The new wave of feminism is nothing to do with love, life or liberation.
On Wednesday of next week (8 March), it will be International Women’s Day.
Coinciding with this, some 673 protest marches are being planned in cities around the world – 35 countries have expressed interest so far – and a ‘general strike’ is being called, that women everywhere might express their resentment about inequality by walking out of their jobs and onto the street, placards held high. It’s being called ‘A Day Without a Woman’.
This strike and the marches are the latest in an apparent ‘new wave’ of feminist activism since Trump took the US presidency – though actually it started before this and elsewhere, with protests against gender violence in Argentina and a mass revolt in Poland against a proposed abortion ban.
But, as with the many other increasingly militant manifestations of liberal protest, this new wave of feminist demonstration deserves some closer analysis.
Boycotting What?
So, what is Wednesday’s march all about?
Last month, several prominent female academics and activists introduced ‘A Day Without a Woman’ in The Guardian, as “a day of striking, marching, blocking roads, bridges, and squares, abstaining from domestic, care and sex work, boycotting, calling out misogynistic politicians and companies, striking in educational institutions.”1
The article presents a stirring call to women to stand up against wage inequalities, job insecurity and male violence. It seems attractive at first – indeed, for many decades the feminist movement has been inviting, even for Christian women. It is hard to argue against recognising the contribution that women make to national economies, or the need to protest against domestic violence.
A new wave of increasingly militant feminist activism is beginning.
However, there is more to it than this. Further down the manifesto, the group ally themselves with a “new, more expansive feminist movement” that not only protests the usual inequalities, but also radically pushes the LGBT agenda and rails against “xenophobic immigration policies”.2
The National Review criticises the planned demonstrations as representing “a standard, vague list of clichéd left-wing hobbyhorses, not a principled protest engaging current policy problems.”3
So what is really going on – and why are these protests being described as more ‘militant’4 than ever before?
Behind the Scenes
Co-organisers of Wednesday’s march (the US variant) include Rasmea Yousef Odeh, a convicted Palestinian terrorist who spent 10 years in prison for her part in two bombings of Israeli students, and Angela Davis, former leader of the Communist Party USA and long-time supporter of the violent Black Panther movement. This kind of leadership alone suggests that more is going on here than merely a groundswell of popular concern for the welfare of women.
Despite this, the campaign is being presented in a very positive, accessible light. The website is pleasant to look at (with more than a hint of pink in the colour scheme – surely not!) and encourages women to join a movement happening “In the same spirit of love and liberation that inspired the Women's March” of January.5
The problem with this statement is that it’s simply not true; news coverage of the January march made it clear that it was far from loving and liberating – from Madonna’s virulent and vulgar speech to the hate and rejection directed at pro-life women trying to join the proceedings. In fact, it rapidly became clear that only one brand of feminism is welcome in this new ‘movement’: that which accepts ultra-left-wing attitudes towards life and liberty.
There is more going on here than merely a groundswell of popular concern for the welfare of women.
It should come as no surprise, then, that one quarter of the feminist groups that took part in the January march owe some $90 million in funding to ultra-left-wing billionaire George Soros.6 Soros, a former Clinton supporter, is well-known for using his fortune to fund groups around the world that promote (among other things) abortion, the destruction of biblical gender roles and relations, and the globalist vision of broken-down national borders, too often by seeding anarchic protests.
Selective Campaigning
Women's march in Washington, January 2017. See Photo Credits.So, despite appearances, these protests are not just popping out of the ground spontaneously, but represent some deeper and more insidious agendas. Meanwhile, back on the surface, the fact that these agendas fail to translate into genuine concern for women is drawing accusations of hypocrisy.
For instance, commentators are lamenting that thousands of women are somehow being mobilised to shout about perceived gender inequalities in the Western world (where women have more freedoms and opportunities than anywhere else on earth) whilst completely ignoring situations of far worse oppression elsewhere (e.g. much of the Middle East, where women are prohibited from walking unaccompanied down a street, for example).
Instead, critics are suggesting, the feminism currently taking to our streets seeks to stir up anger amongst thousands of normal and well-meaning citizens, against vague and easily warped ideas of ‘oppression’, whilst turning a blind eye to genuine issues of real inequality.
In other words, it seems more concerned with fomenting anarchy than with solving real problems.
LGBT Agenda
As such, these marches and protests are not the place to go if you’re looking for a constructive definition of femininity or womanhood. In fact, the entire movement fails to offer a concrete, helpful vision for what being a woman actually means – largely because it isn’t concerned with that.
The Guardian manifesto pitches the movement as “anti-racist, anti-imperialist, anti-heterosexist and anti-neoliberal”7 – but this long list of ‘antis’ revealingly leaves out any ‘fors’. The entire movement is negative and destructive - and as such, risks leaving women feeling confused about what they are actually fighting for.
However, a key part of what the campaign is really for is hidden in the term ‘anti-heterosexist’, above. Rather than being about the welfare of all women, regardless of sexual orientation, this campaign is more about pushing LGBT ‘rights’ and challenging heterosexual norms, in the guise of protest against ‘gender oppression’.
The campaign is less about the welfare of all women and more about pushing LGBT rights.
The manifesto deliberately pitches the purposes of Wednesday’s strike and marches as “to mobilize women, including trans women, and all who support them in an international day of struggle”.8
This positions the whole movement as part of the much bigger sexual revolution that has been going on since the 1960s, seeking to ‘liberate’ people from the perceived ‘shackles’ of heteronormativity - that is, the established, biblical norms of heterosexual family life. In other words, it is simply the latest manifestation of revolt against the boundaries set by God, in direct rebellion against our Creator.
Don’t be fooled by the use of Donald Trump as a focus for anger and protest on Wednesday. This is not one bit about Trump – it’s about God.
Ugly Anarchy
At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I believe this entire movement is actually satanic in origin, because it involves such clear and orchestrated rebellion against biblical principles. Personally, I am delighted that God made me female – but I am equally passionate about promoting his vision for womanhood (and all that this entails, including femininity, sexuality, marriage, motherhood), not the morally relative vision of postmodern feminism, which is already a long way down a very slippery slope.
Whilst thousands of women are being mobilised by vague talk of ‘inequality’ and ‘injustice’, inspired to march by a confusing mixture of causes, by its fruits shall this new movement be known. Nobody is being ‘liberated’ by the protests, which are increasingly angry, vulgar and violent. They seem to be more of a Trojan horse for anti-establishment anarchy than for genuine democratic protest – the enemy thrashing his tail, as we noted last week.
But the word says “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!” (Isa 5:20-21).
The latest 'feminist' protests are a Trojan horse for anti-establishment anarchy, not genuine democratic protest.
What Can We Do?
It’s time for Christians everywhere – men and women – to turn to the word and ask God to open our eyes afresh to a positive, scriptural definition of femininity and womanhood (and masculinity and manhood!). It is this biblical vision alone that can offer a living, breathing, soul-quenching alternative to modern feminism.
If you were considering joining the strike on Wednesday (apparently 15 cities and towns in the UK will host a march of some kind), I would urge you to abstain – and perhaps instead to consider hosting some kind of alternative event in the near future, to help others near you explore the Lord’s vision for the two genders.
Let’s also respond to the ‘new wave’ of feminism with a ‘new wave’ of prayer. Today happens to be the Women’s World Day of Prayer, and women (and men) all around the world will be gathering to hold a special service celebrating God’s creation of women and thanking him for his blessings.
