We submit two historical prophecies to readers for weighing and testing.

This week we are re-publishing two historical prophecies given in Norway – one from 1968, the other from 1937. They concern events in Europe and their relation to the fulfilment of end times prophecy. Of particular interest and encouragement is point four in the 1968 prophecy, which appears to foresee the current refugee crisis.

These prophecies can be found elsewhere on the internet, but their authenticity has been verified to the best of our ability. We submit them to you for your prayerful testing.

1968 Prophecy by 90 Year Old Woman in Norway

An old woman of 90 from Valdres in Norway had a vision from God in 1968. The evangelist Emanuel Minos had meetings (services) where she lived. He had the opportunity to meet her, and she told him what she had seen. He wrote it down, but thought it to be so unintelligible that he put it in a drawer. Now, almost 30 years later, he understands he has to share the vision with others.

The woman from Valdres was a very alert, reliable, awake and credible Christian, with a good reputation among all who knew her. This is what she saw:

"I saw the time just before the coming of Jesus and the outbreak of the Third World War. I saw the events with my natural eyes. I saw the world like a kind of a globe and saw Europe, land by land. I saw Scandinavia. I saw Norway. I saw certain things that would take place just before the return of Jesus, and just before the last calamity happens, a calamity the likes of which we have never before experienced."

She mentioned four waves:

1. "First before Jesus comes and before the Third World War breaks out there will be a 'détente' like we have never had before. There will be peace between the super powers in the east and the west, and there will be a long peace. (Remember, that this was in 1968 when the cold war was at its highest. E. Minos) In this period of peace there will be disarmament in many countries, also in Norway and we are not prepared when it (the war) comes. The Third World War will begin in a way no one would have anticipated - and from an unexpected place."
2. "A lukewarmness without parallel will take hold of the Christians, a falling away from true, living Christianity. Christians will not be open for penetrating preaching. They will not, like in earlier times, want to hear of sin and grace, law and gospel, repentance and restoration. There will come a substitute instead: prosperity (happiness) Christianity."
   • "The important thing will be to have success, to be something; to have material things, things that God never promised us in this way. Churches and prayer houses will be emptier and emptier. Instead of the preaching we have been used to for generations -like, to take your cross up and follow Jesus, - entertainment, art and culture will invade the churches where there should have been gatherings for repentance and revival. This will increase markedly just before the return of Jesus."
3. "There will be a moral disintegration that old Norway has never experienced the likes of. People will live together like married without being married. (I do not believe the concept 'co-habitor'? existed in 1968 - E. Minos) Much uncleanness before marriage, and much infidelity in marriage will become the natural (the common), and it will be justified from every angle. It will even enter Christian circles and we pet it - even sin against nature. Just before Jesus return there will be TV- programs like we have never experienced." (TV had just arrived in Norway in 1968. E. Minos)
   • "TV will be filled with such horrible violence that it teaches people to murder and destroy each other, and it will be unsafe in our streets. People will copy what they see. There will not be only one 'station' on TV, it will be filled with 'stations.' (She did not know the word 'channel' which we use today. Therefore she called them stations. E. Minos) TV will be just like the radio where we have many 'stations,' and it will be filled with violence. People will use it for entertainment. We will see terrible scenes of murder and destruction one of the other, and this will spread in society. Sex scenes will also be shown on the screen, the most intimate things that takes place in a marriage." (I protested and said, we have a paragraph that forbids this kind of thing. E. Minos) There the old woman said: "It will happen, and you will see it. All we have had before will be broken down, and the most indecent things will pass before our eyes."
4. People from poor countries will stream to Europe. (In 1968 there was no such thing as immigration. E. Minos) They will also come to Scandinavia - and Norway. There will be so many of them that people will begin to dislike them and become hard with them. They will be treated like the Jews before the Second World War. Then the full measure of our sins will have been reached." (I protested at the issue of immigration. I did not understand it at the time. E. Minos)

The tears streamed from the old woman's eyes down her cheeks. "I will not see it, but you will. Then suddenly, Jesus will come and the Third World War breaks out. It will be a short war." (She saw it in the vision.)

"All that I have seen of war before is only child's play compared to this one, and it will be ended with a nuclear atom bomb. The air will be so polluted that one cannot draw one's breath. It will cover several continents, America, Japan, Australia and the wealthy nations. The water will be ruined (contaminated?). We can no longer till the soil. The result will be that only a remnant will remain. The remnant in the wealthy countries will try to flee to the poor countries, but they will be as hard on us as we were on them."

"I am so glad that I will not see it, but when the time draws near, you must take courage and tell this. I have received it from God, and nothing of it goes against what the Bible tells."

"The one who has his sin forgiven and has Jesus as Savior and Lord, is safe."

WHEN THE OIL FLOWS

An elder in the Pentecostal Church at Moss, Norway, Martin Andersen, heard the following prophecy in 1937, in Moss:

'When oil comes out of the North Sea and along the Norwegian coast, things will begin to happen, and the return of Jesus is approaching.'

When these words had been proclaimed, people stood up in the congregation and asked the man to sit down and not speak such nonsense. In 1937 it was indeed nonsense to talk about oil being pumped along the Norwegian coast. Today all the world's big oil companies are pumping oil along the coast of Norway. Norway is the world's second greatest exporter of oil - after Saudi Arabia.

The sum of it all is: Jesus is coming soon (suddenly).

Original source editor's note:

The above account was originally transmitted from Israel to friends in the US. It was sent by a Norwegian Christian worker by the name of Ragna Von Porat. Ragna states in a footnote that it was translated from Danish. She further states that Emanuel Minos, the evangelist mentioned in the account, was her friend's closest neighbor in Oslo. She says, "I heard him in my young days. My parents knew him."

Because of my fear of transmitting false prophecy, I have diligently inquired concerning the information in this letter. Publication has been delayed until permission could be secured from Ragna in Israel. In my contact with her, she has assured me that these accounts are true and reliable. In fact, she relates that the first account has already been published in one of Norway's Christian newspapers.

I have found in my own research that the first account was also published by the Christian Information Service in Germany. The website of Dr. Emanuel Minos is active today and can be accessed for verification [NOTE FROM PROPHECY TODAY: Emanuel Minos passed away in 2014 and his website is no longer live]. Although the language on this site is Norwegian, the very similar story of the woman and her vision is posted there in English. The above accounts are transmitted just as they were received.

Ragna took it upon herself to verify as much of the above information as she could. In contacting the Embassy of Norway she learned that Norway has now dropped to the world's third largest oil exporter. Ragna states, "I certainly have no objection to your going ahead [with publishing]. It must be now-if ever."

In the final article of our series on the Jewish High Holy Days, Helen Belton looks at the meaning and significance of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Feast of 'Booths'

On Sunday 27 September, 2015 (Tishri 15 in the Jewish calendar), the Feast of Tabernacles begins. In Hebrew, it is Sukkot, which means 'booths'. We use the English word 'tabernacle' from the Latin word for tent (taberna declining as tabernaculum).

The biblical instructions are as follows:

The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work...

A booth prepared for Sukkot (see Photo Credits)....So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.'" (Lev 23:33-43)

The instruction to live in temporary shelters for seven days is a reminder: firstly, of the Israelites' sojourn in the desert for 40 years after the exodus from Egypt and, secondly, that they are totally dependent on him for everything and that since they left their comfortable homes in Egypt to follow him they have never been abandoned or forsaken. The true home of God's people is God himself.

Abraham was "a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Heb 11:9-10). In the same way, the believers who left everything to follow Jesus were sent out without money or provisions and were described as "foreigners and exiles" in this world (1 Pet 2:11).

At Sukkot the Israelites were instructed to live in temporary shelters for a week, as a reminder of their 40 years in the desert, and of their total dependence on God, who is faithful.

Journeying with God

Sukkot also teaches us that salvation is a journey with God: we are led out by God towards the Promised Land and he travels with us. After the Exodus, God himself 'tabernacled' or camped with his people in the desert and provided for their needs with manna. So, this festival reminds us of God's provision and his presence. He was a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, and he was worshipped in the Tent of Meeting, itself a temporary structure. He dwelled with his people.

Centuries later, God dwelled among us uniquely by tabernacling in another temporary structure, a human body: "...the Word became flesh and dwelt [or tabernacled] among us" (John 1:1). This echoes Genesis 1:1 ("In the beginning") to indicate a new beginning in God's relationship with his creation when he would once more dwell among his people, sharing our nature and bearing our sin.

Rejoicing in Harvest

After the awe and solemnity of Yom Kippur, Sukkot is a joyful celebration - a traditional name for it is Zeman Simchatenu, "Season of our Rejoicing". It is the final harvest festival of the year and so it is also known as the 'Feast of Ingathering' (in Hebrew, Hag ha Asif. Hag means feast and ha is the definite article).

Lulav and etrog (see Photo Credits).The Feast of Tabernacles is the final pilgrim feast of the year (Passover and Pentecost being the first and second), when the men of Israel were commanded to go up to Jerusalem to celebrate (Ex 24:33). All are harvest festivals: Passover celebrates the ingathering of the barley harvest, Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) the wheat harvest and Tabernacles the final ingathering of wheat. The land of Israel would yield a variety of fruits at this time, including figs, pomegranates and dates. It is a thanksgiving celebration (it is thought that the American feast of Thanksgiving took its inspiration from this biblical harvest feast¹).

Biblical Observance of Sukkot

The biblical observance of Sukkot consisted of three main aspects; firstly, the building of booths, secondly, the gathering of four species of plant, and thirdly to rejoice. The four species are date palm, myrtle and willow branches, and the etrog or 'citron' in English (not the same as a lemon), interpreted from Leviticus 23:40.

The palm, myrtle and willow branches are bound together and are collectively known as the lulav. They are held upright with the etrog and waved before the Lord, a custom which has arisen through tradition.

There are various interpretations of the meaning of the four species. One of the best known is that they represent four types of Jews: the etrog, which has both flavour and fragrance, represents those who study and do good deeds. The palm branch has flavour but no fragrance, symbolising those who study but do not perform good deeds. The myrtle has no flavour but has fragrance, representing those who do not study Torah but do good deeds. Finally, the willow has neither flavour nor fragrance, representing those who neither study nor do good deeds.

At Sukkot, the final pilgrim festival of the year, men would go up to Jerusalem to give thanks for the ingathering of the wheat harvest. Four types of branch would traditionally be gathered and waved before the Lord.

