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

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

Tracing God's Divine Purpose

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

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

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

From Eden to Rome

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

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

Suitable for Group or Individual Use

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

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

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

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

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

Echoes of 1930s as May government betrays Israel.

Jewish and Christian feasts in rare convergence.

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

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

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

The Story of Hanukkah

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

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

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

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

King of the Jews

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

Hanukkah in Israel, 2013.

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

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

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

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

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

Bringing Light to All Who Will Believe

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Festival of Dedication

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

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

Have a happy Hanukkah and a blessed Christmas!

References

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

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

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

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

From Tony and Kathy Stewart

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

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

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

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

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

Tony & Kathy Stewart

The Mount Moriah Trust

Prayer Points

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

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

Israel's Right to Exist

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

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

Resetting the relationship between Israel and the United States

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

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

Relationship with Russia

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

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

The Threat from Iran

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

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

The Threat from Hezbollah

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

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

There is mounting terrorist violence in the Middle East

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

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

Israel's growing ties with African Nations

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

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

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in retreat?

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

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

Hope rises from the Ashes

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

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

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

Theresa May gave an extremely encouraging speech on Monday.

Let's give thanks that, at the close of 2016, Prime Minister Theresa May has made no bones about the fact that she is a keen supporter and ally of Israel, which she has this week called "a remarkable country."¹

On Monday, in a firm speech to the Conservative Friends of Israel, our Prime Minister described Israel as "...a thriving democracy, a beacon of tolerance, an engine of enterprise and an example to the rest of the world for overcoming adversity and defying disadvantages." She waxed lyrical about the shared values and positive relationship between Israel and Britain, emphasising her hopes for an even stronger friendship between the two countries post-Brexit.

Determined to Back Balfour

Crucially, in the face of parliamentary and civic attempts to derail the 2017 Balfour Centenary celebrations and force Britain to apologise for her role in creating the Jewish homeland, the PM staunchly defended the document as "one of the most important letters in history...[which] demonstrates Britain's vital role in creating a homeland for the Jewish people."

As for the centenary celebration, she declared that "it is an anniversary we will be marking with pride." Hopefully that will be a big blow to the anti-Balfour movement!

Resounding 'No!' to BDS

Not only that, but in the same speech she also roundly condemned BDS (the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement) and all attempts to boycott Israeli products and producers. In relation to the extensive economic ties between Britain and Israel (we are Israel's second-largest trading partner), she said in no uncertain terms: "We should celebrate that, we should build on that – and we should condemn any attempt to undermine that through boycotts. I couldn't be clearer: the boycotts, divestment and sanctions movement is wrong, it is unacceptable, and this party and this government will have no truck with those who subscribe to it."

This is a profoundly encouraging position for our national leader to take – and the fact that she is able to speak on behalf of her party and the current government is also very welcome. Having openly stated her support for Israel in September, in a letter to Conservative Friends of Israel's Informed magazine,² we have all waited to see whether or not Theresa May would stand by this position in practice. Now, happily, she confirms our hope that we truly do have a pro-Israel PM!

This is a profoundly encouraing position for our national leaer to take.

Not All Positive...

Whilst thanking God for her bravely positive words (follow the link below for the full text of the speech, which is well worth a read), it is important that we also note those aspects of her speech that were not quite as encouraging – though whether they are indicative of her own personal opinions or simply of politically correct diplomacy is not yet fully known.

For instance, she condemned "illegal" Israeli settlements (i.e. in the West Bank and Gaza), showing clearly that she has not done her legal homework on the issue or fully appreciated the complex history of the region. The PM also clearly stated her support for the so-called 'two-state solution', which is the fashionable answer but a diplomatic dead end as far as Palestine is concerned.

Her celebration of her own efforts to eradicate anti-Semitism by cracking down on 'hate speech' (as much as her position on anti-Semitism should be celebrated) should sound alarm bells for Christians because of the potential for this ideology to be meted out in ways that restrict our freedom to declare the Gospel. Furthermore, it could easily be consolidated on by future governments that may or may not be so friendly towards Israel.

And despite the goods of her recent acceptance of an encouraging international, formal definition of anti-Semitism,³ contributing to global efforts to stem anti-Semitic behaviour and making it easier to prosecute perpetrators in this country, her assertion that "Islamophobia comes from the same wellspring of hatred" as anti-Semitism is worryingly misguided, especially when you consider how wide the 'Islamophobia' net can be flung.

So, we must be realistic at the same time as being thankful. Let us hope that Theresa May is not simply out to take the credit for Britain's role in creating Israel for the sake of securing some good trade deals. If we want to take the credit for our historic successes, you can be sure that God will also hold us responsible for our failings.

In the face of parliamentary and civic attempts to derail the 2017 Balfour Centenary celebrations, Theresa May staunchly defended the document.

Onwards and Upwards!

Neither is this necessarily a sign that Britain is turning back towards Godly beliefs and living. For instance, from this week 3-parent babies will be able to be made in Britain, in a move that bioethicists are already calling 'a slippery slope'.⁴ Also this week, Government-funded LGBT pressure group Educate and Celebrate have published a guidebook advising against the use of the terms 'boys' and 'girls' in schools around Britain, in case 'transgender' pupils are offended.⁵

Nevertheless, let's rejoice and praise God at this, the close of 2016, for small mercies. That our national political head is willing – passionately so, it would seem – to affirm and bless Israel on the one hand, and defend Christian freedoms at home on the other, is indeed the grace of God to us in this hour, for it will undoubtedly place Britain on a better spiritual footing for the road ahead.

