Did We Learn Anything? What could we have learned? In this retro-piece from September 2011 in the aftermath of the horror of the 9/11 attack on US soil, Asher Intrater's insights still ring as true today as they did 18 years ago. Many have completely forgotten what everyone so acutely understood that day, including the Church. Perhaps today we will hear the spiritual message in this article.
The same spirit of terrorism, which attacks Israel, is also against America, and in a certain sense, against evangelical Christians everywhere. The more that Christians see this connection, the better the defense against the attacks.
As a Christian pastor friend asked me, Where were the prophets? Why wasn't there a prophetic alert to this event? In a sense the warnings coming out of Israel were a prophetic alert, but it was not recognized as such. The timing of the second and third plane crashes, along with the lack of US intelligence, pointed to a supernatural influence greater than the terrorists themselves.
This disaster was obviously a huge attack of demonic forces as well. However as both buildings collapsed directly on top of themselves without falling sideways, we became aware that this was more than the work of satanic forces.
In modern times, the United States has been the godliest nation on earth. God has blessed America with an almost unimaginable financial prosperity. The World Trade Center was exactly what its name implied - the center of world commerce. Unfortunately, many Americans have been more impressed with their blessings than with the God who gave them those blessings.
Beauty and the Beast | In the book of Revelation, there are several symbolic images. One is the picture of a beautiful woman who is also called the "bride" of Christ. This beautiful woman represents the people of God upon the earth. The people of God are seen as getting ready to "marry" the Messiah.
This woman is pictured in chapter 12 as engaged in a battle with the dragon Satan. In chapter 19 she is described as having purified herself in holiness and good works. In chapter 21 she is described as the heavenly city of Jerusalem descending to be joined with earthly Jerusalem below.
These symbolic pictures represent three issues central to the Church in the end times: spiritual warfare, personal purity and identification with Israel.
This bride of the Messiah is also described in the Song of Songs. The beautiful maiden is described as being made up of "two camps" or the "double camp" (So. of So. 6:13). The two parts of this camp are Israel and the Church. By the Church we mean the international community of true evangelical believers. By Israel we mean the restored spiritual remnant of the nation.
At this time these two camps are not united. The Church is mostly separated from her Jewish roots, and Israel is still mostly hardened to faith in Yeshua. However the trend of the end times will be for the two to grow more united. Yeshua's bride will be healed of her "schizophrenia" by the time He returns.
America is not the Church. However it is the country most identified with Christianity, and contains within it a strong community of believers. The nation of Israel has not yet been restored to its full spiritual level, but it is in process and the seed remnant within it is growing all the time. While the two nations, America and Israel, are not the "Bride," they do represent that bride within the conflict of international politics and religion. Terrorist groups and militant Islamic clerics condemn America and Israel as "the big Satan and the little Satan." In that statement we can see a mirror image of a certain spiritual truth.
Beauty and the Beast (part II) | Another major symbolic image in the book of Revelation is a spiritual monster called the "Beast." The beast is a political-military-religious conglomerate empowered by the devil. Its job is to attack the people of God. In our day it can be seen as a coalition against Israel and America. The beast, wherever it is found, fights against biblical values, persecutes missionaries, and advocates anti-Semitism.
In the thirties and forties, the spirit of the beast was found mostly in Nazism; in the fifties through the seventies, mostly in Communism. In our time, it is found mostly in militant Islamic groups, particularly with the backing of the UN. The voice of the beast was heard at the recent Durban UN Conference on Racism, in which radical Islamic groups marshaled an international coalition against Israel.
America and Israel were the only two countries to walk out. The attack on America followed immediately after that conference. The same spontaneous celebrations of dancing in the streets were seen during Iraqi scud missile attacks on Israel in the Gulf War, and in the first television coverage of the attack on the World Trade Center.
I am NOT saying that the Arab people are the beast. (Quite the contrary, as a Jew, I feel a kinship with Arabs, particularly Palestinians). They are not the Beast anymore than the Germans because of Nazism or the Russians because of Communism, or for that matter the Jews for having "killed Christ." Islam itself is not the beast. However, the great majority of the terrorist attacks on America, Israel, and around the world come from Islamic groups. Most of the persecution of Christian missionaries comes from Islamic groups.
