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"MoRIEL"<br />

GOD IS MY TEACHER<br />

April/June 20 0 Iyar/Sivan/Tamuz 5770<br />

No. 42<br />

T Y P O L O G Y <strong>of</strong> T H E<br />

<strong>IN</strong> <strong>THIS</strong> <strong>ISSUE</strong>: “ <strong>The</strong> Value <strong>of</strong> Signs & Wonders”<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly


Thank You from the Administrator<br />

Dear Friends <strong>of</strong> <strong>Moriel</strong>:<br />

S<br />

2 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

Jacob and David to visit the Far East<br />

"MoRIEL"<br />

GOD IS MY TEACHER<br />

Starting on June 14 th Jacob and I will make a big circle around the Far East, starting<br />

in Japan, moving onto Singapore, then to Australia and ending in Tasmania and<br />

New Zealand. We would both ask for your prayers for traveling mercies and that we<br />

will complete everything we need to do while there. Also, prayers for our hosts and<br />

God’s blessings on them.<br />

Jacob to Land in America Summer / Fall Tour<br />

You will find Jacob’s current schedule on page 13 <strong>of</strong> this Quarterly. But, we are still<br />

working on some dates, so check the website for the latest information<br />

Prayer Needs<br />

Jacob’s health . . . While he has his heart issues under control, he is still battling<br />

to find the right balance <strong>of</strong> medications for his neck. His current meds are causing<br />

stomach complications and irritations <strong>of</strong> the stomach lining. Please pray the doctors<br />

will find the right balance.<br />

Please pray for Dave and Lyn Royle and their health issues.<br />

We are still in need <strong>of</strong> a teacher to come and assist Dave and Lyn in the work in<br />

South Africa.<br />

Also, for our work in the Philippines and future expansion <strong>of</strong> the work in Vietnam.<br />

Ruth Nessim who recently had a heart attack and is recovering and the work there<br />

that was stated by her and her husband. Pray for the Gould family as they have come<br />

along side Ruth to help her with the burden.<br />

Pray for my good friends Alec and Anne as they have their first child and God will<br />

be with them.<br />

Pastor Najeeb and family, and his work in Israel among the Arabs. Also, that God<br />

would provide a vehicle for him as his work takes him into the “West Bank” as he <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

has to work around this issue by relying on others when they have the time to help.<br />

I would request further prayer for me as I transition our <strong>of</strong> secular work into full<br />

time ministry work. I hope I can do this in the next year or two. As with many the issue<br />

<strong>of</strong> health care and financial concerns looms large for me, but I know God is able,<br />

so please pray God will increase my faith (Luke 17:5, And the apostles said unto the<br />

Lord, Increase our faith.) and keep me following Him. Also, my health issues.<br />

Prayer is always <strong>Moriel</strong>’s biggest need and we ask for it all the time. So, we thank<br />

you in advance for your prayers on our behalf, we also thank you for your finical<br />

help. May the Lord bless you all for your continue help in this ministry.<br />

In Peace,<br />

David Lister<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> <strong>Ministries</strong> United States<br />

MORIEL M<strong>IN</strong>ISTRIES <strong>IN</strong>TERNATIONAL<br />

David Royle<br />

Phone: 412 321 6154<br />

JAPAN<br />

Ge<strong>of</strong>f Toole<br />

morieljapan@yahoo.co.jp<br />

Phone: +81 795063508<br />

TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />

TYPOLOGY OF THE FIRSTBORN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />

THE VALUE OF SIGNS & WONDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />

BEzALEEL NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />

IMMANUEL NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11<br />

YOUR LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13<br />

MORIEL SOUTH AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />

MORIEL JAPAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16<br />

FYI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18<br />

ISRAEL REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19<br />

<strong>IN</strong> MEMORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />

144,000 TEACH<strong>IN</strong>G OF THE JEHOVAH’S<br />

WHITNESSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22<br />

JUDAIC STUDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />

THE BACK PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26


IntroductIon<br />

In 1 Corinthians there are only two men:<br />

Adam and Jesus. We are either in the character<br />

<strong>of</strong> the first Adam or the second. When we look<br />

at Esau we have to understand his relationship<br />

to this other Adam.<br />

<strong>The</strong> American Indians, anthropologists tell<br />

us, have a tradition that the first man was a red<br />

man, a man with a red complexion. <strong>The</strong> Hebrew<br />

word for a human being or a man is “ben adam”<br />

– literally “a son <strong>of</strong> Adam”. Adam’s name<br />

comes from the Hebrew word for “earth” – “adamah”.<br />

<strong>The</strong> earth is “adamah”, “Adam” is derived<br />

from “adamah”, and a human being is “a<br />

son <strong>of</strong> Adam” who is made from the earth. But<br />

the word for “earth” – “adamah”, comes from<br />

the Hebrew word “adom”, meaning “red”. In<br />

Israel the soil basically has a reddish clay in it.<br />

Whatever in the Middle East is not sand is reddish<br />

because <strong>of</strong> the clay so to them that is what<br />

earth is. So there is red clay soil (“adom”) that is<br />

the “adamah”, and from that comes Adam and<br />

from that comes the human race. <strong>The</strong>re is an<br />

area <strong>of</strong> southern Jordan called “Edom” meaning<br />

the same thing as “red” and named after Esau.<br />

the FIrstborn and the<br />

secondborn<br />

In the book <strong>of</strong> Genesis there is this repeated<br />

contrast <strong>of</strong> the firstborn and the second and the<br />

firstborn hating and persecuting the secondborn<br />

continually. It begins with Cain and Abel, then<br />

we see the same thing with Ishmael and Isaac,<br />

then we see it again with Jacob and Esau, and<br />

again with Joseph and his older brothers: the<br />

older persecuting the younger but God coming<br />

to favor the youngest. <strong>The</strong> reason this is seen in<br />

the book <strong>of</strong> Genesis is because it is a picture <strong>of</strong><br />

the two natures. <strong>The</strong>re is a Cain and an Abel in<br />

you, there is a Jacob and an Esau in me. It is not<br />

the one who is born who gets the birthright and<br />

the blessing, it is the second-born. Jesus said,<br />

“You must be born again”. (Jn. 3:3) In order<br />

to have the birthright and the blessing, the first<br />

birth is never good enough; it is the second birth<br />

that is necessary.<br />

If someone has only been born from their<br />

mother they are born <strong>of</strong> water, they are not born<br />

Jacob Prasch<br />

T Y P O L O G Y <strong>of</strong> T H E<br />

<strong>of</strong> Spirit. <strong>The</strong>y have no blessing and no birthright<br />

from God. <strong>The</strong>ir future is the grave and<br />

judgment. <strong>The</strong> only thing they have to look forward<br />

to, the only future they can be sure <strong>of</strong> is a<br />

crematorium, and that is only the beginning <strong>of</strong><br />

the fire. On the other hand, those who are born<br />

the second time have a different future – they<br />

have a birthright; they have a blessing.<br />

When someone is born <strong>of</strong> the first Adam<br />

they are born with Adam’s fallen nature. By nature<br />

we reject God’s love, by nature we rebel<br />

against His authority, by nature we cannot be<br />

what we know we should be. He made us in His<br />

image and likeness, (Gen. 1:26) but we cannot<br />

be even what we know we should be and the<br />

reason that we know it is because we are made<br />

in His likeness.<br />

I recall that before I was a Christian what<br />

I wanted to do, among other things, was sleep<br />

with as many girls as possible. When I was a<br />

teenager, when I was at University, it was one<br />

<strong>of</strong> my top priorities. However, if somebody was<br />

sleeping with my sister I would want to break<br />

his head. If somebody was doing to my sister<br />

what I was doing to somebody else’s sister, or<br />

God forbid what somebody was trying to do to<br />

my daughter – things I did to somebody’s else’s<br />

daughter I would want to shoot them. I was a<br />

hypocrite. I could not live up to my own standard.<br />

I would not want somebody defiling my<br />

own daughter or my sister. Unless they loved<br />

her and married her in the way <strong>of</strong> God, I would<br />

not want anyone touching my sister or my<br />

daughter, but did it stop me from going out and<br />

doing what I knew was wrong? I would not want<br />

my little brother to go out and take the drugs I<br />

was taking. I was just a hypocrite. I could not<br />

live up to my own standard. Neither can you.<br />

<strong>The</strong> reason you cannot live up to your own<br />

standard is because it is not your standard, it<br />

is God’s. If God says, “Be holy as I am holy”,<br />

(Lev. 19:2) how can we meet His standard? We<br />

cannot because <strong>of</strong> the way we are born. We can<br />

never meet His standard. That is why there must<br />

be a second birth.<br />

second bIrth<br />

In a nutshell before we look at this story,<br />

second birth is simple. When someone is born <strong>of</strong><br />

FEATurE ArTicLE<br />

the first Adam they are in rebellion against God.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y confirm his seed. In other words, if God<br />

created “Jacob and Pavia” or “Ethel and Peter”<br />

instead <strong>of</strong> Adam and Eve, we would have done<br />

the same thing they did. It is easy to pin it on<br />

them, but we would have done the same thing.<br />

So God Himself comes in the person <strong>of</strong> man in<br />

the form <strong>of</strong> Jesus and pays the price for our sins<br />

– the wrong things we did, He pays the price for<br />

with His own life. And if He raised Him from<br />

the dead to eternal life, He will raise us up. That<br />

is the second birth. We accept Jesus, turn from<br />

our sins, put our faith in Him, and accept what<br />

He did for us on the cross.<br />

Christians use the cliché “personal Savior”<br />

without thinking what it means very <strong>of</strong>ten.<br />

What “personal Savior” really means is<br />

not only do we have to accept Him personally,<br />

but it means if I were the only person who ever<br />

sinned He would have had to come down and<br />

go to the cross just for me or just for you. We<br />

must accept Him personally because when He<br />

went to that cross He went to that cross for us as<br />

if we were the only person who ever sinned for<br />

all the wrong things they have done – and there<br />

is no one who has not done wrong things. That<br />

is the second birth. We ask God to forgive our<br />

sins and put our faith in Jesus. We ask Him for<br />

the power to turn from sin, die with Christ, and<br />

become a new creation.<br />

This is why I do not sleep with anyone’s<br />

daughter or anyone’s sister anymore, that is why<br />

I no longer put cocaine up my nose anymore, because<br />

<strong>of</strong> the second birth. When I was born the<br />

first time, that was my life; my life was my death.<br />

As with Cain and Abel, the firstborn always<br />

teaches about the old nature in Genesis.<br />

Remember what God told Cain when he was<br />

banished? “Its desire is for you, but you must<br />

master it”. (Gen. 4:7) Sin’s desire if for us. What<br />

is sin’s desire? To put us in hell. Sin’s desire is<br />

to put us in hell forever. Jesus said directly that<br />

this was the god <strong>of</strong> this world. It desires to put<br />

us in hell forever. “But you must master it”?<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is no way we can master it until we have<br />

had the second birth.<br />

But the firstborn will always hate the secondborn.<br />

Our old nature will always hate the<br />

new one. Ishmael will always hate Isaac and<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly


FEATurE ArTicLE – continued<br />

ultimately Esau will always hate Jacob.<br />

the root oF bItterness<br />

See to it that no one comes short <strong>of</strong> the<br />

grace <strong>of</strong> God; that no root <strong>of</strong> bitterness<br />

springing up causes trouble, and by<br />

it many be defiled; that there be no immoral<br />

or godless person like Esau, who<br />

sold his own birthright for a single meal.<br />

For you know that even afterwards, when<br />

he desired to inherit the blessing, he was<br />

rejected, for he found no place for repentance,<br />

though he sought for it with tears.<br />

(Hebrews 12:15-17)<br />

This is a warning to Christians. It is not<br />

simply warning unsaved people, it is warning<br />

Christians – carnal Christians. <strong>The</strong> question<br />

is whether we are a carnal Christian. A carnal<br />

Christian is somebody who has been saved but<br />

lives their life in the character <strong>of</strong> the old creation.<br />

As it says in Proverbs, “<strong>The</strong> backslider in heart<br />

will have his fill <strong>of</strong> his own ways”. (Prov. 14:14)<br />

A carnal Christian is someone who despised<br />

their birthright, who forsakes the blessing. It is<br />

sort <strong>of</strong> like someone who swims from Liverpool<br />

to Dublin and they begin to drown, and half-way<br />

across God in His mercy drops them a life jacket<br />

allowing them to float and swim on to Dublin,<br />

but they take it <strong>of</strong>f. That is a carnal Christian.<br />

“See to it that none <strong>of</strong> you comes short <strong>of</strong><br />

it” we are told in Hebrews. (Heb. 12:15) Do not<br />

be immoral. And it particularly warns <strong>of</strong> a “root<br />

<strong>of</strong> bitterness”. Why? Because Esau had a root <strong>of</strong><br />

bitterness toward Jacob for something that was<br />

largely his fault. A “root <strong>of</strong> bitterness” – a resentment<br />

toward somebody will devour us more<br />

than it devours them. Vengeance is the Lord’s.<br />

(Dt. 32:35) <strong>The</strong>re is nothing we are going to do<br />

to anybody that is going to compare to what is<br />

going to happen when they appear before the<br />

judgment seat <strong>of</strong> Christ. Jacob was there and<br />

Esau had a root <strong>of</strong> bitterness against him. One<br />

<strong>of</strong> the things that causes us to fall short is a root<br />

<strong>of</strong> bitterness. No matter what we have against<br />

somebody else, God has a lot more to hold<br />

against us. But then it goes on to say he was<br />

immoral, selling his birthright for a single meal.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are people – even ministers – who<br />

have a wife who loves them, they have children,<br />

they have a ministry, and they go out and commit<br />

fornication one time or adultery one time and it<br />

destroys everything. <strong>The</strong>y lose their family, they<br />

lose their marriage, they lose their name, they<br />

lose their ministry, they lose it all in just one<br />

shot. It is an example <strong>of</strong> the fleeting pleasures<br />

<strong>of</strong> sin. A carnal Christian will lose the blessing<br />

over one shot, one fling. Afterwards he (Esau)<br />

desired to inherit the blessing but was rejected.<br />

Unrepentant backsliders and unsaved people<br />

– those in the character <strong>of</strong> the first birth and <strong>of</strong><br />

the firstborn Esau – a time will come when they<br />

will desperately want a relationship with Jesus.<br />

A time will come when they will desperately<br />

want it; they will seek for it but it will be too late.<br />

For someone who has had this second birth<br />

but are still <strong>of</strong> the firstborn, the Bible tells us,<br />

“Now is the appointed time; today is the day <strong>of</strong><br />

salvation”. (2 Cor. 6:2) If one should die tonight<br />

they have lost it forever and forever is a long<br />

time. Just imagine a hellish eternity that after<br />

a hundred billion years you will not have even<br />

begun to serve your sentence. <strong>The</strong>re is no end<br />

4 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

to it. A time will come when people will desire<br />

it, they will crave it, they will do anything to get<br />

it, but they will not get it. In fact the Hebrew<br />

prophet Jeremiah said they will earnestly seek<br />

the Lord but will not find Him in the Last Days.<br />

<strong>The</strong> same as the Jews in the Captivity in Babylon<br />

began to realize that Jeremiah was right and<br />

Ezekiel was right then some <strong>of</strong> the survivors<br />

began to earnestly seek God but they found out<br />

it was too late. <strong>The</strong> Last Days will be like that.<br />

People can reject the Gospel <strong>of</strong> Jesus, they can<br />

reject God’s forgiveness now, or even as believers<br />

they can despise their birthright and live<br />

carnally. A time will come when they will do<br />

anything to get what they can have right now<br />

but they will not get it.<br />

If that is the way someone is living, if they<br />

are living in the old creation, either because they<br />

are a carnal Christian, a backslider who comes<br />

to church, or because they were never saved to<br />

begin with (they were never born again), a time<br />

will come when they will want it. A time will<br />

come when they want what these other people<br />

have, a time when a wife wants what their husband<br />

has, when a child wants what their parents<br />

have, when a husband wants what a wife has.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y will want it but they will not get it. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

can get it now. <strong>The</strong> firstborn will always despise<br />

the second.<br />

Those who are <strong>of</strong> the first creation do not<br />

like Christians. As a matter <strong>of</strong> fact, the old creation<br />

in me does not like the new one. <strong>The</strong> old<br />

man in me does not like the new man. <strong>The</strong> Ishmael<br />

in me does not like the Isaac. <strong>The</strong> Esau<br />

in me does not like the Jacob. <strong>The</strong> Yehuda in<br />

me does not like the Joseph. That is one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

reasons the Bible says we will get a new name.<br />

(Rev. 2:17) When we are born we are given a<br />

name; when we are born again we get another<br />

name. This happened to Jacob – his name was<br />

changed to “Israel” after he met the Lord. In<br />

the book <strong>of</strong> Genesis when he behaved like a<br />

new creation the text calls him “Israel”; when<br />

he behaves like the old creation it goes back to<br />

calling him “Jacob”. So too I have a new name.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is the one my parents gave me – “James”<br />

which comes from my father’s grandfather, but<br />

then there’s my name in the Book <strong>of</strong> Life. When<br />

we are born we get a name, when we are born<br />

again we get another name.<br />

the bIrthrIght<br />

<strong>The</strong> old creation is Esau and Esau always<br />

hates the new creation. He has a different point<br />

<strong>of</strong> view. Only the new creation – only the one<br />

who is the secondborn can inherit the birthright.<br />

Only the one who is secondborn can inherit the<br />

blessing.<br />

“But he shall acknowledge the firstborn,<br />

the son <strong>of</strong> the unloved, by giving him a double<br />

portion <strong>of</strong> all that he has, for he is the<br />

beginning <strong>of</strong> his strength; to him belongs<br />

the right <strong>of</strong> the firstborn. If any man has a<br />

stubborn and rebellious son who will not<br />

obey his father or his mother, and when<br />

they chastise him, he will not even listen<br />

to them, then his father and mother shall<br />

seize him, and bring him out to the elders<br />

<strong>of</strong> his city at the gateway <strong>of</strong> his hometown.<br />

(Deuteronomy 21:17-19)<br />

He loses the birthright. <strong>The</strong> birthright in-<br />

cluded a double portion, a double blessing and<br />

the headship <strong>of</strong> the clan. That was something<br />

in Esau’s case which was despised. <strong>The</strong>re is a<br />

double blessing but the firstborn will not get<br />

it. Because all <strong>of</strong> us have despised our Father<br />

and all <strong>of</strong> us have gone astray from Him, the<br />

blessing comes to the secondborn. <strong>The</strong> natural<br />

man cannot get the blessing; the natural man or<br />

woman cannot inherit the birthright.<br />

the battle oF the brothers<br />

I again point out there are definite, prophetic<br />

signs happening today in the Middle East<br />

that the following passage speaks <strong>of</strong> for which<br />

we have the teaching, “Jewish-Arab Reconciliation”.<br />

<strong>The</strong> very things we see happening in the<br />

Middle East in the news are things the Bible predict<br />

will happen. And the struggle between these<br />

two brothers is being fulfilled in history today.<br />

<strong>The</strong> LORD said to her, “Two nations are<br />

in your womb; And two peoples will be<br />

separated from your body…<br />

… Jew and Arab. <strong>The</strong> battle in the Middle East<br />

today is between two brothers.<br />

And one people shall be stronger than<br />

the other; And the older shall serve the<br />

younger.”<br />

When her days to be delivered were fulfilled,<br />

behold, there were twins in her<br />

womb. Now the first came forth red, all<br />

over like a hairy garment; and they named<br />

him Esau.<br />

Notice “red”. Remember the relation to “Adam”<br />

– “adamah” and “adom”. It is the natural man,<br />

the sons <strong>of</strong> Adam.<br />

Afterward his brother came forth with his<br />

hand holding on to Esau’s heel…<br />

<strong>The</strong> Hebrew word for “heel” is “aqeb” from<br />

which we get the name “Ya’aqob” – “Jacob”. It is<br />

really not “supplanter”, that is the way they translate<br />

it. It comes from “heel”. He grabbed his heel.<br />

…so his name was called Jacob; and<br />

Isaac was sixty years old when she gave<br />

birth to them. When the boys grew up,<br />

Esau became a skillful hunter, a man <strong>of</strong><br />

the field…<br />

…he used to bring his father venison…<br />

…but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in<br />

tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he<br />

had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved<br />

Jacob.<br />

This is always a big mistake. We should<br />

love our children co-equally the way God does.<br />

But the other thing is that children inherit their<br />

fallen nature by birth, but that is reinforced by<br />

environment. When Jacob began to supplant his<br />

brother his mother put him up to it. She was a<br />

cunning, scheming, conniving woman and she<br />

put that into her kid.<br />

So <strong>of</strong>ten I see things in my own children,<br />

particularly my son when he does something<br />

obviously wrong, and I know where he got it. It<br />

goes from generation to generation. We are born<br />

that way and that is why we must be born again. It<br />

is amazing. For people who abuse their children<br />

99% <strong>of</strong> them were abused children themselves.<br />

Most alcoholics were children <strong>of</strong> alcoholics.<br />

Most compulsive gamblers where children <strong>of</strong>


compulsive gamblers. <strong>The</strong>y are born that way<br />

in the character <strong>of</strong> the firstborn, the natural man.<br />

When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came<br />

in from the field and he was famished…<br />

(A better translation would be “weary”.)<br />

…and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me<br />

have a swallow <strong>of</strong> that red stuff there, for<br />

I am famished.” <strong>The</strong>refore his name was<br />

called Edom. (Genesis 25:23-30)<br />

First Esau comes and says, “I am famished;<br />

I am weary. Let me have some <strong>of</strong> that red stuff”.<br />

<strong>The</strong>refore his name was called “Edom” – “red”.<br />

However, he was red when he came out <strong>of</strong> his<br />

mother’s womb. “Red” from “adom” – “Adam”<br />

the natural man. <strong>The</strong> old creation, the old nature,<br />

will always look for the things <strong>of</strong> the world. <strong>The</strong><br />

natural man will always gravitate to what is<br />

natural to him. “Red” seeks “red”. He was born<br />

red, the earth is red, “Give me some red stew”.<br />

This presence <strong>of</strong> “adom” in the Hebrew text in<br />

the way it used is showing he is just going after<br />

his old and own nature. We each have a natural<br />

nature. <strong>The</strong> firstborn will always be inclined to<br />

what it knows. It knows unrighteous anger, it<br />

knows bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness,<br />

lust, and pride.<br />

But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.”<br />

He does not con him out <strong>of</strong> his birthright; he<br />

says, “Sell it to me”.<br />

Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so<br />

<strong>of</strong> what use then is the birthright to me?”<br />

He despises his birthright because he is driven<br />

to the red. <strong>The</strong> red man goes after the red stew<br />

because that is all he knows.<br />

And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so<br />

he swore to him, and sold his birthright to<br />

Jacob. <strong>The</strong>n Jacob gave Esau bread and<br />

lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose<br />

and went on his way. Thus Esau despised<br />

his birthright. (Genesis 25:23-34)<br />

And <strong>of</strong> course after that he did a lot <strong>of</strong> other<br />

things he should not have done. <strong>The</strong> minute we<br />

despise our birthright we break our parents’ heart.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the things I get the most mail about<br />

is Christian parents with unsaved or backslidden<br />

children. <strong>The</strong>y try to bequeath their birthright<br />

to their kids but they fall away from Jesus.<br />

What a grief. Usually they come back. <strong>The</strong><br />

Bible says, “Raise a child in the way he should<br />

go and when he is old he will not depart from<br />

it”. (Prov. 22:6) Usually they come back. <strong>The</strong><br />

question is how much <strong>of</strong> an unnecessary mess<br />

<strong>of</strong> their lives did they make and how much unnecessary<br />

grief did they cause their parents and<br />

themselves before they do come back. This hits<br />

home with me because I have a sister who married<br />

an unsaved guy. It bothers me every day.<br />

God forbid my children should fall away. We<br />

can read what happens to Esau.<br />

the FIrstborn In us<br />

<strong>The</strong> literal Hebrew text is more like, “Let<br />

me gulp that stuff down”. <strong>The</strong> natural man will<br />

want to gulp down the things he is naturally inclined<br />

to. Let us look at Esau the firstborn – the<br />

unsaved, the old creation in us. (Biblical psychology<br />

is not secular.) <strong>The</strong> first thing we see<br />

about him is that he is someone who insists on<br />

instant gratification. <strong>The</strong> firstborn – the old creation,<br />

the natural man – insists on instant gratification.<br />

He wants it and he wants it yesterday.<br />

She wants it and she wants it now. It is like a<br />

kid in a theme park; they do not know what they<br />

want first, they just want it now. <strong>The</strong> old nature<br />

– the natural man’s/the natural woman’s instinct<br />

is for instant gratification.<br />

When we find a carnal Christian, one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