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen 12:3)

"Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses Israel will be cursed." (Num 24:9)

Make no mistake: the battle for Britain is raging all around us. All our prayer and witnessing efforts are needed – every hand to the plough. But surely this is evidence that it is worth interceding for our leaders, that this is a battle worth fighting - that all is not yet lost, even though there is much still to be done?

References

1 Full text of the PM's speech available here. All further quotes from here.

2 Read the September issue of Informed here.

3 As "language or behaviour that displays hatred towards Jews because they are Jews", including sweeping statements about Israel as a 'Jewish collective'. Quote taken from Theresa May's speech, see note 1.

4 Gallagher, J. Babies made by three people approved in the UK. BBC News, 15 December 2016.

5 Guidebook tells schools not to call children 'girls' and 'boys'. Christian Concern, 13 December 2016.

Anti-Semitic protests reveal national rebellion against God.

The newly-retired chief executive of Christian Witness to Israel, one of several movements dedicated to sharing the gospel with the Jewish community, has warned of a "battle royal" over the Balfour Declaration this coming year.

Mike Moore was referring to the forthcoming centenary celebrations of the British Government's 1917 pledge to do all in its power to help Jews return to their ancient Middle East homeland. We have already witnessed the chaotic launch of a campaign to persuade the government to apologise for Balfour – a House of Lords meeting where Jews were even accused of bringing the Holocaust on themselves.¹

That led to the resignation from the Liberal Democrat Party of the meeting's host, Baroness Tonge. And the British Government has now supported an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations that completely undermines legitimate Jewish rights to the city of Jerusalem and, in particular, Judaism's holiest site, the Temple Mount.₂

We have also seen a significant rise in anti-Israel protests on university campuses and elsewhere, causing London's Metropolitan Police to request organisers of pro-Israel gatherings not to disclose the venue of their meetings in the interests of their own safety.

Indeed, the UK Government has responded to these worrying developments by allocating over £13 million towards the security of its Jewish institutions following 924 reports of anti-Semitic incidents last year including 86 violent assaults.³

The former chief executive of Christian Witness to Israel has warned of a "battle royal" over the Balfour Declaration this coming year.

Balfour: from 1917 to 2017

Why is the Balfour issue in particular causing such a stir? The short answer can be summed up as rebellion against God and his plans, both for the salvation of all through his Son and for restoration of his chosen people – to the land promised them for millennia and to Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah known to Westerners as Jesus.

The timing of the declaration by Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur James Balfour in November 1917 could not have been more precise, coming just weeks before the capture of Jerusalem by British and Allied forces led by General Edmund Allenby, ending 400 years of rule under the Turkish Ottoman Empire and handing to Britain on a plate the means by which they could honour their pledge.

It could not have happened in today's politically-correct climate which has seen the Bible almost entirely marginalised from our culture – and certainly from the corridors of power. But in 1917 things were very different. Britain was at the zenith of its power and influence - largely, I believe, through honoring God and sending out missionaries to many parts of the world.

Biblical Revival and its Fruit

The preaching of the Gospel and the application of biblical teaching to everyday life had been going on for well over a century, courtesy of what has become known as the Great Evangelical Revival, which had a direct effect on the social welfare of the nation, considerably reducing the crime rate for one thing.

Crime rates fell dramatically throughout the 19th Century, so that by 1870 there were only 10,000 in the jails of England and Wales. But even more remarkable was the continuing fall over the next few decades, so that by 1910 there were only 3,000 prisoners in the nation's jails, despite the population rising from 25 to 35 million.⁴

Why is the Balfour issue in particular causing such a stir? The short answer can be summed up as rebellion against God and his plans.

With today's population at 60 million, our jails are full to capacity with 80,000 prisoners, and bear in mind that many Victorian inmates would only have been regarded as petty criminals today.

The contrast is staggering. There is no more room in our overcrowded prisons, and yet we live in a more lenient society (with some exceptions of course, such as the repeated injustice meted out to Christians).

Widespread Biblical Literacy

During the famous Welsh Revival in 1904, crime was almost non-existent in some places, leaving police with little to do, while the pit ponies (used down the coal mines) are said to have no longer understood the commands of their masters whose foul language had been cleaned up.

It was this revival of biblical Christianity that changed everything for the Jewish people. It meant that the generations preceding the Balfour Declaration were made aware that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob still has a special love for his chosen people, whatever they may have done to disown him, and that national prosperity was dependent on our blessing the seed of Abraham (Gen 12:3).

Men of influence understood this well – among them General Allenby himself, who had prayed for Israel's restoration as a young boy, and in the end was used by God to help bring it about.⁵ With the bridge to neighbouring Jordan named after him, Allenby is still honoured in Israel.

Britain's pledge to help the Jews recover their homeland could not have happened in today's politically-correct climate.

Not Today

Tragically, today's generation is biblically illiterate, knowing almost nothing of our precious Judeo-Christian heritage. On a recent train journey to London, I heard a young boy pointing at a tall church steeple in Grantham, Lincolnshire (typical of many in the land), asking his dad: "What is that? Is it Big Ben?" (We were still 110 miles from London). The irony is that Virgin Trains, who sold me the ticket, advertise their service with the slogan 'Be bound for glory', taken from the traditional gospel song This train is bound for glory.