Why not use this as a reminder to pray over Wednesday’s marches: that they will fail to foment violence, and actually cause disillusionment amongst women, prompting them to question what they are getting involved with and the kind of vision for gender, sexuality, life and liberty that it promotes. Pray that God will turn the enemy’s plans for good.
References
1 Alcoff, LM, Arruzza, C, Bhattacharya, T et al. Women of America: we're going on strike. Join us so Trump will see our power. The Guardian, 6 February 2017.
2 Ibid.
3 Wilhelm, H. The embarrassing confusion of the 'women's strike'. The National Review, 22 February 2017.
4 See note 1.
6 Soros gave $90m to feminist anti-Trump protest groups. Liberty Headlines, 17 January 2017.
7 See note 1.
8 See note 1.
Last week's Songs of Praise included 'worship' in a mosque.
I'm not usually shocked by the BBC but I watched Songs of Praise last Sunday and I was deeply offended to see them include so-called ‘worship’ in a mosque and the visit of children from a local primary school where the one Muslim boy in the village attended. The BBC's Muslim Head of Religious Programming is slowly changing all the Christian slots - now even Songs of Praise, the flagship of Christian broadcasting, is under attack.
Lord Reith’s original vision for the BBC was to broadcast TRUTH to the world. But now the Corporation has been taken over by a cabal of secular humanists who do not even know what truth is! I cannot help but feel that Trump was right to ban the BBC from the White House! They cannot be trusted to report accurately – they instead seem to be in the business of twisting the truth to achieve their own purposes.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that the BBC is dedicating itself to undermining the Judaeo-Christian foundations of the nation and that they are even prepared to use Islam as a weapon in this process. We warmly commend the article below from Voice for Justice and ask you to sign their petition.
The Perfidy and Contempt of the BBC
In November last year, following complaints of unacceptable Muslim bias and the deliberate marginalization of Christianity by its Muslim Head of Religion and Ethics, Aaqil Ahmed, the BBC announced that it was axing both the role of Head and the department of religion, bringing all religious programming and coverage under the remit of former Labour MP James Purnell, the head of radio and education.
However, on February 25, the BBC quietly announced that it had appointed another Muslim, Fatima Salaria, as its new Head of Religious Programming.
It would seem therefore that, in clear disregard of their earlier statement, the BBC has not only resurrected this role, but appears to be operating a policy of Islamic prioritization, once again ignoring the pleas of all other religious groups in the UK for proportionate and fair representation.
Ms Salaria’s most notable achievement since joining the BBC in 2015 would appear to have been to commission the TV reality show Muslims like Us, described in the press as ‘Muslim Big Brother’. It may be remembered that in this programme, among the ten Muslim housemates - chosen to reflect the diverse views of Muslims in the UK - was included Abdul Haqq, a Muslim convert, former boxing champion, convicted fraudster … and member of the inner circle of jailed radical cleric Anjem Choudary. But it gets worse, because Mr Haqq reportedly not only supported banned terror group Al-Muhajiroun, but was arrested in 2014 in Dover, and later charged with plotting to go to Syria to fight with Islamic State after spreading terrorist material online.
His inclusion, put forward without comment as merely one view among many, can only have served to ‘normalise’ extremism, and is an affront to all - including moderate Muslims honestly striving to integrate into British culture.
Do we really want someone who commissions programmes like this as head of religion for the BBC? Do we trust her to give proportionate and fair representation to all religious groups? Do we trust the BBC? Or do we share the view of Professor Anthony Glees of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies, who told The Mail: “If a BBC executive makes a programme that is notorious and then the BBC promotes them, it tells me that the BBC has in that area lost its moral compass.”
Ms Salaria is on record as saying the BBC needs to give greater voice to Muslims. It is a view that seems to have been swallowed hook, line, and sinker by dementedly ‘diverse’ Auntie, who seemingly takes every opportunity to undermine and pour derision on those who espouse the traditional Christian beliefs and values upon which our nation is founded. But exactly what voice does Ms Salaria class as authentically ‘Muslim’ and wish to be heard? After all, from the example of Abdul Haqq, she appears to have no problem supporting what the rest of us call extremism,
It goes without saying that there is religious diversity in this country, and all faiths should receive proportionate coverage. But Christianity remains the established faith of the UK and, despite declining church attendance, according to the 2011 census Christians still make up 59.5% of the population: a clear majority. Given therefore that Christianity is the main faith of this country, surely the head of religious programming should be Christian - or at the very least, as advocated by Conservative MP Bill Cash, the post should be rotated between the different faiths. Which should include Judaism, Hinduism and Sikkhism … as well as Islam.
As it is, this new appointment seems deliberately insulting both to Christians and to followers of other belief systems, and part of an orchestrated attempt to Islamise the UK. Such an attitude displays not just contempt, but is a betrayal of the principles and values on which the UK is founded. For these reasons VfJUK joins those who argue that the BBC is no longer fit for purpose. We call for urgent investigation into the Corporation’s governance and purpose, and for review of the licence fee.
Please sign our new petition to the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, calling for urgent investigation into the BBC's governance and leadership. Sign here.
Israeli backpacker finds Yeshua in far-off New Zealand.
An Israeli backpacker had to travel to the other side of the world before finding the Jewish Messiah no-one had told him about at home.
Born and raised in a secular kibbutz (and knowing almost nothing about Jesus), Omri Jaakobovich was taken aback when the Dutch-born host of his hostel in Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, kept referring to him as one of God’s ‘chosen people’.
Like most Israelis, he had been horrified by the relatively recent assassination of then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by an Orthodox Jew in the name of God.
So he challenged his host: “What’s so chosen or so much better about us Jews?” adding that for the first time in history a Jew had killed the chosen leader of the Jewish nation.
But he was shocked by her reply: “It’s not the first time that the Jews have killed the chosen leader of the Jewish nation.”
“What are you talking about?” he wondered.
“This is what you did to Yeshua,” was her response.
Realising that Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus) was a Jew like himself, Omri’s interest was piqued: “Were they trying to hide something from me?” he pondered. “How come they told me absolutely nothing about him in Israel?”
Having wrestled since he was a child with the question, ‘Why was I born if one day I have to die?’ it now seemed logical to him that, ‘if Yeshua has been raised from the dead, maybe I too can be resurrected.’
The Veil Lifted
A chance meeting with another Israeli backpacker who had a Tanach (what Christians call an Old Testament) among his belongings led Omri to start reading its prophecies.
And seeing Yeshua in every one of them, he became convinced beyond any doubt that Yeshua was indeed the promised Messiah – though at this stage he thought he was the only Jewish believer in Jesus as he didn’t know of any others!
A Christian Omri met then read 2 Corinthians 3:14 to him, which says that only when Jews turn to Christ will the veil (of understanding) be lifted from their eyes.
There was no voice from heaven, he recalls, but he realised right then and there that he needed to start telling his people about it. So he began sharing his faith with every Israeli who came to the hostel. And within just four months, the man who gave him the Bible also came to faith.
HIT’s Impact
Omri subsequently founded a unique travel programme aimed at offering cheap accommodation for young Israeli backpackers and at the same time giving an opportunity for Christians to express their indebtedness to Israel for the Bible, salvation and, above all, their Saviour.
Host Israeli Travellers (HIT) has since provided inexpensive rooms in a friendly home environment to more than 15,000 youngsters touring the world after their demanding stints in the Israeli Defence Forces.
Beginning in New Zealand, which has become a favourite destination for young Israelis, it has now also spread to Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong and the UK.
HIT membership cards are available for a nominal fee and most hosts make only a small charge of up to £5 a night to cover overheads, though many still prefer to offer rooms free.
