How has the church historically spread the Gospel of the New Covenant in areas which have not been open to the message? There are places in the world that do not even permit Bibles to be published, or if they are owned, there are severe limitations on their use. China immediately comes to mind as does North Korea. Israel does not prohibit Bibles but it would certainly be a stretch to say that it embraces…
Watching the news recently you would agree that support for Israel from the United States is not as strong as it should be. We hear of the Israeli prime minister “snubbing” a visit to the United States ostensibly because of not wanting to meddle in election year campaigning; and our own President choosing not to meet with the Prime Minister on some of the occasions when he has visited. This is certainly not the way to treat our ally…
The Dead Sea Scrolls are some of the oldest living fragments validating the integrity of the Torah. To date however the scrolls have survived only in their native form as written fragments. That is about to change soon. In Israel Bible scholars will work with computer scientists and other experts in Germany to digitize and upload the thousands of scroll fragments in a computerized virtual working environment. Once complete, it will enable scholars and experts…
What do believers in Yeshua mean when they speak of Pentecost or Shavuot? The Feast of Pentecost was one of many important feasts instituted by God in the Old Testament. It took place fifty days after Passover, and because of this, it is sometimes called the Feast of Weeks (seven weeks). (Lev. 23:15-16) It is also called the Feast of the Harvest several times in Leviticus 23; this is one of the most revealing names…
In this hour when the world in general and the United Nations in particular is clamoring for Israel to succumb to an unbiblical “two-state solution,” let’s be clear on one thing: genuine support for Israel means recognizing its national sovereignty and a genuine commitment to peace without conditions. Groups such as a Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority—which has been compromised by an unrevoked charter to destroy Israel—are simply not honest brokers in the peace…
I try not to get too entangled in the vagaries of politics, whether in a presidential election year or in any other political cycle. God did not call me into politics! But I do stand firm on certain convictions that I believe should not be compromised. One of those is the firm belief that Christians and believers in Yeshua everywhere should only throw their support behind politicians who bless Israel, not those who (wittingly or…
Every year Jewish people in Israel and in many other countries around the world celebrate the Passover, the feast that serves as a remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from captivity and bondage to its oppressors. It is a memorial marked by delicious food, candles, recitation and of course a time of reflection on all that God has done for His people. Like many holidays, however, it can quickly devolve into mere tradition and ritual without a…
It seems these days that just about anything that touches Israel becomes a topic of controversy, and the Passover feast is no exception. For us, as believers in Yeshua, of course we celebrate Christ in the Passover, not simply the feast, but to others the feast points to Israel which has made it a flashpoint for opposition. As you may know the European community has levied sanctions in the form of what’s known as a…
It’s important not to be ashamed of who you are, and to know what—and Who—you believe in. Recently a high profile politician with a Jewish background has caused quite a stir because he has chosen not to draw attention to his Jewish background or make much of his faith. This in itself is quite a surprise because politicians always seek to cater to certain constituencies, and the Jewish population is a powerful one indeed! Yet…
In the news today there is much talk of “settlements” when it comes to Israel. Recently there have been some barbed exchanges between Prime Minister Netanyahu and European leaders over Israel’s “illegal” building program in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The world has pronounced judgment on Israel’s right to build on its own territory, but the claims that Israel’s expansion into its own territory is somehow “illegal” is nothing more than a lie! Jehovah…