Mezuzot Part 1 - Japanese
April 3, 2025
メズザー（門柱）１
士師記 14 章を読みましょう。
『サムソンはティムナに下って行ったとき、ペリシテ人の娘でティムナにいるひとりの女を見た。彼は帰ったとき、父と母に告げて言った。「私はティムナで、ある女を見ました。ペリシテ人の娘です。今、あの女をめとって、私の妻にしてください。」すると、父と母は彼に言った。「あなたの身内の娘たちのうちに、または、私の民全体のうちに、女がひとりもいないというのか。割礼を受けていないペリシテ人のうちから、妻を迎えるとは。」サムソンは父に言った。「あの女を私にもらってください。あの女が私の気に入ったのですから。」』（1 節－3 節）
罪はとても簡単にまつわり付くものです。サムソンは不信者の女に弱かったのです。ここでの問題はその女の人種ではありません。中央アフリカのイスラム系民族を除いて女性が割礼を受けることはないのですが、問題なのは彼女の信仰だったのです。その当時、ユダヤ人が非ユダヤ人と結婚するということは、今日、信者が不信者と結婚することと等しいものでした。ですから、言い換えると、大切なのはその女の信仰だったのです。
サムソンは不信仰の女に魅かれる傾向を持っていました。15 章においては、その傾向のために大きなトラブルに陥ります。神は摂理と言われるような目的にしたがって、彼との関係の中で働かれていたのですが、サムソンはトラブルに巻き込まれていました。15 章 18節では、
『そのとき、彼はひどく渇きを覚え、主に呼び求めて言った。「あなたは、しもべの手で、この大きな救いを与えられました。しかし、今、私はのどが渇いて死にそうで、無割礼の者どもの手に落ちようとしています。』
とあり、サムソンのこの女との関係は次第に彼を苦境に陥らせ、最初は彼女の父親と、次にはペリシテ人と争いを引き起こしました。これが彼の記録されている、不信仰の女との最初の闘いでした。
私たちはサムソンに関して他の『ナザレ人の誓い』という説教を提供していて、そこでは髪の毛に関しての象徴も含み、ミドラッシュを扱っています。また、箴言 5 章に出てくる邪悪な女のことも扱っており、それは遊女に自分の力を明け渡すことについて語っていま
す。これは「ペシェル（pesher）＝深い霊的な意味」です。さて、それでは今から士師記
16 章の「ペシェット（peshet）＝本文の直接的、明らかな意味」を見てみましょう。
『サムソンは、ガザへ行ったとき、そこでひとりの遊女を見つけ、彼女のところに入った。』（1 節）
彼はもう一度行いました。彼はまた不信仰の女を見つけたのです。罪はとても簡単に付きまとうものです『…彼女のところに入った』これはヘブライ語では“ボー・ラー（bow l'ah）”といいます。他の説教から知っているかもしれませんが、ひとりの人が他の人に入ると、三人目の人が創造されます。私たちは神のかたちに造られ、「セオポモーフィック
（theopomorphic）」的な男性、また女性です。私たちの中の神のかたちがあるというこの特徴のために、姦淫と不品行は神の目からとても深刻なものなのです。これらの性的な罪は、私たちの中の神のかたちを、汚し、歪めるものなのです。イギリスにある私の家の門柱には「メズザー（mezuzah）」と呼ばれて、ヘブライ語の“シェム（shem）”という文字が書かれてある小さな箱があります。シェムはヘブライ人の信仰告白の最初の文字でもあります。福音書の中で、人々がイエスに最も大切な戒めは何かと聞いたとき、イエスは、
「シェマ イスラエルアドナイ エロヘヌ
アドナイ エハッド、バルク ハ・シェム
(Shema Israel Adonai Elohenu Adonai ekhad baruch Ha Shem
＝イスラエルよ。聞け。われらの神である主は、唯一の主である。)」
また
『心を尽くし、思いを尽くし、知性を尽くし、力を尽くして、あなたの神である主を愛せよ。』（マルコ 12 章 29 節－30 節）
と言いました。“エハッド（ekhad）”という言葉は複合体のひとつという意味です。ひとりの神という言葉は、アダムとエバが一体（エハッド）になると言われたときに使われたのと同じ言葉です。神のかたちとその似姿は再び創造されるのです。
私の門柱にある小さな箱はメズザーといいます。しかし、メズザーは実際には古代ヘブライ人の文化での門柱それ自体であり、そこに付ける小さな箱は門柱にちなんで名付けられました。出エジプト記において、人々はヒソプを過越しの子羊の血に浸し、それをメズザーである門柱の上に、十字の形に血を塗りました。この話にまた戻ってきたいと思いま
す。
夫は妻と結ばれて、ふたりはエハッドになる。“結ばれて”と訳されたヘブライ語は「ダバック（daveq）」というものです。ユダヤ教で神と結ばれるということは「ダバクート
（devequt）」と呼ばれます。「パヨート（payoot）＝巻き上げたもみあげの毛」をした正統派ユダヤ人を見るなら、彼らがある身振りをしているのを見るでしょう。それは彼らにとって神と結びつくことを示しているのです。彼らは“ズンズミム（zumzumim）”と呼ばれる「聖なるひらめき」というものを受取ろうとしています。現代ヘブライ語では、「ダバック」という言葉はのりに対して使われ、ヘブライ語でセロテープとは「ナー・ダバック（nyr daveq）」文字通り「貼り付くひも」という意味です。しかしながら、聖書の中でその言葉によって伝えられている概念は、のりというよりかはむしろ、強力な瞬間接着剤のようなものです。のりと瞬間接着剤の違いとは何でしょうか？のりは貼り付きますが、接着剤は固着します。接着剤は高分子化合物を形成します。高分子化とは、ただその時貼り付いているだけではなく、分子レベルで固く付着しているということです。そこには高分子化によって、同じ原子価になっているのです。これと同じように、サムソンはこの不信仰の女と結びついたのです。