“One of the most significant developments over the years has been the ever-increasing openness of these young people to spiritual matters,” a spokeswoman said.
And Omri is now encouraging the Church to take up its calling to provoke the Jews to jealousy by sharing the Gospel with them (Rom 11:11, 14; also Rom 10:14).
To learn more, or to sign up, visit www.hitinternational.net.
David Sudlow examines God's prophetic timeline for Israel.
Understanding God’s prophetic timeline for Israel is key to understanding his plans and purposes for the entire world, especially as the return of Jesus Messiah draws near. But Scripture often communicates this timeline to us using language and imagery that is mysterious.
In this article, David Sudlow, former Director of Christians for Israel (USA), offers his perspective on two such chapters - Ezekiel 38 and 39 – in relation to the current world situation.
His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Prophecy Today Editorial Team, but we believe it is important to open a debate on this subject – so why not discuss David’s article and contribute your own ideas by posting below?
Almost 70 years ago, on 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that called for the creation of a Jewish state. Since then, there has been a converging of events bringing new relevance to many Old and New Testament prophecies.
God is faithful to all His covenant promises to Israel, the Church and his Creation. Great days are ahead for the fulfilling of the Gospel of the Kingdom. As we see God’s great covenant promises coming to pass for His firstborn, Israel; we are assured that our redemption is certain - the Lord’s coming is very near:
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thess 5:2-3)
The fulfilment of any prophecy, however, is dependent upon God’s timing, in his step-by-step master plan of creation and redemption. It is truly a progressive vision. This was true of my heritage as a 5th-generation Christian Zionist. In the 19th Century, my forefathers prayed for and then recognised the beginning of the re-gathering of the Jewish people to their historic land of Israel. Today, we see God bringing his prophetic word to a new maturity and we are called afresh to stand for God’s promises for Israel.
But for what are we watching and waiting? What is next on God’s timeline for Israel – and how does that relate to the current world situation?
Stages of Fulfilment
Just as they have been through history, the Jewish people are again at the epicentre of controversy and increasingly are becoming the scapegoat for the world’s woes. Also within this epicentre are Christians, with over 900,000 killed in the last ten years1 in an increase in persecution which points to the Great Tribulation.
It is evident from the scriptures and recent history that the restoration of the Jews to their own land is to happen in successive stages. We have witnessed the first stage taking place before the second coming of Christ, with a partial restoration: Jews have returned in great numbers to the Land, but not knowing Jesus and facing the evil hatred of their enemies.
The next stage will be total, by the mighty hand of God, and will take place in the final act of Christ’s second coming. Then will Israel be converted unto Him and “they shall look upon me whom they have pierced” and believe that Jesus is the Lord (Zech 12:10).
As we see God’s great covenant promises coming to pass for His firstborn, Israel; we are assured that our redemption is certain.
Gog and Magog War
Through the Prophet Ezekiel, the Lord foretold with remarkable clarity what we have seen this century in the re-birth of the Israeli state. From the 36th chapter of Ezekiel to the end of the book is one great prophecy concerning the restoration of the Jewish nation.
It is in the middle of this prophecy that we see ‘Gog’ coming up against the Jews whilst they are already living in their land. In Ezekiel 36:2, we see the boast of Israel’s enemies: “the high places [that is Jerusalem and the land of Israel] are ours in possession”. Ezekiel 38-39 prophesies a confederacy of nations coming against Israel, in what has become known as the ‘Gog and Magog War’.
But who is Gog, and what is his goal and the goal of those in league with him?
Many ‘end times’ theologians agree – and I would concur - that Russia will be the leading source of the Gog confederacy, while ‘Magog’ refers to the lands from which they come. Using their historic names, Ezekiel clearly describes Russia, Iran, Turkey and others aligned with them in this anti-Israel alliance: “Gomer and all his bands, the house of Togarmah of the North quarters, Persia, Ethiopia and Libya, and many peoples with them” (Ezek 38:5).
Please don’t misinterpret the current crisis in the Middle East as mere political moves. The ‘Gog and Magog War’ appears to be in the birth throes of fulfilment, right before our eyes.
It is evident from the scriptures and recent history that the restoration of the Jews to their own land is to happen in successive stages.
Final Victory
We also know from Ezekiel that Gog will come up against Jerusalem and be defeated by the righteous judgment of God: “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I AM the LORD” (Ezek 38:23).
But this prediction concerning Gog has more to it than just the judgment of God on the armies Russia will bring against Israel.
This war for Jerusalem contains within it a description of the final destruction which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will execute upon the last enemy that comes against Israel in their own land: the final Antichrist, who will be leader of a confederacy of all nations. He will not only be head of the lands depicted as ‘Magog’, but also be in control of all the area which was previously occupied by the four great monarchies foretold by Daniel (Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome) (see also Joel 3:1-2; Rev 19:17-21).
The US and Europe
Will the USA and Europe be part of this soon ‘Gog and Magog’ war? The United Nations and the European Union are already complicit by their actions against Israel, so it is not hard to contemplate their potential involvement. Their leading role in the recent UN 2334 vote (led by the US) is all the proof one needs.
The word of the LORD is sure and modern Israel is proof that he will stand with his covenant people against all odds. Since their War of Independence, every time their enemies have attacked them with the goal of destroying them, Israel has received more of their biblical land inheritance. Our God will get all the glory in this war and Israel will be miraculously saved - like they were in 1948, 1967, 1973 and have been ever since.
Will the USA and Europe be part of this soon ‘Gog and Magog’ war?
Israel and Donald Trump
Where does President Trump come into this? Most conservative American Christians supporting Israel voted for Trump. For us, he was the best choice for America, compared to a continuation of Barack Obama’s policies if Hillary Clinton was elected. Many of us are thankful for the outcome of the election and believe God heard our prayers of repentance. We believe that in Trump, America and Israel have been given a reprieve from the diabolical anti-Christian and anti-Israel policies enacted by Barack Obama.
Yet many Christians, including myself, have good reason to be cautious and are not letting down our guard.
Donald Trump is a man of great human pride and he does not represent a revival. Those who are wondering about where Israel may end up with a President Trump peace plan should take heed. His ‘America first’ and prosperity message are a big part of his popular appeal. In turn, he has gathered around him many Christians, some of whom hold to Dominion Theology ideas which teach deceptive interpretations of Scripture.
The main error of Dominionism affects how one views Christ’s Second Coming (and therefore all the scriptures previously mentioned concerning Israel). It promotes the old idea that the Church will take control of the nations and then Jesus will be able to return.
Will President Trump successfully move the US Embassy to Jerusalem and will God allow Trump’s policies in the Middle East to put off the Gog and Magog War to a later time?
The word of the LORD is sure and modern Israel is proof that he will stand with his covenant people against all odds.
Mix that with Trump’s deal-making expertise and we may end up with a modified plan for a two-state solution. Trump really believes he can bring a lasting peace. He has appointed Jared Kushner to be a senior cabinet advisor with the job of brokering a new peace agreement; Kushner is married to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, who went through a vigorous conversion in 2009 in order to marry Mr Kushner, an Orthodox Jew. They observe Shabbat, keep Kosher and worship at an Orthodox synagogue in New York City. President Trump said to Kushner, “If you can’t produce peace in the Middle East, nobody can.”2
We can reply that a lasting peace will not come until Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, reigns from Jerusalem.
Need for True Repentance
The prosperity and safety message of the Trump presidency and the national stirrings within the nations of Europe are not enough to deter God’s righteous judgments. There has only ever been one message that brings genuine revival and that is our turning back to Christ in true repentance.