first characteristics is one who looks for instant<br />

gratification. “We want a big church and we want<br />

it now”. So they think by getting some gimmick<br />

or some fad or whatever program is popular at<br />

the time they are going to get a big church.<br />

Maybe they will until the fad is over and then<br />

they have no church. <strong>The</strong> little church which begins<br />

to build slowly on something solid may not<br />

have gotten quite as far, but what it has it has.<br />

When we see Christians chasing fads and<br />

going along with any gimmick, that is the mark<br />

<strong>of</strong> a carnal Christian, someone living in the old<br />

creation. When we see a leader following every<br />

fad, every trend, that is the firstborn not the<br />

second. Show me a move <strong>of</strong> God that was sporadic.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y might have had a “take <strong>of</strong>f” point,<br />

but there was quite a foundation. <strong>The</strong> disciples<br />

<strong>of</strong> Jesus had been the disciples <strong>of</strong> John the Baptist<br />

for some years before Jesus came. God was<br />

laying a foundation. It took a long time. King<br />

David spent many years in the wilderness before<br />

his empire expanded. But the old creation<br />

wants instant gratification.<br />

And so they behave carnally. “Let me gulp<br />

it down”. “It looks good; we will have it”. Maybe<br />

it is not so good. But when we see people like<br />

this who are a carnal Christian. Unsaved people<br />

cannot help it. For people who are not born again,<br />

“red” seeks “red”. That is what they are by nature.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y do not know any better, they have no<br />

reference point except to live as the firstborn.<br />

But believers should not live as the firstborn,<br />

they should live as the second. When we begin<br />

demanding instant gratification we begin to<br />

despise our birthright and forsake the blessing.<br />

I cannot help but notice that the most successful<br />

churches I see – the Calvary Chapel<br />

movement in America, David Wilkerson’s<br />

church in New York, the Assemblies <strong>of</strong> God in<br />

Italy – anything unbiblical they banish. <strong>The</strong>y ban<br />

Benny Hinn, they ban Morris Cerullo, they ban<br />

Toronto – they do not have this garbage. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

are not looking for instant gratification, they<br />

look for basic things: evangelism, discipleship,<br />

prayer. <strong>The</strong>n their churches get big but they stay<br />

big. It is not like when the fad is over and the people<br />

go somewhere else to have their ears tickled.<br />

By faith Moses, when he had grown up,<br />

refused to be called the son <strong>of</strong> Pharaoh’s<br />

daughter, choosing rather to endure illtreatment<br />

with the people <strong>of</strong> God than to<br />

enjoy the passing pleasures <strong>of</strong> sin, considering<br />

the reproach <strong>of</strong> Christ greater<br />

riches than the treasures <strong>of</strong> Egypt; for<br />

he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews<br />

11:24-26)<br />

the deFerred blessIng<br />

<strong>The</strong> new creation will always look to the<br />

future blessing. Moses did not look for gratification<br />

in this life. It says he looked forward to<br />

the Messiah; he looked to Jesus.<br />

FEATurE ArTicLE – continued<br />

By faith Abraham, when he was called,<br />

obeyed by going out to a place which he<br />

was to receive for an inheritance; and he<br />

went out, not knowing where he was going.<br />

By faith he lived as an alien in the<br />

land <strong>of</strong> promise, as in a foreign land,<br />

dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,<br />

fellow heirs <strong>of</strong> the same promise; for he<br />

was looking for the city which has foundations,<br />

whose architect and builder is God.<br />

(Hebrews 11:8-10)<br />

Abraham was promised the land but he did<br />

not try to claim it in his lifetime. <strong>The</strong> firstborn,<br />

the old creation, looks for instant gratification.<br />

What is Kingdom Now <strong>The</strong>ology? Carnal<br />

Christianity. <strong>The</strong> Restoration Movement, Triumphalism,<br />

Dominionism – they are all carnal<br />

Christianity. “<strong>The</strong> meek shall inherit the earth”<br />

(Mt. 5:3) when Jesus comes back. No doubt it<br />

will be inherited…when He comes back. We see<br />

people wanting to possess it now in the full sense.<br />

Forget about it! It is under God’s judgment. But<br />

the carnal Christian wants to be gratified now.<br />

<strong>The</strong> example <strong>of</strong> real faith in Hebrews 11<br />

were men who looked to a deferred blessing.<br />

Abraham was promised it but he looked to a deferred<br />

blessing. Moses was promised! He could<br />

have had it then on a silver platter through Pharaoh’s<br />

daughter as a son <strong>of</strong> Pharaoh. He could<br />

have had it. It is amazing in Antiquities by Josephus,<br />

in the secular history <strong>of</strong> Moses, his position<br />

in Egypt was similar to Joseph; he was a<br />

big wheel. He could have had it. It is the carnal<br />

Christian who looks to have it now.<br />

A lot <strong>of</strong> bad things come out <strong>of</strong> America<br />

including who I would not even call “bad” but<br />

false Christians. Too bad they do not talk more<br />

about the true Christians who came from the<br />

States. One was a missionary to South America<br />

called brother Jim Elliot. He and five others were<br />

martyred by the Indians. His wife Elizabeth<br />

remained a missionary to the same tribe who<br />

killed her husband. Jim Elliot said, “No man is<br />

a fool to give up what he cannot possibly keep<br />

in order to gain what he cannot possibly lose”.<br />

“You Christians – you do not go out to get<br />

drunk, you do not gamble, you do not have any<br />

fun!” We have plenty <strong>of</strong> fun. But if that is what<br />

your hope is in, you cannot take that with you.<br />

When you are dead your are dead, Jack. <strong>The</strong><br />

point is that for man to die is after judgment.<br />

Nobody is a fool to give up what he cannot keep<br />

in order to gain what he cannot lose. It is the<br />

people who are not Christians who are foolish,<br />

and the time will come when they will know it,<br />

but it will be too late. <strong>The</strong> firstborn seeks instant<br />

gratification. Human nature, human psychology,<br />

that is the old man in you/the old woman in<br />

you and me. We have two names.<br />

susceptIbIlIty<br />

<strong>The</strong> second characteristic provided in Genesis<br />

25 is he was automatically susceptible to<br />

being conned. When people despise their birthright,<br />

when they live as the firstborn instead <strong>of</strong><br />

the second, when they are given to carnality<br />

they are automatically prone to being conned.<br />

When I talk to the Gypsy pastors they tell<br />

me what the Gypsy culture was like before they<br />

were saved, and they made their money as swindlers.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y report from the time they were little<br />

kids how they knew how to swindle. To see<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 5


FEATurE ArTicLE – continued<br />

God’s Spirit moving among these Gypsies and<br />

to see their lives transformed is amazing. And<br />

they always tell you the easiest to con is a greedy<br />

man. <strong>The</strong>y look for the greedy because they are<br />

the ones that can be taken for the most. When<br />

we live in the old creation, when we live the life<br />

<strong>of</strong> the firstborn instead <strong>of</strong> the second, we automatically<br />

predispose ourselves to being conned.<br />

Have you been to Toronto? You have been<br />

conned. You made a contribution to Morris Cerullo?<br />

You have been conned. You paid a tithe to<br />

one <strong>of</strong> these lunatic fringe Assemblies <strong>of</strong> God or<br />

Elim churches promoting this heresy? You have<br />

been conned. We have all been conned by the<br />

devil who tries to make us trust in this world –<br />

that is a big enough con. But when the new birth<br />

happens we should not be conned anymore. <strong>The</strong><br />

firstborn will always set himself up to be conned.<br />

But then they get conned financially. One<br />

money appeal after another, one letter looking<br />

for money after another – they are not looking<br />

for anything honest. <strong>The</strong>y are not looking to<br />

help poor people in the Third World or Eastern<br />

Europe or for legitimate missions or evangelism.<br />

It is heresy, hype, con-artistry.<br />

Esau’s name was changed to Edom – “red”,<br />

“<strong>of</strong> the earth”, “natural”. And the natural man is<br />

looking for the natural things.<br />

conFusIng “needs”<br />

wIth “wants”<br />

<strong>The</strong> third thing we see is this: “I am about<br />

to die! I’m gonna die! Gimme some stew!” He<br />

was weary and he was hungry, but he was not<br />

going to die <strong>of</strong> exhaustion; he was not going to<br />

starve or become anorexic. <strong>The</strong> Esau within the<br />

firstborn, the natural man <strong>of</strong> Adam, will always<br />

exaggerate his essential needs. Such confuse<br />

“needs” with “wants”.<br />

Sometimes the only thing we really need is<br />

the grace <strong>of</strong> God. “My grace is sufficient”; (2<br />

Cor. 12:9) “I will never give you more than you<br />

can handle”. (1 Cor. 10:13) It says in Timothy<br />

if God gives us food and clothes we should be<br />

content. (1 Ti. 6:8) By virtue <strong>of</strong> being a Working<br />

Class person living on a Council Estate, living<br />

<strong>of</strong>f the dole, such should realize they are better<br />

<strong>of</strong>f than two out <strong>of</strong> three people in the world. A<br />

Middle Class person is better <strong>of</strong>f economically<br />

than three out <strong>of</strong> four people in the world.<br />

I have been down there several times and I<br />

do not know why they call it “<strong>The</strong> Third World”;<br />

it is “<strong>The</strong> Two-Thirds World”. I can provide examples<br />

<strong>of</strong> people in Africa and Asia who would<br />

love to come live in a Council Estate in England.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y do not care about the graffiti and the<br />

crime because it is a lot better than what they<br />

are putting up with. Most would not believe the<br />

stuff encountered there. Not that I am diminishing<br />

the prospects <strong>of</strong> the urban unemployed in<br />

our own country, but there is just no comparison.<br />

You cannot even compare it.<br />

<strong>The</strong> firstborn will always exaggerate their<br />

essential needs. “I need this!” “I need the latest<br />

gimmick, the latest thing for my computer!”<br />

I am not saying there are not legitimate needs<br />

and I am not saying that wants are necessarily<br />

wrong, but covetousness? Covetousness is a<br />

sin. And when people begin to covet, sin leads<br />

to sin; one sin leads to another. When someone<br />

begins to covet someone else’s wife, the next<br />

thing you know they are not happy with their<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

own. <strong>The</strong> next thing you know they are into<br />

adultery or fornication or something like this.<br />

Covetousness leads to other sin. People begin<br />

coveting riches. <strong>The</strong> Bible does not say money<br />

is the root <strong>of</strong> all evil, it says “a love <strong>of</strong> money” is<br />

the root <strong>of</strong> all evil; by longing for it many have<br />

wandered away from the faith. (1 Ti. 6:10)<br />

What can be more perverted than when the<br />

church <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ in a materialistic age, in<br />

a materialistic society where we should be saying,<br />

“Materialistic things are not the solution”<br />

and giving a positive witness to everybody else<br />

instead does the contrary? We have one liar on<br />

TV after another telling us to “name-it-andclaim-it”,<br />

destroying our very testimony to a<br />

materialistic age and making us look the same<br />

as they are. In fact, as Christians, they look<br />

even worse except that they are not real Christians;<br />

they are carnal Christians. <strong>The</strong>y are the<br />

firstborn, they are Esau. <strong>The</strong>y are not the sons<br />

<strong>of</strong> Jacob, they are not the sons <strong>of</strong> Isaac, they<br />

are the sons <strong>of</strong> Esau. <strong>The</strong>y despise their birthright,<br />

they want it now, they do not want their<br />

deferred blessing, they do not want “the meek<br />

shall inherit the earth” (Mt. 5:5), they want<br />

Kingdom Now, they want prosperity now, they<br />

want it now. <strong>The</strong> firstborn always exaggerates<br />

his essential needs. “I am about to die!”<br />

It may seem crazy but when I went to Bible<br />

college I would say 50% <strong>of</strong> the female students<br />

admitted their primary reason for going to Bible<br />

college was to find a Christian husband. “If you<br />

can’t find one here, where can you find one?”<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is only one man who is going to meet their<br />

needs and it is not their husband. One’s husband<br />

will only meet their needs to the extent that he<br />

is God’s vehicle in their life. <strong>The</strong> wife will only<br />

meet the husband’s needs only to the extent that<br />

she is God’s vehicle. But if someone’s husband<br />

is an “Esau” instead <strong>of</strong> a “Jacob”, they are not<br />

going to meet the needs because he is a carnal<br />

Christian. Oh, I grant that they need a man, the<br />

question is which man? <strong>The</strong> natural desire to<br />

get married? I can understand it. <strong>The</strong> biological<br />

clock is a reality. Pick up a copy <strong>of</strong> Brother Andrew’s<br />

newsletter. Read about Christians in prison<br />

camps. <strong>The</strong>y have an essential need maybe.<br />

“I am driven by lust!” “I used to do this<br />

and do that before I was a Christian and I want<br />

to get a wife!” “<strong>The</strong> Bible says it is better to<br />

marry than to burn with passion!” That is true<br />

and the Bible does say it. But the idea that<br />

somebody’s lust problem is going to disappear<br />

if they get married? That is not reality. First deal<br />

with your lust problem, then get married. I do<br />

not care how good-looking someone’s wife or<br />

their boyfriend is, their problem is not simply<br />

the biological drive, their problem is sin. It does<br />

not work that way. Such people will not be content<br />

with any wife or any husband whose sin is<br />

unaddressed – that is the essential need. But the<br />

“red” goes to “red”. “Just give me!”<br />

dIstorted Values<br />

<strong>The</strong> fourth thing we see is he had distorted<br />

values. <strong>The</strong> secondborn will always value what<br />

God values. <strong>The</strong> secondborn will always cherish<br />

the things that are most important as God sets<br />

them. But not the firstborn. Esau will always<br />

have distorted values. “What good is a birthright<br />

to me?” “What good is this new birth?”<br />

“What good is this ‘second birth’?” “I wanna<br />

have some fun!” “I wanna have some sex!” “I<br />

wanna have a good time!” “What good is that<br />

stuff to me?” “I want to get somewhere in this<br />

life!” It says in Ecclesiastes even if someone<br />

does they are going to wind up just as dead as<br />

someone who did not. (Ecc. 3:19-20; 9:2) “<strong>The</strong><br />

end <strong>of</strong> the matter is to love God and keep His<br />

commandments”. (Ecc. 12:13)<br />

“All this stuff <strong>of</strong> heaven and Jesus – what<br />

good is it to me now?” “Day to day, week to<br />

week, I am just trying to go out and make a<br />

living, trying to get some enjoyment out <strong>of</strong> a<br />

difficult life!” If you think your life is difficult,<br />

come with me to Nigeria; I will show you a difficult<br />

life. I will show you a mother who cannot<br />

feed her baby, I will show you Christians<br />

being persecuted by Muslims, I will show you<br />

a difficult life. I complain about my neck hurting<br />

when Christians in Saudi Arabia have their<br />

heads chopped <strong>of</strong>f at the neck.<br />

Esau always distorts his values. Carnal<br />

Christians always have distorted values – they<br />

never value most what God does and God values<br />

the things that will matter most a million<br />

years from now.<br />

<strong>The</strong> first question should be, “Will this<br />

matter a million years from now?” Unless the<br />

Lord comes first, the reality <strong>of</strong> death is going<br />

to separate us from the ones we love the most.<br />

Husband, wife, parents, children – unless Jesus<br />

comes back first, which He may do, death<br />

is going to separate us. Of course, if you are<br />

a Christian, you do not have to be away from<br />

your family forever. You do not have to be away<br />

from your husband or wife or children. If they<br />

are Christians and you are a Christian we can<br />

see each other again. That is true, but that is the<br />

birthright. Whoever begins hoping in this world<br />

begins to despise that birthright.<br />

Marriage is for here. <strong>The</strong> relationship will<br />

continue in heaven but it will not be a marriage,<br />

we will be one in Christ. And if someone is not<br />

married, is that going to matter a million years<br />

from now? Being married is not the ultimate<br />

treasure. <strong>The</strong> firstborn values things that are <strong>of</strong><br />

temporary value, the secondborn values things<br />

<strong>of</strong> eternal value. <strong>The</strong> old creation values things<br />

that will perish, the new creation values things<br />

that will endure forever. Does someone desire<br />

a relationship? <strong>The</strong> only relationship worth<br />

anything is one that is going to endure forever.<br />

I thank God I will be with my wife and children<br />

a million and a billion years from now not<br />

because <strong>of</strong> the first creation but the second one.<br />

That is my birthright, the birthright bequeathed<br />

to me when Jesus gave His life for my sin on the<br />

cross and rose from the dead to give me eternal<br />

life. That is my birthright. I do not want to despise<br />

my birthright.<br />

blamIng someone else<br />

<strong>The</strong>n he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob,<br />

for he has supplanted me these two<br />

times? He took away my birthright, and<br />

behold, now he has taken away my blessing.”<br />

And he said, “Have you not reserved<br />

a blessing for me?” (Genesis 27:36)<br />

“He swindled me twice!” No, the second<br />

time derives from Esau despising his birthright,<br />

not that Jacob was right in what he did, or at<br />

least not in the way he did it. He did not swindle<br />

him, Esau despised it; he sold it. <strong>The</strong>n it says he


sought for it earnestly but could not find it. <strong>The</strong><br />

Esau that is in the firstborn, the natural man/the<br />

natural woman, will always blame other people<br />

for the mess they make <strong>of</strong> their own lives.<br />

“Oh, my mother was an alcoholic and our<br />

father left us!” That may be, but that is the firstborn.<br />

What about the secondborn? We have a<br />

new Father when we are born again. <strong>The</strong> firstborn<br />

– the old creation, will always blame others<br />

for the results <strong>of</strong> their own sin.<br />

Esau never admits his own culpability. It<br />

is always a refusal to take responsibility for the<br />

results <strong>of</strong> his own decisions. Unsaved people<br />

are like that, they cannot help it; that is their<br />

nature. “Red” goes to “red”. Christians should<br />

know better, but a carnal Christian does not.<br />

Oh, he may know better, but he does not live<br />

better. Are you living as the firstborn or are you<br />

living as the secondborn?<br />

the Father stIll wants<br />

them back<br />

And He said, “A man had two sons. “<strong>The</strong><br />

younger <strong>of</strong> them said to his father, ‘Father,<br />

give me the share <strong>of</strong> the estate that<br />

falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between<br />

them. And not many days later, the<br />

younger son gathered everything together<br />

and went on a journey into a distant country,<br />

and there he squandered his estate<br />

with loose living. Now when he had spent<br />

everything, a severe famine occurred in<br />

that country, and he began to be impoverished.<br />

So he went and hired himself out to<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the citizens <strong>of</strong> that country, and he<br />

sent him into his fields to feed swine.<br />

Now in the Jewish context this would have<br />

been quite foul. A pig is a non-Kosher animal.<br />

“And he would have gladly filled his stomach<br />

with the pods that the swine were eating,<br />

and no one was giving anything to<br />

him. But when he came to his senses, he<br />

said, ‘How many <strong>of</strong> my father’s hired men<br />

have more than enough bread, but I am<br />

dying here with hunger! I will get up and<br />

go to my father, and will say to him, “Father,<br />

I have sinned against heaven, and in<br />

your sight; I am no longer worthy to be<br />

called your son; make me as one <strong>of</strong> your<br />

hired men.” ’ So he got up and came to his<br />

father. But while he was still a long way<br />

<strong>of</strong>f, his father saw him and felt compassion<br />

for him, and ran and embraced him<br />

and kissed him. And the son said to him,<br />

‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and<br />

in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be<br />

called your son.’ But the father said to his<br />

slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe<br />

and put it on him, and put a ring on his<br />

hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the<br />

fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;<br />

for this son <strong>of</strong> mine was dead and<br />

has come to life again… (Luke 15:11-24)<br />

As it says in Jude’s epistle, backsliders in<br />

the church are twice dead. <strong>The</strong>y went from spiritual<br />

death to life and then they are dead again.<br />

(Jude 10-11)<br />

If someone is like that, if they want the inheritance<br />

now, if they are not willing to wait for<br />

the deferred blessings, if they are not willing to<br />

wait for when it will not perish and where they<br />

keep it forever, they are going to wind up eating<br />

with pigs. But the Father still loves them and<br />

wants them back now.<br />

conclusIon<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are many aspects to this parable, one<br />

is the Jewish people having gone away from God<br />

and will come back again. Another is the fallen<br />

nature <strong>of</strong> man generally. Adam wanted it there<br />

and then. He did not want to eat <strong>of</strong> the Tree <strong>of</strong><br />

Life, he wanted it his way; he ate <strong>of</strong> the Tree <strong>of</strong><br />

Knowledge <strong>of</strong> Good and Evil. But it also teaches<br />

about backsliders. <strong>The</strong> old creation wants it<br />

now. What good is it if you cannot keep it? It is<br />

only good if you can keep it. That is the birthright.<br />

Carnal Christians despise their birthright.<br />

<strong>The</strong> backslider <strong>of</strong> heart will be filled with his<br />

own ways. (Pr. 14:14) What are his own ways?<br />

What is a carnal Christian’s way? What is a carnal<br />

church’s way? <strong>The</strong>y want it now. <strong>The</strong>y insist<br />

on instant gratification. “Red” seeks “red”.<br />

Second, they are susceptible to being<br />

conned. That is why they go to Toronto, that is<br />

why they are taken in by all this stuff.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y exaggerate their essential needs.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y are not content – they covet. <strong>The</strong>y distort<br />

their values, wanting things that will not last.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y despise the birthright that gives them the<br />

inheritance to the things that will.<br />

And then on top <strong>of</strong> all that they do not take<br />

responsibility for their own decisions.<br />

<strong>The</strong> firstborn hates the second. Esau hates<br />

Jacob. <strong>The</strong> old creation in me hates the new creation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> old creation in you hates the new one.<br />

Our unsaved family does not like us. “Esau” –<br />

“adom” – “from Adam”: a natural man. That is<br />

all he is, that is all he can be, he can do no other.<br />

He cannot have the blessing. Esau cannot have<br />

the blessing. Esau cannot have the birthright because<br />

he forfeited it because <strong>of</strong> his sin.<br />

If you have not been born again, if you have<br />

not repented <strong>of</strong> your sin and trusted Jesus for<br />

your salvation, God has that birthright for you.<br />

He has that blessing for you! He wants to take an<br />

“Esau” and turn him into a “Jacob”. He wants to<br />

take a firstborn and make him a secondborn. You<br />

can do that right now by accepting Jesus as your<br />

Savior and following Him as the Bible teaches.<br />

But what <strong>of</strong> the one who made that decision<br />

but they still continue to live as an “adom”?<br />

<strong>The</strong>y are still filled with their own ways. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

are not committed to any church, they will go<br />

out the door and live like a worldly, unsaved<br />

person with distorted values, distorted priorities,<br />

wanting instant gratification. All they are<br />

doing is despising their birthright. A time will<br />

come when they will seek it and seek it desperately<br />

but they will not find it.<br />

You may think what I am saying is crazy.<br />

You may have not become a new creation. You<br />

may be a son <strong>of</strong> Adam. You may not have been<br />

born again. A time will come when you will desperately,<br />

desperately want the birthright I have<br />

in Jesus Christ, but you will not find it. Now is<br />

the appointed time. Today is the day <strong>of</strong> salvation.<br />

God bless. †††<br />

FEATurE ArTicLE – continued<br />

About the cover<br />

<strong>The</strong> red canyon is carved in beautiful red<br />

sandstone. One <strong>of</strong> the unique features <strong>of</strong><br />

Eilat Mountains (israel) is the richness <strong>of</strong><br />

rocks made <strong>of</strong> granite, limestone and sandstone.<br />

This creates beautiful formations in a<br />

relatively small area, giving it its rich colors,<br />

high peaks, steep slopes and ravines.<br />

Although the amount <strong>of</strong> precipitation in this<br />

area is very low (about 15 millimeters per<br />

year), and floods are rare, water throughout<br />

the years managed to carve the canyon through<br />

the s<strong>of</strong>t sandstone. <strong>The</strong> photo illustrates<br />

the rare but powerful effect <strong>of</strong> the water.<br />

Guy Shachar, is not only a photographer but<br />

has a Masters degree as a Geographer. His<br />

photography serves as a goodmeans for him<br />

to show and explain the world to people. To<br />

see more <strong>of</strong> his beautiful photography check<br />

out his website below.<br />

‘<strong>The</strong> Redcanyon’, by Guy Shachar, www.guyshachar.<br />

com, by permission for one time use.<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 7


