2016 saw an unusually large number of 'celebrity' deaths. Does God want us to take something from this?

For some reason, 2016 was characterised by an unusually large number of deaths of well-known people, whose lives were brought close to ours through the media. This is thought-provoking for a celebrity-conscious, media-driven generation, but in what way?

Suddenly many household names who seem so familiar and even dear to us, have gone – and many at relatively young ages. This in a world where terrorism and war are also constantly focussing our attention on lives cut short through death. Do we look on life and death as we ought, or is there something unreal in our perceptions of the world?

Distant Worlds Brought Near

On 30 December 2016, a summary was published by the BBC featuring 34 pictures of some of the most widely-known celebrities who died during the year, as well as a list of two to three hundred others. The list includes figures from the worlds of music, film, TV and theatre, comedy, writing and publishing, broadcasting, politics, society, science, sport and public service - all seemingly distant worlds brought close to us through modern electronic facilities.

In some ways this instantaneous digital world can be artificial, whether we immerse ourselves in music, sport, comedy or even politics. Its artificial nature suddenly becomes more palpable when so many people, whose lives impacted a generation, have been taken away.

In our somewhat artificial, media-driven culture, do we look on life and death as we ought?

The End of an Era?

Many of these deaths seemed to herald the end of an era, often bringing shock to ordinary members of the public. The deaths of popular musicians and singers including David Bowie and Prince, also Jimmy Young, brought a sense of deep loss for some and nostalgia for others. A few years ago, sportsmen like Muhammed Ali seemed invincible as he caught the attention of a generation in the boxing ring.

Familiar faces have suddenly disappeared forever from our TV and film screens, including Ronnie Corbett, Alan Rickman and Gene Wilder, also Terry Wogan – whose warmth of character made him a national treasure. World leaders and generation changers including Fidel Castro and Shimon Peres have gone. Some religious leaders whose thinking influenced their generation (sometimes controversially), such as Rabbi Lionel Blue and Bishop David Jenkins, are no longer with us.

Some of those who have passed away did so with particular poignancy. Among these was film star Debbie Reynolds, who died on 28 December - one day after her actress daughter Carrie Fisher (known for her role in Star Wars). Carrie had told "her Mom" of her love for her shortly before she died on 27 December.¹ Debbie told her son shortly before her stroke a day later, "I miss her so much. I want to be with Carrie". So mother and daughter died on consecutive days, expressing their desire to be close in this world or a world to come. So near to the end of a difficult year with many other losses, this news story seemed to have special resonance.

Many of these deaths seemed to herald the end of an era.

It is not my purpose here to comment on the contribution to our lives made by any of these people - although it must be said there were many of true faith on the list. The title 'celebrity' does not necessarily imply a life that is of itself a bad or a good influence on the rest of us.

Why not look over the entire BBC list and see what thoughts and emotions are inspired in you? It will be different for all of us, prompting memories of times of laughter or of serious thought, or stimulating respect, maybe nostalgia, or thankfulness.

Is God Speaking?

But why so many in one year? One answer lies in the fact that the 'baby boomer' generation has put more people in the public eye – as has more prolific and immediate media technology. So in human terms, we can rationalise the fact that so many well-known people have died in one year. Even though that is so, is God also saying something to us?

One danger in our media age is an element of unreality. The various presentations of celebrity, from huge music festivals and concerts to social media gossip, to the imaginary stories of TV or film, create a different sort of reality from that experienced by previous generations.

Even though these people have passed away they will continue to 'come back to life', in a way, when we see them again on the screen. Might this lead to an unrealistic view of death – even a denial of it - in our celebrity-conscious generation (have they really died? Are they actually immortal?)? Many people could not accept the sudden death of Elvis Presley in 1977, for example, and some people continue to think he is still alive now.

Does our celebrity-conscious culture lead to an unrealistic view of death – even a denial of it?

The large number of deaths this year prompts us to consider whether or not there is a growing attitude of unreality in our culture towards issues of life and death. This might especially be the case amongst young people, who increasingly live their lives immersed in different kinds of virtual reality through their phones and tablets.

Facing Up to Mortality

God's time came for so many well-known people this year, whatever their eternal destination. They were mortal just as we are, yet our artificial culture can blur this truth.

In all this, particularly at the turn of the year in a shaking and confused world, are we being reminded that all are mortal and that there is a serious side to life (and death) that media presentations do not always convey? Is God intending us to think on this mortality and the real priorities of life and death, which can often be masked by the more artificial aspects of our lives?

What do you think?

References

1 Wheat, A. Singin' in the Rain Star Debbie Reynolds Dies One Day After Daughter Carrie Fisher. People.com, 29 December 2016.

Dr Clifford Hill unpacks the message sent to believers in Pergamum, modern-day Bergama (Turkey).

