ahmadinejad mahmoud nostradamus
Transcription
ahmadinejad mahmoud nostradamus
From the president Shalom! Dear JVMI Partner and Friend, I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited. …All Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. —Romans 11:25-26 NIV As you read this issue of the magazine that offers our perspective to the impending threat of apocalypse in 2012, I will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, heading up yet another of our powerful evangelistic/humanitarian/medical outreaches to the precious Jews of Ethiopia. God loves them so much. In fact, He is in the midst of fulfilling His plan for Israel and the Jewish People around the world right now—today! You see, it is extremely important that we continue to do all that God has called us to do for as long as it is day, for the night is coming, when no one can work. (See John 9:4.) Yes, the doomsayers are out in full force—just as they were during the Y2K predictions that turned out to be much ado about nothing. The timing wasn’t quite right. Yet we are abundantly aware that we are part of “the beginning of the end,” and like the little mirror on the right side of your car suggests, objects in your mirror are closer than you think. I thank you for sending us back to Ethiopia. I am grateful to you for allowing us to love this remnant of God’s Chosen People into the Kingdom for all eternity. First and foremost, we introduce them to Yeshua, their Messiah, by presenting God’s plan of salvation, praying over their many physical needs, and bringing them much-needed medical, dental, and eye care. I so appreciate those dedicated individuals who volunteer their time and talents to share their personal experience with Yeshua with those who have not yet heard. It is a privilege that none of us takes for granted. My prayer is that as you read through this issue, any concerns that you may have about 2012 and other signs of the End of Days will be addressed in ways that bring you peace and confidence in the Creator of the Universe and the Author of All Time. Where in the World is Jonathan Bernis? Ethiopia Medical Outreach Addis Ababa, Ethiopia April 22 - May 3 Please remember to pray for Jonathan as he travels around the world. You probably remember my friend Dr. Mark Hitchcock, who shares his views regarding “2012, The Bible, and the End of the World” in this issue. I believe you will be inspired as you read what he has to say about these very important days. Then we have our friend and prophecy panel expert, Jack Kinsella, chief writer of The Hal Lindsey Report television program and author of The Last Generation: Ten Signs of the End of the Age. My article will touch on preparedness for these times. Are you ready? Please don’t miss out. As I relate in my “Up Front” column this month, the fact that Jewish People are coming to know their Messiah in record numbers is proof enough for me to know that Yeshua is coming soon. I urge you to continue to study the Jewish roots of your faith, continue to support Israel by letting your senators and congressmen know that you expect the United States to do the same, and talk with your Jewish friends about Messiah. They may not want to hear what you have to say, but do it anyway. They will thank you over and over again, throughout eternity, that you cared enough to tell them about their Savior’s love. I thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. Your prayer and financial support of this ministry is vital and enables us to reach out to the Jewish People and to the Nations with God’s love. Shalom, Jonathan Bernis, President & CEO Jewish Voice Ministries International 2 | Jewish Voice Today May/June 2010 www.JewishVoiceToday.org Proclaiming Messiah to the World Jewish Voice Today www.JewishVoiceToday.org Volume 44 | Number 3 May/June 2010 Iyar/Sivan/Tammuz 5770 Contents 5 2 S h a lo m ! From the President By Jonathan Bernis 4A b o u t t h i s i s s u e Publisher Jonathan Bernis Senior Managing Editor Sarah Weiner Senior Writer Mary Ellen Breitwiser Associate Editor / Social Media Specialist Laura Bagby Senior Graphic DESIGNERs Jennifer Carrell Lavinia Matesan USA P.O. Box 81439 Phoenix, AZ 85069-1439 USA 602-97l-850l www.jewishvoice.org Jewish Voice Ministries Canada P.O. Box 476 Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3P2 0ll-602-97l-850l Jewish Voice Ministries UK P.O. Box 628 Borehamwood, UK WD6 9AT 00-l-602-97l-850l By Sarah Weiner 8 By Jonathan Bernis 8 G u e s t Au t h o r 2012, the Bible, and the End of the World By Mark Hitchcock 10 G u e s t Au t h o r Is This the Last Generation? By Jack Kinsella 10 12 S p e c i a l I n t e r e s t God is Stretching Us! 14S p e c i a l R e p o r t Setting Captives Free in the Jungles of India By Laura Bagby 19 J e w i s h V o i c e w i t h J o n at h a n B e r n i s Broadcast Guide 12 address changes & other correspondence: P.O. Box 31998 Phoenix, AZ 85046-1998 Jewish Voice Ministries International Board of Directors Rabbi Jonathan Bernis Dr. Larry Bates Elliot Klayman, Esq. Mrs. Madelaine Lindvall Mr. James Mueller Mr. Roger West Dr. Michael Maiden Dorothy (Dotti) Naomi Solomon 5U p F r o n t Are You Ready for Yeshua’s Return? 20 J V T IN t e l l i g e n c e r e p o r t News from Israel and around the World 22S t e wa r d s h i p co r n e r Our Passport to Eternal Blessing By Bob Hawley 24 h e b r e w l e s s o n Are You Making Disciples? 14 By Kevin Geoffrey 25 p r o p h e c y & t r u t h b e h i n d t h e news The Left Is Still Not Right By Jan Markell 26 h e a d q ua r t e r s r e p o r t By Andy Freeman, Program Director 27 r e s o u r c e s www.JewishVoiceToday.org MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 3 Trumpet in Zion! For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the [shofar] of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. —1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NKJV) As seen on Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis! Yemenite Shofar This trumpet made of a Kudu horn, was blown by the ancient Hebrews during religious ceremonies and as a signal in battle. Now the shofar is sounded during Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur. 35” to 40” Polished. Tested before shipped. Large Shofar | Order #9949 | $500.00 gift Ram’s Horn Shofar Traditionally used during the biblical Holy Days the Shofar reminds us of Yeshua’s coming again! 8” to 11” Varying colors, texture, and finish. Tested before shipped. Small Shofar | Order #9940 | $60.00 gift When you purchase a shofar through Jewish Voice, your gift is used to fund outreaches to the Lost Tribes of Israel! www.jewishvoicetoday.org P About this Issue Blow the redictions that world is coming to an end is nothing new. As far back as I can remember there have been caricatures in the comic strips of doomsday prophets wearing sandwich signs declaring “The End is Near!” In college I studied the effects of “man’s exploitation of the earth.” Researchers postulated dire predictions—everything from depleting the water table in the southwest by the year two thousand, to global famine if zero population growth was not achieved within twenty years. Nuclear holocaust with ensuing nuclear winter and a loss of nearly the entirety of the world population was also predicted—if not nuclear, then a meteor or serious climate change was certain to be around the corner. Disaster movies have dealt with these themes with frequency and popularity. When I became a Believer in Yeshua (Jesus) over twenty-two years ago, I found a similar thread ran through most preaching: “Jesus is coming soon! We are in the Last Days! Get ready for the Rapture!” Reasons given were varied—everything from the downward spiral of social morality: open homosexuality and gay marriage, abortion, the popularity of children born outside the bounds of marriage—to the inception of the European Union, and a proliferation of regional wars around the globe. A favorite pastime seemed to be guessing who the antichrist might be among current world leaders. Prince Charles was a forerunner for quite a while. The 1700s and 1800s saw their fair share of end of the world predictions, with intensification at the turn of centuries, not unlike our own recent Y2K folly. Yet something essential was missing before 1948. As my knowledge of Scripture increased I was surprised to find that the restoration of Israel and the Jewish People, key indicators that are unique in contemporary times, have been largely overlooked by End Times date setters. Among many others, two Scriptures have always captured my imagination and hold such great promise: And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. —Luke 21:24 NKJV For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this [is] My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” —Romans 11:25-27 NKJV We are living in very exciting times! Blindness (to Yeshua as Messiah) is coming off the eyes of Jewish People in numbers not seen for two thousand years. Israel has been re-established after being decimated in 70 AD and led captive into the nations. The People of Israel are returning from the four corners of the earth. And in June 1967, with the miraculous victory of the Six Day War, Jerusalem was once again restored into Jewish hands after nearly two thousand years…no longer trampled by the Gentiles. After this amazing event, revival broke out—the Jesus Movement—a revival that differed from previous historic revivals, for this movement saw Jewish People coming to faith in numbers not seen since the first century church! The world is now entranced with the latest doomsday prediction: December 12, 2012 from the Mayan calendar. Could it happen? Not likely. However, key prophecies are now being fulfilled. Are you prepared? Yeshua said to occupy—be fruitful until He comes (Luke 19:13). As Believers, let us be inspired by Paul’s words to long for His appearing, yet ever be productive for His Kingdom in view of the approaching Day, whether soon or it tarries: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. —2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV —Sarah 4 | Jewish Voice Today May/June 2010 www.JewishVoiceToday.org Up Front Are You Ready for Yeshua’s Return? By Jonathan Bernis “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” —Yeshua to His disciples, Matthew 25:13 I believe everyone can agree that we are living in extraordinary times! Every single day, the cares of the world seek to divert our attention from the infinitely more important issues that the Bible admonishes us to be watching for as signs of our times—the end of the age and the return of Jesus. The question is: Are you prepared for His return? The mark of the beast ... Gog and Magog ... 