Loving greetings to you from Jerusalem, in the name of JESUS. We have come back safely from Turkey, and we would like to share with you about the wonderful things the Lord did there. The scripture that really spoke to us in our call to Turkey was Zechariah 1:10b ... "THESE ARE THOSE WHOM THE LORD HAS SENT TO WALK ABOUT THROUGH THE EARTH." The context in which it was given, touches on the horses that Zechariah saw in his vision, also mentioned in Zechariah 6 and Revelations 6. From Zechariah it is clear that these horses have to do with the return of the Jews to their country and in the book of Revelations they build up to the final military and economic events of the age before the return of the Messiah to the earth. When we were still in South Africa my attention one morning was caught by the cover of a book we had brought with us from St Petersburg, Russia, in 1993. On the cover was a young rider on the back of a bright red horse. When we were in St Petersburg we were on our way to join a world wide Christian ministry to help with the Jewish return from the ex Soviet Union to Israel. The return of the Jewish people to their ancient land, Israel, is one of the most astonishing events that is taking place in our life-time. It has been prophesied thousands of years ago by the ancient Biblical prophets and God is bringing that into fulfillment right now with perfect faithfulness. When I saw the picture on the cover I felt in my heart the Holy Spirit drawing my attention to something. The next day Zechariah 1 was in my daily Bible reading. This chapter deals with the prophet Zechariah encountering a man riding on a red horse. The very same chapter was in my wife, Drienie's, daily reading the day after! In 1993 we had the privilege to sail numerous times by ship from Odessa in the Ukraine to Haifa in Israel. On board were Jewish people whom we were helping to return to their ancient homeland. What a moving experience it was to pass through the sea strait of Istanbul, called the Bosphorus, which actually is the only outlet out of the vast Black Sea. To our right was Europe and to our left Asia. We were surrounded by a country which has the very emblem of Islam on its flag, and on board our ship we were carrying the Lord's precious cargo - His ancient people and the apple of His eye. Passing through this narrow sea strait brings to mind the narrow gateway we are pressured into concerning God's purposes with mankind for our day and hour:
At about 2 am on the morning of August 19, 1993, we were passing under the bridges of the Bosphorus, when Drienie opened her eyes. It was her birthday, and the Lord made it clear to us that one day, in the not to distant future, we would set foot in Turkey proper. Through the narrow seaway of Istanbul one can see the ancient cathedral of St Sofia, which later became mosque and today is a museum. Inside this building is one of the oldest murals of the face of the Saviour. One morning, as we passed through the seaway I saw a vision during our morning assembly worship. I saw the walls of this building starting to move backwards in all directions, and the age old painting of the face of Christ becoming the living Lord, with His glory coming down from heaven. |
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On the previous page I mentioned the scripture that spoke to us from Zechariah 1. One of my questions was why God was giving us an assignment of walking through the earth when we were actually only going to one nation, Turkey, and possibly another, Armenia. This Jesus made clear to me. Already before we left South Africa it was brought to our attention that the ancient boundaries of the Armenian Empire falls largely within the eastern part of modern day Turkey. Then when we had reached Istanbul and had spent a time in fasting and prayer, we also discovered that the Northern part of another ancient nation, Syria, with its earlier Roman capital, Antioch (presently called Antakia), is included in present day Turkey. But to add to this is still another ancient empire: the northern part of ancient Assyria and Mesopotamia, including the city of Haran from where Abraham left for Canaan, also falls within the borders of Turkey. Also mentioned in the Bible in the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 & 39, are ancient Meshech and Tubal; and Beth Togarma, which fall within present day Turkey. They, however, are mainly included in what later became to be the empire of Urartu, followed by the empire of Armenia, which are mainly situated in eastern Turkey. It struck me that south and eastern Turkey is actually in an area where many nations meet: The ex-Soviet (through the Black Sea, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan), Persia (Iran), Iraq (ancient Assyria and Babylon) and Syria. And interestingly enough, the focal point could be around Mount Ararat, where God started again with mankind after the flood. This is also the area where the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers originate and where possibly the Garden of Eden was situated. There is also a people group, called the Kurds, who are at the centre of a military conflict that is now raging in these parts. About this strategic people group I will share later on in this account. To sum up: From South Africa we started out with Turkey and Armenia, but God soon indicated to us that He wanted us to focus on some ancient and strategically vast empires that we would be traveling through. These two empires feature very prominently in the prophetic utterances of His prophets who prophesied thousands of years ago about the Jewish return that is now taking place in our very lifetime. Before we left South Africa I looked at our calender and noticed that the Jewish date, the 4th of Av, fell on the 31st of July. In my heart I knew that this was the date on which we were to fly to Turkey. The 4th of Av commemorates the date on which Nehemiah started to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, many, many years ago when the Jewish people were returning to Israel from Babylon. There were no seats available for us that day, but we were put on a waiting list. Then God opened a place for us and we could fly into Istanbul on that very day! When we reach Turkey we had the question of how long we were to remain there before we returned to Israel, from where we had started out last year. In Drienie's daily reading one day was Nehemiah 8 and we noticed that he took 52 days to complete the wall, finishing on 25 Ehul. This Jewish date coincided with September 20 1995. It was clear to us that this was the date on which our mission was to be completed. After a time of waiting on the Lord in Istanbul our host came home one day with some wonderful news. It came to our attention that the Body of Christ in Turkey had been given an assignment from the Lord to have a combined prayer effort for the nation of Turkey for 52 days! Only they were using the western calender, whereas we were using the Jewish calender. What a tremendous encouragement and confirmation it was to us! Let me quote to you from one of their prayer letters: "FROM AUG 5 - SEPT 25 THE CHURCH IN TURKEY WILL BE SENDING PRAYER TEAMS ALONG THE LAND AND COASTAL BOUNDARIES TO CLAIM THE BOUNDARIES THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN US AND PRAY FOR THE OUTWORKING OF THE GOALS OF SEEING AT LEAST ONE CHURCH IN EVERY PROVINCE AND THE GOSPEL SHARED IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE WAY WITH EVERY HOUSEHOLD BY THE YEAR 2000....THAT THE BOUNDARIES WOULD BECOME "WALLS OF SALVATION" TO COMPLEMENT AND PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE WORLDWIDE OCT PRAYER FOCUS ON THE 100 GATEWAY CITIES (3 IN TURKEY) OF THE 10/40 WINDOW AS "GATES OF