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live – where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city – where Satan lives.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have people there who hold to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against you with the sword of my mouth.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Steep-sided theatre at Pergamum. See Photo Credits.Pergamum was a magnificent city on two sites, an upper and a lower. The Upper Site, the Acropolis, was originally the capital of Asia Minor, the region ruled by the Lydians, forerunners of the Greek Empire. It was the Greeks who built the massive altar to Zeus with its huge stone steps and figures depicting the war of the gods with the giants – monsters with tails of serpents instead of legs. From the town below where the Christians lived it would certainly have looked like the place where Satan sat enthroned – hence the opening salutation in the letter.

Just above the altar of Zeus stood the impressive 10,000-seat theatre with its panoramic view of the countryside that still offers a spectacular experience for visitors. Directly above the theatre are the ruins of the Temple of Athena, the chief goddess of the city. Next to her temple are the ruins of the magnificent library which had more than 200,000 scrolls, most of which were given away by Mark Anthony to Cleopatra when the Alexandrian library was burnt down.

The Lower Site was of great importance as a centre of healing with its famous link to Asclepius who claimed to have been healed by the venom of a snake. The healing centre was the most advanced medical facility in the ancient world and contained a theatre, a library, a temple and 'sacred' springs whose waters were reputed to have healing powers. Visitors today can walk among these ruins and even taste the waters of the spring. The snake symbol over the entrance to the healing centre has become the international symbol for the medical profession.

The Greeks built the massive altar to Zeus to fill the skyline over Pergamum – to Christians it would have certainly looked like Satan's throne.

A Two-Edged Sword

Christians in Pergamum must have felt surrounded by evil forces with the city in the valley where they lived filled with symbols of pagan gods and the mountainside above them dominated by the altar to Zeus, the father of pagan gods, whose presence filled the skyline at the top of the Acropolis.

The letter to the Christians reflects this in its opening words, which come from Revelation 1:16 where Jesus is said to have a sharp, double-edged sword. This implies that he is not only coming against the pagan gods of Pergamum but that there is a cutting edge also directed towards the people of God in the city.

The Altar of Zeus from Pergamum, brought to Berlin in late 19th Century. See Photo Credits.

Clearly there was something radically wrong with the teaching and practices of this fellowship that was being exposed in the message. The Christians were living in a hotbed of satanic practices: "You live where Satan has his throne". The world-renowned place of health and healing with its symbol of the snake and temples to pagan gods filled the very air they breathed. The Christians fought a daily battle to resist the powers of evil that surrounded them.

They had remained faithful even through terrible days of persecution that came upon them when Antipas had refused to acknowledge the divinity of Caesar and had paid the price with a fearful death, and when Christians were assaulted by violent mobs in the city streets.

The believers had survived those testing days - but there were still things about their fellowship that were not pleasing to God. They allowed people to remain within the fellowship who were following the teaching of Nicholas that separated body and soul. This led to the belief that it didn't really matter what they did with their bodies; so they could indulge in physical lusts without it affecting their spiritual life. This was a real danger and unless there was repentance they would feel the two-edged sword brought against the evildoers following this teaching.

Christians in Pergamum survived testing days and lived surrounded by evil forces – but there were still things about their fellowship that were not pleasing to God.

For Those with Ears to Hear...

The final part of the message to Pergamum is addressed to those who had an ear to hear what the Spirit was saying. It is a beautiful promise to the Overcomers, to those who withstood the pressures of idolatry and syncretism (the mixing of pagan practices with Christian beliefs). For them, there would be great rewards.

They would be given some of the manna such as had been put in the Ark of the Covenant during the time the Israelites spent in the wilderness when God miraculously fed his people.

In John's Gospel, following his account of the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus referred to the manna in the desert as being the 'bread of life' which he would give to all who come to him (John 6:30-40). This would give Christians full access to an understanding of the nature and purposes of God which are the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge to which Paul refers in Colossians 2:2-3.

Finally, the Overcomers were promised eternal life with Jesus. They would be given "a white stone with a new message written on it" which was similar to the practice of sending an invitation to a special event such as a wedding. The person invited would receive a white stone on which was written a message of invitation using a pet name of endearment that the believer would readily recognise. This would be an invitation to the 'Banquet of the Lamb'.

For those who withstood the pressures of idolatry and syncretism, the letter promised great rewards.

Relevance for Today

The message to the church in Pergamum is highly relevant for Christians today living in a post-Christian society, where the pressures to conform to the values of secular humanism are both open and subtle. In everyday life, we have to conform to convention that is established by law, some of which is directly contrary to the teaching of Scripture. Christians have to find ways of maintaining and witnessing to their faith while not falling foul of the law - though this is becoming increasingly difficult and ultimately, of course, our loyalty to the Lord must come first.

But we also face subtle attacks upon our spiritual lives through social engineering and brainwashing that takes place through the media. Meanwhile, all kinds of paganism and mysticism are making a comeback – proliferating across many spheres of society, including within the walls of the Church.