続きを読んでみましょう
『このとき、「サムソンがここにやって来た」と、ガザの人々に告げる者があったので、彼らはサムソンを取り囲み、町の門で一晩中、彼を待ち伏せた。そして、
「明け方まで待ち、彼を殺そう」と言いながら、一晩中、鳴りをひそめていた。しかしサムソンは真夜中まで寝て、真夜中に起き上がり、町の門のとびらと、二本の門柱（メズゾート）をつかんで、かんぬきごと引き抜き、それを肩にかついで、ヘブロンに面する山の頂へ運んで行った。』
ここでの柱は鉄（ヘブライ語では「バルゼル＝（barzel）」）で作られていました。サムソンが十字架のように負っていた重荷は、木と鉄で作られていました。
彼の弱さがきっかけとなって、このような困難に陥ったのは最初ではありません。パウロはこれを「まつわりつく罪」と呼びました。広告業界のおかげで、人間の性は春のファッションから歯磨き粉まで、あらゆる物を売るための手段となっています。そして私は 87 歳から下の年齢で性的な誘惑に苦しんでいない人を知りません。この世とサタンは一緒になって、広告業界を使い、MTV から雑誌の広告まですべての物によって人間の性を動物的なレベルまで堕落させているのです。
サムソンの状況を考えると、私たちは彼の弱さが何であったかが分かります。あなたや私
にとって、それは性的なものでないかもしれませんが、すべての人が何らかの弱点を持っています。また、ただあなたと私がそれを持っていることだけでなく、敵もそれらについて熟知しているのです。大学生のとき、私の生活の中心はコカインやセックス、マリファナ、ロックンロール、クラシック音楽などでした。また、マルクス主義者であると公言しながら、コカインはお金がかかるのに気付き、その堕落した状態を維持するために高度な教育を受け、良い仕事に就くことが自分には必要だと思っていました。何てひどい偽善者だったのでしょうか！まだ信仰が未熟なときに、自分の弱さが何であって自分に対しての敵の最大の武器は何であるかを聞かれていたなら、私はコカインや大麻だと答えたことでしょう。しかし、後になってから考えると、薬物乱用ほど神が私に完全な救いを与えてくださったことを知りません。マリファナは言うまでもなく、私はタバコを吸っている人がいる同じ部屋にさえいることが出来なくなりました。また、このような物やマリファナを吸っている人たちがいるパーティーに行き、そこで誘惑を受けなかっただけではなく、その人たちに、私を中毒から救ってくださった神の力、また神がより優れたものをくださったことを証しすることが出来ました。薬物の乱用に関して、私はそれが堕落に引き込むものだと思っていたのですが、神は私に完全な勝利を与えてくれたのです。他の人はそれに苦しんでいるかもしれませんが、私は今何の問題も抱えていません。それは私の弱さではありません。私の弱さとは次のようなものです。
イングランドでは車がとても多いものです。ある日、私は自宅から百人ほどの教会に講演 をしに向かっている途中だったのですが、前方にヨーロッパのナンバープレートの、18 か ら 22 くらいの車輪が付いたトラックが、何マイルにもわたって交通を麻痺させていました。
そのトラックを何とか追い越したとき（そのとき 40 分も遅刻していたのですが）、その運転手は片手に携帯電話を持ち、もう一方の手にタバコを持っていました。それを見ると私は彼を銃で撃ちたくなりました。私の憤りはそれ自体正しいものであったかもしれませんが、その人を葬り去りたいというのはまた違ったことなのです。
私の弱さとは強烈な怒りです。聖なる怒りと怒り心頭になることは大きく違います。イス ラエルが金の子牛を造りそれを拝んでいたとき、モーセが十戒の書かれた石の板を取って、山からそれを投げ捨てたのは聖なる怒りです。イスラエルが律法を破ったことを悟らせた のです。私がそのトラックの運転手を銃で撃ってしまいたいと思ったのは、聖なる怒りで はありません。また、発する言葉が正しくても、それは自動的に正しい怒り、聖なる怒り であるということはありません。私はこのことを『ツァドクの息子たち』というテープで 語っています。これが私の個人的な弱さなのです。
またもうひとつ他の弱さの例を挙げましょう。救われた信者であっても、その人にとって
アルコールがただの飲料ではなく、薬物になっている人を知っています。夕食と共にワイ
ンをたしなむことや、ランチとビールを一緒にすることは彼らにとって不可能なのです。このような信者はいかなる種類のアルコール飲料であれ、個人的な弱さのために、少しも近寄ってはならないのです。
保険会社は医学について何も知らないかもしれませんが、確実にお金のことについては熟知しています。それゆえ、彼らは統計について精通しているのです。あなたが保険契約の用紙に記入するとき、最初に見る質問は、あなたがタバコを吸うかどうかというものでしょう。タバコを禁煙すると、自動的にリスクの低いカテゴリーに入れられます。反対に、タバコを吸い始めるやいなや、統計的にリスクの高いカテゴリーに入れられるのです。また、一分間タバコを吸うと、その人の寿命から一分差し引かれると言われています。言い換えると、タバコ一本であってもあなたの寿命を縮めているのです。ですが、救われた信者であってもタバコがその弱さとなっている人たちを知っています。彼らは一日、二日はタバコ無しに過ごすかもしれませんが、相変わらずその習慣に戻ってきてしまうのです。クリスチャンの中には、このことを問題にするのをあざける人もいますが、教会の外を歩いているときに、たまたまタバコに火を灯しているのを見かけられると、その人の証は無くなってしまうのです。「そうなんだ、イエスさまが私の人生を変えてくれたんだよ。ところで、ライター持ってる？」
