The New Galatians - Afrikaans

April 1, 2025
Die Nuwe Galasiërs ®

Jer. 31:31 & die Send Brief aan die Galasiërs: 3:1:"O, Onverstandige Galásiërs, wie het julle betower‐?" Jer. 31:31: "Kyk, daar kom dae, spreek die HERE, dat Ek met die huis van Israel en die huis van Juda 'n nuwe verbond sal sluit; nie soos die verbond wat Ek met hulle vaders gesluit het op dié dag toe Ek hulle hand gegryp het om hulle uit Egipteland uit te lei nie‐ "

Ons sien in die huidige Midde Ooste gebeure dat die verhoog opgestel word vir die profetiese vervulling van Sagaria 12&13 vir die Groot Verdrukking (Die benoudheid van Jakob in Jeremia 30) en die opkoms van die Antichris en die Wederkoms van die Here Jesus. Terselfdertyd sien ons ook die vervulling van Paulus se profetiese voorspellings in Romeine 11, die groot hoeveelheid Jode wat tot bekering kom en 'n herontdekking van baie Evangeliste met betrekking tot die Hebreeuse oorsprong van die Christelike geloof. Met betrekking tot hierdie herontdekking word die nie? Joodse Christene in Romeine 11 deur die Woord van God gewaarsku om nie te roem teen Israel, die natuurlike takke nie en waar Joodse gelowiges gewaarsku word om nie op nie?Joodse gelowiges neer te sien nie. (Rut 2:15, Hand. 15:13?19)

In die Messias, Jesus Christus is ons Een Nuwe Mens soos in die geval van kulturele verskille tussen die natuurlike Jode en die ingeënte nie?Joodse takke of soos die sosio?ekonomiese verskille tussen 'n slaaf en 'n vry man, of soos waar biologiese en emosionele verskille tussen 'n man en 'n vrou nie geestelike verskille verteenwoordig nie. Ons het almal net Een Redding, Een Redder, Een Belofte, Een Bybel, Een Gees en Een Ewige Eindbestemming. (Gal. 3:28)

So, nou is in die Here Jesus die gebonde slawe vry diensknegte en die vry mense is nou die Here se gebonde diensknegte. Die vrou in Christus is nou saam met haar man 'n mede erfgenaam (1 Pet. 3:7) en gelowige Heidene is mede erfgename saam met Israel. (Ef. 2:11?14)

Soos wat ons nog altyd gesê het volgens Jeremia 31:31 was die Nuwe Verbond met Israel en die Jode gesluit en nie met die kerk nie. Die kerk is die geestelike onafgebroke voortsetting van Israel, 'n voortsetting van die getroue oorblyfsel waarin gelowige nie?Jode ingeënt is, maar die kerk het nie Israel letterlik vervang nie. Gelowige nie?Jode is ingeënt terwyl ongelowige Jode wat Yeshua hulle Messias verwerp het afgesny is van hulle eie Olyfboom, maar wat weer ingeënt kan word wanneer hulle Jesus Christus aanneem. (Rom. 11:7?24) Maar soos wat ons sien in die profesieë van Sagaria, Jeremia, die Olyf Berg Rede, Daniël, Openbaring en in die eskatologie (Die eindtye) materiaal in die Send Briewe, wat besig is om in vervulling te kom, is daar die verwarring en misleiding waarvan God nie die outeur is nie.

Ons het in die verlede artikels uitgestuur waar ons gewaarsku het teen hierdie vervanging of "In die plek van" teologie en ook die Calvinistiese verbonds teologie (wat die Nuwe verbond afmaak deur valslik te leer dat God net een Verbond met Adam en een verbond met Abraham gesluit het, en verder maak

hulle ook aanspraak dat die kerk nou Israel is. Ons het gewaarsku teen die Post Millennium bewegings, (as Satan nou al reeds gebonde is, wanneer het die 1000 jaar van vrede dan begin, en wie laat hom kort kort uit?) gemeng met die charismania van die "Latter Day Reign / Joel's Army ?Manifest Sons"? hiper pinkster beweging van Christen Anti Semitisme van die "Identiteit" bewegings, en die Christelike anti Sionisme beweging van Rick Godwin, Bryn Joners, en die pro Arafat Anglikaanse Biskop van Jerusalem wat nou onlangs teen Israel in die David Watson's St. Michael Le Belfry in York gepreek het. (Wat nou ook, heel voorspelbaar, deel geword het van die moeras van die Alfa Kursus ekumeniese, Toronto misleiding.) Ons het gewaarsku teen die ontkenning van die Joodsheid van Jesus deur die Elim beweging, waar beweer word dat die Here Jesus geen Joodse bloed het nie, wat deur George Canty in 'n Elim blad geskrywe is. (Net soos in die geval van die St. Michael Bat in Le Belfry, Elim se vervalste goue tande fiasko van die geld predikers wat nog steeds probeer om John Arnott se Toronto "herlewing" weer op die been te kry.) In die ander uiterste sien ons 'n samewerking tussen David Brickner, Tuvya Zaretsky & Jews For Jesus, en John Ross & Christian Witness to Israel, en Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum en Ariel, en ander wat betrokke is om te sien dat Jode tot redding kom en wat waarsku teen hierdie bewegings wat Jesus van die Jode weghou.