Another interpretation is that each species relates to a particular aspect of man's service to God:

Etrog refers to the heart, the place of understanding and wisdom. Lulav refers to the backbone, uprightness. Myrtle corresponds to the eyes, enlightenment. Willow represents the lips, the service of the lips (prayer).²

The people were to rejoice for seven days. Seven is the number of perfection in the Bible. Passover is seven days, Pentecost is seven weeks after Passover and Tabernacles lasts seven days during the seventh month. The number of offerings during the feast are divisible by seven³ and according to rabbinic tradition the 70 bull offerings were symbolic of the 70 nations of the world (70 nations being deduced from scripture).⁴

The Hallel (messianic Psalms 113-118), which was sung during the Temple service, includes the words "The LORD is exalted over all the nations" (Ps 113:4) and, "Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples" (Ps 117:1).

According to the Talmud⁵, Israel was sacrificing for the nations of the world, even though the nations mock Israel (again in the Hallel) saying, "Where is their God?" (Ps 115:2) and part of the Hallel speaks of Gentiles (or nations) rising against Israel: "All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down" (Ps 118:10). The Talmudic commentary lamenting the loss of the Temple in 70 AD says: "Woe to the idolaters, for they had a loss and do not know what they have lost. When the Temple was in existence the altar atoned for them, but now who shall atone for them?"⁶ The apostle Paul gives the answer:

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith (Rom 3:21-25).

Israel was blessing the Gentiles through sacrifice at the Feast of Tabernacles, but Israel's sages did not see that the Gentiles do not need to enter via Moses but by the same route as Abraham, who did not have the Law of Moses, but was justified by faith: "Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the "man of faith" (Gal 3:8).

Torah scholars today expect that the Gentiles will become obedient to the Torah. According to the International Embassy in Jerusalem who host a multi-nation Feast of Tabernacles event in Jerusalem each year, "many are intrigued by the increasing number of Gentile Christians showing up in Jerusalem each year for Sukkot."⁷

They are fascinated beacuse Zechariah 14 prophesies that all nations will one day celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Zechariah 14 is one of the Haftarah texts (readings from the Prophets) traditionally read in synagogues at Sukkot, along with 1 Kings 8⁸. The Torah readings are the sections Leviticus 23, 24 and Numbers 29 which instruct about Sukkot.

Gathering the Nations

In fact, another interpretation of the lulav is that the branches represented different types of Jewish people and the etrog represents the Gentiles, or non-Jews. At the start of the waving ceremony, the etrog is upside-down. The spiritual meaning is that before we came to God, we were in a state of being upside-down. During the ceremony, the etrog is turned right side up and joined to the other three species, depicting Jews and Gentiles joining together at the Feast.

The lulav and etrog are waved together to north, south, east and west, to welcome the Lord and symbolise his presence in the four corners of the earth, but perhaps also the gathering of the harvest of souls to come from the four corners of the globe.

The lulav and etrog may also represent Jew and Gentile, being gathered together before the Lord from all four corners of the globe.

In the Temple at Jerusalem tens of thousands of worshippers would gather and shake their branches and fruit before the Lord, creating a tremendous rustling and whooshing sound with the fragrance of thousands of citrons rising in the warm sunshine. It would have been an experience of sensory worship unlike any other, involving sight, sound, smell and touch, with overwhelming fragrance and bright colour.

Times of Revival: Solomon and Ezra

The Feast of Tabernacles was a time of spiritual revival for the people of Israel, taking place at key moments in their history. Solomon dedicated the first Temple and brought in the ark during the seventh month, the time of the Feast of Tabernacles (1 Kings 8:2) - referred to then as "the Feast". Tabernacles was known as the Feast (ha-Hag) because it was seen as the greatest of the year. In John 7 it is also simply described as "the Feast".

The high point at Solomon's dedication was the glory of the Lord descending on the sanctuary:

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple (1 Kings 8:10-11)

Fire came down and consumed the offerings Solomon made at the Feast (2 Chron 7:1). Both the cloud of the Lord's glory in the Temple and the fire consuming the offerings were a reminder of God's original tabernacling with his people in the desert, when his presence was a pillar of cloud to guide them by day and a pillar of fire by night in the desert. The LORD was indicating that he would tabernacle with his people in the Temple.

Solomon also prayed prophetically (1 Kings 8) about future exile and re-gathering for Israel, but also envisaging that foreigners (Gentiles) would come to God's Temple.

After the return from exile the first thing the people did, even before re-building the Temple, was to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3:4). At Rosh HaShanah, the New Year (Feast of Trumpets or 'first day of the seventh month'), the people gathered in Jerusalem for a reading of the Law. Interestingly, this was not instigated by their leader, as had been the case with Moses, rather the people asked Ezra to read the Law to them. They stood for five or six hours listening to God's word and weeping.

When Ezra praised the Lord they raised their hands and called out "Amen, Amen!" and prostrated themselves. Then the priests gave the meaning of the Law for them so that everyone could understand (Neh 8). The next day the leaders gathered around Ezra again and found the instructions about the Feast of Tabernacles. They instructed the people, who celebrated it with a joy not seen since the days of Joshua. On each day of the Feast, Ezra read the Law to them.

It was at Sukkot that Solomon dedicated the first Temple; fire came down and consumed his offering and cloud filled the Temple, symbolising God's presence with his people in the desert as pillars of cloud and fire.

Living Water

Jesus used the Feast of Tabernacles to announce his messiahship (John 7). One tradition of the Feast of Tabernacles was a water-drawing ceremony (described in the Mishnah). Each morning at dawn during the Feast a procession of priests, musicians and other worshippers would leave the Temple and process about half a mile to the Pool of Siloam (created by King Hezekiah, which can be seen today).

Part of the Pool of Siloam (see Photo Credits).The High Priest, dressed in full robes and carrying a golden pitcher, led the throng. At the pool, he would fill the pitcher and then process back to the Temple through the Water Gate of the City. The Water Gate was identified by some rabbis as the south gate of Ezekiel's Temple through which the water of life would flow to all the land (Eze 47:1-5). At the Water Gate, they paused while trumpeters blew three blasts on silver trumpets and the priests would sing or shout, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isa 12:3).

Then the High Priest ascended to the altar, which was elevated, and upon which stood two silver basins. He poured water into one and wine was poured at the same time into the other as the trumpet players blew three more blasts. Then the whole congregation and choir of Levites sang from Psalm 118:25: "Save now we beseech thee, O LORD, O LORD, we beseech thee, send now prosperity."

There they would pour both the water and wine into special funnels, which created droplets which would come out at the bottom of the altar. It was a sign of the outpouring of God's Spirit and, as it would turn out, of his own lifeblood. John's gospel tells us that water and blood came from Jesus' side as his life was poured out on the altar that was the Cross.

After the outpouring on the altar, the Hallel (Praise, Psalms 113-118) was sung, which consists of Psalms 113-118. This was sung as the priests circled around the altar. The same psalms are sung at Passover. Jesus and his disciples sang them at the last supper. Significantly, they are messianic psalms. The worshippers would be waving their lulavim and singing psalms beseeching God for salvation. This joyful cacophony would fill the air, culminating in a fever pitch on the seventh day of the feast. This last day was known as Hoshanah Rabbah meaning 'Great Salvation' and it was the most intense day of all, with seven circuits of the altar by the priests and seven trumpet blasts and the people crying, "God save us now".⁹

The messianic fervour of the nation was at its peak at this point of the Feast - and in the time of Jesus, messianic hope was at fever pitch. It is thought likely that it was on this seventh day (some say it was on the Eighth Day of the Feast¹⁰) that Jesus stood up and cried out, as water flowed from the altar:

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."¹¹ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet." Others said, "He is the Christ." (John 7:37-41)

It was at Sukkot, in fulfilment of its daily water-drawing ceremony and its Messianic expectation, that Jesus stood and declared himself the source of Living Water.

This water ceremony was a reminder of Moses and the miracle of the water from the rock in the desert (Ex 17). It pointed to the coming of the promised prophet like Moses (Deut 18:15) who would bring forth new water from the well of salvation. Paul reminds us that Messiah is that rock: "For they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them and that rock was Christ" (1 Cor 10:4). Ezekiel foresaw the coming of a Messianic 'Prince' who would celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Eze 45:25) and then water would flow from the threshold of the Temple to all the land (Eze 47:1-11).

Light of the World

Another feature of Sukkot was the illumination ceremony, which took place at the time of Jesus from the second night of the feast at the Temple. The Levites and priests would process from the Court of the Men with their instruments down the 15 steps to the Court of the Women, singing the Psalms of Ascent which are Psalms 120-134.

The Court of the Women was a wide, open space and in the centre stood four giant lamps, each consisting of four containers mounted on a pole over 70 feet high. Young priests would climb ladders to light them. Each container held about 15 litres of oil with wicks made of priests' old garments. The Mishnah¹² tells us that once these were lit, "There was no courtyard in Jerusalem that was not illuminated from the light of these." The priests, sages, elders and (in Jesus' day) Pharisees would then pick up torches and dance with abandon.

There is a story about one rabbi (Simeon Ben Gamaliel) who rejoiced by juggling with eight lighted torches. There are stories of others juggling with knives, glasses of wine and eggs.¹³ Singing and celebration would go on all night. The Talmud says, "He who has not beheld this celebration has never seen joy in his life."¹⁴ It was in this context of night turned to day by the giant candelabra that Jesus stood up and cried out, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). He was declaring that he is the Shekhinah or glorious light of God, the pillar of fire that was with Israel in the desert.

It was also at Sukkot that Jesus declared himself Light of the World, during the illumination ceremony when giant candelabra lit up Jerusalem.

The miracle Jesus used to confirm his messianic claim was the healing of the blind man who was told to wash in the pool of Siloam, the very place from which the water for the pouring ceremony had come (John 9). Using the imagery of the festival, water and light, Jesus showed that he was the provision and presence of God, the Hoshanah Rabbah or 'Great Salvation' of the seventh day.

Other references to the Feast of Tabernacles in the New Testament are at the transfiguration, where Jesus is seen speaking with Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:27-36). Peter's thought is to make booths or tabernacles, suggesting he sees the fulfilment of the Feast in Jesus, whose messiahship is corroborated by Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and the Prophets respectively). In Revelation, we are told that God "will shelter them [the redeemed] with his presence" (Rev 7:15), literally he will tabernacle over them (in Greek, skenosei).

Observance today

Booths (sukkot) constructed on balconies (see Photo Credits).Religious Jews begin making their sukkah at the end of Yom Kippur five days before Sukkot, as it is seen as a blessing to go from one mitzvah (commandment or good deed) to another. A sukkah is a temporary shelter built to provide shade and so it must be under the open sky. You should be able to see the stars through the roof.