「あなたの隣人のものをほしがってはならない」（出エジプト 20 章 17 節）――それなら、クリスチャンはなぜギャンブルが出来るのでしょうか？私は正直言って分かりません。それらのものは現代の技術によって促進されています。代用物による罪、かつてもそうだっ たのですが、それが罪深さを軽減するように考えられています。例えば、外出して浮気を し、配偶者を裏切ることがなくても、今夜何千人もの新生したクリスチャンがチャットル ームで、ネットによる代用物で浮気をしていることは明らかです。インターネットでそれ をし、実際に外出して行うことはないのですが、どういうわけか、それはまだマシである と考えているのです。しかし、神は自分の妻や夫以外に少しでも情欲を抱くなら、あなた は姦淫したと言われます。このような罪深いチャットを行っている者が何千といるのです。私はこのようなことをしたために、深刻な苦しみに陥ったクリスチャンの女性を具体的に 知っています。
「まつわりつく罪」それはあなたにとって性的なことであるかもしれないし、そうでないかもしれません。また、薬物の乱用かもしれませんし、そうでないかもしれません。暴力や激しい気性かもしれません。それが何であっても、すべてのクリスチャンは、継続的に陥る何かしらのことを抱えています。私が会った最も敬虔な人々でさえ、明らかな弱さを抱えていました。聖書を見ると、ノアやアブラハムなどの族長たちも、老齢になってもそ
の人格には欠点があったことが分かります。パウロが「まつわりつく罪」と呼んだような
罪は、彼らのいのちが尽きて死に至るまで神が取り除こうとされていることが分かります。パウロがまつわりつく罪とギリシア語で書いたとき、彼は過去形を使わず、『私はその罪 人のかしらです。』（１テモテ 1 章 15 節）――と書き、彼自身信者であっても現在形を使 いました。
サムソンのまつわりつく罪は不信仰の女に対する情欲でした。さきに士師記 15 章では、そ
の罪が彼を困難に陥らせましたが、神はそこから救われたことを見ました。しかし 16 章において、彼は再び行いました。罪に屈すれば屈するほど、ますます深みにはまり、状況はさらに危険なものとなります。今回彼は目のあたりまで、泥沼にはまってしまったようです。彼を陥れようとする者たちによって囲まれていました。
悪魔は官能的な快楽に興味はありません。また、罪とつかの間のかかわりを持つ快楽にも 興味はありません。『悪魔の手紙』を読んだことがあるなら、その点においてC・S・ルイ スは大いに的を得ています。その本では年上の悪魔が若い悪魔に対して、クリスチャンに どうやって罪を犯させるかをアドバイスをしていて、快楽について慎重であるようにと警 告を与えています。なぜなら、それは彼らの敵である神によって造られたものだからです。そして、年上の悪魔は獲物を誘惑するために、快楽を堕落させるなら慎重にしなければな らないと指摘します。そうです、悪魔にとってつかの間の快楽という罪はエサにしかすぎ ないのです。サタンはどのようなものであれ、誰かが快楽を楽しむことを望んでいません。彼の望みはただ人々が地獄に行くことです。永遠のこちら側、また人の頭では神の愛を完 全に理解することはできず、また、サタンの邪悪さを完全に理解する事はできないので す。
もう一度、士師記 16 章のサムソンが窮地に陥った箇所に戻りましょう。そこで彼は包囲されていたことに気付きます。彼は何をすべきなのでしょうか？言い換えると、あなたや私が、自分が行った同じ愚かなことのゆえに、窮地に陥った場合何をすべきなのでしょうか？サムソンの敵はいつ彼を奇襲しようとしていたでしょうか？真夜中ではなく、夜明けでした。サムソンは安らかに寝ていましたが、真夜中にとび起きました。もし、彼が夜明けまで待っていたなら、敵は襲いかかっていたことでしょう。
これを私たち自身の生活に適用するなら、あなたが再び窮地に陥り、困難の中にいると気付いたなら、その時は以前よりも状況が悪いのですから、すぐさま正常な状態に戻すのを遅らせてはいけません。ただちにそうするのです！ちゅうちょすることは自分自身を標的にすることです。敵はあなたを、そして私を食い尽くそうと待ち受けています――悪霊は実在するのです。サムソンは床からとび起きなければならないにも関わらず、すぐさまそ
の状況を修正しました。あなたが自分自身を、罪の中で快適にしてしまうその瞬間、その
身を危険な立場に置いていることになるのです。
このようにサムソンはとび上がりました。しかしながら、彼は囲まれたままでした。彼は このわなからどうやって逃れたのでしょうか？また、私たちが手をつけてしまったものか ら、逃れるためにどのようにしたら良いのでしょうか？サムソンはイエス・キリストの十 字架、木と鉄でできたメズザーをつかみました。困難に陥るには何万もの道がありますが、そこから抜け出すにはひとつの道しかありません。サムソンは十字架を取り、肩にかけ、 それを持って出て行きました。ただちに正常に戻すこと―すぐに十字架を取るのです。
