Hanukkah Part 1 - Afrikaans

April 1, 2025

Hanukkah – Deel 1.

“Hanukkah” kom van die Hebreeuse term‐ “hanukkat” wat toewyding of “her‐toewyding” beteken.

 

Daar is vier aspekte van Hanukkah: Die eerste is die “tradisionele” een waarvan die meeste mense weet. Maar die mees belangrike is die historiese, die Messiaanse en die eskatologiese betekenisse.

  • Die historiese aspek van Hanukkah het betrekking met wat in die tyd van die Makkabeërs, ongeveer 160 jaar voor Jesus gebeur het.
  • Die Messiaanse weergawe van Hanukkah word geopenbaar in die tiende hoofstuk van die Evangelie van Johannes toe Jesus die fees herdenk het.
  • Die eskatologiese oorsig sien hoe hierdie dinge weer in die Laaste Dae met die wederkoms van Jesus afgespeel gaan word.

Ons hoof fokus is dan op die historiese? wat gebeur het; Die Messiaanse? hoe dit in Jesus vervul was ? en dan eskatologies? wat dit met Jesus se Wederkoms gaan beteken.

Die Tradisionele Aspek.

Baie mense sal soos volg argumenteer: “Wel, Kersfees was afkomstig van die Roomse fees van Saturnalia op die 25 Desember, dit was ‘n heidense fees tyd. Hanukkah was op die 25 ste Kislev van die Hebreeuse maand ongeveer dieselfde tyd.” Bykans al die Hebreeuse fees dae het ook ‘n heidense weergawe. Die heidene het hulle gode vereer aan die einde van ‘n landbou seisoen, hulle het ook hierdie gode gedank vir die son, die reën en die oes. Die Hebreeuse fees dae was dus ‘n polemiek teen die heidene. God (Yahweh) se opdrag is dat die Hebreërs die Ware God moet dank vir die reën en die oes ens. Maar wanneer jy sien dat mense oor hierdie dinge in ‘n argument betrokke raak soos: “Wel, dit en daardie was ‘n heidense dag”? dan raak hulle teologiese en historiese argumente baie twyfelagtig.

Die Apostel Paulus sê dat ons niemand moet oordeel oor ‘n fees of ‘n nuwe maan of ‘n Sabbat nie. (Kol. 2:16?17) Net so lees ons in Rom. 14:4?5: “??Die een ag die een dag bo die ander, die ander ag al die dae gelyk. Laat elkeen in sy eie gemoed ten volle oortuig wees.” Die belangrikste hier is dat hierdie dinge vir die Here gedoen moet word of glad en geheel nie. My groot probleem met die kersfees viering is dat nie vir die Here gedoen word nie. Ek sal graag wil sien dat dit nie gevier word soos wat dit gevier word nie. Ons het geen idee wanneer Jesus gebore is nie, ‘n geleerde raai kan wees gedurende die Fees van Tabernakels, maar niemand weet nie. God sê vir ons niks hiervan nie en dit is duidelik dat nie belangrik is nie, Jesus is gebore en dit is dit. Hanukkah is egter iets anders, daar is beide ‘n historiese en ‘n Bybelse weergawe? ‘n Nuwe Testamentiese voorbeeld vir die Fees van Hanukkah. Alhoewel, alles waarmee ons Hanukkah nou assosieer in die Joodse kultuur ? in “Yiddish kiten” – en baie Christene wat daarvan weet (As hulle iets daarvan weet?) kom uit die tradisionele sy daarvan.

Baie van die tradisies wat met Hanukkah geassosieer word het hulle oorsprong nie in die outydse wêreld nie maar in die Middeleeue, tot die woorde van die liedere wat geassosieer word met die Fees. Die mees bekende lied:? “Ma’oz tzury’shuati” het ontstaan uit Middel Eeu se Hebreeus en nie uit Bybelse of moderne Hebreeus nie.

Hanukkah tradisies sê dat die menorah se olie vir agt dae gebrand het. Daar was genoeg olie in die lamp? die Menorah? in die tempel vir ‘n dag of twee, maar dit het vir agt dae gebrand. Weereens, daar is geen historiese bewys daarvan in die boek van 1 en 2 Makkabeërs nie en sekerlik ook nie in die Skrifte nie, dit het later ontstaan. Dit is nie te sê dat nie waar is nie, miskien was dit so maar dit is nie in die geskiedenis opgeteken nie. Dit was nie deur Josephus in Antiquities beklemtoon nie. Mense wonder egter hoe Josephus daarvan geweet het, maar in sy Antiquities is baie dinge waarop daar vandag gefokus word wat nie deur hom beklemtoon word nie. Hanukkah is die Joodse Fees van Lig en Wonderwerke.

Die wonderwerk was nie gesien as die lamp wat vir agt dae gebrand het nie maar dat God hulle hierdie groot oorwinning oor die magtige vyand gegee het. En die lig was natuurlik toe hulle weer die tempel her?toegewy het, hulle kon weer die menorah in die tempel laat brand. Ons weet van Psalm 119:105: “U Woord is vir my ‘n lamp vir my voet en ‘n lig vir my pad.” Die brandende menorah in die tempel verteenwoordig dus die Woord van God vir die Hebreërs.

Die vensters van die tempel was egter uniek. Normaalweg word vensters wyd aan die buitekant gebou en dan smaller na binne toe om so die lig na binne te kan fokus. Maar die vorm van die tempel waar die Menorah gestaan het was wyd aan die buitekant en dan, om so veel as moontlik lig van die menora te vang, was dit so gefokus dat dit na buite oor? wat genoem word die “Millo” kon skyn vanaf die Tempelberg oor die Stad van Dawid daaronder.

Die idee wat in die argitektuur wat tempel ingebou was, was dat die Lig van Yahweh? die Lig van Sy Woord vanuit die tempel sou kom. Die argitektuur van die Tempel illustreer dat die Wet uit Sion sou uitgaan, dit sal na buite skyn. So was dit dan dat nadat die tempel her toegewy was, was die idee dat ons weer die menorah kon her belig.

Vandag is daar dinge soos tradisionele Hanukkah kos. Mense eet jellie donuts wat “sufganiot” genoem word. Ek dink nie hulle het dit in die ou tyd gedoen nie. Hulle het “latkas”? aartappel pannekoeke geëet, en spesiale soorte “knishes”, as jy van Joodse kos hou. En dan natuurlik, was daar die “dreidel”: ‘n Yiddish woord wat gebaseer word op die Hebreeuse woord? “tsvivon”, om te “spin”, en daar is ‘n akroniem aan dit gekoppel? “Nes, Gadol, Hya, Po”:? ‘n Groot wonderwerk het hier plaasgevind. Die dreidel was gespin en kinders het ‘n spel met die dreidel, ’n top gespeel. Wat ons hier sien is dat wat in die algemeen met Hanukkah geassosieer word dit baie min te doen het met wat dit histories beteken het. Dit het ook byna geen teologiese verbintenisse nie afgesien van dit wat die rabbi’s later aan bygedra het.

Daar is dan ‘n historiese Hanukkah en ‘n tradisionele Hanukkah. ’n Ander manier om daarna te kyk is om die geboorte te vergelyk soos wat dit opgeteken is in Lukas en Mattheus en met die tradisies van die

Kerk. Dit is nie net ‘n versiering nie; ‘n groot deel daarvan is net opgemaak. Tradisie sê daar was drie wyse manne, maar dit is nie in die Nuwe Testament nie, dit is opgemaak, net so is dit met Hanukkah.

Die Historiese Aspek.

Daniël is die enigste Boek in die Bybel wat al drie die oorspronklike tale bevat: Aramees (of Chaldee) Hebreeus en Grieks. Hier is Griekse woorde vir sekere dinge soos musiek instrumente en so voorts, wat deur heel waarskynlik Masedoniese handelaars ingevoer is.