666 ... a confederation of ten nations ... the antichrist’s ascendancy to power ... the abomination of desolation ... are all Last Days’ topics that most endtime teachers focus on and tell us will happen in the near future. Interest in this topic is escalating once again with the “prophecies” of Nostradamus drawing near and predictions found in the Mayan calendar that the world will come to an end in 2012. Many have become obsessed with trying to unravel the Bible’s mysterious and veiled prophecies of the end. They analyze every word in the daily newspapers or the television news to see if there might be a connection to the End Times. This is especially true if that news has to do with Israel or the Middle East. For many years, these people have seen almost anything that happens on the international stage as a sure sign that the Second Coming is imminent. During the first Gulf War, some hinted that Saddam Hussein fit the profile of the Antichrist. Prior to World War II, Adolph Hitler, Josef Stalin, and Benito Mussolini were considered prime suspects. When Napoleon’s armies swept through Europe, many were sure that he was Satan’s chosen one. Some Bible teachers continue to be obsessed with trying to set an exact date for Christ’s (Messiah’s) return. They claim to have discovered secret codes in Scripture or received divine revelation from the Lord about this. Yet, the Bible clearly warns us “no man knows the day or the hour.” I believe this is the way the Lord wants it. He wants us to be dark on exactly when Yeshua will return and the end will come. Why? So that we live each day with the expectation that today may be the day. That is why we are exhorted to “keep watch.” CONTINUED ON PA G E 6 www.JewishVoiceToday.org MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 5 Co n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 5 Throughout history there have been many erroneous predictions about the exact date these things would occur. Here are just a few examples: • Bernard of Thuringia calculated that the end would come in 992. • Pope Innocent III expected the Second Coming to take place in 1284, 666 years after the rise of Islam. • Mathematician Michael Stifel calculated that the Day of Judgment would begin at 8 a.m. on October 19, 1533. • John Napier, the mathematician who discovered logarithms, predicted that the world would end in 1688. • Puritan Cotton Mather chose 1697 as the year of Jesus’ Second Coming. • William Miller found a huge audience for his prediction that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844. When it didn’t happen, that day became known as The Great Disappointment. • More recently, NASA scientist Edgar C. Whisenant wrote “On Borrowed Time & 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988.” It sold over four million copies. • Y2K or January 1, 2000 was predicted as the day computers would fail and life as we’ve known it would never be the same again. There is no doubt in my mind; we are, indeed, living in the Last Days. But to be honest, it disturbs me that most Christian authors, who teach on this topic, including some who make a career out of predicting the exact date of Yeshua’s return, aren’t talking much, if at all, about many of signs of the end that are being fulfilled. You see, there are Bible prophecies being fulfilled now, today, under our very noses that reveal beyond any doubt that we are living in the Last Days. The restoration of Israel and Jerusalem in 1948 and 1967 respectively, the return of the Jewish People from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia, Jewish People coming to faith in Messiah in greater numbers than at anytime since the first century and the rise of the modern Messianic Jewish congregational movement worldwide are all clear indicators that we are in the season known as the “ End of Days” or the “End of the Age.” Before we go any further, please allow me to explain that there’s nothing 6 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 wrong with seeking to understand what I like to call “symbolic” or “hidden” prophecy. This is prophecy revealed in the form of visions and metaphoric language that no doubt is tied to the Last days. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we should seek to understand the meaning of these passages—and to live in the light of that understanding. By all means, we should seek to understand the difficult passages in Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Revelation, and so on. I’m seeking to understand these books myself. It is a day-by-day journey. My concern is that we should not get caught up in the vanity of forecasting exact dates, nor dogmatically say, “This is that.” Yeshua himself said, “No man knows the hour.” Yes, we must discern the season we live in. The men of Issachar discerned the times (see 1 Chronicles 12:32), and the Bible calls them wise. This can only mean one thing: the return of Jesus to Jerusalem. But before He comes, there must be a national awakening of the Jewish People. It is my view, after almost 30 years of study of the Bible and eschatology that the greatest single prophetic event to take place before the return of Messiah to this earth is the Jewish People turning back to God as they recognize that Jesus is their promised Messiah. It is no coincidence that Jewish People all over the world are turning to Him and becoming Messianic Jews in numbers not seen since the first century. Many Scriptures predicted this event, and they directly tie it to the Messiah’s return immediately following. Two of the strongest are found in Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:25. The first, Zechariah 12:10, written hundreds of years before Jesus is even born declares: “And I will pour out on the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” This amazing prophecy actually predicts the day when the House of David (the Jewish People) will recognize Yeshua as their Messiah and Savior, and repent. We are told in chapter 13:1, that immediately following this national awakening, “a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” This can only mean one thing: the return of Jesus to Jerusalem. But before He comes, there must be a national awakening of the Jewish People. This exact chronology is repeated in Romans 11: For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins. —Romans 11:25-27 In other words, the Jewish People will continue to reject Jesus as their Messiah until a set time in history, known as the “fullness of the Gentiles.” I do not have time or space in this article to further expound on this, but I urge you to shop for some of the books, CDs and DVDs available through our ministry, where I teach on the subject at length. My point is that the Lord has a set time when the blindness will, indeed, come off of the eyes of Israel (the Jewish People) and they will recognize Jesus as Yeshua. The declaration that “the Deliverer will come out of Zion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob” directly states that the Messiah’s return to Jerusalem will happen only after the blindness comes off of the eyes of the Jewish People, and Israel is saved. In light of this biblical truth (and there are many more Scriptures beyond the two I have cited that say the same thing) and how important this restoration is to the heart of God, any eschatological teaching or position that in any way impedes the Gospel proclamation to the Jewish People today is in error. www.JewishVoiceToday.org I believe as it says in Psalm 102:13, “You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.” This means that it is now time for the Jewish People to hear and respond to the Good News. Other Clear Signs of the Last Days Of course, there are many other signs that Yeshua told us to watch for in connection with discerning the Last Days. They include: • False Messiahs “Watch out that no one deceives you, for many will come “in My name, claiming, “I am the Messiah” (Luke 21:8) • An Increase in Wars and Conflict Worldwide “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Luke 21:10) • A Significant Increase in the Frequency and Magnitude of Natural Disasters “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7) • A Rise in anti-Semitism and Persecution of True Christians “You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death” (Matthew 24:9) • A Falling Away of Believers From the Faith “Many will turn from the faith and betray and hate each other” (Matthew 24:10) • A Major Increase in False Prophets and Prophecy (Matthew 24:11) And the list goes on. What Should We Do To Prepare? Sadly, many believers who see that the end is imminent respond by doing nothing. “If Jesus is coming back any day now,” they reason, “then why make any long-term plans or do anything to plan for the future?” I see this as sort of a fatalist approach. The problem with this is that we are exhorted in Scripture to “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13 KJV). In other words, we are to live as if He is coming back tomorrow by being spiritually prepared for His return at any moment. And we are to do this, while at the same time we are living a rooted, fruitful and productive life as if He will not come in our lifetime. www.JewishVoiceToday.org These two realities are not a contradiction in the slightest. To live as if He is coming back tomorrow is to understand, as Jesus himself urged us, that “we must do the work of Him who sent us while it is day for night will come when no one can work” (John 9:4). We must continually be about the Father’s business. We must seize every opportunity to reach out to others, to share our faith, to be a light to the lost around us. We should see those whom God puts in our path as divine appointments. We need to remain in close fellowship with the Lord through daily devotional times of prayer and study of the Word so that we can discern His voice, seeking, with intention, to always “abide in the vine” and make sure our oil never runs out. To live a rooted, fruitful and productive life as if we will remain here for a long time is to plan wisely for our future, to pursue education and solid career choices, to provide for our families, and the work of the Kingdom. We should be involved in our communities, make our voices known as citizens of our respective nations, be outstanding members of society. We should live exemplary lives and make a difference in the world. We should live in this world while at the same time remember that we are not of this world any longer. This is so beautifully stated in Philippians 2:15, “that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” Each of us has a destiny to fulfill in this lifetime, and we will never fulfill it if we simply “head for the hills” and resign from living life to the fullest as a response to His near return. Get ready for His return. I believe it is soon. But until He comes, make your time on this earth count by seizing every opportunity to do His will in your daily life. If you do, you will experience that glorious moment when you will look into the eyes of our Savior and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful…come and share your master’s happiness.” Take the with Jewish Voice and Change the World The easiest way to tell your friends about reaching the Lost is by giving them the 10/10 Challenge package. If you will ask 10 of your friends to join you in supporting Jewish Voice for $10 a month, they will be part of changing lives for eternity. Just $10 a month can provide food, clothing, medicine, and medical help to some of the poorest of the poor. Will you be one willing to help others learn about Jewish Voice? To order packages for your friends, please call: 1-800-424-0408. MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 7 G u e s t au t h o r 2012, the Bible, and the End of the World By Mark Hitchcock W hy has December 21, 2012 been tagged as earth’s expiration date? What are we expecting to happen? Is there any credence to the Mayan calendar theories about 12.21.12, or must we continue our search of the ancient prophecies of the Bible to discover what it says about the end of days? Although politicians have inundated us with promises of change that will come, another kind of change has been predicted—a change some believe has been bearing down on the planet for 5000 years, the colossal transformation of our solar system and our collective psyche that many say will happen on December 21, 2012. Predictions vary from total, all-out apocalypse to some kind of quantum shift in human awareness and consciousness. After gathering all