Young people are especially vulnerable as a whole generation has been deliberately subjected to social engineering by secular humanists. Many people are not even aware of the dramatic way in which our society's culture and values have been transformed in just a few years. We each of us need to read this message prayerfully, asking the Lord to show us where our own values are falling short of the standards God requires among those to whom he offers eternal life.

Click here to read the rest of the articles in this series.

Sharon and Frances Rabbitts review 'Abraham's Vision' (2011, Hatikvah Films) – previously 'Blessing, Curse or Coincidence? Vol 1'.

Abraham's Vision is a 2-hour long, multi-award winning documentary looking at God's covenant purposes for Israel and their implications for the nations through history. Presented by Lance Lambert, this Hatikvah film was previously published under the title Blessing, Curse or Coincidence? Vol 1, and stands as the first of a three-part documentary, the second of which is entitled Jacob's Tears (reviewed elsewhere on the site).

Tracing God's Divine Purpose

The series traces God's divine purpose for Israel from Genesis to Revelation, mapping this onto the course of world history. In particular, it tracks how God's promise in Genesis to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her has been borne out through various Gentile nations, empires and individuals (given the nature of history, of course, the focus is mostly on those who have come under God's curse for harming His people).

But beyond this, the ultimate goal is to get viewers to see the course of global history, including the rise and fall of major empires, as a testimony to God's truth and faithfulness to His promises, particularly in relation to His covenant people. We are to see history in the context of Scripture and God's overarching covenant purposes, not the other way around. This it achieves well.

The DVD tracks God's covenant promises to Israel and their fulfilment through time, also joining up the dots between His purposes for them and His Gospel purposes for the whole world.

From Eden to Rome

Abraham's Vision is split into 9 parts, beginning in Eden, but spending the bulk of its time looking at the three major covenants - Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic. It then follows Israel through into exile in Babylon, and then into the dominion of the Greek and Roman empires, during which the New Covenant is given through Jesus Messiah.

It covers the usual ground, bringing the narratives alive with the help of artistic renderings and computer-generated images (some of which appear rather dated now, but which are still helpful for bringing the stories alive), as well as footage of the Holy Land. It also makes time to explore less well-known themes such as the enmity between Israel and the Philistines (and the continuation of this in modern-day Islam). Where it ends – with the fall of Rome – is where Jacob's Tears picks up.

Suitable for Group or Individual Use

The DVD comes with Bible Study notes for individuals and groups, making this an ideal resource for home/cell groups as well as personal use. It is an ideal introduction for those with little or no prior experience of this topic or understanding of Scripture/history, and is paced well for stop-start group discussion.

Each section is well-supported with Bible verses, as well as historical and archaeological evidence, discussed and applied ably by international Bible scholars and teachers, academics and ministry leaders, several of whom are Messianic Jews. Contributors include Malcolm Hedding, Dr Jack Hayford, Chuck Cohen and Ofer Amitai. Together they unpack the significance of the biblical covenants, the fulfilments we are still awaiting today, how they connect into global politics and what to look for in the future. Everything is very clearly explained – but with enough room left for questions and discussion to be inspired amongst viewers.

This is a very helpful, Spirit-filled, encouraging DVD that would make useful grounding for anyone interested in exploring God's purposes for Israel, the world and themselves – especially those who have little or no prior knowledge in this area. Ideal for small group use – and suitable for teens and up.

Buy Abraham's Vision for £15 from Hatikvah Films (who also offer a streaming service). It is also available on DVD as a series of 13 half-hour programmes originally aired on Revelation TV.

Download accompanying resources, watch clips and find out more about the film's history at blessingcursecoincidence.com.

Echoes of 1930s as May government betrays Israel.

How can we celebrate the joys of Christmas in the midst of such a broken world?

This week leading up to Christmas has been utterly incongruous. Celebrations have been marred by news of the atrocious terror attack in Berlin, when a lorry was driven into crowds at a Christmas market in a repeat of the Bastille Day attack in Nice, this time killing 12 and injuring 48. Meanwhile, decorations and festivities have felt almost inappropriate as tens of thousands are being evacuated from Aleppo.

For those of us who celebrate Christmas, particularly with a desire to rejoice in the birth of the Son of God, how do we do so in view of a shaking, hurting world? Should we be indulging whilst others are suffering?

Rejoicing Amidst Suffering

I was led today to research some of the carols we sing at Christmastime. I have duly discovered that, like most great hymns, many of these were written by men and women of faith in challenging circumstances. They were inspired in the midst of struggle and strife to pen words about the hope offered to us by Jesus our Lord.

Refugees from Aleppo arrive at a camp near Idlib, Syria. AP/Press Association Images.

As such, these carols that we all know so well are far more than profound words set to beautiful music, to be sung for the sake of tradition. They have stories, emerging from turmoil and trial and speaking back to it. They are enduring reminders of the hope of the Gospel - particularly of its proclamation of life and light in the face of violence, fear and darkness.