PRAISE" (IS 60:18)." Another wonderful confirmation came on the day we returned to Israel. The day of our return was on September 14, 7 days before the completion of the 52 days given to us. On the very day we arrived we heard that Derek Prince and his wife were leaving for Turkey for a time of intercessory ministry at Izmir. Their conference ended around the time that the dates given to us were completed. What was also an encouragement to us was the fact that they went to the part of Turkey where the 7 churches of Revelation were situated, Izmir being the ancient Smyrna. This had been the one part of Turkey we had felt not to cover with the call God had given us. Let me quote from a July newsletter of Mrs. Prince: "This is a special letter because we believe God has given us a glimpse of what is on His heart! Derek and I take at least 52 days a year (every Wednesday, with occasional exceptions as we travel) to wait upon God and let Him direct our thoughts, our scripture readings, and our prayers. On one such day, just before we left Israel in October, we were discussing the fact that Derek will be 80 on August14, and he was speaking about what he would hope to see accomplished in his remaining years. We turned to the Lord in prayer and I saw in a vision, a hand - we believe God's hand - stretched out toward and over the Middle East! "The thumb pointed at Turkey, the other fingers pointed toward other nations as shown on the enclosed sketch. We believe that God is saying that He is preparing to show mercy to the peoples of the middle East." The letter continues and then finishes with the following post script: P.S. When I saw the hand in the vision, the thumb pointed to Turkey. The thumb is unique because it alone gribs every other finger. It seems to us that Turkey may be the key not only to the middle East, but also Central Asia. This is exciting because Turkey is the area where the Apostle Paul's ministry had the greatest impact. Turkey remains the largest unreached nation in the world, according to the figures of Operation World. Out of a population of 60 million, there are only about 600 born again believers. This means that only one person out of every 100,000 knows the Lord personally! Many years ago, in 1981, the Lord gave my wife a scripture from Isaiah 66:19, and told her that one day she would be traveling to the nations mentioned in it: "AND I WILL SET A SIGN AMONG THEM AND WILL SEND SURVIVORS FROM THEM TO THE NATIONS: TARSHISH, PUT, LUD, MESHECH, ROSH, TUBAL, AND JAVAN, TO THE DISTANT COASTLANDS THAT HAVE NEITHER HEARD MY FAME NOR SEEN MY GLORY. AND THEY WILL DECLARE MY GLORY AMONG THE NATIONS." Some of these nations we already have been to as the Lord opened doors for us. Lud, Meshech and Tubal fall within the borders of present day Turkey and this was the door JESUS was now opening for us to step into. When we read Isaiah 66 it speaks about the miraculous rebirth of Israel (which became a reality in 1948); the Lord coming with fire and executing judgment on many; and God gathering all nations and tongues to come and see His glory. Then it speaks about God performing a sign among them and sending survivors to the nations, which I quoted above. These survivors will then help to bring all the remnant to Israel. In the year that my wife received this scripture the Lord was working in my life to draw me to Him in repentance. Then we met one another during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles in 1985 we both traveled to Israel for the first time - answering the call of the MESSIAH on our lives for His people, the Jews. During April 1986, one month before our marriage, we attended an Easter Conference in Jerusalem and the prophetic reality of an important part of the scriptures, Ezekiel 38 & 39, was brought home to us very vividly. These two chapters deal with a strategic war that has to take place in the future of the Israeli people, that will be of such momentous importance that it will cause the return of the whole house of Israel to their promised land; and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit on them. Something that is very interesting is that the nations that are mentioned in these chapters that would ally themselves in a destructive attempt against Israel are very similar to the ones mentioned in Isaiah 66:19. For instance, Tarshish, Meshech, Rosh and Tubal are all mentioned. The aggressors against Israel seem to be an alliance between ex Soviet nations and militant Islamic countries. In the current national global setup it would appear that God would be speaking about Iran (Persia), Ethiopia, Lybia and Sudan, Eastern Turkey and some Ex Soviet states, such as Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, etc. But what is also important is that it seems that the very prince or spiritual leader of this conspiracy against Israel would be from the regions of the ex Soviet eastern Turkey: "SON OF MAN, SET YOUR FACE TOWARD GOG OF THE LAND MAGOG, THE PRINCE OF ROSH, MESHECH, AND TUBAL, AND PROPHESY AGAINST HIM..." Rosh is an ancient name for what would be the present day territory of Russia; and Meshech and Tubal fall within eastern Turkey. Some of the chapters that God gave us in our daily readings before we left for Turkey started to weave an amazing divine pattern concerning the sign that God would be indicating in Isaiah 66:19. There seems to be an important key that may help us to understand the unfolding of history and Israel's redemption better. This key is the so called "NORTHERN ARMY" that would attack Israel in the end times, causing God to intervene on Israel's behalf in a most miraculous way. This is found in Joel 2:20, for instance, where the latter outpouring of God's Spirit is so vividly described. Then another important scripture that seems to substantiate this, is Jeremiah 16:14,15 (repeated again in Jeremiah 23:7,8!): "THEREFORE BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, DECLARES THE LORD, WHEN IT WILL NO LONGER BE SAID, AS THE LORD LIVES, WHO BROUGHT UP THE SONS OF ISRAEL OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, BUT AS THE LORD LIVES, WHO BROUGHT UP THE SONS OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH AND FROM ALL THE COUNTRIES WHERE HE HAS BANISHED THEM. FOR I WILL RESTORE THEM TO THEIR OWN LAND WHICH I GAVE TO THEIR FATHERS." Something is going to happen through the Jewish return (and especially the one from the north) that will be so awesome that it will totally surpass the exodus out of Egypt! Although many Jews already have returned to Israel from the north there are still many remaining. This figure may be as high as 2 million, approximately the number of Jews that left Egypt with Moses. Now, what can be greater than the first exodus from Egypt? Just think of the mighty miracles through the hand of Moses, the 10 plagues and the institution of the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea and the exodus of more than two million people through a barren wilderness en route to the promised land. Is it any wonder that the Passover Feast is still celebrated in memory of this every year by the house of Israel. Yet God says that a time will come that this exodus will be totally overshadowed by the one that is taking place from the north and from all the countries to which God has banished the Jewish people. This is an event yet to come. The pattern of scriptures I mentioned above I would like to quote to you now. They deal with a HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS that God is going to create miraculously, over which His redeemed will pass on their way to the holy land. Before I quote these scriptures, remember that with the first Exodus out of Egypt, God created a highway through the Red Sea for his