The truth is, the anti-Christ crowd is re-grouping and will march again with a vengeance in the near future. Meanwhile, we the Church are not facing the real issues of our departure from God. It is obvious that many in the Western Church are more ready to welcome Christ’s greatest imposter than our Saviour Jesus. We have left the Lord and His principles and are asleep to our real situation – we are the epitome of the Laodicean church.
Prayers for the Peace of Jerusalem
The Lord Jesus Christ is coming “as a thief in the night” and great judgments are on the horizon for all those who ignore God’s promises for Israel and the Gospel of the Kingdom.
The promise of peace and safety can lull us to sleep unless we stay spiritually alert. During this time of reprieve, it is important that we redeem the time in prayer and dedication for God’s work. While we pray with the spirit, we have to pray with the understanding also, and our attitude and behaviour must make God’s answer possible.
It is sure that the enemies of Israel and the Church are not going to be silent. The United Nations’ anti-Semites are always looking for their next attack. Israel knows this full well; it is never the question of IF there will be another attack or war, but WHEN. We as the Lord’s watchmen must keep vigilant with the same alertness.
In view of all this, how then should we pray?
Prayer Points for the Peace of Jerusalem:
- To speak the truth in love as we speak up for Israel and the hope within us.
- To stand firmly for the Jewish people and their returning to Israel.
- For the Lord to confuse world leaders who ignore God’s promises for Israel.
- For Christians and Jews to see the folly of a two-state solution for peace.
- For the Lord’s grace and protection for Palestinian Christians.
- For God’s mercy on today’s Laodicean church that we may find true repentance.
- For God the Father to send His Son, Jesus Christ.
OUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR. In the blessed hope - for the peace of Jerusalem.
References
1 Smith, S. Over 900,000 Christians Martyred for Their Faith in Last 10 Years: Report. Christian Post, 16 January 2017.
2 Tibon, A. Trump to Kushner: If You Can't Produce Middle East Peace, Nobody Can. Haaretz, 20 January 2017.
About the author: David Sudlow and his wife Nita are married for 29 years and live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where they have been raising their ten children. His formative years were in Philadelphia where he worked as a carpenter. In 1995 he was instrumental in the formation of Christians for Israel in the USA and Canada and served as Director and Editor. He has worked with a number of ministries as a layman and traveled in 25 countries. David worships with his family in the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Clifford Denton begins a new series on living Hebraically.
Two notable things have influenced relationships between the Christian Church and Israel during the last 70 years. One is the return of Israel to their ancient Land. The second is a desire by Christians to rediscover the roots of their faith.
The latter has grown exponentially over the last two to three decades. Indeed, the former is enabling the latter to take place, with tours to Israel available to millions of Christians and interaction with Messianic Jews helping Christians to research their historic roots.
It is a special time on the prophetic calendar. Many Christians have woken up to the understanding that when the Christian Church began to move away from its association with Israel, Greek and Roman influences infiltrated the doctrines and culture of the Church to fill a theological void.
Eloquent (in human terms) though such theologies have been, and as much as they are somewhat Bible-based, much has been neglected as a result of this, leading many of us today to re-consider what the so-called ‘early Church fathers’ passed on. This is prompting a desire to break from much Christian tradition and to re-connect more firmly with the culture and community of disciples and apostles of the 1st Century. All that they passed on from the rich heritage that preceded the sacrificial ministry of the Lord Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua HaMashiach) is now being studied afresh.
It is a special time on the prophetic calendar.
On the negative side, in some quarters there has developed an over-fascination for all things Jewish, evidenced by an over-reaction against the historic Christian Church and a move towards practices of the synagogue that are more traditional than biblical.
However, more broadly there is a wealth of good fruit being born as a result of this revival of interest in Jewish roots. The number of ministries and individuals exploring the long-lost foundations of Christianity has burgeoned, and there are some excellent resources and events now available to believers to equip them on their own personal exploration of this topic.
In the 1990s, Prophecy Today was connected to two pioneering works in this respect: one was Tishrei, a quarterly journal; the other was Pardes, a teaching ministry involving both a journal and regular teaching days.
It is time to re-group and consider the fruits of these and other pioneering works. In this short series of articles, we plan to bring fresh focus to the quest to rediscover the roots of our faith.
Hebraic or Jewish?
From the beginning of this ministry it has been difficult to choose words to convey our intent accurately.
In Tishrei we chose to say that we were ‘re-discovering the Jewish roots of the Christian faith’. This had a good ‘ring’ to it, but could be misunderstood. It seemed a good term at the time because it was the Jews to whom Yeshua came, to interpret Torah into New Covenant truth. Indeed, though much could be criticised concerning the way Torah had been interpreted by the Jews, it was nevertheless the Jews who were the custodians of the entire heritage brought by God - first to Israel and then fulfilled through Yeshua for all, Jew and Gentile. Indeed, whatever else we think of Israel and Judah, Yeshua is the King of the Jews.
On the negative side, this terminology can seem to imply that we are blinkered to all except the Jewish heritage. Indeed, if one goes out of balance one can easily fall into ‘the Galatian heresy’ that Paul warned about (Gal 3).
There is a wealth of good fruit being born as a result of this revival of interest in Jewish roots.
Pardes introduced the phrase ‘Biblical and Hebraic’. This phrase does not imply Jewish heritage but emphasises the balanced perspective of being Bible-based whilst interpreting Scripture with a Hebraic mindset.
Over the years, my view is that it is easy to go out of balance towards elements of Judaism that are more traditional than biblical. Indeed, we are at a point where a review of what we are seeking is appropriate. Let us therefore begin to consider what it is to be Hebraic. In this first article of the series we will consider the life of faith.
Going Back to the Start: Abraham
Abraham was the first Hebrew and is considered the father of the faithful (Rom 4:11-12). In that he was considered to be father of both the circumcised and the uncircumcised, here we have a major point of continuity between the Old and New Covenants, and between Jews and Christians. Paul, in Romans 4, made it clear that Abraham achieved this standing through his life of faith.
The word 'Hebrew' (eevrit) comes from the word Avar which means to cross over, pass over, or pass away. Abraham obeyed God and, with his family, left Ur, a prominent city of the ancient world that recognised many gods. Via Haran, he crossed over to the Promised Land that became the Land of Israel, the land given by God to his descendants.
The account of Abraham is from Genesis 11 to 25. It is a simple story in many ways, but touches the depths that all of us experience in seeking to walk out a life of faith. This is the beginning of our search for our Hebrew roots. Abraham moved away from one place to go to another and in so doing gave up security rooted in this life for a life of faith.
In this series we will begin to consider what it is to be Hebraic.
The Journey of Faith
Interestingly, the Hebrew word emoonah can be translated as both ‘faith’ and ‘faithfulness’, teaching us that there is no such thing as static faith – it grows and matures through our actions taken through trust in God.
God is faithful to His people and our lives, motivated by trust (faith) in God are to show faithfulness in all our actions.
Abraham’s life of faith was to be a model for all his physical descendants, the Tribes of Israel, and for all who would be added to this covenant community through faith in Yeshua. His journey of faith was through a real, ‘normal’ human life in this physical world. Yet he trusted God for all that had been promised to him, including Isaac, the son of his old age, and a land for his descendants who would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
The physical journey was also a metaphor for the spiritual journey. The greater fulfilment of the promise of a land to dwell in was for the coming Kingdom of God – “a city which has foundations, whose maker and builder is God” (Heb 11:10).