Die gedeeltes van Daniël wat op die profetiese doelwitte van God fokus, in die besonders vir die Jode? is in Hebreeus. Die gedeeltes van Daniël wat fokus op God se profetiese doelwitte vir Israel, relatief tot die nasies, is in die “lingua franca” van die tyd wat Chaldeërs (Aramees) was.

Die opkoms en val van Assirië

Wanneer jy die Boek van Daniël lees onthou dan dat die Laaste Dae soos Daniël se dae gaan wees. Die Jode was vrees bevange oor Assirië, hulle was die slegte mense, die mense wat die tien noordelike stamme in ballingskap geneem het. Hierdie was die wreedste en mees magtigste heidene. Niemand het ooit kon droom dat Assirië eendag inmekaar sou stort nie en nadat dit gebeur het was daar ‘n valse gerustheid wat nie lank geduur het nie. Hulle het Babilon en sy meteoristiese opgang gekonfronteer wat baie slegter was as Assirië, en dit het ‘n outydse oorsprong gehad (verseker geestelik) wat terug gegaan het na die Toring van Babel.

Die opkoms en val van die Meders en die Perse.

Babilon het oornag ten gronde gegaan, en soos wat Daniël geprofeteer het, het die Meders en Perse in sy plek gekom.

Die Perse het met die Meders saamgewerk tot laat in die 20 ste eeu gedurende die regering van die Sha van Iran. As ons teruggaan na die profesie van Jesaja sien ons dat die Perse (Iraniërs) altyd van die Jode gehou het al was dit ‘n Islamitiese land.

Tot en met die val van die Shah in die 70’s het hy daarop aanspraak gemaak dat hy ‘n afstammeling van die Pou Troon van Kores (Cyrus) (Kowresh) die Grote was wat twee keer deur Jesaja geprofeteer was, en tot en met hierdie tyd het die Iraniërs van die Jode gehou. Hulle kultuur en taal was nie Arabies nie, maar “Zoroastriaan,” monisties vanaf Zoroastor maar beïnvloed deur die Jode.

Die magi was Mederse veld predikers vir die konings van die Meders en Perse, dit was die oorsprong van die Magi, die wyse manne. As gevolg van die monistiese invloede van Zoroastor en van die Jode in ballingskap (Wat Nebukatnesar beïnvloed het) het hulle gegaan om Jesus te sien. Daar sal altyd hierdie verbintenis met die Perse en die Jode wees tot en met die Laaste Dae. Die Sokratiese Grieke in die Weste het die meeste lig oor Monisme gehad, maar in die Ooste was dit Zoroastriaane wat die meeste lig van Monisme gehad het. Die Sokratiese Grieke was baie later in die Weste, maar die Perse – Zoroastriaane het die meeste lig gehad.

Die opkoms en val van die Grieke.

Die Persiese koninkryk het nie lank gestaan nie as gevolg van Aleksander die Grote, maar hy het ook nie lank gestaan nie, hy het tot by die woestyn van Belushistan gevorder, en ‘n groot gedeelte van die bekende wêreld oorwin en toe hy 36 jaar oud was het hy siek geword en gesterf. Sy koninkryk het opgebreek en was verdeel onder vier van sy generaals. Die mees belangrikste was Seleuces, wat Sirië, Lebanon, Galilee, en sentraal Israel gekry het – en Ptolemeus, wat Egipte en Suidelike Israel gekry het. Hulle is die belangrikste van die vier, histories maar ook in die Bybel. Die Seleukiede was Siro?Fenisiese Grieke, Grieke wat in die omgewing van Fenisië – van Lebanon en rondom Alippo in Sirië – af tot by die omgewing van Tirus en Sidon. Lukas die apostel was ‘n Siro?Fenisiër wat tot Judaïsme bekeer is. Antiogus Epifanus is een van die mees belangrike tipes of beeld van die Antichris in die Bybel. Hy kom uit die lyn van die Seleukiede wat geken word as die dinastie van Antiogus. Daar was Antiogus I, II, III, and IV. Antiogus IV is Antiogus Epifanus. Die Grieks sprekende Jode het sy naam verander na “Epimanus” wat die “mal een” beteken.

Hier het ons die historiese opset met die konings van die noorde en die konings van die suide. Assirië val, dan Babilon, dan die Meders en Perse. Persië val, dan die Grieke. Dan is daar ‘n wêreld wye chaos in die bekende wêreld en uit hierdie chaos die opkoms van Rome en in die middel van dit alles kom die Jode terug in hulle land. In die Laaste Dae gebeur dieselfde dinge.

Ooreenkomste met vandag.

Met die grootword in die Baby Boomer geslag was die grootse bedreiging die Sowjet Unie. Dit was hulle wat die Christene vervolg het, hulle het nie in God geglo nie en dogmaties was hulle Ateïsties. Niemand uit ons geslag wat die Kubaanse missiel Krisis en Viëtnam onthou het gedink dat die Sowjet Unie en die Berlynse muur sou val nie, net soos in die geval van Assirië het daar ‘n valse gerustheid van vrede gekom totdat teruggekyk is en die baie groter gevaarlike vyand gesien is naamlik? Islam.

Toe ek ‘n klein seuntjie was in New York gedurende die Kubaanse Missiel krisis, onthou ek dat Nikita Kruschev na New York gekom het en letterlik een van sy skoene uitgetrek het en daarmee in die U.N op die podium geslaan het en gesê: “Ons sal jou begrawe! Ons sal jou begrawe!” Binne ‘n paar maande het Brezhnev, Suzlov, en die Politburo van hom ontslae geraak, jy kan nie ‘n mal man wat lief is vir wodka en met sy vinger op die rooi knop vertrou nie.

Gedurende die Watergate Krisis was daar Nixon wat volgens sy mede kamerade? Colson, Haig, and Kissinger onder die invloed van verdowing middels en alkohol was.

Op ‘n stadium gedurende die Yom Kippur oorlog het hy ‘n stadium 3 kern waarskuwing teen die Sowjets uitgeroep in ‘n poging om sy nek polities te red en binne die volgende paar weke het hulle van hom ontslae geraak, die Amerikaanse gesag orde het teen hom gedraai. Jy kan nie so ‘n man met die rooi knop vertrou nie. Die Islamitiese en die Hindu wêreld dink nie so nie, die Hindu dink hy gaan gereïnkarneer word en die Moslem dink hy gaan deur “Shahadi.” Die enigste versekering van redding in Islam is om te sterf in ‘n Jihad. Dus, net soos wat die wêreld in ‘n baie meer onseker staat was nadat Assirië geval het, is dieselfde waar vir die tyd waarin ons nou lewe. Dit is ‘n baie meer gevaarlike onseker

stadium nou waar die Islamitiese lande nou verrykte kern materiaal in die hande kry om tot ‘n 50 megaton bom te kan maak.

So sien ons ‘n baie vinnige veranderde wêreld waar moondhede opkom en baie vinnig val en in die midde hiervan kom die Jode terug in hulle land? net soos wat dit gebeur het in die Boek Daniël. Om die Laaste Dae te verstaan moet ons verstaan wat hier gebeur het. Daar is ander waarna ons moet kyk wanneer gekyk word na die konings van die Noorde en die konings van die Suide. Die finale konflik kan nie Oos? Wes wees nie, dit moet ‘n Noord Suid konflik wees net soos in die dae van Daniël, en dit is wat ons gaan sien, ‘n Noord Suid konflik wat dieselfde soort chaos gaan veroorsaak as met die opkoms van Romeinse Ryk

Pompeii as ‘n Tipe van die Antichris.