approximate 2,5 million people. The HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS which is to come, is going to be greater and more miraculous than this! Isaiah 11:10-16 "THEN IT WILL COME ABOUT IN THAT DAY THAT THE NATIONS WILL RESORT TO THE ROOT OF JESSE, WHO WILL STAND AS A SIGNAL (or standard) TO THE PEOPLES; AND HIS RESTING PLACE WILL BE GLORIOUS. THEN IT WILL HAPPEN IN THAT DAY THAT THE LORD WILL AGAIN RECOVER THE SECOND TIME WITH HIS HAND THE REMNANT OF HIS PEOPLE, WHO WILL REMAIN, FROM ASSYRIA, EGYPT, PATHROS, CUSH, ELAM, SHINAR, HAMATH, AND FROM THE COASTLANDS OF THE SEA. AND HE WILL LIFT UP A STANDARD FOR THE NATIONS, AND WILL ASSEMBLE THE BANISHED ONES OF ISRAEL, AND WILL GATHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH...AND THEY WILL SWOOP DOWN ON THE SLOPES OF THE PHILISTINES ON THE WEST; TOGETHER THEY WILL PLUNDER THE SONS OF THE EAST; THEY WILL POSSESS EDOM AND MOAB; AND THE SONS OF AMMON WILL BE SUBJECT TO THEM (these are all in present day Jordan). AND THE LORD WILL UTTERLY DESTROY THE TONGUE OF THE SEA OF EGYPT (another reading is: DRY UP THE RED SEA); AND HE WILL WAVE HIS HAND OVER THE RIVER (i.e. the EUPHRATES) WITH HIS SCORCHING WIND; AND HE WILL STRIKE IT INTO SEVEN STREAMS, AND MAKE MEN WALK OVER DRY-SHOD. AND THERE WILL BE A HIGHWAY FROM ASSYRIA FOR THE REMNANT OF HIS PEOPLE WHO WILL BE LEFT, JUST AS THERE WAS FOR ISRAEL IN THE DAY THAT THEY CAME UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT." And something we can be assured of: it is not going to take them 40 years this time to enter the promised land! This restoration or reenactment, spoken of by the prophets, will be a straight way to Canaan, where a revival, the magnitude of which the world has never experienced before would be waiting for them. Isaiah 19:22-24 "AND THE LORD WILL STRIKE EGYPT, STRIKING BUT HEALING; SO THEY WILL RETURN TO THE LORD, AND HE WILL RESPOND TO THEM AND WILL HEAL THEM. IN THAT DAY THERE WILL BE A HIGHWAY FROM EGYPT TO ASSYRIA, AND THE ASSYRIANS WILL COME INTO EGYPT, AND THE EGYPTIANS INTO ASSYRIA, AND THE EGYPTIANS WILL WORSHIP WITH THE ASSYRIANS. IN THAT DAY ISRAEL WILL BE A THIRD PARTY WITH EGYPT AND ASSYRIA, A BLESSING IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH, WHOM THE LORD OF HOSTS HAS BLESSED, SAYING, 'BLESSED IS EGYPT, MY PEOPLE, AND ASSYRIA THE WORK OF MY HANDS, AND ISRAEL MY INHERITANCE" Isaiah 27:12-13 "AND IT WILL COME ABOUT IN THAT DAY, THAT THE LORD WILL START HIS THRESHING FROM THE FLOWING STREAM OF THE EUPHRATES TO THE BROOK OF EGYPT; AND YOU WILL BE GATHERED UP ONE BY ONE, O SONS OF ISRAEL. AND IT WILL COME ABOUT ALSO IN THAT DAY THAT A GREAT TRUMPET WILL BE BLOWN; AND THOSE WHO WERE PERISHING IN THE LAND OF ASSYRIA AND WHO WERE SCATTERED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT WILL COME AND WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF JERUSALEM." Isaiah 30:30-32 "YOU WILL HAVE SONGS AS IN THE NIGHT WHEN YOU KEEP THE FESTIVAL; AND GLADNESS OF HEART AS WHEN ONE MARCHES TO THE SOUND OF FLUTE, TO GO TO THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, TO THE ROCK OF ISRAEL. AND THE LORD WILL CAUSE HIS VOICE OF AUTHORITY TO BE HEARD, AND THE DESCENDING OF HIS ARM TO BE SEEN IN FIERCE ANGER, AND IN THE FLAME OF CONSUMING FIRE, IN CLOUDBURST, DOWNPOUR AND HAILSTONES. FOR AT THE VOICE OF THE LORD ASSYRIA WILL BE TERRIFIED. WHEN HE STRIKES WITH THE ROD. AND EVERY BLOW OF THE ROD OF PUNISHMENT, WHICH THE LORD WILL LAY ON HIM, WILL BE WITH THE MUSIC OF TAMBOURINES AND LYRES; AND IN BATTLES, BRANDISHING WEAPONS, HE WILL FIGHT THEM. Isaiah 35:8-10 "AND A HIGHWAY WILL BE THERE, A ROADWAY. AND IT WILL BE CALLED THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS. THE UNCLEAN WILL NOT TRAVEL ON IT, BUT IT WILL BE FOR HIM WHO WALKS THAT WAY, AND FOOLS WILL NOT WANDER ON IT...BUT THE REDEEMED WILL WALK THERE. AND THE RANSOMED OF THE LORD WILL RETURN, AND WILL COME WITH JOYFUL SHOUTING TO ZION, WITH EVERLASTING JOY UPON THEIR HEADS. THEY WILL FIND GLADNESS AND JOY, AND SORROW AND SIGHING WILL FLEE AWAY." Isaiah 49:22-23 "THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD, "BEHOLD, I WILL LIFT UP MY HAND TO THE NATIONS, AND SET UP MY STANDARD TO THE PEOPLES; AND THEY WILL BRING YOUR SONS IN THEIR BOSOM, AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL BE CARRIED ON THEIR SHOULDERS. AND KINGS WILL BE YOUR GUARDIANS, AND THEIR PRINCESSES YOUR NURSES. THEY WILL BOW DOWN TO YOU WITH THEIR FACES TO THE EARTH, AND LICK THE DUST OF YOUR FEET. Isaiah 51:9-10 "AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; AWAKE AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD, THE GENERATIONS OF LONG AGO. WAS IT NOT THOU WHO CUT RAHAB (an expression for Egypt) IN PIECES, WHO PIERCED THE DRAGON? WAS IT NOT THOU WHO DRIED UP THE SEA, THE WATERS OF THE GREAT DEEP; WHO MADE THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA A PATHWAY FOR THE REDEEMED TO CROSS OVER? SO THE RANSOMED OF THE LORD WILL RETURN, AND WILL COME WITH JOYFUL SHOUTING TO ZION; AND EVERLASTING JOY WILL BE ON THEIR HEADS. THEY WILL OBTAIN GLADNESS AND JOY, AND SORROW AND SIGHING WILL FLEE AWAY." Isaiah 62:10-11 "GO THROUGH, GO THROUGH THE GATES; CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE; BUILD UP, BUILD UP THE HIGHWAY; REMOVE THE STONES, LIFT UP A STANDARD OVER THE PEOPLES. BEHOLD, THE LORD HAS PROCLAIMED TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'LO, YOUR SALVATION COMES; BEHOLD HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM, AND HIS RECOMPENSE BEFORE HIM. AND THEY WILL CALL THEM, THE HOLY PEOPLE, THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD." Micah 7:11 "IT WILL BE A DAY FOR BUILDING YOUR WALLS. ON THAT DAY YOUR BOUNDARY WILL BE EXTENDED. IT WILL BE A DAY WHEN THEY COME TO YOU FROM ASSYRIA AND THE CITIES OF EGYPT, FROM EGYPT EVEN TO THE EUPHRATES, EVEN FROM THE SEA TO SEA AND MOUNTAIN TO MOUNTAIN." What is very important to consider about all these events is that God is going to pour out His Holy Spirit on the house of Israel and the Gospel is going to come back full circle to where it had started: Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 39:29 it is stated: "AND I WILL NOT HIDE MY FACE FROM THEM ANY LONGER, FOR I SHALL HAVE POURED OUT MY SPIRIT ON THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, DECLARES THE LORD GOD." This means a revival in the midst of the Jewish people! - The taking away of the veil of dead Judaist religion that is preventing them from seeing the glory of God." In 2 Corinthians 4:6 we read, "FOR GOD, WHO SAID, LIGHT SHALL SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS, IS THE ONE WHO HAS SHONE INTO OUR HEARTS TO GIVE US THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST." And 2 Corinthians 3:15-17 "BUT TO THIS DAY WHENEVER MOSES IS READ, A VEIL LIES OVER THEIR HEART; BUT WHENEVER A MAN TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY. NOW THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS LIBERTY." This revival will possibly last for the last 7 years of man's history before the Messiah Himself will return. A wonderful servant of the LORD had this vision: he saw Jerusalem bathed in and enveloped by a most beautiful golden light streaming down on her like a funnel from heaven. This light attracted all the nations of the world, but it was in a time before the return of Jesus to the earth. We do know that God has a very definite plan for the redeemed Jewish people in the last 7 years of history. This is very clear from the book of Revelations. Just think of the ministry of the two witnesses and the sealing of the 144 000. During the last 7 years of history God's dealings will come back to the last seven units decreed over Israel by God. In the ninth chapter of the book of Daniel we