ここに熱烈な説教者がいます。しかし、この熱烈な説教者について一言語らせてください。かつて私が結婚する以前、まだ奉仕や神学校に入ってない頃、まだイスラエルにも行って いないとき（私はニューヨークにいました）、私はまだ幼い信者であったのですが、マン ハッタンの東側に住んでいて、少し年上の魅力的な女性に出会いました。私はその人の誘 いに間違った仕方で乗ってしまったのです。彼女に証をする代わりに、彼女の気のある素 振りに反応してしまいました。いつの間にか、私は彼女とタクシーの中にいました。その 後間もなく、気が付くと彼女とバスタブの中にいました。そしてついに、私は彼女とベッ ドの中にいたのです。私はイエスを知る以前に行っていたような道を歩み、当然のなりゆ きに身を任せる寸前にまでなっていたのです。直前になって、自分は一体何ていうことを しているんだと自問し、どうやってこの状況から逃れるかを考えるようになりました。私 の肉はそのままを望んでいました。しかし、私は「主なるイエスよ、私のしたことを見て ください！私は愚か者ですが、主よ、この状態からどうにか抜け出させてください」と言 い、祈りました。私がそのとき何を彼女に言ったか覚えていませんが、彼女をひどくいら だたせたことでしょう。私が何を言ったかを具体的には思い出せませんが、彼女が言った 言葉は忘れることができません。彼女は部屋中を走り回って、私に向かって叫び「出て行 け、出て行け！」と言いました。私の古い性質は罪を欲していましたが、新しい性質はた だそこから逃れたかったのです。少しでも遅らせることは命とりになります。脱出するに はただひとつの道しかありません。肉を十字架につけるのです。
神はサムソンに対してと同じように私にも恵み深い方でした。サムソンはメズザーを―鉄と木でできた物――持ち上げ、山に上りました。その後何が起こったのでしょうか？読みすすめてみましょう。
『その後、サムソンはソレクの谷にいるひとりの女を愛した。彼女の名はデリラといった。』（16 章 4 節）
案の定、サムソンは同じことをくり返したのです！彼は出て行って、違う女を見つけたの
です！サムソンがこのようなことを実際何度したかは分かりません。しかし、少なくとも聖書に記されている回数、彼はそうしたことでしょう。最初のときは、困難に陥った様子を見ました。二度目は、窮地に陥りました。今回彼はどうなるのでしょうか？
あなたにとってのまつわりつく罪は、性的なものではないかもしれませんが、サムソンにとってまさにそれが弱さでした。しかし疑う余地の無いことは、あなたもそれをひとつは持っており、私もそうであるということです。あなたはそれが何かを知っており、神はご存知であり、言うまでもなく敵もそれを知っています。あなたが相変わらず陥り続ける、愚かで、ばかで、頭足らずのことがあるはずです。ではサムソンはどうしたのでしょうか？
『すると、ペリシテ人の領主たちが彼女のところに来て、彼女に言った。「サムソンをくどいて、彼の強い力がどこにあるのか、またどうしたら私たちが彼に勝ち、彼を縛り上げて苦しめることができるかを見つけなさい。私たちはひとりひとり、あなたに銀千百枚をあげよう。」』（16 章 5 節）
救われていない人はただひとつのことを気にします。それはお金です。その値段が良ければ未信者はどんなことでもたいがい行います。今、デリラはサムソンをくどくために、お金を約束されました。事態は変化していました。敵はその戦略を変えてきたのです。今までは、サムソンに対しての彼らの試みは、機会を狙っているだけでした。しかし今、彼らは手はずを整え、わなにかけようとしているのです。伝道者の書で言われているように、不義の結果はすぐには現れないので、人々はそれから逃れることができると誤って考えているのです。聖書は罪について注目すべきことを述べています。というのは、聖書は罪を擬人化しており、それが私たちを欺くことができると言うのです。欺くことができるのはサタンだけではなく、見分けることに失敗すると他の人が私たちを欺くだけではなく、私たちが自分自身を欺くだけでなく、罪そのものも私たちを欺くのです。そのまつわりつく罪は、あなたがそれを持ちながら、うまくやっていけると思わせるのです。
サムソンの敵の戦略は今はもう変わりました。なぜなら、彼らは偶然の出来事を通して彼を陥れることはできないと気付いたからです。相対的に言って、あなたが何か悪いことを行って、自分自身に困難を招くことは良いことです。一旦、自分がうまくやってのけて罪の結果を刈り取ることが無ければ、そのときあなたは――ただそのことを知らないだけで
――本当の困難に陥っているのです。
これは人が初めてタバコを買い、吸ってみようとするときに非常によく似ています。体は
ニコチンとタールを吸ったことの反応で、あることを訴えかけようと激しくせきをするの
ですが、代謝的に慣れてしまうとせきが止まり、真実と全く正反対にも、そのことが大丈 夫であるかのように思ってしまうのです。実際にはその人は統計的に、呼吸器疾患、循環 器疾患、またあらゆる種類のガンの候補者となっています。タバコは発がん性物質を含ん でいるのですが、一旦せきがとまってしまうと、問題や危険が過ぎ去ってしまったかのよ うに簡単に考えてしまうのです。喫煙者はせきをしているほうが良いのです。少なくとも、タバコが良い物でないことが分かるのですから。
6 節から続けましょう
