has shown shocking bias against Israel. Time and again, the U.N. has demonstrated outright anti-Semitism, going to ridiculous lengths to pass resolutions that criticize, isolate and punish Israel. In just the past few years, the U.N. has declared Israel to be tantamount to an apartheid state, asserting that it is: The world’s only violator of women’s rights and mental, physical and environmental health The cause of Palestinian acts of terror, which, on the other hand, were declared to be a natural response to Israel’s presence, and The reason Palestinian men beat their wives Perhaps most ludicrous of all, the U.N. adopted a resolution denying that Israel has any historic claim to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount or any other Jewish holy sites in the region. The UNESCO resolution instead defined all sites in the Holy Land strictly in Islamic terms and with only Arabic names, effectively declaring that neither Jews nor Christians have any connection to these holy sites. And now, in its latest anti-Israel and anti-Semitic move, the U.N. passed a draft resolution just this past December that declares it illegal for Israel to declare Jerusalem as its capital city. It was President Trump’s declaration that the U.S. will move its embassy to Jerusalem that prompted this resolution, which in turn, was vetoed in the Security Council by a single vote – that of the United States – but such a veto by any member is all it takes to kill a resolution. Resolutions aside, the reality is extremely well documented by both the Bible and secular historians: Jerusalem was established as the capital of Israel by King David 3,000 years ago, which is clearly affirmed in Scripture Modern Israel formally declared Jerusalem its capital in 1980. No other country in the world faces opposition to the location of its own capital city Although under Islamic control until 1967, the holy sites in Israel were not accessible to non-Muslims. Under Jewish control during the subsequent 50 years, all sites have been open to all people. The only exception is the Temple Mount, the holiest of all sites to Jewish people. That site is still restricted to Muslims Filled with interesting stories and background information, Dr. Michael Brown’s comprehensive guide answers the 60 most common questions Christians ask about Jewish people and culture. As a Messianic Believer, Dr. Brown provides articulate answers to questions about modern and historical Jewish practices and beliefs. Add To Cart The Backstory So, if a law was passed to move our embassy to the true capital of Israel back at the close of the 20th century, why haven’t subsequent presidents taken action before this? Here’s the background: The United States Congress in 1995 overwhelmingly passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and called for the U.S. to move its embassy there by May 31, 1999. But presidents from that time until now – Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama – have delayed acting on this law, setting it aside every six months “for security reasons.” Then in June 2017, the U.S. Senate commemorated the 50th anniversary of the reuniting of Jerusalem by unanimously affirming the Jerusalem Embassy Act and calling on the president to move the embassy. The bottom line is, we have good reason – and every right as a sovereign nation – to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. Failure to establish the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem would be to surrender to anti-Semitic, anti-Israel pressure from the U.N. and Israel’s many enemies. Even more important, that failure would go against God’s historic and prophetic plans for Israel, for Jerusalem, and for the ultimate return of His Son, Yeshua (Jesus). But, despite that strong evidence and with all that has happened to move the scenario forward, this matter is not settled. After stating his intention to make the move, President Trump, like his recent predecessors, initially signed a six-month waiver of the Jerusalem Embassy Act to allow time to plan the move. This set in motion a delay until 2019. As of this writing, the Trump administration has since altered that timeline and moved the embassy into temporary quarters in Jerusalem while construction begins on a structure in the planned permanent location. Guatemala became the first nation to follow suit, with a move of their own to Jerusalem two days later. This Isn’t Over But, in the interim, expect to see great pressure applied to thwart this permanent move. The New York Times recently asserted that the temporary diplomatic compound – in the former Diplomat Hotel – “is in Jerusalem but may not be in Israel.” Their assertion is based on the building lying partly in a contested zone known as No Man’s Land. No Man’s Land encompasses the area between the armistice lines drawn at the end of the 1948-49 war and was claimed by Jordan and Israel. Israel won full control of it in the 1967 war. While the U.N. and many of Israel’s enemies consider it occupied territory, the U.S. State Department is comfortable with the location because Israel and