What follows is that of what used to be included on my Welcome page, initially penned on 12-12 -12—the inception of my website. It dawned upon me not long ago, that perhaps those who are seeking to discern the gist of my web site are not always ready to delve into the deeper discussion of the Christian and modern day, geographical Israel, and what the Bible has to say about such. I’ve therefore repositioned such to this page, that the reader may better focus upon this pointed topic when ready, while retaining my Welcome page as just that—a Welcome.
What follows then, is a candid, informal, conversational-style discussion of the Christian and Israel, and what I tend to call “Neo-Zionism.”
I most typically avoid the more clinical, sterile, lifeless, exegetical and apologetic theological arguments which saturate Christian web sites around the world, chiefly here in the U.S., and which readily spawn debate, followed by argument, followed by hostile name-calling (within the Body of Christ, mind you). My informal discussion therefore, which again, I deem “conversational” in style, is what I strive for when I write. In so doing I attempt to write in such a way as to mirror a casual conversation taking place in one’s living room. This said, I may be duly charged with failing to allude to many additional excerpts of Scripture, which perhaps I should. But, and again, such practice then begins to mirror the Theological Position Papers adorning the web the world over, and which do nothing more than to reveal the intellectualizing of Jesus–further revealing that Jesus appears to reside nowhere within a given pontificate’s heart.
Quite honestly, at this juncture in my walk, I’m not interested in someone’s formal theological “position,” as much as I am rather interested in knowing their “position” on Jesus’ lap—as they sit upon such in the posture depicted in Mathew 18:3, “…like a little child…”. For if one’s Christian “position” does not begin there, it is perhaps time to start over (i.e., a “re-do”).
As I continue, please bear in mind the central mission of this website, as stated on the Welcome page: repentance—personal repentance and national repentance—most specifically aimed at the feeble remains of the founding fabric of the United States.
My mission and message herein could not be authenticated without the underlying reality of my personal repentance—ongoing. And it is my personal repentance which took on a new form, measure, intensity and velocity on November 4th of 2008 (presidential Election Day). For it was on November 4th of 2008 that I retreated into a period of deep introspection, with the intent that I would submit myself once again to God’s thorough housecleaning of my heart—every figurative room, corridor, chamber and closet. I thereafter discovered that God’s personal dealings with me in this regard would be pointedly prophetic of His call to the nation, the U.S., and namely the Church in the U.S., to do the same.
It was on November 4th of 2008 that the United States entered into an 8-year period of God’s severe judgment, in and through the lifting of His hands of grace. God figuratively lifted His hands from the nation, stepped-back, and said, “OK, here you go. You’ve wallowed in your own devices as a Church, for far too long. Now you can wallow in them for the next 8 years. When you’ve decided you’ve had quite enough of the utter destruction of your nation, and the purging of the Church, and you thereafter cry-out to me in repentance and contrition, I will again place my hands upon the nation, for a Season of Mercy.”
I often share my thoughts with 4 primary levels of honesty: 1) politically correct and socially acceptable honesty; 2) mildly disconcerting honesty; 3) rather uncomfortable honesty; and 4) brutal honesty—which can be shocking. With these levels of honesty in view, I will share that I have been forced to be brutally honest with myself, with others, and with the Western Church at large, in the wake of the unmistakable sign of God’s hand of markedly intensified judgment upon the U.S. as of January of 2008, which later shifted into figurative overdrive in January of 2012—and which has been presently halted temporarily via a season of mercy, as of January of 2016.
With the goal of ongoing personal repentance, as well as that of influencing and spawning national repentance, and that over many years at this stage; I have discovered that chief among issues of national repentance is that of the failure of our country, from January 2009 to January 2016, to bless the nation of Israel, and to rather curse the nation of Israel. As we, as a nation, would resume such ignorance in the future, we will ensure the complete destruction of the foundation of this once-great-nation. Please understand that as I iterate the call to “bless” Israel, I am not by any means challenging the reader to condone Israel’s present sins, which are many. Much to the contrary, I refer to that of blessing God’s sovereign End-Times workings therein–as He beckons to the Jewish Nation to accept the free gift of salvation in and through His Son–Yeshua–Jesus.
