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WHY DO THE NATIONS RAGE?
The Christian's Responsibility in the Political Arena

By David Ben-Ariel

How well do you really know your Bible? Why was Jesus crucified?
Because His Gospel was highly politicized! It had EVERYTHING to
do with GOVERNMENT. God's people would do well to note that fact.
His enemies accused Him of sedition. They distorted His Message
to make it appear He was out to overthrow the government! (John
19:12). They led the rulers to believe He was a dangerous
individual, a real threat to public order and national security
(John 11:48). Jesus had to be stopped! Both the political and
religious authorities turned on Christ.

Why was Stephen murdered? Should he have just kept his opinions
to himself? He BLASTED THE RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT for their
hypocrisy. Although he spoke the plain truth, they confused the
issue by taking his words out of context. He undoubtedly did tell
them Jerusalem as going to fall and the Temple was about to be
destroyed - just like Jesus prophesied - if they didn't quickly
change course (Acts 6:8-15). He was arrested and brought before
the Sanhedrin (their religious court). They angrily condemned him
to die for being so blunt (Acts 7).

I read the Book of Acts, making it much more meaningful and
relevant, during my prison stay in Jerusalem. It you examine the
evidence surrounding Paul's frequent arrests and imprisonments,
you'll see a pattern of trumped up charges, misunderstandings,
and misguided zeal. It's a miracle Paul didn't say enough is
enough and quit. But God used him to provide for us a very human
example (I Timothy 1:16).

Many in jail proclaim their innocence, but God knows I was an
innocent political prisoner! The leftist government in Israel is
out to crush their opposition. As a Christian member of the
Temple Mount Faithful, I represent all that the secular hate.
I've been involved in televised demonstrations to remind the
government of its Biblical responsibilities. Whether they listen
or not is between them and God.

Living by Faith

The Israeli settlers whom Mr. Flurry condemns are putting their
lives on the line! By living in Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel)
they are exercising their faith in God's Word that promises the
Holy Land to Israel, not Ishmael. How cowardly for Mr. Flurry to
throw rocks at their faith when he sits safe in his comfortable
office in democratic America. God help him to wake up to this
aspect of the Bible of which too many remain ignorant.

God's people won't suffer the prophesied PERSECUTION (not that
we're seeking it) until we take a PUBLIC STAND on religious
matters that have political ramifications, just like Jesus and
the apostles and the prophets! It's an artificial separation
between politics and religion. God's ONE government has two
branches: Church and State (Malachi 4:4-5). Spiritual issues are
fought in the political arena of men's minds (II Corinthians
10:4). Whether we recognize it or not, our Israelitish nations
are engaged in a cultural war. Unless we join the struggle,
promoting the Biblical platform that pierces through the mental
fog, how can we expect to be in any position to help influence
our nation's direction (Romans 10:14)? God's Church has a
superficial understanding when we fail to put God's truth into
practice and take political action (James 2:14-17).

I was arrested for a righteous reason. I'm closely associated
with those who call for a return to Biblical values. We uphold
God's Law as our true constitution. We plead with Judah (and
Joseph) to obey God and not men; to put their trust inHim and not
fear the UN; to restore the Temple Mount as the TEMPLE Mount! If
the Jews fail to listen to God's call for repentance, if they
ignore this opportunity for restoration, they'll self-destruct,
falling apart at the seams. Israel faces the growing threat of
civil war and European intervention!

Warning the Jews

My enemies (if you don't have any, God is your enemy), knowing
I've written that the mosques must go - the Dome of the Rock and
Al-Aksa mosques - have falsely accused me of being in a plot to
destroy those beautiful abominations! It's the serpent up to his
old tricks, telling half-truths and mixing it with outrageous
lies. I did tell Israel's Secret Service that I was thankful for
the opportunity to clear the air and answer any questions. I
didn't want to incriminate myself in any way - and the did try
and entrap me - but I also didn't want to deny Christ the
opportunity to testify before them (Mark 12:13).