『そこで、デリラはサムソンに言った。「あなたの強い力はどこにあるのですか。どうすればあなたを縛って苦しめることができるのでしょう。どうか私に教えてください。」サムソンは彼女に言った。「もし彼らが、まだ干されていない七本の新しい弓の弦で私を縛るなら、私は弱くなり、並みの人のようになろう。」そこで、ペリシテ人の領主たちは、干されていない七本の新しい弓の弦を彼女のところに持って来たので、彼女はそれでサムソンを縛り上げた。彼女は、奥の部屋に待ち伏せしている者をおいていた。そこで彼女は、「サムソン。ペリシテ人があなたを襲ってきます」と言った。しかし、サムソンはちょうど麻くずの糸が火に触れて切れるように、弓の弦を断ち切った。こうして、彼の力のもとは知られなかった。デリラはサムソンに言った。「まあ、あなたは私をだまして、うそをつきました。さあ、今度は、どうしたらあなたを縛れるか、教えてください。」』（16 章 6 節－10 節）
サムソンは火遊びをしていたのです。彼は一晩 10 万円で売春婦と床をともにし、隣の部屋では売春宿の主人が弾丸を込めた銃を持っていたような状況だったのです。そこで彼はゲームをしていました。同じように、罪に対して態度が軽薄であり、それをうまくやってのけると考えたのです。それはゲームのようなものになります。ロシアン・ルーレットも同じようなゲームです。銃弾を銃身に入れ、それを回転させます。共にそれを遊んでいる人だけがどのシリンダーに銃弾があるかを知っています。カチ…カチ…カチ…と音がし、遅かれ早かれ、おそらく意外にも早く“バン”という音と共に終わりが来るのです。
11 節『すると、サムソンは彼女に言った。「もし、彼らが仕事に使ったことのない新しい綱で、私をしっかり縛るなら、私は弱くなり、並みの人のようになろう。」そこで、デリラは新しい綱を取って、それで彼を縛り、「サムソン。ペリシテ人があなたを襲ってきます」と言った。奥の部屋には待ち伏せしている者がいた。しかし、サムソンはその綱を糸のように腕から切り落とした。』
戦略は二度目にほんの少し変化しただけだということに注目してください。
『デリラはまた、サムソンに言った。「今まで、あなたは私をだまして、うそをつきました。どうしたらあなたを縛れるか、私に教えてください。」』
ここでデリラはサムソンを殺そうとしていたのですが、彼を不品行のために責めていました。これは法王が小児愛者の宗教の指導者でありがら、子どもたちの人生を破壊している性的に異常な聖職者を保護している一方で、イラクに爆弾を落とすのは道徳的ではないと言うようなものです。彼は自分の教会が堕落の汚水を垂れ流しているのに、他の人にどのようにして道徳的になるべきかを教えたがっているのです。
『…どうしたらあなたを縛れるか、私に教えてください。」サムソンは彼女に言った。「もしあなたが機の縦糸といっしょに私の髪の毛七ふさを織り込み、機のおさで突き刺しておけば、私は弱くなり、並みの人のようになろう。」』
ここで何が起こっているのでしょうか？少しずつサムソンはわなにかかってきているのです。今彼はデリラに彼の力の秘密がその髪と関係していると明かしました。危険が増してきたのです。私たちの人生で、罪を何度かうまくやってのけたとき、私たちは自信を持ち不注意になります。そして彼がしたように危険を引き寄せてしまうのです。それはカジノや競馬場に行くようなものです。勝算がどんなときでもあるのなら、彼らは何も仕事をしていないはずです。
ここで起こっていることを理解しましょう。彼はなぜ神との関係における自分の秘密を、 不信仰の女に明らかにし始めたのでしょうか？彼女は近所の女でもなく、魔性の女であり、おまけに“シクセー（shikseh）”（訳注…異邦人女性の軽蔑した言い方）でした。サムソン はイスラエルの中ですてきな女性を見つけることができなかったのでしょうか？彼は聖な る結婚関係以外で持ち出してはならない秘密を共有し始めました。なぜなのでしょうか？ それは結合したこと「ダバック」のゆえです。誰かと寝てしまうと、接着剤で覆われるこ とを避けることはできません。
私は幼い信者のころ、ニューヨークで国連の向かいに住んでいました。私はそこでひとりの魅力的なイタリア人女性と同棲していて、彼女は料理も他のこともうまくできる人でした。その関係はふたつのことによって支えられていました。ひとつはフェットゥチーネ・アルフレード（パスタ）であり、ふたつ目は皆さんの想像に任せます。イエスに従い始めたころ、当時ジューズ・フォー・ジーザス（Jews for Jesus）のリーダーが私に、結婚するか出て行いくかのどちらかにしなければならないと言いました。なので、私は彼女に出て
行くよう言いました。そして、残ってた薬物を取り、ご存知の通り、窓から投げ捨てまし
た。それは 20 階下の１番通りに落ちました。私がいつも指摘してきたように、そのときポーランドの大使が外交官としての特権を持っていたことは良かったことです。でなければ彼は留置所で愚痴をこぼすことになっていたでしょう。私はその女性を主に導きました。今私は世界中にあるどんな教会でも行くことができ、それらの教会にいる女性は信仰にあっての姉妹であり、それ以上でもそれ以下でもありません。しかし、そのイタリア人の女性に会うなら、私はそこにあってはならないものがあるような気にいつもなるのです。もしあなたが、離婚の苦しみに耐えた人と話すなら、彼らはそれが取り返しのつかない損害を与えたと語ってくれることでしょう。
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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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)
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
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.