Recent generations in this great country have rebelled against God, and a glorious future for ourselves and our nation is only possible if we get back on track with the biblical truth that tells of a Heaven to be gained and a Hell to be shunned.

Jesus is the only way to glory. If your intended destination is Heaven and eternal life, then you need to take the gospel train that leads to Jesus, who said: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no-one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

References

1 Battle ensues over Balfour, Israel Today, 3 November 2016.

2 Christians United for Israel UK, 5 December 2016.

3 World Israel News, 5 December 2016.

4 Hill, C. The Great Evangelical Revival. Prophecy Today UK, 30 September 2016.

5 Jonathan Cahn, TBN UK, 20 November 2016.

Paul Luckraft reviews 'Israel: A Sign and a Wonder' by Andrew Baguley (RoperPenberthy, 2015)

This is Baguley's second book, in which he moves on from considering the threat of Islam to the wonder of Israel, past, present and future. The author states his reason for writing this book (as well as the previous one) is that God spoke to him in 2014 and told him "to write both books as readers [primers] for the Church" (p20). He adds his personal concern is the lack of biblical knowledge and the apparent indifference of a large part of the Church to Israel, the Jews and God's love for this chosen nation.

Coverage of History

Although Israel: A Sign and a Wonder is twice the length of his first book, it is relatively compact and concise while providing a large amount of factual information. The initial chapters cover the birth and later re-birth of the nation, plus the three main covenants (Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic). His claim is that "Covenant theology is important to grasp as arguments over which are conditional or unconditional lead some Christians to the view that Israel has been replaced by the Church as 'the New Israel'" (p37-38).

The next chapter is a brief biblical history of Israel but although it contains some useful timelines the author admits it is "very difficult in a short summary such as this to include every point that scholars and theologians would regard as key points" (p45). In which case, why try?! But this is only a basic reader and the author is merely trying to point out God's patient preparation and protection of his people in readiness of greater things to come.

This is a relatively compact and concise book, while providing a large amount of factual information.

Tracking Recent Anti-Semitism

The next two chapters are equally brief accounts of the 'silent' period between the two Testaments and the time of Jesus. The latter includes outlines of the other religious groups operating then, together with the various Messianic beliefs and expectations.

These are followed by two chapters on Christian Zionism, anti-Semitism and Replacement Theology. Again, much better treatment can be found elsewhere, though he does provide some good contemporary evidence of the more recent outworkings of Replacement Theology - for instance the Church of Scotland's report The Inheritance of Abraham (2010) and the launch of the Kairos Britain Network of Churches at the Greenbelt Christian youth camp in 2014. New information of this kind is always a useful addition to what is already known.

Indeed it is in discussing recent issues and events that the strengths of this book are found, as the next chapter on the contemporary history of Israel demonstrates. The author helps us discern truths and realities from the myths and fabrications that have arisen concerning the Palestinians, the Occupied Territories and the various wars and intifadas.

The financial corruptions of the Palestinian Authority regarding foreign aid are spelled out, and we are shown how the UN Security Council is heavily biased against Israel, especially in its Resolutions which the author denounces as "part of an enormous propaganda machine created to convince naïve citizens around the world" (p92). The section on the EU and Israel is equally forthright and we are left in no doubt about Israel's current plight. He concludes that the "present history of Israel is...being shaped by the attitude and actions of the international community towards both it and the PA and the rise of Muslim extremism" (p97).

It is in its discussion of recent issues and events that the strength of this book is found.

Looking to the Future

The final chapters look ahead to the return of Jesus to the land of Israel with all that this entails for the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The author holds to a pre-tribulation rapture position, admitting "I think that the Bible is clear on this in both Old and New Testaments" (p63). He doesn't go much further than this -but then this is not his main point and those who disagree with him can still benefit from what he has to say. Whether or not the Church has already disappeared is secondary to his main points on the purpose of the return of Jesus regarding Israel, the Jewish people and their ultimate restoration.

Baguley has good sections on the centrality of Jerusalem in the future and the return of the Jews (aliyah) in recent times. He states that since the emergence of modern Israel "God has done many mighty miracles, not only in the lives of the people, but also in the land which has amazingly blossomed in the hands of the Jewish people" (p113). He points to the 150 Messianic congregations as a spiritual fulfilment, especially as these continue to grow and be added to regularly with the number of believers estimated to be 20,000-30,000.

Basic, But Heart-Warming

Overall, Baguley has achieved his aim of providing a basic reader. Most of the information may be found elsewhere, but as a primer for those needing an easy way in to these topics he has provided a useful resource. In his conclusion he admits the controversial aspects of some of the theology expressed in the book but his main purpose is that we should not be ignorant of Israel's place in God's affection and plan of salvation. His prayer is that "our hearts have been warmed by the knowledge of Israel's soon salvation" (p135). Amen to that!

Israel: A Sign and a Wonder (144 pages) is available from the publisher for £6.99 + P&P.

In the final instalment of our series 'The Relevance of the Message of the Prophets for Today', Chris Hill looks at Malachi and his testimony to the love of God.

One of the common misconceptions people have about the Old Testament is that it portrays God as the God of judgment and not of love. They say we must look to the New Testament if we are to encounter the God of love.

Such a simple analysis will not do. The New Testament contains a great deal about God's attitude to sin and its consequences, while the Old Testament continually presents us with wonderful revelation of the Lord's love for his people. We have only to do a word search of chesed, the Hebrew word for 'steadfast love' or 'grace', to find that it appears over 80 times in the Old Testament.