Ons waardeer Arnold Fruchtembaum se brief waarin hy verklaar dat die aksies van die Ebenezer fonds onbybels is en dat dit nie van God af kom nie, en soos wat die skandale weereens die Internasionale Christelike Ambassade in Jerusalem bloots ry, het die nuwe leier? Malcom Hedding 'n band gemaak waar hy leer dat Jesus nooit gekom het om te sterf nie, maar dat Israel eenvoudig tot wedergeboorte kan kom sonder dat die Here Jesus na die Kruis toe moes gegaan het. Maar die Here Jesus sê Self met betrekking tot Sy Dood en opstanding: "Vir hierdie rede het Ek gekom." (Om Jesaja 53 en Daniël 9 ens. in vervulling te bring om so Redding moontlik te maak.) Romeine 6 stel dit duidelik dat vernuwing tot redding onmoontlik is sonder die dood van die Here Jesus. Malcom Hedding, (net soos die ICEJ stigter Jan Willem Van der Hoven) is 'n totale ketter. Soos wat Jer. 31:31 verklaar was die Nuwe Verbond met Israel gesluit en die twee verbond idees wat daarop aanspraak maak dat die Jode gered kan word sonder die Nuwe Verbond is 'n leuen van Satan. Diegene wat Israel nie na die Nuwe Verbond toe lei nie is besig om 'n sosiale en politieke evangelie te verkondig en volgens die Skrifte is dit 'n valse evangelie.

Die Nuwe Dilemma

Maar nou het ons 'n bedreiging vir God se doel met Israel en die Jode.

Die vervanging beweging, anti? Sioniste, anti Semitisme, die Identiteit beweging, geïnspireerde Ruchmaniete, (Aho, Dillen, Howard & Buester) het 'n nuwe wapen teen Joodse gelowiges wat hulle God gegewe Joodse identiteit wil behou, en dit is ironies dat die wapen kom van 'n kombinasie van sekere Joodse gelowiges en verjoodse Heidene uit die ekstremistiese sy van die Messiaanse beweging. Ons het gewaarsku teen nomianistiese (sagte wettiese) artikels van die hiper Messiaanse ekstremiste soos: "Satan's Seduction of The Hebrew Roots Movement", en "Why I Do Not Accept The Jerusalem School of Synoptic Research."

Die laaste was geskrywe as 'n kompliment aan Andrew Gould vir sy artikel oor sy twyfelagtige en onbevestigde aansprake van Bivin en Blizzard met betrekking tot die Hebreeuse verbintenisse met die

Evangelies wat ondersteun word deur die gewese Rabbiniese geleerde David Flusser en die Roomse Katolieke skrywer Joseph Francovic)

Daar bestaan geen Manuskrip bewyse vir hierdie spekulasie nie, die argumente is verdraai en foutief en die enigste historiese verwysing uit die tyd van Hegisippus in die voor apostoliese / vroeë patristiese era van Mattheus se Evangelie wat oorspronklik in Hebreeus was. As dit waar is kon dit heel waarskynlik eenvoudig net Hebreeuse dialek van Aramees gewees het.

Daar is 'n misleide element in die Heidense Kerk wat vanselfsprekend heel ongemaklik is met wat hulle sien as 'n verwronge Christelikheid van die kontemporêre kerk in die ekumeniese eeu soos die Toronto geld predikers en die verhewe kritici in reaksie vir 'n begeerte om terug te keer na die oorsprong van die Christelike geloof wat Bybels en histories 'n primêre Joodse geloof is. Ongelukkig het hulle tot 'n verdraaide slotsom gekom dat enige iets wat Messiaans klink reg moet wees, terwyl dit 'n feit is dat daar baie mistastings is in baie takke van die Messiaanse Beweging soos wat ook die geval is in ander komponente van die Liggaam van Christus.

Een spesifieke populêre uitdrukking wat ons persoonlik gehoor het is die gebruik van David Stern se Joodse Nuwe Testament en sy "Volledige Joodse Bybel." (Asof daar enige ander is.)

Terwyl ons 'n ruk gelede Mnr. Stern se boek: "Restoring The Jewishness of The Gospel" gepromoveer het, is Mnr. Stern se boek: "Messianic Manifesto," waar 'n oproep gedoen word vir 'n Messiaanse Sanhedrin wat 'n halakik (Wettiese Rabbiniese Joodsheid) besluite vir Joodse gelowiges, is 'n te belaglike voorstel om enigsins iets daaroor te sê.

Terwyl Mnr. Stern se boek, die Joodse Nuwe Testament, 'n goeie boek vir naslaan werk is, is dit ook die slegste parafrase uit die oorspronklike Grieks wat ek nog gesien het. Sy mis?interpretasie van Efesiërs 5 is so absurd dat nie eens die Jehovah se Getuies so ver sou gegaan het in hulle hoogs verdraaide sogenaamde "New World Translation" nie.

Maar ten spyte van dit is daar baie naïewe Christene wat baie bly is dat hulle nou ook 'n onvervalste oorspronklike "Joodse Nuwe Testament" het, maar hulle weet nie, en baie wil nie weet nie, dat dit 'n korrupte verstaling is nie.

Dieselfde reaksie word waargeneem onder baie Suidelike Baptiste en ander groepe wat in 'n reaksie teen hierdie oorstrominge van dwaal lering in die kerk terugval na die teologie van die Hervormers met al die dwaal lering soos die staking van die Heilige Gees Gawes en hiper Calvinisme, (en ook die vervanging denke) omdat hulle dit sien as die diametriese teenoorgestelde van charismania. In plaas daarvan om dwalinge met die Waarheid reg te stel, word dwaling met 'n ander dwaling vervang, 'n teenoorgestelde uiterste.