Let op dat die figuur vroeër in die 11 de hoofstuk van Daniël, vers 16? ook in die Mooi Land ingekom het, en hy het ook ‘n valse verbond gesluit. Een van die probleme van die Laaste Dae is dat daar baie Antichriste gaan wees, dus, elke keer wanneer iemand gaan probeer om ‘n vredesverbond met die Midde Ooste te sluit? sal mense sê: “Dit is dit.”

Die uiteindelike Antichris gaan egter anders wees, hy gaan in die karakter? soos wat die teks vir ons sê? van twee persone wees. Die een is Antiogus IV Epifanus, en die ander een is: Generaal Pompeii. In die Bybel, wanneer iemand anders as die Hoë Priester op die dag van verootmoediging (of soos die Here Jesus Self in die boek Hebreërs ) in die allerheiligste ingaan, dan is dit ‘n tipe van die Antichris. Die Romeinse Generaal Pompeii het dit gedoen. Hy verteenwoordig die triumvirate, (drie hoofskap) van Rome wat ‘n ooreenkoms met die Jode aangegaan het en hulle ook bedrieg het en in die allerheiligste ingegaan het, hy is ‘n hoof tipe van die Antichris wat mense miskyk.

Antiogus IV as ‘n tipe van die Antichris.

Die Hasmoniese tydperk was tussen die tyd van die Makkabeërs en Pompeii. Die Hasmoniërs was afstammelinge van die Makkabeërs. Dit was ‘n voorspoedige tydperk waar hulle gedink het die troon van Dawid gaan weer opgerig word en die Messiaanse verwagting was ernstig uitgedra, die verhoog was opgestel vir Jesus se Wederkoms in hierdie Hasmoniese tydperk, hulle het egter goed begin maar sleg geëindig.

Antiogus IV het ‘n agenda gehad om kultuur te gebruik om so ‘n politieke beheer te verkry. Die Antichris gaan dieselfde doen, hy gaan probeer om iets multi kultureel en multi geloof te maak en hy sal kom in die karakter van Antiogus. Onthou dat ander mense voor hom dieselfde dinge probeer het. ‘n Belangrike ding wat onthou moet word is dat tot en met vers 36 van Daniël 11 was daar ‘n gedeeltelike vervulling, Antiogus het alles gedoen tot en met vers 36, maar vanaf vers 36 tot by hoofstuk 12 het niemand dit nog gedoen nie. Met ander woorde, die Antichris? die dier? gaan dit wat Antiogus gedoen het weer doen en ook die res daarvan. Hy gaan dinge doen wat Antiogus gedoen het tot en met vers 36 maar hy gaan verder. Antiogus het die Joodse kultuur verhelleniseer, hy het die populêre kultuur van die wêreld gevat en dit op God se mense geplaas wat in kompromie daarmee gegaan het. Hulle het daarmee saamgegaan tot op ‘n punt waar hulle dit nie meer kon stop nie.

Die gebruik van kultuur en godsdiens.

Alles in die Griekse kultuur was die diametriese teenoorgestelde van die Hebreeuse wêreld. Daar was die Griekse manier en die Joodse manier van dink. Die Hebreeuse manier van dink was gebaseer op ‘n konsep van die Theomorfiese man en vrou? ons is na die Beeld van God geskape. Die Griekse idee was gebaseer op ‘n antropomorfiese siening van God? die idee is: “Ons is gode.” Die Hebreërs was Monisties, (een God) die Grieke politeïsties? veelgodery? “ons is gode geskape na ons beeld.” Hulle gode het menslike kwaliteite soos jy kan hulle belieg en bedrieg, jy kan hulle mislei, jy kan hulle versoen. Dit was die onderliggende filosofie van die Grieke, totaal die teenoorgestelde wat die Jode geglo het. Daar is twee dinge wat filosofies meer onderling eksklusief is as Aristotelianisme (Aristotel se Filosofie) en Judeo?Christelikheid.

In die Middel Eeue het Thomas Aquinas iets geskryf wat die “Summa Theologica” genoem was, waar hy Christelikheid ver?Aristoteliaseer het. Maimonides (Rambam) kom toe en ver?Aristoteliaseer Judaïsme. Daar is nie twee dinge wat meer onversoenbaar is as ‘n Aristoteliaanse filosofie en ‘n Judeo?Christelike wêreld siening nie.

Daar is drie soorte mense in God se ekonomie: Jode, Heidene en die Kerk wat bestaan uit beide Jode en Heidene. So ver as wat dit die nasies aangaan is hulle alreeds mislei. Dit laat ons met twee soorte mense wat die Bybel God se uitverkorenes noem: Die Jode en die Kerk. Die Jode, behalwe vir ‘n getroue oorblyfsel wat die Messias aangeneem het, is alreeds mislei, dit laat ons die Kerk oor, wat bestaan uit Jode en Heidene.

Die Eindresultaat van Kompromie.

Wat ons sien wat in die geskiedenis met die Kerk gebeur het reflekteer dit wat in die tydperk van Daniël se profesie gebeur het, die Intertestamentiese Periode.

In die Griekse wêreld was Homoseksualiteit en biseksuele kultuurgewys kultureel endemies? ‘n siekte. Hulle was aanvaar as ‘n seksuele normatiewe gedrag. Seksuele misbruik van kinders was sosiaal gedeeltelik aanvaarbaar, maar perverse seks? homoseksualiteit en lesbianisme (Van die eiland Lesbos) – hierdie dinge was kultuurliks normatief!

In Griekse vermaaklikheid is daar ‘n mengsel van heidense godsdienstige filosofie en vermaaklikhede. Die probleem was nie sport nie, die probleem was in die Griekse idee van die Olimpiade: Dit was wellustig. Ek bedoel nie “naak” in die biologiese sin soos wat atlete soortvan naak meeding nie, maar “naak” in die vorm van seksuele uitstalling. In die Griekse wêreld, dinge wat ook later deur die Romeine aangeneem is? is wat die Romeine? Gladiators? swaardvegters? noem? geweld was gebruik as populêre vermaaklikheid.

Dit was die kultuur elemente van die Griekse wêreld wat Antiogus wou gehad het almal moes aanvaar, hy wou al die kulture verhelleniseer. Toe die Hebreërs daarmee saamgegaan het? het hulle vir hulleself groot moeilikheid bymekaar gemaak. Hulle het met alles saamgestem totdat daar wetgewing gekom het

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wat hulle geloof onwettig verklaar het. Laastens was die besnydenis ook onwettig verklaar en ook hulle dieet wette, (Kasrut) en ook die lees van die Tora.

Die Haftorah het gedurende hierdie periode ontwikkel omdat die Tora onwettig was. Hulle begin toe die Profete (Haftora) lees en probeer iets vind van die profete wat in tema korrespondeer na wat die voorgelese gedeelte in die Tora sou wees vir daardie week, dit het gewys dat jy die Haftorah besit het.

Dinge was progressief verban en die probleem was God se mense het stap vir stap daarmee saamgegaan tot op ‘n punt waar hulle dit nie meer kon stop nie, dit sluit die verbanning van die Levitiese Teokrasie in. Die priesters van die Levitiese Teokrasie was Sadokiete, die goeie priesters volgens Esegiël; die seuns van Sadok. Maar die Sadokim het die Sadduseërs geword, hulle het die slegte manne geword, maar hulle het reg begin. Die Hasmoniese tydperk het begin met die Makkabeërs en daarna het dit korrup geraak. Die Jode het kompromie aangegaan en dinge het onwettig geraak en dit kon nie gestop word nie.

Die groot probleem was nie die heidene nie, die groot probleem was die Jode wat meelopers geword het en die Jode wat dit geweet het? het niks daaraan gedoen nie.

In Brittanje was daar ‘n Eerste Minister wat gesê het: “In order for wicked men to triumph, good men must merely remain silent.” Wel hy was reg. As ons terug gaan na die 1930’s, die ekwivalente van die kern ontwapening, was die veldtog vir Kern ontwapening die Chamberlainiste.