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).
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
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).
Signs of the Times Tony Pearce Left, right or center – is our democracy in danger “Things fall apart, the center does not hold. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” W.B Yeats ‘The Second Coming. ’ Labour’s losses in the council elections and the battle for succession to their unpopular leader Kier Starmer have raised the possibility that we may soon have our seventh Prime Minister in ten years. Local elections saw Reform and the Greens make sweeping gains, leading Green Party leader, Zack Polanski to say that we are seeing ‘the end of the old two party system’. Maybe we are. In which case what comes next? Will we head to the far left, the far right or will the center hold on to power? Or will it end with ungovernable chaos as unqualified people take control of local and national government? Behind all this there are fundamental questions, ‘What is government for? Who does it represent and where is it going?’ According to the Bible (Romans 13) the purpose of government is to promote good and restrain evil. The government has the right to raise taxes for the common good of society and people should pay them. In 1 Timothy 2 Paul encourages us to pray for the government that ‘we may live a godly and peaceable life’. In other words, pray that the government will create an orderly and peaceful society and not interfere with our right to set up communities that teach and preach the Word of God. The situation becomes more difficult when we see government promoting things which are harmful and restraining things which are good and clamping down on freedom of speech with a threat to our ability to live a ‘godly and peaceable life’ Since becoming a Christian in my early twenties, I have wrestled with the question of how our faith applies to contemporary political issues. I started this quest on the left politically after leaving university and working as an English teacher with sympathies for Marxism. I then became a born again Christian in 1970, and joined my late wife Nikki in evangelizing the radical left, by handing out leaflets at their marches and demonstrations in London and attending their meetings to discuss matters of faith and politics with them. We had some good discussions with people and hope we made some consider the Christian alternative. However as we looked at Marxism from a Christian point of view and its practice in Communist countries, we understood that behind this ideology there is a strong anti-christian spirit. It denies the existence of God and promotes the idea of human perfectibility by our own effort. This is exemplified in the words of the Internationale, the socialist battle hymn, ‘No saviour from on high delivers, no faith have we in prince or peer, our own right hand the chains will shiver, chains of hatred, greed and fear.’ This Antichrist spirit led to the persecution of Christians in the Communist countries of eastern Europe, the Soviet Union and China. Far from creating the socialist paradise on earth that Lenin wrote about in ‘Socialism and Religion’, it created a society ruled by hatred, greed and fear, controlled by secret police, prison camps and responsible for the death of millions. In western society we have witnessed the growth of ‘cultural Marxism’ a movement aimed at infiltrating and changing society from within, rather than fomenting the workers’ revolution. Labour’s Fabian Society, with its (now discarded) logo of the wolf in sheep’s clothing, has been engaged in this process since the beginning of the 20th century. Social change really took off with the permissive society in the 1960s, which succeeded in changing traditional values, especially in the area of sex and the family. It replaced biblical values with a new ‘morality’ that is fundamentally anti Christian. These ideas have permeated large swathes of our society including the education system, the judiciary, the Civil Service, much of the media, mainstream political parties (including even the Conservative ‘wets’ and parts of the established church). Melanie Phillips describes the results of this in her book, ‘The Builder’s Stone.’ ‘Having decided that the West was rotten to the core, western elites set out to create a new culture that would usher in the brotherhood of man and eradicate hatred, prejudice, and war. Their Brave New World junked biblical religion with all its constraints on behaviour and revolved instead around self gratification. Everybody had the right to live as they wanted; nobody could say that their way of life was better or worse than anyone else’s; no one had the right to say that their culture was better than any other culture. That was ‘racism.’ At the heart of all this was the doctrine that there was no such thing as objective truth. Everything was relative; everything was a matter of opinion. Because there was no truth feelings became more important than facts. So the West abandoned the codes of morality, conscience, truth and lies, personal responsibility, and duty to others in favour of a culture of the self. In the process it junked its inherited traditions and biblical codes on which western culture was based.’ Britain changed from being a society that respected values based on the 10 Commandments and the teaching of Jesus Christ to one that discarded them for relative values. Ideas of ‘diversity, inclusion and equity’ became the norm, together with and a form of ‘tolerance’, that is really very intolerant if you oppose it. This ‘tolerance’ means accepting the virtues of multiculturalism and humanism and believing that all gods are equally valid or true (or none are). We must also accept that all lifestyles and family arrangements including homosexual and transsexual ones are just as valid as traditional two parent heterosexual families, with a father and mother committed to each other in lifelong matrimony looking after their own children. As society accepts this radical change in how we view culture, morality and religion, we are told not to criticize other cultures and world views or imply that they are anything less than equal to the culture, morality and faith derived from the Bible. All this has not improved society. Instead we have a collapse of values with no central idea to hold it together, just a group of competing ‘communities’ which are often only united in opposition to the traditional