Dieselfde verwronge en onbybelse redenasies vind plaas wanneer mense reageer teen super sensasionisme (Die vervanging teologie) van die hiper Messiaanse ekstremiste. In die laaste paar jaar het die hiper Messiaanse ekstremiste nuwe hoogtes bereik in hulle fiktiewe geloof met betrekking tot die Godheid van Jesus, wat ook in sommige gevalle verwerp word. Soos in gevalle waar in hulle konferensies

Joodsheid opgehemel word in plaas van Jesus Christus wat in die Skrifte beklemtoon word. Joodse gelowiges gaan nie na konferensies waar daar aan hulle vertel word hoe om Jode te wees nie (gewoonlik word hierdie soort byeenkomste gelei deur mense wat niks van die Bybel af weet nie. (Kokke wat preek.)) Jode weet hoe om Joods te wees, net soos wat Afrikaners weet om Afrikaners te wees. Hulle het dissipelskap en blootstelling, net soos elke ander gelowige, aan die Skrifte nodig om te weet hoe om volgers van hulle Messias Yeshua te kan wees. Niemand argumenteer oor ongedwonge onderhouding van Joodse tradisies nie, dit is opsioneel en 'n saak van persoonlike keuse en kultuur (Rom. 14:4?5 / Kol. 2:16?18)

Daar kan sekere voordele wees in die onderhouding van Joodse tradisies, soos vir 'n Evangelisasie strategie om die Jode te bereik, (1 Kor. 9: 20) maar nooit is mense geroep om hulle kultuur prys te gee om gelowiges in Jesus Christus te word nie, in teendeel, ons word beveel om nie ons identiteit te verloën nie. (1 Kor. 7:18). Meer nog, Joodse rituele wat in Christus vervul is word herhaaldelik in die Nuwe Testament gebruik as 'n verduideliking van Bybelse leerstellings, (1 Kor. 5:7?8 / Heb. 9: 1?22) en in ooreenstemming met Bybelse en Apostoliese tradisie sal hierdie onderhouding 'n blywende Bybelse basis wees om die Nuwe Testament te verstaan en te openbaar.

Dit was post apostolies en post Bybelse patristiese tradisie van die kerkvaders, soos die anti Semitiese John Chrysostom wat eerste hierdie dinge teen gestaan het, maar die Nuwe Testament doen dit nie. Inderdaad het Paulus geskrywe: "Alle dinge is ons geoorloof maar nie alle dinge is tot stigting nie?" 'n Joodse gelowige wat vark eet, terwyl dit geoorloof is, mag dalk nie tot nut wees van sy of haar se getuienis nie wanneer daar aan Jode getuig word nie, aan wie deur rabbi's vertel word dat gelowige Jode hulle Joodsheid verlaat het. Vark of skulpvis is nou "kosjer" (rein) voedsel maar dit kan iemand se getuienis laat skade ly net soos wat iemand se getuienis kan skade ly as hy die Nagmaal met wyn neem as hy dit aan 'n iemand in 'n Keltiese kultuur bedien waar alkohol misbruik 'n groot probleem is. Maar hierdie onderhouding het verpligtend geword (bv. vir iemand wat 'n lid wil wees in 'n Messiaanse vergadering), of dit word gesien as 'n middel tot heiligmaking in en of van hulleself en so kom mense weer onder die Wet waarvan Christus ons vrygekoop het. Diegene wat iets verkeerd vind in voedsel wat nie kosjer (rein) is nie word deur die Bybel geïdentifiseer as: "swak in die geloof" Dit is 'n dwaasheid om byeenkomste te hou en aan Jode te vertel hoe om Jode te wees, en dit is nog 'n groter dwaasheid om aan nie?Jode te vertel hoe om Jode te wees terwyl ons nou ook sien hoedat Heidene onder die Wet gebring word.

Daar is 'n Messiaanse groep (en die Israel visie) in Suid Afrika wat by Heidense volwasse mans aandring om die Joodse besnydenis te ondergaan. Sommige verjoodse Heidene soos die Israel Hawkes trek aan soos ortodokse Joodse rabbi's en neem deel aan 'n hoogs schismatiese geloof met okkultiese afmetings wat glo dat dit verkeerd is om Yeshua Jesus of God te noem in plaas van YHWH.(Yahwe) Dit is so dat in ons Bybel vertalings die HERE (LORD) YHWH, in die oorspronklike Hebreeuse teks is, maar in die Nuwe Testamentiese manuskripte word die Aramese term? Mar, wat deur die Here Jesus Self gebruik is, en die term "kurios" (Here) toegepas. As die Nuwe Testament nie 'n probleem het om YHWH ?"Here" te noem nie, hoekom moet ons?

Satan se eerste poging om die Kerk te mislei was nie om dit te verheidens nie, (dit het later deur sommige van die kerk vaders gekom.) soos wat ons sien in die Nuwe Testament, was sy eerste pogings om die Kerk te mislei deur om dit te Judafiseer, terug te bring onder die wet.

Die Roomse Katolieke priesterorde, Calvinistiese verbond teologie, A? millennium Calvinistiese herbouers, die Roomse Miss en die Sewende Dag Adventiste is almal voorbeelde van 'n Judafiseerde Christendom, en nou het ons die hiper Messiaanse ekstremiste.