Once again, and barring my inclination to expand at length upon the exegetical facets of Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 12 as a whole; I will simply quote the verse, and with equal simplicity seek to impart spiritual sobriety in conversational terms, regarding the essence of this one verse, which reads:
“I will bless those who bless you [Israel], and I will curse those who curse you [Israel].”
In but cursory terms, the promise herein is first to the Jew, initially in the form of the blessing of the inheritance of Eretz Yisrael—the ancient prophetic promise—the “Land of Israel” — an inheritance in the form of witnessing the End-Times re-gathering or gathering-in of the Jewish Nation at large — a gathering as prelude to a collective bowing of the knee to the Lordship of Yeshua—Jesus. And secondly, a blessing to the Gentile, a spiritual blessing, in the form of the spiritual understanding and revelation of God’s habitation in their midst—the blessing of the fullness His presence and anointing upon the work of their hands as they so seek to serve Him while also honoring the “Apple of His Eye”—the Jewish people. This is the very real blessing of having been “grafted into the commonwealth of Israel” and the “covenants of promise” (please see Ephesians 2:12).
What is, precisely, “the commonwealth of Israel”? It can first be defined as literal geographic Israel. It can secondly be defined as the extended Body of Christ—Christians who have been joined-at-the-hip with their figurative “older brother”—the Jewish people at large, who, according to Romans 11:25-28, though presently “partially hardened (blinded),” will eventually meet the Deliverer, Who has covenanted to take away their sins, and Who calls them His “beloved, for the sake of their fathers” (v.28).
Once again, let the reader please understand that “blessing Israel” does not by any means call for ignorance of the sin of the Jewish people at large or the geographic nation of Israel presently. For those with finely honed discernment can readily see the grave sin lurking within the shadows of the nation, on many fronts. Much rather, the blessing of Israel, the Jewish people, and the geographical nation, as a Christian, means firstly praying for the peace of Jerusalem: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you” (Psalm 122:6).
“Blessing Israel” secondly, means sharing the love of God—the love of Yeshua—Jesus, by demonstrating the love of God to the nation. In saying this, I again allude to Romans 11:25-28, which reads in part: “…a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written…this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
Western theology has long espoused this notion that at one stage in the End-Times God will figuratively wave a wand and the eyes of “the blinded Jews” will instantly be opened to recognize the Lordship of Jesus the Messiah. Consider this; what if the “fullness of the Gentiles” not only refers to the completion of world evangelism, but connotes this “fullness” to denote a level of Christian maturity so potent that all who come in contact with such (including Jews) are convicted by the power of God as they see the “fullness” of Jesus the Messiah at work in their hearts? May I say that it is my deep conviction that the eyes of the Jewish people will be opened as the result of their collective encounters with the profound love of God working through Christians who have allowed God’s love to so move through them—into the hearts of the “Apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8) that their hearts melt like wax in His presence.
My conviction herein is rooted in many personal experiences on Israeli soil, and over a period of several years. For it is when the love of God and the presence of Yeshua—Jesus resides in one’s heart so deeply that this love oozes and overflows at every turn, that those who witness such are spiritually arrested and seek to draw near to what it is they are witnessing. For within Israeli culture, what a person does, as demonstrated by a Christian, speaks far more profoundly than what a person speaks, as a Christian. This could certainly be applied universally, but especially so in Israel.