The walls can be of any reasonably secure material, but the roof must be of natural materials that have grown from the ground, such as evergreen branches.¹⁵ There is a height limit but it can be as wide as you like, to accommodate guests. It is like the temporary huts that shepherds would use as they travelled with their flocks, a structure that could be erected and disassembled easily.¹⁶

It is not obligatory to sleep in the sukkah but meals are taken there and there is a tradition called Ushpizin ('guests' in Aramaic) where symbolically honoured guests are invited each day to join the family in the Sukkah. These imaginary guests are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David. One is invited for each day of the Feast. Another custom is that it is a blessing to invite the poor and needy to celebrate with you. Often yeshiva (Orthodox Jewish seminary) students would be invited by families to share their meals at this time, just as the Levites, along with foreigners and widows, would have been invited in biblical times.¹⁷

Redemption for Jew and Gentile

The harvest theme of the Feast of Tabernacles, which is also known as the Feast of Ingathering, finds its prophetic fulfilment in the final end time harvest of souls from among Jews and Gentiles.

God promised to tabernacle with his people once more in Ezekiel 37. After the dry bones have come to life, he says:

My dwelling place [or tabernacle, Heb. mishkan] will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever. (Eze 37:27)

In our day we are seeing the dry bones come to life and put on flesh, as Jews have returned to the land of Israel and many hearts of stone have been turned to hearts of flesh by the Holy Spirit, who is the stream of Living Water promised by Yeshua the Messiah.

Tabernacles prophetically heralds the final ingathering of Jew and Gentile souls, when the Lord will tabernacle with his people forever and be their source of light and life.

On the Sabbath falling during Tabernacles, Ezekiel 38:18-39:16 (about the destruction of Gog) is read. It depicts other nations coming against Israel and receiving God's punishment. Zechariah 14 is also read during Tabernacles and foresees the Gentile survivors of the final conflict against Israel coming up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles in the end times:

Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. (Zech 14:16-17)

Ezekiel 38 predicts rebellion against the Lord and the epitome of anti-Semitism: a war against Israel. Zechariah prophesies that survivors, a remnant of God-fearing Gentiles who are philosemites (those who love the Jewish people) will worship the Lord with the Jewish people in Jerusalem. They will truly be "one new humanity" (Eph 2:15).

This Tabernacles theme of redemption for Gentiles is echoed in Revelation 7, where people from every tribe and nation (i.e. Gentiles) stand before the Lamb dressed in white with palm branches in their hands and Jesus' promise from John 7 about streams of living water is echoed, "For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water."

Tabernacles Fulfilled

At the Feast of Tabernacles the whole of Jerusalem was illuminated at night and in Zechariah 14 this finds fulfilment in the new earth where "there shall be continuous day...for at evening then there shall be light" (Zech 14:7) and again in Revelation 21:23, "the Lamb will be its [Jerusalem's] lamp".

The Lord himself is the illumination of the city and the river of the water of life flows freely:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling [or tabernacle] of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Then verse 6: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life (Rev 21:3-6).

The new earth will be God's sukkah or tabernacle where he will dwell once more face-to-face with his people, in paradise restored.

References

1 DID YOU KNOW: The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles Inspired America's Celebration of Thanksgiving? Messianic Jewish Alliance of America, 1 October 2012.

2 Sefer HaChinuch (Book of Education), #285.

3 A total of 182 sacrifices. 182 divided by 7 = 26. Chumney, E, 1994. The Seven Festivals of the Messiah. Destiny Image Publishers Inc, Shippensburg, PA, p166.

4 Deuteronomy 32:8 and Genesis 46:27 – God divided the nations according to the number of the children of Israel, which are 70.

5 Talmud, Sukkah 55b.

6 Ibid.

7 Black, JM. Sukkot and the Gentiles, ICEJ, 25 October 2012.

8 Kings is included with the prophetic books in the Jewish canon of scripture.

9 At Jesus triumphal entry (Matt 21:1-11), the people laid palm branches at his feet because they see Zechariah 9:9 being fulfilled, "See your king comes riding on a donkey" so they shouted "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" There was a tradition of shaking palm branches at Passover, but it is possible that as they recognised Messiah they echoed Tabernacles in their greeting because that was seen as the key messianic feast.

10 Glaser, M & Glaser, Z, 1987. The Fall Feasts of Israel, Moody, Chicago, p177. The last day of the Feast is called Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day), a day of solemn assembly, in the Bible and in the Talmud. The book of Ecclesiastes is read on this day. In rabbinic tradition, Israel has acted in intercession for the world before the Lord on the first seven days of Sukkot and takes the eighth day as an opportunity to be alone with God (p199). This day is also known as Simchat Torah, 'rejoicing in the Law', which celebrates the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle. This is not found in the Bible or the Talmud but has arisen probably later (p200). Outside Israel, Simchat Torah is a separate ninth day of the holiday.

11 There is no exact Old Testament quotation that is the equivalent to the phrase "streams of living water will flow from within him", but it echoes many scriptures promising the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, such as the verse mentioned earlier - Isaiah 12:3 (also Ex 17:6; Num 20:11; Ps 114:8; Isa 44:3; Isa 55:1; Isa 58:11; Joel 2:23; Joel 3:18; Eze 47:1; Eze 47:12; Zech 13:1; Zech 14:8).

12 The Mishnah is oral law written down by around 200 AD. Combined with the commentary on it known as the Gemarah, the two together became known as the Talmud.

13 Brickner, D, 2006. Christ in the Feast of Tabernacles. Chicago, Moody, p83.

14 Mishnah, Sukkot 5:1.

15 The Sukkah: The Holiday Hut, Chabad.org.

16 Brickner (see note 10) p34.

17 The inspiration for Ushpizin goes back to Abraham, who invited travellers in (Gen 18) - See also Ushpizin: Welcoming Guests, Ross, LK, and Brickner (note 10), p35.

Clifford Hill suggests that God might be offering European Christians a great opportunity through the refugee crisis.

There are no signs of stemming the flow of people seeking to escape war and poverty in the Middle East. Nearly half a million people have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe this year, and this is just a fraction of the millions who may be heading for Europe. EU leaders meeting on 23 September decided to "tackle the dramatic situation at our external borders and strengthen controls at those borders".¹ So Europe's open door is soon to be closed in face of the tide that has overwhelmed Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Hungary, Serbia and Croatia and created problems throughout Europe.

Even Germany is struggling to cope with the sheer numbers involved and the nightmare task of registering people with no passports or personal papers. But these numbers could lead to a vast inflow from the 60 million displaced people worldwide according to UN estimates.

Germany has at last realised that continuing to signal welcome signs could have catastrophic effects upon the social and economic health of Europe and they too say they must limit numbers. But Germany is now facing other problems.

Germany is finally realising that continuing to signal welcome signs could have catastrophic effects upon the social and economic health of Europe.

German DominationGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel.

For a number of years Germany has been boasting of its riches and flexing its power muscles in Europe; dominating the European Central Bank, forcing disastrous policies upon Greece and directing EU economic and political policy.

Suddenly the VW scandal has broken on the scene. The motor company with the world's largest sales has been caught cheating with a device that gives a false reading of its engine efficiency when on the test pad. Millions of euros were wiped off the value of the company within 48 hours and the scandal is so enormous that it has the potential of bankrupting the firm and seriously affecting the German national economy. Germans need to ask what God is saying to them through such a humiliation.

Quota System

Meanwhile meetings of EU heads and officials this week struggled to agree a quota system for those already in Europe, in the face of fierce opposition from East European nations who do not want an influx of Muslims into Christian countries. Having triggered the large inflow of migrants, Germany is now agreeing with others who believe the right way to deal with this crisis is to put EU funds into helping Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, where they are struggling to cope with the 4 million displaced Syrians already in their countries. In addition there are 11 million homeless Syrians in their own country, displaced by a brutal war.

Russian Involvement

A further complication to an already confusing situation is the evidence that Russia is becoming involved in military action in support of President Assad. There seems no chance of the rebels in the Syrian civil war being victorious. But Russia's fears are of the real possibility of an Islamic State victory, which would undoubtedly destabilise already troubled relationships within Russia with its own large Muslim minority.

This is presenting the USA with a dilemma: their bombing missions over many months have been unable to deter the advance of ISIS in the region, but they have no wish to see Russia establish a base in Syria and become a dominant force in the Middle East.

Russia's growing military support of Assad is presenting another Middle East complication, as the US has no wish to see Russia a dominant force in the region.

Israel Anxiety

Sitting on the sideline, people in Israel are watching the situation developing on their doorstep with growing anxiety. Lance Lambert believed that solving the Syrian crisis would not bring peace and security to Israel. In fact he believed that once the Muslim nations stopped fighting each other they would turn their attention to Israel because their ultimate objective is the annihilation of the Jewish State (see Part 2 of his 1988 interview with Gary Clayton, here).

International negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, March 2015.

This is why the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been so strongly opposed to the deal with Iran agreed by Obama that allows the continuation of Iranian nuclear ambitions. He knows that their aim is to build a nuclear bomb for an attack upon Israel.

Is there any word from the Lord?

How will it all end? Is there any word from the Lord to guide us in these chaotic days? One of the things that Jesus said would be a sign that we are approaching the time of his Second Coming is what we've often described as the "shaking of the nations". This is prophesied in a number of places in the Bible, notably Isaiah chapters 2 and 24, as well as Haggai 2 and Hebrews 12. The main places in the Gospels are in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

Luke records the teaching of Jesus on this subject, saying that it will not only be the earth and the nations that will be shaken but that "Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken" (Luke 21:26).

But Jesus also said, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28). So, far from being nervous, we should be excited when we see these things beginning to happen in our own lifetime! But it is most essential both to study the word of God and also to learn to use our prayer times for listening to the Lord and not just for speaking. We need to know what God requires us to do.

Jesus said that when we see things prophesied in Scripture coming to pass, we should stand in hope – not faint from fear – for his Second Coming draws near.

False Religion

One of the things that Jesus says will be a feature of the end times is that there will be a lot of false religion around. He warns about being deceived, "for false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible" (Matt 24:24).

The greatest threat from false religion today is Islam, whose militant leaders are deceiving many to give up their own lives and take those of others. Right across the world, Christians are being persecuted by Muslims. This is most intense where militant Islamists operate and in areas where multitudes of Muslims are converting to Christianity (such as in Indonesia, where two million Muslims a year are leaving Islam and accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour). Militant Muslims are carrying out a savage persecution of Christians. Churches are being attacked and Christians beheaded, but all this is only causing more conversions to Christianity.

Indonesian Spiritual Awakening

Until recently, Indonesia was known as having the largest Muslim population in the world. But since the 1980s there has been an escalating growth in Christian churches right across the land. Our team from Issachar Ministries has ministered there many times in the past 20 years and had a small share in this. In the 1990s the Muslim Government became worried about this growth and they introduced a programme of mass resettlement – moving large numbers of Muslim families out of overcrowded Jakarta into islands that were solidly Christian.

Something amazing happened! The Christians welcomed the newcomers with open arms and great generosity; helping them to settle, find work and be part of the local community. They were shown so much love which the Christians said was "the love of Jesus" that most of the families converted to Christianity. The Imams complained that the policy was disastrous and so the Government stopped the resettlement after about 10 years. But news of what had happened spread like wildfire across Indonesia, fuelling the great spiritual awakening and move from Islam to Christianity that is now gathering momentum.