The Bride and the Whore | Another symbolic image in the book of Revelation is the Great Whore. The Whore is the spiritual counterfeit and perversion of the Great Bride. The Whore goes wherever the Bride is. The two spirits, one clean and one unclean, are found next to one another. The purpose of the spirit of the Whore is to defile the Bride (the community of true believers) internally, and then disqualify her in the eyes of the rest of the world. The Whore is the spirit of lust, greed, and moral decadence. The description of this symbolic image is found in Revelation chapters 18 & 19 (and in a few other biblical passages, such as Zechariah 5). Wherever the Church or the Bride is found, there will also be counterfeit spirits of lust, greed, and moral decadence. Why is this so?
God desires to bless the Church. The first blessing is financial prosperity. Whichever country has the strongest church eventually becomes the wealthiest. This wealth is not only to demonstrate God's covenant blessings, but also to help the church finance world evangelism and help the poor. The second blessing to the church is influence in culture and communication. Whichever country has the strongest church, their culture will soon become the dominant world culture. The third blessing is political dominance. This power is to help bring social justice and order to the world. These three blessings (financial prosperity, cultural influence, and political dominance) are meant for good. However, they also provide the fertile ground for the sins of lust, greed, and moral decadence. This is another reason why the Whore is found in such close proximity to the Bride.
America is not the Great Whore. However, the spirit of the Whore is most found in America. Scenes of lust, greed, and moral decadence are projected all over the world through movies from Hollywood, advertising from Madison Avenue and entertainment from cable TV networks. There is a parallel dynamic in Israel - perhaps instead of "the great Satan and the little Satan," we might call the worldliness in America and Israel as "the big whore and the little whore."
America, as the dominant nation of the world, contains the greatest spirit of the Bride and the greatest spirit of the Whore. There is a constant struggle between purity and decadence. In some ways that struggle between purity and carnality is found within the soul of every believer. The Holy Spirit influences him toward purity. The spirit of the world influences him toward carnality.
For those who are under the spirit of Islam, it is impossible to see the Bride because of their different religious orientation. Therefore when they see America, they see only the Whore, not the Bride. Radical Muslims see America as to blame for the moral decadence of the West. They believe that they have been given a divine mandate from Allah to rid the world of moral decadence. Since they see America as the source of moral decadence, that mandate is translated into working to destroy America. Saddam Hussein's remark after the World Trade Center attack was that it was Allah's punishment for America's decadence and for its support of Israel.
One of the most astonishing factors in this spiritual battle is that God is able to take what the devil meant for evil and turn it to His purposes for good. While the Dragon empowers the Beast in order to kill the Bride, God uses these attacks of the Beast to purify the Bride. "And the ten horns, which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose." Revelation 17:16-17
In an ironic way, God has allowed militant Muslim terrorists to so hate the moral decadence of the West that they are willing to attack. And so God uses this to His purposes. In one and the same event, there is a demonic attack against the people of God AND a judgment of God to purify His people. The purpose of end times judgments and disasters is to bring the people of the world to repentance (Revelation 9:20-21).
I do NOT believe that the fall of the World Trade Center is the ultimate fall of Babylon from Revelation 18. However, I do believe it is an example of the demonic attack and the divine judgment described there. In the end times there are these two great evils: the Whore and the Beast. The Church and Israel find themselves attracted to the Whore and attacked by the Beast. God wants to separate the Bride from the Whore and to protect the Bride from the Beast. "I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her my people, lest you share in her sins and lest you receive of her plagues.'" Revelation 18:4
God's purposes are not only to separate the Bride from the Whore, but also to destroy the Beast. At the second coming, Yeshua (Jesus) Himself will destroy the Beast. "These [the ten horns and kings of the Beast] will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them. For He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings." Revelation 17:14
This new war is not a conventional war. It is a spiritual war against the Beast and the Whore. It is a twofold battle, against terrorism and against worldliness. Bombing Afghanistan will have little effect on the root causes. What then is the solution?
Spiritual battles are won by words. We must be come to God in repentance and confession of sin. We must pray in spiritual warfare to bind the forces of terrorism and militant Islam. We must teach about Israel, the Church, and the second coming of Jesus. In the light of these events, people around the world will be more open to the gospel than ever before. The end times are not only a time of tribulation, but also of great harvest. Let us preach the gospel to Jew and Arab, to white and black, to rich and poor, and we will see the victory of the kingdom of God established on the earth.
Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Talking with a fellow 2-decade Christian supporter of the Israeli
Ministries yesterday, my friend remarked how shocked she was to read through
the prayer points list of a major American group that holds an annual 'Prayer
for Israel' day. Some major Christian ministry leader names are on the board of
this group, YET THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE PRAYER POINT FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL TO
ISRAELIS OR FOR THE ISRAELI MESSIANIC MINISTRIES WHO ARE SHARING THE FAITH IN
ISRAEL. At this late date, it is a grief to see this level of spiritual
blindness still working in so many 'Israel supporter' Christians.
By the way Hallel's father, Yariv Goldman, who recently took over as head
of Hands of Mercy is also taking the humanitarian
organization into greater evangelistic outreach to the needy areas of South
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem where they are working with the orthodox, lone soldiers,
drug addicts, prostitutes and the homeless. Under their current outreach to the
ultra-orthodox they began a project with lone soldiers finding that a great
majority of lone soldiers are from ultra-orthodox families.
Kehila also shares a good report on Oneness:
Asia Messianic Forum 2019 and a A letter of repentance penned by
Carolyn Hyde, Heart of God ministry near the sea of Galilee.
The Sept ministry letter from Tony and Orna Sperandeo of the Hamaayan
congregation in Kfar Saba highlights the Israeli elections (9/17) and asks for
prayers that God will establish a righteous government that will bring Him
glory. Also asking prayers for " our troops and citizens, for safety and
protection from the rockets" with a rise in warfare. In the midst of the
unrest "we see a new openness to the Gospel of Yeshua. Daily we hear
testimonies of members of our congregation sharing the Gospel message with
people on the street or in stores." This is by Divine design for the
salvation of Israel! For all the prayer points of news from the congregation,
it is online here.
From Shira Sorko-Ram of Maoz Ministries in Tel Aviv Israel
couldn't live without it...THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD. "Throughout
history, Israel's fate depended on its closeness to God, and that depended on
whether or not they knew what He has said in His Word." It still does. Read
the article online and take part in their efforts to bring the whole bible to
Israelis in Hebrew by translating
the Narrated Bible in Chronological Order. Also in Sept Maoz Israel
Report: Oldest Alphabet Identified as Hebrew | Feed Tel Aviv | Translating this Bible into Hebrew
Orna Grinman, A Sign & Example asks, " What is causing you so
much pain, tormenting you and pushing your buttons, so to speak? We all have
our battlegrounds....Over the years we have developed a special and powerful
course, designed to help the believer live life in a manner in which God’s
glory replaces the shame, the guilt and the fear – a tool that is designed
exactly for this purpose of gaining victory over these battlegrounds. This
course is based on the pattern of the Tabernacle built by Moses." Will You
Let Him Tabernacle Within You? Read in full online
Asher Intrater's Revive Israel
article Lion and
Lamb Pt 1, There are "two images of the Messiah
throughout the Law and the Prophets. One is a suffering servant; the other is
conquering king." Also 2 videos Calling
Spiritual Fathers & Sons | Cody Archer with Don
Finto and Tod McDowell, and Jeremiah Smilovici shares When to Confront?
See also explanation of Yom Kippur The appointed
times
Howard Bass is reflecting on 9/11/2001: "I learned this week that
only about 20% of Muslims are Arabs, and that about 98% of Arabs are Muslims....
This week Sept 11, 2001 (9/11) will be remembered.... . Islamic terror came up-close and personal to
America, yet the deceptive spin to not understand the political agenda of the
Islamic religion continues to blind the minds of many. This can be expected by "the world"
and those "of the world". But
when Jews and Christians are unable or unwilling to see, then we know that
darkness is covering the Earth, and deep darkness the peoples." Pray for the opening of blind eyes as the
issue becomes increasingly dangerous for believers to remain willfully blind.
There is also much news of family & congregation in the latest from
Bass in Beer Sheva, including the engagement of son Evan to Joyanna, a med
student in Haifa. The Beer Sheva congregation has many Christian intl med
students doing their studies in Israel, Bass asks for prayers for them and for
many other points. If you are a subscriber to the Weekly Summary, read them
there or subscribe directly to the Inheritance of Yeshua congregational
ministry e-letter.