the prophetic material, the conclusion is simple: All the ancient sources agree the world will end in 2012. After all, they say, it can’t be sheer coincidence that so many primitive diviners, psychics, and astrologers agree. The bottom 8 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 line is clear: Never before have so many people from such diverse backgrounds and viewpoints pinpointed one day as the expiration date for human civilization. Signs of the Times Apocalyptic thinking is in the air. Crises of alarming complexity are emerging and accelerating with frightening regularity—depletion of vital resources, a peak in oil production, food shortages, nuclear threats, economic meltdowns, vanishing species, potentially pandemic flu viruses, wars and rumors of wars, turmoil in the Middle East, record tsunamis, erratic weather patterns, unprecedented earthquakes, and the escalation of catastrophic storms. We live in a fragile, increasingly dangerous, interdependent world. We are seeing an amazing confluence of tipping points. And the world’s problems are multiplying. Is this all a buildup to some imminent cataclysm? The prelude to a grand finale of unspeakable destruction? Haven’t we heard all this before? Set- ting dates for the end of the world. You may remember Y2K, when many people predicted that the earth’s odometer would roll over, and we would experience all kinds of massive computer malfunctions, government shutdowns, ensuing chaos, and even the end of civilization as we know it. All orthodox Christians believe in a literal second coming of Jesus to earth, the bodily resurrection of all people, and a final judgment. Of course, nothing out of the ordinary happened on January 1, 2000. The new millennium came in with a whimper, not a roar, and as expected, very few, if any, of the prophets of doom admitted they were wrong or apologized to the millions they led astray. Is 2012 in the Bible? The word eschatology means “study of the last” or “last things.” Every major reliwww.JewishVoiceToday.org gion has some kind of eschatology or teaching about how everything is going to finally end up. For many Muslims, it’s the coming of their Mahdi or Messiah, who will convert the world to Islam and rule in peace and prosperity. Buddhists reject the idea of a definitive end of all things; rather, they envision endless cycles of life and death that can ultimately lead to nirvana, a state of complete awakening. Like Buddhists, Hindus also view time in cycles and believe that we are living in the “age of darkness,” the last of four periods that constitute the current age. Most Hindus believe that the world will ultimately be destroyed in an apocalypse and then recreated. All orthodox Christians believe in a literal second coming of Jesus to earth, the bodily resurrection of all people, and a final judgment. The 2012 phenomenon is the New Age eschatology. It’s their answer to how the world will end, or at least how the world as we know it will end and usher in a new stage of collective consciousness. Most religions and cultures past and present have some kind of doomsday or end-time scenario. In the Bible, there are many New Testament passages that refer to the end times. Even Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that there would be great turmoil and upheaval for the world in the final years of this age. There are many other passages [of this nature] throughout the New Testament. Given the abundance of references to the last days, does the Bible have anything specific to say about 2012? Some claim it does. Is the Bible Written in Code? Michael Drosnin’s book, The Bible Code, asserts that there are hidden, cryptic codes in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament—“a Bible beneath the Bible”—that can be discovered by using computers to search for the letters of specific words that occur at a specific interval or spacing. Why would God hide all of this information in codes that no one could access until the computer had been invented? While it sounds intriguing, the notion of Bible codes should be approached with great caution. There is absolutely no biblical support for the practice of finding codes hidden in the Bible. Neither Jesus nor the www.JewishVoiceToday.org There is absolutely no biblical support for the practice of finding codes hidden in the Bible. Neither Jesus nor the apostles ever did such, and the Bible is filled with straightforward prophecies. apostles ever did such, and the Bible is filled with straightforward prophecies. We would be much better off keeping our eyes on the Word of God and studying its clear meanings rather than attempting to find things out through hidden codes. Enthusiasts of 2012 maintain that the Old Testament prophecies of the end-time Great Tribulation are consistent with what will happen during the polar shift they expect in 2012. They also point to graphic passages in the book of Revelation: “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Which view of the future has a proven track record that we can examine? The answer to me is clear: only the Bible. “Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb’” (Revelation 6:12-16 NASB). To 2012ologists, these passages combined with Revelation 8:5-12 that mentions “peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake, … [along with] hail and fire, mixed with blood” looks like a serious case of pole reversal. But end-time disasters described in Revelation and by the biblical prophets will be caused by God, not man. Much of the suffering, destruction, and trouble we see in the world today are the result of the wrath of sinful man and Satan. Which view of the future has a proven track record that we can examine? The answer to me is clear: only the Bible. The Bible is the only place to look for ultimate answers. In fact, the God of the Bible is so certain that only He can accurately predict the future that He throws down the gauntlet and challenges any other so-called god to tell the future: Remember this, and be assured; recall it to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure”…Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. —Isaiah 46:9-11 Long-term Perspective In Scripture, teaching about the future is almost always followed by practical application of how the future should affect our lives today. In light of the coming end of the world, the apostle Peter urged us to live in the light of eternity and not simply for the here and now. “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Peter 3:11,14). CONTINUED ON PA G E 13 MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 9 G u e s t au t h o r Is This the Last Generation? By Jack Kinsella And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? —Matthew 24:3 (KJV) F or two thousand years, scholars, theologians, skeptics and critics have dissected both that question and its answer. To the faithful, it is Divine prophecy intended to offer comfort and wisdom to the generation that would see its fulfillment. To the critics and skeptics, it is offered as evidence that the Bible is a book of myths. They argue that every generation thought they were the ones that would see the “end of the world” (the return of Christ) but, look! We’re still here! Hardly an original argument, but one that has endured through the ages. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. —2 Peter 3:3-4 10 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 The Apostle Peter reminds his readers that they laughed when Noah built his ark … until it started to rain. Peter defines the logic of accepting the absence of evidence as itself being evidence of “willing ignorance” (2 Peter 3:5). From that perspective, it is not coincidental that the first warning Jesus gave His disciples in answer to their question was, “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4). Evidence of a Plan Jesus next warned His disciples, “…ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars,” adding, “…see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6). The twentieth century is divided by its wars; pre-World War I, post-World War I, pre-World War II, post World War II, the Cold War, and the post Cold War. The First World War was so ferocious and bloody that it earned the appellation, “The War to End All Wars.” The carnage claimed the lives of more than thirty-eight million people worldwide. Entire nations were reduced to rubble. The cream of a generation perished on the battlefields of Europe. “Never again!” shouted the survivors. Despite the best efforts of the League of Nations, created to fulfill that promise, the madness once again overspread the globe less than a generation later. This time, the carnage claimed almost twice as many lives worldwide as the last one had. It concluded with the introduction of the world’s first use of nuclear weapons, and established America as the greatest military power the world had ever known. In 1948, as the surviving Jews of Hitler’s madness declared the existence of the State of Israel, Russia declared a blockade of West Berlin, which was at the time under control of the post-war Victorious Powers. The United States launched a massive airlift of supplies into Berlin, eventually breaking the blockade and officially kicking off the ultimate “rumor of war,” the Cold War. Jesus intimated that the wars and rumors of wars were a necessary part of an unfolding www.JewishVoiceToday.org plan; hence His admonition, “see that ye not be troubled.” He explained, “…for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Jesus was asked for the signs of the end. In His response, He said these were signs, but the end is not yet. Is there a relevant cause and effect at work here? It is logical to infer that these wars were both necessary to a plan, and that they signaled, not the end, but the beginning of the end. Among the consequences of the “War to End All Wars” were the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the occupation of the Holy Land by the British. In 1917, the British Parliament adopted the Balfour Declaration that declared the newly acquired territory of Palestine as the “homeland of the Jews.” The carnage of the Holocaust turned the surviving Jews of Europe into refugees; their property confiscated, the wealth plundered. They had nowhere to go but Palestine. The hardships they endured under their Nazi tormentors steeled them for the hardships ahead. The generation of Jews that settled Israel withstood five separate efforts by the combined Arab world to annihilate them, each time, emerging from battle in possession of a larger piece of the Promised Land. And the ultimate “rumor of war” forced Israel’s alliance with the Western world when the Soviets began setting up client states in the Middle East. The entire focus of Bible prophecy in the last days demands the existence of a Jewish State called “Israel.” Israel plays a central role in the unfolding of all Bible prophecy in the last days. The unintended consequences of two wars and what turned out to be a “rumor of war” was the Western acquisition of the Land of Promise, the forced relocation of European Jewry to that land, and Israel’s necessary alliance to the United States. Coincidence? Or cause and effect? Beginning of Sorrows For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. —Matthew 24:7-8 Jesus warned that these signs were the “beginnings of sorrows.” Sorrows is a reference to birth pangs (Genesis 3:16 “in www.JewishVoiceToday.org sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”). Jesus used an analogy that would remain constant throughout human history. We still time labor pains. As the time approaches, the