God's Purposes for Europe

Could it be within the purposes of God to bring large numbers of Muslim migrants into Europe in these days in order for them to be released from the spiritual darkness of Islam?

We've not done a very good job with the four million Muslims from Pakistan who have arrived in Britain since 1960. But that's due largely to our immigration policy that makes no attempt to integrate them into society and teach them our language and Judaeo-Christian heritage. It allows them to form closed communities where many women live in virtual slavery and there are few opportunities for Christians to have any contact with their neighbours.

Could it be part of God's purpose in bringing large numbers of Muslim migrants into Europe today is for them to be released from the spiritual darkness of Islam?

The migrants coming from Syria come from a very different culture to that in rural areas of Pakistan and there will be greater openness to integration and opportunities for Christians to share their faith. At the same time God has allowed the Islamic State to perform the same barbaric practices as the founder of their religion in the seventh century, exposing to the world the spirit that drives this religion.

Opportunity for Christians

This is giving Christians in Europe the opportunity of showing the difference between the god whom Mohamed served and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas Mohamed insisted on forced conversions at the point of the sword and beheaded those who refused, Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said, 'love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven... (Matt 5:43)

There can be no greater contrast than this between the two religions. This is the opportunity that God is presenting to Christians in Europe through the great migration currently taking place.

References

1 Press release from the informal meeting of EU heads of state or government on migration, Brussels, 23 September 2015.

Clifford Denton asks: is there something special about the year 2015? What should we make of the large number of anniversaries celebrated this year? Are they just 'coincidences' - or is Almighty God speaking to us through them?

Looking back while going forward

It is a biblical principle to constantly look back and remember what God has done for his people. This is the basis of the Passover when, once a year, the families of Israel were to gather round the meal table and recount their deliverance from Egypt so many years ago. This was also the opportunity for the baton of remembrance to be passed on to each new generation, as the youngest child asked the father, "Why is this night different from other nights?"

If we do not take steps to remember then we easily forget.

More positively, to look back and remember God's faithfulness helps us to step forward in faith into an otherwise uncertain future.

To look back and remember God's faithfulness helps us to step forward into an otherwise uncertain future.

History is littered with metaphorical ebenezars – our stones of remembrance (see 1 Samuel 7:12). So, in 2015 it is good for us to pause and consider where we have come from and how God has helped us. The United Kingdom, despite all its faults, has much that is good to remember this year.

A Long List of Anniversaries

Earlier this year the Daily Telegraph published English Heritage's 'Top Ten Anniversaries for 2015'. Each has brought with it some form of significant celebration across the nation, including:

1. 800 years since the signing of Magna Carta
2. 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo
3. 600 years since the Battle of Agincourt
4. 100 years since the beginning of trench warfare of the First World War
5. 70 years since VE Day marked the ending of the War in Europe
6. 50 Years since the death of Sir Winston Churchill
7. 750 years since the first English Parliament
8. 700 years since the Siege of Carlisle by Robert the Bruce
9. 1000 years since the Viking invasion of England by Cnut
10. 75 years since the Evacuation of Dunkirk in the Second World War

It is difficult to know where to draw the line on our celebrations of the past. An extreme example is a list of '4000 newsworthy items' occurring in 2015, many less well-known than others but some of major significance to add to our list of 10 (or 20, or 30) or so anniversaries already noted in the news and elsewhere.

Celebrating Major National Landmarks

Every week this year seems to bring a memorial or celebration of yet another major milestone in our history.

For example, on the day that I drafted this article (15 September) there was a memorial flight of a large gathering of Spitfires and Hurricanes across the south of England - perhaps the greatest number seen over our shores since the Battle of Britain, which began on this date 75 years ago. Millions watched the television coverage of this event.

Just over a fortnight ago, amidst much national and international jubilation, the Queen became the longest serving monarch in British history.

Around the same time, in the regular yearly celebration at the BBC's Last Night of the Proms the promenaders burst forth in song with 'Land of Hope and Glory', 'Rule Brittania' and even 'Jerusalem', with keen nationalistic fervour (perhaps the stronger this year because of its many historic reminders). Perhaps this is over-enthusiastic - and yet there is much in our history to stir such sentiments.

All this in a world which is beginning to shake in fulfilment of biblical prophecies pointing to the soon return of Jesus the Messiah.

Rejoice, Repent...or Both?

Could it be that it is no casual coincidence that our nation is remembering so much in one year – but that it is of God? Are we reaching a point where such reflection should lead us to repentance and trust in God for the last few years of this era of human history? This may seem a bleak sort of question to ask of a nation that is celebrating good things, but could this be God's purpose for us (the opposite of what some might think)?

Any one of the major celebrations tugs at the heart. World conflicts where millions of men and women once struggled for survival; major landmarks of the formation of Britain's constitutional principles settling a balance of freedom in which we could be a nation under God; our long-living monarch who made a solemn vow to God to maintain his laws and the true profession of the Gospel.

If we examine the dates closely we find not only political and military milestones but also significant dates of the formation of missionary movements, reminding us how our nation was used by God to send the Gospel to many Gentile nations. Layer upon layer of wide-ranging history is before us this year. It is time to pause and think – and to pray.

Man's Point of ViewFlypast for Battle of Britain anniversary, 2015. See Photo Credits.

Many of the celebrations this year have been accompanied by Church services. This, on the face of it, brings some encouragement. Yet, if we dig a bit beneath the surface there is a tendency for two points of concern. One is that services are increasingly multi-faith – a heritage of Empire perhaps, when we failed to sufficiently emphasise the Gospel at the time of our greatest opportunity, majoring instead on trade and political influence. Now we reap some repercussions as our nation struggles for identity, when biblical principles are gradually compromised in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society.

Secondly, there is a growing tendency to remember what men and women did, rather than what God did for us. Of course there has been much human effort to bring our nation through its developing history, and much human sacrifice in the cause of freedom. Yet we did not do this alone and we must balance our view of man's contribution with a clear understanding of how God has helped us – perhaps more than we think.

God's Point of View

Has God sent us a clear word during this year of celebration that draws our attention to his own perspective and his own call to our nation? Surely this is the opportunity for us to seek him and ask him. Throughout our history the hand of God has been on our affairs. If there is anything good then it is he who brought it about. At our best we realised this, but the memory soon fades.

For example, in the hours of our greatest need in the Second World War, the King called the nation to prayer. When victory finally came, after many a miraculous deliverance, the first thing that Prime Minister Winston Churchill did was lead the entire body of Parliament to St Margaret's Church in Westminster to give thanks to Almighty God.

We are in a different war now. It is more in the spiritual domain. This is the time of rising deception, false prophecy and false messiahs (among other things), as foretold by Jesus himself (Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13). Is this why we are looking back so significantly to the ebenezars (stones of remembrance) of our history?

Is God himself wanting us to pause and consider our history from his perspective and not our own? How much time do we have? Perhaps this year, perhaps the duration of our Queen's reign, who knows? Is this why there is so much emphasis on looking back all in one year – to make the point most strongly?

Days of Prophetic Fulfilment

It is interesting that there was another year of significant memories not long ago - the year was 1988. Then, we recalled such things as:

• 450 years of the availability of the English Bible in every parish
• 400 years since the defeat of the Spanish Armada
• 350 years since the National Covenant in Scotland
• 300 years since the 'Glorious Revolution'
• 250 years since the conversion of the Wesleys
• 150 years since the abolition of slavery in the British Empire;
• and - still of great and central importance - 300 years since the Coronation Oath Act.

1988 was another significant year to reflect as a nation.

Around that time a number of Christian ministries came to prominence; among them was the Prophecy Today. Having been launched in its print magazine format in 1985, in 1988 the Prophecy Today team undertook a national tour with large meetings around the country, declaring the word of the Lord for our times.

Now, at the time of this second wave of significant memorials, Prophecy Today has been re-launched. The first editions of the earlier magazine brought warning. Now we are at a time of fulfilment. Perhaps 2015 marks a decision point for our nation in greater ways than most of us have realised.

It is time for us to pause and consider so that we might, in a meaningful way, turn to prayer. It is a poignant, God-given moment in our history where, in the context of present crises among the nations and with weak international leadership, we can recall what God has done for us in the past, and ask him what he has to say to us today. This is true for both the Christian Church and the nation as a whole.

This year is an opportunity for both church and nation to pause and consider what God has done for us in the past, and to ask him what he has to say to us today.

Monica Hill looks at the spiritual gift of 'encouragement' - a gift which not only lifts others up and builds up the Body of Christ, but also blesses those who give it.

'...if it is encouraging, let him encourage...'

Like all the gifts listed in Romans 12, encouragement is given to build up the Body of Christ and cannot be used in isolation from other people. The gifts that follow in this list ("contributing, leadership and mercy"), although they can be used in a natural way, all need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to reach their fulfilment.

We need to be exercising these no longer in "the pattern of the world, but by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2), so that we can see things God's way and embrace Kingdom values rather than worldly ones.

Biblical Examples

There are plenty of biblical stories of encouragement. God instructed Moses in Deuteronomy 1:28: "commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see."

David encouraged Joab in 2 Samuel 11:25, by sending a message: "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Joab."

In 2 Samuel 19:7, Joab exhorted David: "Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now."

God desired to encourage Job (16:5): "But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief."

In the New Testament, "Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers." (Acts 15:32). Paul obviously saw this gift of encouraging in Tychicus as he sent him to both the Ephesians (6:22) and the Colossians (4:8), and he also sent Timothy to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 3:2). Paul was always encouraging the body of believers in Thessalonica to build each other up (1 Thess 4:18, 5:11, 5:14; 2 Thess 2:17).

The writer of Hebrews advocated "encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" (3:13). This is emphasised even more in 10:25: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching".

Jesus is the ultimate example as he encouraged and built up the most unlikely of people. Without his encouragement during his time on earth and the support of the Holy Spirit following Pentecost, Peter and a number of other disciples would have stayed fishermen and Matthew remained a tax collector, rather than leading a worldwide movement as strong advocates of the Gospel.

Paul would also have remained a persecutor of the church rather than the missionary to the Gentiles. Jesus saw the potential in individuals and both taught and encouraged them to live their lives to the full with a real purpose. He continues to encourage those who are weak, believing in them and trusting them. He sets standards and rebukes where necessary, as well as encouraging, and he is calling upon us to do likewise.

Jesus sees the potential in individuals and both teaches and encourages them to live their lives to the full, with a real purpose.

Responsibilities of Leaders

Paul's instructions in 2 Timothy (4:2) were "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction". Teaching is seen as primarily encouraging and rebuking – "to encourage others by sound doctrine and to refute those who oppose it" (Titus 1:9, 2:15) and self-control is also to be encouraged!