Hierdie dwaling, 'n wesenlike terugkeer na die Boek Galasiërs, word gebruik om die anti Messiaanse retoriek aan te vuur van die vervanging denke waarteen ons in ons artikel "Wagters wat nie wagters is nie" gewaarsku het. (Dit is nog steeds op ons webwerf)

In die verlede was dit maklik om die vervanging denke soos die Ruchmaniete te weerspreek. Die Ruchmaniete is volgers van die idees van Peter Ruchman in samewerking met Gail Riplinger in hulle ondersteuning van die King James alleen ekstremistiese beweging, met die "White Supremacist Identity Movement" geloof. Sommige van hierdie beweging is altyd gewillig om leuens te vertel om hulle doelwitte te bereik in die verspreiding van anti Joodse neo Nazi's propaganda in die kerk (dinge soos dat die Jode 'n ander DNA samestelling het as ander mense, en die idee van 'n Joodse sameswering om die Christen kerk oor te neem, en die verdwaalde idee dat net "Jode" die Bybel kan verklaar omdat hulle 'n ander DNA samestelling het.) Toe Rick Godwin en Bryn Jones (voorbokke van die Toronto dwaling) 'n gety van Christen en anti Sionisme aangevuur het onder die Restourasie ekstremistiese charismate, het Ruchmaniete soos Aho, Buester, Howard en Dillen, wat deur rassiste en die anti Semitiese "Balaam's Ass" webwerf beïnvloed is, waar die Identiteit Beweging geloof verpak is as 'n sogenaamde Christelike onderskeiding, met 'n uitgebreide tirade teen Messiaanse Jode uitgevaar, maar die vergete oorsprong van hulle propaganda en hulle algemene Bybelse verontagsaming beteken dat hulle nog nooit baie ernstig was teenoor God se doel met die Kerk in verhouding met Israel nie.

Wanneer hierdie mense Skriftuurlik en logies weerlê word dan haal hulle Skrif gedeeltes buite woord verband aan (Dieselfde wat Satan in Mat. 4 gedoen het.) en probeer dan wegkruip agter afgesaagde uitdrukkings. Wanneer enige persoon na die Nuwe Testament in verband met gelowige Jode as die natuurlike takke verwys en die praktiese voordele om deel te wees van die Verbonde, en om die Godspraak te verstaan (Rom. 3:1: "Wat is dan die voordeel van die Jood?") Of wat is die nut van die besnydenis? ) Dan reageer hulle teen die bestaan van die Messiaanse Jode op die selfde wyse as Christen feministe wanneer hulle probeer om vroue predikers te regverdig en ook dieselfde Skrif teks verdraai en buite Skrif verband probeer toepas. Hierdie Skrif teks is onvermydelik Galasiërs 3:28: "Daar is nie meer Jood of Griek nie, daar is nie meer slaaf of vry man nie, daar is nie meer man en vrou nie; want julle is almal een in Christus Jesus." Die vraag is: Kan mans babas kry? Het die instelling van slawerny nie in die jare van die eerste eeu se kerk bestaan nie? Die tydelike verskille bestaan nog almal, die teks in sy konteks praat van geestelike verskille wat in Christus verbygegaan het. Om nou te beweer dat Jode nie meer in die Liggaam van Christus bestaan nie is om te beweer dat vroue ook nie meer bestaan nie, of dat Paulus verkeerd was toe hy instruksies aan Christen slawe gegee het (1 Kor. 7:21?22) omdat niks bestaan het nie.

Die nuwe gety van kettery onder hiper Messiaanse ekstremiste oorskry alles, vanaf die ontkenning van die Godheid van Yeshua tot finansiële skandale wat die Israeliese koerante, die anti Messiaanse ortodokse Joodse aktiviste in die Joodse samelewing, die radikale vervanging bewegings, die Christelike anti Semitiste (as dit in verband nie alreeds 'n weerspreking is nie?) in die Christelike gemeenskap met nuwe skietgoed voorsien, mense wat baie maklik is om uit te buit, en ook die Skriftuurlike georiënteerde hoof stroom Joodse gelowiges, die Joodse Evangelisasie werk en 'n Bybelse kennis van die profetiese doelwitte van God met betrekking tot Israel en die Jode wat 'n oneer aangedoen word.

In 'n onlangse artikel in die November uitgawe van Israel Today is daar 'n artikel oor Jode wat die Godheid van Yeshua debatteer en dit het ongelukkig ook die wêreldse media bereik. 'n Opvolgende artikel in KIVUM, 'n periodieke inligting blad in Hebreeus, met 'n artikel deur Udi Tzofef wat verskeie Israeliese Messiaanse leiers aanhaal wat gesê het dat hulle nie Yeshua as God op dieselfde wyse sien as tradisionele Christen teoloë nie maar as die "Seun van God" en as die Messiaanse Verlosser. Sommige omhels dinge wat soos die eeue oue Ebionisme dwaling wat Jesus 'n unieke geïnspireerde man noem, maar nie God Self nie.

Dit het 'n terugslag vir Israel Today veroorsaak wat 'n opvolg artikel gedra het waar voorgestel word dat hierdie Messiaanse leiers wat nou terugdeins dit doen omdat hulle ekonomies bedreig word omdat hulle finasiële ondersteuning uit die buiteland opgeskort kan word.

Vir 'n geruime tyd het een gemeente in Jerusalem Ebioniete as lede verdra terwyl hulle leier in Israel afbrekende taal gebruik soos "Die kleinlikheid van die heidene," ('n Reuk wat hy nie vreeslik vuil kan vind nie omdat sy vrou en die ma van sy kinders een van hulle is.) En ook verklarings soos dat "die hele heidense Kerk oppad is Hel toe." Hy praat egter nie hierdie taal wanneer hy op fonds insameling toere na kerke in die VSA gaan nie. Hierdie gemeentes kombineer die invloede van Moishe Ben Meir (oorlede) ('n Gegradeerde van die Moody Bible Institute wat sommige van die Geskrifte van Paulus verwerp het) en invloede van die "Church of Christ," 'n sekte wat 'n wedergeboorte deur die doop in 'n vorm van sakramentisme voorstaan, gewoonlik geken as "Campbellite."