read about the seventy sevens that were decreed over the existence of the Jewish people in this dispensation of man: Daniel 9:25 "SO YOU ARE TO KNOW AND DISCERN THAT FROM THE ISSUING OF A DECREE TO RESTORE AND REBUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL MESSIAH THE PRINCE THERE WILL BE SEVEN WEEKS AND SIXTY TWO WEEKS; IT WILL BE BUILT AGAIN, WITH PLAZA AND MOAT, EVEN IN TIMES OF DISTRESS. THEN AFTER THE SIXTY-TWO WEEKS THE MESSIAH WILL BE CUT OFF AND HAVE NOTHING, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME WILL DESTROY THE CITY AND THE SANCTUARY. AND ITS END WILL COME WITH A FLOOD; EVEN TO THE END THERE WILL BE WAR; DESOLATIONS ARE DETERMINED. AND HE WILL MAKE A FIRM COVENANT WITH THE MANY FOR ONE WEEK, BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK HE WILL PUT A STOP TO SACRIFICE AND GRAIN OFFERING; AND ON THE WING OF ABOMINATIONS WILL COME ONE WHO MAKES DESOLATE, EVEN UNTO THE END. It is quite clear from history that the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem took place with Babylonian-Persian captivity, when the Persian king, Cyrus, decreed that there should be a Jewish return to rebuild the temple of the Lord God of heaven. (2 Chronicles 36:22-23, and Ezra 1:1-3). This culminated in the rebuilding of the Temple, and the eventual coming of the Jewish MESSIAH, who died (or was cut off) for the sins of Israel and the world. When the Messiah was cut off, seven sevens and sixty-two sevens had been completed, totaling sixty nine sevens. One seven is left for the completion of God's decree over the Jewish people. What happen after the 69 sevens that have already been completed? In this time the Gospel of the kingdom of Jesus Christ - the Jewish people and their rejected king, JESUS the Messiah - first went to the Gentiles. This resulted in the world wide spreading of the good news of the Jewish God of Abraham, Izaac and Jacob - exactly as God had promised. Abraham in Genesis 12:3 "AND IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED". It is that simple: through Jesus the Gentiles have found entrance to the God of the Jews! But the Gospel and the dealings of God's decree is to return to Israel in what will be the last and remaining 7 units. The apostle Paul, Jewish emissary to the Gentiles, describes it in Romans 11:12-15 "NOW IF THEIR TRANSGRESSION BE RICHES FOR THE WORLD AND THEIR FAILURE BE RICHES FOR THE GENTILES, HOW MUCH MORE WILL THEIR FULFILLMENT BE! BUT I AM SPEAKING TO YOU WHO ARE GENTILES. IN AS MUCH THEN AS I AM AN APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, I MAGNIFY MY MINISTRY. IF SOMEHOW I MIGHT MOVE TO JEALOUSY MY FELLOW COUNTRYMEN AND SAVE SOME OF THEM. FOR IF THEIR REJECTION BE THE RECONCILIATION OF THE WORLD, WHAT WILL THEIR ACCEPTANCE BE BUT LIFE FROM THE DEAD." And the he continues in verse 25 with these important words: "FOR I DO NOT WANT YOU, BRETHREN, TO BE IGNORANT OF THIS MYSTERY, LEST YOU BE WISE IN YOUR OWN ESTIMATION, THAT A PARTIAL HARDENING HAS HAPPEN TO ISRAEL UNTIL THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN; AND THUS ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED..." The first place in Turkey we were led to after Istanbul, was Cappadocia, in the area of central Turkey. Cappadocia is mentioned twice in the Bible. First in Acts 2:9 when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost and second in the first epistle of Peter where he addresses the scattered believers in various places who were undergoing persecution of great magnitude. When the Holy Spirit was poured out there were Jews present from different parts of the known world of that time; because Pentecost was one of the three major feast that God required the Jews to attend in Jerusalem. The other two were Passover and Tabernacles. One of the areas that are mentioned in the account of the outpouring and subsequent conversion of -8-3000 is Cappadocia. Peter stood up and brought the Lord's message to the crowd, and about 3000 came to conversion in Christ Jesus. Please read Acts 2. What is amazing to me, though, is that Peter quoted from the prophet Joel in this message. Joel is the end time prophet who very clearly prophesied about the national repentance of the nation of Israel at a time when they would be threatened by a powerful northern army. It is clear that part of the prophetic message of Joel went into fulfillment on the day of Pentecost, but it is also very clear that a greater fulfillment has yet to come. Let us quote Peter's words: Acts 2:17 "AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS". God says, "THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; EVEN UPON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY. AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE, AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BENEATH, BLOOD, FIRE AND VAPOUR OF SMOKE. THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." Now, let us compare these words with the prophetic utterances of Joel, and put them into the context of Joel 2, from where the quotation comes. Joel 2:1 clearly states the sounding of an alarm in the face of great national military calamity. This alarm is sounded as a precursor to the DAY OF THE LORD. In scripture this day pertains to His coming and the subsequent judgment on all His enemies, including those who disregarded His choice, covenant and dealings with the nation of Israel. Joel 2:16,17 describes a call to fast and solemn assembly for all the nation and an act of heart rendering repentance by the priests, the Lord's ministers. This call takes place in the sight of a terrible threat of destruction to Israel. Joel 2:19,20 the describes God's vindication of Israel and subsequent blessing in the sight of NORTHERN THREAT. Joel 2:23 then gives the promise of the early and the latter rain in one month. This is the promise that so many Spirit filled believers are waiting for in these end times. Joel 2:28-32 Peter quoted on the Day of Pentecost: "AND IT WILL COME ABOUT AFTER THIS THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY, AND YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS. AND EVEN ON THE MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS. AND I WILL DISPLAY WONDERS IN THE SKY AND ON THE EARTH, BLOOD, FIRE AND COLUMNS OF SMOKE. THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD COMES. AND IT WILL COME ABOUT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE DELIVERED; FOR ON MOUNT ZION AND IN JERUSALEM THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO ESCAPE, AS THE LORD HAS SAID, EVEN AMONG THE SURVIVORS WHOM THE LORD CALLS." So we see that on the day of Pentecost God performed a mighty and miraculous act in the sight of many nations in Jerusalem. These nations were represented by Jews from different countries that had come up to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem in accordance to the commandments of the Lord. Some of these that were present were from Pontus, Cappadocia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, all of which fall within the borders of present day Turkey. It is also clear that a greater fulfillment of these words is still to take place. This fulfillment will coincide with a very dangerous military threat from the north and God's deliverance and outpouring of His Spirit will also coincide or precede tremendous wonders in the sky and on the earth; blood, fire and columns of smoke. This we know did not take place on the day of Pentecost, and neither was there a threat of a northern army attacking Israel. This is destined for a definite future time. One scripture that has intrigued us a great deal for quite a time before we travel to Turkey, is a scripture that is also quoted by Peter in the book of Acts - this time Acts 3:19-21: "REPENT THEREFORE AND RETURN, THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE WIPED AWAY, IN ORDER THAT TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD; AND THAT HE MAY SEND JESUS, THE MESSIAH APPOINTED FOR YOU, WHOM HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE UNTIL A PERIOD OF RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS ABOUT WHICH GOD SPOKE BY THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS FROM ANCIENT TIME." Reading this, it is clear to me that God is going to send Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, after a time in which He had been received up to heaven and a time during which a certain restoration had taken place here on earth, according to the things spoken of by His prophets. Forty days before Pentecost Jesus was taken up into heaven, or received by heaven, as Peter said. Not long after these words the second temple was destroyed and the Jewish people were scattered all over the world, in what is today known as the Diaspora. Through terrible persecution and hardship they remained scattered for almost two thousand years, until the rebirth of Israel on May 14, 1948. Through miraculous events and wars God continuos to bring back the Jews from all four corners of the earth, in perfect faithfulness to His prophetic word in the Bible. He also continues to build modern day Israel against the most awesome odds, humanly speaking. Israel is a tiny nation of about 5 million people, encircled by a vast number of big, hateful Islamic nations, 670 times its size! In 1967 Jerusalem was reunified after thousands of years as the indivisible capital of the Jewish people. But there is still the events of the second Exodus to come that would cause the Exodus from Eygpt to be remembered no more, according to Jeremiah 16:14,15 (repeated again in Jeremiah 23:7,8), which we quoted. Our third stop in Turkey was the city of Antioch, what used to be the capital of Syria in Roman times. Antioch is presently called Antakia. It is here that the first vibrant Gentile church was established. It was in Antioch that the believers in Jesus were first called Christians. The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to assist in the work there and he in turn brought Paul there. Here they taught for an entire year. Relief was also sent to the Jerusalem church when a famine had been prophesied. This account can be read in Acts 11:19-30. The church at Antioch sent Paul and his companions out on three missionary journeys (Act 13:1, 15:36, 18:23) and he reported back to it on his return from the first two ones. (Acts 14:26, 18:22). It also submitted the question of circumcision of the Gentile converts to the counsel in Jerusalem (Acts 15). The way God directed our steps as we proceeded in Turkey was wonderful. The first Jewish person we met was at Cappadoccia, on the morning just as we were leaving for Antioch. Then in Antioch God miraculously unlocked to us the heart of the Jewish community there. We were invited to the synagogue and home of the rabbi and we met numbers of his family. We could share with them our love as Christians and the importance that Israel has in the heart of Jesus. The fact that we had to meet these Jewish people in the very city where the first Gentile church was established is very significant to me. Through this I believe the Lord is saying that just as He brought the light of the Gospel to the Gentiles, establishing the first Gentile church in Antioch, He would now bring this glorious Gospel back to the very heart and chore of Israel, represented by the very inner circle of the Jewish community. Or as Paul, apostle to the Gentiles put it in Romans 11:24: "FOR IF YOU WERE CUT OFF FROM WHAT IS BY NATURE A WILD OLIVE TREE, AND WERE GRAFTED CONTRARY TO NATURE INTO A CULTIVATED OLIVE TREE, HOW MUCH MORE SHALL THESE WHO ARE THE NATURAL BRANCHES BE GRAFTED INTO THEIR OWN OLIVE TREE? FOR I DO NOT WANT YOU, BRETHREN, TO BE UNINFORMED OF THIS MYSTERY....THAT A PARTIAL HARDENING HAS HAPPEN TO ISRAEL UNTIL THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN;" We thus see that there is a fullness of the Gentiles that have to come in, and then Israel will be saved. Jesus, too, said the following in Luke 21:24, JERUSALEM WILL BE TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT BY THE GENTILES UNTIL THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES BE FULFILLED." Jerusalem became the capital of the Jewish people when David conquered the stronghold of the Jebusites. This became the city of David, which was also called Zion. In 1967 Jerusalem was miraculously unified under Jewish authority again after it had been dominated by the Gentiles for thousands of years. It is interesting that it took only 37 years from the conquering of Jerusalem by David until the inauguration of the first temple by Solomon. Solomon's reign of peace and tremendous prosperity was prophetic of the coming MILLENNIAL reign of the Messiah and the restoration of Israel to original borders promised to her by God. This is very clear from Psalm 72. There is an evil attempt now taking place to redivide Jerusalem again and to make it an international city, contrary to the very word and promise of God for the Jewish people. This attempt is spearheaded by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), who claim Israel to be illegal occupants of the land which had been called Palestine prior to the rebirth of Israel in 1948. The PLO, murderous and bloody terrorist organisation, now leads the Palestinian people and east-Jerusalem for their capital. Their anti-semitic pressure and influence on world governments and media has already led to the signing of a Middle-East Peace accord, giving away parts of the land of Israel to the Palestinians for "peace". More is to be negotiated, including the status of Jerusalem. The land already given away is part of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants by God. Ironically enough, the initial part that was given away in 1993-1994 includes Jericho, the very first city that Joshua conquered when he entered the promised land to possess it. As I am writing this report, Bethlehem, the city where David and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, was born, is in the process of being handed over to these murderous terrorist, whom the world recognises as an official governmental body! The mind of the Lord is very clear on the matter of dividing up the land of Israel: Joel 3:1-2 "FOR BEHOLD, IN THOSE DAYS AND AT THAT TIME, WHEN I RESTORE THE FORTUNES OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS, AND BRING THEM DOWN TO THE VALLEY OF JEHOSOPHAT (the very name means God Judges, or YHWH JUDGES). THEN I WILL ENTER INTO JUDGMENT WITH THEM THERE ON BEHALF OF MY PEOPLE AND MY INHERITANCE, ISRAEL, WHOM THEY HAVE SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS; AND THEY HAVE DIVIDED UP MY LAND. What is very important to realise regarding Jerusalem is the following: THE CONFLICT OVER JERUSALEM IS ACTUALLY A CONFLICT OVER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THE MESSIAH IS THE ONE WHOM GOD APPOINTED AS KING OVER THIS KINGDOM. HE IS ALSO THE KING OF ISRAEL, OR THE KING OF THE JEWS - THE ONE WHO IS TO REIGN ON THE THRONE OF DAVID ETERNALLY. THIS THRONE OR SEAT OF AUTHORITY IS IN JERUSALEM. FROM HERE THE MESSIAH WILL RULE OVER ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH WHEN HE RETURNS FOR THE MILLENNIUM, HIS FEET TOUCHING THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, EAST OF JERUSALEM. Let us look at some scriptures substantiating this: Isaiah 2:2-3 (repeated again in Micah 4): "NOW IT WILL COME ABOUT THAT IN THE LAST DAYS, THE MOUNTAIN OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WILL BE ESTABLISHED