So What About Us?

Never underestimate the value of words of encouragement that you can give to others. It shows that you understand where they are and what they need to hear – especially when they are feeling low and misunderstood. It shows you are giving your support and will give them confidence to go forward; it can build them up, uplift and inspire them to believe that they can do something and that they have the potential to make a success of the life that God has given them.

Never underestimate the value of words of encouragement that you can give others.

From my own experience, I have seen the change it makes in an obese child who had given up on physical exercise to be encouraged to try something new and finding they could do it; or the confidence it gives to make the child no-one wants on their team, captain for the day. Each child began to believe in themselves with this encouragement and grew towards the potential which was latent. If a word or small act like these give encouragement, how much more can we help change the world if we have this gift and practise it wisely?

Finally

Isaiah 1:17 tells us to "learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow".

We all know that we need encouragement at various stages in our life – especially when we feel low or depressed. Our Lord hears "the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry" (Psa 10:17).

God is a very present help in our own times of need. We need the reassurance that God remains the same - faithful, loving and powerful - through changes big and small.

Ask God to give you this gift of encouragement and exercise it daily: encourage others and be encouraged.

If you have any other comments on 'encouragement' as a spiritual gift, please do add them below.

References

1 Quote selection from here.

Last week we re-printed part of an interview with Lance Lambert, in which he gives a Messianic perspective on the future of the Jewish people. Interviewed by Gary Clayton, he concludes by assessing the significance of lsraeI's fortieth anniversary in the light of scripture and world events.

I believe that in many ways the fortieth anniversary of modern IsraeI's history has to be deeply significant. Indeed, there has hardly been a phase in the past forty years that has not been of significance.

It is surely noteworthy that most of the political and military analysts examining the Middle East situation in 1946 and 1947 — before the State of Israel was created — found it hard to believe that Israel would survive. Even after her first year it still seemed incredible that she could have lasted so long. There have been five wars in the forty year period, three of which could easily have seen the liquidation of both state and nation. lt is remarkable that every war has ended not only in Israeli survival, but in triumph — including the first, a war of independence.

Triumph and survival

People tend to attribute this survival to Jewish intelligence and ingenuity, but as someone who is both a Jew and an Israeli, living in and being part of the nation, I realise what a miracle it is that we have come through. But this is not the only miracle. Anyone examining the economy of Israel can see that it has been disastrously managed. Red tape and bureaucracy have caused enormous problems, which is surprising when we remember that throughout the world Jews are regarded as shrewd and successful businessmen.

Yet forty years on, despite such mismanagement, Israel has a viable economy. This to me is as great a miracle as the one of political stability. It is truly remarkable therefore that Israel has reached her fortieth year.

The question we need to ask is what this new phase actually signifies. Some believe that IsraeI's wars and troubles are over and that she is going to move into a period of peace and establishment, but l cannot subscribe to that view. My intuition and understanding of the prophetic word tell me that Israel faces further war and suffering in the years immediately ahead. I expect that this will herald the beginning of a much greater fulfilment of God's purposes for the nation. The fortieth anniversary is just the start.

My intuition and understanding of the prophetic word tell me that Israel faces further war and suffering in the years immediately ahead. The fortieth anniversary may herald a much greater fulfilment of God's purposes for the nation.

Hakhel: The Solemn Convocation

An event took place in Israel last year during the Feast of Tabernacles which went practically unnoticed by the outside world, yet it was one which I feel has great significance. This was the re-enaction of a ceremony which had not been held in Jerusalem for over 2,500 years, not in fact since the time when the last kings of Judah were in the land. It is called the Hakhel, a solemn convocation. This was always summoned in the Sh'mittah, or seventh year, when the land had to lie fallow.

During this ceremony the high priest would gather the people in the Temple and ask the king to read the law from the book of Deuteronomy. For the first time in two and a half millennia, the two chief rabbis gave notice that they were going to hold this ceremony at the western wall, and asked President Chaim Herzog if he would represent the king while they took the place of the high priest. I was present with a group of Messianic believers. It was a most moving and remarkable event with more than thirty-five thousand people present, the largest crowd I ever seen at the western wall.

In 1987 during the Feast of Tabernacles, the Hakhel ceremony was re-enacted in Jerusalem for the first time in over 2,500 years.

Unearthly Sounds

It began with a fanfare of military trumpets to announce the arrival of the president, and then a strange, unearthly sound suddenly filled the air. I wondered what it was, but looking up l saw seven men on the western wall dressed in the garb of Levites, blowing seven silver trumpets. From the south-west corner of the temple wall came the sound of a further seven blowing similar instruments, and the two groups echoed one another back and forth. These silver trumpets were being blown for the first time in thousands of years so as to call together the meeting, the solemn convocation.

The law was read and there was much prayer, which I found very moving. There was a strong sense of the Spirit of God and there could hardly have been one Messianic Jew present who was not deeply moved, even to tears. The prayer was for Israel to be given the gift of repentance; for her to return to the Lord and for the Lord to renew her so that she would be able to walk in his ways, forsaking all unrighteousness.

Moving prayers were said for Israel to be given the gift of repentance, for her to return to the Lord and for the Lord to renew her so she would be able to walk in his ways.

We all felt it was a most important event, and coming at the beginning of the new Jewish year of 5748, the fortieth anniversary of Israel, we could not help but wonder what it might herald. It could indicate the beginning of a movement of the Spirit of God to establish the Messianic community and turn the nation towards the Lord.

On the one hand this new phase in Israel's history may see even more war and suffering, on the other it may see the establishment of the nation in new and deeper ways than ever before, particularly on a spiritual level.

Prophecy of Conflict

Looking at Israel and the global situation, I recollect that it is now 14 or 15 years since I first began warning people that we could be in the run-up to the fulfilment of the prophecy in Ezekiel 38 and 39 concerning war against Israel:

In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land (Eze 38:7-9).

Viewing the Middle East through Israeli eyes, it seems clear to me that events are being moved into place in readiness for this prophecy to be fulfilled.

Reflections on the Gulf War

The Ayatollah has received something of a setback in the Gulf as a result of the involvement of Western powers, with lraq's re-arming by the French, the West Germans and the British naturally prolonging the war. The involvement of the United States in bringing its navy into the Gulf with 14 of its warships and the re-flagging of Kuwaiti ships under the Stars and Stripes have likewise prolonged the conflict, as has the Soviet Union's own massive military assistance to Iraq.

It is hard to believe that this war has gone on for more than eight years, resulted in over a million deaths and continues with still no sign of an end in view. Israeli intelligence believes that there will be at least another two years before there is any outcome. Had Iraq and Iran been left to themselves, lraq would probably have collapsed long ago. Her economy is in ruins and her second-largest city practically a ghost town, with no ships able to get in or out of her port. The oil fields in the north have been partially wrecked and Baghdad has been under continuous threat of bombardment by missiles. The Iranians number about 70 million people and are determined to win this war. Morale is quite high and although the economy has suffered it is still functioning.

Iraq, meanwhile, is in colossal debt. She numbers just under 16 million people and suffers from poor morale. I believe Iran will win this war, and so far every month that passes makes it seem even more likely. The other Arab and Islamic leaders are all afraid of Iran. An American intelligence report based on a three and a half month's study stated that it did not matter if there were forty American ships in the Gulf or a hundred, Iran would still win. Not long ago a number of unofficial delegations comprising high-ranking Soviet officials went to Tehran. This may be significant since the American presence in the Gulf is quite likely to trigger a Soviet response.

In the end, Iran may get desperate to conclude the war and so might decide to do some kind of deal with the Soviet Union. I am not predicting that this will necessarily happen, but we should watch out for such developments as they could be significant in the light of Ezekiel's prophecy in chapter 38, concerning the evil scheme of the 'country from the far north' to advance with many nations against Israel.

Agenda against Israel

For many years people have asked what would happen if Iran won the war. The answer is simple, since their oft-stated aim is the 'liberation' of Jerusalem and the liquidation of Israel. I have no doubt that once victory over Iraq is complete they will seek to thrust through Jordan and press on to the mountains of Moab and Gilead.

Iraq is also an enemy of Israel, and this is why the latter has been only too happy for Iran and Iraq to have been at each other's throats for so long. I believe that, once the war is over, the victors' attention will shift to Israel.

I believe that once the Gulf War is over, the victors' attentions will shift to Israel.

Syria, meanwhile, is in a quandary. Her economy is in ruins and she is dependent on Saudi Arabia to bail her out. The Kuwaitis, Saudis and other sheikhs have been pouring large sums of money into Iraq to keep her afloat and Saudi Arabia recently questioned whether she would continue to support Syria in view of the latter's antagonistic attitude towards Iraq. Not so long ago at the Islamic Conference at Amman Jordan's King Hussein tried to bring about a reconciliation between Syria and Iraq. The one thing Syria and Iraq have in common is that both are violently opposed to Israel.

Glasnost: real openness or window-dressing?

In Mikhail Gorbachev the Soviet Union has the youngest and most popular leader for decades. As a result of his glasnost ('openess') policy he has an excellent public image. He appears a much more open, contemporary and compassionate leader, yet it is hard to believe that a man who was for many years a leader in the KGB could ever really be as good as he sounds. I do not know of a single Jew released from Soviet Union who does not regard glasnost as little more than an exercise in window-dressing. Many of them are concerned that the West is being taken in by this new approach.

I believe that the Soviet Union's real plan is to let out some ten thousand or so Jewish activists who are considered to be trouble-makers but keep the remaining three million Jews where they are. There is no doubt, however, that this community will come home to Israel in the end, and that it will be by divine dictate. I am certain of this because of the prophetic words of Isaiah 43:3-6:

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour...do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you up from the west. I will say to the north, "Give them up!" and to the south, "Do not hold them back". Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.

Some good things are happening in Israel and we have to be thankful for them. We live in a country battling for its life, one in which most young people have been involved in at least one war before reaching their twenties, and which has problems no other nation has. If we have special problems, however, we have special promises as well; promises made by God through the prophets. They are promises no other nation has.

If Israel has special problems with conflict and survival, it also has special promises made by God that no other nation has.

From dreams and visions to props and enaction: Edmund Heddle continues to look at the visual side of prophecy.

Many imagine that the use of visual aids and drama in putting over the word of God is a modern innovation. The fact is that both were used by the prophets of the Old and New Testaments and indeed, by our Lord Jesus himself. In so doing they teach us an important lesson today: that we should not present the message only in word but also in action.

Once a prophet realises that the Spirit is capable of presenting what God wants to say in dramatic action as well as in convincing word, and once he is willing to be open to some of the unusual things the Spirit may urge him to do, he discovers that enacted prophecy can make a greater and more lasting impact than the word alone.