labor pains increase in both frequency and intensity. Wars, famines and “pestilences” (plagues) have always been part of the human condition. Until mankind declared them obsolete in the mid-twentieth century. We declared war on wars, setting up the United Nations as the preferred forum for settling national differences. And for a time, it worked as advertised. One of the most clear and undeniable signs of the last days is the restoration of Israel. It is an event unique in the annals of human history. We declared war on poverty and set up programs to bring food to deprived nations and set up international agencies to help develop underprivileged nations. We declared war on disease, and all but eradicated deadly epidemics of bubonic plague, tuberculosis, polio, malaria, leprosy and smallpox. We developed antibiotics to prevent their recurrence. We made real progress, and it looked for a while as if we might actually stamp out mankind’s ancient scourges. But that was before the appearance of antibiotic resistant “superbugs.” And new, unknown diseases like HIV, AIDS and SARS … and a host of other formerly unheard of epidemics. Bird flu made its appearance in Asia in the twenty-first century and with it, the specter of a global pandemic that the experts estimate could kill tens (maybe hundreds) of millions of people. Of those infected so far, more than half have died, giving it a mortality rate of almost 60 percent. The Restoration of Israel One of the most clear and undeniable signs of the last days is the restoration of Israel. It is an event unique in the annals of human history. The Jewish culture, unlike other cultures of antiquity, was never absorbed by its many conquerors. Even after being divided, scattered across the centuries and throughout the world, without land or flag, the Jewish nation survived. Think this through for a moment. Broken into small groups, many unaware of the existence of others like them, the Jews survived. Across the span of centuries, scattered throughout hundreds of countries; their culture, religion, unique dietary laws, customs and traditions remained intact. Despite the best efforts of the rest of the world to bring about their destruction through periodic massacres, forced conversions and pogrom after pogrom, the Jews survived. Today, the state of Israel is home to Jews from every country, speaking 86 languages. In each adopted language, they heard the story of the Exodus. In each host country, sometimes at risk of death, they kept the Passover. When they came home to the Promised Land, they found other Jews, telling the story of the Exodus, each in their own language. And it was the same story—because they were the same people. Evidence of Perfect Planning It seems pretty clear that Israel’s history was carefully planned according to a particular purpose. Take a second to think it through. Foretelling the future of an entire nation is more than a good guess. Every person in every generation must cooperate exactly; from Abraham forward. If Moses’ mother hadn’t put him in a basket, there’d be no Exodus. Moses’ greatgrandparents could have only married each other, or there’d been no Moses. And what if Habakkuk’s great-great-great-grandfather decided to be a bachelor? Every single individual choice throughout history— ancient and modern—had to be exactly the right choice for the future to work out according to prophecy. What if David Ben-Gurion had been killed during WWII or if Israeli Founding Father Abba Eban had decided to remain in the British Army, or if Golda Meir had stayed in Chicago? Modern Israel might not exist. Meticulous details, maybe—but God said that modern Israel would exist in the last days. Just read Ezekiel 37:21-22 for the details! President Harry Truman President Truman, a crusty midWesterner with no particular love for the CONTINUED ON PA G E 18 MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 11 Special Interest God Is Us! “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” —Isaiah 54:2 T his year God has been expanding our territory to reach more Jewish People with the Good News of eternal life in Yeshua. The Lord has blessed us tremendously, doubling our global outreach staff and almost doubling our international outreaches just since last year. We also expect 2011 to be our biggest year yet for ministry events here in the United States. With that expansion has come the need for a new training center to house our expanding outreaches. Throughout Scripture, we are instructed to prepare for the work that God has placed before us. For David, it was planning the house of God, which required 13 years for David’s son, Solomon, to construct (1 Kings 7). For Nehemiah, it was rebuilding the walls. (See Nehemiah 1.) For Jewish Voice, it is preparing to reach more souls for Yeshua. The new Jewish Voice International Messianic Prayer and Outreach Center marks our latest staging area for all of our upcoming domestic and international outreaches. This beautiful location also houses a spacious chapel and a dedicated prayer room. The prayer room will be staffed with trained intercessors who will provide personal prayer ministry and also offer sound answers for Jewish People who do not yet know Yeshua as their Messiah. We are excited about the ministry possibilities this new Outreach Center is going to bring. Please pray for us as we continue to serve our Risen Lord and expand His Kingdom. — Jonathan Bernis, President & CEO 12 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 www.JewishVoiceToday.org Co n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 9 2012 and You The timing of the end is in God’s hands. From the human vantage point, it appears we are standing on the threshold of the final frontier. The pieces of the puzzle appear to be falling into place. The sands of time are rapidly slipping through the hourglass of eternity. The key questions for us are, “What should we do? And, what can we do in the meantime?” A Rabbi Looks at The Last Days Conference How Should We Then Live? How should those who have received Christ live during what could be history’s final days? Believers in the early church were consistently told to be on the lookout for the coming of Christ. They were given clear, practical instruction about how they should live in light of this event. The most straightforward passage about this in the New Testament is 1 Peter 4:7-10: “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Ten Keys to Facing 2012 and Your Future 1. Remember that God is in total control. 2. The world will not end on December 21, 2012. 3. God’s message for us in the Bible is not hidden in mysterious codes. 4. God’s final countdown for the end of the age has not started. 5. Many events, such as the return of the Jewish People to their land, indicate that we are closer than ever before to the end. 6. Some unusual things may happen on or near December 12, 2012. 7. We who are Christians are called to be looking for the coming of Christ. 8. New Age eschatology is man-centered and rejects God’s infallible revelation in the Bible. 9. Do all you can to spread the good news about Christ to others. 10. Live as an ordinary person with the extraordinary character of godliness, especially manifested in sincere love for others. If you do these things, you will be ready to face the future. All scriptures are from NASB. Adapted from Mark Hitchcock’s book: 2012, The Bible, and the End of the World. Copyright © 2009 by Mark Hitchcock. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission. Order #8570 | $12.99 The Coming Global Economic Crisis Israel and Your Prophetic Future The Spread of Radical Islam Jonathan Bernis Messianic Rabbi Dr. Larry Bates Economic Expert Dr. Ray Gannon Director of Messianic Studies Plus a Terrorism Panel of Experts! September 11, 2010 Park Vedra Beach, Florida (Add $3.95 Shipping & Handling) October 16, 2010 Mark Hitchcock, the pastor of Faith Bible Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, has a Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He has written more than a dozen books on the Bible and the end times, including The Complete Book of Bible Prophecy, The Late Great United States, Cashless, and Iran: The Coming Crisis. www.JewishVoiceToday.org Memphis, Tennessee Call for more info: 602-971-8501 or email: events@jvmi.org MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 13 Setting Captives Free i Serchhip ashe Bnei Men By Laura Bagby Sensing a call from God, Jewish Voice traveled deep into the remote jungle of Mizoram, India, on February 26-March 7 to bring the Gospel of Yeshua and the power of God through signs and wonders to the Mizo people, a Jewish community believed to be descendants of the Lost Tribe of Manesseh. Thanks to your support, we were able to host Saitual two, two-and-a-half day medical clinics, one in the mountain village of Serchhip, and one in the mountain village of Saitual. God worked amazing miracles while we were there—not the least of which were the 142 Mizos who prayed to receive Yeshua as their Messiah. We rejoice that this Jewish remnant now has a greater understanding of what Messiah has done for them. We likewise celebrate the fact that not only were a total of 7,055 Mizos seen in our two medical clinics, but that more than 498 of them were miraculously healed by the Great Physician. “People who were carried in walked out. People who were Believer blind or nearly blind walked out seeing. People who were deaf in one ear got their hearing back,” notes Cheryl Schang, JVMI’s Vice Presid Cheryl anor dent of Global Outreach. “God just y f a r p a r a M g showed up and showed off!” n li a he God did such a miraculous work in the lives of these Jewish People that we can’t help but share just a few of the ways Yeshua demonstrated compassion through His healing touch. Double Blessing Sixty-six-year-old widow Aitluangi brought her 24-year-old daughter, Ramsiani, and her 28-year-old daughter, Laurinzuali, who both suffer from mental, speech, and hearing impairments, to our first medical clinic in the village of Serchhip. 