The Old Testament view of God is that he is gracious and loving to those who repent of their sin and rebellion, and he promises to provide a Saviour. The New Testament takes exactly the same position but goes farther, declaring that the provision has been made! Jesus, the Saviour, has come! Hallelujah! The Lord does not change.

Back to Basics

Malachi was the man for the moment; unequivocal in his faithful proclamation of the burden of the Lord. He thundered against the unfaithfulness of the Jewish people and the priests. Their grave social injustices were a scandal. They had abandoned true devotion to the Lord and adopted an attitude of insolent indifference towards his righteous laws.

The Lord had been acting for their sakes. It had been a momentous time, a time of restoration. The Lord had brought a quite miraculous release to the Jewish people. Cyrus of Persia had overthrown the devilish legacy of Nebuchadnezzar and his successors, and actively encouraged the Jews' repatriation to their land. Babylonian oppression was a thing of the past.

Zerubbabel paved the way. He and Ezra brought back many Jewish survivors. Temple worship was restored and Jerusalem rang again with the praises of God's people!

A common misconception is that the God of the Old Testament is the God of judgment, whilst the God of the New Testament is the God of love. But such a simple analysis will not do.

In 445 BC the Persian king permitted his cupbearer, Nehemiah, to repair the city walls. Nehemiah was appointed Governor of Judea, answerable only to the Persian Court. He brought in reforms to help the poor, to encourage family fidelity, to restore Sabbath observance and to encourage financial integrity.

Twelve years after introducing his reforms Nehemiah returned to the Persian Court. During his absence the Jews fell back into sin and the priests did nothing to halt the slide. Indeed, they spearheaded the rebellion, were casual in their duty to God and corrupt in teaching God's Law to the people. Nehemiah 13 shows that mixed marriage had again taken its grip, as well as abuse of the temple and the violation of the Sabbath. Malachi stepped forward.

With the religious leaders and the people in this sorry state, it fell to Malachi to speak out. Provoked in his spirit, he could not remain silent. The priests may compromise themselves - Malachi could not. Layman or not, affront or please, he must speak out the word of the Lord.

Tragically, if the scholars are right in dating Malachi, apart from some initial response by particularly God-fearing people, it seems that his prophetic preaching was largely ignored. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem he found only godless rebellion.

Malachi had spent himself for God, but he did not have the satisfaction of seeing his message taken seriously.

Malachi's Prophetic Calling

It takes guts to be a true prophet of God. We all wish to be liked and for our ministries to be welcomed. Is there anything nicer for the preacher than to hear those words, 'Well, dear brother, I've not heard preaching like that for years. It was wonderful! When's the earliest we can have you back?'

If the Bible is anything to go by, the truly prophetic ministry is more usually greeted with, 'Well, brother, I didn't sense much of the love of God in your message tonight. In fact, you've upset a lot of people here and made them feel insecure.'

It is interesting that as soon as God's righteousness and judgment of sin are spoken of, people believe that his love is being ignored. But Malachi shows that this is neither true nor prophetic. His great purpose is to testify to the focused love of God shining on his people in blazing glory (Mal 1:2-5), and the whole oracle is designed to draw the people back to that love. In a sense the prophecy of Malachi is a love letter from God to his people. Malachi's purpose is not condemnation but restoration. Is not this the heart of the prophetic calling?

As soon as God's righteousness and judgment of sin are spoken of, people believe that his love is being ignored. But Malachi shows that this is neither true nor prophetic.

Malachi's Method

The prophet calls Judah, the unfaithful 'lover', back to the Lord, her 'true love', by reminding her how things were. This describes a relationship with God which brings delight to his people and to him. What is it like when we are living in love with God?

• I honour and respect my heavenly Father God (Mal 1:6)
• I offer him only my best (Mal 1:7-8, 13b-14, 3:3b-4)
• I delight in the habit of worshipping him (Mal 1:10-13a)
• I revere him and stand in awe before him (Mal 2:5)
• I speak only what he gives me to say (Mal 2:6)
• I speak only truth and never falsehoods (Mal 2:6)
• I walk with him in peace and uprightness (Mal 2:6)
• I turn many people away from sin because I am prepared to bring a word from God to them (Mal 2:6-7)
• I maintain loyalty to my brothers and sisters (Mal 2:10)
• I identify any pagan influence in the church or out of it and avoid it completely (Mal 2:11)
• I am utterly faithful to my wife (Mal 2:13-16)
• I give to the Lord what is properly his (Mal 3:8)

Part of Malachi's message is addressed to priests and part to laity. Both apply equally to us, as we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9), so we identify with Malachi's words whether he spotlights priesthood or laity.

Isn't this a delightful list? We can learn from it and experience it! Here he describes the normal life of the man or woman who loves God! The heart of Malachi's message is to call the people back to their 'true love'. He does so by showing how far they have drifted away from that first love and its awful consequences.

Malachi was faced with an appalling situation. It took tremendous courage to confront people who were living like this. It still does! How much of this is true today - of me?

It takes guts to be a true prophet of God.

Restoring Our Love

Loving God is the key to life. Malachi calls out across the centuries, 'Come back to your first love!' His message is timeless. First addressed to a backslidden Judah, his words lose none of their bite when related to us.

Because Malachi has provided us with a 'love letter' from God, it is full of hope for the future restoration. God longs for us and woos us with words of tender encouragement.