Guest Author<br />

S i g n S & W o n d e r S<br />

T h e V a l u e o f<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

Danny isom<br />

. . . . . . . .<br />

SignS & WonderS<br />

“But all these things are merely the beginning <strong>of</strong> birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8)<br />

T h e V a l u e <strong>of</strong><br />

SignS & WonderS<br />

S i g n S & W o n d e r S<br />

T h e V a l u e o f<br />

Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the<br />

peoples, nations, and men <strong>of</strong> every<br />

language that live in all the earth:<br />

“May your peace abound! It has<br />

seemed good to me to declare the<br />

signs and wonders which the Most<br />

High God has done for me.<br />

“How great are His signs And how<br />

mighty are His wonders! His kingdom<br />

is an everlasting kingdom And His<br />

dominion is from generation to generation.<br />

(Daniel 4:1-3)<br />

To have a Gentile write in Scripture<br />

about his coming to faith in the One True<br />

God is an attention grabber in and <strong>of</strong> itself,<br />

but whereas so many people throughout<br />

Scripture are documented as remaining unchanged<br />

spiritually after witnessing a sign<br />

or wonder, here we have someone who actually<br />

testifies to being changed by them.<br />

But if you just flopped open your Bible and<br />

began reading Daniel 4 you would probably<br />

think Nebuchadnezzar is referring to<br />

the signs and wonders connected to the<br />

events in this chapter and miss the fact<br />

that these are actually the culmination <strong>of</strong><br />

a series <strong>of</strong> signs and wonders. Yes, Nebuchadnezzar<br />

witnessed some very amazing<br />

signs and wonders recorded previously in<br />

Daniel 2 and 3 but the fact is that he did not<br />

allow them to change his heart. No, having<br />

missed the greater application <strong>of</strong> what God<br />

was teaching through those other signs and<br />

wonders, Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony<br />

here is that after one final round <strong>of</strong> signs<br />

and wonders he finally “gets it”.<br />

In Daniel 2 we are provided with the<br />

account <strong>of</strong> how God provided an amazing<br />

dream to Nebuchadnezzar but no one<br />

could explain its meaning to the king except<br />

through Daniel. What was the king’s<br />

public confession after witnessing these<br />

signs and wonders?<br />

<strong>The</strong> king answered Daniel and said,<br />

“Surely your God is a God <strong>of</strong> gods<br />

and a Lord <strong>of</strong> kings and a revealer <strong>of</strong><br />

mysteries, since you have been able to<br />

reveal this mystery.” (Daniel 2:47)<br />

It is an acknowledgment <strong>of</strong> sorts but far<br />

from a ringing endorsement <strong>of</strong> recognizing<br />

how much the king <strong>of</strong> the earth needed the<br />

King <strong>of</strong> Heaven.<br />

And what was Nebuchadnezzar’s<br />

public confession after all the brouhaha<br />

in Daniel 3 after witnessing the signs and<br />

wonders associated with the persecution<br />

<strong>of</strong> Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego for<br />

their faith in the One True God?<br />

Nebuchadnezzar responded and said,<br />

“Blessed be the God <strong>of</strong> Shadrach, Meshach<br />

and Abed-nego, who has sent<br />

His angel and delivered His servants<br />

who put their trust in Him, violating


the king’s command, and yielded up<br />

their bodies so as not to serve or worship<br />

any god except their own God.<br />

<strong>The</strong>refore I make a decree that any<br />

people, nation or tongue that speaks<br />

anything <strong>of</strong>fensive against the God <strong>of</strong><br />

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego<br />

shall be torn limb from limb and their<br />

houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch<br />

as there is no other god who<br />

is able to deliver in this way.” (Daniel<br />

3:28-29)<br />

He appears to be drawing a little<br />

closer, but this is still far from a personal<br />

confession <strong>of</strong> a changed heart. In effect<br />

Nebuchadnezzar has personally witnessed<br />

signs and wonders which he himself acknowledges<br />

could come from no one but<br />

the God <strong>of</strong> Israel, but spiritually he continues<br />

life unchanged. So now God is going<br />

to provide signs and wonders yet again for<br />

a third time, but these are going to belong<br />

to a very different category than those previously<br />

experienced.<br />

Having repeatedly failed to learn the<br />

right spiritual lesson so as to be changed<br />

from the heart by signs and wonders which<br />

demonstrated God’s sovereignty and character<br />

benignly, now the king <strong>of</strong> the earth is<br />

going to experience signs and wonders that<br />

express the King <strong>of</strong> Heaven’s judgment. He<br />

could have learned from signs and wonders<br />

that witnessed to the truth, now instead<br />

he will learn from signs and wonders<br />

rendering judgment for rejecting that truth.<br />

Yes, Nebuchadnezzar’s remarkable<br />

testimony provided to us in Daniel 4 is<br />

actually a lesson in how God uses signs<br />

and wonders in general and how they work<br />

on the heart specifically. God repeatedly<br />

reached out with a “carrot”, so to speak,<br />

but repeated rejection <strong>of</strong> His peaceful<br />

gestures ultimately warranted an extreme<br />

“big stick” in an attempt to save even the<br />

most stubborn heart. God’s first choice was<br />

not to put Nebuchadnezzar through seven<br />

years <strong>of</strong> punishment, it was the only option<br />

left because <strong>of</strong> the repeated choices Nebuchadnezzar<br />

made to reject every previous<br />

approach <strong>of</strong> the One True God. Nebuchadnezzar<br />

did not really believe the signs and<br />

wonders provided as an outreach, but he<br />

certainly believed after the signs and wonders<br />

<strong>of</strong> judgment.<br />

To my mind this is the overall principle<br />

behind Jesus’ own teaching that when<br />

it comes to the End Times, signs and wonders<br />

will increase with frequency and intensity<br />

analogous to increasing birth pangs<br />

leading to a birth.<br />

“But all these things are merely the beginning<br />

<strong>of</strong> birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8)<br />

<strong>The</strong> “silence” or gap between each<br />

wave is meant to provide the time to learn<br />

Danny isom<br />

and properly apply the greater spiritual<br />

lesson from the last round <strong>of</strong> events. But<br />

if we study all the signs and wonders predicted<br />

to come it becomes clear that they<br />

begin to transition from things that testify<br />

to our need for a personal relationship with<br />

Christ, to judgment for consistently refusing<br />

to heed those calls, to ultimately culminating<br />

in the expression <strong>of</strong> God’s wrath<br />

– destruction for steadfastly refusing to<br />

submit. <strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> signs and wonders<br />

is not to provide God with the opportunity<br />

to show <strong>of</strong>f His power, but to make an ever<br />

greater appeal to change from the heart.<br />

When I was a teenager our local pastor<br />

became terminally ill and yet he was<br />

miraculously cured, a medically verifiable<br />

fact by his doctors and the local hospital.<br />

Did we start having healing crusades? Did<br />

we start laying hands on everyone who was<br />

sick? Did he become the object <strong>of</strong> veneration<br />

for having experienced a miracle? No,<br />

he came back empowered with the Word<br />

<strong>of</strong> God like never before in his life and initiated<br />

revival preaching repentance and a<br />

return to God’s Word and ways with unbelievable<br />

results. To my knowledge no one<br />

else in the course <strong>of</strong> his ministry was ever<br />

healed <strong>of</strong> anything or experienced anything<br />

I would call “supernatural”. <strong>The</strong>re was a<br />

greater message attached to the sign that<br />

turned out to be far more important than<br />

the sign itself.<br />

It would be easy at this point to launch<br />

into a tirade against the many individuals,<br />

groups, and even movements who place an<br />

undue priority on seeking signs and wonders.<br />

But equally amiss, in my opinion, are<br />

those <strong>of</strong> us placing an undue emphasis on<br />

the signs and wonders <strong>of</strong> these Last Days.<br />

Over the past 62 years we have received<br />

enough fulfillments <strong>of</strong> specific prophecies<br />

in God’s Word to shake us permanently<br />

out <strong>of</strong> ever living comfortable in this old<br />

world. We have already witnessed enough<br />

to irrevocably change us from the heart<br />

and to induce us to heed the greater lesson<br />

<strong>of</strong> these things which calls us into an ever<br />

greater personal relationship with Christ.<br />

We should actually be more motivated in<br />

sharing the Gospel and working while it is<br />

still day than ever before. But what do you<br />

suppose is going to happen to those who,<br />

like Nebuchadnezzar, acknowledge God<br />

is working but go on living unchanged?<br />

Sooner or later it will escalate to judgment,<br />

and eventually to the very wrath <strong>of</strong> God.<br />

I would submit that this is already the<br />

case. I believe what we are experiencing<br />

in the Western world is not simply evil<br />

running amok or strictly the eternal battle<br />

between Satan and the Church, but much<br />

is judgment from God for a Church that<br />

has willfully chosen to no longer be salt<br />

and light to the world. To be sure the End<br />

Times will play out exactly according to<br />

God’s will, but I am not convinced every<br />

single thing we have been witnessing in<br />

recent years is specifically an End Times<br />

event predicted in the Bible. <strong>The</strong>re is also<br />

the reasonable possibility that in addition<br />

to those things there is an increase in frequency<br />

and intensity because, like Nebuchadnezzar,<br />

so many are simply not paying<br />

attention, not learning the right lesson, not<br />

repenting and returning in earnest. I have<br />

no doubt that many <strong>of</strong> the things we are<br />

witnessing testify <strong>of</strong> His imminent return;<br />

I equally believe many <strong>of</strong> the things we are<br />

witnessing are the result <strong>of</strong> hardened, unrepentant<br />

hearts who are risking having to<br />

learn things the hard way.<br />

I am not praying that I will see any new<br />

signs and wonders. I am praying I will see<br />

more hearts yield to the greater message<br />

behind the signs and wonders we have already<br />

seen.<br />

In His Love,<br />

Danny Isom<br />

Servant@WalkWith<strong>The</strong>Word.org<br />

Guest Author<br />

<strong>THIS</strong> MUST BE How REAL<br />

“CHRISTIANS”<br />

PRAy THESE DAyS<br />

This entry posted by MORIEL <strong>Ministries</strong><br />

I THoUgHT<br />

HE SAID DUR<strong>IN</strong>g HIS CAMPAIgN<br />

THAT HE wAS A<br />

CHRISTIAN?<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly


South Africa News Allen & Sue<br />

In this newsletter we would like to ask<br />

for prayer to insure the continued care<br />

<strong>of</strong> our children in our home without<br />

the fear <strong>of</strong> them being placed elsewhere. We<br />

have just received news from our social worker<br />

that calls for changes in direction for Bezaleel.<br />

Before I begin I’d like to share regarding<br />

God’s goodness to us in terms <strong>of</strong> His prompting<br />

and provision. At the beginning <strong>of</strong> the<br />

year the Lord prompted me to bring our home<br />

into order during the coming year in a practical<br />

sense. I.e. sorting through things, keeping<br />

what we need, giving away what we don’t need<br />

and so on. I was sure it had something to do<br />

with the house. As you know, we were looking<br />

to the Lord for the house we’re living in as<br />

the owners are selling and the ability to purchase<br />

it is beyond our reach. Friends <strong>of</strong> ours,<br />

knowing our plight visited us and said they<br />

have a house that would become available in<br />

about a years time that will meet the needs <strong>of</strong><br />

a large family such as ours. It is still in Springs<br />

which facilitates the continuation <strong>of</strong> visits<br />

for some <strong>of</strong> the children from their dads. We<br />

are very grateful for their faithfulness to the<br />

Lord and we pray His blessing on their lives.<br />

I am humbled by the love <strong>of</strong> our heavenly<br />

Father in a world reeling from one crisis to another,<br />

creating fear and uncertainty around the<br />

world and seeking to encroach on our lives.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Lord in His unfailing character shows<br />

Himself as faithful, true and unchanging. We<br />

serve a God who is the same yesterday, today<br />

and tomorrow, the Alpha and Omega <strong>of</strong><br />

our lives and His world. When change comes<br />

upon us that is beyond our control, we know<br />

we can run to Him who tells us that He has<br />

not given us a spirit <strong>of</strong> slavery leading to fear<br />

again, but a spirit <strong>of</strong> adoption as sons and<br />

we can safely hide under the shadow <strong>of</strong> His<br />

wing. Romans 8:14-25 and Revelation 1:8.<br />

We were informed today that another provision<br />

for childcare, namely Foster Cluster<br />

Care (something we investigated a number <strong>of</strong><br />

years ago when it was still at discussion stages)<br />

has been gazetted and passed into South<br />

African law. It falls somewhere between foster<br />

care and residential care (i.e. children’s<br />

homes or villages). Also leans more to the side<br />

<strong>of</strong> residential care in terms <strong>of</strong> requirements for<br />

registration and services rendered by the department,<br />

or NGO one is working with. Unregistering<br />

<strong>of</strong> such a home also carries with it<br />

a lot <strong>of</strong> red tape. According to South African<br />

law, one can only foster up to six children.<br />

But, because <strong>of</strong> the crisis South Africa faces<br />

with regards to HIV/AIDS, this appeared to<br />

open a window where allowances were made<br />

for some people to foster more than six children.<br />

Besides our three adult children, we<br />

0 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

have one adopted child, eight legal foster children,<br />

two children living with us by private arrangements<br />

(with their respective fathers) and<br />

one child who stays with us on weekdays for<br />

the purposes <strong>of</strong> homeschooling and who goes<br />

home on weekends and school holidays. Now,<br />

because <strong>of</strong> the new law it puts our arrangement<br />

in jeopardy because it places us beyond<br />

the perimeters <strong>of</strong> the new law. We have two<br />

viable choices so as not to lose any <strong>of</strong> the children.<br />

Firstly, to register as a foster cluster care<br />

home or secondly, to adopt some <strong>of</strong> the children<br />

to bring us back under the perimeters <strong>of</strong><br />

the new law. Allen and I believe by the direction<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Lord and among other reasons our<br />

age (getting older has a wonderful way <strong>of</strong> reminding<br />

us how finite we are) have agreed not<br />

to take any more children into care and that<br />

decision has not been an easy one on our part.<br />

<strong>The</strong> children we now have require a tremendous<br />

amount <strong>of</strong> care simply by their number,<br />

homeschooling, their medical conditions and<br />

the very real reality <strong>of</strong> what the future holds<br />

in terms <strong>of</strong> the life expectancy <strong>of</strong> our HIV<br />

positive children. Also the strain from the care<br />

they will need and the heartache if their ARV<br />

treatment fails as well as our commitment to<br />

prepare the children for adult life in a world<br />

where finding ones feet is not always easy. In<br />

discussion with our social worker we believe<br />

it best to adopt the three younger children. We<br />

are not allowed to adopt any <strong>of</strong> our children<br />

who have known living parents, which four<br />

<strong>of</strong> our children do. She has urged us to begin<br />

proceedings as soon as possible and we will<br />

go to children’s court next week to make the<br />

application for adoption. We will cease to receive<br />

the grants for the children but the Lord<br />

has shown His faithfulness to us in the past<br />

and our hope is in Him. We will look to the<br />

Lord in terms <strong>of</strong> adoption <strong>of</strong> the other children<br />

at a later stage.<br />

Thank you for taking the time to read this<br />

and allowing us to share our burden with you.<br />

We cherish your prayers and we know that<br />

within all the changes taking place He is our<br />

Peace and we pray that all things be done for the<br />

children’s sake and to the glory <strong>of</strong> His Name.<br />

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to<br />

you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let<br />

not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.<br />

Yours in Jesus,<br />

Allen and Sue<br />

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to<br />

you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do<br />

not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.<br />

–John 14:27<br />

NASB<br />

Allen and Sue’s granddaughter<br />

giving Ruth a kiss . . . . . !<br />

Your righteousness is like the mountains<br />

<strong>of</strong> God; Your judgments are like a great<br />

deep O Lord, You preserve man and<br />

beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness,<br />

O God! And the children <strong>of</strong> men take<br />

refuge in the shadow <strong>of</strong> Your wings. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

(F)drink their fill <strong>of</strong> the abundance <strong>of</strong><br />

Your house; And You give them to drink<br />

<strong>of</strong> theriver <strong>of</strong> Your delights.<br />

–Psalm 36:7<br />

Rosie and Ruth . . . .<br />

Bezaleel Introduction: Bezaleel is a<br />

family home in the Springs Community<br />

providing permanent care for children<br />

affected and infected with HIV/AIDS<br />

within the context <strong>of</strong> a family. Aims:<br />

(1) To provide a loving environment,<br />

medical care, anti-retroviral treatment<br />

required and an education within the<br />

structure <strong>of</strong> foster parenting; and (2) to<br />

be available for education concerning<br />

HIV/AIDS and provide support to those<br />

interested in fostering children living<br />

with AIDS.


Ha i f a<br />

Dear Friends,<br />

Greetings in the Name <strong>of</strong> Jesus. Much has<br />

happened in March and April we would like<br />

to share with you. <strong>The</strong>se include the, Feast <strong>of</strong><br />

Purim and the Feast <strong>of</strong> the Passover. For both<br />

events we were able to celebrate with Jewish<br />

congregations. At the first congregation, Najeeb<br />

spoke about the Book <strong>of</strong> Esther, it really was a<br />

great joy and blessing.<br />

On the March 21 st , we celebrated Mother’s<br />

day in our congregation. We invited our beloved<br />

sister, Ruth Nessim, and gave her a plaque to<br />

honor her for all her love, care and support as a<br />

mother to the members <strong>of</strong> the Immanuel Congregation.<br />

We also invited a number <strong>of</strong> other<br />

women whom very little interest is shown.<br />

Some people even tried to prevent them from<br />

coming on this occasion. Thank God they came,<br />

they were blessed and encouraged by the message<br />

and the humble gift that they received on<br />

this special day.<br />

Passover found us again at the Nahariya<br />

Congregation with Sister Ruth and the members<br />

<strong>of</strong> the congregation. She reports that we<br />

reverend Najeeb Atteih<br />

immanuel News<br />

mmanuel hurch<br />

B o o k s h o p H a i f a , i s r e a l<br />

livened up the proceedings, and they are always<br />

very joyful when we come. We took some<br />

German guests with us, who also enjoyed the<br />

occasion, seeing Jews, Arabs and strangers together<br />

remembering the Exodus from Egypt,<br />

and more importantly, Messiah’s sacrifice for<br />

us in taking away our sins, and breaking down<br />

the middle wall <strong>of</strong> partition between us, making<br />

one new man!<br />

This month was filled with visitors from<br />

abroad, including students from the States, two<br />

German families, another three students, and<br />

two more men from Germany. We hosted some<br />

<strong>of</strong> them in our small apartment, and it was really<br />

a time <strong>of</strong> blessing. We had a wonderful time<br />

together, full <strong>of</strong> love, harmony and encouragement<br />

to focus on the Lord and serve Him. <strong>The</strong><br />

young people needed lot <strong>of</strong> help and direction<br />

on how to lead their lives, and thank God we<br />

were able to help them in this too.<br />

Two families came to visit us in the Bookshop,<br />

bringing greetings to us from another<br />

German family. <strong>The</strong>y were accompanied by<br />

their daughter, a medical student who was doing<br />

one month’s intensive course at the Rambam<br />

Hospital, the largest hospital in Haifa.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y loved the bookshop, and were blessed<br />

by our sharing. <strong>The</strong>y accepted our invitation to<br />

visit our home for cup <strong>of</strong> c<strong>of</strong>fee, and it was very<br />

good time, especially for the other couple who<br />

were in need <strong>of</strong> lot <strong>of</strong> encouragement, particularly<br />

the wife, who needed to stand strong in the<br />

Lord. <strong>The</strong>y were both members <strong>of</strong> the Lutheran<br />

Church for many years, but after their son came<br />

to know the Lord, they began to attend Baptist<br />

Church, where their son is youth Pastor. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

attended there for about 10 years, but she had<br />

not been baptized. Now they were wanting to<br />

visit the Sea <strong>of</strong> Galilee, We encouraged them<br />

to do so, gave them directions, prayed with<br />

them and they went <strong>of</strong>f happily. <strong>The</strong>y called us<br />

at night, asking if they could visit us straight<br />

away. As they entered and began to share with<br />

us, we saw that the woman was very tearful as<br />

she related her experiences on the Sea <strong>of</strong> Galilee<br />

tour, and that she had remembered at this<br />

time, what we had told her about God’s love,<br />

and how she should stand strong in the Lord,<br />

and that each <strong>of</strong> us was called to serve the Lord<br />

also. This had reached deep into her heart, and<br />

she asked if she could get baptized and if Pastor<br />

Najeeb would do this for her. After questioning<br />

her about salvation and her understanding<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Gospel, all <strong>of</strong> which she answered from<br />

her heart, we agreed to baptize her and began<br />

to prepare for the trip the next day, which happened<br />

to be Sunday. We called some members<br />

<strong>of</strong> our congregation to join us, it was a great<br />

day <strong>of</strong> joy to baptize this woman in the Sea <strong>of</strong><br />

Galilee, as she so much wanted to be baptized<br />

in Israel, and she was blessed by the Arabic<br />

prayers and worship. She could not thank us<br />

enough for this wonderful baptism. As Najeeb<br />

and the lady emerged from the water, an Indian<br />

man was standing there, and immediately asked<br />

Pastor Najeeb to baptize him too.<br />

Najeeb asked him:<br />

1. “Do you believe that you are sinner and in<br />

need <strong>of</strong> salvation?<br />

2. “Do you believe that Jesus Christ died and<br />

rose to give you salvation?<br />

3. “Do you believe that he is Lord and that he is<br />

the Son <strong>of</strong> God?”<br />

To all these questions he answered “Yes”,<br />

and then when asked why he wanted to be baptized,<br />

he replied, “He is my Saviour and I want<br />

to follow Him!”<br />

After this they went down into the water,<br />

with songs and worship. Heaven was full <strong>of</strong> joy<br />

that day as two had accepted the Lord and followed<br />

Him in Baptism, taking a gift instead <strong>of</strong><br />

buying one!<br />

L. is Russian woman, who came into the<br />

bookshop to buy gift to send to relative in Russia.<br />

As we served her, we looked for way to<br />

bring her the Gospel, and asked if she were <strong>of</strong><br />

Christian or Jewish background. She answered<br />

that she was Christian, but she didn’t believe in<br />

anything! Najeeb then told her that he could see<br />

that she was carrying heavy burden on her back,<br />

and had no hope <strong>of</strong> better life.<br />

“What good life”, she rejoined, “<strong>The</strong>re is<br />

nothing good on this earth”<br />

“You are absolutely wrong”, Najeeb replied,<br />

“God is good, and He gave us salvation<br />

that we might have a better life”.<br />

“OK If God is good, then why does He let<br />

people suffer?”<br />

“God does not make people suffer. <strong>The</strong>re<br />

is verse in the Bible that says, “What so ever a<br />

man sows, that shall he also reap”. Many times<br />

we blame God for our situation and think that<br />

He is the cause <strong>of</strong> everything, forgetting that we<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten bring ourselves into this situation. If you<br />

allow me to, I can pray for you.” She agreed<br />

and Najeeb prayed aloud for her. Suddenly she<br />

began to cry. <strong>The</strong>n we knew that something<br />

had happened and God had touched her heart.<br />

When Pastor Najeeb finished praying for her,<br />

she began to tell us about her life, and shared<br />

that she is not married and lives with her daughter,<br />

and has no help in supporting her and has to<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly


<strong>Moriel</strong> Alert !<br />

do everything alone, and finds it every difficult<br />

to manage.<br />

We encouraged her to accept the Lord, for<br />

He is our real Abba and the only one that she<br />

can trust. We also encouraged her to attend a<br />

Russian speaking church, and <strong>of</strong>fered to find her<br />

the right one. Of course, we did not let her leave<br />

without the Word <strong>of</strong> God, and gave her Russian<br />

Hebrew Bible, explaining that even if she did<br />

not understand everything, she should begin in<br />

John’s Gospel and read one chapter every day.<br />

She was so happy, that when she left, she forgot<br />

to buy the gift she came in for.<br />

Every other Friday, we have Bible Discipleship,<br />

each time meeting in the home <strong>of</strong> different<br />

one <strong>of</strong> our members. <strong>The</strong> couple in whose home<br />

we met last Friday invited two couples from<br />

their neighborhood. <strong>The</strong> older couple had lost<br />

their son, who had worked at factory as security<br />

guard, and they don’t know whether he committed<br />

suicide or killed himself accidentally.<br />

<strong>The</strong> mother explained that he was in his room<br />

cleaning his gun. She heard shot, and when she<br />

went to his room, she found him dead. <strong>The</strong>y are<br />

very miserable and brokenhearted, and in poor<br />

psychological condition. <strong>The</strong> mother cried during<br />

the whole service. <strong>The</strong> other couple was<br />

their eldest son and his wife, who although married<br />

live their own lives apart from one another<br />

and do what they want! <strong>The</strong>y have two small<br />

children aged four years and one year, and work<br />

very hard and long hours to satisfy their lusts.<br />

It is like a Sodom and Gomorrah situation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> children receive little attention from their<br />

parents, and look to their grandparents for affection<br />

and help. <strong>The</strong> woman is very beautiful,<br />

and thinks that with her beauty she can achieve<br />

many goals. She has obviously never read Proverbs<br />

31:30, “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is<br />

vain; but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall<br />

be praised”.<br />

At the end <strong>of</strong> the meeting, they were<br />

amazed by what they had heard, and started<br />

to repent and ask forgiveness <strong>of</strong> the Lord. We<br />

are following up this family, as we cannot yet<br />

say that they have committed their lives to the<br />

Lord, but they are ready to come and hear God’s<br />

Word. Pray for the Salvation <strong>of</strong> this family and<br />

that they will have peace in their lives.<br />

With our warm greetings to you in Jesus,<br />

Rev Najeeb and Elizabeth Atteih<br />

P.S. We are still praying to God and trusting<br />

for the provision <strong>of</strong> a car. We travel a lot to<br />

all parts <strong>of</strong> Israel, and even into the Palestinian<br />

territories where we also have an outreach to<br />

needy families, Moslems and Christians alike.<br />

We are also involved in reconciliation between<br />

Israelis and Palestinians, and when possible<br />

take Jewish friends with us. This has a big impact<br />

on the lives <strong>of</strong> Palestinians when they see<br />

Arabs and Jews working together and loving<br />

one another. Please thank all our friends who<br />

have contributed so far.<br />

Quotes <strong>of</strong> the QUARTER !<br />

George Whitefield , said:<br />

“Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger<br />

in your journey, but strive for the mark set<br />

before you. ”<br />

2 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

Dear Brethren in Jesus,<br />

We lost another one <strong>of</strong> our children in Africa. It was Mouse (Moses). It is always very<br />

difficult spiritually and emotionally for all <strong>of</strong> us when this happens. But it inevitably too<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten does. It is especially heart breaking for the <strong>Moriel</strong> missionaries who take care <strong>of</strong> these<br />

children and above all for Dave & Lyn in particular. It is the kind <strong>of</strong> thing you mentally expect<br />

but can never get use to. It is our first loss since little ngel went to be with Jesus. <strong>Moriel</strong><br />

Ebyown is the only family these mostly HIV babies and small children, some <strong>of</strong> which are<br />

orphaned, have ever known or had. Little Mouse never even had much <strong>of</strong> a chance.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are few things more painful than burying a child. Please keep Dave & Lyn and our<br />

missionaries and the children they care for in prayer.<br />

Below is Dave Royle’s brief letter. <strong>The</strong>re is nothing more to say. Whenever this happens<br />

there never really is except: “ Come Quickly Lord Jesus”.<br />

In Christ,<br />

Jacob Prasch (<strong>Moriel</strong>)<br />

• Dear Friends,<br />

We have some sad news. As you know we had to take Mouse to hospital with serious<br />

health issues. Today we found out he went to be with the Lord. He was only 6.<br />

We rest assured that the merciful God we serve will gather these young ones in His<br />

arms and that all hid disabilities and pain have been taken away in the twinkling <strong>of</strong> an eye.<br />

In Jesus<br />

Dave and Lyn<br />

wITH gREAT SADNESS . . . . . .<br />

Psalm 68:5-6<br />

5. A father <strong>of</strong> the fatherless<br />

and a judge for the<br />

widows,<br />

Is God in His holy habitation.<br />

6. God makes a home for<br />

the lonely; He leads out<br />

the<br />

prisoners into prosperity,<br />

only the rebellious<br />

dwell<br />

in a parched land.<br />

Mouse<br />

Psalm 68:5-6<br />

5. A father <strong>of</strong> the fatherless and a judge for the widows,<br />

Is God in His holy habitation.<br />

6. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the<br />

prisoners into prosperity, only the rebellious dwell<br />

in a parched land.<br />

• Dear Friends,<br />

We are praying my brother. Times like these show us the reliability <strong>of</strong> God as the Father<br />

<strong>of</strong> mercies and God <strong>of</strong> all comfort. His grace is sufficient and so much needed. We weep with<br />

you as you weep. God bless with you all.<br />

In Christ,<br />

Claude<br />

• Brethren:<br />

“We ourselves, who have the firstfruits <strong>of</strong> the Spirit, groan inwardly...” Romans 8:23.<br />

“I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:23<br />

Tony


Your Letters and<br />

Comments<br />

amerIcan letters march 2010<br />

<strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> this message is to sincerely<br />

thank you all at <strong>Moriel</strong> <strong>Ministries</strong> and<br />

in particular Jacob Prasch for all the awesome<br />

teaching we have been so blessed to watch and<br />

listen to on-line.<br />

You may not be aware but there are still<br />

parts <strong>of</strong> this country that are in the dark when<br />

it comes to a lot <strong>of</strong> what your ministry is warning<br />

about concerning false teachings and false<br />

teachers in these last days.<br />

People here do NOT know about Rick Warren<br />

and what he is trying to do. Mention the<br />

emergent church and people here look at you<br />

like “ who are they and what is that?” It may be<br />

hard for you to believe - doing what you do -<br />

that there is actually still an ignorance out here<br />

about such things - but - I assure you that there is.<br />

People here are very open to visits by representatives<br />

<strong>of</strong> IHOP and Fresh Fire <strong>Ministries</strong><br />

and churches here support such conferences, I<br />

believe partly out <strong>of</strong> ignorance. Folks here do<br />

Bible studies (without the Bible) and use other<br />

materials that teach Kingdom Now <strong>The</strong>ology,<br />

but when you try and explain it to them, they<br />

really can not see error in any <strong>of</strong> it at all.<br />

I could go on but that is the REALITY <strong>of</strong><br />

how poor the teaching has been here concerning<br />

these matters.<br />

It was only by the grace <strong>of</strong> God and<br />

through many prayers for the gift <strong>of</strong> “Discernment”<br />

that we were lead to your ministry. <strong>The</strong><br />

teachings have been clearly Holy Spirit guided<br />

and have made a huge difference in our lives<br />

and have begun to provide us with information<br />

to share with others concerning so many<br />

things unfortunately including the need to divorce<br />

themselves from a church that is clearly<br />

in doctrinal error and perhaps even suffering<br />

from the judgement <strong>of</strong> God concerning being<br />

“blinded’ because <strong>of</strong> their choosing to remain<br />

in error.<br />

We are in the M<strong>IN</strong>ORITY here, hugely<br />

in the minority, and it is very difficult to find<br />

others to fellowship with, but we are praying<br />

GOD will lead others <strong>of</strong> like mind/spirit to us<br />

so we can worship in our home together.<br />

THANK YOU for your work, thank you<br />

for taking the time to respond to my emails<br />

when I have had questions and please let Jacob<br />

know WE PRAY FOR HIM. His teachings<br />

have enlightened us on so many areas and<br />

we consider ourselves to be blessed to have<br />

discovered your website.<br />

God RICHLY bless you<br />

P & G<br />

If there is any chance to get a sermon posted<br />

by Jacob concerning the Holy Spirit, we<br />

would deeply appreciate it. We have heard<br />

him speak briefly on it in other messages,<br />

but perhaps there is a message somewhere<br />

explaining more from the book <strong>of</strong> Acts on<br />

the work <strong>of</strong> the Holy Spirit. Baptism in the<br />

Holy Spirit, gifts indwelling etc, much confusion<br />

it seems.<br />

Again THANKS<br />

Question:<br />

Shalom my brother,<br />

I am A from Singapore. Happy Pesach<br />

and the Lord bless you abundantly.<br />

Lately I have been chewing on the question<br />

<strong>of</strong> Judas Iscariot’s tribe. Many a time<br />

when I look at the name Judas, the tribe <strong>of</strong><br />

Judah came into mind. However, I noticed<br />

the name Iscariot/Simon and looked into<br />

the Bible Dictionary and came up with the<br />

place where Iscariot lived....the man from<br />

Kerioth.......associated with the zealots. That<br />

does not tell me the tribe.......could it be the<br />

tribe <strong>of</strong> Dan by any chance? Why I think<br />

so? Genesis 49:17 shows me the character<br />

and Revelation 7 shows me Dan is missing!!<br />

Would appreciate your insight from the<br />

Hebriac perspective. Toda raba.<br />

In Christ Alone,<br />

A<br />

Answer:<br />

Dear A:<br />

Others have speculated this about the<br />

tribe <strong>of</strong> Dan based in part on the absence <strong>of</strong><br />

that tribe from Revelation 7.<br />

A medieval tradition called ‘Lacunae’<br />

later said Judas (without any biblical support)<br />

was from the tribe <strong>of</strong> Ruben. Some<br />

traditions, also devoid <strong>of</strong> solid scriptural<br />

support, assert he was from the Tribe <strong>of</strong><br />

Benjamin.<br />

Although inconclusive, most <strong>of</strong> the internal<br />

scriptural evidence (how be it tenuous)<br />

suggests that Judas was from the Tribe<br />

<strong>of</strong> Judah for three reasons.<br />

a) Two <strong>of</strong> the Three villages called ‘Kryot’<br />

as mentioned in Joshua were in the tribal<br />

region <strong>of</strong> Judah (the third was across the<br />

Dead sea).<br />

b) Judah is a tribal name more commonly<br />

used within that tribe.<br />

c) Judas (Yehuda in Hebrew) is typified by<br />

Judah (Yehuda) who betrayed Joseph for<br />

Silver.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is not much more that can be<br />

stated with certainty.<br />

In Christ,<br />

JJP/ <strong>Moriel</strong><br />

Letters & comments<br />

Jacob’s usa tour<br />

Chino Hills, CA<br />

Hope for Today Israel and Bible<br />

Prophecy Conference<br />

August 6-7, 2010<br />

Calvary Chapel <strong>of</strong> Chino Hills<br />

4201 Eucalyptus Ave.<br />

Chino Hills, CA 91710<br />

(909) 393-7100<br />

Abundant Life Church<br />

(Assembly <strong>of</strong> god)<br />

August 8, 2010, 9 AM and 11:00 AM<br />

82665 Miles Ave.<br />

Indio, Ca, 92201<br />

(760) 610-4566<br />

Munford, TN<br />

Munford First Baptist Church<br />

Sunday, August 15, 2010<br />

10:15 AM and 6:00 PM<br />

1253 Munford Ave., Munford, TN<br />

38058<br />

(901) 837-6325<br />

Laredo, TX<br />

2nd Annual Laredo Bible Conference<br />

Friday thru Sunday, August 20-22, 2010<br />

Embassy Suite Hotel<br />

110 Calle Del Norte, Laredo, TX 78041<br />

(956) 723-9100<br />

Pittsburgh, PA<br />

Beth Hebron<br />

Friday thru Sunday, Sept. 3-5, 2010<br />

60 Belvidere Street, Crafton, PA 15205<br />

Phone; (412) 321-6154<br />

Email: morieldavid@yahoo.com<br />

Appleton, wI<br />

Calvary Chapel <strong>of</strong> Appleton<br />

Friday through Sunday,<br />

Sept. 10-12,2010<br />

2136 E. Newberry St.,<br />

Appleton, WI 54915<br />

Phone: (920)735-1242,<br />

Fax: (920) 735-9265<br />

Email: cchapel@ccappleton.org<br />

winnipeg, Manitoba<br />

20th Winnipeg Prophecy Conference<br />

Friday thru Sunday, Sept. 17-19, 2010<br />

Victoria Inn<br />

1808 Wellington Avenue<br />

Winnipeg, Manitoba<br />

Canada<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly


<strong>Moriel</strong> South Africa<br />

When Jerusalem fell to the<br />

Greco Syrian tyrant Antiochus<br />

Epiphanies it fell<br />

twice. <strong>The</strong> first time was<br />

gradual assimilation to<br />

the Greek culture that was first introduced<br />

by Alexandra the great and whose precepts<br />

were inherited by his military successors<br />

throughout the remnant <strong>of</strong> that once great<br />

yet brief empire. <strong>The</strong> Vision that Alexander<br />

had was to see the whole world transformed<br />

by a single language and culture; this in turn<br />

was the thrust <strong>of</strong> this madman come megalomaniac<br />

whose political and military pressure<br />

turned the rulers <strong>of</strong> Jerusalem’s religious<br />

class upon themselves. <strong>The</strong> New Greek<br />

thought in the form <strong>of</strong> Hellenism was pitted<br />

against the traditions <strong>of</strong> Rabbinic Judaism<br />

and the new usurped the old with the result<br />

being the political and cultural domination<br />

<strong>of</strong> Greco-Syria.<br />

<strong>The</strong> second time Jerusalem fell, it fell<br />

thoroughly militarily. While away on military<br />

campaign in Egypt, it was reported that<br />

Antiochus had fallen in battle and so the<br />

ruling Hellenist party pronounced themselves<br />

rulers. Hearing this news the returning<br />

despot hit the Jewish people hard. Many<br />

thousands were murdered; Judaism was outlawed,<br />

punishable by death. <strong>The</strong> Temple and<br />

the Holy <strong>of</strong> Holies were desecrated and the<br />

abomination <strong>of</strong> desolation was erected in the<br />

form <strong>of</strong> a statue to Zeus baring the face <strong>of</strong><br />

Antiochus himself. Thus the persecution <strong>of</strong><br />

the Jews and the annihilation <strong>of</strong> Judaism by<br />

the sword had begun.<br />

Well what does this have to do with the<br />

Ebyown community living on the outskirts<br />

<strong>of</strong> the city <strong>of</strong> Springs? Plenty I think because<br />

the pattern that devastated a city so long ago<br />

is evident here in South Africa and maybe<br />

even in your city you can recognise a commonality<br />

between our situation and the situation<br />

Jerusalem found itself in two centuries<br />

before <strong>The</strong> Messiah came. Let me explain.<br />

In 1991 when I first visited South Africa,<br />

the nation was at a crossroads. HIV/<br />

AIDS was just coming into its own. HIV<br />

was a challenge to the church that to this<br />

day, it has never accepted fully apart from a<br />

few exceptions. While the only real answer<br />

to HIV is a change <strong>of</strong> heart through the gospel<br />

<strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ; a challenge that should<br />

have been met with true biblical evangelism;<br />

what is it we observed? Traditional churches<br />

expounding a social gospel which sends HIV<br />

infected Zionists unconverted to Hell (that<br />

is the ZCC Zionist Christian Church that is<br />

neither Christian or Zionist) or the new hyper<br />

charismania gospel which is no gospel<br />

4 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

David royle<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> Missions<br />

at all but in fact a ‘DR Feel Good Cult’ that<br />

panders to the West’s anonymous so called<br />

brethren, whose destination is no more and no<br />

less than the HIV infected Zionist.<br />

Through its lack <strong>of</strong> unbiblical leadership<br />

South Africa and Springs itself, has pandered<br />

after every wind <strong>of</strong> doctrine its hireling leaders<br />

have allowed into their sheep pens. Rhema<br />

was the first big player. Ray McCauley a charismatic<br />

leader; at the beginning did some notable<br />

things such as the integration <strong>of</strong> Black and<br />

White believers during an apartheid regime.<br />

This though went hand in hand with teachings<br />

borrowed by Kenneth Hagin and more recently<br />

Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Benny<br />

Hinn which ensured that the Black brethren<br />

who were set free from the Black N’songomas<br />

(Witch Doctors) were now bound and shackled<br />

by the mainly White N’songomas teachings<br />

<strong>of</strong> “God wants you rich”. While some<br />

black brethren walk 20 kms to Rhema placing<br />

all they have in the <strong>of</strong>fering Buckets so<br />

God will bless them, the White N’songomas<br />

fly around in private jets, drive Mercs and live<br />

in palaces. As with the Black N’songomas,<br />

the only ones getting rich are those proliferating<br />

this unbiblical occultist trash.<br />

Although I cannot be too accurate chronologically,<br />

the second thing I observed was<br />

Alpha. Alpha for kids, Alpha in prisons and<br />

again the merry go round <strong>of</strong> un-regenerated<br />

so called brethren hit the Nation and the Cities<br />

churches as congregation’s swapped membership<br />

lists to experience the latest fad.<br />

Third was the Spiritual Warfare movement<br />

(you may notice that all these fads are still<br />

around and have amalgamated into a pseudo<br />

Christian cult) To my shame this is something<br />

I promoted myself till I woke up and smelt the<br />

c<strong>of</strong>fee so to speak. Things that don’t work and<br />

are unbiblical outside the realms <strong>of</strong> eisagesis<br />

are promoted as true and factual when in reality<br />

they are delusional lies.<br />

Transformations was round four <strong>of</strong> our<br />

church merry go round. Even though blown<br />

out <strong>of</strong> the water by factual objective journalism<br />

and the exposure <strong>of</strong> its proponent as a<br />

Universalist, the masses decided to believe the<br />

lie. What Paul said in 2<strong>The</strong>ssalonians 2:10-12<br />

is presently being fulfilled, “And with all deceivableness<br />

<strong>of</strong> unrighteousness in them that<br />

perish; because they received not the love <strong>of</strong><br />

the truth, that they might be saved. 2:11 And<br />

for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,<br />

that they should believe a lie: 2:12 That<br />

they all might be damned who believed not the<br />

truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”<br />

Round five was a mixture <strong>of</strong> different personalities<br />

ranging from the oneness teacher<br />

Tommy Tenney whose derogatory remarks<br />

concerning scripture paved the way for TD<br />

Jakes and others. To Bruce Wilkerson who<br />

at best was a mixture <strong>of</strong> pop psychology and<br />

American smaltz.<br />

Next was what I believe to be the most<br />

dangerous manifestation to hit South Africa<br />

and perhaps Christendom as a whole, is Rick<br />

Warren’s Purpose Driven Church, Life and<br />

now Purpose driven community. Purpose<br />

Driven is the latest in a long list <strong>of</strong> man made<br />

philosophies, which akin to the Hellenism <strong>of</strong><br />

the second Temple period has hit the body <strong>of</strong><br />

Christ hard. Bit by bit, biblical literacy has<br />

been undermined, little by little; one step at<br />

a time Christian integrity has been shattered.<br />

Gradually and irreversibly discernment has<br />

been eroded, preparing us for oneness teachings<br />

and now the nice respectable face <strong>of</strong> Rick<br />

Warren who unashamedly declares his desire<br />

for one world church and one billion foot soldiers<br />

which can only be achieved through unity<br />

with Rome, certain cults and other faiths.<br />

Finally and more recently we have been<br />

exposed to what is known as the emergent<br />

church. <strong>The</strong> emergent church did not appear<br />

overnight but has primarily been an evolution<br />

<strong>of</strong> the ecumenicism we have been observing<br />

and warning about for years. But now it<br />

has been manifest with such insidious teachings<br />

that denigrate the Cross, substitutionary<br />

atonement and comes with the introduction <strong>of</strong><br />

mystical Roman Catholic teachings and New<br />

age meditation techniques that are thoroughly<br />

alien to Biblical Christianity<br />

<strong>The</strong> result on a city beleaguered by every<br />

wind <strong>of</strong> doctrine and led by spineless shepherds<br />

is an amalgamation <strong>of</strong> every man made<br />

philosophy that has gone before and who dare<br />

speak against it? Jeremiah was right 5:30-31<br />

says “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed<br />

in the land; 5:31 <strong>The</strong> prophets prophesy<br />

falsely, and the priests bear rule by their<br />

means; and my people love to have it so: and<br />

what will ye do in the end there<strong>of</strong> ?”<br />

<strong>The</strong>y prophecy falsely! <strong>The</strong> bemused<br />

twittering that entail’s prophecy nowadays, is<br />

evident in almost every church. With no discernment<br />

through the word how can a believer<br />

understand the implications <strong>of</strong> speaking for<br />

the Lord things that don’t come true?<br />

<strong>The</strong> priests bear rule! Anyone who apposes<br />

is marginalized and treated as a pariah.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Purpose Driven Philosophy has been<br />

steam rolled upon congregations by sacerdotal<br />

leaders. Those who question are treated as<br />

trouble makers.<br />

<strong>The</strong> people Love its so! O yes to feel<br />

the spirit give you your goose bump fix for<br />

another week while in between there is adultery,<br />

theft and murder. Where is sanctification,


where is integrity? Where is Truth? Gone with<br />

the discernment that has been sucked out <strong>of</strong><br />

the mind and heart <strong>of</strong> every true believer.<br />

But what will you do in the end? Well,<br />

the city <strong>of</strong> Springs has fallen. Like Jerusalem<br />

it has first <strong>of</strong> all been conquered by<br />

philosophy and culture. Every church and<br />

Sunday school is either Purpose Driven, Willow<br />

Creek, Alpha and all is underpinned by<br />

TBN. <strong>The</strong> saddest fact is that like Jerusalem<br />

the people <strong>of</strong> God have been divided, brother<br />

against brother, sister against sister, parents<br />

against children. Sadly even discernment<br />

ministry against discernment ministry as one<br />

by one we fall to fleshly compromise. <strong>The</strong><br />

new ways against the old ways, the remnant<br />

that once represented everything that is orthodox,<br />

now marginalized as a fringe group.<br />

I am not a prophet, nor would want to<br />

be, but common sense and observing the way<br />

God has dealt with His people; must teach us<br />

that after conquering through philosophy and<br />

assimilation into a culture, there must come<br />

oppression through one form <strong>of</strong> violence or<br />

another. But as Jeremiah says, “what will you<br />

do at the end <strong>of</strong> it?”<br />

Israel at its most desperate always had<br />

a remnant. During this abominable time Israel<br />

had a few who revolted and stood their<br />

ground against the overbearing forces that<br />

persecuted them. In a small village some kilometres<br />

from Jerusalem, people stood their<br />

ground and heralded a rallying cry that saw Israel<br />

for a few years gain independence again.<br />

As a worshipping community, now marginalized<br />

through modern pop culture and<br />

grievous heresy. As a worshipping community<br />

that has seen violence with the destruction <strong>of</strong><br />

property in Bloemfontein and the slanderous<br />

insults <strong>of</strong> sacerdotal despots here in Springs,<br />

we too must head the call to stand firm for<br />

the faith once and for all handed down to the<br />

saints and appose the faith propagated by the<br />

Bill Hybels and Rick Warrens <strong>of</strong> this world<br />

and handed down to an apostate church until<br />

He comes again.<br />

A father <strong>of</strong> the fatherless and a judge<br />

for the widows, is God in His holy<br />

habitation. God makes a home for<br />

the lonely; He leads out the prisoners<br />

into prosperity, Only the rebel-<br />

–Psalm 68: 5-6<br />

lious dwell in a parched land.<br />

woolly Jumpers From<br />

ozz & beyond<br />

<strong>The</strong> last few months has seen us have a<br />

brilliant time distributing knitted clothing to<br />

children as far apart as Tanzania, Kwazenzele<br />

South Africa and through Aletheia<br />

Community church Endicott. Supporters<br />

in Australia, Tasmania and the back and beyond<br />

have rallied to the idea <strong>of</strong> making wool<br />

hats, coats, gloves shoes and even dolls for<br />

children in poor areas.<br />

We have had contributions sent to Marg at<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong>’s Australia <strong>of</strong>fice where they were sent<br />