Churchill en ‘n klein groep hoofsaaklik Torrey lede van die Parlement het gewaarsku en gesê: “Kyk, julle kan nie toelaat dat Hitler die Versailles Ooreenkoms so verontagsaam nie; ons sal hom vroeër of later moet beveg, vroeër is beter as later.” Hulle was gesien as Oorlog stokers en toe teken 10 miljoen mense ‘n petisie teen oorlog met Hitler en Sudaten was opgegee vir ‘n valse vrede. Maar iemand soos die kan nie deur ‘n vredes gebaar gestop word nie.

Dit was dieselfde as in die geval van die Kern ontwapening veldtog: “For wicked men to triumph, good men must merely remain silent.” Maar dit het in stilte heengegaan, hoe goed kon dit bly?

Die Makkabeërs.

Die apokriewe boeke van I en II Makkabeërs is nie in die Bybelse Kanon nie, maar hulle is betroubare geskiedenis boeke al skiet hulle te kort aan Goddelike inspirasie. Hulle vertel akkuraat die geskiedenis van die Joodse mense in die Intertestamentiese periode tussen die Ou en Nuwe Testament. (Lees dit gerus) Die Makkabeërs was ‘n priesterlike familie wat in dorpie buite Jerusalem gewoon het met die naam “Modein”. Een van hulle se naam was Menelaus, ‘n Hebreër wat met die vyand saamgewerk het. Die Makkabeërs het hom en een van Antiogus se offisiere doodgemaak en gevlug na een van die hoogtes van Juda naby Jerusalem wat geken was as die Shillah, tussen Jerusalem en die moderne Tel Aviv, of tussen die see en Jerusalem. Dit is interessant dat in die profesie van die Antichris hy ook sy tente in hierdie omgewing gaan opslaan, die Shillah. ‘n ander parallel is dat beide die Antichris en die Makkabeërs begin het met ‘n klein groepie en dan baie sterk geword het. Let op? hier het ons ‘n vader met vyf seuns. Ons het Eleazar, Jonathan, Jehuda (Judas) die Makkabeus, en Matatias, en twee van die

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vyf seuns was verraai deur hulle broeders. Weereens, in die Laaste Dae is dit dieselfde? Broer sal teen broer opstaan, baie sal afvallig raak en mekaar verraai.

Die eerste persoon wat hulle doodgemaak het was nie ‘n Seleukied nie maar ‘n Joodse samesweerder. Hulle het klein bendes gevorm, partygenote in ‘n guerrilla oorlogvoering tegniek en van uit die berge aanvalle geloods, so het hulle die Seleukied dag vir dag aangeval en teruggetrek. Verraad en omkopery was aan die orde van die dag maar uiteindelik het hulle die Seleukied oorwin.

Die Verontreiniging van die Tempel.

In die eerste hoofstuk van I Makkabeërs lees ons van die verontreiniging van die tempel, die klippe van die altaar was aan verskriklike dinge blootgestel: ‘n Vark was op hulle geoffer deur Antiogus en hy het ‘n beeld van Zeus (Jupiter) daar opgerig en sy eie kenmerke aan Zeus gegee. Nou, Zeus is ‘n verdraaiing van die woord “Theos” in Grieks, amper dieselfde spelling. In Grieks beteken Theos “god.” Die kenmerke is ‘n man wat probeer om homself te identifiseer as die groot god. Die was die Berg Olimpus teenoor die Berg Sion.

Die Makkabeër het Jerusalem bevry maar hy het ook ‘n groot probleem gehad: “Wat kan ons doen met die klippe van die tempel? Ons kan dit nie weggooi nie want hulle is “mei qodesh”? geheilig. Ons kan ook nie op hulle offer nie want ’n vark is op hulle geoffer.” Hulle het die altaar (Wat “misbeach” genoem word) afgebreek, en ons lees in die Mishna dat hulle dit buite Salomo se pilaargang op ‘n hoop gestoor het. Hulle het geglo dat of die Messias of Elia (Eliyahu ha?Navi) die profeet eendag op Hanukkah sal kom en vir hulle sal vertel wat om met die klippe te maak, en so het hulle ‘n ander altaar gebou.

Antiogus onder die krag van geestelike misleiding en deur om God se mense te verhelleniseer deur om die populêre kultuur te gebruik. Om op die rug van die populêre kultuur te ry was ‘n kompromie van moraliteit. So het dit die punt bereik waar dinge so veragtend in God se eie huis vir enige Jood geword het en die lees van die Woord van God was ook onwettig. Die Nuwe Testament noem die Kerk nie minder as sewe keer die tempel. Daar is verskillende woord in Grieks vir tempel: “naos”, “heikal ioudaios”, en? “heiron.”

Ek ontken nie dat daar mense is wat wil sien dat die tempel weer herbou moet word nie, ek sê ook nie dat dit nie sal gebeur nie. Ek sê ook nie dat daar ‘n afgodsbeeld beeld in dit opgerig sal word nie, wat ek sê is dit: Die fisiese reflekteer die geestelike. Toe Jesus aan die kruis gesterf het? het die voorhangsel (Velon) van bo tot op die grond geskeur.

‘n Werklike, letterlike fisiese gebeurtenis het plaasgevind in ‘n letterlike fisiese tempel? ‘n bonatuurlike gebeurtenis het plaasgevind. Maar dit was nie die mees belangrikste nie, wat belangrik was is wat dit beteken het. Sondige mense was nie langer van ‘n Heilige God geskei nie. Ons het nou toegang tot Hom deur die Bloed van die Hoë Priester. “As” die tempel weer opgerig sou word, ek sê nie dit sal nie, en daar ‘n beeld opgerig sou word sal dit net ‘n refleksie wees van die aanbidding van die Antichris deur die Christendom. Dit sal plaasvind soos wat dit nou besig is om te gebeur: Verhellenisering? God se mense word deur die populêre kultuur van die dag ingesluk? kyk om jou!

Om die Wêreld uit die Evangelie te hou.

Wat het met die Griekse kultuur gebeur? Homoseksualiteit en biseksualiteit was kultuurgewys ‘n siekte, en wat ‘n feit was, hulle het ‘n godsdienstige trappie vir dit gehad. In die geval van Tempel prostitusie was die vroue prostitute “hieros gamos” genoem. Die “hieros delphos” was die godsdienstige leiers.

In Swede en Kanada is daar alreeds bewegings wat die openbare lees van die Bybel met betrekking tot seksuele en homoseksuele sondes as “haat spraak” te klassifiseer ? Skrifgedeeltes soos: Romeine 1, of Levitikus. Jy kan die Koran lees maar die Bybel raak onwettig. Dit is presies wat met die Makkabeërs gebeur het, geweld was gebruik as vermaaklikheid. Nou, die Bybel praat baie van geweld maar nooit word dit goed gepraat nie, dit word weergegee vir wat dit is, ‘n nodige boosheid. Hele gemeenskappe begin so raak en hoe kan die Kerk die sout en die lig in ‘n gemeenskap wees as die Kerk met die kultuur saamgaan? “Vir die slegte mense om te triomfeer, is dit net nodig dat die goeie mense moet stil bly.” (“For wicked men to triumph, good men must merely remain silent.”)