• I am loved by my Father (Mal 1:2)
• My Father wants his covenant of life and peace to continue in me and through my ministry (Mal 2:5)
• My Father longs for godly children to be the fruit of my godly marriage (Mal 2:15-16)
• I am sustained by the revelation that he is coming (Mal 3:1)
• His refining of me will make my offerings acceptable to him (Mal 3:3)
• Bringing to him all that is his, will result in his blessing me and my fruitfulness for him as he promised (Mal 3:10-11)
• The blessings he bestows will be a testimony to his grace alone (Mal 3:12)
• The distinction between me and those who do not love the Lord will be so obvious (Mal 3:18)

What Must We Do?

Any preacher worth his salt preaches to gain a response from those who listen to his words. It was so with our Lord and with his disciples. This is typified by the response of the Jewish pilgrims in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 2:37), 'What shall we do?'

Malachi's proclamation evoked a response from those who truly feared the Lord. Malachi 3:16 says, "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honoured his name."

It is time for those who will hear and fear the Lord to find each other and talk about these things urgently. Will we repent and return to our first love? We are surrounded by luke-warmness, levity and deception. But growing alarmed accomplishes nothing in itself.

Loving God is the key to life. Malachi calls out across the centuries, 'Come back to your first love!'

It is time to find each other and ask the pertinent question, 'What shall we do?' It is time to start talking to one another about holiness. Time to start helping each other to be holy. This is how great revivals have started. Am I concerned enough about my spiritual poverty to want to do something about it? Never mind the pastor; never mind the other members of the fellowship. Is the Lord speaking to me?

Malachi is the last prophet of the Old Testament. To him fell the privilege of having 'God's last word' for close on 400 years. Malachi spoke of restoration to the love of God. He also spoke of the coming of the Lord (Mal 3:1-5) and he spoke of his forerunner who would prepare his way (Mal 3:1, 4:5-6).

Malachi paved the way for the gospel - the good news of a glorious victory. He paved the way for Jesus Christ and him crucified. It is by embracing what he has done that I can face what I may have become - and move back into the glory of what I have in Christ. Resting in God's covenant love.

First published in Prophecy Today, Vol 12 No 3, May/June 1996.

David Longworth remembers the decisive Allied victory that turned the tide of the Second World War – and protected Jews in the Middle East from annihilation.

Tuesday of this week (15 November) marked 74 years since church bells around Britain rang out in thanksgiving for victory in the Second Battle of El Alamein, which had been won on 11 November 1942. This victory, which marked a decisive turning point in the war and the history of Israel, was described by Churchill in a speech at Mansion House in London on 10 November 1942, "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." On the day the battle was won Churchill told the Commons it was "a British victory of the first order".

To remove all possibility of misunderstanding, an announcement was made from Downing Street that church bells should be rung everywhere before morning service on Sunday 15 November 1942¹ (since June 1940, the customary ringing of church bells had been brought under Government prohibition. Bells were only to be rung if the authorities needed to give warning of imminent or actual German invasion). Looking back, Churchill later wrote in his history of the Second World War: "It may almost be said, 'Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat."²

Ringing with Hope

Today there are those who seek to decry the significance of this great event, and even to dismiss the bell-ringing as a fond fantasy. However, the records of ordinary people testify differently: for example, the North-East Diary (now online), 1939-1945, clearly records, "Sunday, 15 Nov. Church bells are rung for first time since June 1940 to celebrate the victory at El Alamein".³

On the same day Robert Osborne, in training with the Canadian Grenadier Guards, wrote to his mother, "Today is a big day for England. The Church bells are ringing for the first time in 3 years – my but they sound good with a ring of hope in them...".⁴

Furthermore, digging into the records of those who experienced those times reveals a spiritual dimension and confirms the ancient Scripture: "the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Dan 4:17, also 4:25, 31).

Despite a wartime prohibition on bell-ringing, Downing Street announced that all church bells should be rung to celebrate the victory of El Alamein.

July 1942: The Road to Palestine BlockedDeployment of forces at Second Battle of El Alamein, 23 October 1942. See Photo Credits.

The second great battle of El Alamein commenced on 23 October 1942, after Rommel's Afrika Korps had swept the British Army roughly a thousand miles eastward, from Tripoli in Libya as far as the ridge of El Alamein (Egypt). At this point, in July 1942, British General Claude Auchinleck had managed to hold a defensive line, a mere 70 miles from the crucial port of Alexandria. But morale, from Generals to Privates, was at rock bottom, after a series of defeats including the fall of Tobruk (Libya) in June 1942, when Britain had lost about 35,000 soldiers, captured as prisoners of war.