Visual aids and drama have long been used to put across God's word – enacted prophecy can have a much greater impact than the spoken word alone.

Enacted prophecy in the Old Testament

After Solomon died he was succeeded by his son Rehoboam, who foolishly followed the advice of the young men over the elders, as shown in the classic reply that he made: "My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" (1 Kings 12:11). As a result of this short-sighted policy the ten northern tribes revolted under Jeroboam.

But before this, the prophet Ahijah had told Solomon he was to be king over Israel by an enacted prophecy. Ahijah took the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into ten pieces, giving them to Jeroboam. His actions confirmed his divine appointment (1 Kings 11:29-36).

Later in the history of God's people, the prophet Micah was so upset as he contemplated the disaster that would overtake Samaria and Jerusalem that he said, "Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked" (Mic 1:8). In this way he enacted his identity with nations that would be driven away naked into exile. To his words and actions he added his cries, saying he would wail with the strength of a jackal until his voice was so strained that it would resemble the squeaking of a baby ostrich.

Micah's greater contemporary Isaiah also enacted his concern for the people of God by appearing in the streets of Jerusalem over a period of three years in the rags of a prisoner of war, with scarce enough covering to be decent. This would be the sad result for Israel when Egypt and Cush were led into exile by the king of Assyria as prisoners of war. Then they would have to say, "See what has happened to those we relied on" (Isa 20:1-6).

Ahijah took his new cloak and tore it into ten pieces. Micah wept and wailed, and went about barefoot and naked. Isaiah spent three years in the rags of a prisoner of war.

Later on a prophetic word was enacted by Jeremiah in Egypt (Jer 43:7-13). Although he had persistently warned the remnant of Judah, "Do not go to Egypt" (Jer 42:19), when they insisted, he decided it was right to go with them. While there, God told him to take a number of large stones and to bury them in mortar at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanes and to prophesy that the king of Babylon would invade Egypt and set up his throne above these very stones. Far from avoiding trouble by escaping to Egypt, they had brought it upon themselves by their disobedience.

Nebuchadnezzar would set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt and would smash some of the obelisks in Heliopolis. The archaeologist Sir Flinders Petrie believed that a raised pavement he discovered was the place where Jeremiah buried his stones. Two of the Heliopolis obelisks survive to this day. One is in New York City and the other - incorrectly known as Cleopatra's Needle - on the Thames Embankment in London.

Jeremiah was led by God to bury large stones at the entrance to Pharoah's palace in Egypt – enacting a prophecy that Babylon would eventually invade and take over.

False Enactions

It is a testimony to its effectiveness that a false prophet, Zedekiah, copied what he had seen other true prophets do in enacting their prophetic words. On one occasion the kings of Israel and Judah were sitting on their thrones in Samaria with all the prophets prophesying before them when Zedekiah brought the iron horns he had made and said, "With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed" (1 Kings 22:11).

All the false prophets agreed until a true prophet, Micaiah, came on the scene. When consulted he told the king to go ahead, but his tone of voice and his manner betrayed the fact that he was speaking in irony and that he meant just the reverse of what he said. Because of his faithful testimony Micaiah was put in prison on bread and water, where he realised a truth many of the Lord's prophets have also since discovered: that evil men hate the true word of God (1 Kings 22:18 and 26-27).

It is a testimony to the effectiveness of prophetic enaction that false prophets through history have copied the same behaviour.

Marital Enactions

Jeremiah was forbidden to marry and to have children. This was to make his marital state a witness to the imminent disaster that would overtake God's people: "They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried...they will perish by sword and famine" (Jer 16:1-4). Every time he was asked why he was not married it gave him the opportunity to bring to people a warning of what was ahead unless they repented. Today the testimony of those who choose to remain unmarried for the sake of the gospel is a powerful enactment.

In contrast to Jeremiah, Hosea was told to marry, but to take a prostitute as a wife (Hos 1:2). Israel's unfaithfulness to the Lord is depicted by Hosea in terms of a wife who turns her back on a faithful husband in order to give herself to a succession of lovers. In spite of God's goodness to his people, Israel went lusting after Baal and other gods of Canaan. Hosea 2:2 appears to contain a formula for divorce: "She is not my wife, neither am I her husband" but the God Hosea depicts cannot take that action. He is the one who says, "How can I give you up? How can I hand you over?" So the prophetic word is powerfully enacted.

In contrast to both Jeremiah and Hosea, Ezekiel is allowed to marry a wife who is "the delight of his eyes" (Eze 24:15-19). But suddenly he is told that he is about to lose her; nevertheless he must not weep or shed any tears. God shows the prophet that he also is being bereaved of "the delight of his eyes", by which he means his sanctuary in the temple in Jerusalem. God says they are not to mourn the desecration of his sanctuary because it is the result of their persistent sin (Eze 24:20-24). In each of these examples the family life of the prophet enacts and makes clearer what God is saying.

Enacted prophecy by Jeremiah

It is in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel that we see the constant use of enacted prophecy. Both prophets are involved with the closing stages of the kingdom of Judah and exile and captivity of God's people in Babylon.

There are five enacted prophecies in addition to the one already mentioned:

1. Jeremiah is told to make thongs and yoke-bars and to put them on his neck. This is to illustrate his message - unacceptable to them - that only by submitting to the King of Babylon could they remain in their own land. Hananiah the false prophet disagreed and broke the yoke-bars from Jeremiah's neck. Jeremiah's reaction is to make iron bars instead of wooden ones and to announce that Hananiah would die that very year because he had preached rebellion against the Lord (Jer 27 and 28).
2. Jeremiah is told to buy a linen waistcloth and to bury it in a cleft of the rock by the river Euphrates. After many days he is told to return there to collect it, only to discover that it was good for nothing. So he enacts God's desire that Israel would cling closely to him and the refusal that was to spoil the whole relationship (Jer 13:1-11).
3. Jeremiah is told to buy a potter's earthenware jar and to smash it by the Potsherd Gate in the presence of the elders of the people and some of the priests. Then he was to say, "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired'" (Jer 19:1-12).
4. Jeremiah is told to buy a field at the very time when the entire surrounding country was in enemy hands. This strange action dramatised eloquently Jeremiah's confidence in the future of God's people and in their certain return to their homeland. His actions spoke more convincingly than any words could have done of his absolute confidence in the Lord's promise: "Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land" (Jer 32:6-15).
5. Jeremiah is told to take a scroll and to write on it the doom of Babylon. This he was to give to Seraiah (a brother of Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe) to take to Babylon. When he got there he was to read it aloud, to pray and then to throw it into the river Euphrates (having first attached a stone so that it would sink). As he threw it into the water he was to say, "So will Babylon sink to rise no more!" In all these examples it is clear that the dramatic symbolism adds considerably to the verbal communication (Jer 51:60-64).

Enacted prophecy by Ezekiel

In the prophecy of Ezekiel we have a series of symbolic actions which are required of the prophet and which represent the siege, capture and the future of Jerusalem. Like Jeremiah he was required to enact the message he had to pass on verbally.

1. Ezekiel is told to carry out certain symbolic acts which portray the siege of Jerusalem.
   • He is to take a brick whilst still soft and to portray on it the mounds and battering rams attacking Jerusalem.
   • He was to place an iron plate (such as a griddle on which cakes were baked) between himself and the brick to symbolise the barrier between God and his people.
   • He was to lie on his left side for 390 days and on his right side for forty days representing the years of Israel's and Judah's chastisement.
   • He had to bake a cake out of a strange mixture of grains but was permitted to eat only twenty shekels' worth once a day with a small quantity of water. The cake was to be baked on human dung, but at the prophet's entreaty this repulsive condition was relaxed. In all these ways God's judgment on sinful Jerusalem was portrayed (Eze 4:1-17).
2. Ezekiel is told to shave his head and beard by using a sword. The hair was then to be divided into three equal portions. This showed that a third of the population would die of famine or disease, another third would be killed by the sword and the final third would be scattered among the nations. The few hairs the prophet managed to save were to be tucked in the folds of his garment. But even some of this righteous remnant would have to face further judgment (Eze 5:1-4).
3. Ezekiel is told to pack his belongings for exile and to bring them out of his house while the people were watching. He was to do the same thing in the evening but was first to dig a hole through the wall and to drag his kit through, again before the people. He was to cover his face while he was doing these things. The idea was to provoke the people to ask questions. The Lord's instruction was, "Now that these rebels are asking you what you are doing, tell them". By his obedience to the Lord's instructions the prophet had become a sign to the people (Eze 12:1-11).
4. Ezekiel is told to make and erect a signpost in such a way that it indicated one route starting from Babylon and continuing until it diverged into two roads, one leading to Jerusalem and the other to Rabbah (today's Amman, capital of Jordan). Ezekiel is told that the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road to use various methods of divination to discover which way to go. He will however take the road to Jerusalem, because God intends to use him to punish his people (Eze 21:19-23).
5. Ezekiel is told to take the cauldron and having put water and meat into it, to bring it to the boil. The cauldron is Jerusalem, the pieces of meat are its inhabitants, the fire and boiling water stand for the siege and its severity; finally, the pieces pulled out of the cauldron symbolise the universal dispersion of the people when the siege is over. Even the cauldron is defiled and must be put on the fire until its impurities are melted away. Jerusalem must be destroyed in order to be cleansed (Eze 24:3-12). But there is hope for the future and this is shown as follows:
6. Ezekiel is told to unite the sticks of Joseph and Judah: "Son of man, take a stick and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah...' Then take another stick and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick...' Join them together so they become one in your hand". The thrilling message is then given: "I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone...I will make them one nation in the land. There will be one king over them all" (Eze 37:16-22)

Enacted prophecy in the New Testament

There are numerous places in the gospels where Jesus enacted what had been prophesied about him in the Old Testament. The clearest example is his entry into Jerusalem on an ass, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah: "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey'" (Zech 9:9; Matt 21:1-11). We can certainly see the power of enacted prophecy in the comment of Matthew, "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred".

The second example from the New Testament is found in Acts 21:10-11 where a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He took Paul's belt, tied his own feet and hands with it and said, "the Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him to the Gentiles'." Hearing this, the believers in Caesarea tried to stop Paul from going up to Jerusalem. They had misunderstood the reason why Agabus had been moved to present this enacted prophecy.

It was not to stop Paul from going to Jerusalem, but to prepare him for what would await him there, just as Jesus himself had been warned by the Holy Spirit about what would happen when he arrived there (Mark 10:32-34).

To be a truly biblical prophet today we need to remember that God's prophetic word can be more powerfully presented when we make use of the 'eyegate' as well as the 'eargate'.

First published in Prophecy Today, Vol 3 No 5, September/October 1987.

Clifford Denton examines the historical conquest of Israel by Rome and its creation of the Israeli diaspora.