Verlede April gedurende Lente het ek in ‘n Christelike tydskrif gelees waar aan verskeie Christene leiers gevra is oor hulle toegewyde boodskappe vir Lente. Nicky Gumble, die Alfa Kursus Ghoeroe, sê dat hy die werke van Rowan Williams gaan voorlees. Hierdie man is ‘n Druid wat homoseksuele as predikers aanstel! Dit is man na wie baie opkyk om Brittanje te evangeliseer! Daar is iemand in die Holy Trinity wat Druidse boeke aanbeveel, wat homoseksuele predikers aanstel en almal dink hy is ‘n pragtige mens! Dit is siek, kyk hoe verrot het die standaarde geword! Dit gaan nie gestop word nie en dit is presies wat gebeur het toe Makkabeus gekom het en die eerste persoon wat hulle uitgeroei het was Menlaus die samesweerder. Die mees uitstaande gevaarlike vyande van die Evangelie van Jesus Christus is Evangeliste wat met die vyand van die Kruis heul. Dit is presies wat in die dae van die Makkabeërs gebeur het, en die wat dit teen gestaan het was klein groepies mense wat in ‘n guerrilla aksie opgetree het, maar daar is ander wat by hulle begin aansluit.

Daar is mense wat uit hulle kerke padgee wat hierdie dinge sien, wat in huise begin saamkom omdat dinge ernstig verkeerd begin loop.

Ingesluipte Skynheiliges.

Maar iets anders het ook met die Makkabeërs gebeur, volgens II Makkabeërs 11:33?35; Het baie by hulle aangesluit , maar in skynheiligheid. Ons moet onthou dat as iemand teen dit is wat jy teenstaan, dit nie outomaties beteken dat hulle staan waarvoor jy staan nie. 90% van die mense wat saam met Moriel stem is opreg maar 10% van hulle gaan fout vind met alle kerke. Hulle sal by jou aan aansluit en iemand soos ek as ‘n klankbord gebruik om ander dinge aan te val. Daar is mense wat jy net kan verstaan as jy weet waarteen hulle is, jy kan nie ‘n gemeente bou op dinge waarteen jy is nie! Ja, ons weet baie dinge is verkeerd maar waarvoor staan ons? ? Ons weet Alfa is onbybels, maar vir wat staan ons, dit is die vraag?

Pasop vir mense wat sê hulle het ‘n onderskeidings bediening en al wat hulle doen is om dit wat verkeerd is aan te val terwyl hulle nooit sê wat reg is nie! Hulle wil niks te doen hê met Evangelisasie of Bybel studie nie of missies nie, pasop vir hulle. Daar is goeie onderskeidings bedieninge en ook slegtes, daar is goeie organisasies en ook slegtes. Maar jy kan nie die Liggaam van Christus bou op dinge wat

verkeerd is nie, net op dit waarvoor jy is. Onthou dat die beste verdediging teen dwaling altyd die kennis van die Waarheid is. Ons het onderskeidings bedieninge baie nodig omdat mense nie meer die waarheid ken nie. As mense hulle Bybel geken het sou hulle geweet het dat Nicky Gumble van die pad af is, hulle sou deur Benny Hinn en Creflo Dollar sien. As mense die waarheid ken sal hulle self dwalinge onderskei. Maar hulle ken nie die waarheid nie en die verdediging van die geloof is uiters belangrik.

Die wat insig het.

Maar in die dae van die Makkabeërs was daar mense net soos wat dit in die Laaste Dae sal wees, die verstandiges wat verstaan en wat baie tot regverdigheid sal lei. (Dan 11:3) Mense sal byeenkomste bywoon waar die Waarheid bedien en verdedig word en hulle sal die Waarheid uitdra. Met ander woorde, wanneer jy die rigting van die Ekumeniese beweging sien waar homoseksuele in die bediening opgeneem word dan sien jy die gruwel van verwoesting wat alreeds in die tempel opgerig is, hou jou een oog op Jerusalem en die ander een op die Liggaam van Christus. Kyk wat sien ons alreeds op die tempelberg waar die Moskee van Omar staan. Op hierdie Moskee is ‘n aanhaling uit die Koran wat sê “God het nie ‘n Seun nie.” Daar is alreeds ‘n gruwel van verwoesting en dit is alreeds in die Kerk.

Klein groepe.

Dit was die agtergrond, dit is wat toe gebeur het en dit is wat nou gebeur, ons het die tradisionele en die historiese en dan het ons die Eskatologiese. In die Laaste Dae sal dit dieselfde wees, ‘n klein groepie mense sal opstaan soos die Makkabeërs, diegene wat insig het sal vir ander ‘n lig wees en saam sal hulle vir God ‘n weermag oprig wat hierdie modderstortings gaan weerstaan. Baie sal in skynheiligheid aansluit, daar sal verraad in die binnekringe wees maar aan die einde sal hulle oorwin, aan die einde het die Makkabeërs gewen soos wat Daniël geprofeteer het.

Ek kan julle dit sê: Baie slegte dinge gaan gebeur, die twee diere gaan kom maar ek sien in die Boek Daniël dat aan die einde gaan ons oorwin, wat gebeur het gaan weer gebeur.

Die Makkabeërs, Jesus, Koning Dawid almal het dieselfde strategie gehad. Dinge het baie sleg geword onder koning Saul, dieselfde het gebeur onder die Seleukiede, dan baie sleg onder die Sanhedrin en die Romeine. (Herodiane). Maar wanneer dinge baie sleg begin gaan dan begin God iets nuuts gebaseer op klein groepe. Dit het Hanukkah geword, die Hebreeuse fees van lig en wonders wat in Hebreeus: “ Nesim v’ niflaot” genoem word.