AS THE CHIEF OF THE MOUNTAINS; AND WILL BE RAISED ABOVE THE HILLS; AND ALL THE NATIONS WILL STREAM TO IT. AND MANY PEOPLES WILL COME AND SAY, 'COME, LET US GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, TO THE HOUSE OF THE GOD OF JACOB; THAT HE MAY TEACH US CONCERNING HIS WAYS, AND THAT WE MAY WALK IN HIS PATHS', FOR THE LAW WILL GO FORTH FROM ZION, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM. AND HE WILL JUDGE BETWEEN THE NATIONS, AND WILL RENDER DECISIONS FOR MANY PEOPLES; AND THEY WILL HAMMER THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS. NATION WILL NOT LIFT SWORD AGAINST NATION, AND NEVER AGAIN WILL THEY LEARN WAR" Psalm 48:1-2 "GREAT IS THE LORD, AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED, IN THE CITY OF OUR GOD, HIS HOLY MOUNTAIN. BEAUTIFUL IN ELEVATION, THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH, IS MOUNT ZION IN THE FAR NORTH, THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING." Matthew 5:34-35 "BUT I SAY TO YOU, MAKE NO OATH AT ALL, EITHER BY HEAVEN, FOR IT IS THE THRONE OF GOD, OR BY THE EARTH, FOR IT IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF HIS FEET, OR BY JERUSALEM, FOR IT IS THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING." Psalm 2:6 "BUT AS FOR ME, I HAVE INSTALLED MY KING UPON ZION, MY HOLY MOUNTAIN. I WILL SURELY TELL OF THE DECREE OF THE LORD: HE SAID TO ME, 'THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE. ASK OF ME, AND I WILL SURELY GIVE THE GENTILES (or NATIONS) AS THINE INHERITANCE, AND THE VERY ENDS OF THE EARTH AS THY POSSESSION. Isaiah 9:6 "FOR A CHILD WILL BE BORN TO US, A SON WILL BE GIVEN TO US; AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL REST ON HIS SHOULDERS; AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, ETERNAL FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. THERE WILL BE NO END TO THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT OF PEACE, ON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND OVER HIS KINGDOM, TO ESTABLISH IT AND TO UPHOLD IT WITH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THEN ON AND FOREVERMORE." Isaiah 11:1 "THEN A SHOOT WILL SPRING FROM THE STEM OF JESSE, AND A BRANCH FROM HIS ROOTS WILL BEAR FRUIT...:4-5 "AND HE WILL STRIKE THE EARTH WITH THE ROD OF HIS MOUTH, AND THE BREATH OF HIS LIPS HE WILL SLAY THE WICKED...:6 AND THE WOLF WILL DWELL WITH THE LAMB... THEY WILL NOT HURT OR DESTROY IN ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, FOR THE EARTH WILL BE FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA. Written on the cross of Jesus: Matthew 27:37 "And they put above His head the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS." It is clear from the word of God and from history that God sent this Messiah - His own beloved Son - the first time as a humble servant to die for our sins and to set up a spiritual Kingdom in the hearts of everyone who believes in Him. When He comes back to earth the next time, though, it will be in power and great glory. This will be to set up His throne visibly in Jerusalem and to enter into judgment with all the neurotics. The final battle that would be fought over in world politics will be the battle over the status of Jerusalem and over the Kingdom of God. God has decreed that He has installed His King upon Zion, His holy mountain. This is the City of David and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is to this city that His Son, Jesus, the Messiah, will return in due course. It is from here that He will sit on the throne of David to reign over all the peoples of the earth in true justice as the Prince of Peace. It is this reality that Satan, the arch deceiver, will resist and contest - with all the lies and evil power to his disposal. It is this throne, the governmental throne of David, that he will battle to usurp and resist with all that is possible to his means. This is described in Psalm 2:1-3 "WHY ARE THE NATIONS IN AN UPROAR, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISING A VAIN THING? THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TAKE THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS TAKE COUNSEL TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED; LET US TEAR THEIR FETTERS APART, AND CAST AWAY THEIR CORDS FROM US!" :4 "HE WHO SITS IN HEAVEN LAUGHS, THE LORD SCOFFS AT THEM... :6 "BUT AS FOR ME, I HAVE INSTALLED MY KING UPON ZION, MY HOLY MOUNTAIN". Psalm 83 also echos this: "O GOD, DO NOT REMAIN QUIET; DO NOT BE SILENT AND, O GOD, DO NOT BE STILL. FOR BEHOLD, THINE ENEMIES MAKE AN UPROAR, AND THOSE WHO HATE THEE HAVE EXALTED THEMSELVES. THEY MAKE SHREWD PLANS AGAINST THY PEOPLE, AND CONSPIRE AGAINST TOGETHER AGAINST THY TREASURED ONES. THEY HAVE SAID, 'COME AND LET US WIPE THEM OUT AS A NATION, THAT THE NAME OF ISRAEL BE REMEMBERED NO MORE.' FOR THEY HAVE CONSPIRED TOGETHER WITH ONE MIND; AGAINST THEE DO THEY MAKE A COVENANT: THE TENTS OF EDOM AND THE ISHMAELITES; MOAB AND THE HAGRITES; GEBAL, AND AMMON AND AMALEK, PHYLISTIA WITH THE INHABITANTS OF TYRE; ASSYRIA ALSO HAVE JOINED THEM; THEY HAVE BECOME A HELP TO THE CHILDREN OF LOT." The book of Zechariah clearly describes the events that would take place prior to the redemption of Israel and the return of the Messiah. In a final attempt to frustrate and overthrow the purposes of God, Satan will stir up all the nations of the earth in hatred against Israel and their King, the Anointed One. They will try to enforce their evil worldly plans on Jerusalem...The outcome of this is already determined. Please read Zechariah 12, 13 and 14. We will just quote from 14: Zechariah 14:2-4 "FOR I WILL GATHER ALL THE NATIONS AGAINST JERUSALEM TO BATTLE, AND THE CITY WILL BE CAPTURED, THE HOUSES PLUNDERED, THE WOMEN RAVISHED, AND HALF OF THE CITY EXILED, BUT THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF FROM THE CITY. THEN THE LORD WILL GO FORTH TO FIGHT AGAINST THOSE NATIONS, AS WHEN HE FIGHTS ON A DAY OF BATTLE. AND IN THAT DAY HIS FEET WILL STAND ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF JERUSALEM ON THE EAST; AND THE MOUNT OF OLIVES WILL BE SPLIT IN ITS MIDDLE FROM EAST TO WEST BY A VERY LARGE VALLEY...AND IT WILL COME ABOUT IN THAT DAY THAT THERE WILL BE NO LIGHT, THE LUMINARIES WILL DWINDLE...AND IT WILL COME ABOUT IN THAT DAY THAT LIVING WATERS WILL FLOW OUT OF JERUSALEM...AND THE LORD WILL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH; IN THAT DAY THE LORD WILL BE THE ONLY ONE, AND HIS NAME THE ONLY ONE." HALLELUJAH!!! NOVEMBER 4, 1995 During the last two years God has allowed the death of two major Jewish leaders to expose the utter need of the Jewish people for their God. The one leader was a spiritual leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, leader of the Lubavitcher movement amongst Orthodox Judaism. Many Jewish people had put their hope in the possibility that he would be the promised Messiah. Even today there are posters all around Jerusalem proclaiming him to be king and the Messiah, awaiting his resurrection. But he died already one and a half years ago, after he had been incapacitated for months by a stroke. His death exposed the need of a true spiritual High Priest for Israel. The other leader was a governmental leader, Yitchak Rabin, Prime Minister of the State of Israel. A leader who signed a Peace Treaty with the notorious terrorist leader Yesser Arafat and in the process gave away some of the land that God had promised to the Jewish people. As a result of this he received the Nobel Peace Prize, but lost his life not too long afterward, a victim of an assassin's bullet. The assassin came from a nation that had been torn apart by these actions. His death in turn exposed the need of a true governmental leader, whose reign would usher in