over to South Africa much to the shock <strong>of</strong> the<br />

David royle<br />

local Post Office who received 14 cases plus<br />

for us to pick up.<br />

<strong>The</strong> African winter is coming soon,<br />

here in the Highvelt in the rural areas it can<br />

get down to freezing at night time and some<br />

mums struggle to keep their youngsters warm,<br />

however with your help this will make things<br />

a lot easier.<br />

We would like to thank everyone for their<br />

magnificent help, may God Bless you.<br />

new house FellowshIp<br />

In benonI<br />

I had to come 6000 miles to meet Dave<br />

Newman a man from my old town <strong>of</strong> Eccles.<br />

Its funny that God would bring people who<br />

lived 2 streets away to meet in South Africa.<br />

Dave has been attending Aletheia for<br />

awhile and felt burdened by the Lord to plant<br />

a fellowship in his locality. We were really<br />

pleased to see him do this and now we have a<br />

place for people to go in that vicinity. Please<br />

pray that this fellowship would be a great success.<br />

And honor the Lord. If you would like<br />

to attend give Dave Newman a call for directions.<br />

0824514784<br />

ebyown<br />

It was with great sadness that we said<br />

goodbye to Lina and Marijke in late February.<br />

To date we have not been able to replace<br />

them which unfortunately means that as a registered<br />

children’s home we have not been able<br />

to comply with government rules. This along<br />

with other problems has unfortunately meant<br />

that we have had to deregister and become a<br />

regular foster home.<br />

This will effect the way that we run in<br />

the future because as a home the government<br />

have placed upon us so many restrictions. For<br />

example to remain registered we have been<br />

told that Lyn and I must leave the property<br />

and live <strong>of</strong>f site. As this is against the principles<br />

we set out from the beginning <strong>of</strong> being<br />

a place where children are situated in a family<br />

we cannot comply with this.<br />

This also means that some <strong>of</strong> the children<br />

who are registered to the home as an<br />

entity have to be found new placed. As you<br />

can imagine we are heart broke that these kids<br />

who were rescued from terrible circumstances<br />

must now be placed in government care.<br />

However the good news is that we continue<br />

the work God has given us and provide<br />

a loving family home for 10 –14 children, we<br />

will just have to do it a little differently.<br />

Government has made our position difficult,<br />

they have provided us with no funds, limitations<br />

in the work we do and have asked that<br />

we employ pr<strong>of</strong>essional staff with no salary<br />

support and now they want us to leave the site.<br />

We value your prayers on what will be<br />

a difficult few months ahead. Thank you for<br />

your love, prayers and ongoing support.<br />

In Jesus—Dave<br />

“rightousness exhalts a nation but<br />

sin is<br />

–Proverbs<br />

a disgrace to any people”<br />

14:34<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> South Africa<br />

enter the gInger nInJa<br />

This month we have had the pleasure <strong>of</strong><br />

James Lee our nephew visit for a month at<br />

Ebyown. He actually should have gone home<br />

on the 17th April but with the Volcano eruption<br />

in Iceland and the disruption to the airways<br />

he has had to stay till the 2nd <strong>of</strong> May.<br />

James has made himself useful around the<br />

place spending time with the children and helping<br />

Dave and Chris mow the grass. <strong>The</strong> kids<br />

have really loved having him around as James<br />

is currently studying to be a football couch<br />

with a placement with Bolton Wanderers FC.<br />

It has been fun watching him get used to<br />

the African life, especially his reaction to our<br />

Flora and Fauna, Spiders and Rats. He will be<br />

taking home many memories <strong>of</strong> his Rat hunting<br />

sessions, South African Beef (Best in the<br />

world) and his trip to Suikerbosrand.<br />

We hope to have him again next year and<br />

hopefully his sister will also be joining us for<br />

a spell. So here’s wishing James the “Ginger<br />

Ninja” a good flight home and all the best with<br />

his studies.<br />

*TEACHER REQUIRED<br />

Ebyown needs a teacher to help Lyn with<br />

the education <strong>of</strong> the children. To remain a<br />

home school and assist in the adoption process<br />

<strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the children we need to establish<br />

that we can provide a solid educational<br />

environment to the South African High Court.<br />

<strong>The</strong>refore if you can come and spend a year<br />

as Lina did last year you would be most welcome.<br />

• Period <strong>of</strong> work one year<br />

• Food and housing given<br />

• Working with children with many challenges<br />

• Must have an education qualification<br />

If this is something you would like to do and<br />

want more information then please contact us at,<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong>.david@gmail.com<br />

prayer & practIcal help<br />

Dave would love to come to your church<br />

and share about missions and also teach. If you<br />

would like him to come then please contact us.<br />

• Please pray for the children and their health<br />

problems.<br />

• Please pray for Dave and Lyn and their<br />

health issues.<br />

• Please continue to pray for Salvi and Dianne<br />

as they pioneer in Kwazulu.<br />

• Please pray for Ebyown as it goes through<br />

the process <strong>of</strong> deregistration.<br />

• Please pray for Dave’s Aussie and New Zealand<br />

tour May 12th to June 2nd.<br />

• We are still in need <strong>of</strong> a teacher to come and<br />

assist us in the work. If you have a burden to<br />

come over then please contact us.<br />

• We are also praying that the Lord will provide<br />

a husband and wife to pastor Aletheia in<br />

the near future.<br />

• We praise God for His provision<br />

• We praise God for His Grace<br />

• We praise God that He took Mouse to be with<br />

Him. If you would like to contribute to the<br />

ministry or be involved then please contact us.<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 5


<strong>Moriel</strong> Japan 2010<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

Ge<strong>of</strong>f Toole<br />

moriel japan<br />

news from the far east<br />

Since our last report we have had an<br />

eventful time here in Japan. Slowly but<br />

surely <strong>Moriel</strong> teaching is gaining attention<br />

and people are beginning to ask the right<br />

questions.<br />

osaka semInar<br />

<strong>The</strong> first <strong>Moriel</strong> Japan seminar was held<br />

in Osaka in February. Ge<strong>of</strong>f and Daisuke<br />

presented the Seven Feasts teaching to an<br />

interested group <strong>of</strong> people including pastors<br />

and teachers from various Christian<br />

backgrounds. People are excited about midrash<br />

and the new insight it brings. Most<br />

<strong>of</strong> those who attended are supporters <strong>of</strong><br />

Israel and aware that Israel is important<br />

but the typology and midrash are new to<br />

many. Lots <strong>of</strong> people took home translated<br />

articles and we have had some requests<br />

for more material over the Internet. It is<br />

a small beginning but we are excited that<br />

things are underway.<br />

Jacob and daVId to ‘raI-nIchI’<br />

This June, Jacob and David Lister will<br />

Rai-Nichi -come to Japan. <strong>The</strong>y will come<br />

to Kobe for two days <strong>of</strong> teaching and then<br />

we are planning a day in Tokyo. Over the<br />

three days we hope to make some good<br />

audios and videos. Japanese are busy<br />

workers and travel is expensive here,<br />

so the CD’s and DVD’s will be <strong>of</strong><br />

great value. Also, surprisingly, many<br />

Japanese still have little access to the<br />

Internet or do not like reading online.<br />

It will be a great blessing to meet<br />

Jacob and David again as well as to<br />

introduce them to the Christians in<br />

Kansai.<br />

dIscernment<br />

We have found a few interesting<br />

things lately. Firstly, the idea <strong>of</strong> exposing<br />

error is quite unknown here. Some readers<br />

demand to know if we take responsibility<br />

for naming false teachers. One writer<br />

came to the conclusion that either Jacob is<br />

a false teacher or her whole denomination<br />

is deceived. With a gently written response<br />

I explained the issues with ‘Cho Yonngi’<br />

and his fourth dimension ideas, and a week<br />

or so later she wrote again explaining that<br />

with shock she had realized the error and<br />

hoped that her church would leave its<br />

group. Perhaps that will not happen, but<br />

praise God for opening her eyes.<br />

FIrst thIngs FIrst<br />

After a few such letters we felt the<br />

need to start at the beginning. Before we<br />

deal with other issues, Roman Catholicism<br />

and its false gospel need to be exposed<br />

here, because the average sincere Japanese<br />

Christian has no idea what Roman<br />

Catholicism teaches. Many evangelicals<br />

are openly ecumenical or <strong>of</strong>fended when<br />

Catholicism’s teachings are criticized. Our<br />

first discernment article relates to the doctrine<br />

<strong>of</strong> salvation comparing the bible and<br />

Catholicism. This being done, we will have<br />

a basis for dealing with Purpose Driven<br />

which is so popular in Asia. Next stop will<br />

be Cho Yonngi and the Word Faith movement.<br />

Pray for us as we write these articles.<br />

For most it will be the first time they have<br />

ever heard anyone analyze their favorite<br />

teachings according to the Word <strong>of</strong> God.<br />

By the way, regarding Reiki, the New Age<br />

phenomenon gaining popularity throughout<br />

the western world, it apparently began<br />

in Japan, but 90 percent <strong>of</strong> its teachings and<br />

practices were developed in the West. Actually,<br />

most Japanese have never heard <strong>of</strong> it.<br />

phIlIppInes mInIstry<br />

We returned from our teaching trip to the<br />

Philippines yesterday. Our planned seminar<br />

was canceled at the last minute by one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

‘birds nesting in the branches,’ but praise<br />

God an alternative seminar was organized<br />

within a few days. A friendly local Pres


FYi<br />

Countries eligible to sit on the<br />

United Nations Security Council:<br />

Afghanistan<br />

Albania<br />

Algeria<br />

Andorra<br />

Angola<br />

Antigua and Barbuda<br />

Argentina<br />

Armenia<br />

Australia<br />

Austria<br />

Azerbaijan<br />

Bahamas<br />

Bahrain<br />

Bangladesh<br />

Barbados<br />

Belarus<br />

Belgium<br />

Belize<br />

Benin<br />

Bhutan<br />

Bolivia<br />

Bosnia and<br />

Herzegovina<br />

Botswana<br />

Brazil<br />

Brunei Darussalam<br />

Bulgaria<br />

Burkina Faso<br />

Burundi<br />

cambodia<br />

cameroon<br />

canada<br />

cape Verde<br />

central African republic<br />

chad<br />

chile<br />

china<br />

colombia<br />

comoro islands<br />

congo<br />

costa rica<br />

cote d’lvoire<br />

croatia<br />

cuba<br />

cyprus<br />

czech republic<br />

Democratic People’s<br />

republic <strong>of</strong> Korea<br />

Democratic republic<br />

<strong>of</strong> the congo<br />

Denmark<br />

Djibouti<br />

Dominica<br />

Dominican republic<br />

Ecuador<br />

Egypt<br />

El Salvador<br />

Equatorial Guinea<br />

Eritrea<br />

Estonia<br />

Ethiopia<br />

Fiji<br />

Finland<br />

France<br />

Gabon<br />

Gambia<br />

Georgia<br />

Germany<br />

Ghana<br />

Greece<br />

Grenada<br />

Guatemala<br />

Guinea<br />

Guinea-Bissau<br />

Guyana<br />

Haiti<br />

Honduras<br />

Hungary<br />

iceland<br />

india<br />

indonesia<br />

iran<br />

iraq<br />

ireland<br />

italy<br />

Jamaica<br />

Japan<br />

Jordan<br />

Kazakhstan<br />

Kenya<br />

Kuwait<br />

Kyrgyzstan<br />

Laos<br />

Latvia<br />

Lebanon<br />

Lesotho<br />

Liberia<br />

Libya<br />

Liechtenstein<br />

Lithuania<br />

Luxembourg<br />

Madagascar<br />

Malawi<br />

Malaysia<br />

Maldives<br />

Mali<br />

Malta<br />

Marshall islands<br />

Mauritania<br />

Mauritius<br />

Mexico<br />

Micronesia<br />

Moldova<br />

Monaco<br />

Mongolia<br />

Morocco<br />

Mozambique<br />

Myanmar<br />

Namibia<br />

Nepal<br />

Netherlands<br />

New Zealand<br />

Nicaragua<br />

Niger<br />

Nigeria<br />

Norway<br />

Believe it or not, israel is the only one<br />

<strong>of</strong> the 185 member countries ineligible to<br />

serve on the united Nations Security council,<br />

the key deliberative group <strong>of</strong> the world<br />

body. Even iraq is eligible. So is iran. And<br />

so, too, are cuba, Libya, North Korea, Sudan<br />

and Syria. Why is it that these seven<br />

nations, all cited by the u.S. State Department<br />

as sponsors <strong>of</strong> terrorism, are eligible<br />

to serve rotating terms on the Security<br />

council, yet israel, a democratic nation and<br />

member <strong>of</strong> the uN since 1950, is not?<br />

To be eligible for election, a country<br />

must belong to a regional group. Every uN<br />

member state—from the smallest to the<br />

largest—is included in one <strong>of</strong> the five re-<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

PERT<strong>IN</strong>ENT “ ”<br />

Oman<br />

Pakistan<br />

Palau<br />

Panama<br />

Papua New Guinea<br />

Paraguay<br />

Peru<br />

Philippines<br />

Poland<br />

Portugal<br />

Qatar<br />

republic <strong>of</strong> Korea<br />

romania<br />

russian Federation<br />

rwanda<br />

St. Kitts and Nevis<br />

St. Lucia<br />

St. Vincent and the<br />

Grenadines<br />

Samoa<br />

San Marino<br />

SSo Tome’and Pripcipe<br />

Saudi Arabia<br />

Senegal<br />

Seychelles<br />

Sierra Leone<br />

Singapore<br />

Slovakia<br />

Slovenia<br />

Solomon islands<br />

Somalia<br />

South Africa<br />

Spain<br />

Sri Lanka<br />

Sudan<br />

Suriname<br />

Swaziland<br />

• Sweden<br />

Syria<br />

Tajikistan<br />

Tanzania<br />

Thailand<br />

<strong>The</strong> Former Yugoslav<br />

republic <strong>of</strong> Macedonia<br />

Togo<br />

Trinidad and Tobago<br />

Tunisia<br />

Turkey<br />

Turkmenistan<br />

uganda<br />

ukraine<br />

united Arab Emirates<br />

united Kingdom<br />

united States<br />

uruguay<br />

uzbekistan<br />

Vanuatu<br />

Venezuela<br />

Viet Nam<br />

Yemen<br />

Yugoslavia<br />

Zambia<br />

Zimbabwe<br />

gional groups. By geography, israel should<br />

be part <strong>of</strong> the Asian bloc but such countries<br />

as iraq and Saudi Arabia have prevented its<br />

entry for decades. But only israel among all<br />

uN members is denied the right to belong<br />

to any regional group. As a temporary measure,<br />

israel has sought acceptance in the<br />

West European and Others Group (WEOG),<br />

which includes not only the democracies <strong>of</strong><br />

Western Europe but also the united States<br />

and other Western countries.<br />

<strong>The</strong> uN Secretary General, K<strong>of</strong>i Annan,<br />

on March 25, 1998, called for an end to this<br />

injustice to israel and “the normalization <strong>of</strong><br />

israel’s status within the united Nations...”<br />

Moreover, several countries, including the<br />

Countries not eligible to sit on the<br />

United Nations Security Council:<br />

Israel<br />

u.S., Australia, canada and Norway, have<br />

expressed support for israel’s admission<br />

to WEOG, but the 15-member European<br />

union refuses to act.<br />

Thus, without membership in a regional<br />

group, israel can never be elected to<br />

serve a term on the Security council or, for<br />

that matter, to the other most important<br />

bodies <strong>of</strong> the uN system, such as the Economic<br />

and Social council, the World court,<br />

and the commission on Human rights.<br />

From the Atlas Shrugs website – Permission<br />

given by Atlas Shrugs (Pamelar Geller), http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com


uth Nessim israel report<br />

CJFM Report June 20 0 Tel: + 72 4 2 2 • Cell: + 72 544 4 0 7 from Israel 0544 4 0 7 • P.o.Box 2 , 22 02 Nahariya, Israel<br />

“Give thanks to the Lord for<br />

He is good. For his mercy<br />

endures forever.”<br />

This was in any case going to be<br />

a packed newsletter, and I had<br />

hoped to entitle it, <strong>The</strong> month<br />

that was. I never suspected<br />

in my wildest dreams that it would almost<br />

end as it did, and we are all thankful for the<br />

Lord’s mercies to us, so I will start at the end<br />

<strong>of</strong> the month and work backwards!<br />

On the 28 th <strong>of</strong> May, I set out via the last<br />

train for Haifa, to do a small translation job<br />

for Pastor Najeeb and Elisabeth Atteih, and<br />

arriving at the appointed Haifa Station, found<br />

great difficulty walking up the stairs. A few<br />

deft questions from Pastor Najeeb, and I was<br />

on my way to an emergency clinic, from where<br />

the doctor on duty instructed me to go straight<br />

to the Hospital. While sitting in Najeeb’s car,<br />

I had a massive heart attack and was rushed to<br />

the Rambam Hospital where they did an angiogram,<br />

and discovered that one artery was<br />

100% blocked, one 90%, and two were 50<br />

% blocked. On the table, one vessel ruptured<br />

and had to be fixed, and my heart stopped,<br />

but they managed to introduced three stints,<br />

I was released home for further treatment<br />

six days later, and I am praising God to be<br />

alive, although I must obviously take things<br />

a lot easier for quite a while to come! I had<br />

so many visitors, that one nurse asked what<br />

I did to get so many people to visit. So I explained<br />

that I belonged to the Messianic Jewish<br />

Community, at which she said, “I know<br />

them, I live next door to the Congregation<br />

in Kiryat Haim. <strong>The</strong>y are very nice people”<br />

As I was released on a Thursday, I was<br />

able to go to the Shabbat meeting where I<br />

was given a rumbustious welcome! I could<br />

not help remembering Albert, and how that<br />

after his death, I was left to keep the meetings<br />

together until our preacher was well<br />

enough to come again. I had felt so alone<br />

and as if everything was on my shoulders.<br />

Three and a half years later, I came home, the<br />

new young South American musicians were<br />

seated in front with our pr<strong>of</strong>essor from the<br />

States, and another young man was translating.<br />

Everything was ordered and prepared,<br />

from<br />

including the food, and I could just sat back<br />

and enjoyed the fellowship knowing that in<br />

the meantime God has raised up new leaders,<br />

additional musicians, other translators, and<br />

more young people, as well as others who<br />

come. So we do give thanks for the changes<br />

that have taken place in Nahariya.<br />

<strong>The</strong> month began <strong>of</strong>f with the return <strong>of</strong><br />

a real old-sinner, who on his own admission,<br />

has caused many problems by his life<br />

style, but now announced his intention to<br />

follow the Lord, and trust him. He still has<br />

along way to go, but we thank God for everyone<br />

who comes to repentance. He needs<br />

our prayers to overcome his many problems,<br />

but no one is beyond the grace <strong>of</strong> God. At<br />

the same time, we had the visit <strong>of</strong> an elderly<br />

Jewish retired doctor and his charming wife.<br />

<strong>The</strong>ir son is a backslider, but they still love us<br />

and always invite us to join them for meals.<br />

As we sat in one very classy restaurant as<br />

their guests, there was much opportunity to<br />

share the Gospel, and what God has done and<br />

is doing in our lives and they always listen<br />

with attention. <strong>The</strong>ir son recently had a very<br />

nasty vision set-back, and is suddenly unable<br />

to see to drive. We pray that his may really<br />

bring him back to the Lord. Frederika celebrates<br />

her 96 th birthday on the 13 th , please<br />

continue to pray for her salvation. She finds<br />

it difficult to believe that Jesus is really the<br />

Messiah, and needs a revelation <strong>of</strong> who He<br />

is! Two Sinhales Bibles and a Sinhalese New<br />

Testament arrived, which we hope to hand<br />

over soon. A big thanks to all who wrote and<br />

prayed.<br />

bethlehem<br />

On Tuesday 25 th , I was finally able to visit<br />

Bethlehem again and see ABDM’s Mongoloid<br />

child. He made the long journey with his<br />

wife and three <strong>of</strong> his four children. Again, he<br />

was robbed <strong>of</strong> all the Olive Oil he was bringing<br />

for us, but fortunately they could not take<br />

what we were bringing him, this injustice<br />

grieves us. <strong>The</strong> little boy is obviously very<br />

weak, and has two holes in his heart, but he<br />

is hoping to bring him to an Israeli hospital<br />

for treatment, hopefully Rambam, so he can<br />

visit us. When Najeeb informed him that I<br />

had had a heart attack, he cried! I cried when<br />

I heard that his baby had Down’s Syndrome.<br />

I wish to God we could always share each<br />

other’s sorrows instead <strong>of</strong> hating each other.<br />

What a miracle <strong>of</strong> the grace <strong>of</strong> God. We also<br />

saw Sammy, he helps so many people who<br />

have no money to buy food, and thank God<br />

we are also able to help there. This was only<br />

a day trip, there were others who phoned and<br />

wanted to see us, but this must be left for another<br />

time.<br />

For those <strong>of</strong> you who prayed about the<br />

young couple who were trying to get married,<br />

one <strong>of</strong>ficially a Palestinian Moslem<br />

Background believer, and the other an Arab<br />

Christian, we have good news in that they<br />

were finally were able to get all their paperwork<br />

straight. We hope to have a blessing in<br />

Bethlehem, and a legal wedding in Cyprus<br />

early next month! <strong>The</strong>y are a lovely young<br />

couple, and I was overjoyed to hear the news,<br />

and I might recover in time to make the celebration<br />

In Bethlehem.<br />

Pastor Najeeb, Elisabeth and daughter<br />

Kareen are in <strong>The</strong> USA until the end <strong>of</strong> the<br />

month, and are greatly missed.<br />

Perhaps the news <strong>of</strong> the month is that<br />

to our surprise, son Michael and Annie and<br />

their two children are selling their lovely<br />

apartment in Haifa to move to Nahariya, to<br />

help with the work here. Michael has some<br />

leadership experience, as well as being a musician,<br />

and translator. After an initial period,<br />

it is expected that he will be able to take on<br />

some <strong>of</strong> the responsibilities <strong>of</strong> a growing<br />

congregation. This turn <strong>of</strong> events was quite a<br />

surprise for us, and we take it as one <strong>of</strong> God’s<br />

blessings that he is showering upon us.<br />

We also ask prayer for Rania, the mother<br />

with her little five month old baby who is<br />

staying with us. Though also Moslem background,<br />

she too has mad a pr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>of</strong> faith<br />

this past month. Pray also for her safety, and that<br />

<strong>of</strong> the baby from the vengeful hand <strong>of</strong> Islam.<br />