14 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 Prayer Roo The mother, who has spent many years as a manual laborer, farming and cultivating rice in the jungle, found out about the free clinic and rode on a bus the 12 miles from the village of Chhiatlang, arriving around 8:15 a.m. The family waited patiently for seven hours before finally getting to see Dr. Thomas Osenberg. After a thorough medical exam, Dr. Osenberg first recommended medicine for abdominal pain and degenerative back issues and suggested the women drink lots of water to combat their headaches caused by dehydration. But of most concern was the lack of hearing and speech demonstrated in the two daughters. After receiving medication from the pharmacy, the family went for prayer. Stella Tinnirello and Cheryl Schang laid hands on the two girls and prayed that both would not only receive Yeshua as their Messiah, but also receive a creative miracle from God, bringing complete physical restoration. After prayer, both daughters can now hear significantly better. Deaf ears open n . elevatio 6,000 ft Framing a Better Future Traveling an hour and a half with their mother to the medical clinic one morning in Saitual, two 13-year-old twin brothers stood in line, anticipating the time they each would receive their first free pair of eyeglasses. One of the twins was so excited about the prospect of seeing clearly he sported his own handmade pair of wire spectacles—minus the glass. For these young teens, the gift of sight through a free eye exam and fitting meant everything. Now they can study longer and get a better education, resulting in a brighter future. Who knows? From this simple display of God’s generosity, these young men might one day grow up to be doctors or teachers. Thank you for giving these children a second chance at a better life. www.JewishVoiceToday.org in the Jungles of India special report om Praise! providing a double blessing of His love. Nursing Spiritual Needs: Mara Waxenbaum “Upon growing up in a reformed Jewish household and accepting Yeshua as my Messiah almost six years ago, I could have never imagined the mighty situations He would place in my path,” says ER nurse Mara Waxenbaum. “My first trip to India with Jewish Voice, I went as a nurse to provide care to the people of Mizoram,” she continues. “After working the first morning, I was invited to assist in the Prayer Room for what I thought would be a very short period of time. However, God had different plans, and I ended up staying in the Prayer Room for the entire clinic. “God was moving so powerfully that it was hard to keep up with the miracles taking place! Deaf ears opened, eyes received complete clarity, heart murmurs disappeared, tumors evaporated, countless broken hearts mended, the lame and the paralyzed walked out, and the angels rejoiced in heaven as salvations occurred! “I would greatly encourage anyone who is questioning God’s call on their hearts for missions to say yes to Him. He will use your hands and feet to love others, and you will be tremendously blessed in return.” Dr. Laura examines orphan girl Released by Yeshua During our second medical clinic in Saitual, a suffering 11-year-old Mizo girl with multiple medical problems was carried into the Prayer Room, awaiting Yeshua’s touch to heal her maladies. She could not hold a pen or pencil because her hand would not bend to close, her vision was extremely blurry, and she was completely paralyzed on her right side, making it impossible for her to walk. After a time of intense, faith-filled intercession with our prayer team, God performed the miraculous. This young lady picked up a pen and wrote for the first time, able to see clearly what she was writing because God completely restored her vision. Even more astounding, she was able to walk—and even jump—for the very first time! God completely restored the use of her right leg. Now she is alive with joy. Praise God for working this creative miracle! Isaiah 60:1 proclaims, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” How true this was in the remote jungles of Mizoram! In fact, not only did God work through the Mizo people in miraculous ways, but He also worked wonders in the hearts of our outreach volunteers, The Art of Service: Dr. Art Missirlian “Fourteen years ago,” says dentist Art Missirlan, “with tears running down my cheeks, my life as a follower of the living God started. Now as a dentist some 19 mission trips later, I am called to go with JVMI to the outermost parts of the world. Mizoram sure feels like the outermost parts, but once you are there, wow! “This people group was by far the one that touched my heart the most. They are so giving, caring, thoughtful, and considerate. I know I’m the one who is supposed to give and to help, but I couldn’t have out-given these peo- Dr. Art CONTINUED ON PA G E 16 MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 15 Co n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 15 Toothless but happy grins! ple. They let us into their lives, their culture, and their way of caring. I can’t wait to go again. “The conditions for us Westerners were tough—sleeping in tents on hard floors; cold washes with a pitcher and bucket for a shower; reconstituted, freezedried food; bus rides that went on forever over bumpy, twisty roads. Let’s not forget the 48 hours of travel to get there. And did I mention all the needs medically and dentally? It was overwhelming. “The dental need in every child that I saw was incomprehensible for a Western-trained dentist. All children older than 18 months had all or nearly all of their teeth rotted out beyond recognition. I asked the Lord with each patient which tooth or teeth I should remove, and He was faithful to answer. For those we saw, it was a relief from infection and pain. “We need more help from medical and dental professionals. As Believers, how can we not want to go out and reach the lost, as well as help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? The Lord will talk to you more clearly than you will imagine—so loudly, in fact, that even the deaf will hear and the mute will speak!” Christ. That is a big reason why I will continue to support and participate with Jewish Voice. “At the second village of Saitual, I saw the people lining up at the entrance hours before sunrise, as they’d done every morning, hoping for a rare visit with a doctor. “Every single one had a need, either medical, visual, or dental. We would put a band on their wrist and mark it with an ‘M,’ an ‘E,’ or a ‘D’ depending on their greatest need. Putting the bands on their wrists, I was able to look them in the eye. To many I said, “Good morning.” Most responded in kind. After many hours and days of this, I grew closer to these people than I realized. “When my team leader told me to take a break, I found myself walking into the Prayer Room. Mary began to pray over me as I cried out to God, ‘There are so many; they just keep coming.’ I knew we couldn’t meet all their needs, but God could. “Even after we’ve gone, He will continue moving in these people, in these villages, because of their renewed faith in Yeshua—God, to them, through us.” Thank you so much for helping us to fulfill God’s Isaiah 61:1 call: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” With your help, we will Banded by Love: Bob Baublitz “I am an outdoorsman by heart, so continue to bring God’s Word when I heard that Jewish Voice was doing and His power to Jewish a medical outreach to the remote mounPeople both near and far. tains of northeast India, staying in tents and eating backpacker meals, I jumped at For more outreach stories, visit our blog at: the opportunity,” says security volunteer www.jewishvoice.wordpress.com. See videos Bob Baublitz, who had previously joined on YouTube.com/jewishvoicetoday. us for two of our Hear O’ Israel! Festivals of Jewish Music & Dance. “JVMI’s Bob ank you! people th International The Mizo Medical Director, Dr. Everett Holley, told us that each member of this team was just as important as any other, that if any one part broke down, the whole would suffer,” Bob explains. “I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 12:1226, where the apostle Paul talks about the Body of 16 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 www.JewishVoiceToday.org Your Window of Blessing Genesis 12:3 says, “I will bless those who bless you…” Translation: If you bless the Jewish People, you will also be blessed! 2010 is going to be Jewish Voice’s busiest year! We see this happen every day through Jewish Voice Ministries. And we want to share this remarkable plan from God with you at your congregation. We’re expecting God to bring in a great harvest of souls this year! You can play a part in this end-time harvest of Jewish souls! Encourage your Pastor or Congregational Leader to contact us today about giving Jewish Voice a 10-minute Missions Window in an upcoming service! Call or e-mail Ronna Cohen today to find out more. 602.971.8501 • rcohen@jvmi.org Immerse Yourself in Messianic Jewish Studies at the King’s College and Seminary • Doctor of Ministry • Master of Divinity • Master’s in Practical Theology • Bachelor’s in Theological Studies • One-Year Certification in Messianic Jewish Studies • Modular & Online Courses • Low Audit Fee • Financial Aid Contact Program Director Dr. Raymond Gannon E-mail RayGannon@TheKingsJewishVoice.org Office 417.886.7622 Cell 417.818.2484 or Admission at the King’s 888.779.8040 Obtain the highest caliber of “Yeshua-centered” education. Check out the complete catalog today! www.TheKingsJewishVoice.org So all Israel will be saved... Co n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 11 Jews, fought a pitched battle with Secretary of State George C. Marshall, who told Truman in blunt terms: “They don’t deserve a state, they have stolen that country. If you give this recognition, Mr. President, I may not vote for you in the next election.” In the end, Truman decided against the expressed and united opinion of his cabinet. He sent a cable to Tel Aviv, assuring David Ben-Gurion of the U.S. intention to recognize the new Jewish state. On May 14, Joseph Cohn, Chaim Weitzman’s personal secretary, was dispatched to Washington to inform Truman that the name of the state he was about to recognize would be “Israel.” As it grew apparent that the new Jewish state was looking westward to America, instead of east toward Moscow for its Israel’s existence is a miracle accomplished by God, specifically as He said it would be accomplished. principle political alliances, the Soviets soured on the new state and turned instead to support Israel’s Arab enemies. Among the punitive policies adopted by the Kremlin was a complete ban on emigration by Soviet-bloc Jews to the Jewish state. Israel’s existence is a miracle accomplished by God, specifically as He said it would be accomplished. Specifically when He intended—in the last days. When the time came, the world convulsed into World War II, and regurgitated the nation it had been holding captive until the appointed time. Three years after the Holocaust, on May 14, 1948, Israel raised her flag. For the first time since 702 B.C., there was a place in the world called Israel and a home for the Jews. There is no story like Israel’s. There is no nation like Israel. God said, “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time…” (Hosea 9:10). Jews have been born, lived and died in every country on earth, but their birth nation was never more than a temporary “host” country. “Distress of Nations” Among the most telling signs that we are approaching Zero Hour is the fear that, after six thousand years, we have used up our host planet. A recent scientific study, prepared in Washington under the 18 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 supervision of Robert Watson, the Britishborn chief scientist at the World Bank and a former scientific adviser to the White House warns that very thing. According to the study, human civilization has consumed two-thirds of the world’s resources, most of it in just the last sixty years. Statistical findings of the report are stunning, and it is this generation that has allegedly used it up. It is also this generation in which men’s hearts have begun to fail them “for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Signs in the sun, moon and stars have astronomers baffled. Fears of a catastrophic collision with giant space rocks have us scanning the heavens and planning our defense from a threat that we didn’t even know existed a generation ago. The Last Generation The Bible says that the same generation to witness the restoration of Israel would see the revival of the old Roman Empire, the annihilation of Russia at the head of a Persian-led Islamic confederation on the mountains of Israel and says nothing at all about the existence of a global superpower resembling the United States of America. There are many alive today who believe in God, and who believe the lie that knowing will make the difference when they stand before the Judge of the Universe. The Apostle James wrote: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). It’s a valid point. Satan believes in God. He has spoken with Him face to face. But Satan isn’t going to heaven! Neither will the rest of the angels that rebelled with him. The Bible tells us that the lake of fire is a place prepared for the devil and his angels. Those who think believing in God is all they need to ensure that they will spend eternity in heaven would do well to heed the warning contained in Matthew 7:22-23. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. These days the term “born again” is usually reserved for the rabid lunatic fringe type of Christian. But, if we are to accept the Bible as true, then that is the only definition of a Christian. Without this “born again” experience, Jesus Christ says a man cannot see the kingdom of God. If Heaven is His kingdom, and a person must go there to see it, then a person who is not born again can’t go there. Now for the good news. The “born again” experience is available to anyone who asks for it. So is eternity in Heaven. You don’t have to “prepare” yourself in advance and you don’t need to first clean up your life; you only need come before Jesus Christ and admit your need. The simplicity of salvation proves to be the undoing of many who think they, in some way, have a role to play. Ask Jesus to accept you as you are and forgive you of your sins. Change your mind about your sin and allow Him to make changes in your mind and your heart. That’s all there is to it! You are a Christian. Regardless of what anyone else does or says to you, you have eternal life, according to the Bible. Eternal life, by definition, is eternal! The “born again” experience is available to anyone who asks for it. So is eternity in Heaven. If you have turned your life over to Him for safekeeping, then the same applies to you. You are an adopted son of God with full family membership. Welcome to the family! I look forward to seeing you in Heaven. Excerpted from Jack Kinsella’s book: The Last Generation: Ten Signs of the End of the Age. All scriptures taken from KJV Bible. Jack Kinsella is the founder and publisher of the Omega Letter, (www. omegaletter.com) a daily journal of events as they relate to Bible prophecy. Jack is head writer of The Hal Lindsey Report television program and former head writer for This Week in Bible Prophecy. Jack is the author of more than two dozen television documentaries on the subject, and more than two thousand columns on current events and Bible prophecy. www.JewishVoiceToday.org Broadcast GUIDE www.JewishVoiceToday.org broadcast guide RegionDay National MON National MON Orlando, FL MON National TUES National TUES National TUES Ft. Myers, FL TUES National TUES Greenville-Spart TUES El Paso, TX TUES Cleveland, OH TUES Tampa, FL TUES National WED Greenville-Spart TUES National WED Orlando, FL WED National WED National WED Ft. 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MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 19 New f ruo m fi srroame lPa&gAer19 ound the world Co n tsi n ed JVT Intelligence Report n Where Israel did get wiped off the map Feb 08, 2010—It looks as if Iran has found allies in its quest to wipe Israel off the map—the dopes at your friendly neighborhood Target store. On sale exclusively at Target is this innocent-looking toy globe. Thousands of these trinkets have already moved out of malls, from Queens to Honolulu, and landed in living rooms and kids’ rooms across America. But folks who forked over a buck for the miniature worlds got less than they bargained for. These planetary models contain just about all the countries on Earth—from France to China, Singapore to Spain. But there’s one glaring exception: Israel. In the spot where Israel should be, this word is printed: “Palestine.” Some of those who unwittingly purchased the Israel-free orbs feel as if they’ve played a role in a modern-day Final Solution. “They’re teaching kids there is no Israel, only Palestine,” said Rabbi Gary Moskowitz, who bought a globe at the Queens Center Mall for his 5-year-old daughter. “This encourages terrorism. This foments hatred.” Bob Kunst learned of the globe’s omission when a friend’s 12-year-old daughter in Florida asked innocently, “Where’s Israel?” “The very people who deny Israel’s existence also deny the Holocaust,” he said. After receiving complaints, Target, which sold the globes for several weeks, finally responded. On Sunday, it began yanking the globes from its 1,744 stores in 49 states (Vermont is Target-free), and destroying them. We hope. “We didn’t want to offend any of our guests,” said Amy Reilly of Target customer relations, who initially said the omission of Israel was due to lack of space on the item. (Isn’t “Palestine” a longer word?) Devrian Global Industries of New Jersey, which imported “tens of thousands” of globes from China, apologized. “Obviously, it was a mistake. We obviously offended some people. Now we’re pulling them off the shelves,” said chief merchandising officer Larry Fine. No estimate on how many were sold. So is this much ado about little? I think not. The movement to marginalize and even destroy the Jewish state has lately picked up steam. Israeli products are boycotted in Europe. Arabic textbooks deny Israel’s right to exist. Even the Obama administration has voiced policies of appeasement: In Cairo last June, 20 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 “...when these things begin to take place...lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28) n The resilience of the people is stronger than we expected February 11, 2010—Israeli volunteers have opened a makeshift school in Port-au-Prince, providing education and counseling for 800 of the city’s traumatized children. As the earthquake-ravaged city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti struggles to cope with the devastation in the wake of the mass loss of life and destruction, efforts to return a semblance of normalcy to the area is being aided by an Israeli delegation of volunteers. Members of the Natan Israeli Coalition for International Humanitarian Aid, have been in Haiti for three weeks, and with aid from the local government and from the neighboring Dominican Republic, have managed to open a makeshift school that for the last week has begun teaching some 800 pupils. “Basically what we did was to identify professionals within the community and establish a group of teacher volunteers,” said the leader of the sixmember Israeli delegation, Dr. Moshe Farhi, a trauma and stress expert at Tel Hai Academic College in Kiryat Shmona. “We’ve set up two giant tents to house the school and organized the supplies for the students, like notebooks and pens and text books. We currently have two shifts for the school - morning and afternoon, and we have around 40 teachers working with the students,” he told ISRAEL21c from Port-au-Prince. Searching the Rubble to Find School Books According to Farhi, when the pupils heard that the school was opening, they began searching through the rubble of their homes for their books and supplies, an indication that they were eager to return to their pre-quake routine. Farhi, who has been instrumental in developing programs in Israel to train people to help residents of Israel’s north cope with the trauma of katyusha attacks from Lebanon, said that he has been involved with similar efforts in Haiti. “It’s important to understand that there can be extreme reactions right after a traumatic event. The first emotional reactions can be hysteria or even catatonia. So some of what I’ve been doing has been working with victims like that,” he said, adding that he has been pleasantly surprised by the spirit of the local population to adversity as reflected by the enthusiasm over the school. “We found that the resilience of the population is much stronger than we expected. Within a week after the quake, they had started dealing with carrying on with their lives. Parents started sending their children to school—and to not be in control of your child after something like that happens is a big deal,” he explained. Like in Kiryat Shmona, Farhi has been organizing groups in Port-Au-Prince and training people to become trauma counselors. Training Teachers in Trauma Tesponse “We’ve established a small group and picked those teachers we feel are capable of training others to deal with trauma and help the victims cope and go JVT In- President Obama went so far as to equate the murder of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust with Arab dislocation in the Middle East. And, of course, there’s Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s infamous quote: “Israel must be wiped off the map.” The globes were made in China by the back to the routine they had before,” said Farhi. Farhi’s delegation was due to leave the day after he spoke with ISRAEL21c, to be replaced by five other members of the Natan coalition, which was named for Israeli peace activist and humanitarian Abie Natan. However, he said that he would be returning before long. “We intend to have a presence here and work with the local population for the next half year,” he said, adding that he first became involved with the organization when he led an Israeli team to Sri Lanka in the wake of 2004’s tsunami. “It was in Sri Lanka that I met Dr. Mike Naftali, who’s the co-chairman of Natan, and we started working together,” he said. Naftali is a Fellow Researcher at the Tel Aviv University Interdisciplinary Center for Children and Youth Studies, and also serves as chairperson of Topaz—for the Well Being of Children and Youth, and of Brit Olam—the International Israeli-Jewish Volunteer Movement. More Delegations on Their Way Three days after the quake, Natan sent its first humanitarian aid delegation to the area, which helped set up and man the Israeli military hospital. Farhi’s delegation left Israel on January 22, and included doctors, paramedics, mental health therapists, community workers, and trauma support staff. According to the organization, another 12 delegations will be sent to Haiti this year to assist with the multidisciplinary rehabilitation needed in Haiti. In another Israeli relief effort in Haiti, IsraAID this week opened a child education center in the Petionville Refugee Camp—the largest refugee camp in Port-au-Prince. Working closely with other agencies, such as Operation Blessing, JP-HRO and ProDev, the center will function in tents donated by the IDF which were used for their field hospital. The tents will now become a child friendly space where activities for 250 children at a time will take place. The educational programs, which were prepared in partnership with all three agencies as well as the local teachers, include pedagogical content, music, sports, and training for readiness in case of another earthquake. source: Jeffrey Heyman - http://israel21c.org/201002117688/social-action/qthe-resilience-of-thepeople-is-stronger-than-we-expectedq Ningbo Beilun Beixin Plastic and Hardware Co., and were inspected and approved by the American firm Bureau Veritas. Its officers wouldn’t comment, citing “client confidentiality.” None of this explains why so many people missed the flaw. Or did someone willfully look the other way? Devrian, meanwhile, wants to talk to the Chinese manufacturer, to make certain such a thing doesn’t happen again. The company is having trouble doing so. With Chinese New Year approaching, officers said, no one is available to translate. Israel will have to wait. source: Andrea Peyser, New York Post www.JewishVoiceToday.org Come and join our growing online community from the comfort of your personal computer or cell phone! It’s as easy as a click. We’re making waves in cyberspace! Through blog posts, status updates, group