Every Bible student needs a grasp of history and to set this alongside the purposes of God as revealed in Scripture. What was happening on the world stage when Jesus was alive, and in the first years of the Church's existence?

Roman Occupation

This is the background to the Roman domination of Israel preceding the biblical account of Jesus and the Apostles.

In the years before Rome, the Greek Empire dominated Israel. There was resistance from the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebels, during this time. The years that followed saw the rise of the Hasmoneans as a priest-king dynasty in Israel, but which did not restore Israel as a truly Torah-based society.

Rome grew as the new world power and it was in the year 63 BC that the legions under Pompey entered Israel. Jagersma's account of Pompey's arrival (History of Israel to Bar Kochba, SCM Press 1985, p98) reads:

Bust of General Pompey[While] the Roman general Pompey was busy with his successful campaign in Asia (66-62 BC); one of his generals, Scaurus, had captured Damascus for him in 65 BC. Soon after that he turned his attention to Judaea. At about that time delegations came from both Aristobulus and Hyrcanus [two rival Hasmonean princes] to ask for his help. Both offered him gifts. On this occasion the Romans opted for Aristobulus.

In 63 BC Pompey himself arrived in Damascus. There not only delegations from Aristobulus and Hyrcanus but also representatives of the people of Judaea came to him. These last asked Pompey to abolish the Hasmonaean dynasty because they wanted to be ruled by priests.

At the time of this meeting Pompey did not make any decision...Arisobulus was least happy with the delay. He...established himself in the fortress of Alexandrium to make his position secure. This action aroused the wrath of Pompey, who immediately invaded Judaea. Aristobulus quickly surrendered, but most of his supporters refused.

Pompey then went back to Jerusalem and besieged the city. Hyrcanus and his followers opened the gates to the Romans, who were then able to occupy the city and the royal palace. However, a group of the supporters of Aristobulus, who had already been taken prisoner, occupied the temple. Only after a siege of three months did the temple fall into the hands of the Romans. To the dismay of the pious, on this occasion Pompey entered the Holy of Holies.

Pompey led Aristobulus and numerous Judaean prisoners through Rome in triumphal procession by which he celebrated his return. When they were later freed, the latter formed the beginning of a great Jewish community there.

The weak Hyrcanus II was eventually made the High Priest, and political rule was given to his powerful advisor, Antipater. Antipater's sons Phaesel and Herod (later Herod the Great) were given the task of governing Jerusalem and Galilee respectively, and the Romans gathered tax from Judaea. In 43 AD, Herod showed his allegiance to Rome by opposing an insurrection in Galilee and then opposing and undermining the Sanhedrin.

The Fall of the Temple

Jesus had made it clear that the Temple would fall:

...the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down. (Luke 21:6)

This prophecy came to pass in 70 AD, during the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 AD. This was the first of three major revolts by Judean Jews against the Roman Empire, brought on by religious and political tensions. It will be discussed in more detail next week). Josephus gives a graphic account of the Temple's fall:

And now two of the legions had completed their banks on the eighth day of Lous. Whereupon Titus gave orders that the battering-rams should be brought and set over against the western edifice of the inner temple; for before these were brought, the firmest of all the other engines had battered the wall for six days together without ceasing, without making any impression upon it; but the vast largeness and strong connexion of the stones was superior to that engine, and to the other battering rams also...

...and now the soldiers had already put fire to the gates, and the silver that was over them quickly carried the flames to the wood that was within it, whence it spread itself all on the sudden, and caught hold of the cloisters. Upon the Jews seeing this fire all about them, their spirits sunk, together with their bodies, and they were under such astonishment that not one of them made any haste either to defend himself or to quench the fire, but they stood mute spectators of it only...

While the holy house was on fire, everything was plundered that came to hand, and ten thousand of those that were caught were slain; nor was there a commiseration of any age, or any reverence of gravity ; but children, and old men, and profane persons, and priests, were all slain in the same manner..." (Quoted from The Wars of the Jews)

Model of the Second Temple, destroyed in 70 AD.Temple Mount today.Jagersma summarises this sad event in Israel's history too (p144):

In early 70 Titus began the siege of Jerusalem...Titus had in all four legions and auxiliaries for this siege. The beginning of the siege fell some weeks before Passover.

The Romans began by attacking the northernmost wall. In military terms this side was always the most vulnerable part of the city to defend...three weeks later the Romans had the whole of the inner city in their hands. Meanwhile a pressing lack of food in the city made itself felt. That of course was disastrous to the morale of the defenders.

The focal point of the dispute now shifted to the temple mount with the citadel of Antonia and the upper city. When the defenders succeeded in destroying the entrenchments which the Romans threw up against the wall Titus had a stone wall put round the whole city. This was done in three days. Shortly after that the Romans were able to capture the citadel of Antonia in a night attack; it was then completely destroyed.

A great blow to the morale of the besieged was the day when the offering of the daily morning and evening sacrifice had to be stopped. From that day on the temple was only a fortress. At the cost of very severe losses Titus succeeded in gradually getting it into his hands. According to Josephus, Titus wanted to spare the temple. This does not sound very plausible, since such an action would go against the usual military practices of his time. Be this as it may, the temple went up in flames. This event is still recalled in the synagogue on 9 Av (about August). [emphases added]

After the fall of the Temple the upper city of Jerusalem was taken, the whole battle lasting five months and wreaking terrible destruction, evidence of which can still be found today. 700 young Jews were paraded in Rome. Others were put to work in mines in Egypt or sold as slaves. The triumphal march of Titus in Rome is depicted on the Arch of Titus in the city and can be seen today. He took with him the Menorah and the Table of Shewbread from the temple.

Some Jewish families fled to the fortress at Masada near the southern shores of the Dead Sea, where they were surrounded by the Roman army who gradually ascended the mountain. In the year 73 or 74 the families took a suicide pact as their capture and humiliation became certain. So ended the devastation of Israel. The Temple, and hence Israel's religious and national centre, was lost, sacrifices ceased and a new Jewish Diaspora began.Stone outline of Roman encampment, viewable from Masada.The location of the Masada fortress.

Impact on Early Christianity

The fall of the City of Jerusalem and of the Temple in 70 AD coincided with the early days of the community of disciples in Jerusalem and the spread of the Gospel to the Gentile world. The Council of Jerusalem had taken place 20 years earlier. Paul's three missionary journeys had already taken place and both he and Peter had suffered martyrdom in Rome.

The majority of the New Testament Scriptures had been written. The Christian Church was a visible body within the world of Judaism. Theological issues had arisen and the separation from the Synagogue had begun.

The destruction of the Temple contributed to this separation. In the final chapter of his book A House Divided: The Parting of the Ways between Synagogue and Church (Paulist Press, 1995), Vincent Martin writes:

The reaction to the catastrophe of 70 C.E. among Jews and Christians proved to be diametrically opposite. The Jews rejected the NEW and the Christians rejected the OLD. The Jews affirmed that salvation for Israel could be found only by upholding in its pure form the Sinaitic Covenant; the Christians proclaimed that salvation for Israel, and the Gentiles, could be found only in the eternal covenant established through the risen Jesus.

Judaism...was unique, clearly distinct from all other religious systems. Totally God-centered, it had a deeply humanistic quality emphasizing ethical and social values. It was a "classical" religion, moderate, measurable, seeking harmony with nature, bursting with love of life and joy – when not punished by the Lord.

Suddenly, the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth with its more radical aspects, the proclamation by the Twelve that the same Jesus was truly risen inaugurated the heavenly Jerusalem, and the reaching out of Saul of Tarsus toward the Gentiles, all seemed to destroy the delicate equilibrium God had built through centuries of patience and inspiration. Not only did these novelties not correspond to the actual messianic expectations of the common people, but they were changing the focus of traditional Jewish life from covenantal justice toward gratuitous love, from concern with this world toward concern with the world to come, and from nationalism toward universalism. Such new perspectives were not essentially anti-Jewish, or completely foreign to Judaism, but they were stretching Temple Judaism to its limits and even beyond its limits.

Martin goes on to distinguish out various reactions to Jesus and the early Church from within the Jewish community, and shows how the political situation at the time framed these different responses:

To understand the reaction of the Jewish people to this new teaching, we must carefully separate the reaction of the Sadducean party in control of the Temple, and indirectly of the nation, from the general reaction of the people. The colonial situation, the fear of the Romans, and the will to maintain a grip on political power, led to an unavoidable conflict at first between the religious establishment and Jesus of Nazareth, and later his Galilean disciples. As the Sadducees lost all power after the burning of the Temple, the general reaction of the Pharisees and the common people remained the most significant response. Originally it was not negative. It was rather a feeling of uncertainty concerning the imminent coming of a hoped for messianic event mixed with a deep uneasiness at experiencing cherished traditions stretched beyond acceptable limits.

It is principally Pauline evangelism which started to transform an attitude of respect, curiosity and distance into a negative reaction. The sense of self-identity and the struggle for national survival in difficult political circumstances brought forth a great fear that the dissolution of Torah Judaism into an a-temporal and universal Judaism would strike down the dividing wall carefully constructed by Ezra and would finally destroy the integrity of the nation. The leaders of the Diaspora dreaded that Paul would attract many Jews to this strange and easier kind of Judaism; they were deeply offended at the manipulation of Jewish sanctities by uncircumcised Gentiles. This time it was not a matter of systematic doubt or suspended judgment but of a religious injury that needed an antagonistic answer. (ibid, p178-179, emphases added)

For Study and Prayer:

What should a Christian's attitude be to the dispersion of the Jews over nearly 2,000 years - and to the restoration of Israel today?

Next time: The Jewish Revolts

'Jacob's Tears', DVD documentary by Hatikvah Films (2015, 1 h 44 mins, available from the publisher for £15, or click here to stream immediately for £9.99)

How does one explain the 'why', 'what', 'where' and 'how' of the greatest catastrophe in Israel's national history (known as the Shoah in Hebrew), which took place less than 100 years ago in a highly civilised, cultured European country, during the twelve year reign of Hitler's Third Reich?

A DVD produced by Hatikvah Films, narrated by Peter Darg and Richard Climpson and presented by the late Lance Lambert, is a thought-provoking, arresting narrative of the Holocaust – presenting both Jewish and German viewpoints.

The Seeds of the Holocaust

The seeds of the Holocaust were planted in the German psyche well before World War II. During the 1930s, Hitler became the most successful politician of his era, uniting the Germans by blaming the Jews for the country's post-WWI political, economic and social woes. This created a climate for virulent anti-Semitism.

In 1930 after re-creating and enlarging 'the throne of Satan' (Rev 2:13), an ancient stone altar in Pergamum, as part of the new Nazi rally grounds in Nuremberg, Hitler used the enormous arena to accommodate the masses, who offered their adulation in raised-arm salutes to their Fuhrer. "Heil Hitler" means 'salvation comes from Hitler'.