With our warm greetings in the Lord,<br />

Ruth Nessim, Avi, Esther, and the leadership<br />

and ministry team!<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly


in Memory<br />

Passing <strong>of</strong> Jews for Jesus Founder<br />

From David Brickner, Executive Director<br />

<strong>of</strong> Jews for Jesus<br />

Moishe went to be with his Messiah and<br />

Lord on Ma y 19th. We are rejoicing for him<br />

but appreciate your prayers for the Rosen<br />

family and for our whole ministry as we<br />

mourn our loss. In lieu <strong>of</strong> flowers, the family<br />

wishes that gifts be made in his honor<br />

to Jews for Jesus [1], 60 Haight Street, San<br />

Francisco, CA 94102 for the Moishe Rosen<br />

Center in Israel. You can do this online at:<br />

jewsforjesus.org/moishetribute [2]<br />

Jacob’s Thoughts<br />

I (Jacob Prasch) writing from Holland<br />

mourn the passing <strong>of</strong> my friend and our<br />

brother Moishe Rosen, founder <strong>of</strong> Jews for<br />

Jesus. Few have had the impact on my own<br />

life and ministry as Moishe Rosen and I am<br />

hardly alone in saying this.<br />

I was saved through a twisted cult called<br />

Children <strong>of</strong> God and subsequently in another<br />

called Forever Family (later named Church<br />

<strong>of</strong> Bible Understanding). <strong>The</strong>se cults damaged<br />

others and me both spiritually and psychologically,<br />

yet God had a purpose for me<br />

being in both for a season. <strong>The</strong>y had a radical<br />

zeal in the age <strong>of</strong> a lukewarm church that was<br />

tragically misplaced and misdirected where<br />

backslidden leaders misled and abused members<br />

<strong>of</strong> these terrible groups. But the zeal<br />

itself was real. I spent the first years <strong>of</strong> my<br />

20 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

M o i s h e r o s e n<br />

Notes: photgraph <strong>of</strong> Moishe Rosen taken from http://www.jewsforjesus.org<br />

new life in Jesus being confused in these crazy<br />

groups or simply backslidden (the groups<br />

themselves were backslidden like their leaders<br />

Mo Berg and Stuart Traille), men who began<br />

right but ended badly — very badly.<br />

Enter Moishe Rosen, Jews For Jesus had<br />

the same zeal and radical approach to evangelism<br />

even in the face <strong>of</strong> opposition and as<br />

close to persecution as believers could get in<br />

the USA. Having attended the Jewish Community<br />

Center in my youth there was a cultural<br />

element that appealed to me. <strong>The</strong> emphasis<br />

on Old Testament Messianic typology<br />

and the Messianic theology I learned from<br />

Jews For Jesus, academics like Rachmiel<br />

Fryland (who was on the verge <strong>of</strong> becoming<br />

a rabbi when the holocaust interrupted his<br />

plans before he was saved) and my father in<br />

the Lord Dr. Louis Goldberg <strong>of</strong> the Jews For<br />

Jesus board who performed the nuptials for<br />

my Israeli wife Pavia and myself.<br />

Jews for Jesus was a very different organization<br />

in those early days, a tribe <strong>of</strong> Jewish<br />

hippies. Indeed, Moishe got in trouble<br />

with established Jewish missions societies<br />

for reaching out to the hippies not dissimilar<br />

from the ordeal faced by Chuck Smith<br />

in the early days <strong>of</strong> Calvary Chapel. It was<br />

quite a time indeed. Jews For Jesus had the<br />

radicalism <strong>of</strong> the other “Jesus Freaks” (as we<br />

were then known), but due to Moishe Rosen<br />

instilled the stability the other groups lacked<br />

due to the kind <strong>of</strong> people he involved in Jews<br />

For Jesus along with some tremendous Bible<br />

teaching.<br />

As with any dynamic leader, Christian<br />

or secular, and as he knew himself, Moishe<br />

had both his strengths and weaknesses. He<br />

made wise decisions and as he refers to in his<br />

departing letter, some he wished he had not<br />

made. But he never regretted having accepted<br />

His Messiah Yeshua and bringing the Good<br />

News <strong>of</strong> the true Messiah back home again to<br />

Israel and putting the Jews on the map once<br />

again. Although I knew Moishe was like myself<br />

— Pre-Millennial in his doctrine — I<br />

regret now that I never asked Moishe if he<br />

personally had the sense that what he was at<br />

the forefront <strong>of</strong> doing was <strong>of</strong> prophetic eschatological<br />

significance vis a vis the predictions<br />

<strong>of</strong> Romans 11 for the Natural Branches<br />

to be grafted back in again.<br />

One thing I know for sure is that I would<br />

not be in the ministry today if it were not for<br />

the way that God used Moishe Rosen and<br />

Jews For Jesus in my earlier years as a believer.<br />

In fact I may not have been walking<br />

with Yeshua at all. It was through Jews For<br />

Jesus that I began to stabilize and grow in<br />

my faith in the aftermath <strong>of</strong> my experience<br />

in cults and being saved out <strong>of</strong> the erratic<br />

drug culture <strong>of</strong> the 1960’s early 70’s in a very<br />

turbulent era sociologically, politically, and<br />

spiritually complicated by my later cocaine<br />

addiction and strong involvement in the occult<br />

and in the Marxism I came to adhere to<br />

as a science student.<br />

Due to the influence <strong>of</strong> Moishe, Jews For


Jesus also provided financial assistance to me<br />

on two occasions to help get through seminary.<br />

It was also one <strong>of</strong> Moishe’s proteges,<br />

Sam Nadler — at that time Jews For Jesus<br />

leader in New York, who encouraged me to<br />

immigrate to Israel. Without Jews For Jesus<br />

I would have never met my wife and led her<br />

to her Messiah.<br />

Not only would I not be in ministry without<br />

the way that God used Moishe Rosen,<br />

but <strong>Moriel</strong> <strong>Ministries</strong> would not exist either.<br />

Moishe said I had an analytical mind<br />

and a very good memory and encouraged<br />

me at a missions conference when I first began<br />

in ministry. I could never have believed<br />

that <strong>Moriel</strong> would be a global ministry with<br />

branches in Africa, Asia, America, Britain,<br />

Australia, New Zealand, etc.<br />

It is to me a confirmation and a lasting<br />

encouragement that in his final words he<br />

echoed two <strong>of</strong> my own very key concerns.<br />

Many people know I have been at odds<br />

with those who attempt to bless Israel and<br />

the Jews at the expense <strong>of</strong> withholding the<br />

Gospel. My struggles with <strong>The</strong> International<br />

Christian Embassy, figures like John Hagee,<br />

Jan Luck<strong>of</strong>f, Jan Willem Van der Hoven, and<br />

Malcom Hedding among others and with<br />

organizations such as Exobus, Bridges For<br />

Peace, and Ebenezer Fund were never directed<br />

against people caught up in scripturally<br />

unbalanced organizations. On the contrary, in<br />

an age <strong>of</strong> growing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionist<br />

bias I appreciate their positive support<br />

and Philo-Semitism — howbeit a misguided<br />

Philo-Semitism. I have rather been motivated<br />

by a God-given desire to see Jews and<br />

non-Jews saved and the command <strong>of</strong> Jesus<br />

to proclaim the Gospel to Israel carried out.<br />

Moishe highlights these same concerns in his<br />

farewell tome.<br />

Secondly, his final comments underscore<br />

our own convictions at <strong>Moriel</strong> at the extreme<br />

axis <strong>of</strong> the Messianic Movement which lifts<br />

up “Jewishness” (or a version <strong>of</strong> it) more<br />

than it does Yeshua-ness. Even in his departing<br />

I have a theological and ideological ally<br />

in my old friend Moishe. I did not always<br />

agree with him (although I usually did), but<br />

I certainly agreed with him on the issues that<br />

counted most.<br />

What can I say? Or what can anyone say<br />

who knew Moishe? Praise God he is now<br />

with Yeshua. As Moishe said in his leaving<br />

letter : “I’ll see you in the air”. Indeed I will.<br />

J. Jacob Prasch<br />

Moishe Rosen’s Final Letter<br />

Dear friends,<br />

If you are reading this, it means that I<br />

have gone on to my reward. As I write this, I<br />

can only think <strong>of</strong> what the Scriptures say and<br />

that is, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard,<br />

neither have they entered into the heart <strong>of</strong> man<br />

the things that God has prepared for those<br />

who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Well,<br />

I have a big curiosity and by now, I know.<br />

I don’t suppose that I will be writing you<br />

any new material, but there are a few articles<br />

in the works that might still come through.<br />

As I go, I feel that I have left a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> things undone. I think everyone must feel<br />

that way. <strong>The</strong>re were words <strong>of</strong> appreciation<br />

that I looked for an occasion to express, but<br />

they didn’t come. <strong>The</strong>re were words <strong>of</strong> regret<br />

that I would have expressed to others. And<br />

there were words <strong>of</strong> encouragement that I<br />

had for all who were believers.<br />

I’d like to encourage you to stay with<br />

Jews for Jesus. I was the Executive Director<br />

until 1996. Many things have changed. Some<br />

<strong>of</strong> them definitely for the better and others<br />

that I can’t say were for the worst, but things<br />

that I would not have thought to do. Nevertheless<br />

the core <strong>of</strong> what Jews for Jesus stands<br />

for is still central.<br />

As I go, one <strong>of</strong> the things that concerns<br />

me deeply is how much misunderstanding<br />

there is among believers. I never thought I<br />

would live to see the day when those who<br />

know the Lord and are born again were supporting<br />

the efforts <strong>of</strong> rabbis who, frankly, not<br />

only didn’t know Christ, but didn’t want to<br />

know Him.<br />

To be an honest ministry, it can only<br />

come from the Holy Spirit; and the Holy<br />

Spirit can only indwell those who have the<br />

new birth and are born again. <strong>The</strong>refore, I<br />

would urge you to think very seriously before<br />

you support any “ministry” that involves<br />

Jewish people and doesn’t actually bring the<br />

gospel to the Jews.<br />

Likewise, I am concerned over something<br />

else that I never thought that I would<br />

see or hear and that is, Jews who have become<br />

believers in Jesus and have important<br />

positions in ministry yet feel that their primary<br />

purpose is to promote Jewishness and<br />

Judaism to the Jews.<br />

I hope I can count on you to show love<br />

and respect for the Jewish people, but Jewishness<br />

never saved anybody. Judaism never<br />

saved anybody no matter how sincere. Romans<br />

10:9 & 10 make it clear that we must<br />

believe in our hearts and confess with our<br />

mouths the Lord Jesus in order to be saved.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are no shortcuts. <strong>The</strong>re is no easy way.<br />

Within Judaism today, there is no salvation<br />

because Christ has no place within Judaism.<br />

Aside from these concerns, I want to<br />

say that I feel as I have always felt that we<br />

stand on the edge <strong>of</strong> a breakthrough in Jewish<br />

evangelism. Just a little more. Just another<br />

push. Just another soul – and we will have<br />

reached critical mass where we begin generating<br />

that energy that the whole world might<br />

know the Lord.<br />

I would also encourage you to be faithful<br />

to those Bible-teaching, Bible-preaching<br />

churches that give spiritual food. More than<br />

ever, the church needs faithful members who<br />

can be an example to the young people coming<br />

in. Maybe there are some features about<br />

your church that keep you from being enthusiastic<br />

– look around and see if there might<br />

in Memory<br />

be a better church for you. If there is, join<br />

it and enjoy it. If your church is doing a lot<br />

right, then stay where you’re planted.<br />

I don’t expect that Jews for Jesus will be<br />

undergoing any turmoil because <strong>of</strong> my demise.<br />

For many years, the leadership has been<br />

in competent hands, but this is a time when<br />

there needs to be some encouragement. <strong>The</strong><br />

executive director and the staff need to hear<br />

that you intend to continue standing with us.<br />

Anything done for Christ will last. Anything<br />

you do to help and encourage Jews for<br />

Jesus at this time will have lasting effects on<br />

all <strong>of</strong> us. So instead <strong>of</strong> saying “good bye,” I’ll<br />

just say, “until then – I’ll see you in the sky.”<br />

Moishe<br />

That if you confess with your<br />

mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe<br />

–Romans<br />

in your heart that God<br />

10:9–<br />

raised him<br />

from the dead, you will be saved.<br />

(NiV)<br />

~ With Great Sorrow ~<br />

“<strong>The</strong> Lord<br />

is near to<br />

those who<br />

mourn”<br />

Stewart Dool Now with Jesus<br />

It is with great regret that we announce the<br />

loss <strong>of</strong> our friend and brother Stewart Dool,<br />

director <strong>of</strong> Intercessors For Britain (IFB).<br />

Stewart has gone home with Jesus to his<br />

reward after having been a solid voice for<br />

truth and righteousness in an age <strong>of</strong> decline<br />

both in contemporary society and the church.<br />

His battle with motor neuron disease has been<br />

cruel and while we rejoice his suffering temporal<br />

is ended and his blessings eternal have<br />

commenced, we express our deepest condolences<br />

in Jesus to his beloved wife Jenny and<br />

their children for whom we request prayer.<br />

We also request prayer for the future <strong>of</strong> the<br />

much needed ministry <strong>of</strong> IFB.<br />

Until we are rejoined with him we shall<br />

always remember Stewart as a staunch friend<br />

<strong>of</strong> Israel and the Jews with a desire to sees<br />

Jewish souls reconciled to their Messiah.<br />

Stewart’s gain is indeed our loss.<br />

In Jesus,<br />

Jacob Prasch & <strong>Moriel</strong><br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 2


Guest Author Mike Oppenheimer<br />

<strong>The</strong> number 144,000 is used in only one<br />

book <strong>of</strong> the Bible, the book <strong>of</strong> Revelation. It appears<br />

only three times, two <strong>of</strong> them for man and<br />

one for the measurement <strong>of</strong> the New Jerusalem<br />

that is going to come from heaven. Learning<br />

from the Bible about this selected group that<br />

is to preach the gospel through the tribulation<br />

period does not bring you to the same conclusion<br />

that is taught by the Watchtower to all<br />

Jehovah’s Witnesses.<br />

<strong>The</strong> 144,000 is the most crucial teaching<br />

to the Witnesses. <strong>The</strong> whole organization is<br />

built upon it. It divides their members into two<br />

classes, the heavenly and earthly class. This is<br />

the Watchtowers big lie that keeps them in error<br />

and in bondage to their organization. “Does the<br />

Bible show that some people will go to heaven?<br />

Yes, the Bible does teach that a limited number<br />

go to heaven for a special reason” (Watchtower<br />

2/15/1984 p. 4). <strong>The</strong> odds are that the visitor at<br />

your door with the Watchtower or Awake magazine<br />

isn’t one <strong>of</strong> them. I haven’t met one yet in<br />

over 20 years.<br />

Paul states in Galatians 1:6-9 that anyone,<br />

even an angel, that preaches anything other<br />

than that which he preached, is anathema, or<br />

accursed? Paul scolds the Jews who opposed<br />

them, “Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles<br />

that they might be saved” (1 <strong>The</strong>ss. 2:16). Hmm,<br />

seems the Watchtower has repeated this same<br />

injustice to their own members. <strong>The</strong> 144,000<br />

is viewed as a literal number, representing a<br />

limited group within their organization who are<br />

to become spirit sons <strong>of</strong> Jehovah. Being “born<br />

again” is exclusive for the 144,000 who alone<br />

have Christ as their mediator and are in the new<br />

covenant. “Who and how many are able to enter<br />

it. <strong>The</strong> Revelation limits to 144,000 the number<br />

that become a part <strong>of</strong> the Kingdom and stand<br />

on heavenly Mount Zion” (Let God Be True,<br />

p. 136). Called “the little flock” taken from<br />

Christ’s statement, “Fear not, little flock...” <strong>The</strong><br />

other Jehovah Witnesses are known as “other<br />

sheep” I have which are not <strong>of</strong> this fold...”<br />

(John 10:16). <strong>The</strong> “little flock” are to be spirit<br />

sons that will be in heaven ruling with Christ,<br />

the “other sheep” (the majority <strong>of</strong> Jehovah’s<br />

Witnesses) are to be physical inhabitants <strong>of</strong> the<br />

restored earth. <strong>The</strong> fact is; no Jehovah’s Witness<br />

will go to heaven, not even the 144,000 because<br />

they do not have Jesus as their mediator in the<br />

accurate Biblical sense. Putting this aside, we<br />

need to examine their view and use it to exit<br />

their members out into a real relationship with<br />

God with Jesus Christ in its center. This teaching<br />

<strong>of</strong> a limited number going to heaven did not<br />

come from their founder Charles Taze Russell.<br />

Russell originally taught that all the members<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Watchtower were “anointed,’ they, as the<br />

144,000 were Spiritual Israel and have the heavenly<br />

hope. <strong>The</strong> early Watchtower teaching was<br />

that all Jehovah’s Witnesses go to heaven. <strong>The</strong>re<br />

22 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

<strong>The</strong> 144,000 teaching <strong>of</strong> the Jehovah’s Witnesses - <strong>The</strong>ir Big Lie<br />

was no paradise earth teaching for a separate<br />

group, no two destinations for their members.<br />

Russell died in 1916 and Judge Joseph<br />

Rutherford became the new president. It was<br />

under his leadership that many things began to<br />

change, especially the teaching on the 144,000.<br />

Rutherford (1869-1942) following the pattern<br />

<strong>of</strong> their founder by proclaiming the end, predicted<br />

that in 1918 God would destroy churches<br />

and millions <strong>of</strong> their members. Rutherford<br />

started prophesying that Armageddon was right<br />

around the corner. Using the fast approaching<br />

Armageddon the Jehovah’s Witnesses worked<br />

harder than ever under Rutherford’s leadership.<br />

He taught that the only way to escape the impending<br />

judgment and destruction was to join<br />

the Watchtower organization. This program<br />

continued for years. This became the impetus<br />

to grow the organization even in modern times;<br />

making it a matter <strong>of</strong> survival by being one <strong>of</strong><br />

the faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses when Armageddon<br />

does occur.<br />

Under Russell’s leadership the membership<br />

was way under 100,000 so they were safe. <strong>The</strong>ir<br />

membership rose to 4,000 in 1919 and was continuing<br />

to increase under Rutherford, “In 1931<br />

there were 50,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses” (in 50<br />

lands) (Mankind’s Search for God p. 359 1990).<br />

By 1930’s they ran into a new problem, they<br />

were approaching the 144,000 number. <strong>The</strong><br />

next several years they doubled, “In 1943 there<br />

were only 126,329 Witnesses in 54 countries”<br />

(Ibid. p. 360). <strong>The</strong> Watchtower had to deal with<br />

all these extra people. Because they had been<br />

previously taught there was only one calling, all<br />

were going to heaven. Rutherford had new light<br />

from God. In other words, speaking ex - cathedra<br />

like the Pope he changed their whole system.<br />

This would be the most significant change in<br />

the organizations doctrine that continues today.<br />

<strong>The</strong> doctrine introduced by Rutherford,<br />

second President <strong>of</strong> the Watchtower said from<br />

1935 onward, “At the end <strong>of</strong> May <strong>of</strong> that year<br />

a five-day convention <strong>of</strong> Jehovah’s Christian<br />

Witnesses was in session... the president <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society discussed<br />

the subject <strong>of</strong> ‘the great multitude, ‘spoken <strong>of</strong><br />

in Revelation 7.9-17, Authorized Version. He<br />

made it clear that the ‘multitude’ was no spiritual<br />

or spirit begotten class, would not attain<br />

the angelic nature in heaven so as to assist the<br />

144,000 joint heirs with Christ. It was a distinctly<br />

an earthly class with hope <strong>of</strong> endless<br />

perfect human life in the earthly paradise under<br />

Christ’s kingdom” (Holy Spirit, 1976, p. 156)<br />

So he invented two classes, a heavenly class<br />

and earthly class. An earthly “Great Crowd”<br />

was created, by Judge Rutherford out <strong>of</strong> necessity.<br />

A second- class <strong>of</strong> people that were subject<br />

to and dependent upon the heavenly class who<br />

alone would be part <strong>of</strong> the new covenant and<br />

have Christ as their mediator.<br />

<strong>The</strong> one calling; that all Jehovah Witnesses<br />

were going to heaven was held UNTIL 1934<br />

-5, when Rutherford changed this. “For some<br />

19 centuries after this there was only one calling,<br />

the heavenly one” (United in Worship <strong>of</strong><br />

the only True God p. 111). <strong>The</strong> 144,000, called<br />

the heavenly class would go to be with Jesus<br />

in heaven, the other group, known as the other<br />

sheep, the “great crowd,” have a great privilege,<br />

to live on earth in the Millennium in perfect<br />

conditions. This is why no Jehovah’s Witnesses<br />

wants to go to heaven today. To them it is better<br />

to be on paradise earth with their family having<br />

perfect harmony with the nature (this what their<br />

drawings depict), than to be with the Lord Jesus<br />

in heaven. Not to be able to live on the future<br />

restored paradise on earth is repulsive to the average<br />

witness, and they do not understand why<br />

anyone would want to be separate from friends<br />

and family and be banished to heaven.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y had also taught those <strong>of</strong> the 144,000<br />

that have died had been raised in 1918 to life in<br />

heaven with Christ Jesus when Jesus, according<br />

to Watchtower theology, moved into Jehovah’s<br />

temple. “Has this spiritual resurrection taken<br />

place? Yes, back in chapter 26 we learned that<br />

it took place when Christ came to Jehovah’s<br />

temple in 1918” (Paradise Lost to Paradise<br />

Regained p. 231). “It was God’s will for the<br />

awakening <strong>of</strong> the remnant on earth to follow<br />

the 1918 heavenly resurrection <strong>of</strong> anointed<br />

ones who died prior to that time” (Watchtower<br />

7/15/60 p. 440). “In the capacity <strong>of</strong> priests and<br />

kings <strong>of</strong> God they reign a thousand years with<br />

Christ Jesus” (Let God Be True, p. 137). “It<br />

was an invisible resurrection” (From Paradise<br />

lost to Paradise Regained p. 192 1958)<br />

So how many were resurrected? How<br />

would anyone know if it was an invisible resurrection?<br />

Imagine being a lawyer to prove<br />

one’s innocence and you tell the judge here is<br />

the evidence but you can’t see it. That’s what<br />

they want their people to believe, and they are<br />

so trusting that they accept it.<br />

But this presents another problem, the Bible.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Watchtower takes the position that Paul<br />

called pr<strong>of</strong>ane and Idle babblings. In 2 Tim.<br />

2:17-18 Paul names Hymenaeus and Philetus<br />

who have strayed concerning the truth, saying<br />

that the resurrection is already past; and they<br />

overthrow the faith <strong>of</strong> some.” <strong>The</strong> Bible teaches<br />

the Dead are raised and the living transformed<br />

at the same time, not years apart (1 <strong>The</strong>ss. 4:16-<br />

17). <strong>The</strong> resurrection is not to just certain few<br />

that no one will see as is an invisible spirit resurrection<br />

(which is not possible, all were physical).<br />

“Who are those 144,000? …they are faithful<br />

followers <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ specially chosen<br />

to rule in heaven with him. …Since the days<br />

<strong>of</strong> the apostles, God has been selecting faithful<br />

Christians in order to complete the number<br />

144,000” (What Does the Bible Really Teach?


p. 78-79) <strong>The</strong> Watchtower taught that the “little<br />

flock,” began with the apostles, was nearly<br />

filled by the year 1935. “With the reestablishment<br />

<strong>of</strong> true Christianity near the end <strong>of</strong> the<br />

last century, more were called and chosen. But<br />

it seems that in the mid-1930’s, the full number<br />

<strong>of</strong> the 144,000 was basically completed.”<br />

(Watchtower Aug. 15, 1996 p. 31) So the church<br />

apostatized and restored by Russell, really?<br />

<strong>The</strong> Watchtower in its first report <strong>of</strong> partakers<br />