values and culture of Great Britain. A good example of this is the ‘red – green alliance’ of radical leftists and Islamists who come together to denounce Israel and campaign to ‘globalise the Intifada’. In practice this means a world wide war against Israel and Judaeo-Christian society and a desire to replace it with their version of either Islamism or Communism. However if one of them were to come to power, you can be sure that the Islamist’s would get rid of the leftists or vice versa. In fact that happened in Iran’s 1979 revolution, when Islamist supporters of Khomeini and Communists came together to get rid of the Shah. Then the Islamists seized power, turned on the Communists and wiped them out. Alisteir Heath wrote in the Daily Telegraph: ‘Ruined by decades of political vandalism, the Britain we knew and loved, a land of stability, pragmatism, and ancient freedoms, is no more. Today’s UK is uglier, impoverished, volatile and disorderly. We’ve lost our level-headedness. Anger and frustration have become our defining emotions. Our institutions have wasted away, and we have been taught to despise our history. The decline of family, community and faith have led to alienation, dependence on welfare and the rise of novel ideologies, mostly secular but also sectarian, turbocharged by social media. While the state becomes unnervingly authoritarian, the air reeks of insurrection and every variety of extremism. The British public’s sense of betrayal is as well-founded as it is dangerous. The machinery of state is incompetent and self-serving, a vehicle for social engineering in the global interest.’ Criticism of this process now risks being classed as ‘hate crime’ with a growing authoritarian society monitoring social media posts and public teaching of alternative ideas in ways which risk shutting down free speech in our society. A Christian teacher Enoch Burke is currently in prison in Dublin after he was suspended from his job and jailed after refusing to accept and teach transgenderism in the school. Nick Timothy, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, got into trouble when he questioned mass Muslim prayer in Trafalgar Square. He wrote: ‘Mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination. The adhan – which declares there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger – is, when called in a public place, a declaration of domination. The domination of public places is straight from the Islamist playbook.” He is right in this. Allah hu Akhbar actually means Allah is greater, greater than your God, Muhammad is greater than Jesus and the Koran is greater than the Bible. Tim Dieppe of Christian Concern for our Nation wrote: “The fact that we have mass Islamic prayer in Trafalgar Square at all is indicative of the massive culture change that we have seen in the last few decades. A culture change that was not voted for or ever agreed to by the British people. And, a culture change that can hardly be described as having been entirely beneficial to our culture as a whole. I only need to mention grooming gangs involving mostly Pakistani Muslim men , sharia courts, honour crimes, terror attacks, the assassination of an MP, an attempt to blockade Parliament, mass antisemitic marches through London, a convicted terrorist standing for local elections, sectarianism, and many other examples to make the point. Earlier this month, the Government gave Muslims special protection with the adoption of an official definition of anti-Muslim hostility .” You are not really supposed to question this in public life today. A message circulating on social media is an apt commentary on all this. ‘First they overlook evil, then they permit evil, then they legalise evil, then they promote evil, then celebrate evil, then persecute those who call it evil.’ Soviet dissident Solzhenitsyn wrote: ‘A Communist system can be recognised by how it spares criminals and criminalises its opponents.’ The root cause of all this is the rejection of God and biblical values. The 18th-century French philosopher Joseph de Maistre coined the phrase "people get the government they deserve." David Pawson followed up on this idea, arguing that in democratic societies like ours, the moral and spiritual condition of a nation's citizens is directly reflected in the leaders they elect. If the general public abandons moral truths, they will inevitably vote for governments that reflect those same compromises. David Pawson taught that God may use governmental leadership to judge or bless a nation, depending on the people's obedience. He noted that Hebrew prophets saw wicked rulers as a form of divine judgement on a society that has strayed from God's laws. Therefore a nation's ultimate hope rests on repentance rather than just political change. His conclusion is that Christians should actively stand for moral truth in society. He believed that the church is meant to influence culture upward, and that a decline in national morality inevitably leads to deteriorating governance. Sadly much of the church today has become the ‘salt that has lost its savour’ through compromise with antichristian forces in society and government. It may be too late to save our country and western democracy as social and economic pressures create a collapse of democracy and push us either towards anarchy or dictatorship. Yeats’ poem quoted at the beginning of this article ends with the enigmatic line ‘Some rough beast slouches towards Bethlehem to be born.’ Most likely he is referring to the coming anti-Messiah who is labelled the Beast in the book of Revelation. Many believe his is now waiting in the wings to replace the true Messiah (born in Bethlehem) and bring in the dictatorship prophesied in Revelation 13. The Bible indicates that the Beast or Antichrist will have power for a moment, but it will be short lived and doomed to destruction at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. Then the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our God and of His Messiah and He shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 11.15) and the ‘government shall be on His shoulder’ (Isaiah 9.6). Maranatha come Lord Jesus. Water, water nowhere and not a drop to drink. (Apologies to the Ancient Mariner) While nations worry about supply of oil and gas as a result of the war in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a much more vital commodity for human survival is water. And it is in short supply in a growing number of