true justice and peace. Unknown to the larger part of the Jewish people, these offices of spiritual governmental leadership, with true justice and integrity, has already been united in the promised Messiah. He came first to make atonement for the House of Israel as a faithful High Priest; and is soon to return in power and great glory - to take up His holy throne as the rightful King of the Jews. Psalm 2:6 "BUT AS FOR ME, I HAVE INSTALLED MY KING UPON ZION, MY HOLY MOUNTAIN. I WILL SURELY TELL OF THE DECREE OF THE LORD: HE SAID TO ME, THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE. ASK OF ME, AND I WILL SURELY GIVE THE GENTILES (or NATIONS) AS THINE INHERITANCE, AND THE VERY ENDS OF THE EARTH AS THY POSSESSION. Isaiah 9:6 "FOR A CHILD WILL BE BORN TO US, A SON WILL BE GIVEN TO US; AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL REST ON HIS SHOULDERS; AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, ETERNAL FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. THERE WILL BE NO END TO THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT OF PEACE, ON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND OVER HIS KINGDOM, TO ESTABLISH IT AND TO UPHOLD IT WITH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THEN ON AND FOREVERMORE." Genesis 49:10 "THE SCEPTER SHALL NOT DEPART FROM JUDAH, NOR THE RULER'S STAFF FROM BETWEEN HIS FEET, UNTIL SHILOH COMES, AND TO HIM SHALL BE THE OBEDIENCE OF THE PEOPLES." Isaiah 42:1 & 4: "BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I UPHOLD; MY CHOSEN ONE, IN WHOM MY SOUL DELIGHTS. I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM; HE WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS. HE WILL NOT BE DISHEARTENED OR CRUSHED UNTIL HE HAS ESTABLISHED JUSTICE IN THE EARTH. AND THE COASTLANDS WILL WAIT EXPECTANTLY FOR HIS LAW." Matthew 25:31 "BUT WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES IN HIS GLORY, AND ALL THE ANGELS WITH HIM, THEN HE WILL SIT ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE. AND ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE GATHERED BEFORE HIM;..." Hebrews 7:24-28 "BUT HE, ON THE OTHER HAND, BECAUSE HE ABIDES FOREVER, HOLDS HIS PRIESTHOOD PERMANENTLY. HENCE, ALSO, HE IS ABLE TO SAVE FOREVER THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR TO GOD THROUGH HIM, SINCE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM. FOR IT WAS FITTING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SUCH A HIGH PRIEST, HOLY, INNOCENT, UNDEFILED, SEPARATED FROM SINNERS AND EXALTED ABOVE THE HEAVENS; WHO DOES NOT NEED DAILY, LIKE THOSE HIGH PRIESTS, TO OFFER UP SACRIFICES, FIRST FOR HIS OWN SINS, AND THEN FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THIS HE DID ONCE AND FOR ALL WHEN HE OFFERED UP HIMSELF. FOR THE LAW APPOINTS MEN AS HIGH PRIESTS WHO ARE WEAK, BUT THE WORD OF THE OATH, WHICH CAME AFTER THE LAW, APPOINTS A SON, MADE PERFECT FOREVER." Regarding the assassination of Rabin there are some important issues to be dealt with in prayer:
From Antakia (Antioch) we traveled to the point of crossing with the Euphrates River. Here we stopped to pray and blow a shofar (ramshorn) in proclamation of the Highway of Holiness that one day God is going to create in these surroundings. In these regions we had now entered the ancient borders of Assyria and Mesopotamia. Then we traveled further to a place by the name of Sanli Urfa. This is not far from Haran, where God called Abram, and gave him the awesome promise of blessing for him and his descendants; and that through them the whole earth would be blessed. This we read about in Genesis 12:1-3. From Sanli Urfa we set out for Diyarbakir, a city of great conflict, where we stayed for more than a week. One morning I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to a spot overlooking the ancient Tigris River. I started to pray and the LORD gave me a prophetic song which I sang over the Tigis Valley. It comes from Jude 14: "AND ENOCH ALSO, THE SEVENTH OF FROM ADAM, PROPHESIED OF THESE, SAYING, BEHOLD THE LORD COMETH WITH TEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS, TO EXECUTE THE JUDGMENT UPON ALL, AND TO CONVINCE ALL THAT ARE UNGODLY AMONG THEM OF ALL THEIR UNGODLY DEEDS WHICH THEY HAVE UNGODLY COMMITTED, AND ALL OF THEIR HARD SPEECHES WHICH UNGODLY SINNERS SPOKEN AGAINST HIM." A wonderful servant of the Lord blessed us with accommodation here. We also celebrated Drienie's birthday here and came in contact with the Kurdish people, whom I have mentioned earlier in the report. It is significant that there is a people group, called the Kurds, who are at the centre of a military conflict that is raging in these parts. The plight of the Kurds has caught the attention of the world. They are basically a people without a country and have fought for survival and national identity for the last 70 years. The last ten have been particularly bloody and cruel. The Kurds come from Turkey (12 million), Iran (5-7 million), Iraq (4 million) and Syria (1 million). They are fighting for an independent Kurdistan, which would take territory from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. For the third time in this century a Kurdish state seems a possibility out of the ashes of war. In the city of Diyarbakir we were caught up in this conflict. One evening we had to dive for protection as bullets were fired around the home where we were staying. Every day one can here continuous airlifts of fighter planes engaged in this conflict. It was very precious to meet a number of Christian mercy workers called to this afflicted groups of people, including some South Africans. Iraq's atrocities under the military leadership of Sadam Hussein have included the razing of 3 800 villages and towns, the destruction of the local economy and mining of fields, deportation of 500 000 to distant camps, and the killing of up to 250 000. In the aftermath of the Gulf War in 1991 almost the entire Kurdish population became refugees. Turkey, too, have suppressed the idea of an independent Kurdistan to such a degree that the very name cannot be legally uttered there. The guerilla activities of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have caused the deployment of about half a million Turkish military in South Eastern Turkey. From Diyarbakir we traveled to the city of Van, which used to be the capital of the Urartu empire. We also traveled to the very south east point of Turkey, where Iraq and Iran come together. This journey was very pressured as the bus had to halt intermittently for security checks. As soon as we arrived at our destination we were surrounded by police who had to escort us as foreigners. We were asked a lot of questions, but we had the privilege to bring the Gospel to school teacher who translated for us. On our way back we became friends with a young Islamic student who fervently wanted us to become Muslims. We met him again later by devine appointment and we had the privilege to give a Bible to him and his friend. Also at Van, where ancient Urartu citadel was, we had several divine appointments with people. It was special to us the way our Father let us meet up with many of the people whom we had ministered His love to, one more time again, just before we were to travel further. Then we traveled to a place by the name of Dogubayazit, not very far from the mountain of Ararat. In this little town we stayed for a number of nights in a room overlooking Mount Ararat. It was in this little town that we had the privilege for the first time to meet a number of Iranian people whom God crossed our path with. The town of Dogubayazit is only 42 km from the Iranian border. The ones we particularly felt led to was a precious family of merchants, with whom we felt a deep response of