Einde gedeelte een. †††


By David Passmore July 14, 2026
Circling the wagons Ruben Rothler LLB, LLM Israel is a society riddled with tension and division. It is sociologically, if not politically miraculous that a country drawing Jews from all over the world is able to exist at all. The army affords a degree of integration as a melting pot. But this is only a marginal source of national unity in the overall scheme of things. More so are the myriads of external threats that face this small country. In the former generation the Ashkenazi (Jews of European descent) - Sephardic (Jews of Oriental descent) divide was far more pronounced. The dominant Ashkenazi establishment held the reins of political and economic power which was resented by the Sephardim. However, due to a combination of inter-marriage and political accommodation much of the chasm that separated these distinct groups was forged. Menachem Begin (an Ashkenazi politician) in 1970 successfully ran on the Likud Party ticket with a campaign that brought Sephardic Jews under his conservative political umbrella. Later the immigration of Russian Jews following the end of Communism would add a whole new dimension to the Israeli demographic milieu. The younger generation of these immigrants tended to adapt well to Israeli society and contributed much to the economy. The wider division in Israeli society that crosses ethnic lines concerns that between religious and secular Jews. This can be further bifurcated to the clash between the secular and specifically ultra-orthodox Jews (Haredim) as distinguished from the national religious Jews (Dati Leumi). The Secular and the Religious generally part on what they envisage a Jewish State to entail. Religious Jews desire the State to strictly adhere to the stipulations of Jewish Law (Halacha), while at present Halakhic influence is largely limited to certain areas of Family Law concerning Jewish citizens. Wider considerations of promoting a socially conservative political agenda would also be forefront amongst the religious mindset broadly. Secular Jews view the imposition of such proposed measures as a serious infringement of their civil rights. With regard to the Haredim, the bone of contention looms larger, in that this group is fundamentally opposed to participating in society at large. This is acutely manifested in diminished contribution to the work force and a refusal to be conscripted into the army. The 2023 judicial reform protests posed a significant threat to social civil order. The nation appeared to be bitterly divided into two opposing camps. This split reflected broader divisions concerning visions of how the country should be governed. The judicial reforms would have weakened the Supreme Court's ability to render the Executive branch accountable. However, the Supreme Court was also accused of using its considerable powers to promote a socially liberal agenda. Left wing secular Israelis tended to oppose the proposed reforms while those on the right (which included the majority of Religious Jews) supported the reforms. Every weekend droves of protesters were brought onto the streets causing major disturbances to traffic. The polarising nature of this impasse threatened the future of Israeli democracy. It was the October 7th attack that brought a swift end to this public debate and civil strife. The nation instinctually united in response to this common existential threat. The judicial reforms were shelved for a future point when the urgent security threats subsided. However, as the war dragged on the enduring issue of Haredi refusal to conscript into the army became more pronounced. Mounting casualties combined with ever increasing manpower demands to field troops on the multiple theatres of action on which the IDF is engaged has depleted the ranks, and the army is now in much need of fresh conscripts. Haredi belligerent refusal to participate in the pressing national defence has escalated from being a political debate to a matter of very practical vital importance. Overall we can observe that the challenges to national unity in successive generations since the establishment of Israel has recurrently been ameliorated by the common necessity of defence towards outside threats. Most recently we can see this happening with regard to the global anti Semitism and anti-Zionism that has been raging since the October 7th atrocities. These hostile attitudes have paradoxically acted as a force which promotes nationalism and a sense of national cohesion in Israel that otherwise might not functionally exist.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).
By David Passmore July 8, 2026
A Divided Nation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The Haredi community has had a complicated, paradoxical relationship with the State since its founding. Rooted in a Talmudic precept that the Jews are forbidden to resettle the land of Israel en masse by force before the coming of the Messiah, the secular democratic State of Israel presents itself as blasphemous by its mere existence. Yet due to practical considerations such as the need to obtain funding for its religious academies the Haredi leadership reached a settlement with the State's founders that exempted Haredi men from being conscripted for military service. This was at a time when the Haredi population in Israel was relatively small. Over the past decades this demographic ballooned until the point that soon the majority of Jewish children in Israel will be born into Haredi families. Such a situation is clearly unsustainable. Recently the Knesset's (Parliament's) Haredi parties have pressured their coalition partners in government to codify Torah Study as part of the Country's Basic Laws. This was purposefully done to elevate the status of their institutions to be on parity with service in the IDF. Israel is yet to promulgate a written Constitution, so legislation classed as a Basic Law holds Constitutional status for all intents and purposes. These moves by the religious parties represent a back door power grab to enshrine in law very significant hurdles to prevent the enlistment of Haredi men. The burden of Israel's defence is comparatively massive for a country its size and it is vastly disproportionately shouldered by the secular population. Until now there have been political initiatives to conscript the Haredim. But given the huge manpower shortages emerging in the wake of near continual conflict on multiple fronts since the events of October 7th this matter has become urgent and not merely a theoretical discussion of what is fair and equitable. It is important to draw a distinction between the Haredim and national religious Jews (Dati Leumi). The Haredim adhere to a lifestyle entirely committed to observance of Jewish Law and Talmudic study. This is embraced to the exclusion of gainful employment and participation in wider society. They are either outrightly opposed to Zionism or consider themselves non-Zionist. Conversely, followers of the national religious movement in Israel although being observant of Jewish law and learning would alongside this pursue secular professions. Furthermore, they are ardently Zionist and disproportionately serve in IDF combat units. This is often done within the framework of a program called Hesder Yeshiva that combines religious learning with military service. Efforts to cater a similar model for accommodating Haredi participation in the IDF have so far failed to make substantial gains. Such measures designed to override Haredi objections to service based upon modesty concerns by strict segregation of the sexes in these specially formed units have failed to appease the Haredi leadership. For them, any form of military service is considered a dereliction of their duty to fully devote themselves to a Torah lifestyle. They argue that their Talmudic learning and prayers are in itself a form of national service and act to protect the Jewish people spiritually from enemy attack. It is as if two parallel societies exist within Israel. And the trajectory of separation between the two is only growing. The Haredim are cloistered away in their Yeshivas, immersed in lives devoted to adhering to the stipulations of Jewish law. While the particulars of actually running the State is left to the Secular. The Haredim desire all the benefits of subsidizing their lifestyle without contributing to society. What we really have going on here at source is two profoundly different and opposing ideological visions of what is important in life and what is the purpose of a Jewish State. At the State's founding these divergent perspectives were more manageable. Ben Gurion only had to contend with one religious party –the National Religious Party. Later in 1970 Begin aligned with the NRP to form a coalition government that also brought Sephardic Jews under the Likud umbrella which had the effect of bringing unity to the country by bridging the Ashkenazi-Sephardi divide. However, over time Israeli politics has seen a proliferation of religious parties, gaining further leverage as king brokers in forming governments due to the proportionate representation voting system which secular Israelis not uncommonly view as political blackmail. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).
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By Mea Fredrickson June 23, 2026
New Paragraph
By David Passmore June 22, 2026