Some Examples: Songs Born of Trial¹

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day was penned during the American Civil War by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Henry's son was a lieutenant in the Unionist army who had been severely wounded fighting in Virginia. Longfellow wrote the words as a poem on Christmas Day, 1863, emphasising the Gospel's promise of hope for peace amidst the trials of war.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.'

Also during the American Civil War, O Little Town of Bethlehem was written by American bishop Phillips Brooks in Massachussetts. Brooks wrote the carol after a visit to the Holy Land in 1865, where he found such peace compared to the horrors of war back home that he was deeply moved.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

A few years earlier, in 1849, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear was penned – also in Massachusetts, this time by preacher Edmund Sears. Sears was a burnt-out pastor who, at the time, was extremely depressed about the state of the world, with news of revolution in Europe and recent war on his home territory between the US and Mexico.

And man, at war with man, hears not the love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing.

Across the pond, As with Gladness Men of Old came through English insurance broker William Chatterton Dix in 1859. During his 20s Dix was struck with ill-health and depression – and wrote many of his best-loved hymns during this time.

Holy Jesus, every day, keep us in the narrow way;
And when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide, where no clouds Thy glory hide.

More than a century earlier, Joy to the World was written (1719) by English pastor and prolific hymn-writer Isaac Watts. Watts came from a non-conformist family used to being chastised for their beliefs. Joy to the World is based on the second half of Psalm 98, and was actually written to glorify Jesus' Second Coming, rather than to celebrate his first! Its lesser-sung third verse states:

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found...

Perhaps most pertinent to the times in which we now live is Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, for which we have Charles Wesley to thank. Wesley, who also gave us Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, wrote Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus in 1744 after meditating on Haggai 2:7 and being particularly moved by the plight of orphans in his area. As with Joy to the World, this carol was intended to help people use Christmas to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus, as well as to commemorate the First.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

A Cloud of Witnesses

So, it seems that there is not necessarily such a stark gap between our Christmas celebrations and this world of strife after all.

Those who have gone before us, who form part of the great cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1), found a way to rejoice in the midst of difficulty. Their joy was not unthinking, selfish or insensitive – in fact, it was the more profound and laudable because they understood the glorious truth of Emmanuel, God with us, meeting and rescuing us in our brokenness, bringing light to our darkness.

The carols we sing at Christmas have stories - many emerged from turmoil and trial and speak back to it even today.

A Light Has Dawned

The tragedy that has unfolded through the history of humankind is this: we have been given a choice between light and darkness - but all too often we choose the darkness (as the terrible destruction of life in Berlin this week demonstrates vividly).

John's account of the birth of Jesus, so often read at Christmastime, states "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (John 1:5).

Towards the end of his life, Moses said to the people of Israel "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live!" (Deut 30:19). The festival of Christmas once again presents us with that same choice. Today, in the face of such reckless and evil destruction, our loving Father God urges us to choose life.

If we choose life, the Lord Jesus, who is the Light of the World, can dwell in us, transform us and shine out through us to others. The trials of this world, though grievous, will not overcome us but will instead be turned for good by the loving hand of the Lord.

Back to Christmas

Let us then respond to our first question – how can we celebrate this Christmas whilst others are suffering? Well, if we choose life and pursue it, selfish indulgence with flagrant disregard for the plight of others simply won't be a part of our lives. Instead, we will find ourselves experiencing a deeper kind of rejoicing – a thoughtful, loving and faithful jubilation that is not blind to suffering (indeed, quite the opposite), but is fixed first upon hope – in Jesus' death, resurrection and soon return – as the true and only solution to all the world's evils.

If we choose life, it may well be (and it is my hope) that this century will yet see its Wesleys and its Watts, its Whitefields and its Spurgeons, using Christmas to rejoice, to draw near God and to bring the light of life to millions. Who knows – the era of inspired carol-writing may not yet be over!

References

1 Carol information gleaned largely from Wikipedia, from which individual referencing information can be obtained. Also recommended is Christmas Carols by Andrew Gant (2014, Profile Books), a secular book which covers the historical origins of a broad selection of Christian and non-Christian Christmas songs.

18 years ago, Anna Hanninen responded faithfully to God's call for her to become an intercessor. Read on to be inspired!

Anna is a retired midwife living in Finland, whose life is committed to intercessory prayer for all the covenant family of God. On her prayer boards are many pictures of friends near and far, for whom she prays every day. Miryam is a nurse and is fully involved to support her mother in the ministry. Their home is dedicated to hospitality for visiting ministers from around the world.

Anna describes her call to prayer:

The Lord was calling me on the night between 17th and 18th July 1998. I woke up that night to the knowledge that the Lord was very close and that He would have something important to tell me. When I felt His closeness my tears began to roll down and I was able to say just, "Lord! You know everything what has been, but You also know that You are dear to me and I'm ready to do Your will whatever it then will be." I felt in that moment within me His voice that was saying, "Your place is to be in the prayer chamber. You will be much alone, but I will always be with you.