Avi Teckle, the leader at Tents of Mercy in Kiryat Yam, is an Ethiopian
Israeli and he has penned an article The Battle of Race
after the recent Israeli-Ethiopian protests " the legitimate rage of a
community pour into the streets like a volcanic eruption. Whereas Ethiopian
Israelis are typically humble, meek, and compliant, the undeserved death of 19
year Solomon Tekka, was the straw that broke the “camel’s back,” driving
thousands of Ethio-Israelis to violently demonstrate and block major
roads."
Please read and understand that while in exile throughout the world Jews
immersed in other cultures which having been regathered to Israel by God, they
continue to have as their personal 'tribal' heritage. This is not a bad thing
at all - but at this point, it may be that mostly only those who are followers
of Yeshua in addition to their
Jewish heritage and the cultural heritage from their lands in exile, have the
spiritual overview that sees how true unity and diversity can co-exist in
spirit and in truth.
Avi writes in the Tents ministry letter of their summer activities and
the blessing of giving as they seek to do a ROSH HASHANAH FOOD BASKETS
outreach to 600 needy local families. Also the "BARUCH
HaBa TOUR REGISTRATION IS OPEN! For more details about
joining us on this tour, visit our website or send us an email. We would
love to have you with us!"
From Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem, Chuck Cohen sends Friday
Prayer Points 9/6/2019 This week Security issues are
covered extensively, as well as the upcoming elections and Fall feasts (Click
to read in full)
Dan &; Patty Juster's Sept personal ministry letter finds them back in
Israel and settling into their new apartment home which is the floor below
where their daughter, her husband and four children live. It is a blessing the
Juster's feel great about. Now they are planning to head to Singapore on 9/14
for the TJC2 initiative to bring some major Asian church leaders together in
unity in support of the goals and purposes of TJCII. They could still use some help paying for
their travel expenses for this trip which they must cover from their own
resources.
Son Ben Juster has just been installed as an elder in the Jerusalem
Messianic congregation, Melech HaMalchim under the leadership of Oded and Sandy
Shoshani. "We are so proud of him
and his wife Lorena. This was a major
milestone in their journey with the Lord." Dan writes, "Ben will be
traveling to the States next week to represent us at the 20th anniversary of
the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. We have been blessed to be connected to Mike
Bickle, the main leader of IHOP, since 1990.
IHOP has been committed to pray for Israel and for the Messianic
believers and leaders in the Land for over 20 years."
To read all of the Juster's ministry activities, subscribe at the new website. This month they are
offering Dan's new book Heaven, Hell and
the After Life, What the Bible Really Teaches for a contribution of $25
(just include a note that you want the book too)
Jackie shares Eddie's ability to see the news from the perspective of
what God is doing - that is quite evident in her ministry letter this week and
earlier. As she writes about the current situation this week, "These are
just a few of the situations that are surrounding us and affecting us on a
daily basis. The spiritual warfare is definitely becoming more intense on every
side and not the least of which is the growing anti semitism around the world.
And yet we are also moving forward in the midst of all this difficulty and are
grateful for the blessings that we experience each and every day. God is in our
midst and His hand is upon us! And so, through all that is going on- the
political uncertainty, the warfare on the borders, the stresses of life in a
Jewish country that must fight for its life daily and for us as believers who
must deal with the spiritual battle that rages against our faith, and even
through the miracle of the blessings and progress we are making, we keep our
eyes on Yeshua, the author and perfector of our faith. He is good and his mercy
endures forever! No matter what is happening...." Read in full here. To receive the ministry letters
of Jackie Santoro from Jerusalem, contact her through esant777@gmail.com
Urgent HEALING Needs: Life and Death is
in the power of the tongue
Please keep in prayer these Israeli ministry leaders
and believers with urgent health needs
CONTINUE
to PRAY for the urgent healing needs of Jacob Damkani | Ronit Bender sends
this update: My cough is gone mostly, my heart valve is still
leaking but my lungs are fine. I totally have peace about my health, although
it is far from great. I still appreciate prayer, as I need it. I am very
grateful they let me travel in October and November both to Australia and
Holland. Please continue to pray for Ronit | Shlomy Abramov of Awake Israel,
because of a condition where blood does not flow to his legs as it should, was
advised by a specialist in case of injuries, he could lose his leg because of
the blood flow issues. Shlomy has to wrap his legs daily because of the blood
flow issues. Please pray for Shlomy | Ruth Nessim has recovered from a strong
2-month bout with Sciatica, but her most critical prayer need which she says
may required an operation. Please pray for Ruth in Nahariya| Olga Bikas’s
health condition that seems to have become chronic, with no hope from the
doctors for any improvement in the future. This, no doubt, puts an additional
emotional and physical burden on our family. Please pray for her acute back
pain. | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and
complete healing.