When one demonstrates the reality of Jesus, spiritual blindness begins to dissipate, and those being healed of such blindness begin to draw near and thereafter ask for an explanation as to what they are witnessing. At this stage the Believer, the Messenger, has earned the right to add words to their deeds—which then equates to raw power—power which heals spiritual blindness: “…my [Apostle Paul] message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
The call to salvation is most certainly going out to the ends of the earth via the Great Commission, and to every tribe and tongue, for God is willing that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). My focus upon the Jew is that in countering the shocking level of hatred toward the same, even among Christians, a hatred which is beginning to look like the re-emergence of Nazi Germany at this juncture. At its core is Satan himself, and His hatred of God’s ancient (i.e., long-standing) love affair with the Jewish Nation. Herein lay the most direct answer to the 70 year old question as to how and why the Nazi Holocaust came to be. It was Satan, unleashing the fullness of his hatred toward the Jew, through one man initially, who was wholly yielded to the same.
For the sake of brevity (and the waning attention span of the average American); “blessing Israel” means understanding and acting upon the reality, the spiritual reality, that God’s heart for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel is one which acts with vengeance upon those who seek to destroy the same. This said, it is startling to discover and understand the ongoing and irrefutable correlation between major “natural” catastrophes which have afflicted the United States, and the secret deeds of our government done in the shadows to forsake Israel. The evidence is irrefutable, in the form of an astonishing timeline of curses upon Israel and the subsequent curses upon us, as a nation.
Between January of 2009 and January of 2016, the United States defiantly turned her collective back upon Israel—evoking the “curse” promised in Genesis 12:3. It is hereafter that the remaining fragments of the soul of this once-great nation are at high-risk of being excised and cast to the wayside, making way for the further establishment of a tyrannical government at war with God Himself. This grave condition is in large part the result of the collective resolve of our nation to curse Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, the Jewish Nation, and the Apple of God’s Eye (Zechariah 2:8). We are presently being granted mercy—a season of mercy—as our current president honors the Apple of God’s Eye.
A vital element has been missing from much of the Western contemporary Christian experience, and which has been purposefully obscured by much of the Western, Americanized Church. And no, it is not “Zionism” as it is commonly understood. And no, it is not the corresponding and erroneous beliefs in Dispensationalism and a “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” (Neo-Zionism). Nor is it the undue focus upon a rebuilding of a Third Temple in Israel.
(By the way, I happen to believe that the answer to the question of the Rapture is “hidden-in-plain-sight,” in the form of John 16:33, and the words of Jesus: “…in the world you will have tribulation…”).
There are many excerpts of Scripture which readily affirm my conviction (the entirety of Matthew Chapter 24 and 25, for example) on the topic of the Great Tribulation. Sparing the reader the exegetical departure however, I will simply assert that very often the answer to the most complex question is that which can be found in very simple terms; terms simple enough for a child to understand them (please see Matthew 18:3).
Herein find the prophetic cup of coffee that a large cross-section of the Church in America has woefully ignored. For the fruited plain of this nation is adorned with thousands of “mega-churches,” multi-million dollar ministries which manufacture hype and hoopla on a weekly basis, spoon-feeding the masses “Christianity Lite,” and which when empty, lay barren and devoid of the fullness of God’s habitation—in part because of their unveiled disdain (curses) toward the Nation of Israel, among other corporate sins. Their failure to acknowledge and further discover the ancient jewels represented within the treasure chest of the foundation of their very faith—their Israeli-Hebraic roots—prevents them from stepping into the fullness which God has in store for them as a ministry or congregational body. No, I am not alluding to, espousing and selling the “Hebrew Roots Movement” nor the “Messianic Movement.” I rather underscore the reality, as stated earlier, that the Christian is figuratively joined-at-the-hip with the Jewish people, and the geographical nation of Israel, having been grafted-into the commonwealth of such: “…He [Jesus] made both groups into one…that He might make the two into one new man…” (Ephesians 2:14-16). Equally, “…you, being a wild olive, were grafted in…and became partaker of them with the rich root of the olive tree…” (Romans 11:17). And, not unlike Siamese Twins, wherein one meets the Lord and the other wars against Him; I see pressing need for the redeemed “twin” to offer the free gift to the other–with such love and conviction and fiery authority that it is simply irresistible.