THE CAPTION AT THE HEAD OF THE POSTER IMAGE FOR THE MOVIE ‘DISCLOSURE DAY’ BOLDLY DECLARES ‘WE DESERVE TO KNOW’ Indeed, we do need to know the truth. But will we find it in Stephen Spielberg’s new movie ‘Disclosure Day’? Could it just as well be entitled ‘DECEPTION DAY’? In an interview with USA Today Spielberg says that evidence of non-human contact has become “overwhelming” to him. He has suggested that his film could raise significant theological questions for Christians. But will it? For us Christians - No, not on our watch! The movie raises no questions for those who accept the proven accuracy of God’s Word, the Bible. The film, which is capturing the imagination of the public, only confirms exactly what scripture tells us about what are in fact extra-dimensional beings. ALIENS OR FALLEN ANGELS? God inhabits the heavenly realm along with a vast array of angels. Because Lucifer, a created angel, wanted to usurp God as ruler of the universe, he was expelled to another realm outside of our time and space, along with one third of the angels who rebelled with him. These fallen angels manifest themselves as demons who can appear on earth and disappear at will. Spiritual hosts of wickedness exist in heavenly places, wherever this realm is, it is not the place where God dwells. ARE ALIENS BENEVOLENT? In the movie, the ‘aliens’ are portrayed as friendly beings who want to help mankind in a time of crisis. If the aliens are really demons, not visitors from outer space, this is a dangerous delusion. Whitley Striber in his book ‘Communion’ writes on encountering ‘aliens’; ‘I felt an indescribable sense of menace. Whatever was there seemed so monstrously ugly, so filthy, so dark and sinister. Of course they were demons. They have to be.’ Many others have reported similar malevolent experiences. During the movie, Daniel claims to have had an encounter with extra-terrestrials during which he received a special gift of empathy, which is regarded by him as the ultimate superpower. However, there is only One who completely understands our human frailty. We read this concerning Jesus: ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin.’ (Hebrews 4 v 15). Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 v 28) END TIMES DECEPTION Before he was crucified, Jesus warned his disciples about these last days in which we are living. The first words he used in this context were: “Watch no one deceives you. For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Deception was top of the list! Later, the Apostle Paul wrote about these days: ‘The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.’ (2 Thessalonians 2 v 9) Have you received the love of the truth? Have you received Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life? If not, you are in great danger. Perilous times are here and they are only going to get worse as man turns more and more away from his maker. Things will only change when Jesus returns soon to establish his own Kingdom on earth, where justice and peace will rule. JESUS, OUR ONLY HOPE! The Bible says all human beings are sinners. The message of Jesus is simple; repent and believe the good news, that God wants humanity, his highest creation, to be reestablished in relationship with him. His plan was simple: to give his life in unconditional love for every human being that has and ever will live, by shedding his blood on a Roman cross. In doing this, we can receive forgiveness of sins. Our old life will then be buried with him, giving us new life with the hope of an eternal future of true peace, love and joy, with freedom from pain and tears. Why ignore such a great gift of salvation? If you do, your fate will be sealed for eternity in hell, which is a real place without God, and thus without love, to face only eternal consequences of punishment. We condemn ourselves to such a fate. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! Jesus loves you and asks that you repent and believe in him. It would be the best and safest decision of your life! If you commit your life to him, he will give you a new heart, you will be a new person inside. You will also gain a new desire for all that is right and true. And his Holy Spirit will give you an ability to discern the lies of the age we are living in. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only son, that whosoever believes in him, will not perish, but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) FINALLY, A RECOMMENDATION  All that is described in this leaflet has been open, in the light for millennia. On the other hand, the theory of extra-terrestrial life has been hidden in darkness, awaiting ‘Disclosure Day’. Which would you prefer to believe, the Word of God, or the word of Stephen Spielberg? I made my choice years ago, and have never regretted it! If this message has spoken to you, just call upon Jesus in a short prayer. Confess to him that you are a sinner in need of salvation. Ask him in sincerity to forgive you and to fill you with his Holy Spirit. You will then become what the Bible describes as being ‘born again’. (John 3 v 7) Then you need to seek a Bible believing church where you can be baptised and become part of a group of believers who can help you get to know Jesus more and more fully. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8 v 32)
By David Passmore June 20, 2026
Prayer request for Teerth Sond Petitioned Prayer-Supplication/Personal Prayer/ Collective Prayer/Thanks Giving Prayer Our Dear brethren in Yeshua, my family & myself Teerth request your prayers in The Spirit that the latest drugs Ramicirumab & Pacilitaxel will destroy the cancer cell in the Authority Of The Lord Yeshua in The Power of The Holy Spirit. Targeted Petition: Please stand with us in prayer & fasting; The Lord will target the 2cm legion & that it will be cast out of my Liver in the love (agape), compassion, kindness, grace, mercy of God. I do not deserve it because of me- but By His Stripes we are healed for His Glory. This will allow the main operation to go ahead (which should have been done 18 months ago). Step by Step in the leading of The Holy Spirit and the in the Lord Step by Step, as our beautiful sister Beryl said, has worked on my Spiritual man- thank you Lord for waking me up. Lord raise me up for your glory forever because of your love to me, the family & fellowship- an unworthy sinner saved by your grace & love. Email sent to my Oncologist & my Local MP: Greetings Natasha & Dr Mano Joseph Hope All Is Well Thank you for our meeting today. At our meeting we discussed my MRI & CT scans which were done in May 2026. We discussed the operation on my oesophagus which I believe is the best option. (This should have been done 18 months ago). My Kidney operation will be done- non evasive- Lord willing within the next month. Will you be talking to Mr Chacravaty about this? The liver must be targeted first- this is wisdom and the latest radiotherapy treatments available- proton therapy-radiotherapy atezolizumab and bevacizumab sorafenib lenvatinib regorafenib cabozantinib durvalumab and tremelimumab At the meeting we discussed the next CT & MRI scans to be held end off July. Wouldn't it be to better to have them in August so by then I've had 4 full treatments on the latest medication. Also we have Zolbetuximab on compassionate usage- all glory to The Lord. After all the past wrongs I have no doubt now Dr Joseph you will pursue the best for me and family. Dear brethren- King Manasseh, David, Hannah, The Church For Peter, James, The Lord Jesus Christ for example made petitions onto the Lord. We pray as one body to cast off the illness in the Power of The Holy & The Authority Of Yeshua. The Great Physician who came for the ill. To lay out raised hands 🙌🏽 upon the head of our Lord. ABBA/Daddy/Lord in your mercy have mercy on us. Love you all in Yeshua our Lord & God. Teerth, Family & Fellowship
By David Passmore June 19, 2026
The End of an Extended Honeymoon – Are Trump and Netanyahu Parting Ways? Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM  The Israeli public had high hopes for Trump. Unlike his predecessors, he consistently endorsed Israeli measures of self-defence in the different theatres of conflict in which it had to contend. Further to these ends Trump shared in Netanyahu’s determined agenda of preventing the Iranians from pursuing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. During Trump's first term he tore up Obama's negotiated settlement with the Iranians concerning enriched Uranium, echoing Netanyahu’s position that it didn't go far enough. Now in his second term Trump partnered with Israel in a war with Iran that turned out to lack clearly defined goals. The campaign required resolve on the part of America that it wasn't willing to commit. After an initial lightning blitzkrieg that decapitated the Iranian leadership, the Persians dug in and the conflict became a protracted war of attrition hinging on Iran's stranglehold on the straits of Hormuz that could only be realistically lifted by placing boots on the ground or an intensified air war directed against Iranian coastal positions and the destruction of Kharg island, or at least the viable threat to obliterate Kharg island if Iran did not acquiesce. It transpired that Trump and Netanyahu underestimated the resilience of the Iranian regime, thinking that it had already received a near mortal blow during the prior popular demonstrations. So now we are left with a situation where Trump is exasperated with this protracted endeavour and appears to be aiming his frustration towards Netenyahu. A sticking point is Israel's continued occupation of Southern Lebanon. Iran is insistent that Israel withdraw its forces from there as a precursor to fully committing itself to a final status agreement with the U.S. to put an end to its nuclear aspirations. With the midterm elections looming Trump seems to be desperate for an exit strategy from this war. From Israel's perspective the fight against Hizbollah is an inextricable part of the Iranian equation. The IDF has invested massive resources and personnel in the hopes of quashing the Iranian proxy once and for all. Netanyahu is determined to build on the momentum achieved after the spectacular pager attack in 2024. After the catastrophic Hamas massacres of October 7th, the majority of the Israeli public is unwilling to tolerate a capable hostile force on its borders. Trump's proposed solution to this dilemma unrealistically suggests that Syria should take on the role of disarming and removing Hizbollah from Lebanon. In the ultimate reckoning of international relations, America doesn't have iron clad allies, but rather interests like any other nation. If, (as appears to be occurring now) U.S. and Israeli interests fail to align the two countries will cease to act in unison and there may be a rupture in relations on the not-too-distant horizon. Trump has indicated that Israel owes him big time. He has asserted that were it not for his decisive actions they would have been obliterated by Iran's missiles. This is nothing to say of the robust diplomatic support Trump has lent Israel in such forums as the United Nations Security Council and sanctioning officials of the International Criminal Court. Netanyahu is acutely aware of what may be next after Trump. The way public opinion is turning against Israel it is unlikely that the next administration is going to be any way near as friendly as Trump has been thus far to Israel. Trump too of course is mindful of this turning tide opposing Israel. The Iran war has been unpopular to his domestic audience, and the President has been caricatured as Netanyahu’s stooge doing Israel's bidding. Another major consideration for Trump is the colossal impact that the war has had on his other major regional allies: the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia. They have received the brunt of the Iranian backlash that has effectively targeted their energy infrastructure and trading routes. They, along with the Europeans have been exerting pressure on Trump to end the conflict and reopen the Straits of Hormuz regardless of whether the most favourable terms of Iranian capitulation are achieved. Israel, however important a strategic asset and technological powerhouse will not override these broader concerns that are endangering global energy markets. An unspoken factor is Trump's propensity for a belligerent severing of his relationship with allies in the political sphere. His public displays of hostility with former political allies such Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Ron Santos and Elon Musk demonstrate a temperament that the same kind of falling out could invoke with strategic allies as well as those political. Both Trump and Netanyahu are approaching the sunset of their political careers and are naturally inclined to deeply consider the legacies they will leave behind. In the international sphere Trump projected himself as a peacemaker from a position of strength. But as many commentators have pointed out, the war with Iran demonstrated the limits of U.S. power. Trump appraised Iran as low hanging fruit that could be swiftly toppled like Venezuela. However, when push came to shove and the only prospect of landing a decisive blow demanded a massive ground offensive on the scale of the Iraq war, he bottled out and sued for a premature peace that will leave Netanyahu in the cold. Netanyahu is anxious to rehabilitate the injury inflicted on his reputation of the greatest disaster to have occurred in Israel's history having happened on his watch. Eliminating Iran as the great regional adversary pulling the strings of its proxies would have done much in this regard. Neither leader is able to craft their legacies as they would have wanted. Trump is choosing the perceived option of mitigating the damage done to his legacy in foreign affairs. He is trying hard to sell his Iran deal as being more than what Obama bargained in terms of guaranteeing a nuclear free Iran. But as further details of his proposal are leaked this is becoming a tall order. Netanyahu is faced with October elections and he may decide to stay the course in Lebanon as otherwise he will seem weak to most voters. Should this happen, we will be in uncharted waters as it will thwart Trump's designs for an immediate end to this affair.