Back in Britain and the Empire, according to anecdotal memories, the North Africa crisis was the subject of many prayer meetings. One in particular stands out, being well-documented. At the Bible College of Wales, in Swansea, on 4 July 1942, Rees Howells said, "Unless God will intervene on behalf of Palestine there will be no safety there for the Jews. These Bible Lands must be protected, because it is to these lands the Saviour will come back. If I had the choice today, I would say to God, 'Take all I have, but preserve Palestine.' We want to say to God today, 'unless there is a special reason for Egypt to fall, don't let Alexandria be taken, but give Rommel a setback.' Can I carry the same burden today for Alexandria, as I would if Swansea were being attacked?"⁵

Unknown to Rees Howells, we now know that in the summer of 1942 the German Einsatzgruppe Egypt was on standby in Athens, awaiting Rommel's breakthrough to the Middle East. Their task was the liquidation of the Jewish populations of Egypt and Palestine. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, had agreed to assist in local recruitment to the unit and was already engaged in anti-Semitic incitement, not least by radio broadcasts.⁶

In the College in Swansea students and guests continued in prayer for many hours that Saturday afternoon. On the evening of Sunday 5 July, after yet more prayer, Howells was assured: "I thought Hitler might be allowed to take Egypt," he said, "but I now know he will never take Egypt – neither Alexandria nor Cairo will fall."⁷ The clarity with which the Holy Spirit orchestrated prayer and assurance is truly remarkable: Rommel began his assault on Auchinleck's defensive line on 1 July and battles raged to and fro until 31 July, ending in stalemate - but Egypt was secured and the path to Palestine blocked.

August 1942: The Right Leadership

On 3 August 1942, Churchill himself flew out to Cairo, where the Eighth Army had its HQ, specifically to stiffen the backbone of the British Forces and appoint a General who had swagger and self-confidence. He was attracted by General William Gott's record as a bold and aggressive leader. But the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Alan Brooke, had noticed the man's battle-weariness and lack of vision for the next stage, and attempted to dissuade Churchill, recommending the appointment of Bernard Montgomery. Brooke was unsuccessful. Auchinleck was relieved of his command and Gott, who was known for his Christian virtues,⁸ appointed.

We know from his diaries that Alan Brooke was another Christian, a man who habitually prayed for God's help and guidance. Writing in retrospect of the invitation in November 1941 to become Chief of the General Staff, he said, "I am not ashamed to confess that as soon as I was out of the room my first impulse was to kneel down and pray to God for guidance and support in the task that I had undertaken."⁹ This was our top military leader, whose advice Churchill overruled.

Rommel's breakthrough to the Middle East would have meant the liquidation of the Jewish populations of Egypt and Palestine.

On 7 August General Gott took off from his base camp to take up his appointment in Cairo in an RAF transport plane. Sadly, a carelessly uncoded British wireless message was intercepted by Rommel's signals unit. Six Messerschmitt fighters were sent to intercept the flight, the plane was skilfully crash-landed in the desert, but was mercilessly strafed, killing most of the passengers, including General Gott, the principal target of the Luftwaffe mission.¹⁰

Churchill, awaiting Gott in Cairo, was given the awful news by a staff officer, who remarked, "It may be a blessing in disguise".¹¹ In 9 months Britain's Eighth Army had gone through four commanders. Alan Brooke again urged Churchill to appoint Lt-General Montgomery, but Churchill now wanted General Wilson, the officer commanding the 9^th Army in Syria and Palestine. Brooke persisted and by midnight Churchill relented.

Commenting later, Captain Tom Witherby, Wireless Officer of 23^rd Armoured Brigade under Gott's command, said "Gott was a brave man, but he was tired and simply did not have the intellectual stature for the command. I do really feel that the circumstances in which Montgomery appeared at this critical time was one of the rare examples of direct intervention by the Almighty!"¹²

September 1942: National Prayer

Under Montgomery's leadership, meticulous planning and preparations began. In spite of political pressures, 'Monty' would not be rushed. He even insisted upon a new Chaplain General, hopeful of more effective prayer.¹³

Back home in Britain, a National Day of Prayer was called for Thursday 3 September. Archbishop William Temple insisted on it being kept on the anniversary of the start of the War, to ensure that it did not lose effect by being part of Sunday routine. Gatherings for prayer were organised in homes, factories, canteens, offices, schools, military locations, cinemas, theatres, fields and squares, and many other people listened to the broadcast services in their homes. A very high proportion of the population must have participated.¹⁴

Pathé and Movietone films of the day show over 7,000 RAF servicemen and women attending on one airfield alone, and a large congregation in the bombed-out ruin of St Dunstan in East London.¹⁵ Before Montgomery went to church in Egypt that day, "he gave orders that there was to be no forward movement from the main battle positions except by patrols, which were to concentrate on the destruction of the enemy's motor transport...It was a quiet morning, and all who could attended church services."¹⁶

A very high proportion of the population must have participated in the National Day of Prayer on 3 September 1942.

October-November 1942: From Assault to Victory

Italian prisoners of war, taken at El Alamein. See Photo Credits.

In North Africa, military preparations continued. 23 October was eventually set for the commencement of the great assault against the Afrika Korps. This is what Derek Prince remembers of the start of that day: "I was serving with a military ambulance up in the desert, a little way behind the advancing British Forces. On the tailboard of the truck there was a little portable radio. I listened as a news commentator described the preparations at Montgomery's headquarters just before the Battle of El Alamein. He described how Montgomery came out and assembled his officers and men and said this: 'Let us ask the Lord, mighty in battle, to give us the victory.'"¹⁷

Major General DN Wimberley, the General Officer Commanding the 51^st Highland Division, recalled "One thousand guns were to start firing at 21.40hrs. I watched my Jocks filing past in the moonlight...There was nothing more I could do now to prepare for the battle. It was only possible to pray for their success, and that the [Highland Division] would live up to its name and the names of those very famous regiments of which it was composed."¹⁸

Twelve days later, on 4 November, having been driven back from any defensible position, particularly by the 51^st Highland Division supported by the 4^th Indian Division, Rommel had to withdraw his forces from any major engagement (though units of the Eighth Army continued to harry his retreat for several days more). The Second Battle of El Alamein was over – and so, very soon, Einsatzgruppe Egypt was disbanded. The assurance given to Rees Howells was fully justified.