I have received prayer targets some Asian countries and Malawi from Africa and other prayer targets. Besides this my primary prayers are for Israel (that had been already tens of years previously in my prayers) sometimes through dreams. Especially there was a dream of Israel during the tribulation of Jacob. [My] second dream was of the suffering body of Yeshua in prisons and third one was of the fate of millions of suffering children on the streets and slave labour of children and in other terrible places.

I wanted [to have] a disciplined daily schedule for the prayers and intercessory prayers. For a few years I prayed for four hours a day regularly. I had been advised to keep Sabbath free of this and to use it to personal recreation and rest and I experienced that it was a piece of good advice.

Later I started to pray three hours a day and during the last year of my prayers have become more the lifestyle and not a kind of "performance" that I do in a set time. Nowadays several shorter times are included in my days when I specially go before the Lord in intercessory prayer, but also in between in the midst of daily chores the intercessory prayer targets are before my inner eyes and in prayer. I think that as much as I can identify with the person or wider intercessory prayer target, so much I can share the loads, battles and experience the attacks of the enemy and share the joys of victories. If we can touch in prayer God's heart, we don't fail.

I think also that if God has called [someone] to the intercessory prayer ministry, so it is [a] call for the time of whole life and one can't disengage oneself of it according to one's own feelings and will. For me it is new fresh commitment every morning when I wake up and praise the Lord for His love and tell Him that I love Him and want to be faithful to Him.

As I'm generally alone at home on the five [days] of the week, so the human sense of loneliness is sometimes even harrowing. So it was particularly in the beginning, as I had lived my whole life from under 20 years old in the midst of a congregation actively and our home was always full of guests from far and wide. When the Lord then led [me] to new kind of stage in this regard, so in the beginning the pain of loneliness was so great that I threw myself down on the sofa and cried out aloud this agony of mine to the Lord. Now I have every day before my eyes the big family of the Lord from different parts of the world. The pictures of everybody whose pictures I have had [the] possibility to get and for whom I pray are fixed on two quite big boards and if I don't have a picture, so I have names on the board or paper. This way those who are far away come close and I can besides 'be travelling' in the spirit from one continent to another to meet them daily."

Anna is now 90 years old. She has recently suffered some setbacks in her health, but is still committed to the ministry of prayer according to her devotion of many years.

Anna and Miryam send their greetings from Finland!

Jewish and Christian feasts in rare convergence.

When the stars lined up to lighten the path of the Wise Men as they travelled from the East to worship the new-born King of the Jews, it was the dawning of an amazing new era: an era of light.

Now, 2,000 years later, the Jewish feast of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas. They are usually close together, but such a precise convergence doesn't often happen (the last time was 2005; before that it was 1959). Both are festivals of light cheerily illuminating our dreary winter days with sparkling symbols of God's intervention in human affairs.

But at a time of unprecedented threat both to Israel and the Gentile Christian world, are we about to see God's light shine as never before in the midst of the darkness, with growing recognition – especially in Israel – of the Messiah who appeared as a helpless babe in Bethlehem?

The Story of Hanukkah

Special candles will be lit all over Jerusalem to remind her people of the time, in 167 BC, when God came to their rescue. The ruthless Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus Epiphanes had desecrated the Jewish Temple by sacrificing a pig there and blasphemously proclaiming himself God. Judah Maccabee led a brave and successful revolt against the tyrant and re-established temple worship ('Hanukkah' means dedication) with the aid of the menorah (seven-branched candlestick) which burned miraculously for eight days despite having only enough oil for a day – the Greeks had polluted the rest.

I believe this event foreshadowed another great rescue, less than two centuries later, when the Jewish Messiah – the light of all mankind (John 1:4) – was born in a stable at nearby Bethlehem, as prophesied in the Scriptures (Mic 5:2). And now, much of the world is lit up with brightly-coloured decorations – for many people, in commemoration of his birth.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light..." Isaiah prophesied of Yeshua (Isa 9:2) who did not at first lead Israel in a military victory, although that will indeed happen one day (Zech 12:9), but came to cast his glorious light on a dark world and bring peace, hope and comfort to all those who seek him.

At a time of unprecedented threat, are we about to see God's light shine as never before in the midst of the darkness?

King of the Jews

I love Christmas, partly because it draws my faith back to its roots in Israel. Tragically, much of the Western Church seems for the rest of the year to have divorced itself from the Jewish state, as if it were unrelated to the ongoing story of the Church.

Hanukkah in Israel, 2013.

But there is no getting away from the Messiah's birth being inextricably linked with Bethlehem and Jerusalem, as the carols clearly reflect: Once in Royal David's City, O Little Town of Bethlehem, O come, O come, Emmanuel...shall come to thee O Israel. And, in The First Nowell (an archaic word for Christmas), the chorus keeps repeating the line "born is the King of Israel!"