The writer to the Hebrews understood that “faith [or faithfulness] is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Hebrews 11 then describes many of the great men and women of faith (faithfulness) who, like Abraham, looked forward to the fulfilment of all God’s promises, finally and fully enabled through Yeshua.
Abraham’s model to them and us was to live a life that witnessed to the trust they had in the living God of Israel. Thus, living out a life of faith like Abraham is at the foundation of our faith, whether we are Jews or Christians.
Abraham modelled a life of trust in the living God of Israel.
Growing in Faith
There is an insightful article available in the Tishrei archives, written by Tom Hamilton. It is entitled The Greek Middle Voice. Interestingly and emphatically, Hamilton argued not from the Hebrew language but from using the Greek language of the New Testament how Abraham pleased God because of his faith.
Though the author argued through the Greek, however, it is Hebraic principles that are being studied. Argument through the Greek is necessary because the New Testament comes to us in the Greek language. Whatever Hebrew versions of at least some of the New Testament books were originally written, none are available now, and so Greek translations or originals are all we currently have. This means that there is a principle in our search for Hebraic foundations: that we must read the Greek New Testament through Hebrew principles.
Tom Hamilton highlighted the fact that Greek verbs have three forms: active, passive and middle (neither active nor passive). Here is the section of his article on Abraham’s faith:
Here, in this verse [Romans 4:20], we are told that Abraham "was strong in faith, giving glory to God."
The usual translations indicate a strength in Abraham (by use of the adjective "strong"). In the Greek, however, the verb ENDUNAMO is used, meaning to "infuse strength into something". It is found in the middle voice, and some would term it an example of a "reflexive middle". This would give it the meaning that Abraham “strengthened himself in faith", leaving Abraham playing a very "active" part in the strengthening of his faith. However, such a rendering would have been possible by the use of an Active verb together with a reflexive pronoun. So whether a reflexive middle exists could be open to debate.
We may thus reject such an "active" rendering, but neither was Abraham merely "passive" in the relationship. Relationships can never be totally passive. Abraham was certainly involved and was active in certain respects. However, his activity was always in complete harmony with his dependence upon God Himself. This, perhaps, is our key to understanding what was meant here in the use of the Middle Voice - a dependent and a needful, but not a completely passive Abraham.
How can we adequately translate this verse? Firstly, the word "faith" in the Greek is in the dative case. This has two possibilities. Was it Abraham's faith that was strengthened? Or was it the instrument used in the strengthening of Abraham? (i.e., was it "strengthened in faith", or "strengthened by faith". Faith, in Eph 2.8, is God's instrument whereby He saves us by grace). Secondly, how do we express Abraham's own role in relation to this process of strengthening? We know it was not either totally active or passive. I suggest, with our limited L2 equivalent language, the following two possibilities:-
"Abraham had himself strengthened with respect to his faith" or "Abraham had himself strengthened by faith"
(In each case, a weak and dependent Abraham).
The Hebrew language is verb-orientated, not noun-orientated. Our Western, Greek-influenced minds might consider Abraham’s faith as being a spiritual substance held within his spirit (noun), so that the possession of this substance pleased God.
If we carry this into our theology, faith becomes something to acquire and possibly strive for - we might even judge one another on our strength of possessing this faith. This is a sort of passive, even static idea of faith as an object, with God assessing and measuring how much of it we possess in our inner beings.
If this were how we are to view faith, very quickly the possession of such faith becomes an issue requiring work to acquire it.
Tom Hamilton’s article, however, points out that Abraham did not please God through a commodity he possessed, but by being willing (verb) to let God build his faith. It was Abraham who pleased God, not the faith in him. Abraham was not totally passive, nor was he actively striving; he was willing to obey God on the journey of life and thereby grow in faith.
The Hebrew language is verb-orientated, not noun-orientated. This impacts our theology.
James speaks of Abraham’s faith being active once acquired. The works that James speaks of were a result of a faithful life - not works to acquire faith. Abraham, as a consequence of his walk with God, gave living testimony of his trust in God (James 2:21-23). This is how Abraham pleased God.
Hebrew Root
Faith is the foundational issue for the covenant community. In searching out the foundations of Christianity through the continuity of covenant history, therefore, our primary call is to discover, like Abraham, how to walk with God and please God. This transcends much Christian theology and also much Jewish tradition.
The life of faith is not primarily lived through our attendance at church meetings, but in all aspects of our everyday lives. In that God builds our faith on this journey through life (if we are willing to let him), this is an ongoing experience through many years and in all sorts of ways tailored for us as individuals.
If we separate our concept of faith off from its Hebraic foundations, mistakes can creep in as they have in some branches of the Christian Church today. One mistake is in the movement that sees faith as manifesting itself in prosperity. Another is in the expectation that faith is proved by physical healing, so much so that a person is sometimes made to feel guilty and lacking faith by being ill.
Whilst, in balance, the life of faith can bring seasons of prosperity, success and health, faith often grows through the valley experiences as much as on the mountaintops of life. It is through a journey through the seasons of life that faith grows, as it did for our father Abraham. As for Abraham, so for all God’s people; God will be pleased if we trust him for that journey, which enables him to test and mature our faith in him, step by step. This is being Hebraic.
Next time: Halakhah: Walking with God.
Building the Sozo vision.
Last week we introduced Marion Daniels and the fledgling healing ministry God gave her, now known as Sozo Ministries International. The story continues…
God never wants his ministries to stand still or stagnate, and at Sozo Ministries International there was to be a dramatic transformation that would set it on a new path to a bigger future. For nearly 30 years they had ministered healing, deliverance and wholeness through Jesus Messiah.
During that time the Lord had given them a sincere love and respect for the Jewish Scriptures. For instance, teaching the benefits of the food laws in Leviticus and keeping a Sabbath had featured highly in their programme of instruction. But the overall impact of the Jewish roots of Christianity was missing until one highly significant day in 2006, when a Jewish lady sought Marion Daniel’s help.
Deliverance from Replacement Theology
During the prayer ministry it was revealed to Marion that what this lady was struggling with personally had a strong connection to her Jewishness, including to what the Jewish race as a whole has suffered from Gentiles over the centuries. Marion began to minister under the Holy Spirit from Romans 11 but as she did so she realised how much this was all new to her. God was using this ministry opportunity to minister to Marion also!
God began to open Marion’s eyes to what his ancient people had suffered in the past from many sections of the Christian Church and how a new freedom was needed here. She also realised how ignorant she was of the Hebraic roots of Christianity. Here was a real shock. How had the Church missed this?
God began to open Marion’s eyes to what his ancient people had suffered from many sections of the Christian Church.
Clearly a reassessment was needed, and so Marion began to explore this further through books and conferences, especially material by Derek Prince. She began to realise that her own ministry and that of Sozo had to take this seriously. The deliverers needed deliverance! The only way to renounce the effects of centuries of Replacement Theology was through full repentance. This also came about in a remarkable way.
Jewish Roots Ministry
The initial contact with the Jewish lady had opened their hearts to tentatively minister to others with a Jewish background and the first Jewish Roots Ministry Conference was planned. As their website testifies:
On that day, not only did the Lord minster to Jews but he also began to deliver the rest of us Gentiles from our anti-Semitic past. A deep conviction came upon us and we began to seriously investigate the Hebraic roots of our Christian faith. We discovered how the Church had deliberately severed these roots in the 3rd and 4th centuries and came face to face with the shameful history of Christian anti-Semitism and Britain’s own betrayal of the Jewish people during our administration of Palestine between the First and Second World Wars.