There is therefore the ethnic Jew, the practicing Jew (whether ethnic or not), and the spiritual Jew–the Christian–who is often wholly unaware that they are joined-to-the-hip with the ethnic Jew (i.e., “one new man”). Laterally, consider this from the Apostle Paul: “…he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly…” (Romans 2:28-29).
The welfare and destiny of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel is intrinsic to the life of the Christian. To ignore such, or worse, to become angry and hate-filled whenever the words “Jew” or “Israel” are mentioned, is not unlike pursuing a healthy body through a diet rich in fruit and vegetables—while laterally chain smoking and drinking a bottle of whiskey a day–and while yet expecting to remain in perfect health. Hello?
Allow me for just a moment, to insert a seemingly ill-timed “aside” within this conversation. There is a reason that the Western Church, and the Church Universal (i.e., the Church at large) spoke relative little of Israel 70 years ago. It is because the rebirth of Israel had yet to occur. The rebirth of Israel did in fact occur, in 1948 to be precise, and that to fulfill Isaiah 66:8. And, as End-Times events continue to rapidly unfold, Israel will continue to emerge as a focal-point, “center stage” if you will, especially so in light of further unfolding prophecies within the books of Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Psalms and Revelation. This said, those who suggest that “undue focus” upon Israel in this hour is nothing more than “yet another deceptive trend within the Body of Christ,” are those who are themselves deceived.
It should be equally noted at this point, that I am not advocating that Christians deny their faith and rather embrace Judaism. Hardly, what I am advocating is that of the discovery of the riches within the history and culture of our “older brother” — the Jewish Nation, Israel. The Apostle Paul himself stated, “…no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—things which are a mere shadow of what is to come, but the substance is to Christ” (Col. 2:16-17). Yet hidden within this “shadow” is historical substance and tradition, much of which represents tremendous prophetic significance, and which enriches our understanding of the panoramic view throughout the ages of God’s dealings with the “apple of His eye,” as well as the implications of such for us in the 21st Century.
The Western Church readily acknowledges and affirms the Believer who “feels called” as a missionary to Africa, or Chile, or China, or Russia. However when a Believer voices “feeling called” to Israel, to the Jewish people at large, suddenly Christian onlookers are filled with rage, and even hatred. Ask yourself why this is (?). It is one thing to debunk and expose the erroneous theological tenets within what I refer to as “Neo-Zionism” (further defined below); it is one thing altogether different to then go on to scorn, ridicule and condemn the Nation of Israel and every Christian who holds a deep love for Israel and the Jewish people at large, by glibly and rashly referring to them as “Zionists!” For the fact of the matter, and as I have pointed out at a few junctures thus far, is that there are theologically-toxic elements within what has become of Zionism (i.e., Neo-Zionism) in the 21st century, to include a growing number of Christians who have learned aversions to any mention of the Cross, the Blood, or the very name of Jesus. Yet conversely so, there is a rapidly growing number of Christians the word over who are being personally called to reveal Jesus to the nation of Israel, and who have subsequently received a profound love for their “older brother” – the Nation of Israel. And it is in and through this profound love that millions of Jews will meet their Messiah.
An often overlooked verse within the “Tanach” (Heb., Tanakh), the Old Testament, and which is known within practicing Jewish circles in a division of the Tanach known as “The Prophets;” we find nestled deep within the Book of Jeremiah, a verse from chapter 50, and verse 5, which reads:
“They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.”
Interesting to note, is that the name “Jeremiah” in Hebrew literally means, “YVWH throws.” And as I deem Jeremiah 50:5 to represent a “prophetic pearl” for this hour, realize that a pearl has been “thrown” your way—a pearl which I encourage you to closely examine for its authenticity as you continue reading.
I deem Jeremiah 50:5 a “prophetic pearl” for this reason: The historical context of this verse places it within the framework of the ancient destruction of Babylon. Following such, and emerging from the dust, rubble and debris, is a picture of a sea of shell-shocked survivors crying:
“Please show us the way to Zion!”