The Bible clearly teaches that the Messiah will come first as the "suffering servant" (Isa 53) and then, in the fullness of time, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, ruling and reigning from Jerusalem as the 'Lion of the tribe of Judah' (Rev 5:5) after finally defeating God's enemies on the mountains of Israel.

So it is that, as with his first coming, the focus returns to Israel for his second advent. Should we Christians not more adequately prepare ourselves for this great event by re-aligning our hearts with the hopes and aspirations of God's chosen people? We are in this together.

The anti-Semitic hatred currently manifested through Islamic State and related terrorist groups (and in past generations through Haman, Hitler and others) is directed at those who look to the God of Israel – first the Jews, then the Christians. Encouraged by growing co-operation on this level in the face of an implacable foe, we hope for increasing revelation for all that the child born to a virgin (Isa 7:14) is the true Messiah – Emmanuel (God with us) – who fulfilled all the Jewish scriptures. As the carol put it so beautifully, "He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all." It's an awesome truth. He is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6) promised, first to the Jews, and also to the Gentiles (Rom 1:16).

There is no getting away from the Messiah's birth being inextricably linked with Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Bringing Light to All Who Will Believe

Friends from Ireland, Velma and Alan Beattie, at a Christian worship festival in Antrim, Northern Ireland, recently heard the amazing first-hand account of a man who had just returned from Ethiopia, where he had been to look for a remote Jewish village that is under severe persecution. "When he arrived he was told that the people had seen a vision that a man would come bringing light to them. And so he was able to share with them about the light of the world, Yeshua!"¹

Avi Snyder, European Director of Jews for Jesus, tells of a time when his colleague Julia asked a young woman called Miriam to read Isaiah 53, written around 700 BC. "Miriam's eyes literally grew wide as she read from her own Bible the description of the Servant of the Lord killed as an atonement for our sins."

"Does this sound like anyone you've ever heard about?" Julia asked. "It sounds like Jesus," Miriam replied. And, after re-reading the passage, she asked, "Why don't the rabbis believe this?"

"Actually, that's the wrong question," Julia said. "The right question is, 'why don't you believe this?'" Miriam thought for another moment, then said, "I do."²

Just a few chapters later, Isaiah wrote, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isa 60:1-3).

As with Jesus's first coming, the focus returns to Israel for his second advent.

The Festival of Dedication

Jesus himself celebrated Hanukkah – also referred to as the 'Festival of Dedication' – and it was there that he came under fierce attack from the Jewish religious leaders. As they debated with him about his identity, they threatened to stone him for blasphemy because he claimed to be the Son of God (John 10:22-42). The encouraging thing about this account is that Jesus subsequently returned across the Jordan to where his cousin John had earlier been baptising, and many followed him there and came to believe in him.

Today we rejoice that more and more Israelis, along with Jews across the diaspora, are putting their trust in Yeshua who, at Christmas, came to dwell (or tabernacle) among us (John 1:14).

Have a happy Hanukkah and a blessed Christmas!

References

1 CMJ Ireland News, October 2016. [CMJ = Church's Ministry among the Jewish people.]

2 Jews for Jesus Newsletter, December 2016. Adapted excerpt from Avi Snyder's forthcoming book Jews Don't Need Jesus – and Other Misconceptions, due out in the spring of 2017.

We are pleased to introduce Patrick and Grace Munyua from Nakuru, Kenya, with an update on their thriving and diverse ministry!

Introduction (John Quinlan)

How can I best introduce Patrick Munyua from Kenya? First of all, that is not how I have grown to know him over the past years. I have come to know him as 'Bishop' Patrick and his wife Grace, a man and woman of God, serving him in their home region of Nakuru, a place that I gather is one of the poorer parts of the country. My wife and I were introduced to Patrick and Grace in around 2010 when they visited England, and quickly sensed a unity in God's spirit with them.

We kept in contact with them initially with regard to supporting two nursery schools they had built for very disadvantaged young children, who have been displaced due to conflicts, or who are orphans or coping with the ravages of AIDS in their families. Patrick's and Grace's aim has been to provide a safe, therapeutic environment for the children to enjoy each day, getting some substantial food and a basic education.

As well as the nursery schools they have now constructed buildings where older children are being taught and taken through national exams.

But the reason for Patrick's title of 'Bishop' is another aspect of their ministry: the fourteen or so churches in the region that they shepherd. Since late 2011, Clifford Denton and I have been supporting Patrick with the starting of a Tishrei Bible school. This started with a group of students meeting in the shade of a tree to study, although they now have a building constructed specifically as a Bible school.

This email Patrick sent to me back in May 2012 gives a wonderful flavour of the early days of the school:

Love and greetings in Jesus Name...

Parental counselling.We are all well and thankful for His providence. We are experiencing very unusual falls with severe floods causing destruction and loss of life in some places. Not good experience but as we go through the Book of Genesis we...