This DVD by Hatikvah Films, presented by the late Lance Lambert, is a thought-provoking, arresting narrative of the Holocaust, presenting both Jewish and German viewpoints.

Sister Joela Kruger of the Evangelical Sisters of Mary explains the spiritual dynamic in Germany during that time. Hitler sought to eradicate the Christian witness there and to transfer the peoples' allegiance to himself - hence the conflict of the two crosses: the broken swastika and the true Cross of Jesus Christ.

Tragically the Church was silent, even after the horrific events of Kristellnacht on 9 November 1938. German Jews were set upon by the SS and SR, beaten, their homes attacked and looted and their synagogues burnt to the ground. Some brave Christian leaders - Dietrich Bonhoeffer amongst them - did speak out against Hitler, but NOT (significantly) against his treatment of the Jews.

Looking East

As the gas chambers of Auschwitz and Dachau became the hideous killing factories for European Jewry and other despised ethnic groups, Hitler turned his eyes towards Jerusalem. Being a prominent foreshadowing of anti-Christ, he allied himself with the Mufti of Jerusalem. Both men held an endlessly hostile attitude towards the Jewish people and they signed an agreement for the 'extermination' of the Jews.

By 1942, a German conquest of the Middle East seemed a distinct possibility. The British held the Mandate in Palestine (as it was then known) but the country was very vulnerable, completely surrounded by armed and dangerous enemies. The Germans were strategically placed to overcome the Allies but failed to capitalise on their advantage. The Allied victory at El Alamein secured the national homeland of the Jews – the land of Israel; many saw this as a victory by the finger of God.

Curses and Blessings

Many Germans today acknowledge that the Holocaust left a nation under a curse. Families have suffered generationally from the commitment of their forebears to the Third Reich. But praise God, those who come to Christ in repentance have the curse broken by Christ's work on the cross. What grace has been poured out to all sinners!

Is Germany cursed or blessed? Commentaries by Dr Harald Eckhert, Chairman of European Coalition for Israel and Dr Jurgen Buhler, Executive Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem are emotionally revealing. Some Germans have led the way into deep repentance for their nation's sins against the Jews. The late Basilea Schlink of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Darmstadt was a guiding light, leading the way. The nation has been rebuilt, is prospering and secure. Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that Germany owes its nationhood to the State of Israel. Both countries maintain a loyal, reliable and strong alliance. As Dr Eckhart asks with fear and trembling "can we as a nation match up to the grace that the Lord has poured out upon us?"

Some Germans have led the way into deep repentance for the nation's sins against the Jews, and God has poured out grace upon them. But anti-Semitism has not been entirely eradicated.

Sister Joela Kruger says that not all Germans are repentant. There is another form of anti-Semitism taking root there. It is opposition to the State of Israel. God's judgement has nevertheless been suspended to give Germany an opportunity to become a sheep nation (Matt 25:32). But he will have the last word.

DVD

I commend the DVD to all who have a desire to understand the role Germany played on the world stage during the 12 years of the Third Reich. The scenes and images on the DVD are familiar to some but traumatising for others - there is a warning about allowing children to watch it.

God Almighty does not change. He has said that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, BUT whoever curses Israel will be cursed. Let us too, as a nation, take warning.

Clifford Hill connects the migration crisis to Bible prophecies about the end of days, and suggests that God may have a special purpose for Britain at this time.

As of today, Friday 18 September, in this fast moving crisis, Croatia has become the latest European country to close its borders as the great migrant invasion of Europe intensifies, and Hungary has begun extending its fence along the borders with Croatia. Even Germany has introduced border controls to stop the unmanageable flow of migrants from Austria.

Europe in Turmoil

So what is the significance of all this as Europe is thrown into turmoil by what appears to be an unending flow of migrants? Clearly these are not just refugees fleeing war-torn Syria and Iraq, but something is stirring in nations right across the world where there is dissatisfaction with current life chances. Already hundreds of thousands are on the move and potentially this could be millions who want to jump on the bandwagon and reach Europe.

It is significant that the most popular destination is Germany – not because the migrants speak German but because it's the richest country in Europe. Angela Merkel has lit the touch paper of a migrant tsunami that is already causing major confusion, social chaos and political disunity throughout Europe. It has the potential of creating a catastrophic social, economic and political disaster.

Militant Islam

It is significant that the majority of the migrants attempting to enter Europe are Muslims. Some 25 years ago I published an article in the print magazine Prophecy Today saying that the greatest threat to peace in Europe was not from the Soviet Union but from militant Islam. The USSR was at the height of its power and the Cold War between East and West occupied the attention of newspapers and politicians alike. Islam was hardly given a thought except to note the brutal war between Iran and Iraq that lasted for most of the 1980s and resulted in more than 1 million deaths. But for those who were studying the signs of the times with an open Bible and an ear tuned to God, there were unmistakable warnings that Islam would soon be a major threat to world peace.

For those studying the signs of the times with an open Bible and an ear tuned to God, there have long been warnings that Islam would soon threaten world peace.

MI5's WarningMigrants push through a police line in Croatia on Thursday.

I'm not implying that I was the only one sounding a warning note about Islam. In Prophecy Today we published a number of articles in the 1980s by writers such as Clifford Denton, Lance Lambert, Ray Register, John Lafin, John Ray and Patrick Sookhdeo, who all perceived danger lying ahead. This danger is now being intensified by news of ISIS' plans to infiltrate Europe with half a million jihadists and that an unknown number have already mixed with the flow of migrants into Europe. This danger was highlighted yesterday by the head of MI5 warning that they had intercepted and prevented five attempts by jihadists already this year.

200 More Mosques

It is notable that Saudi Arabia, which has so far taken no refugees from Syria, has offered to build 200 mosques in Germany! No doubt this is their contribution to the Islamisation of Europe! Saudi Arabia has also just announced that it intends to crucify an 18-year-old boy for taking part in a protest against government policy. This is in accord with sharia law that they want to impose upon Europe!

So what's going on? Is there any word from the Lord? What does the Bible have to say about the times in which we are living?

Lance Lambert's View

Lance Lambert, who died recently, was one of the greatest of modern prophets, a Jew who accepted Jesus as Messiah. He gave us two interviews for Prophecy Today some three months before the 40^th anniversary of the State of Israel. We published these in March and May 1988 and are re-publishing them today and next week because we believe they are relevant to the situation that is now developing across the Middle East and Europe (see the first article here). Lance said that he did not think that anything remarkable was going to happen to Israel on the 40^th anniversary. He said,

I do feel that we have nevertheless passed irreversibly into the last phase of world history. We know this from Luke 21:24, where Jesus prophesies that the Jewish people will fall by the sword, be taken as captives into all the nations, and Jerusalem trampled on by foreigners 'until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled'.

Times of the Gentiles

Are the 'times of the Gentiles' now fulfilled? This is the big question that biblical scholars have been debating since 1967, when Israel re-gained hold of Jerusalem. There is no definitive answer to this but the 'great shaking of the nations' prophesied by the biblical prophets (Isaiah 2, Haggai 2 and Hebrews 12) appears to be happening in our lifetime.

Back in 1988, Lance Lambert stated a belief that we have passed into the last phase of world history, when the 'times of the Gentiles' will be fulfilled.

Words of Jesus

Add to these prophecies the words of Jesus' warning that "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places" (Matt 24:7). Jesus also warns that those who believe in him will be persecuted and at the same time there will be a great increase in wickedness, but the gospel will be preached in the whole world (Matt 24:9-14).

There is plenty of evidence in the daily news that all these things are happening today, including the Church worldwide growing at the fastest rate in history, despite the great falling away in Europe. So how does the migration crisis in Europe fit into this picture?

The Servant Songs

The prophet Isaiah actually refers to the British Isles a number of times. He links "the islands" with "the ends of the earth". In those days the islands off the coast of Europe were at the end of the known world, so it is a reasonable assumption that he is referring to the British Isles. There are some significant references in what biblical scholars know as 'The Servant Songs' (all Messianic statements that link Israel as a nation with the person of Messiah). The Songs show God working out his ultimate purposes for the salvation of the nations through Israel and the Messiah.

Can Britain Serve the Purposes of God?

The first of the four 'Servant Songs' is Isaiah 42:1-4 which begins "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations." God has undoubtedly used and mightily blessed Britain in the past, but in today's highly secularised environment, has the faithful remnant of believers sufficient spiritual strength to stand against the tide of unbelief and godless moral anarchy? Is there sufficient spiritual strength to serve the purposes of God at such a time as this?

Isaiah actually refers to the British Isles a number of times, perhaps indicating that they have a special place in the purposes of God.

This prophetic statement indicates that the British Isles have a special place in the purposes of God. God does not change his mind so this is still true today! The second Servant Song (Isa 49:1-6) begins with a call to the islands – "Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations..." It concludes with the promise to Israel, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Final Great Conflict

Historically, Britain has indeed enjoyed a special place in God's purposes, being used powerfully in the worldwide spread of the Gospel. But does that purpose still exist for modern, 'post-Christian' Britain?

The final reference to 'the islands' in Isaiah is found in the last chapter, which is all in the context of the final conflict before the advent of the new heavens and the new earth, establishing the reign of God upon earth. It speaks of a sign being sent to "the distant islands...They will proclaim my glory among the nations" (Isa 66:19).

If we put this in the context of Jesus' words in the days leading up to his second coming, "There will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equalled again" (Matt 24:21), we may expect a time of unparalleled upheaval and conflict among the nations.

My own interpretation is that we are moving towards a time of great conflict that will engulf Europe and the Middle East. The 'Arab Spring' that began on 18 December 2010 in Tunisia lit the fuse for this period, which has spread across North Africa and the Gulf States to link with the intense conflict within Islam that began with the Iran/Iraq conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims and is now devastating Syria.

Britain's Biblical Heritage

An irreversible process has begun that will lead to open conflict unless there is divine intervention. If it is a right interpretation of Isaiah's vision, Britain has a special part to play within the purposes of God. The question is whether there is sufficient strength in the Judeo/Christian biblical heritage of the nation to enable Britain to carry out its role of bringing the word of the Lord into this situation.

Leaving the EU

In order to do this it may be that Britain will need to separate from the rest of Europe and be prepared to stand alone under God (alongside an increasingly secularised Europe but not under its godless direction). I believe the word of the Lord to Britain today is, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty" (Zech 4:6). To this we must add the words of Jesus to his disciples that we should, "watch and pray" (Matt 26:41).

I believe that we are moving towards a time of great conflict in Europe and the Middle East, unless there is divine intervention. Britain may well have a special part to play, but will she be prepared to stand for God?

Dr Hill will elaborate on this theme in another feature article, to be published on Friday 25 September. In the meantime any comments from readers posted below would be greatly appreciated.