By David Passmore June 17, 2026
The Battlefield for Israel's Reputation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Israel has enjoyed strong U.S. support since its founding. Within eleven minutes of Israel's Declaration of Independence Truman recognized the Jewish State. Under the Kennedy administration the Pentagon sold advanced missile systems to Israel. However, it was the 1970 attempted PLO takeover of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan that demonstrated to the U.S. Israel's regional prowess and indispensability for implementing Washington's agenda. During Arafat's attempted Coup Syria mobilized its forces on the Jordanian border in support of the PLO's bid to dislodge the ruling Hashemite dynasty. Upon Washington's direction the IDF also mobilized its army upon its border with Jordan, thereby deterring the Syrians from taking further action. From then, the Pentagon and U.S. military planners invested heavily in promoting Israel's defence. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War disaster Nixon's massive air lift came to Israel's aid. For decades U.S. diplomatic and military support for Israel was a non-partisan issue. Both Democrat and Republican members of Congress voted nearly unanimously in support of measures concerning Israel. However, in the mid 2010's this began to change. To the extent that now 80% of Democrats hold views in opposition to Israel and this is reflected in how their representatives are acting. It is difficult to praise an exact moment when this turning point occurred. For years Democrat grassroots activist groups across the nation were lobbying their local representatives about their attitudes to Palestine and the mass student protest movements following the Gaza war built upon this momentum. The dual standards by the academic establishment were riddled with hypocrisy as if by the same criteria Israel is condemned for its responsive self-defence counter attacks in Lebanon and Gaza, Britain and America would be similarly indicted for what they did to Dresden, Hamburg and Berlin in response to Hitler. This is facilitated by the funding of Western Universities by Qatar and other Islamic interests associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. There is alienation between Israelis and the traditional left-centre Jewish Diaspora in the U.S. with a third of New York Jews voting for Mandani a vehement anti-Zionist in the New York Mayoral election. This is counterbalanced by a growing Jewish Right in America led by Ben Shapiro, David Ruben, Dennis Prager, Mark Levin and Trump advisor Steven Miller who are in political harmony with the Evangelical Right. The Republicans are also approaching a crossroads. Just as the Democrats have been hijacked by the Woke Left there has emerged a virulently anti-Zionist Woke Right led by Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and Candace Owen who are also attempting to hijack the Republicans. What is alarming here, is the fact that the majority of young Republicans under forty now hold an unfavourable view of Israel. So, it is very much a matter of fighting for the future of the Republican Party. The growing populist movements in Britain and Europe may counter the anti-Zionist and anti- Semitic political activities of the Muslim vote and their left-wing allies. In any eventuality, even if the least favourable trajectory of U.S. public opinion were to further materialize it is unlikely to dismantle the massive military and intelligence sharing cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. The Pentagon views Israel as far too big of a strategic asset in a volatile region to cut ties with. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).
By David Passmore June 10, 2026
MAJOR PRAYER REQUEST - STEVE MITCHELL MORIEL ORPHANAGE (Andar Pradesh, INDIA) Please read the enclosed missions report from Moriel Missions Branch India: Our children need us and we put a lot of money into buying and then expanding the Moriel orphanage to take in more children. These precious orphan children are coming to Christ and the devil is angry. Until now we had opposition from radical Sheikhs at the Moriel Horeb church we built in Punjab, but the Hindu Authorities in Andar Pradesh have largely until now left us alone. The BJP government is however as wicked as Hamas or Hezbollah - only Hindu (I was in India when radical Hindus burned the Australian missionary family alive in their car; these are the ones who wanted to murder Steve Mitchell when Moriel helped to quickly get him out of the country some years ago). Some pastors have been murdered again in West Bengal. (Samuel, who oversees the Moriel orphanage went to Bible College with one of them). Because our orphan children are Dalet (treated as subhuman 'out casts' by the Hindu caste system), or from Muslim backgrounds, we have largely been been left alone and some of the local officials liked us. This is obviously not a good situation. Prayer is urgently requested. Please pray for Mark Masih particularly that they will not cancel his visa. They are now forbidding us from bringing any more bibles into the country. What would happen if Britain, Australia, or America outlawed Hindus from bringing the Bhagavad Gita into England, Oz, or the USA? MARANATHA Come Quickly Lord Jesus  "You Will Be Hated By Men For My Name's Sake" Matthew 10:22
By David Passmore May 30, 2026
Staying The Course Amidst Isolation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Living in Israel one gets the feeling that the metaphorical walls are closing in. Israel's reputation is being tarnished all over social media and the mainstream media, and this is reflected in massive public disdain towards this country. We are constantly told that there is near consensus amongst academics and commentators that a genocide was committed in Gaza. The very legitimacy of the state is brought into question. The majority of Americans are now hostile towards Israel. There is real fear that the next U.S. administration will turn against Israel. Even if this were to happen passively, by the U.S. refraining from exercising its veto power towards Security Council Resolutions condemning Israeli actions this could be catastrophic. Internally it is a fractured society leaning increasingly right wing which further alienates Israel from world opinion. An example in point is how Ben Gvir mocked the most recent participants of a global aid flotilla to Gaza. Such conduct further agitates outrage at Israel. The left-wing media presents the ruins of Gaza as a mortal wound in Israel's side. When the world observes this level of carnage no degree of public relations can ameliorate the sense of indignation towards Israel. We can liken the situation of Israel to that of a depressed person. All he sees is hopelessness and gloom. But this isn't the first time that the Jewish nation has been faced with such darkness. Things change and we don't know how the geo-political map will reconfigure in the future. We need to ride out this storm and keep going. On a historical note, the situation is reminiscent of what our ancestors faced when we returned from the Babylonian exile to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was faced with constant lies and conspiracies designed to entrap him by hostile actors: Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab. They employed deception, slander and ridicule in order to maintain their political eminence. There was also a certain sense of abandonment amongst the Jews in Israel then as in our own day. We read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah about the anguish of the leadership in Israel concerning the lack of assistance from the Babylonian diaspora towards the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple. Only 20% of the exiles returned to the land. It was largely the poor who returned. Most of the affluent, established Jews remained in Exile. This is a continuing theme in Jewish history. It is also important to observe that from its very beginnings there were bible believing Christians who spearheaded the return of the Jews to their land. The idea of organizing a return of the Jews to Israel began as a Protestant Restorationist objective that can be traced to 17th century Puritan England. The protagonists of the Cromwellian Republic viewed themselves as the new Israel fighting the Papist forces of Satan. Alongside this, interest grew in the notion that biblical prophecies pertaining to the return of the Jews to Israel were a necessary precursor for the return of Christ. The growth of the British Empire in the 19th century lent political clout to Christian Restorationism with specific missions to the Jews established. Although there had been a longing to return to Israel as written in the thrice daily Amidah prayer, Jewish Zionism arose in the midst of mid nineteenth century nationalism and was further fermented by European antisemitism. It was an altogether secular enterprise. Although Israel's situation appears rather stark, we can draw strength from the Providence afforded to our ancestors in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah when they too were faced with defamation. This is also an opportunity to grow closer to our natural allies in the evangelical world who from the beginning of Zionism were steadfast supporters of the project to establish a Jewish homeland in Israel.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).