<strong>of</strong> the meal were 36,372 (Bulletin, March<br />

Extra, 1935, p. 2 )Lets’ say for the sake <strong>of</strong> math<br />

that the 144,000 were being chosen since the beginning<br />

<strong>of</strong> the church using the number 36,372.<br />

This leaves 107,628 (source: Outnumbered -<br />

exploding the myth <strong>of</strong> the 144,000 by Russell<br />

Warren) <strong>The</strong> Bible states in Acts 2:41 and Acts<br />

4:4, there were 8,000 believers in Jesus in the<br />

first few weeks <strong>of</strong> the church. When we subtract<br />

from the number <strong>of</strong>: we have only 99,628.<br />

After we crunch the numbers we see how few<br />

were chosen to go to heaven throughout history<br />

according to their doctrine. This leaves approximately<br />

50 chosen anointed ones each year.<br />

That’s a single person from one third <strong>of</strong> the nations<br />

throughout 1,900 years <strong>of</strong> the church up<br />

until this year. Hardly believable, even by their<br />

own doctrine and numbers.<br />

Of the 144,000 that are allowed to take<br />

the once a year memorial meal (communion)<br />

0, 7 partook <strong>of</strong> it in the 1976 celebration <strong>of</strong><br />

the Memorial <strong>of</strong> Jesus’ death. <strong>The</strong> Memorial<br />

meal in 1984, they had ,0 ; at the 1987 “Memorial”<br />

8,808; in 1991 , 50; in 2,000 , ;<br />

in 2005 ,524; for approximately 20 years the<br />

number stayed within the same range. the numbers<br />

began to steadily increase since 2005. In<br />

2008 there was almost a 10% increase in the<br />

number <strong>of</strong> partakers over 2007! 2009 there<br />

were 0, 57. <strong>The</strong> numbers have been going up.<br />

Seems that a number <strong>of</strong> Jehovah’s Witnesses<br />

have changed their mind and WANT TO GO<br />

TO heaven, they want Jesus to be their mediator.<br />

But they are being lied to, they can’t, because<br />

their doctrine on this; its not biblical, it is<br />

elitist and a travesty to those who desire eternal<br />

life. <strong>The</strong>y keep them from having Jesus be their<br />

mediator by denying who Jesus is and what His<br />

crucifixion actually means. Yet they continue to<br />

say “over the years the number <strong>of</strong> those who<br />

are truly anointed has been getting smaller”<br />

(Watchtower Jan. 15, 2000 p. 13) <strong>The</strong>y ignore<br />

their own numbers “ … the number <strong>of</strong> anointed<br />

ones on the earth has decreased over the<br />

decades…” (Watchtower Feb. 15, 2009 pp. 27-<br />

28). Really? How does this work out with “…it<br />

seems that in the mid-1930’s, the full number <strong>of</strong><br />

the 144,000 was basically completed” (Watchtower<br />

Aug. 15, 1996 p. 31).<br />

“As time has gone by, some Christians<br />

baptized after 1935 have had witness born to<br />

them that they have the heavenly hope. Thus …<br />

we cannot set a specific date for when the heavenly<br />

hope ends” (Watchtower May 1, 2007 p.<br />

31). Of course they can’t, especially when the<br />

numbers are increasing instead <strong>of</strong> decreasing.<br />

But 85 years ago they did.<br />

the bIg lIe<br />

“Consequently, those <strong>of</strong> the “great crowd”<br />

expect to remain on earth forever and to share<br />

in bringing it to a Paradise state” (Watchtower<br />

Mike Oppenheimer<br />

Aug. 15, 1980 p. 17). So what are they doing<br />

in heaven? Rev. 19:1 - “After these things I<br />

heard what was as a loud voice <strong>of</strong> a great crowd<br />

in heaven” Rev. 7:9 - “look! a great crowd ...<br />

standing before the throne” <strong>The</strong> Bibles qualifications<br />

for being part <strong>of</strong> the 144,000 (Revelation<br />

Chapter 7:3-8) <strong>The</strong>y are all chaste men who are<br />

saved on earth, none <strong>of</strong> them are married, they<br />

cannot be women Rev. 14:4. Rev. 14:5: “And<br />

in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are<br />

without fault before the throne <strong>of</strong> God.” No deceit<br />

meaning no lies, not falsehoods and without<br />

fault means they are blameless. This alone<br />

excludes them from this Organization.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y are all Jews by birthright, they do<br />

not become “spiritual Israel.” Rev. 7:4: “And<br />

I heard the number <strong>of</strong> those who were sealed.<br />

One hundred and forty-four thousand <strong>of</strong> all the<br />

tribes <strong>of</strong> the children <strong>of</strong> Israel were sealed.” <strong>The</strong><br />

term children <strong>of</strong> Israel is consistently used <strong>of</strong> the<br />

people <strong>of</strong> Israel distinguished from Gentiles, so<br />

the 144,000 cannot be Gentiles, not one <strong>of</strong> them.<br />

Gen. 32 onward this term is consistently used<br />

<strong>of</strong> those with Jewish descent, Exodus 1:1-5.<br />

<strong>The</strong> 144,000 are all identified by tribe, divided<br />

by the exact number <strong>of</strong> 12,000 from each-<br />

Rev. 7:5-8 v. 5 “<strong>of</strong> the tribe <strong>of</strong> Judah twelve thousand<br />

were sealed; <strong>of</strong> the tribe <strong>of</strong> Reuben twelve<br />

thousand were sealed; James 1:1 uses this same<br />

application to Israel (12 tribes: Rev. 21:10-12).<br />

No one on earth today that meets these<br />

qualifications for the 144,000 found in Revelation<br />

7 and 14, for the simple reason God has not<br />

begun to seal them. <strong>The</strong> Bible teaches they are<br />

“sealed” on earth during the “great tribulation,”<br />

at the 7th seal when God’s wrath is to come.<br />

Have the 6 seals have already been opened?<br />

Can a Jehovah’s Witness prove the seals were<br />

opened for almost 2,000 years; that we have<br />

been and are now in the tribulation?<br />

the doctrIne oF sealIng<br />

144,000 sInce the begInnIng oF<br />

the church Is pure Fantasy.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is also another blatant error by the<br />

Watchtowers interpretation, Rev. 7:7-9: “after<br />

these things” are those who come out <strong>of</strong> the<br />

tribulation from the result <strong>of</strong> their evangelizing.<br />

<strong>The</strong> great multitude are mostly gentiles from all<br />

the nations, while the 144,000 are strictly Jews.<br />

<strong>The</strong> great crowd comes OUT <strong>of</strong> the great tribulation<br />

because <strong>of</strong> their preaching. How is any <strong>of</strong><br />

this possible then or today if the Bible says they<br />

are all sealed in the tribulation (Rev. 7)?<br />

Where’s the great multitude being SAVED<br />

by the anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses TODAY.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Bible says it is a number one no one could<br />

number (there are less than 7 million JW’s). In<br />

Greek the highest number was 10,000 (myriads)<br />

times 10,000 is used by Jude. This great crowd<br />

is only seen after the 144,000 are sealed, which<br />

is still in the future! This great crowd comes out<br />

<strong>of</strong> the tribulation from the 144,000 and others<br />

preaching the gospel, in other words they are<br />

dead and are now in heaven around the throne,<br />

they were killed by the campaign <strong>of</strong> the False<br />

Messiah (Rev. 13:7; Rev 12:11; Rev. 17:6).<br />

<strong>The</strong> location <strong>of</strong> the great crowd - “before the<br />

throne,” “BEFORE THE LAMB” (Rev. 7:11),<br />

and We know the Lamb is in heaven Not on earth<br />

(his throne is in heaven Rev. 1:4;4:5,6). But here<br />

is the kicker, the switcheroo that the Watchtow-<br />

Guest Author<br />

er has pulled on their own hard working members.<br />

Rev. 7:14-15 the great crowd -”<strong>The</strong>se are<br />

the ones who come out <strong>of</strong> the great tribulation,<br />

and washed their robes and made them white<br />

in the blood <strong>of</strong> the Lamb” (even the NWT has<br />

this). <strong>The</strong>y “made them white in the blood <strong>of</strong><br />

the Lamb,” which makes them partakers <strong>of</strong> the<br />

New Covenant. <strong>The</strong>y are the ones that serve in<br />

heaven; it is the great crowd, NOT the 144,000.<br />

Another point that should not be overlooked,<br />

the great crowd are waving palm<br />

branches which has to do with salvation. It is at<br />

the Feast <strong>of</strong> Tabernacles that this is done (Neh.<br />

8:15). It was done when Jesus rode into Jerusalem<br />

on donkey (Zech. 9:9) when they thought<br />

He was to be with them to set up the kingdom.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Watchtower teaches, “the 144,000<br />

members <strong>of</strong> the Israel <strong>of</strong> God have properly<br />

partaken <strong>of</strong> the emblems during the Memorial<br />

<strong>of</strong> Jesus’ death, and only with them did Jesus<br />

make his covenant for a Kingdom” (<strong>The</strong> Watchtower<br />

p. 31, Feb. 1, 1998). Numerous statements<br />

like this are consistently taught through<br />

their magazines. “This great crowd” <strong>of</strong> “other<br />

sheep” that is forming today is not in the new<br />

covenant” (Watchtower, 4/1/79, p. 31)<br />

Who is mediator for the millions <strong>of</strong> Jehovah’s<br />

Witnesses that are not part <strong>of</strong> the 144,000?<br />

NO ONE, they have none. <strong>The</strong> Scripture teaches<br />

that sin is paid by Jesus’ death. Heb. 9:15:<br />

“Jesus is the mediator <strong>of</strong> the new covenant by<br />

means <strong>of</strong> death.” Without him being your direct<br />

mediator your sins cannot be forgiven, you, removal<br />

<strong>of</strong> guilt and a restored relationship to God.<br />

I Tim. 2:5 says there is only one mediator,<br />

all believers have Jesus as their mediator. <strong>The</strong><br />

way is through Jesus Christ crucified. Without<br />

Jesus being your mediator you are not in covenant<br />

with God (Heb. 9:14). Rev. 13 tells us if<br />

you are not found in the lambs book you have<br />

no eternal life, not in heaven nor on earth. <strong>The</strong><br />

Watchtower teaches Jesus died, went out <strong>of</strong> existence<br />

and was raised a spirit creature. I Tim.<br />

2:5 Jesus is a man, a human, not a spirit creature<br />

(he is still God in the flesh). <strong>The</strong> Bible teaches<br />

all priests were taken from men. <strong>The</strong>re is only<br />

one eternal high priest.<br />

<strong>The</strong>ir 144,000 teaching has more holes than<br />

Swiss cheese, it is probably the most insidious<br />

doctrine found in any <strong>of</strong> the cults. It is keeping<br />

people from a relationship with God. <strong>The</strong><br />

Watchtower fulfills exactly what Jesus scolded<br />

the Pharisees on in Matthew 23:13: “Woe to<br />

you, teachers <strong>of</strong> the law and Pharisees, you<br />

hypocrites! You shut the kingdom <strong>of</strong> heaven in<br />

men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor<br />

will you let those enter who are trying to.”<br />

Lets do all we can to get them the message<br />

<strong>of</strong> salvation in Jesus Christ.<br />

Mike is the director <strong>of</strong> Let us Reason ministries,<br />

www.letusreason.org. <strong>The</strong>y are an apologetic<br />

and evangelistic ministry to the cults and<br />

religions in the melting pot <strong>of</strong> Hawaii. Witnessing<br />

to the Jehovah’s witnesses I find this to be<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the most engaging and effective topics<br />

we can discuss with them. This is a condensed<br />

version, the complete article is in 5 parts and is<br />

filled with quotes posted in the Jehovah’s Witness<br />

section.<br />

In Christ’s service,<br />

Mike O<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 2


Judaic Study Jacob Prasch<br />

What Mdoes Ithe Word D<strong>of</strong> God RActually ASay About S Midrash? H<br />

SORT<strong>IN</strong>G FACT FROM FICTION<br />

What does the Word <strong>of</strong> God Actually Say<br />

About Midrash?<br />

“Now the remainder <strong>of</strong> the deeds <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> Abijah,<br />

and his ways and words are written in the<br />

‘MIDRASH’ <strong>of</strong> the Prophet Iddo”. (2 Chronicles<br />

13:22)<br />

(Directly from the God-given text <strong>of</strong> original,<br />

divinely inspired Hebrew canon.)<br />

“As to his sons and many oracles [burdens]<br />

against him, and the reconstruction <strong>of</strong> the<br />

House <strong>of</strong> God, behold these are written in the<br />

‘MIDRASH’ <strong>of</strong> the Book <strong>of</strong> kings. <strong>The</strong>n Amaziah<br />

his son became King in his place”.<br />

(2 Chronicles 24:27)<br />

(Directly from the God-given text <strong>of</strong> original,<br />

divinely inspired Hebrew canon.)<br />

Yes friends, it is a fact; it is there in Scripture.<br />

“MIDRASH” is plainly taught in the Word<br />

<strong>of</strong> God. It is cited as a valid historical source<br />

and as a theological source <strong>of</strong> a prophetic interpretation<br />

<strong>of</strong> scriptural events and biblical history.<br />

goD PUT IT <strong>IN</strong> HIS woRD – NoT<br />

JACoB PRASCH oR ANy MAN.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are examples <strong>of</strong> pseudo-Scripture<br />

such as the Gnostic Gospels <strong>of</strong> Thomas, etc.<br />

and non-Apostolic pseudigraphical Epistles.<br />

We are even told in Scripture that there were<br />

forged and counterfeit Epistles circulated in the<br />

1st Century by heretical deceivers in the early<br />

church who tried to deceive believers into believing<br />

they were authored by the actual Apostles<br />

(e.g. 2 <strong>The</strong>ssalonians 2:2). So too there are<br />

later post-apostolic rabbinic mishrashim (midrashic<br />

writings <strong>of</strong> later rabbis) having no more<br />

to do with scriptural references to Midrash than<br />

the later Gnostic forgeries <strong>of</strong> the Gospel have to<br />

do with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.<br />

Those today who reject Midrash out <strong>of</strong><br />

hand normally do not even know what it is.<br />

Those rejecting Midrash and those citing its inclusion<br />

in God’s Word because <strong>of</strong> later rabbinic<br />

distortions <strong>of</strong> Midrash are no different than the<br />

later Marcionite heretics who wanted to throw<br />

out Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as corruptions<br />

in a time when Gnostic literature was becoming<br />

rife in the early church; they do and say<br />

the same precise things today. Such so-called<br />

“scholars” and “experts” are dangerous because<br />

they do not know Greek and Hebrew but rather<br />

pretend to have expertise where they have none.<br />

(Much like the Jehovah’s Witness cult founders<br />

Charles Tase Russell and Judge Rutherford<br />

and home economics teacher Gail Riplinger <strong>of</strong><br />

the King James Version-Only Movement who<br />

also cannot read biblical languages. She is also<br />

a categorical fraud misrepresenting herself as<br />

knowing things she has been publicly proven<br />

not to know).<br />

Such dishonesty, pseudo-academic pretense,<br />

and phony scholarship is particularly true<br />

<strong>of</strong> ultra-Calvinist Peter Glover and Richard Eng-<br />

24 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

strom, Barbara Aho, Wendy Howard, Wendy<br />

Buester, Tom Lamb, and Victoria Dillen <strong>of</strong> the<br />

cultic Ruckmanite extreme axis <strong>of</strong> the KJV-Only<br />

lunatics who lift up a 17th Century translation <strong>of</strong><br />

a translation above the original Hebrew, Greek,<br />

and Aramaic autographs which God inspired.<br />

God’s Word itself however, teaches plainly<br />

that the authority and priority is on the original<br />

languages <strong>of</strong> the original divinely inspired<br />

manuscripts (Nehemiah 8:8) and not on a translation<br />

<strong>of</strong> a translation produced between 17 and<br />

23 centuries later after initially God breathed<br />

His Word and inspired its authorship.<br />

It is not that we have a problem with the<br />

KJV itself or with the legacy <strong>of</strong> godly men like<br />

Tyndale and Coverdale. As we have written<br />

multiple times, the KJV is a valid translation that<br />

God has used and is superior to most modern<br />

translations in its accuracy. We say this despite<br />

the fact that King James himself was an Anglo-<br />

Catholic homosexual son <strong>of</strong> the Roman Catholic<br />

Mary Queen <strong>of</strong> Scots who, like his mother,<br />

murdered born again Christians and drove the<br />

Puritan Pilgrims out <strong>of</strong> Britain and into Holland<br />

or across the Atlantic on the Mayflower. <strong>The</strong>se<br />

persecuted Christians, <strong>of</strong> course, rejected what<br />

they saw as a Roman Catholic 1611 KJV that<br />

included the Apocrypha as Canon and listed<br />

Roman Catholic feasts <strong>of</strong> Mary as holy days<br />

and so forth. <strong>The</strong>y preferred the Geneva Bible<br />

to the KJV for bringing the Gospel to America.<br />

Yet we still respect the KJV, but have no respect<br />

for KJV Only-ism or the proven charlatans who<br />

propagate it such as Gail Riplinger.<br />

It is little wonder that most <strong>of</strong> the disinformation<br />

about Jacob Prasch regarding what<br />

God’s Word says about Midrash are from this<br />

Ruckmanite camp. <strong>The</strong>y must hold up their<br />

17th Century translation <strong>of</strong> a translation above<br />

what God breathed for the same reason that<br />

Rick Warren’s followers use Eugene Peterson’s<br />

<strong>The</strong> Message or some other twisted paraphrase.<br />

If they dislike or disagree with something that<br />

God placed in His Word they simply mis-translate<br />

it out <strong>of</strong> His Word and remove it.<br />

Unfortunately the KJV, otherwise a very<br />

good translation overall, in this particular case<br />

mistranslates what God inspired as “Midrash”<br />

into “stories”. (Other versions use “treatise”).<br />

We take issue with how the Hebrew has been<br />

translated for this particular word, not with the<br />

quality <strong>of</strong> the KJV overall.<br />

God warns us <strong>of</strong> those who subtract from<br />

His Word. <strong>The</strong> translators <strong>of</strong> the KJV themselves<br />

certainly did not have this aim; most<br />

were heroically martyred for the name <strong>of</strong> Jesus<br />

and were faithful to the best manuscript record<br />

available to them at a time <strong>of</strong> upheaval and persecution.<br />

Those with their anti-Semitic Jew-hating<br />

agenda who simultaneously and hypocritically<br />

claim to worship the God <strong>of</strong> the Jews and<br />

believe in the Jewish Messiah reject what God<br />

originally breathed by rejecting Midrash. Hence,<br />

they need a translation that does not accurately<br />

translate or footnote the places the term occurs.<br />

Jesus (Yeshua) is still rejected by most<br />

<strong>of</strong> His own people due to the lie <strong>of</strong> Talmudic<br />

Judaism invented by rabbis, but God has not<br />

rejected them (Romans 11:1), will graft them<br />

in again (Romans 11: 25), still loves them as<br />

a nation and a people for the sake <strong>of</strong> the Patriarchs<br />

(Romans 28:29) even in their lost state <strong>of</strong><br />

unbelief, and has never withdrawn His elective<br />

or prophetic calling <strong>of</strong> them (Romans 11:29).<br />

To them moreover still belong “the oracles <strong>of</strong><br />

God” (Romans 3:2) and the New Covenant<br />

was made with them (Jeremiah 31:31, Romans<br />

9:4). <strong>The</strong> tense <strong>of</strong> the Greek word “belongs” is<br />

present continuous active – the covenants and<br />

Scriptures still belong to Israel; non-Jews are<br />

merely grafted in and unbelieving Jews are cut<br />

<strong>of</strong>f until and unless they accept Christ.<br />

Those rejecting that Midrash is found in the<br />

Scriptures boast against the natural branches –<br />

which Christians are commanded not to do (Romans<br />

11: 18), for the covenants with Israel and<br />

patriarchal promises are the ‘”reza” or “root” <strong>of</strong><br />

the church. <strong>The</strong>y seek to turn what was given as<br />

a Jewish book into a non-Jewish one; they Hellenize<br />

a Hebraic faith and are as wrong on one<br />

extreme as Judaizers seeking to place believers<br />

into bondage to Mosaic Law and compulsory<br />

Torah observance are on the other.<br />

Secondly, because “Midrash” is in there,<br />

they remove content from the Word <strong>of</strong> God.<br />

(Deuteronomy 4: 2, Revelation 22: 19) God<br />

warns that such people doing this will be proved<br />

to be liars (Proverbs 30: 6). That is exactly what<br />

God calls such people: “liars”. But what does<br />

the New Testament teach us about Midrash?<br />

What are the differences between scriptural and<br />

rabbinic Midrash? What does Jacob Prasch and<br />

<strong>Moriel</strong> think <strong>of</strong> Talmudic Judaism?<br />

1. Talmudic Judaism is not the Judaism <strong>of</strong><br />

Moses and the Prophets; it is a false religion<br />

mixing truth and error, camouflaging both error<br />

with truth and elements <strong>of</strong> truth with error. It is<br />

a fabrication <strong>of</strong> the rabbis predicted in Jeremiah<br />

2 that rejects its own Messiah Jesus (Yeshua)<br />

who is the promised “fountain <strong>of</strong> living waters”<br />

(Jeremiah 2:13, John 7). It replaces what God<br />

gave Moses with a distortion largely invented<br />

by Yochannon Ben Zakai, Rabbi Akiva, the<br />

Gaonim, Rashi, Rambam, Railbag, Isaac Luria,<br />

and later chassidic mystics like Baal Shem Tov.<br />

Caballah and its arch work Zohar is occult in<br />

origin and nature and is a pseudo-Judaization <strong>of</strong><br />

Babylonian Gnosticism. Much as Liberal Protestantism,<br />

Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism,<br />

and cults such as Mormonism distort and<br />

re-write Christianity into a system that is unbiblical,<br />

the rabbis did the same with Talmudic


Judaism. Jacob Prasch and <strong>Moriel</strong> have never<br />

once taught or believed anything else although<br />

some <strong>of</strong> the aforementioned KJV-Only personalities<br />

falsely claim we have.<br />

2. Concerning Midrash itself we simply<br />

recognize what is found in Scripture regarding<br />

it as we do with any other scriptural truth<br />

that God placed in His Word. As with typology,<br />

Midrash is a truth and an exegetical reality that<br />

God uses to illuminate and illustrate, but we<br />

never base doctrine on it.<br />

3. At least since the era <strong>of</strong> Puritan Scholar<br />

John Lightfoot to the 19th Century German<br />

scholars Bilderbeck and Strauss, various<br />

conservative Evangelical scholars have <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

maintained that the Apostles used Midrash in<br />

authoring the New Testament and in their hermeneutical<br />

interpretations <strong>of</strong> Old Testament formula<br />

citations. Since the discovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Dead<br />

Sea Scrolls it has been shown that the New Testament<br />

exegetes the Old Testament along the<br />

same lines as the Qumran literature. This has<br />

produced an avalanche <strong>of</strong> interest by mainly<br />

conservative scholars from the Evangelical axis<br />

who have taken up this investigation agreeing<br />

(with such as the renowned Evangelical scholar<br />

Dr. T. S. Doherty who puts it) that the New<br />

Testament is not mainly “Midrash” but “midrashic”.<br />

From Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Daryl Boch’s recognition<br />

(originally pioneered by Jacob Prasch in a<br />

non-academic format) that prophecy is pattern,<br />

to Dr. R. N. Longenecker to Moises Silva to Dr.<br />

E. E. Ellis, the ranks <strong>of</strong> Evangelical theologians<br />

accepting the Midrash proposition have swelled<br />

hugely – mainly precipitated by the Qumran<br />

Scrolls, especially Q 10. <strong>The</strong>re has also been<br />

a recognition <strong>of</strong> New Testament uses <strong>of</strong> Midrash<br />

by Jewish scholars academically sympathetic<br />

to Evangelicals led by Dr. David Daube.<br />

Unfortunately there have been those who<br />

do not appear to grasp even the fundamentals<br />

<strong>of</strong> Midrash such as liberal John Shelby Sponge<br />

(who did not accept the <strong>of</strong>fer by Jacob Prasch<br />

to public debate in Adelaide, Australia). Sponge<br />

attempts to argue that Midrash negates literal<br />

meaning which reveals a convoluted understanding<br />

that midrashic peshet interpretations<br />

<strong>of</strong> Scripture depends upon the literal meaning<br />

and historicity <strong>of</strong> the peshet. Sponge would<br />

likely be laughed out <strong>of</strong> any serious academic<br />

symposium or forum examining New Testament<br />

uses <strong>of</strong> Midrash.<br />

Another such personality is self-pr<strong>of</strong>essed<br />

midrashic Bible teacher John Young from Manchester,<br />

England. Mr. Young is not fluent in<br />

Hebrew. To claim to teach Scripture midrashically<br />

without a high level <strong>of</strong> competence in<br />

Hebrew is akin to misrepresenting oneself as<br />

a physician who is not expert in anatomy or<br />

an architect who is not expert in blueprints. It<br />

amounts to nothing short <strong>of</strong> pure theological<br />

quackery. <strong>The</strong> John Sponges and John Youngs<br />

are sad exceptions. <strong>The</strong> scholarly tradition <strong>of</strong><br />

academic inquiry into conservative Evangelical<br />

midrashic hermeneutics dates back to the 17th<br />

Century to the era <strong>of</strong> John Lightfoot. Yet unfortunately<br />

in an age <strong>of</strong> non-accredited online<br />

degrees and phony credentials, we can probably<br />

expect more <strong>of</strong> the same instead <strong>of</strong> less.<br />

4. Formula citations (such as the way Matthew<br />

2:15 handles Hosea 11:1) have allowed<br />

anti-conservative Evangelical liberal scholars<br />

Jacob Prasch<br />

such as Oxford Pr<strong>of</strong>essor James Barr to enjoy a<br />

field day in undermining doctrinal orthodoxy as<br />

evangelically interpreted and defined. <strong>The</strong> effective<br />

response to Barr and his ilk is the apologetic<br />

use <strong>of</strong> Midrash, demonstrating that with the use<br />

<strong>of</strong> midrashic exegesis <strong>of</strong> such interpretations as<br />

found in the Gospel narratives or in Galatians<br />

4, Jude’s Epistle, etc. are logically coherent<br />

and in exegetical context once Sitz im Leben is<br />

not separated from the hermeneutic. <strong>The</strong> New<br />

Testament authors were 1st Century Jews using<br />

the hermeneutics <strong>of</strong> that time and culture and,<br />

with this in view, the New Testament handling<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Old Testament makes total sense without<br />

resorting to the extrapolated argumentation attempted<br />

by Dr. Walter Kaiser (an otherwise apt<br />

and worthwhile scholar in our opinion). If we<br />

ignore what Scripture reveals with reference to<br />

Midrash and what Midrash reveals from Scripture,<br />

we throw away a powerful, logical, and<br />

scriptural weapon in the defense <strong>of</strong> doctrinal<br />

orthodoxy and divine inspiration.<br />

5. <strong>The</strong> Apostle Paul cum Rabbi Shaul <strong>of</strong><br />

Tarsus makes it clear he was from the Pharisaical<br />

School <strong>of</strong> Hillel, a disciple <strong>of</strong> Gamaliel (the<br />

grandson <strong>of</strong> Hillel per Acts 22:3, Acts 5:34).<br />

While Paul counted efforts to be justified by the<br />

Law as “dung,” we see repeatedly the use <strong>of</strong> his<br />

education that would have been largely predicated<br />

on the Seven Midoth <strong>of</strong> Rabbi Hillel. Paul’s<br />

ability as a rabbi who had been saved precisely<br />

fulfills the teaching <strong>of</strong> Jesus as to what happens<br />

when a “scribe who has become a disciple <strong>of</strong><br />

the kingdom <strong>of</strong> heaven…brings out <strong>of</strong> his treasure<br />

things new and old”. (Matthew 13:52)<br />

This was recognized by Peter who understood<br />

Paul was better geared than he to explain more<br />

complex doctrinal issues (2 Peter 3:15-16).<br />

A classical portrayal <strong>of</strong> St. Paul writing<br />

midrashically is Galatians 4:21-31. As with the<br />

Matthean formula citations in the Nativity Narrative,<br />

there is no other way to make scriptural<br />

or logical sense <strong>of</strong> why he interprets Scripture<br />

as he does. It is pure Midrash.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se are the scriptural facts. As hermeneutic,<br />

as literary genre, and as prophetic interpretation<br />

<strong>of</strong> history, Midrash is found in and taught in<br />

God’s Word. If rabbis distorted it, tell me what<br />

does false religion — be it Christian, Jewish or<br />

otherwise — not distort? It is not reasonable to<br />

reject the validity <strong>of</strong> something that is true just<br />

because it is counterfeited. It is a poor scholar<br />

or teacher who would tell us to do so. Anyone<br />

who has ever suggested that I have even once<br />

ever maintained we must look to extra-scriptural<br />

rabbinic sources to interpret God’s Word<br />

is lying or never actually read my teachings on<br />

using Midrash. Likewise, anyone who suggests<br />

that Midrash is not found in God’s Words is also<br />

a liar or uneducated. God’s Word is true and if<br />

it says “Midrash” I believe and accept it. To reject<br />

one bit <strong>of</strong> God’s Word is to reject all <strong>of</strong> it.<br />