All the while during my six and a half hours of interrogation, I
prayed only to speak what God would have me to say; nothing more
or less (Luke 20:12-19). I did clearly warn them that the "peace"
process is a trap; that it's about to blow up in their faces, and
that a German-led Europe is going to wage a NEW CRUSADE to
enforce the Vatican's version of peace. Catholic Europe will
backstab and betray both Arab and Jew. They'll push for Jerusalem
to become an "international city" (Zechariah 14:2). I maintained
that the only explosives I'm involved with is the BOMBSHELL I've
written, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. I continually
referred them to it, stating that's where my beliefs are on
record. (Later I gave them a computer disc with my book on it to
assist in their investigation). I told them I know Israel won't
take God's warning seriously, any more than those Jews who
spurned Jabotinksy's efforts to save them from Hitler.
Nevertheless, God will intervene and save us after our worst time
of suffering, and every survivor in Jerusalem will be holy.

That whole ordeal brought my name, and the fact that I've written
a book, and that I'm a [Sabbath-keeping] Christian member of the
Temple Mount Faithful, to Israel's attention (Philippians 1:12-
14). It also increases my standing in the Jewish community, who
now know I'm willing to suffer to help try to save Judah from
itself, and that I'm not bitter, but still expect to obtain
Israeli citizenship! I've proven I'm not a fair-weather friend. I
plan on standing by Judah's side, even when they fall because
they refused to take the necessary actions to insure "Never
Again" (Isaiah 49:5; I Samuel 12:23).

The Perilous Truth

An unjust deportation order was served against me, but I was even
able to use that to warn that the Germans are going to deport
them! What servant of God hasn't been rejected? Wasn't Amos told
to go back where he came from; that they didn't want to hear it
anymore? (Amos 7:10-17). He was also accused of being involved in
a conspiracy against the State. He sounded like a fanatic, just
another religious nut (to those unfamiliar with God's voice),
saying the President was going to get killed and the people
deported!

The prophet Jeremiah wasn't too popular when he got the people
all riled up. They took him to court and said he deserved THE
DEATH PENALTY! Why? He told them God's Temple would soon be
history and Jerusalem a ghost town! He was acquitted at the time,
but later thrown in jail as a TRAITOR (Jeremiah 26). After some
time he was released, but when he kept up with his "doomsday
message," and wouldn't shut up, certain innocent actions were
misconstrued to arrest Jeremiah again! This time the politicians
had enough and ruffed him up before they threw him into the
dungeon (Jeremiah 37:12-16). Not content to let him rot in jail,
the prosecution wanted to see Jeremiah SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HIS
DEMORALIZING EFFECT UPON THE PEOPLE! His political rivals were
out for blood! (Jeremiah 38:4). They were full of hate and anger
and lies, saying Jeremiah didn't have the peoples' best interests
at heart, but was rather damaging to the State, undermining
national security.

Can you relate to Jeremiah? How close do you feel to these
spiritual kin? Were they supermen or just ordinary, every day
people whom God made extraordinary? (Acts 3:12). I know that
humanly they were as weak as we are, and made of the same flesh
and blood (II Corinithians 4:7; James 5:17). THEY WERE ONLY HUMAN
- but they had what it takes and so do we: God's Holy Spirit!

God isn't a liar. I can testify to His truth. During my
interrogation by Israel's Secret Service, I was completely
confident that God was in control; that nothing could happen
without His express permission! I knew beyond any shadow of a
doubt that I stood before God the Father and Jesus Christ. I felt
confident that as I stood up for God's Truth, Christ would stand
up for me just as surely as He did for our brother, Stephen.
Knowing their very breath of life was in God's hands, their
attempts to intimidate me actually amused me (John 19:11). If God
declares all nations put together are still less than some dust
on the scales, who were these little men except something in
their big imaginations? (Isaiah 40:15).

Time's Running Out!

Why do the nations rage? Because they vent Satan's wrath! THE
DRAGON'S ABOUT TO UNLEASH HIS FULL FURY! When he breathes his
fire, it'll reveal what we're all about (I Corinthians 3:13). God
is going to use Satan's persecution to further His own goal: the
creation of holy, righteous character. The Good News is that we
ARE becoming more refined, getting the finishing touch just
before Jesus shows up on time (Daniel 11:35; 12:10). The Bride
WILL be ready (Revelation 19:7). Satan - in a jealous rage - is
out to wreck our marriage. He wants to destroy our personal
relationship with Christ. He hates the Royal Family of God! The
devil knows his days are numbered and that we're instrumental in
his overthrow. That's why he's targeted us. His ministers of
church and state will mark us for destruction, but God will
rescue His Damsel in distress and carry us off to safety
(Revelation 12).