With repentance came the slow process of deliverance from Replacement Theology, which teaches the error that the church has replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people. As we grow the scriptures are coming alive in a new way as we lay aside our Greek mindset and allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds to once more think biblically like Hebrews. The transformation has not always been easy. But it has been worth it. It has been a joyous homecoming to once again embrace our Jewish Messiah, to take our place as grafted-in members of the commonwealth of Israel, and to celebrate the Moedim, God’s appointed times, the Feasts of The Lord as kept by the Jews.1
Here would be a new foundation for their existing ministry, one which would make the ministry stronger and enable Jewish people to come for healing and deliverance. The whole ministry team was taught about the errors of Replacement Theology, and came to repentance and a new understanding. With the leadership now in agreement, this was then shared with the whole congregation (available on CD from Sozo).
Provision for a New Building
Alongside this spiritual transformation and enlargement came the need for something more in the physical realm – a new and bigger building. To understand this part of the story it is necessary to go back in time.
From the outset, the ministry team had realised that it was important to always be debt-free. Whatever they required had to be affordable and paid for from the start. Trusting God for money and provision was the key to this.
As the ministry grew and developed during the 1980s the need for their own property became apparent. It was not enough just to hire the school at Romsey for bigger meetings. At first the solution was mobile homes and then a small rented office, all the while saving up for whatever the next opportunity would be. This turned out to be the chance around 1999 to buy part of an old pub, just one third of it, but enough to call their own. The school was still used for bigger meetings, but Sozo House was born!
From the outset, the ministry team had realised that it was important to always be debt-free.
Eventually this proved too small for their needs and once the opportunity arose to buy the rest of the pub they again sought God and the funds came in right on time. But the vision was still for more.
In 2013 the chance arose to buy Dunwood Manor Golf Club for the bargain price of £225,000. This not only offered just what was needed at the time in terms of offices and small meeting rooms but also had potential for further development in the future. As the money was already there, they bought it immediately and applied for change of use. Then a problem was discovered.
Also on the site were two residential bungalows, the owners of which could object to the application and block the necessary change of use. The only solution was to buy these also, but at normal residential sale prices, money which they simply did not have. But suddenly and unexpectedly, they received a legacy from someone who had been a supporter in the past but, due to advanced years, had not been in contact recently. However, she had not forgotten them, and nor had God! With the bungalows now part of the property everything could go ahead as planned and Dunwood Oaks became the new centre for Sozo Ministries International.
New Venue Now Open!
However, this was by no means the end. The original purchase of Dunwood Manor Golf Club site included a separate locker room with showers, something of great importance to golfers but no use to Sozo! But here was the further potential that the site offered: the chance to turn this into a large main meeting place and conference centre, making it no longer necessary to hire the school in Romsey. In fact, the best option financially and practically ended up being not to restore it as a separate building but to demolish, build new and join it on to the existing two buildings as an annexe.
Dunwood Oaks is now a major centre for healing and deliverance, and for Hebraic renewal.
The initial quote for this new build left enough money over from the legacy - even after the purchase of the two bungalows - that they could begin to finance this, starting with the dry shell. Faith and prayers would provide the rest. Inevitably, final costs exceeded the original quote but when a further £100,000 was needed this was raised in 8 weeks. Then continued generous giving after this came in to enable the final building to be upgraded and improved. The building was completed on time and opened early in January 2017.
As well as being the new venue for the Sunday meetings, up to 300 people can gather for conferences and to celebrate the feasts. Dunwood Oaks is now a major teaching and resource centre not just for healing and deliverance, but also for Hebraic renewal and the teaching of Jewish roots.
And to think it all started with a car accident!
References
1 Hebraic Renewal. Sozo Ministries International.
N.B. Marion Daniel and Sozo Ministries International are in no way affiliated to Bethel Sozo or the International Bethel Sozo Organization.
Our pick of the week's news to inform your prayers.
Society & Politics
- New NHS guidance encourages spiritual care for the dying: End of life care should go beyond medical assistance and include opening up conversations about life after death, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Read more here.
- Parliament to debate abortion up to full term: a new bill to decriminalise abortion up to birth, for any reason, will have its first reading on 13 March. Read more here.
- New genetics test could mean more sex-selective abortions: bio-ethicists warn that new prenatal screening, which would reveal the baby’s gender at 9-10 weeks, could lead to a rise in abortions of girls. Read more here.
- Exeter student leader under investigation for anti-Semitic tweets: Malaka Shwaikh, Vice-President of the University of Exeter’s post-graduates, posted that she is “proud to be called terrorist” in the latest of a series of anti-Semitic slurs. Read more here.
Church Issues
- Street preachers convicted of public order offences: Mike Overd and Michael Stockwell were fined and told that quoting the King James could be a “criminal matter”, in what Christian Concern are calling a modern-day heresy trial. The case against Adrian Clark was dropped. Read more here.
World Scene
- White paper lays out 5 pathways for EU future: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker presented the suggestions, which include ‘business as usual’, ‘single market only’ and fuller political integration options, this week in Brussels. Read more here.
- Islam largest religion in world by 2070: New statistics from the US-based Pew Research Centre say Muslims will outnumber Christians and make up 10% of Europe’s population. Click here for more details.
- New Disney film features ‘exclusively gay moment’: Disney’s remake of classic Beauty and the Beast, out this month, includes a sidekick character being re-modelled as gay. Read more here.
Israel & Middle East
- Exchange of fire continues at Israel-Gaza border: Another rocket fired from Gaza on Wednesday night and gunfire on IDF troops on Thursday prompted a retaliatory strike from Israel. Border clashes in the last month are prompting fears of escalation. Read more here.
- Egyptian Christians fleeing Sinai: Targeted killings of Coptic Christians in recent months by IS and its affiliates are forcing many believing families to evacuate the area. Read more here and here.
Upcoming Events
- UK Purim Celebration 2017 (11 March): London event. Special guest speakers, live worship, Jewish music and dancing. The Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. Book your ticket by calling (01793) 279111, or click here.
- ‘As One’ National Prayer Conference (13-15 March): Swanwick, World Prayer Centre. “Listen to God and pray in the new season.” Click here to find out more.
- Hope for Our Nation (18 March): Christian Concern host a day event at the Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. “Do you want to see society changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ? Come and understand today's challenges, and be equipped to bring hope to our nation.” Find out more and buy tickets here.
- ‘What are we teaching the Children?’ Conference (25 March): Find out how current education policy is influencing children in Britain and how Christians can respond, with Voice for Justice. Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. Click here for information and tickets.
Recommended Sources
At Prophecy Today UK we are aware that the world is moving very quickly and it is difficult to keep up with all the latest developments – especially when the material circulated by our mainstream media is increasingly far from reality and definitely not devoted to a biblical perspective!
Though we are not a news service, we want to help keep you informed by passing on updates and reports as we are led. This will be a selective, not an exhaustive, round-up, which we hope will be helpful for your prayers. Click here to browse our News archive.
We also recommend the following news services for regular updates from a Christian perspective:
- Christian Concern (UK)
- Christian Institute (UK)
- JNN News (Barry and Batya Segal, Israel)
- Family Watch International
- Barnabas Fund
- Kehila News (Israel)
- Saltshakers (Steve Maltz, UK)
Click below to browse our historic news round-ups.
2020
19 June: no issue
August: no issues
The battle is on for the foundations of our civilisation.
President Trump’s demolition of Obama’s legacy continued this week with the issuing of a directive overturning Obama’s federal guidance that students have unfettered access to whichever bathroom and locker room best matches their ‘gender identity’.