Onder diegene wat genoem is wat die Godheid van Christus verwerp is? Uri Markus van die Nehemia Trust, wat arm Israeliese gelowiges help. Terwyl die doelwit van Uri Markus van die Nehemia Trust goed is, is dit vir Moriel hartseer dat ons hulle nie meer verder kan aanbeveel nie soos in die geval van ander bewegings wat nie langer by die fundamentele Bybelse Waarheid bly nie soos dinge wat te doen het met die Godheid van Christus.

Ander persone wat die Godheid van Christus verwerp is Joseph Shulam, Weiss en Dodo Tel Tsur. (Mnr. Shulam word aangehaal waar hy gesê het: "Dat diegene wat glo dat Jesus God is hulle soeke na geloof verloor het.") Hanna Weiss en Joseph Shulam maak daarop aanspraak dat hulle uitgangspunte verkeerd opgevat en verkeerd en buite konteks aangehaal was en dat hulle nie die Godheid van Christus verwerp nie, maar dat dit eenvoudig nie uitgedruk was volgens die terminologie of die geloof belydenis van die Heidense Kerk nie.

Daar is geen voorskrifte in die Skrifte dat iemand die geloof belydenis van 'n kerk moet aanvaar of dat Bybelse Waarhede gedefinieer moet word in 'n taal en terme wat vreemd is aan die Nuwe Testament nie, ook nie in die Eerste Eeu se Joodse Kerk nie. As Mnr. Shulam en Hanna Weiss inderdaad die Godheid van Christus bely en maar net eenvoudig die Hellenistiese verklaring daarvan verwerp, dan is hulle onskuldig. Ander soos Mnr. Markus egter beklemtoon en verdedig sy verwerping van die Godheid van Christus.

Dit is duidelik dat terwyl die meeste Israeliese Messiaanse Jode glo aan die Godheid van Christus dat daar ook 'n minderheid nuwe Ebioniete is wat dit nie glo nie. Wat egter baie meer ongewoon is die verjoodse heidene soos Joseph. B. Good wat die Drie Eenheid verwerp. Peter Michas (Wie se hoop strooi deur Dr. Ron Rhodes van die tafel afgeskraap is.) wat nie net die ewige Persoonlikheid van Christus in die Drie Eenheid Godheid ontken nie, maar wat ook 'n leerstelling buite hierdie wêreld opgekook het soos dat die Here Jesus en die twee rowers aan 'n groeiende boom uit die grond vasgespyker was en dat die Tuin van Eden nie in Mesopotamië was volgens Genesis nie maar in Jerusalem, dinge wat waarskynlik uit die kabbalistiese idees van die mistieke Judaïsme kom.

Voorspelbaar is die mees ekstremistiese elemente van die Messiaanse Beweging onder my mede Charismatiese en Pinkster broeders. Dan Juster, leier van The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) het ook nou teruggeval en die ekumeniese Promise Keepers dwaling begin ondersteun en so het hyself 'n slagoffer van die hiper? Charismatiese vervalsings, van die mees verdorwe soort geword wat gevolg het na die tragiese vuurdood van sy seun.

Die jong seun se oorskot was aan kunsmatig lewensonderhoud masjiene gekoppel terwyl Mnr. Juster selfoon oproepe ontvang het met boodskappe dat God sy seun uit die dood sou opwek. Nadat die toerusting afgeskakel is het hulle by hom aangedring om nie sy seun te begrawe nie.

Ja, God sal inderdaad sy seun op die Laaste dag opwek, en God kon hom inderdaad uit die dood opgewek het as dit God se Wil was, maar dit was nie God se Wil nie. Wat broeder Juster aanvaar het as profetiese woorde wat van die Here sou gekom het was egter niks meer as waarsêery van hiper Charismatiese valse profete en misleiers nie wat op die emosionele kwesbaarheid van 'n hartseer familie afgespeel is. Wanneer daar egter nie meer onderskeiding by leiers van 'n beweging is nie dan is daar baie min vooruitsigte vir so 'n beweging om die groter doelwitte van God te verstaan.

Ons waarsku al vir 'n geruime tyd dat as Kardinaal Jean Marie Lustigere van Parys ('n Etniese Jood) die volgende pous gaan word, dan gaan die hiper Messiaanse ekstremiste baie bly wees dat die individu in daardie Antichris pouslike pos 'n "Joodse gelowige" is.

Om op te som

Dit is absoluut verstommend om dieselfde Ebionietiese kettery waarmee Satan probeer het om die eerste Messiaanse Beweging in die vroeë eeue van die kerk te vernietig, dit weer vandag terugbring soos wat God weer Sy genade aan Sy volk Israel begin openbaar.

Dit is ook verstommend om dieselfde nomianisme en wettisme wat Satan onder die hiper Messiaanse ekstremiste in Galate gebruik het om die Evangelie in die Eerste eeu se Kerk te ontspoor, dat dit nou weer in die Twintigste eeu se Kerk na vore kom met dieselfde doel.

Wat eers die vesting van die Sewende Dag Adventiste was, waar probeer word om onder twee verbonde te lewe, wat onwerkbaar is, het dit nou ook deurgedring na die meeste Charismatiese takke van die Messiaanse Beweging

Terwyl net 'n klein persentasie van die Joodse gelowiges verteenwoordig word het hierdie hoogs hoorbare Galasiërs hulle self aangestel as woordvoerders vir al die Joodse gelowiges en met al hulle klomp strooi het hulle vergeet wat die boodskap van Romeine 3:17?23 is.