God's love. We knew that in the not too distant future, God - to the honour and glory of His Name - would set ablaze this country which today is the cradle for anti-semitic hatred towards Israel. This is significant. Iran is a country that is specifically named in Ezekiel 38 & 39 and it is taking the lead today in a holy war or JIHAD against Israel. It was through Iran and the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Islamic Fundamentalist Revolution started, which is sweeping the Mohammedan world. Last year the city council of Istanbul came under control of this evil revival, and the national election for Turkey is due next year. Should the Fundamentalists come into power the stage would be set to a further degree for an alliance of Islamic Fundamentalism and Ex-Communism, which seems to be indicated prophetically in Ezekiel 38:5-6. It is also Iran that is using the Kurdish problem as a political tool to bring the current secular government of Turkey to a fall. On our second day in Dogubayazit the Lord took us up into a mountain overlooking a large valley and there we declared the written decree of God's Word concerning the nations we were among and their prophetic destiny with Israel. First I blew the shofar according to a scripture the Lord had given me on the previous day: Jeremiah 51:27 "LIFT UP A SIGNAL IN THE LAND, BLOW A TRUMPET AMONG THE NATIONS! CONSECRATE THE NATIONS AGAINST HER, SUMMON AGAINST HER THE KINGDOMS OF ARARAT, MINI AND ASHKENAZ; APPOINT A MARSHAL AGAINST HER, BRING UP THE HORSES LIKE BRISTLY LOCUSTS." :28 "CONSECRATE THE NATIONS AGAINST HER, THE KINGS OF THE MEDES, THE GOVERNORS AND ALL THEIR PREFECTS, AND EVERY LAND OF THEIR DOMINION." Then one day after this we were in our room overlooking Mount Ararat. As we were praying a storm was breaking loose and I felt prompted to go and walk around outside in the storm, praising God. When I returned to our room I felt led to go out once again. This time, as I was approaching the outskirts of town, overlooking the valley at the base of Ararat, I saw a most remarkable rainbow. I remembered that it was a rainbow that God had given to Noah and mankind as a sign of his covenant - of favour and protection. This had happened after they had come out of the ark from Mount Ararat! I returned to our room once again. The whole mountain was now shrouded by a thick stormy cloud. This time both Dreinie and I came out and just then the heavens open over Mount Ararat to display some of the most awesomely beautiful scenery. The mountain had been freshly icecapped by the storm and the colours were changing behind it. We walked around worshipping God. On our way we were meeting local inhabitants whom we ministered to with God's love. We were lifted up into heavenly places with our Lord, rejoicing in the wonderful anointing God was pouring out over us! Our final destination before we returned to Istanbul was a place called Trabzon, a harbour city in north eastern parts of Turkey, on the Black Sea coast. This city turned out to be really a logistical key in our call to Turkey: It was the most cosmopolitan city we came in contact with in our whole journey to the eastern parts of Turkey. It suddenly felt as if we were back in the West, but with eastern culture! It is in fact a city where eastern and western cultures meet in a most dazzling way. It is economically thriving because it is a harbour city and a gateway to central Asia for ex Soviet countries like Russia and the Ukraine. Trabzon also forms the gateway of an economic highway which stretches from the Black Sea to Iran. Iran with its petrodollars imports many articles from the ex Soviet Union and these are shipped through the Black Sea en route to Iran. I believe it is part of the economic link between the ex Soviet Union and Iran, who wants to take the military lead in a jihad against Israel. Through the Lord's amazing guidance He led us up to a specific mountain spot overlooking the Black Sea. When we reached the spot that He was indicating to us, it turned out to be an ancient destroyed Christian Community, with some of the ruins still visible! The specific burden He gave us to pray for here was the following: For the condition of the church in Turkey. Turkey once was the centre of God's move in the Gentile world - it being the very area where Paul's ministry had the greatest impact. Today there is left ruins upon ruins and it is a country which according to the figures of Operation World is the least evangelised in the world! The specific scripture that we prayed for is Isaiah 58:12 and Isaiah 61:4 (same meaning, only the wording a little bit different): Isaiah 58:12 "AND YOUR ANCIENT RUINS SHALL BE REBUILT; YOU WILL RAISE UP THE FOUNDATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS; YOU SHALL BE CALLED REPAIRER OF THE BREACH, THE RESTORER OF STREETS TO DWELL IN." This is a wonderful promise of intercessory restoration of God's Kingdom in an area. The Highway of Holiness that He had revealed to us instead of a highway of evil stretching from the Black Sea to Iran. That Islam would be destroyed to release many, many souls to the Kingdom of God. Also that the natural Jewish branches who are yet in unbelief would be planted back onto their own olive tree: representing the true house of faith of Abraham (Romans 11:17-27). For the healing of the wound and the breach that had come between the body of Christ and its Jewish roots - Christianity was banned out of the synagogues and the body of Christ chose to distantiate itself from its Jewish roots. This breach has to be repaired in the Spirit. The removal of idolatry from the church which had led her into the terrible condition of loosing so much ground to Islam. That God would send us the latter rain that He had Promised in Joel 2. We had some strategic divine appointments with students in this city. Please pray for them, that God would reveal Himself to them and that they would find a place where they can grow in Him. There are certain awesome events that our generation is awaiting, foretold by the prophets of old. The LORD is bringing these to pass in perfect faithfulness. We have touched on the Jewish return and the wonder of the second exodus which eventually will totally surpass that of the first. We have looked into the possible events accompanying the war of Ezekiel 38-39, and Joel, the sign of Isaiah 66:19 and the Highway of Holiness referred to in different places in Isaiah. We have touched on the horses mentioned in Zechariah 1 & 6 and Revelations 6. We have mentioned that all these may coincide with one another, ushering in the last 7 years of history mentioned in Daniel 9. To sum this all up:
Last year we joined a fellowship of believers in Jerusalem, called ST PAUL'S FELLOWSHIP. Our name has changed this year to BETH ISRAEL, which in English means HOUSE OF ISRAEL. It has been a great privilege to be part of something totally new that God is doing in this congregation. Our fellowship for many years has been attended mostly by Gentile believers from different parts of the world. These people had come to Israel to serve in various capacities as the Lord had called them. Now the Lord has started to bring one Israeli after another into our midst. They are getting saved in various remarkable ways and are bringing their friends in turn, too. Just last week alone we witnessed the salvation of two Israeli's whom God had visited supernatually through dreams!:
We bless you in the wonderful name of our Lord! Come and visit us in Israel! We are in the process of arranging a tour to Israel, from May 4 to 14, '96. If you are interested, please contact Margaret in Pretoria, Tel (012) 715 486 (home, work & fax); or Elize Frouws, also Pretoria (012) 348 6717 Daniel & Drienie Le Roux |