discussions, videos, and photos, you can instantly interact with everything JVMI is doing—from our global outreach efforts to biblical teaching & encouragement, to our quality TV show and live webcasts, to our congregational events—and everything in between. Just visit JewishVoice.org to get connected! Did you know that Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis is on TBN? Catch it on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. Eastern / 5 a.m. Pacific on your local TBN station! Learn S t e wa r d s h i p Co r n e r e s t e wa r d s h i p co r n e r online Our at your own pace Jewish Voice Institute of Messianic Studies Passport to Eternal Blessing By Bob Hawley S Video Tutorials & Downloadable Resources Attend Online ON YOUR SCHEDULE Take Up To a Year to Complete Courses Receive Certificate of Completion Meet Other Students Online $99.00/course Visit Online for Complete Course List & More Info: www.jvims.com JVIMS THE JEWISH VOICE INSTITUTE OF MESSIANIC STUDIES WWW.JVIMS.COM 22 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 ummertime is just around the corner and many of us are starting to make preparations for a vacation. I am typically a great planner, but when it comes to packing my bags for a trip, I usually wait until the last minute. I remind those who love me and are concerned I will forget something that I am accustomed to traveling light and won’t forget anything. Unfortunately, more times than I would like to admit, I do forget something. But I never forget my passport. One day all of us who have placed our faith in Yeshua will be taking an eternal trip. The first question we need to ask ourselves is, “Have I planned for that trip?” The second question we should ask is, “What have I planned to do with what God has given me that will be left behind on this earth?” Many believe the Lord will return before very long and plan on investing their assets now in programs that support evangelism outreach so that others will be able to enter God’s kingdom before it is too late. Some have even set up a will and possibly a trust to manage their investment in Messianic Christian outreach after they have been taken home to be with the Lord. When I think about preparing for my final trip, I want to have everything ready. I can’t take it for granted that I have plenty of time to prepare. I might not have the time to tell a loved one what I’d like to leave to special friends, family, or a charity. Like taking any trip out of this country, we have to have our passport in hand. Without it we can’t leave the country. Yeshua is our passport, and He alone is the only One who can allow us entry into His kingdom. Without Him as our passport, we will be left behind. It’s that last step that no one wants to miss—being left behind. What have you done to make sure that you, your family, and your friends are not left behind? Have your friends and family heard the Gospel message? Have you made sure they understand that there is one final trip all of us will take? Do they know that preparation for this trip is vital? The Bible is very clear when Yeshua says, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Our first priority is to make sure everyone has heard the Gospel message so they can choose Yeshua as Messiah and Lord. If you are going to be a good traveler and not wait until the last minute, you will need to plan for this trip. What documents have you prepared to make sure your family is taken care of? What are you going to invest in to reach the lost with the Gospel message? Have you planned on giving more now while you are still here so you know it is going to worthy causes? Planning takes time, but waiting until the last minute may be the most costly decision you will make. Don’t let yourself— or others—be left behind. Jewish Voice Gift Planning Specialists can help you create an estate plan. Contact us at: 602-971-8501 or e-mail: bhawley@jvmi.org. www.JewishVoiceToday.org Jewish Voice Upcoming Outreach Opportunities Proclaiming Messiah to the World! South America Hear O’ Israel! Festival of Jewish Music & Dance August 13-23, 2010 For information, contact Evie Kriegbaum: ekriegbaum@jvmi.org Ethiopia Medical Outreach Sept. 24 - Oct. 3, 2010 For information, contact Melissa Johnston: mjohnston@jvmi.org You can also visit our website for more information on upcoming events and outreaches: www.jewishvoice.org www.JewishVoiceToday.org MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 23 hebrew lesson Are You Making Disciples? Excerpted from Kevin Geoffrey’s new book, Being a Disciple of Messiah: Building Character for an Effective Walk in Yeshua. By Kevin Geoffrey In modern congregational life, there are many areas in which discipleship can effectively take place. The most common form of discipleship is between the congregational leaders (shepherds) and the flock. Unfortunately, this is the only level of discipleship for many believers. Small groups are often a favored solution, since the intimacy and accountability levels are greatly increased, leading to greater potential for discipleship. But while both small group and congregational discipleship are helpful, there is no substitute for one-on-one discipleship. By and large, this concept seems to be lost in today’s Body of Messiah. Yet many of us have the opportunity to participate in the most special kind of one-on-one discipleship on a regular basis, and we don’t even realize it. The purposeful discipleship of our children is the single most crucial discipleship that needs to take place. Not only is it critical for them, but a great deal can be learned from the successful adult-child discipleship process that can in turn be applied to all other forms of discipleship. The Torah teaches us explicitly about the importance and commitment a parent is to place on the discipleship of his children. ~yrIb'D>, D’variym (Deuteronomy) 6:57 instructs the people of Israel, “And you will love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might, and these words which I am commanding you today will be on your heart, and you will repeat them to your sons, and speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up…” The phrase, “and you will repeat them,” translates the Hebrew ~Tn>N:viw>, v’shinan’tam, which comes from the word !n:v', shanan, meaning to whet. To whet is to sharpen something by repetitive contact, as one would sharpen a knife by striking it repeatedly against a stone. In the case of the sons of Israel, they are to be sharpened by having the words of Adonai repeated to them over and over again, imprinting the commands of God deeply into the memory of their hearts. Like stone on blade, the Word of Adonai strikes against the hard heart of man. Over time, it sharpens without inflicting damage, and in the end, the tool is fit for excellent service. Discipling a child is not something that can be done just on a weekly or semiweekly basis. From the moment we awake, throughout the activities of the day, until the second we lie down to sleep, we are to be deliberate in discipling our children. This is how often Israel is commanded to speak the words of Adonai to her sons: “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Though many of us are not able to spend every waking min- As Believers in Messiah, we are called to be like Him—to practically and actually live our lives like the Master. But many times it is a daily struggle for us to walk in the ways we know we should go. Being a Disciple of Messiah will help strengthen and build you up for a greater, more effective walk in Yeshua... challenging and inspiring you to become more like the Master every day. Order #9302 | $11.95 (Add $3.95 Shipping & Handling) 24 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 ute with our children, we still have the obligation to make the most of each moment we are together. ~yrIb'D>, D’variym 11:19 repeats this exhortation with additional instruction. “And teach them to your sons, by speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you go by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up…” “And teach them” translates the Hebrew ~T,d>M;liw>, v’limad’tem, coming from dm;l', lamad, meaning to teach, exercise, or train. The sharpening of the child takes place not merely through the repetition of the Word of God, but in the practical application of it. If a parent cannot show the student how his teachings can be applied practically and actually, the child will not be able to incorporate the truth into his life, and it will be forgotten. Though we may literally speak the Word of Adonai to our children, we also “speak” the Word through our actions. How we live testifies to the validity of our words. In short, it goes to our integrity. If our kids (or anyone we desire to reach for Yeshua) hear us saying “Yeshua! Yeshua! Yeshua!” but our lives are saying, “Me! Me! Me!” they will pick up on it, and when they are older, they will turn away. Commit in your heart today to make disciples—be it your children or other believers who can benefit from your experience in the Lord. As disciples of Messiah, we are called to serve the Master as students and teachers—children and parents—and we have been given everything we need to be both. Pronunciation Key: a = “ah”; e = “eh”; i = “ee”; o = “oh”; u = “oo”; ch = guttural sound in back of throat as in “bach” or “loch”, not “ch” as in “much” or “charity” Kevin Geoffrey is a Jewish Believer in the Messiah Yeshua. He is the Founder and President of Perfect Word Ministries, a Messianic Jewish teaching ministry. Kevin resides in Phoenix, AZ with his wife, Esther, and their sons, Isaac, Josiah, and Hosea. Visit Perfect Word online at www.PerfectWordMinistries.org www.JewishVoiceToday.org PROPHEC Y & t r u t h b e h i n d THE NE W S The Left is Still Not Right By Jan Markell For decades the mainstream media has loved to critically focus on religious conservatives like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. At the same time, they have ignored the antics of the Religious Left. The causes of the Religious Left are socialism and social justice (just another term for socialism.) To learn more, the National Council of Churches (NCC) would be a good place to start. Some representatives are more extreme, but most are cozying up to “liberation theology,” various Marxist dictators, amnesty for illegals (also being promoted by the National Association of Evangelicals), socialized medicine, pacifism, opposition to welfare reform, and even a resistance to a missile shield for America! Some even want a “truth commission” to examine U.S. war atrocities. But the ones the Religious Left most demonize are Israel and Christian Zionists (Christian friends of Israel.) The NCC has even produced a booklet titled Why We Should Be Concerned About Christian Zionism. The booklet states that Christian Zionism is a dangerous movement that distorts the teachings of the church, fosters fear and hatred of Muslims and non-Western Christians, and has negative consequences for Middle East peace. Who are some other participants in the Religious Left? We have mentioned the NCC, but their parent organization, the World Council of Churches (WCC), is on the same page ideologically and spiritually. And then there is Jim Wallis, of the ministry Sojourners. He’s a 1960s Communist who worked with the radical Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). He has since gravitated toward socialism and is now making appearances on Christian college campuses. His thrust is to get students to quit focusing on abortion and same-sex marriage and start to think about “social justice” issues. Two other prominent Religious Leftists