nations. As of 2026, over 25 countries face extremely high water stress, with the most severe crises located in the Middle East and North Africa. This region is home to the world's most water-stressed nations, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, and Libya. India and Pakistan face critical water scarcity due to overexploitation of aquifers and population density. Much of Africa , Somalia and Ethiopia in particular are facing severe shortages due to drought and climate change. Mexico and parts of the United States (particularly Texas and the west coast) are experiencing significant water shortages and declining groundwater levels. Iran is facing a severe, multi-year water crisis as of May 2026, with major cities like Tehran, Mashhad, and Karaj approaching the point where taps could run dry due to depleted reservoirs. Groundwater is depleted across most of the country, and nineteen provinces are experiencing severe drought. The crisis is driven by a combination of climate change and decades of poor water management, including excessive dam construction and inefficient, water-intensive agriculture. China is facing a severe, multi-faceted water crisis defined by extreme scarcity in the north, widespread pollution, and mismanagement, threatening its food supply and economic growth. Several countries are significantly affected by upstream dam construction that reduces downstream water flow, causing, environmental, and diplomatic crises. These countries include Iraq, heavily impacted by dams built on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers by Turkey and Iran, leading to reduced water for agriculture, destruction of forests, and increased sandstorms. Egypt and Sudanface significant water security risks due to the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laosare affected of dams built by China on the upper Mekong River One country which bucks this trend is Israel. Israel manages its water resources by transforming a chronic shortage into a surplus through large-scale desalination, extensive wastewater recycling, and a centralised national water carrier system. The agriculture sector has shifted away from freshwater, using treated effluent instead. Advanced drip irrigation technologies are widely used to minimise waste. Israel has exported its water technologies to countries around the world, particularly Africa where it has given advice on how to use limited water resources to great effect. Without water no society on earth can survive. Bible prophecies indicate that water shortage and pollution will be a global problem in the last days. Most obviously no water equals no food, so famine is an inevitable result of water shortages. Jesus warned of this as a sign of the last days in Matthew 24.7. Revelation 8.10-11 speaks of something called ‘Wormwood’ falling on rivers and springs of water causing it to become bitter and many to die from drinking it. Prophecy speaks of the two great rivers of the ancient world, the Nile and the Euphrates, being affected by a crisis causing the Euphrates to dry up (Revelation 16.12) and the Nile to become contaminated and its waters turn foul (Isaiah 19.5-11). Isaiah 24 speaks of a curse devouring the earth in the last days causing the earth to be ‘defiled (or polluted) under its inhabitants.’ According to the New Scientist, there are massive amounts of water hidden deep beneath the Earth's surface. Scientists have found evidence of a reservoir of water three times the volume of all surface oceans combined, located roughly 250–400 miles underground within the mantle. It may be that the Lord will release this water to replenish and clean up the earth in the Millennial kingdom when ‘waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.’ Isaiah 35. Zechariah 14.8-9 says, ‘In that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.’ Zechariah 14.8-9. See also Ezekiel 47. Rethinking Russia Things are not going well for Vladimir Putin in his ‘special military operation’. Four years after invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia is not making advances and actually losing ground. Russia is losing as many as 25,000- 35,000 casualties a month and over 1.2 million have been killed and wounded since the war began. Ukrainian skills in drone warfare have destroyed large quantities of Russian equipment, tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and rocket systems, helicopters, and naval vessels. Russia is spending an estimated 40% of the entire federal budget on the war effort. As a result of this and western sanctions, Russia is increasingly unable to fix chronic infrastructure problems at home. During the bitter Russian winter thousands of people were left without heat, light, or even water. All forms of transport, trains, trucks and planes, are facing logistical problems, making it difficult to transport goods and people across the vast Russian regions. Russia is on the way to an infrastructure collapse that will likely take decades to recover. Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov warned the State Duma that Russia's faltering economy risks stoking a 1917-style revolution. He demanded urgent financial and economic measures by autumn to avert a potential economic collapse. This raises the danger of the Russian Federation fracturing. The Caucuses are restive, the far east is looking to China and Siberia is facing an acute problem as a result of melting permafrost, causing buildings, bridges and pipelines to collapse. In the present circumstances it is hard to see how Russia could lead the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). Some have said that it is more likely that Turkey is the lead power in the War of Gog and Magog. They say that Meshech and Tubal are not Moscow and Tobolsk, but regions of modern Turkey. Erdogan’s Turkey is backed by an Islamist world view hostile to Israel, seeking the recovery of its Ottoman Empire. He has his eyes on taking control of Jerusalem. Turkey is possession of a large land army already stationed in the region, some of it occupying part of Syria. The alternative is that the War of Gog and Magog is some way off, possibly part of Armageddon, giving time for Russia to recover from its present distress. We wait and see, but meanwhile spare a thought and a prayer for the people of Ukraine and Russia, suffering as a result of Putin’s futile war, oppressed by his corrupt dictatorship and facing an economic and social collapse caused by his failed policies.