A joint letter sent out by the Departments of Justice and Education on Wednesday referred to the legal battles being fought in a number of States against the Obama directive, which was issued in May 2016. These State Governments have refused to comply with the federal guidance, on the grounds that boys claiming to be girls and exercising a right to use the girls’ toilets and showers would not only be an infringement of the rights of girls, but could expose them to acts of violence.
The Trump administration has cited these legal battles as justification for withdrawing the federal guidance issued by Obama, on the grounds that these complex legal issues all need to be clarified before education policy is finally established.
LGBT Backlash
LGBT rights groups immediately attacked the Trump administration saying “This is a mean-spirited attack on hundreds of thousands of students who simply want to be true to themselves and be treated with dignity while attending school.”1 That was said by Maria Keisling, Executive Director of the National Centre for Transgender Equality.
Trump’s demolition of Obama’s legacy continued this week with the issuing of a directive overturning Obama’s transgender bathroom guidance.
Of course, she gives no evidence for the claim that there are “hundreds of thousands” of children who want to change their gender; although no doubt with all the publicity being given to the subject, more children will think it is a good idea and climb onto the bandwagon! This has been part of the tactics of the LGBT lobby for a long time – to exaggerate the numbers involved and to gain publicity far above their numerical value.
‘Equality’ and ‘Tolerance’
The main line of attack used by LGBT groups is on the grounds of ‘equality’. In one of the lawsuits currently being pursued in the USA, a student is suing her school for refusing her permission to use the boys’ toilets because she is registered as a girl. A so-called medical expert stated “refusing to respect and affirm transgender students’ gender identity communicates a clear, negative message: there is something wrong with the student that warrants this unequal treatment.”2
‘Equality’ and ‘tolerance’ are the two main values put forward by the LGBT lobby as justification for their campaigns. However, do not be fooled by these smooth, positive-sounding words. The radical agenda of the LGBT lobby is (and always has been) to change the whole structure of Western society, with the ultimate goal of destroying our Judaeo-Christian biblical foundations. In Britain, way back in 1971, a collective of gay rights groups issued a ‘manifesto’ in which they stated that the traditional family was the start of all gay oppression and had to be destroyed.3
Do not be fooled by smooth, positive-sounding cries of ‘equality’ and ‘tolerance’.
Maria Miller, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee. See Photo Credits.Battle for the Foundations of Civilisation
What we are facing today is nothing less than a great spiritual battle to uproot the foundations of Western civilisation. Immediately after Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the USA, LGBT groups and other far-left radical political groups who had formed an alliance made an appeal for funds. The alliance is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In the first month, they raised more than $80 million as a war chest for fighting the Trump administration.
In Britain today, the same radical social engineers who are to trying to destroy our Christian heritage are supporting a Private Members Bill in Parliament. The ‘Gender Identity (Protected Characteristic) Bill 2016-2017’ is being debated today (Friday 24 February 2017), led by Maria Miller, who was David Cameron’s Equality Minister who drove through Parliament the Same-Sex Marriage Bill that was opposed by more than half of Cameron’s Conservative backbenchers.
Miller’s latest assault on traditional family life is aimed at stopping so-called ‘unjust discrimination’ against people on grounds of gender identity and allowing men into women’s changing facilities. The new thing about this Bill is that whereas until now it has been assumed that transgender people are those who have had some surgical adjustment to change their gender, this Bill redefines ‘gender identity’ in terms of a person’s subjective perception of themselves. So, anyone claiming to be a person of the opposite gender will have a right to use public conveniences of their choice!
Britain’s own transgender bathroom bill is being debated today.
The Nature of the Battle
It really is essential that Christians should recognise the spiritual nature of the battle in which we are all involved. This is not just a gender issue. Neither is this just a local issue. We are facing a fundamental attack upon the biblical revelation of the God of Creation, that is being mounted by secular humanists throughout the Western world. They have been carrying out a planned campaign of social engineering for 40 years.
Their first target was to destroy the Christian concept of family and marriage. They have certainly been highly successful in this by redefining marriage and changing the whole concept of family. We now live in a society where – increasingly – any and all forms of family life are considered acceptable, normal and equally valuable.
Their second target has been to brainwash children and young people: moulding them into radical protesters who can be quickly mobilised through social media to take to the streets on any issue that threatens their ‘equality’ and ‘tolerance’ agenda.
This is why we have seen huge demonstrations against Trump in the USA and many other nations in the Western world. In their eyes, Trump represents a threat to all they have achieved in the past 40 years, not least because in his administration are many committed Christians who are dedicated to holding firmly to traditional biblical values.
A Crooked Generation
This is the heart of the battle today. It is a result of God shaking the nations and revealing their deep and widespread corruption. These revelations have generated an awareness among ordinary people that our leaders cannot be trusted, which has led to the rise of populist movements in Britain, the USA and Europe that are challenging the ruling authorities.
But these ruling elites are not just well-known leaders: they are civil servants and local government officers and other minor officials who have been infiltrated and dominated by the liberal left.
The radical agenda of the LGBT lobby has always been to destroy the biblical foundations of Western society.
We need to avoid implying that there is some kind of joined-up dark conspiracy; but there is plenty of evidence that there are lesser-known individuals and groups operating behind the scenes, (such as Common Purpose, George Soros-backed Indivisible and Organizing for Action) dedicated to manipulating social values and undermining our biblical heritage in order to work towards a one world government (presumably whereby they can seize power to gain their own ends).
Anti-establishment, populist victories like Brexit and Trump are perceived to be a threat to their power and the achievement of their purpose. They have instigated far-reaching counter-revolutionary demonstrations – and now even occult groups are calling their supporters to put a curse on Trump at midnight tonight, 24 February 2017.4 The forces of darkness are certainly being stirred!
This is why Christians need to understand the nature of the spiritual battle that is raging in Western nations today. Believers need to understand what Isaiah meant when he said:
When your judgements come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord. (Isa 26:10)
It is surely time for the army of the Lord to rise up in prayer; and to declare publicly God’s truth to a crooked generation!
References
1 Smith, D and Redden, M. Trump administration rescinds Obama-era protections for transgender students. The Guardian, 23 February 2017.
2 Ibid.
3 Gay Liberation Front: Manifesto. London, 1971, revised 1978.
4 We have examined evidence for this claim and are satisfied that it is true, but we are not publishing website details as we have no wish to promote these organisations.
The furore over Trump and Eurocrat denials of reality have the same spiritual root.
The latest media furore to erupt over President Trump concerns comments he made last weekend about Sweden. Speaking at a rally in Florida, he said “You look at what’s happening in Germany, you look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible.”1
Jumping at the chance to debunk his poor choice of wording, the left-wing media were once again given a golden opportunity to make the President look like a fool. Media outlets worldwide exploded with cries of ‘fake news’.
Meanwhile, voices pointing out that there was a legitimate point buried in Trump’s bungled phrasing have largely gone unheard – in fact, in some cases, they seem to have actively been censored.2
The Truth About Sweden
It has since surfaced that Trump was referring to a report by Ami Horowitz on a surge in migrant-related gun violence and rape in Sweden in recent years. Despite attempts by the Swedish establishment and the Western media to ‘debunk’ both Trump’s comments and the Horowitz report, the [little-reported] facts speak for themselves.
Hours after Trump’s comments, violence erupted in Rinkeby, Stockholm with a mob attacking police officers with rocks and setting fire to cars.