Recall that Zion means quite literally, “the pure of heart.”
In addition to the two instances in history in which literal Babylon (Iraq) has fallen in great measure (past tense), messianic scholars yet look to another instance of literal Babylon falling in the future. Personally, I hold a very different view of the “Mystery Babylon” alluded to in Revelation 17 and 18. I contend that there is both a literal Babylon, and a figurative (“Mystery”) Babylon. Please bear with me as we alight upon this theme for just a moment, that I might in turn “point the way to Zion” – a place of purity of heart.
With historical context in view, I take license at this stage to offer you in addition, an expository application, a prophetic application, which I believe speaks rather profoundly of much of our planet at this stage in history, and certainly very pointedly of the country in which I currently reside—the United States (potentially rather known as the United Socialist States). For through our repeated defiance of God; the protracted and marinated state of our lukewarm-ness as a Church nationally; and the collective decision as a majority to repeatedly turn our backs upon Israel; we are quickly marching into the very destruction depicted in chapter 50 of Jeremiah, and doing so as figurative “Babylon.”
I have for maybe 20 years or more felt that the United States is the very “Mystery Babylon” and “harlot” spoken of throughout the Book of Revelation; wherein but “one hour” she is reduced to fiery ashes.
The economy has never actually recovered from the crash of early 2009. Mainstream news media (the Establishment Media, to be more direct) for example suggests the unemployment rate is “5.6%”, when in fact it is all of 23%–and climbing. As the economic underpinnings continue to topple, so the superficial underpinnings of much of formalized religion will topple, as most of such represents nothing more than a business, perpetuated by cunning marketing practices, and that wholly bereft of God’s favor and endorsement (i.e., His presence). Many of these religious structures and organizations are personal ministry empires—woefully removed from God’s purposes. As these structures topple under the pressure of financial strain, so millions of disillusioned Christians will emerge from beneath the dust, rubble and debris, also crying:
“Please show us the way to Zion!”—the place of purity of heart—the place nestled within the epicenter of God’s ways and means—His perfect will—discerned only through a posture of contrition, brokenness and humility before Him.
What the masses will be crying-out for, is that to know and experience the full, authentic habitation of God in their midst, and to dwell within the Church “not made with hands.” It is at this stage, as this nation and people are brought to our knees in desperation to know God’s full habitation, that Zion, “the pure of heart,” will emerge in the form of thirsty spiritual pilgrims—repenting en masse, that God have mercy upon the calculated Marxist destruction of the nation, and corresponding mercy upon the end-product of hirelings and harlotry within the Western Church. It is at this point in history; a point in history that I see unfolding upon the horizon; that I will continue my resolve to point the way to Zion (a place of purity of heart before the Lord), and to challenge each and every soul that is capable, to make a personal pilgrimage to their figurative Western Wall–a meeting place between them and God alone–to carry out a profound measure of teshuvah—a turning away from impurity, and a turning-to a place of purity of heart.
Many lovers of Scripture who reside in the U.S. have remained puzzled as to why the United States appears to have no significant place of mention within the framework of eschatology (the End Times or Last Days, as found in Scripture). Though I realize this comes as a sting to one’s national pride, I must be honest in saying that the reason the U.S. appears to have no significant place of mention or role in the latter stages of the End Times, is because it is presently, as I type in fact, subtly sliding-into a state of global irrelevancy, as the result of God’s judgment herein, which in turn is the result of a nation which, as a majority, has repeatedly turned its back upon the Jewish Nation–instead of speaking redemption to the same–in and through declaring the Lordship of Jesus therein.
The panoramic history of the Jewish people, and the Jewish nation, is a life-lesson to the Christian Church, for God’s profound dealings with the Jewish people, your figurative “older brother” who has gone before you, are critical to understand and embrace as you continue to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Your servant,
David
PressOnward(at)yandex.com