Verder is dit verstommend om te sien dat Satan besig is om dieselfde anti Messiaanse hoogmoed op te wek waarteen Romeine 11:18 waarsku wat ook in die vroeë kerk plaasgevind het en wat vandag weer plaasvind. Dit is ook verstommend om die sien hoedat die venynige anti Semitiese retoriek, wat vermom is as Christelike leerstellings waarvan die vroeë kerk vol van was, in die venynige preekstoel propaganda van John Chrysostom (wat ook deur die eeue deur die pouse en Luther herhaal was) vandag weer deur mond van Satan se Latter Day boodskappers, die Ruchmaniete kom.

Laaste van almal, net soos wat Joodse gelowiges soos Paulus in die vroeë kerk hierdie deurmekaarspul en dwalings van die Messiaanse ekstremiste aan die een kant teengestaan het, en Christelike anti Semitisme en die vervanging groepe aan die ander kant, het die Here weereens Joodse gelowiges opgewek soos Arnold Fruchtenbaum tot by Stan Telchin en Louis Goldberg met 'n Skriftuurlike gebalanseerde reaksie teen hierdie twee dwalinge van Satan wat hy in die vroeë kerk laat ontstaan het. Van een ding kan ons egter baie seker van wees, God het nie toegelaat dat Satan in die vroeë kerk in Galate geslaag het nie, en dieselfde God sal hom ook nie toelaat om nou te slaag nie. †††

Interconnected Conflicts: The Risk of a New Thirty Years' War. By Rubin Rothler - LLB, MLB

September 21, 2026
The interlinked nature of third-party involvement in the ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine has increasingly come to the fore in recent weeks. It emerged that China has not only been providing Iran with radar systems, navigation tools, and electronic warfare technology, but also high-resolution satellite imagery and geospatial data to direct its rockets. The same great-power relationships that are shaping the Middle East are affecting the conduct and constraints of the war in Ukraine. It is apparent that a reciprocation in kind is dictating Russia's conduct towards the US in Iran. Intelligence and targeting support mirror similar U.S. assistance to Ukraine. But this picture becomes murkier when considering the backroom accommodations Trump is willing to give Putin. Recently, Trump pressured Zelensky to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, saying the attacks were causing a shortage of the fuel that is "hurting the world." The U.S. national average price for diesel, which is used by trucks, trains, ships, and farm equipment, rose above six dollars a gallon for the first time last Thursday. Such interventions demonstrate how developments on the battlefield in Ukraine can no longer be considered independently of wider economic and geopolitical calculations. China has been using tankers that are already at sea, when that runs out the American blockade will create shortage problems for the Chinese economy, as China no longer gets Venezuelan oil and is reliant on Iran and international spot market prices. The war with Iran is now spreading to Yemen, with the Houthis attempting to replicate the Iranian chokehold model perfected in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic importance of controlling or threatening critical maritime chokepoints is central to the wider contest. What happens in the Gulf can therefore have consequences for shipping, energy markets, and military calculations far beyond the immediate theatre. So far, the US has declined Saudi requests to slow the Houthi advance. Neither Turkey nor Egypt seems inclined to come to Saudi Arabia's aid. This is despite the signing of a very recent mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. More developments can happen in these conflicts on an average day than can be afforded mention, but they should be increasingly understood as interconnected parts of a wider geopolitical confrontation. Assistance in one theatre triggers reciprocal action in another. Consequently, these cease to be discrete, containable conflicts and are extending into prolonged multinational conflicts. There is a distinct possibility that these may become frozen conflicts over time. A more terrifying eventuality is something more akin to the Thirty Years' War, which was fought in the first half of the 17th century in Europe. It is important to remember that this calamity, which ravaged Europe, began as a localized rebellion that gradually drew in more and more powers. The initial religious nature of the fighting gave way to political struggles. The mechanism by which a localized conflict becomes a multinational struggle offers a historical warning worth considering. The danger today is that a collection of individually distinct conflicts could become sufficiently interconnected that containing any one of them becomes increasingly difficult. Iran, Ukraine, Russia, China, the United States, and the conflict involving the Houthis are already linked by military assistance, intelligence, energy, trade, and strategic competition. The question, therefore, is no longer simply how any one of these conflicts ends. It is whether they can remain separate conflicts at all.  (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).

Prayer Request

By David Passmore • September 12, 2026
Moriel & Jacob Prasch request prayer for our sister in Jesus - Wendy Blomkamp, widow of Brother Fred Blomkamp (now with The Lord), the founder of Moriel South Africa Branch (not to be confused with Moriel's Ebyown Aids Children's Mission in South Africa founded by David Royle). Wendy, (an equestrian rider of all things) is originally from West Yorkshire, England but has lived most of her life in South Africa and is currently in retirement in the USA. Unfortunately, Wendy is diagnosed with inoperable pre terminal cancer with cardio pullmonary complications. The Lord will either intervene supernaturally or call her home. We request prayer for Wendy and her beloved family and wisdom for her physicians. In Christ, All at Moriel

What would happen to Israel if the House is controlled by Democrats, and if the Republicans lose control of the Senate?