Gratitude?

In the estimation of many, it was the great turning point of the war. In spite of many mistakes and shortcomings in our armed forces, God had overruled - the forces of evil had been thwarted. Yet the spiritual dimension of these great battles now lies largely forgotten, if not airbrushed from standard histories. The faithful work of leading intercessors like Rees Howells, the hours spent by diligent prayer warriors, as well as the willing response of the masses to the national call to prayer, had been fruitful.

The faithful ministry to the young that had nurtured the seeds of early faith in those God-fearing officers and men had played its part. And the Lord, mighty in battle, had indeed granted the victory.

But where now is the gratitude? Remembrance Day has just passed once again, the fallen have been honoured, the nation's pride in its armed forces reiterated, but with little recognition of the One who rules all things.

In our homes and in our churches we should surely repent of our pride and ingratitude. The unseen spiritual battle continues today. Oh that we would return to seek the Lord in thousands and would intercede, that the forces of darkness at work in our nation would be driven back! It is worth remembering the prayer of Daniel, one of a tiny minority in pagan Babylon, "Blessed be the Name of God for ever, for wisdom and might are His...He removes kings and raises up kings...He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him" (Dan 2:20-22).

References

1. Seaman, LCB, 2003. Post-Victorian Britain, 1902-1951. Routledge.
2. Churchill, WS, 1951. The Second World War (Vol. 4). Houghton-Mifflin.
3. Ripley, R & Pears, B. North-East Diary, 1939-1945. Accessed 28 October 2016.
4. Osborne, RE & Osborne, DE 2016. Pax in Bello: Peace in War. David Osborne.
5. Grubb, N, 1952. Rees Howells: Intercessor. James Clarke and Co Ltd, 2003.
6. Mallmann, KM, Cüppers, M & Smith, K, 2010. Nazi Palestine: The Plans for the Extermination of the Jews in Palestine. Enigma, New York.
7. See note 4.
8. Nash, NS, 2013. Strafer, Desert General: the Life and Killing of Lieutenant General W.H.E. Gott. Pen and Sword.
9. Quoted in Hare, RM, 1998. Essays in Religion and Education. Clarendon Press.
10. Carver, T, 2009. Where the Hell have you been? Short Books.
11. Nash, NS (see note 8), op. cit. p238.
12. Ibid.
13. Chandler, DG, 1990. World War II on Land. Mallard Press, accessed via The National Archives.
14. Williamson, P, 2013. National days of prayer: the churches, the state and public worship in Britain, 1899-1957. English Historical Review 128(531), pp324-366.
15. British Pathé Archive, Film ID 1336.22, released 07/19/42. Movietone Digital Archive, Story No. 42802, released 07/09/42.
16. Carver, M, 1962. El Alamein. Wordsworth Editions, p69.
17. Prince, D, 2009. Secrets of a Prayer Warrior. Chosen Books, pp118-119.
18. Delaforce, P, 2007. Monty's Highlanders: 51^st Highland Division in the Second World War. Casemate Publishers, p43.

In the next part of our series 'The Relevance of the Message of the Prophets for Today', Fred Wright examines Obadiah's challenge to the church.

In the shortest book within the Old Testament, just 21 verses, the voice of Obadiah resounds clearly concerning the present times. The book centres on the condemnation of Edom, referred to as Esau, because of the hostility towards Israel and the Jewish people. We may consider that Obadiah, who prophesied during the reign of Ahab (874-852 BC), is challenging the Church of today to repent and depart from the 'Esau syndrome'.

Estranged Brothers

In the scriptures the term Edom is used either to denote Esau, who exchanged his birthright for a single meal (Gen 25:30; 36:1, 8, 19), or as a collective term for the Edomites. Esau, the elder of Isaac's twin sons (Gen 25:21-26), was his father's favourite who should have received the patriarch's blessing, but due to his despising of it in favour of a bowl of pottage and a piece of bread, it became forfeit to Jacob (Gen 25:29f).

The event led to the deep-seated animosity between Israel and Edom (i.e. Gen 27:41-45; Ex 15:15; Num 20:18-21; 1 Kings 11:14f; 2 Chron 22:8; Ps 53; 82:7; Ezek 35:1f; Joel 3:18-19; Amos 1:11) of whom Esau was considered to be the ancestor.

The scriptures imply that selling off one's inheritance in the Lord as something common, or unworthy, causes deep offence or hatred from God; the converse is that the desire to gain the blessings of God, in this case the right to the land and the other promises given to the descendants of Abraham, cause God's love to be set upon one (Mal 1:2f; Rom 9:13, cf. Gen 12:2-3).

Obadiah is challenging the Church of today to repent and depart from the 'Esau syndrome' – or hostility towards Israel.

Esau compounded his estrangement by marrying foreign wives which brought grief to his parents (Gen 26:35). Esau therefore may be understood as representing those who have chosen to abandon the revealed ways of God and the hope of glory, in favour of things that are of immediate rather than eternal value (Heb 12:16f).

The deep-seated animosity between the two peoples may be illustrated by the fact that when, during the Exodus, Israel sought permission to travel on the Edomite king's highway, it was refused. The blood relationship between the people was emphasised in that, despite the offence, Israel was commanded not to abhor them (Deut 23:7-8).