Actualy I forgot to tell you our class time table. My first class which is 'the FIRST FRUIT'...starts at 7am-8:30am. And in the afternoon from 3:30pm-5pm. This makes have time for a group discussion as we go through each one's thought and prayer...Now the next class of church members consists of eight [and] will be meeting on Saturdays whole day and Sunday afternoon. So I have experienced the hunger and thirst of the Word in the hearts of many.

...The group discussion is playing a great role as we respect each one's opinion. It is Live! Man of God, that is our Bible school progress and NEWS! Hello and shalom.

Patrick et-al.

Patrick and Grace, man and woman of God, can be an inspiration to us all.

Update from Patrick Munyua, Kenya

Retired school teachers' gathering.Bwana asifiwe, Nashukuru Mungu kwa ajili ya wema Wake juu ya Maisha yangu. Mwaka huu nilipitia majaribu ya magonjwa Na Mungu akaniponya. Nina wimbo Wa wingi Wa shukurani ' Amefanya maajabu nasiwezi kueleza, siwezi kueleza,siwezi kueleza Amefanya maajabu.'Hallelujah! Praise God! I thank God for His goodness in my life. This year I went through health challenges and God healed me. I have a thanksgiving song: 'He has done so much for me that I cannot tell it all, I cannot tell it all, I cannot tell it all, He has done so much for me'. Hallelujah.

After a period of four months preaching sitting and walking with a stick, I was invited to attend and speak in different meetings. I believed God and started confessing, declaring and decreeing Psalm 86:17. This verse become a song of my heart and my tongue confessed it all day long.

In one in Seminary I taught about the 'consequences of poor or bad parenting'. When children are young, they are malleable and receptive. This is the best time or opportunity to teach and train them and to instil worth and the right values in them. It is the best time to introduce them to God and His Word.

There are children right now that are in hell or in prison because when they were children, their parents failed to do this and failed to use their parental authority to reprimand them and correct them. They ended up making wrong choices in their adulthood. Proverbs 23:13-14.

NB: Children come from God, BUT not all GO back to God! Psalm 127:3

A WORD TO EVERYONE:

1. Do things in GOD'S ways and God will be responsible for the results.
2. Do things in your own ways and you will be responsible for the results.
3. Your loyalty counts much to God when you have undivided heart. Bwana asifiwe (to God be the Glory).

Brothers, I am honoured to be part of your Ministry. May all of our team have a joyous time of blessings to bless others. To live is to give and giving is living. Shalom.

Patrick

An update from the Mount Moriah Trust, whose work was featured in Prophecy Today UK earlier this year.

Earlier this year, we introduced Tony and Kathy Stewart and the Mount Moriah Trust, which helps needy believers in Israel and its contested territories (click here for the interview). Now we are pleased to bring you an update on the latest developments in their work - including prayer points for Israel at the end.

From Tony and Kathy Stewart

God is good, He is Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides. Under His direction we continue to enlarge the place of our tent by extending financial and prayer support to more Pastors, congregations and organisations in God's Land. As we commit to providing more funding the Lord increases His provision.

Beit El congregation, JerusalemWe recently distributed a prayer request from Ethiopian Messianic Pastor, Tal Shiferaw and the Beit El congregation in Jerusalem, asking people to pray for the resources needed to equip their meeting place and for small mattresses for the children to sleep on whilst their parents attend all-night prayer meetings. The Lord responded by touching hearts and Pastor Tal now has a substantial contribution towards meeting the needs.

During the year MMT has increased help to Pastors who have to work in addition to their ministries. The value of this support is demonstrated in the letter we received from Ps Eduard Bitiev at the Aviv Centre, which helps drug and alcohol addicts in Tel Aviv:

Pastor Bitiev from the Aviva Centre in Tel Aviv.Pastor Tal from Beit El.Our family sincerely thanks God for your caring hearts. Your financial support gives me the opportunity to be more dedicated to serving in Aviv Center because I do not need to think about money matters and can spend more time with the people who need our help. We appreciate your prayers and support and thank our Lord Jesus for you from the bottom of our hearts! (Eduard Bitiev)

Praise the Lord for all that He is doing through The Mount Moriah Trust.

Tony & Kathy Stewart

The Mount Moriah Trust

Prayer Points

Consider these prayer points as springboards into deeper prayer and intercession.

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16, KJV)

Israel's Right to Exist

• There was a recent attempt to try to persuade the British Government to apologize for the Balfour Declaration. A meeting in the House of Lords in November to launch the campaign chaired by Baroness Tonge, got off to a chaotic start, leading to the Baroness' resignation from the Liberal Democratic Party. However, the sponsors are unlikely to let this rest.
  • Pray that this campaign will fail and that the events planned to celebrate the famous declaration will be successful.