God's Church must come out of the closet! And I'm confident it
will. God's people are going to be well known. Our timely message
of warning and hope will be heard everywhere. I'm sure God's
scattered saints, empowered by His Spirit, will repent of our
family feud and face the nations. We'll bring BEYOND BABYLON:
Europe's Rise and Fall to light, since it boldly proclaims GOD'S
FINAL WARNING like no other. It'll become a household word
(Ezekiel 33:30). As a direct result of this controversial work,
some of our brethren are going to get arrested, others will get
beaten up, and a few will even lose their lives - BEFORE it gets
so bad that God must get us out (Exodus 5:23; Luke 21:20).

The nations only hasten God's judgment upon themselves, digging
their own graves, when they persecute us. Why should they be so
hateful? We're only delivering God's message of mercy that
enables them to save themselves. We're only offering them good
news! We're trying to protect them from an international
disaster! But like Jesus and the Two Witnesses, ours is a
thankless task! But should we quit and say to hell with them? No.
We must continue to offer a way out even if they choose to stay
trapped inside their sins. Everybody will be without an excuse.
It's better to be safe than sorry. Maybe a few more will manage
to escape in time (Amos 3:12; Isaiah 49:24). Jeremiah didn't stop
working until Jerusalem fell, and even then he kept on, but
shifted his emphasis to Israel's restoration!

Bold as Lions

Last year, on the Last Great Day, I was ARRESTED ON THE TEMPLE
MOUNT. Why? For reading my Bible! (The Jerusalem Post reported my
arrest, as well as publishing a letter from me about the
experience). That puts me in with some pretty good company
though, because all the apostles were arrested there too! Their
only "crime" was teaching God's truth! (Acts 5:17-29). The
religious authorities hounded them for calling a spade a spade,
indicting them for Jesus' murder. Instead of just going away and
shutting up, case closed, they publicly kept Christ's "wounds"
open. But what did they do to have such nerve? Earlier, on
another occasion, Peter and John were the first to get arrested
on the Temple Mount (Acts 4). They explained their situation to
the brethren, who immediately took it to God in heartfelt prayer.
They appealed to the Supreme Court of Heaven to take note of
their threatening environment. They made an URGENT APPEAL for
spiritual reinforcements! They confronted their problems head on
and specifically asked God to back up His Message with Miracles -
which He gladly did. God gave them courage to proclaim their
convictions. Instead of getting beaten into silence, they became
all the more bold! (Proverbs 28:1). They didn't shirk their
responsibilities, or go run and hide. Even Paul agreed that
nothing but trouble waited for him, but he was still determined
to go ahead with his travel plans (Acts 20:23).

Are you ready to take a public stand for God's truth? Are you
ready to pray for each other, as if your lives depended on it?
Because they do! I'm anxious to return to Jerusalem, where I'm
known by the authorities, to continue to demonstrate my love for
Zion with the Temple Mount Faithful - even if it means my death
or imprisonment (Acts 21:13). I've had friends express concern
that I could get killed for speaking out. But I refuse to be
deterred from the Work God has called me to do by personal sins
or weaknesses, angry Jews or irate Arabs, incensed "Christians"
or petty politicians! How about you? Won't you do what you can to
help promote God's truth contained within BEYOND BABYLON? It must
get published in Israel. This Work requires an "inside job" (Joel
2:1-15). What has happened to me, as a representative of God's
Church in the Middle East, presents a CHALLENGE and an
OPPORTUNITY for the brethren. Those privileged few who take part
in God's Work of physical preparation for Christ's Coming are
spiritually being prepared for Jesus' Return. Show your support
for Jerusalem. God has a special message for the Jews (Isaiah
40:9). Let's make sure it gets delivered!

(Published in a 1996, special edition of The National Messenger.
It is provided as a public service and carries no subscription
price. It is supported entirely through the voluntary
contributions of those who wish to take a more active role in
proclaiming God's end-time Warning Message to the modern
descendants of Jacob (Jeremiah 30:7; Ezekiel 33:7), including the
American, British and Jewish brother nations. Editorial
correspondence: The National Messenger, 751 Valley Circle Drive
#105, Saline, Michigan 48176).