Teaching Articles
The Cycle Repeats Itself
The Cycle Repeats Itself
by Guy Cohen, Harvest of Asher in Akko
www.harvestofasher.org
www.harvestofasher.org
Oftentimes when reading bible prophecy, we make the mistake of coming to
the conclusion that it happened and that's the end of it. There is an important
principal to note here.
It is that as long as mankind remains in
sin and out of God's Will, there are events which will repeat themselves.
In respect to Israel, God
says that He will scatter her among the nations and draw out a sword after her;
her land will be desolate and her cities waste. Leviticus 26:33 Why does God
let Israel remain in a state of lack of security; wanting only peace but
continually living with the threat of war?
In Jeremiah 50:33 we read
that Israel was in the hands of her captors. Throughout history Babylon was
against Israel. We were exiled by the Babylonians and spent seventy years in
the diaspora. During this period in Babylon we thought about and mourned for
Zion and Jerusalem. Psalm 137
Jerusalem is the place
where everyone gathers together. It is a place of unity where people put
themselves in submission to God covered under His banner. Babylon is a place of
confusion where the people are
separated. Genesis 11:9 This happens
when we attempt to build according to our way and not God's.
Babylon is not yet
destroyed and according to Jeremiah 50:40 it will be like Sodom and Gomorrah;
no one will sit in this place. When will the time of Babylon's destruction
according to Jeremiah be? I believe it is connected to the end time war spoken
of in Revelation 18.
What is Babylon? Is it a
city in Iraq, is it every city or any city? I believe Babylon is a system that
men have raised up against God. A system when mankind attempts to build in
man's spirit or a spirit of this world which is raised up against God's way and
His system or structure.
Within this worldly system
are all those elements spoken of in Revelation 18 for judgement against
Babylon. Their corruption, covetousness, greed and immorality made them
materially rich and led them to pursue a luxurious lifestyle. Yet as they
prostituted themselves they became spiritually bankrupt. Babylon became a
habitation for demons, a prison for every foul spirit and a cage for every
unclean and hated bird! In the end their pride even led them to sorcery and
killing of the prophets and saints. This effected all the kings and nations and
would also effect the people of God if they remained. vs.4
So we are called to come
out of Babylon. In my view Babylon represents every city or system which does
not give glory to God; it's end will be like Sodom and Gomorrah, hence the
cycle repeating itself.
Iran is part of the Persian
Empire of old and today we see the same effort being made by that government to
eliminate Israel and the people of God. I believe that their actions will open
the door for their own destruction as the Lord comes to our defense. Their main
purpose of a nuclear bomb is to wipe out Israel; the land and the people. They
are active in many ways to achieve this goal and to cause havoc and destruction
along Israel's northern border, border with Gaza as well as other locations
throughout the land.
This will take us to the
end time war when our Savior, our protector Yeshua will come for the redemption
of Israel. All God has ever wanted from Israel from the beginning is that we
would trust in Him. Our weakness is our trust in mankind and the kingdoms and
governments of this world; not in God alone.
Yes, in the physical we
will stand alone during that time and no Israel is not walking in holiness.
However, we are the promised people and land because He chose us and He will
redeem us as He said He would. In Jeremiah 50:34 we see the beginning of the
completion of the cycle. God allowed us to go into captivity yet He will
fight our fight that He may give rest to the land.
Donna Diorio
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
Donations appreciated
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paypal.me/DonnaDiorio
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By postal mail make payable to the order of Donna Diorio
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
I do not have tax exempt status.
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
I do not have tax exempt status.