By David Passmore • September 7, 2026
The US midterm elections are around the corner and the results could have profound effects on US foreign policy concerning Israel. Much has been said about this vote being a referendum on Trump's unpopular war with Iran. But it can equally be said to be about Trump's other foreign policy engagements that are viewed rather more favourably like the overthrow of Maduro in Venezuela and his replacement with a pro-American regime. With Israel the picture is less clear. It used to be a given that Israel enjoyed bipartisan support on the Hill. You could count on the fingers of one hand the number of politicians opposed to supporting Israel - the occasional fringe Democrat representing a singular Michigan constituency with a high Arab origin demographic, or a rare odd ball Republican preaching strict isolationism. This dynamic has shifted quickly in the last decade. The Democrats have all but abandoned any inclination of a pro-Israel position. Even establishment figures like Chuck Schumer have been pressured to side with the Party's radical left wing. With 60-80% of Democrats now anti-Israel, Israel can no longer rely on Jewish Democrats to oppose anti-Zionism or antisemitism. The most outspoken Democratic member of the Senate advocating a pro-Israel position, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is being pressured to resign and leave the party even by Pennsylvania's Jewish Governor Shapiro and Soros sponsored Philadelphia Prosecutor Krasner. This is happening concurrently with mass endorsement from 170 leading Hollywood Jewish actors writing a letter of support for Mark Ruffallo - despite his antisemitic comments naming Jewish investors supporting a Hollywood studio mega merger as being associated with apartheid genocide. However most shocking, were the comments by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel who stood before an audience of Jewish Democrats last weekend telling them they may need to sacrifice the safety, and even the future, of their own people in exchange for saving the rest of humanity. Such rhetoric is contrary to basic human instincts of survival and self-preservation. If any other nation were suggested this course of action, I wonder what their response would be? On the Republican side the foreboding sense of an altering course towards Israel no longer seems so distant. The anti-Israel faction in the Republican party led by Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes are now being supported by Vice President Vance. Jewish kingpins in the Trump Administration such as Witkoff and Kushner have been tied to business dealings in N.Y. with the Muslim Brotherhood controlled Qatari government through its business holdings. Should Republicans lose control of the Senate while Democrats take the House, Israel could find itself having to drastically re-access its relationship with Washington. We wouldn't see an immediate break in ties. American military, intelligence, technological and strategic cooperation with Israel is too integrated into the core of US institutions and corporations that would take a protracted period to dismantle. However, the power of Congress is in no way feeble. Congress controls funding, foreign-assistance legislation, sanctions, arms-related legislation and, perhaps most importantly, the political milieu in which an administration operates. A Democratic House combined with a Senate no longer controlled by Republicans could place enormous pressure on Trump to alter his attitude towards Israel. Practically this could entail demanding further accountability from Israel over military operations in Gaza, and the West Bank Settlers causing civilian casualties and property damage. Military aid could face more conditions or restrictions, but an immediate cutoff is unlikely. Israel has historically depended upon the presumption that regardless of who was President, there would be a robust enough bipartisan coalition in Congress to prevent a major deterioration in the relationship. Now the opposite appears true. Israel is taking the gamble of solely relying on a friendly President like Trump getting elected to maintain cordial relations. With the erosion of even much of Jewish American support for Israel and the hijacking of the Democratic party by a pro Islamist socialist left seen in Mamdani and others, Israel is forced to confront the inescapable reality that the last strong bastion of support for it is the Republican Party's evangelical base. But even younger voters in this key demographic are beginning to question support for Israel. The hostility displayed by the Haredim in Jerusalem and elsewhere against Christians including evangelicals, is to say the least counter-productive to the national interest. To attack the one friend Israel has left with a proven track record of loyalty and is vital to pro-Zionism internationally, is particularly detrimental to the national interest. It is Iran with its Mahdiist interpretations of jihad and sharia as a religious ideology that drives its hatred of Israel and the USA, and The West, to the detriment of the interests of the majority of the Iranian populace who want non hostile co-existence.  Such religious fanaticism and ideologically fuelled hatred ought not be given place in Israeli Judaism. It too, will generate adverse consequences for the majority of Israelis, including religious moderates, who desire an ongoing friendship with Evangelical Christians whose theology is not one of anti Semitism, but of proven Philo-Semitism and pro Zionism.