"For he who touches you [Israel] touches the apple of his eye" (Zechariah 2:8)

Resetting the relationship between Israel and the United States

• An Israeli delegation has already visited the USA to have preliminary talks with President- elect Donald Trump's transition team.
  • Pray that the Israeli Government will establish good working relationships with the new administration.
  • Pray that the new President will make his support for Israel abundantly clear and follow this through with deeds.

"At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house, and Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, as much as he desired." (1 Kings 9:10-11)

Relationship with Russia

• President-elect Trump clearly intends to approach Russia in a different way from his predecessors. The West has not always been sensitive to Russia's feelings about the spread of NATO and the EU into Russia's domain of influence.
  • Pray that President Trump will have the wisdom of God as he seeks to reset the relationship between the two superpowers and that any change in direction will not disadvantage the West and in particular Israel.

"He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them." (Job 12:23)

The Threat from Iran

• President-elect Trump has declared his wish to renegotiate the West's deal with Iran over its potential to build nuclear weapons. Prime minister Netanyahu has expressed his intention to speak to Donald Trump about this 'Bad Deal'.
  • Pray that both leaders will approach this subject wisely and pray that they will have the mind of God as they do so.

"I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your SAVIOUR." (Isaiah 43:3)

The Threat from Hezbollah

• Israel has revealed a map showing numerous positions including towns and villages where Hezbollah has established operational bases or military equipment. Israel may have revealed this information both to prepare the nation and the world for future military action and also as a warning to Hezbollah of Israel's intelligence capabilities. Hezbollah has been preoccupied with its role supporting President Assad in Syria, but at some point in the future it will be free to focus again on Israel.
  • Pray that Hezbollah will not be able to recover from its involvement in the Syrian Civil War.
  • Pray that they will take note of Israel's intelligence gathering and think twice before entertaining an attack.
  • Pray that the IDF will be ready and equipped to provide a knockout blow should Hezbollah risk an attack.
  • Pray that Israeli citizens, especially in the north, will take seriously all of the nation's civil defence precautions.

"He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot carry out their plans." (Job 5:8,12)

There is mounting terrorist violence in the Middle East

• Many people were killed and wounded outside Istanbul soccer stadium in Turkey on Saturday 10 December, while many Coptic Christians were killed in a Coptic church in Cairo on Sunday 11 December.
  • Pray for those who have lost family and friends as a result of these brutal attacks.
  • Pray for and for those who have suffered injury to be comforted and healed.
  • Pray also that those who planned and carried out these bombings will be caught and brought to justice.
  • Pray especially for the Christian communities in the Middle East who as we have seen over the last few years are particularly vulnerable.
  • Give thanks to the Lord that a Hamas terrorist cell planning to attack an army base in Jerusalem was prevented from doing so by the security services (9 December). Likewise, the security forces managed to arrest an Arab planning to carry out a stabbing attack in Hebron.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

Israel's growing ties with African Nations

• Foreign ministers and other high-level representatives from 13 Western African nations are attending an Israeli agricultural conference in the first week of December. Israel already has a reputation for helping African countries with agriculture (for example Burkina-Faso.)
  • Pray that these relationships will prosper and that as Israel helps these countries so they too will bless Israel.

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus." (Isaiah 35:1)

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in retreat?

• A number of states and political parties are beginning to register their dislike of the BDS movement. Canada's state of Ontario voted against BDS, while the Governors of New York and California restricting the ability of companies to comply with BDS. The state of Tennessee also voted against BDS. Germany's Christian Democratic Union party on 7 November 2016, passed a resolution opposing the BDS movement because the anti-Israel action is anti-Semitic.
• However, the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), is expected to vote this week to fund a blacklist of Israeli and international companies operating in Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and Judea & Samaria. The Israeli mission to the UN said the list is expected to be utilized by BDS activists for anti-Israel activities.
  • Give thanks that certain states and political parties are beginning to counter the BDS movement.
  • Pray that the momentum will continue and more organisations will follow suit.
  • Pray for the Lord to overturn the decision of the UN to publish this blacklist of companies.

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse." (Genesis 12:3)

Hope rises from the Ashes

• The forest fires which devastated parts of Israel were contained by fire fighters and then finally doused by torrential rain. Now the task of rebuilding people's lives and homes has begun, as well as the environment. Thousands of trees need to be replaced.
  • Give thanks that God has heard the call for rain and that no lives were lost.
  • Give thanks too that so many nations came to the help of Israel, a just response for the many occasions when Israel has gone to the help of nations suffering natural disasters.
  • Although the hot, dry weather started some fires and fanned the combustion, the authorities estimate that half the fires were due to arson. Pray that all the perpetrators will be caught and brought to justice.
  • Israel made many improvements following the devastating fires in the Carmel region some years ago. Pray that they will learn the additional lessons from these recent fires.
  • Israel still desperately needs rain. Pray that God will heed this call.

"For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings." (Romans 15:27)

Acknowledgement: These prayer points have been consolidated from a number of sources including Prayer Letters and Newsletters originating in God's Land.