Jordan agreed to divide the contested area, and the hotel was in Israel’s allotted area. Beyond the war of words waged by some of the media, stronger opposition will come through the United Nations and, undoubtedly, from some of Israel’s enemies choosing less peaceable methods. In this sixth edition in the Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures series: El Shaddai, God Almighty, you’ll meditate on inspiring verses describing our sustaining Almighty God. This encouraging volume contains Old and New Covenant verses written in English, Hebrew and the transliteration from Hebrew. Add To Cart How You Can Pray Please join us at JVMI in praying for the peace of Israel. I close every one of our Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis television programs with this exhortation found in Psalm 122:6. We must pray for God’s plan for Israel and the Jewish people to be fulfilled, for the Messiah to be revealed in the hearts of Jew and Palestinian alike, and for His plan to be brought to completion, culminating in the Lord’s return to earth. Only then will true peace be realized. As for the embassy, we must not let this successful first step to temporary quarters in Jerusalem allow us to become complacent. We cannot rest until this embassy move is complete, and other nations of the world follow. Please continue to stand with Israel throughout the process and the likely opposition yet to come. I close with the words of Isaiah 62:6-7 (NIV): I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. Author Jonathan Bernis Categories Israel Share this article Related Articles Why We Should Care About Israel Today Hope for the Forgotten Jerusalem - God's Timeclock Standing With God for the Salvation of Israel Jerusalem - Impressions of a Believing Young Adult Israeli Featured Resource Add To Cart Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia

Jerusalem - God's Timeclock

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Donate Jerusalem - God's Timeclock “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” —Zechariah 12:2-3 KJV President Donald J. Trump is arguably the most pro-Israel president in history. He has proven this continuously. He has shown his courage by fulfilling a campaign promise of calling for the U.S. Embassy to be moved to Jerusalem in a December 6, 2017, speech at the White House. He further declared that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel. A majority of the U.S. State Department and Sunni Arab allies in the Middle East were in strong opposition. Top-level representatives, including leaders from the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), came on December 13 to Istanbul to agree on a joint stance against the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presided over the OIC meeting in Istanbul and addressed the opening and closing ceremonies of the summit. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are among 22 heads of state and government who were present at the summit. Some 25 foreign ministers were represented, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Kazakhstan. Saudi Arabia was represented by Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh bin Abdul- Aziz Al ash-Sheikh. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions on Thursday, December 21, 2017, for a resolution demanding that the United States rescind its declaration on Israel. None of these actions had any influence on President Trump’s and Vice President Mike Pence’s deep commitment to Jerusalem. The Arab League may be concerned as well, but they need the United States’ and Israel’s help against Iran. Their survival is a priority. Iran has developed advanced missiles that put every Sunni country that borders the Persian Gulf at risk. Israel has become an ally with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to contend with their mutual enemy Iran. President Trump stated at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance event at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, April 25, 2017: “This is my pledge to you: We will confront anti-Semitism. We will stamp out prejudice. We will condemn hatred. We will bear witness, and we will act. As president of the United States, I will always stand with the Jewish people, and I will always stand with our great friend and partner, the state of Israel.” - Trump’s Strong Support of Israel Trump’s Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, and his son-inlaw Jared Kushner, both orthodox Jews, have contributed millions of dollars to the West Bank and are deeply committed to Judea and Samaria. President Trump has said he favors a two-state plan, but that it is ultimately up to the Israelis and Palestinians. He has an excellent relationship with Israel’s PM, Benjamin Netanyahu He threatened to stop funding the UNHRC (U.N. Human Rights Council) over calling Israel an apartheid state His U.N. Ambassador, Nikki Haley, is bold and deeply committed to the state of Israel Ambassador Haley condemned the U.N. for their obsession with Israel His U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is