David subdued Edom (2 Sam 8:13) but when Judah fell, Edom rejoiced (Ps 132:7). The prophets spoke out a coming judgment upon Edom for their bitter hatred (Jer 49:7-22; Lam 4:21-22; Ezek 25, 35:15; Joel 3:19; Amos 9:12).

The Esau Syndrome: Violence Against Jacob

The major charge against Edom is violence against Jacob, your brother, which is the first aspect of the Esau syndrome. The Jewish people should rightly be viewed as the Christians' elder brother (Rom 9:2; 15:27, etc). Violence - physical, economic and verbal - has assailed the state of Israel since its re-birth in 1948.

Replacement theology is also a form of violence. In its active form it condemns the Jewish people and promulgates anti-Semitism; in its passive form it attempts to remove the Jewish roots and distinctives of the Christian faith. Many tenets of Replacement theology arise from lack of knowledge, poor biblical teaching or traditional anti-Semitic motifs, recycled to fit the modern era.

The Esau Syndrome: Gloating Over Israel's Misfortune

The second aspect of the Esau syndrome is seen when those who hold a 'replacement' stance gloat when Israel seems to be in a state of catastrophe. Events are seen as an illustration that God has finished with the Jewish people and that the state of Israel is a theological aberration. Obadiah cries out (v12) that you should not look down upon your brother in the day of his misfortune.

Instead of gloating over the misfortunes of the Jewish state, or aiding and abetting those who wish to see its downfall, Christians should be very aware that the way one treats Jacob is a key to how the Lord will treat them (Gen 12:2-3).

The scriptures imply that selling off one's inheritance in the Lord as something common causes deep offence or hatred from God.

The prophecies of Obadiah speak to the Church about the source and place of deliverance, which is Zion. Those who produce a form of wisdom coming from Edom are roundly condemned by the prophet (v8).

The Esau Syndrome: An Exchanged Birthright

The third facet of the Esau syndrome is that much of the wisdom received within Christian theology has not been the wisdom that has come from Zion (the Jewish roots of the faith). It is as if, in a similar manner to Esau, the second century Church exchanged its Jewish birthright for a bowl of Greek philosophical pottage, and in so doing left behind the true Messianic understanding. In the words of Joseph Klausner, "...the Christian Messiah is in essence only a further development of the Jewish Messiah. From Judaism Christianity received the ideas of redemption, the redeemer Messiah, the Day of Judgment, and the kingdom of heaven."

The departure from the Jewish roots of the Christian faith has a detrimental effect - not only for the theology of the Church, but also within the field of Christian-Jewish dialogue. It is hardly surprising that a number of Jewish leaders have questioned the value of dialogue when the Christian side have presented them with a non-Jewish based theology whilst claiming to worship the Jewish Messiah. Counted as possibly the first Christian apologist, Justin, one of the first to articulate the replacement position in the early second century, persisted in wearing the philosopher's garb until the end of his days.

The early Church father, Origen (c 185-254), one of the most profound influences on Eusebius of Caesarea and through him the Emperor Constantine, studied philosophy at the feet of Ammonius Saccus in the company of Plotinus, the founder of neo-Platonism. Constantine 'nationalised' Christianity which developed ever more Greek concepts in its developing theology. The trend continued through the medieval period and by the time of the Enlightenment the scene was set for modern liberal theology to develop from centuries of a thought-system contrary to that inspired by the prophets of Israel.

Esau represents those who have chosen to abandon the revealed ways of God in favour of things that are of more immediate, less eternal value.

The Esau Syndrome: No Stabilising, Nourishing Roots

The fourth aspect of the Esau syndrome is the enfeeblement of the believing community. If as believers we lose contact with the roots of our faith, we will not receive nourishment but rather become weakened and blown around by winds of deviant doctrine. The despising of the Jewish roots of the faith has caused dire effects throughout the history of the Church. Antisemitism and the teaching of contempt developed and grew in the Christian Church and may be held to be contributing factors to the atrocities committed against the Jewish people, not least the Nazi Holocaust.

Obadiah's words chide the believing community today to return to the biblical teachings and depart from the syncretic, accommodationist positions held by many. The judgment upon Esau is terrible in the extreme concerning the pride exhibited. There is a spirit of pride within the believing community today that will not accept the revealed word of the Lord in the scriptures and prefer to follow the wisdom of men. Adhering to such a tendency will bring disaster and ultimately a post-Christian worldview. Even when a thief comes in the night he does not steal everything, but leaves something - those who are under the judgment of the Lord will be left with absolutely nothing.

Christians should be very aware that the way they treat Israel is a key to how the Lord will treat them.

Called to Endurance, Not Error

The following consideration brings us to a crisis point. Will the believing community heed the words of Obadiah and look to Zion for deliverance or will some persist in the Esau syndrome, continuing to despise God's election and call of the Jewish people as the vehicle of salvation? Will they return to the roots of the faith and be nourished and enriched by them, or will they continue in their error?

The consequences of ignoring the call are dire. The believers are called to endure in the days of trouble (Rev 1-3). Endurance only comes from certitude, or knowing God through the Messiah in a personal way. It is not enough simply to know about the power of God or have an idea about God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the father of Jesus the Messiah, may only be known by understanding the accounts of the self-disclosure of God through the Jewish scriptures, which include all of the New Testament, and seeking his face in the place of prayer.

Originally published in Prophecy Today, Vol 13 No 1, 1997. Revised November 2016.