In Jesus,<br />

Jacob Prasch<br />

For I am confident <strong>of</strong> this very thing, that He<br />

who began a good work in you will perfect it<br />

until the day <strong>of</strong> Christ Jesus.<br />

(Philippians 1:6)<br />

Judaic Study<br />

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King’s Evangelical<br />

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Midlands Bible College<br />

and Divinity School)<br />

Tel. 08700 421 704<br />

(Overseas +44 8700 421 704)<br />

godlyConferences<br />

www.radi<strong>of</strong>reechurch.com/home<br />

About godly Conferences: This<br />

website provides information about upcoming<br />

and ongoing Christian Conferences<br />

focused on expounding and teaching<br />

the Word <strong>of</strong> God. For each conference<br />

listed, we provide a schedule, information<br />

on the speakers present at the conference,<br />

and links to the conference’s<br />

live internet broadcast (when available).<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 25


American News<br />

Is god through wIth Israel?<br />

5 wItnesses who say no!<br />

Today with the rise <strong>of</strong> Replacement<br />

theology, the question should be asked, “Is<br />

god though with Israel?” In the Book <strong>of</strong><br />

Romans Paul answers the question very<br />

succinctly, “Has God cast away His people?<br />

God forbid! For I also am an Israelite!”<br />

And from there Paul continues his<br />

epistle, which is set in a courtroom, following<br />

the traditional courtroom procedures<br />

used in the Roman Empire. <strong>The</strong>re will be<br />

a charge; there will be some indictments;<br />

the counts that tell you your charge is correct.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n there will be an opportunity for<br />

defense. Finally, there will be a verdict.<br />

And since we’re all in the courtroom lets<br />

look at some <strong>of</strong> the witnesses Paul calls to<br />

the stand to answer the question, “Is God<br />

through with Israel and is there a future in<br />

God’s plan for the Jews?<br />

First to the stand is Paul himself (Rom.<br />

11:1). After asking “Has God cast away<br />

His people” Paul replies, “God forbid!”<br />

So, the question is asked and answered.<br />

But if God is through or has He cast away<br />

His people Israel, then how do we explain<br />

Paul’s conversion, after all he is an Israel-<br />

2 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

David Lister<br />

ite (Acts 9, 22, 26)? We could easily see<br />

that his conversion is an illustration <strong>of</strong> the<br />

future conversion <strong>of</strong> the nation <strong>of</strong> Israel.<br />

As Paul stated he was “one untimely born”<br />

(1Cor. 15:8) and further points out in 1<br />

Timothy 1:16 that God saved him,<br />

“Yet for this reason i found mercy,<br />

so that in me as the foremost, Jesus<br />

christ might demonstrate His<br />

perfect patience as an example (or<br />

pattern KJV) for those who would<br />

believe in Him for eternal life.”<br />

Paul’s conversion accounts in Acts<br />

show us very little about our own salvation<br />

experience as none <strong>of</strong> us seen Christ<br />

in glory or actually heard Him speak from<br />

heaven. We have not been blinded by the<br />

heavenly light, nor thrown to the ground.<br />

So, in what way, then, is Paul’s conversion<br />

“a pattern or example”? It is an illustration<br />

<strong>of</strong> how the nation <strong>of</strong> Israel will be saved<br />

when Jesus Christ returns to establish His<br />

kingdom on earth. You find details <strong>of</strong> Israel’s<br />

future restoration and salvation written<br />

in Zechariah 12:10-13:1. <strong>The</strong> nation shall<br />

see Him as He returns (Zech. 14:4; Acts<br />

1:11; Rev. 1:7), then recognize Him as their<br />

http://dryicons.com<br />

Messiah, repent, and receive Him. This is<br />

similar experience to that <strong>of</strong> Saul <strong>of</strong> Tarsus<br />

on the Damascus Road in Acts 9. Now this<br />

is why Paul used himself as the first witness.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fact that he was saved does not<br />

prove that there is a future for Israel. Rather,<br />

what is important is the way he was saved.<br />

Next Paul calls Elijah to the stand to<br />

testify in verses 2 through 10 <strong>of</strong> Romans<br />

11. <strong>The</strong> fact that most <strong>of</strong> the nation has<br />

rejected Christ is no pro<strong>of</strong> that God has<br />

finished with His people. In 1 Kings 19,<br />

Elijah thought that the nation had totally<br />

departed from God, but he discovered that<br />

there was remnant <strong>of</strong> 7,000 true believers.<br />

Remember there never was a time<br />

when the entire nation <strong>of</strong> Israel had been<br />

true to the Lord. Paul pointed this out by<br />

drawing a distinction between Abraham’s<br />

natural children and his spiritual children<br />

(Romans 2:25-29). He talked about<br />

a remnant in Romans 9:27 quoting Isaiah<br />

10:22-23. All true believers come to faith<br />

the same way as Abraham, they have to<br />

believe in God in order to receive His righteousness<br />

(Rom. 4:1-5; Gen. 15:6). Sharing<br />

in the covenant by being circumcised<br />

did not guarantee their salvation, no more<br />

than being sprinkled with water, or taking


communion does. salvation is always by<br />

grace and not works (Rom. 11:5-6). Grace<br />

and works cancel each other out. Paul had<br />

shown that Israel tried to please God by<br />

works (Rom. 9:30-10:4) and thus they reject<br />

and refuse to submit to His righteousness<br />

as most “religious” people today. <strong>The</strong><br />

saved remnant <strong>of</strong> Elijah’s day as well as<br />

the saved remnant <strong>of</strong> believing Jews <strong>of</strong><br />

Paul’s day and those today prove that God<br />

was not through with His people. But the<br />

question on the juror mind might well<br />

be, “What had happened to the rest <strong>of</strong> the<br />

nation?” <strong>The</strong>y had been hardened (a better<br />

translation than “blinded” in the KJV<br />

(Rom. 11:7). When people resist the Truth,<br />

like Pharaoh did, their hearts harden. Quoting<br />

Isaiah 29:10 to support his evidence<br />

referring to Deuteronomy 20:4 statement,<br />

and also referred to Deuteronomy 29:4.<br />

As the evidence piles up Paul uses one<br />

<strong>of</strong> the most important <strong>of</strong> the messianic<br />

psalms, Psalms 69:22-23 to show that Israel’s<br />

privileges and blessings turn into burdens<br />

and judgments. <strong>The</strong>se religious practices<br />

(sacrifices, festivals, etc) should have<br />

shown and pointed them to Christ, instead<br />

they became a snare that kept them from<br />

Christ. <strong>The</strong> same thing happens today, God<br />

has set before us a banquet table, and instead<br />

most people turn it into a snare. People<br />

depend on, or trust in traditions, baptisms,<br />

communions, going to church instead <strong>of</strong><br />

trusting in the One who can save them.<br />

Paul closes Elijah’s testimony be stating<br />

that “Hardness in part is happened to<br />

Israel, until the fullness <strong>of</strong> the Gentiles has<br />

come in” (Rom. 11:25) <strong>The</strong>re is believing<br />

Jewish remnant today, just as there was in<br />

Elijah’s day, this is evidence that God still<br />

has a plan for His people.<br />

Now Paul brings <strong>The</strong> Gentiles to the<br />

stand (earlier Paul had used the Gentiles to<br />

prove the Jews were guilty <strong>of</strong> sin (Rom.<br />

2:1-3). so on redirect he now uses the same<br />

witness to assure Israel <strong>of</strong> a future restoration.<br />

Follow the legal deduction here, first<br />

the Jews reject the Gospel, so He sends it to<br />

the Gentiles, they believe it and are saved.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n three things happen to Israel, they<br />

fall, are diminished and cast away (consecutively<br />

in Romans 11:11,12, 15). Yet, none<br />

<strong>of</strong> these suggest a final judgment for Israel.<br />

Since God had promised the Gentiles<br />

would be saved, we see that because <strong>of</strong> Israel’s<br />

fall this becomes true. It is important<br />

to understand that the Old Testament promises<br />

to the Gentiles were linked to Israel’s<br />

“rise”—her entering into her kingdom<br />

together (See Isaiah 11 and 60). So, how<br />

shall they “rise” Paul explains this “mystery.”<br />

In Ephesians 3, this scared secret, not<br />

revealed in the Old Testament, is that God<br />

introduces <strong>The</strong> Church were both Jew and<br />

Gentile can be one in Christ (Eph. 2:11-<br />

David Lister<br />

22). so, is the Kingdom program for Israel<br />

out? No. It is merely set aside for a time.<br />

Paul shows that the Gentiles have a vital<br />

ministry to Israel, to help her rise again,<br />

for we are to provoke Israel “to jealousy”<br />

because <strong>of</strong> our spiritual riches we have in<br />

Christ. As Christians we have “all spiritual<br />

blessings” in Christ (Eph. 1:3) and we use<br />

these blessings, to again, provoke Israel. As<br />

we provoke them to jealousy, we will see<br />

“their fullness or fulfillment” (Rom. 11:12)<br />

and their “receiving or acceptance” (v.15).<br />

Today, Israel is fallen spiritually, but when<br />

Christ returns, the nation will rise again.<br />

God links His promises to Israel to the sun,<br />

moon and stars, as His promises never to<br />

fail, (Jer. 31:35-37). Israel while cast away<br />

today, one day will be received again!<br />

Now Paul brings the Patriarchs to the<br />

stand, using imagery from the sacrifices to<br />

help us to understand Israel’s future. Paul<br />

helps us to see Israel’s future by drawing<br />

on her past.<br />

In Numbers 15:17-21 the first part <strong>of</strong><br />

the dough was to be <strong>of</strong>fered up to God as<br />

a symbol that the entire lump belonged to<br />

Him. We see this same idea in the Feast <strong>of</strong><br />

First Fruits, with the sheaf <strong>of</strong>fering symbolized<br />

the whole harvest (Lev. 23:9-14).<br />

<strong>The</strong> idea is simple, when God accepts the<br />

part, He sanctifies the whole.<br />

We understand Paul’s argument like<br />

this: Since God accepted the founder <strong>of</strong> the<br />

nation, Abraham, He set apart his descendants<br />

as well. God also accepted the other<br />

patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob, in spite <strong>of</strong> their<br />

sins or failings. This means that God must<br />

accept the “rest <strong>of</strong> the lump”—the nation<br />

<strong>of</strong> Israel. Please keep in mind that Paul was<br />

not discussing the relationship <strong>of</strong> individual<br />

believers to God, but the place <strong>of</strong> Israel<br />

in the plan <strong>of</strong> God.<br />

Paul next uses the imagery <strong>of</strong> the Olive<br />

tree, a symbol <strong>of</strong> the nation <strong>of</strong> Israel (Jer.<br />

11:16-17) to understand the future <strong>of</strong> Israel.<br />

We all know a tree is supported by its root<br />

system. Paul uses the patriarchs who founded<br />

the nation <strong>of</strong> Israel as the root. Since<br />

God made His covenants with Abraham,<br />

Isaac, and Jacob, and He cannot deny them<br />

or change them. Thus, it is God’s promise<br />

to Abraham that sustains Israel even today.<br />

Paul pictured non-believing Jews as<br />

branches broken <strong>of</strong>f the tree. <strong>The</strong>n he explains<br />

that other branches (Gentiles) were<br />

grafted into the tree to share in the life <strong>of</strong><br />

the tree. This “grafting in” was “contrary<br />

to nature as usually a cultivated branch is<br />

grafted into a wild tree and shares its life<br />

without producing its poor fruit. But in this<br />

case, it was the “wild branch” (the Gentiles)<br />

that was grafted into the good tree!<br />

We cannot say that the olive tree, with<br />

its natural and grafted branches, is a picture<br />

<strong>of</strong> the church In the church, “there is<br />

American News<br />

no difference”; believers are “all one in<br />

Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). Today we are<br />

not seen by God as Jews or Gentiles. <strong>The</strong><br />

olive tree illustrates the relationship between<br />

Jew and Gentile in the program <strong>of</strong><br />

God. <strong>The</strong> “breaking <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> the branches”<br />

is the equivalent <strong>of</strong> “the fall or stumble”<br />

(Rom. 11:11), “the diminishing or failure”<br />

(Rom. 11:12), and “the casting away or<br />

rejection” (Rom. 11:15).. To read into this<br />

illustration the matter <strong>of</strong> the eternal destiny<br />

<strong>of</strong> the individual believer is to abuse the<br />

truth Paul was seeking to communicate.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Gentiles entered into God’s plan<br />

because <strong>of</strong> faith, and not because <strong>of</strong> anything<br />

good they had done. Paul was discussing<br />

the Gentiles collectively, and not<br />

the individual experience <strong>of</strong> one believer<br />

or another.<br />

Paul warned the Gentiles that they<br />

were obligated to Israel, and therefore<br />

they dared not boast <strong>of</strong> their new spiritual<br />

position (Rom. 11:18-21). It is worth noting<br />

that, according to Bible prophecy, the<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essing Gentile church will be “cut <strong>of</strong>f”<br />

because <strong>of</strong> apostasy (See 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim.<br />

3 and 2 <strong>The</strong>s. 2). While there is no hope<br />

for the apostate church, there is hope for<br />

apostate Israel! Why? Because <strong>of</strong> the root<br />

<strong>of</strong> the olive tree. God will keep His promises<br />

to the patriarchs, but God will break<br />

<strong>of</strong>f the Gentiles because <strong>of</strong> their unbelief.<br />

<strong>The</strong> root is still good. God is still the “God<br />

<strong>of</strong> Abraham, and the God <strong>of</strong> Isaac, and the<br />

God <strong>of</strong> Jacob”. His promises never fail.<br />

<strong>The</strong> last witness is God Himself. In<br />

verse 25 we see God’s timing. <strong>The</strong> blinding<br />

(or hardening) (Rom. 11:7) <strong>of</strong> Israel<br />

as a nation is neither total nor final: it is<br />

partial and temporary! So, how long will it<br />

last? “Until the fullness <strong>of</strong> the Gentiles be<br />

come in” (Rom. 11:12). While God is taking<br />

out a people for His name, individual<br />

Jews are being saved. But when the time <strong>of</strong><br />

the Gentiles is up, God will once more deal<br />

with the nation <strong>of</strong> Israel. It is important to<br />

note the little word “until”, as it assures us<br />

God knows what time it is!<br />

In Isaiah 59 and 60 God has promised<br />

to save His people. <strong>The</strong> statement that,<br />

“All Israel shall be saved” does not mean<br />

that every Jew who has ever lived will be<br />

converted, but that the Jews living when<br />

the Redeemer returns will see Him, receive<br />

Him, and be saved (Zech 12-13). We cannot<br />

spiritualize these prophecies <strong>of</strong> national<br />

restoration for Israel and apply them to<br />

the church today.<br />

Paul next reminds us <strong>of</strong> God’s covenant.<br />

We know Israel was chosen by His<br />

grace. God chose Israel in His grace and not<br />

because <strong>of</strong> any merit in her (Deut. 7:6-11;<br />

9:1-6). If Israel wasn’t chosen because <strong>of</strong> it<br />

merit, then how can it be rejected because<br />

<strong>of</strong> its sin “Election” means grace, not merit.<br />

June 2010 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 27


American News – continued<br />

Today non-believing Jews are “enemies”<br />

<strong>of</strong> the gospel, yet they are “beloved for<br />

the fathers’ sakes.” God will not break His<br />

covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!<br />

Paul knows as we do that “God is not a<br />

man that He should lie; neither the son <strong>of</strong><br />

man, that He should repent” (Num. 23:19)<br />

and since he is “the Lord”, and He does not<br />

change (Mal. 3:6). By His very nature He<br />

does not change or repent. God’s gifts to<br />

Israel, and God’s calling <strong>of</strong> Israel, cannot<br />

be taken back or changed, or God would<br />

cease to be true to His own perfect nature.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fact that Israel may not enjoy her gifts,<br />

or live up to her privileges as an elect nation,<br />

does not affect this fact one bit. God<br />

will be consistent with Himself and true to<br />

His Word (See Rom. 3:3).<br />

Now, God’s grace is invoked brought<br />

to the stand. Because <strong>of</strong> the unbelief <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Jews, we Gentiles are saved. Paul repeatedly<br />

reminded the saved Gentiles that they had<br />

a spiritual obligation to Israel to “provoke<br />

them to jealousy” and Israel’s hardness is<br />

only “in part” which means that individual<br />

Jews can be saved. If God can save Jews by<br />

His grace and mercy today, why can’t He<br />

save them in the future? God has included<br />

all “in unbelief” both Jews and Gentiles so<br />

that all might have the opportunity to be<br />

saved by grace. “<strong>The</strong>re is no difference.”<br />

God chose the Jews so that the Gentiles<br />

might be saved. Israel became exclusive<br />

and failed to share the truth with the<br />

Gentiles. <strong>The</strong>y thought that the Gentiles<br />

had to become Jews in order to be saved.<br />

But God declared both Jews and Gentiles<br />

to be lost and condemned. This meant that<br />

He could have mercy on all because <strong>of</strong> the<br />

sacrifice <strong>of</strong> Christ on the cross.<br />

Finally, God’s wisdom is shown. Only<br />

a God as wise as our God could take the<br />

fall <strong>of</strong> Israel and turn it into salvation for<br />

the world! If one thinks that God does not<br />

know what He is doing, then they don’t<br />

know Him. God is too wise to make plans<br />

that will not be fulfilled. Israel did not allow<br />

Him to rule, so He overruled!<br />

Paul’s five witnesses, all agree, there<br />

is a future for Israel. She will recover from<br />

her fall and enter into her fullness when Jesus<br />

Christ returns and sit on David’s throne<br />

and Israel will “reconciled” and “received,”<br />

and it will be like a resurrection!<br />

In Peace,<br />

David<br />

“God is not a man that He<br />

should lie; neither the son<br />

<strong>of</strong> man, that He should<br />

repent”<br />

–Numbers 23:19–<br />

2 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2010<br />

why did the United States immediately recognize the State <strong>of</strong> Israel?<br />

Margaret Truman said it was the most difficult decision Harry Truman ever faced as president.<br />

Should he support the creation <strong>of</strong> a Jewish homeland in Palestine, or shouldn’t he?<br />

Presidential advisers and the government were split. Clark Clifford, Truman’s legal counsel,<br />

strongly favored recognition. <strong>The</strong> Jews deserved a sanctuary after the horror <strong>of</strong> the Holocaust, Clifford<br />

argued. Besides, the new state would likely come to pass whether Truman urged it or not.<br />

But the Department <strong>of</strong> State, including the highly respected Secretary <strong>of</strong> State, George Marshall,<br />

advised against it, as did much <strong>of</strong> his cabinet. Truman greatly admired Marshall and had said,<br />

“there wasn’t a decoration big enough” to honor Marshall’s leadership during World War II. At a<br />

White House meeting on May 12, 1948, Marshall objected to quick US recognition <strong>of</strong> a Jewish<br />

homeland. It would look as if Truman was angling for Jewish votes, he said, and might endanger<br />

access to Arab oil. He went so far as to say that if Truman went ahead and recognized the new state,<br />

then Marshall would vote against him in the coming election.<br />

Truman made his own decision. Two days later, May 14, 1948 Israel was born at the stroke<br />

<strong>of</strong> midnight, Jerusalem time. <strong>The</strong> United States announced its recognition <strong>of</strong> the new nation only<br />

11 minutes later.<br />

Danial Pipes, in reviewing Michael T. Benson’s book Harry S. Truman and the Founding <strong>of</strong><br />

Israel makes these observations about Truman’s decision:<br />

Everyone knows that Harry Truman provided help to the Zionists because he could count votes,<br />

and there were few Arab votes in 1948. That, anyway, is the thesis developed by John Snetsinger<br />

in 1974 and since repeated ad nauseum. Well, it turns out not to be true. In a masterful and exciting<br />

presentation, Benson proves that Truman’s policies resulted not from nose-counting but from<br />

deeply-held beliefs. His pro-Israel outlook “was based primarily on humanitarian, moral, and sentimental<br />

grounds, many <strong>of</strong> which were an outgrowth <strong>of</strong> the president’s religious upbringing and his<br />

familiarity with the Bible.” Extensive research into Truman’s biography and earlier career shows<br />

his impressive consistency. Benson, <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> Utah, establishes Truman as a studious child<br />

and deeply religious young man who, when he unexpectedly found himself in the Oval Office, lived<br />

faithfully by his precepts. In the case at hand, he expressed sympathy for Zionism as early as 1939<br />

and reiterated his views many times subsequently.<br />

Truman’s determination had great importance; <strong>of</strong> the many momentous issues in his presidency,<br />

he personally involved himself most directly with what he called the “puzzle <strong>of</strong> Palestine.”<br />

In Benson’s words, these personal interventions against the entirety <strong>of</strong> the American foreign policy<br />

establishment “constantly rescued” the Jews from defeat. <strong>The</strong> author concludes that the standard<br />

account <strong>of</strong> Truman risking U.S. security interests for cheap political advantage is deeply unfair to<br />

this most moral and honorable <strong>of</strong> American presidents.<br />

US State Department<br />

Telegram, May 14, 1948<br />

Palestine Facts website<br />

(http://palestinefacts.org),<br />

Retrieved June 7, 2010.<br />

Today, in 1948, Israel is declared an independent state. It is immediately<br />

attacked by all <strong>of</strong> its Arab neighbors. <strong>The</strong>re were no settlements<br />

at the time. Also, no occupation <strong>of</strong> the West Bank, Gaza Strip or Golan<br />

Heights. Israel was attacked simply because it existed. It continues today.

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