a staunch supporter of Israel’s biblical right to her land His chief international envoy, Jason Greenblatt, is also a staunch Zionist Son-in-law Jared Kushner’s family financially supported settlement communities He is committed to honoring the $3.1 billion in annual aid to Israel, despite deep cuts at the State Department, and has interest in providing even more His strong security and defense teams fully understand that Iran is the main problem in the Middle East, and that they must be held accountable Trump’s Negotiation Strategy He wants Israel to live in peace and security but, at the same time, is fully aware of the history of the talks and of the Palestinians non-deal actions Bill Clinton and his team spent thousands of hours with Arafat, and Bush and Obama and their teams invested thousands of hours with Abbas. During that time, neither Arafat nor Abbas ever countered or accepted very generous deals offered or took responsibility for failed talks If Abbas is still in power, he will continue to try to hide behind and/or align with the Arab League, which has their own domestic problems with which to contend. Trump will have more influence with the Arab League via supporting them against their greatest fear, which is Iran Abbas’ statement this past year that an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is critical to the end of world terror was an absurd and false statement Abbas has been in the thirteenth year of a four-year term as PA President; his Fatah party is in the minority, with the terror group Hamas leading the Palestinians and fully controlling Gaza, which they secured in their brutal Gaza War with Fatah in 2007 In this sixth edition in the Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures series: El Shaddai, God Almighty, you’ll meditate on inspiring verses describing our sustaining Almighty God. This encouraging volume contains Old and New Covenant verses written in English, Hebrew and the transliteration from Hebrew. Add To Cart Trump’s Possible Regional Deal It appears that Israeli PM Netanyahu and Trump may be looking forward to a comprehensive regional deal with security cooperation that would also require a demilitarized Palestinian Authority and their acknowledgment of Israel as a Jewish state. The Palestinians have never been willing to accept the latter two contingencies and probably won’t again. But that very well might stop Israel from making peace with the Sunni Arab countries sponsored by President Trump to confront the region’s number one threat, Iran. Trump is a dealmaker, but he is also pragmatic. He may have been initially enamored by the elusive dream of being the world leader who brings peace, but reality usually sets in. There is no doubt that President Trump supports Israel and her right to live in peace and security, but the Bible says God gave the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. The biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria is not to be an Arab State, and East Jerusalem is not to be the capital of such a state. Additionally, the Obama administration’s empowerment of Iran, misguided decisions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and noncommittal stance on the Israeli concerns in the Middle East have given Russia the opportunity to fill the void. The Trump administration gave Russia a chance to be part of their U.S., Israel and Sunni Arab coalition last year rather than being aligned with Iran and Syria. Russia wasn’t interested and wants to maintain their independence and agenda, which could lead to the fulfillment of prophecies in Ezekiel 38–39, Jeremiah 49:35-39, Isaiah 17:1 and many others. We are living in the final days prior to the Messiah Yeshua coming to Jerusalem to reign for a thousand years, of which the Jewish prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel, Daniel, Ezekiel and Zechariah spoke. Furthermore, very few people understand the significance of these biblical times. Or maybe the Daniel 9:27 final-day covenant is in the works through a regional deal, setting the stage for the anti-Christ to come forward with the eventual final solution to be followed by Armageddon, the final battle for Jerusalem, followed by Yeshua’s return to Jerusalem. “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” —Revelation 22:20 KJV Filled with interesting stories and background information, Dr. Michael Brown’s comprehensive guide answers the 60 most common questions Christians ask about Jewish people and culture. As a Messianic Believer, Dr. Brown provides articulate answers to questions about modern and historical Jewish practices and beliefs. Add To Cart Author William Koenig Categories Middle East News Share this article Related Articles Moving the Embassy is the Right Thing To Do Why We Should Care About Israel Today Hope for the Forgotten Standing With God for the Salvation of Israel Jerusalem - Impressions of a Believing Young Adult Israeli Featured Resource Add To Cart Contact Financial Governance Press Releases Privacy Get Email Updates © 2018, Jewish Voice Ministries UK Site design and build by newmedia