Last year, 55 areas of Sweden were marked off as ‘no go’ zones – that is, where police admit that they have lost control.3 The Swedish National Police Commissioner has publicly called for thousands more officers to help cope with unrest in asylum centres.4
Voices pointing out that there was a legitimate point buried in Trump’s bungled phrasing have largely gone unheard.
Across the country, an increase in rapes has coincided with the mass influx of migrants (Sweden was named the ‘rape capital of the West’ in 20155), and research shows that migrant men are overrepresented amongst the perpetrators.6 Most recently, live-streaming of rapes in Stockholm has been used by Tunisian men to attract others to the city via social media.7
Meanwhile, the Swedish political establishment has been accused of trying to hush up the rise in assaults, to avoid boosting support for the right-wing Sweden Democratic party.
Reclaiming Reality
Of course the situation is far from simple – there are also reports of counter-attacks on migrants and refugee centres, as well as violence erupting between migrant gangs.
But that said, the reality of this situation is still not being reported properly in Britain. Our liberal press is far more concerned with having another pop at Trump.8
Now, please don’t read me wrong. Sweden isn’t falling apart. Europe is not completely devoid of the rule of law – and nobody is pretending that the plight of genuine refugees should be ignored. However, neither should the darker underbelly of the migrant crisis be denied – for the sake of those being assaulted, and also for the sake of understanding the direction in which Europe is headed.
EU Renewal of Vows
President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. See Photo Credits.
Next month marks the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome (i.e. the EU’s 60th birthday), and EU member leaders are being invited to Rome “to renew their wedding vows”,9 at a time of unprecedented crisis for the institution.
Earlier this year, President of the European Council Donald Tusk circulated an open letter to the heads of member nations, outlining key threats to the bloc’s future and calling upon members to unite in the face of crisis. On the one hand, the letter is an understandable attempt to rally morale at a difficult time. The EU is facing a number of grave threats, any one of which could cause it irreparable damage.
On the other hand, however, Tusk’s letter exemplifies the extraordinary denial still so rank amongst EU elites, and gives us a clue as to where this might lead. For instance, the rise of populism across the continent, according to Tusk, does not signal that there are genuine issues that need addressing. Instead, key populist objections to the EU are written off as “the rhetoric of demagogues” that needs to be “opposed”.
EU elites still seem to be in denial about the problems facing the institution.
Buried near the end of the letter, in a sea of platitudes about unity, faith (in ‘our achievements’), peace and prosperity, is a very telling call:
We must…take assertive and spectacular steps that would change the collective emotions and revive the aspiration to raise European integration to the next level.
Exactly what kinds of “assertive and spectacular steps” will be tabled, in this last-ditch attempt to hold on to power? And how exactly do those in power plan to “change the collective emotions” to be more in line with the European ideal?
We do not yet know the answers to these questions. However, what we do know is that here, in crystal clear terms, Tusk is suggesting that instead of responding to criticism, the EU should consolidate itself against it. Ignore the masses, keep to the original programme, keep the faith – renew the vows (!).
Common Threads, Common Battle
It is not difficult to trace some common threads here, across the USA and Europe. In both, we are witnessing a sustained reaction from the liberal establishment (in politics, business, the media, etc) against two key things.
First, the reality of the failures of the secular humanist liberal project. By this I mean the real, factual failures of this agenda to improve the lives of ordinary people, whether we are talking about the underbelly of open-door immigration, the effects of multi-faith ‘tolerance’ or the negative impacts of abortion, easy divorce and LGBT advances on family life. The liberal left will not and cannot afford to acknowledge these realities.
Secondly, and as a result of this, they are reacting against those who are calling them out and holding them to account in this – whether individual journalists, academics or politicians, or the ‘populist’ masses on the ground. Tactics here can include anything from media demonisation to the seeding of entire counter-demonstrations.
In both the USA and Europe, we are witnessing a huge backlash from the liberal left against its critics.
In worldly terms, this twofold backlash from those who have long held onto power has been precipitated by various popular rejections of the Western liberal project, including the Brexit vote and the Trump win. Even secular commentators have read events like these as mass expressions of anti-establishment feeling.
In spiritual terms, what we are witnessing is, seemingly, the enemy’s response to God’s shake-up of decades of satanic values and ideals being imposed upon largely unsuspecting populaces, lulled into a false sense of security with talk of ‘unity’, ‘freedom’ and ‘tolerance’. The downright falsity of these man-made ideals is being revealed – for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
In this magazine, we have argued that this is God’s direct intervention, shaking the nations and providing Christians with a window of opportunity for the Gospel. But what has come along with that, of course, is a very angry enemy who is writhing and thrashing about, knowing that his time is short (Rev 12:12).
Where Will This Lead?
No wonder, then, that populist movements like Brexit and the Trump victory have faced incessant attempts to derail them. No wonder that there are such common threads to be drawn between the US and Europe at the moment – it is the same spiritual battle cross-cutting the two. Make no mistake: a war is raging right now, for the heart and soul of the West.
Whether the EU survives the present crises, or collapses and is replaced by something else, its underlying vision and spirit will endure. This is because its spirit is one of human pride and self-sufficiency – in fact, it is the perennial spirit of rebellion common to all humans (save One).10 Those in power, and the purse-strings and agendas fuelling them, will not give up easily – but neither, hopefully, will we.
God has been shaking up decades of satanic values and ideals – and this has made the enemy angry.
For the vital thing to understand is that God’s key weapon in this war is us – ordinary, average Christians. We are the primary vehicle the Lord has chosen to use at this time in the battle for truth and righteousness.
As such, we are not to sit back and watch these huge events unfold on the global scene as if they were nothing to do with us – neither are we meant to become so engrossed in them that we lose perspective and get distracted from God’s call on each of our lives. Like the instruction that Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave to the servants at the wedding of Cana, we should also “do whatever he tells you!” (John 2:5).
Where Can We Start?
And there’s something we can do today! As stated in this week’s Editorial, occult networks are calling members to a worldwide, co-ordinated cursing of Trump, to begin today. This is part of a concerted, demonic effort over the next month to remove him and his team from power (nine of his cabinet of 15 are reportedly evangelical Christians – no doubt part of the reason why the administration is so hated). We urge believers to seek the Lord over this, cover yourself in the full armour of God, and pray positively for the President and his whole team.
References
1 Click here to watch the extract from Trump's speech.
2 Hasson, P. Huffington Post Removes Blog Post Saying Trump Is ‘Absolutely Right’ About Sweden. The Daily Caller, 23 February 2017.
3 Stromme, L. SWEDEN IN CHAOS: Number of ‘no-go zones’ INCREASED as police lose control over violence. The Daily Express, 22 September 2016.
4 Phillips, M. Sloppy words but the substance was true. 23 February 2017.
5 Calrqvist, I and Hedegaard, L. Sweden: Rape Capital of the West. Gatestone Institute, 14 February 2015.
6 Van der Born, V. Swedish professor confirms: "migrants fiercely overrepresented in crime". Gatestone Institute, 23 February 2017.
7 Frankehuis, D. Sweden: Arab men live stream sexual assualt on Facebook. Again. Gatestone Institute, 23 February 2017.
8 As far as I can tell from our mainstream press, and perhaps predictably, only The Telegraph and The Mail have so far dared to offer an alternative perspective on his comments.
9 Barigazzi, J, Herszenhorn, DM and de La Baume, M. Tusk calls on EU countries to renew their wedding vows. Politico, 2 January 2017.
10 That’s why the EU places such an emphasis on integration, on oneness – because it is built on a rejection of the worship of a totally separate God – it worships itself and depends upon itself instead. Power, prosperity, wealth and happiness are all to be found from inside the humanist programme.