are Emergent guru Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo. Then we have the various denominations within the NCC and WCC. Membership is declining in many of these mainline Protestant churches because there is little Gospel preaching. It has been replaced by calls for social action. Many sitting in the pews are not fully aware of what their denominations stand for and the policies being pushed. Others are aware, and that is likely why attendance and membership are declining. Still others stay to try and make a difference and pull the Left back to center. Now let’s return to the heart of the matter: Israel. On March 8, 2010, The Washington Times spilled the beans on the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. (PCUSA). Remember that in 2004 the PCUSA became the only religious body in the United States to encourage stock divestment in Israel by its members. They want to cripple Israel’s economy. How about crippling the economy of America’s enemies, not our friends? The Washington Times says, “A comparison of the letter the committee has written to ‘Our Palestinian Friends’ and the one it has written to ‘Our Israeli Friends’ shows a stark one-sidedness. The first note has the tone of an admonishing parent chiding a child; the second, to the Israelis, is full of references to Israel’s ‘dehumanization’ of the Palestinians.” The Washington Times continues, “Nowhere in either letter does the word ‘terrorism’ or any of its derivatives appear.” Emergent Brian McLaren took a trip to Israel recently and wrote on his blog, “I see Myths and Facts About the Middle East DVD by Jan Markell Jan Markell shows through pictures, commentary, film, and Scripture that all of Israel’s accusers are resorting to myths to discredit Israel’s right to exist. Order #6061 | $16.00 + $3.95 S&H 1-888-921-4582 or www.jewishvoicetoday.org www.JewishVoiceToday.org how many of my most basic assumptions were skewed from a lifetime of half-truths, unfair and imbalanced news, well-planned propaganda, and misinformation.” Sadly, a lot of those I am writing about, particularly Wallis and McLaren, have great influence over young minds, propagandizing Israel as evil Goliath and the Palestinians as little David. And the truth that Israel has been the victim of continued suicide bombers is totally absent! The bombings have decreased due to the fence built in recent years in Israel, but that, too, is demonized and has resulted in Israel being blamed for being an “apartheid” nation like South Africa. While my first reaction toward the Religious Left is rage, let’s first resort to prayer. They are a lot like the Pharisees who never brought people to repentance, thus making no difference for eternity. Jesus implies they have eyes that see not and ears that hear not (Mark 8:18). Jeremiah calls the people “foolish” in his day for having the same condition (Jeremiah 5:21). Pray for Israel. A new ‘Hitler’—Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—wants to perpetrate a second holocaust. If Israel launches a preemptive attack, she will be the goat of the whole earth, even though she will have done all nations a favor. Remember, it’s not just the Religious Left who has contention for Israel. Her only real friends are a few evangelical Christians now called dangerous by the PCUSA. They need a heart transplant. In other words, they need salvation, for until that happens, they will likely remain in darkness with eyes that cannot see truth. The Religious Left, and others, will continue to call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). Jan Markell is Founder/Director of Olive Tree Ministries, Inc. To learn more about her ministry or to request her free newsletter, write to Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 55311 or visit Jan at: www.olivetreeviews.org where you can also listen to her weekly program online. MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 25 H e a d q ua r t e r s r e p o r t Headquarters Report By Andy Freeman, Program Director I was born in Chicago, Illinois. Those of us who hail from the “city of big shoulders” share a couple of things in our DNA: a love of great pizza, a hardiness from living in the winter weather of the Windy City, and a diehard love for the Chicago Cubs baseball team. The subject of an apocalypse and the Last Days is a heavy subject, so I sometimes lighten things up with a bit of humor. Since it has been more than a century since the Cubs have won a championship, I tell people that one of my personal signs of the End Times is seeing the hapless Cubs winning the World Series. While this is not an authentic sign of the times, the Lord does call us to understand the signs of the times and also to work while it is still day, for the night is coming when no man can work. There is truly a quickening pace in the world today. There are more wars and more earthquakes and other disasters that speak of the birth pangs that point toward the return of Yeshua. Here at Jewish Voice, we are seeing greater divine favor and doors opening for us to take the Gospel to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. Already this year we have journeyed to villages in India to bring medical help and proclaim the Gospel to the ancient tribe of Manasseh. We were allowed to minister in a place that had possibly not seen Westerners in more than 100 years! We are also about to conclude another major medical mission to the Lost Tribes in Ethiopia. In both nations, we have seen Jewish People without hope changed forever when they began a personal relationship with their Messiah and Lord. Soon we will bring another large-scale International Hear O’ Israel! Festival of Jewish Music & Dance to a Latin American nation we have never been allowed to minister in before! Tens of thousands of Jewish People 26 | Jewish Voice Today MAy/June 2010 will receive their first opportunity to celebrate their culture and faith with Messianic Believers. By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we will see many meet Yeshua and establish a place where these new Believers can be discipled and proclaim the Gospel to others in their nation. Zechariah 12:10 promises us that in the final days, those who found Jesus to be a stumbling block will recognize Him and His gift of salvation for the Jewish People. Finally, the salvation that early Believers took to the entire world will come home to the children of Abraham. What good news this truly is! No baseball championship, no personal award, no earthly blessing can ever match the move of the Lord upon His People and the Second Coming that this amazing fulfillment of prophecy foreshadows. Whether you are from Chicago or Miami, Paris or Timbuktu, it is time for each of us to focus our prayers and our efforts on bringing men, women, and children into the Kingdom of God. Satan’s days on earth are numbered. The Lord is making this a favorable time. Let’s continue to work together through this ministry to take the Gospel to the Jew first. And let’s continue to share Yeshua’s love with our own neighbors and community. I will continue to follow my Cubbies and enjoy their efforts on the baseball diamond. But this is a passing pleasure. Paul told us we must fix our eyes on an eternal prize—and our Savior who gave His life for us. We are living in the book of Acts. We are seeing the miraculous take place in our world. Let’s continue living out the stories God is writing that bring Him glory and look forward to the final chapter when His Son returns to earth. More New Faces at JVMI Evie Kriegbaum joins the Global Outreach Department as an International Coordinator. She brings marketing, advertising, and graphic design experience to Jewish Voice and looks forward to furthering the Kingdom through this ministry. Originally from Missouri, Mary Klinginsmith came to Arizona in 1954 and taught many years in both public and Christian schools. She started volunteering at Jewish Voice as the mail assistant, responsible for sending letters and cards to our wonderful donors, before coming on board as one of our new Phone Ministry Representatives. Leanna Corbett, a Certified Public Accountant, first began her employment with Jewish Voice as Accounting Manager. She most recently joined our Partner Relations team as a Phone Ministry Representative. Leanna knows that JVMI is connecting with its partners and making a difference through “phone blessing” calls. John Corbett first joined our team as webmaster in 2008. Now part of the Partner Relations team, John is happy to serve as a Phone Ministry Representative. “I have the incredible honor of calling to thank our donors and communicate what an important role they play in everything we do,” he says. Our most recent Phone Ministry Representative, Bonnie L. Blanka, worked with Open Doors with Brother Andrew for more than 14 years before joining Jewish Voice. “I am blessed to be a part of this very important ministry,” she says. Jacob Stanton brings more than 20 years experience in Christian retailing to his position as Inventory Control Specialist. Jacob manages our inventory, warehouse, webstore, and product fulfillment. www.JewishVoiceToday.org RESOURCES F OR YOUR J OURNE Y for your Resourcesjourney The Role of Israel in Last Days Prophecy Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis answers the difficult questions of Israel’s role in prophecy. Don’t miss this! Audio CD Order #7167C | $15.00* A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days The mark of the beast ... Gog and Magog ... 666 ... Christians have become almost obsessed with trying to unravel the Bible’s mysterious prophecies about such things. These are critical issues important to each of us. What if much of what you’ve been told about the End Times is wrong? Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis brings a fresh view and extraordinary insight to these intriguing and essential topics. Order #9041 | $15.95* The Last Generation presents clear and undeniable evidence that points to this generation as the one of whom Jesus spoke when He said, “This generation shall not pass until all these things are fulfilled.” Order #8554 | $13.00* Unlocking the Prophetic Mysteries of Israel Unlock a greater knowledge about the Last Days with crucial keys provided in more than four hours of fascinating presentations from Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, world renowned archaeologist and Biblical prophecy expert Dr. Randall Price, and White House Correspondent and author Bill Koenig. DVD Order #6800 | $15.00* To Order To order call toll free: 1-888-921-4582 Or shop our secure webstore: www.JewishVoiceToday.org *Please add $3.95 for shipping and handling. On orders totaling $50.00 or more, add 8% of total order. www.JewishVoiceToday.org MAy/June 2010 Jewish Voice Today | 27 Israel Tour A Rabbi Looks at ISRAEL doorway to the past window to the future See Israel through his eyes. Rabbi Jonathan Bernis invites you to join him for 10 spectacular days in Israel. 11.27-12.6 November 27th–December 6th Experience the Scriptures as they come alive like never before. See the history... Live and breathe the focal point of Bible Prophecy… Walk where Jesus walked… Meditate at the empty tomb and share a meal of fish and loaves by the Sea of Galilee. Full Package Cost: $2,849 Don’t wait! This tour will fill up fast! Initial Deposit: $250 Land Package Cost: $1,749 For more information, contact Simone at: 602.288.5149 or: sdubois@jvmi.org includes all taxes, including airport tax. $150 for tips not included in cost. includes all taxes. $150 for tips not included in cost. Initial Deposit: $250 Single Room Supplement: $585