Don't bit ethe hand that feeds you - Irish hypocrisy towards Israel

By David Passmore • August 21, 2026
Don't bite the hand that feeds you - Irish hypocrisy towards Israel Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Amongst European nations, Ireland in recent years has gained the reputation as being the leading anti-Zionist country. The Irish Republic has never been favourably inclined to Israel. It only established an Embassy in Tel Aviv in 1996. In poll after poll the vast majority of the Irish public have indicated hostility towards Zionism and strong support for Palestinian Statehood. The curious aberration to this is that in British Ruled Northern Ireland support is demarcated along sectarian lines. Catholic Republican areas predictably tend to ardently support the Palestinian cause, while Protestant Unionist communities are overwhelmingly pro-Israel. Perhaps some credence can be given to sentiments of traditional Catholic antisemitism hardwired into the Irish psyche as contributing towards this disposition. It was certainly odd that the Irish government promptly sent a delegation to the Nazi German Ambassador in Dublin to convey condolences after news of Hitler's suicide broke at the end of WW2. But more concretely if you were to ask the average Irish protester on a pro-Palestine march the basis of their empathy for the Palestinian cause, they would point to the ostensible parallels between the Irish experience of fighting for independence from British colonial oppression to the plight of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Further remonstrations on a diplomatic level concern the actions of the IDF interreacting with Irish Peace Keepers in Southern Lebanon that have caused the deaths of several Irish Peace Keepers over the decades in friendly fire incidents. Ireland has contributed the most peace keepers to this mission per capita and the government has condemned Israel for these deaths that they view as avoidable. This animosity towards Israel is unbalanced. There are reasons to consider that Ireland and Israel have a shared experience of national liberation. Both countries fought the British in the pursuit of independence. Both countries made great efforts to resurrect their ancient languages for modern wide scale use. Both the Irish and Jews form major diaspora communities in New York. Despite all this Ireland ranks as Israel's second largest export market after the US. The preponderance of Israeli exports to Ireland comprises electronic integrated circuits, micro-assemblies, and tech manufacturing components. American multinational colossal tech corporations like Intel are substantially engrossed in this trade through the chain of supply. Ireland and Israel are hubs for design and manufacture of high-tech hardware components for US corporations. So, due to the nature of the most prosperous and competitive sectors of their respective economies, Israel and Ireland are inextricably bound in bilateral trade ties. Resolutions from the Irish government to impose sanctions on West Bank originating produce is merely perfunctory rhetoric. Such actions amount to a drop in the bucket in terms of impact to overall trade. The stark reliance of Ireland on advanced Israeli aviation equipment recently caused a spectacle when Ireland's new government jet struggled to land in heavy fog due to it being ordered without an advanced Israeli made navigation system. This was directly due to a short-sighted government decision not to buy Israeli military technology. There is a marked disparity between the official position of the Irish government designed for domestic public consumption and the economic policies that it actually pursues towards Israel. The government is acutely aware that the US is massively invested in the Irish economy and they don't want to do anything to jeopardise this. Washington demands that their enterprises in Dublin are intertwined with operations in Israel. The Irish government dare not even prevent US military supply flights refuelling at Shannon Airport on their way to Tel Aviv. The Irish government knows that times change and now the gripping social issue is the anti-immigrant/anti-Islam popular street protests. Soon the anti-Israel protests could become a mere side show only really promoted by Sinn Fein given the pressing ramifications of mass migration. So, in the meantime certain politicians will rile against the occupation, purported genocide and pass paltry sanctions against insignificant produce from the West Bank. All the while making hand over fist in money with the Israelis where it really matters in tech.  (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).

The tide has Changed

By David Passmore • July 31, 2026
The Tide Has Changed Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The America that Netanyahu touched down on is a changed America. The death of Lindsey Graham represents a changing of the guard. Graham was a staunch Israeli ally who will most probably become an increasingly rare breed in Washington. Sixty percent of Americans now hold a unfavourable view of Israel which politicians are finding difficult to ignore. It was once unthinkable to believe that New York City with such a strong Jewish electoral base and influence on all sectors of economic and cultural life would have a mayor that is so hostile to Israel to such an extent that he is calling for the arrest of its Prime Minister. From all accounts Netanyahu was cordially welcomed at the White House. The official press release stated that the talks were constructive. What is more telling is what was left unsaid particularly concerning the proposed sale of F35's to Israel's new regional adversary -Turkey. Trump is keen to find a swift resolution to the Iran War, while Netanyahu is opposed to a premature departure. When the US and Israel initiated their attacks on Iran over five months ago, Trump and Netanyahu appeared united in the War's goals and purpose. But as the protracted conflict has staggered to topple the Iranian regime fractures have emerged. Much has been said about the imminent political realities both leaders face. The Republicans could take a big hit in the November midterm elections should the war continue and global energy markets be negatively impacted. Netanyahu is anxious to demonstrate a big win to the Israeli public with the upcoming October election. In Israel, the Iran War is not viewed in isolation, but rather as an extension of the response to the colossal disaster of the October 7th massacre. Netanyahu must rehabilitate his reputation as a competent steward of national security having had the greatest loss of civilian life in an attack happening under his watch. Aside from the Iran issue, Trump is being pressured by Erdogan to insist upon Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory pre-emptively seized by Israel following the toppling of Assad. Trump has also indicated disapproval of the extent of continuing Israeli measures against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, questioning the proportionality employed. Netanyahu is not in an envious position. Throughout his tenure and political career, he lauded his ability to engage successfully with the American public by zealously advocating Israel's position. Yet under his government Israel's reputation has plummeted in the US. Trump may be the last US President to extend such overwhelming bilateral support to Israel. The days of politicians like Lindsey Graham are fast ending. While John Fetteman and Marco Rubio appear to be remaining more solid, even some of the most warmly inclined leading Republican and Democrat voices like Donald Trump and Rahm Emanuel have nuanced their support for Israel. The tide has shifted and will at best level off if not continuing to shift further.  (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).

The Saudi Nuclear Deal: An attempt to alter the Regional Balance of Power

By David Passmore • July 24, 2026
The Saudi Nuclear Deal: An attempt to alter the Regional Balance of Power Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The initiative to develop a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia with US assistance isn't new. There were concrete plans discussed towards these ends during the first Trump Administration. The recent announcement to actualize this deal follows the geo-political regional tumult in the wake of the Iran War. Several dimensions of motivation underlie the US decision. An overarching US strategic agenda is to keep the Saudis firmly in the American sphere of influence. Washington knows all too well that the Chinese and Russians are eager to offer their nuclear technical assistance to the Saudis in order to draw them closer to their camp. On a personal note, the nuclear agreement is a significant achievement for Bin Salaman. The Saudis have long had designs to diversify their energy supplies. Having a civilian nuclear program also adds prestige to Saudi Arabia as an emerging market economy. For the US, a monopoly on contracting companies for the requisite construction offers lucrative economic opportunities. Although the Civilian Nuclear deal does not allow the enrichment of Uranium, the Saudis will be in a position to do so if Washington gives the green light. This will act as a counterbalanced threat hanging over the Iranians. After the recent flare up of renewed fighting with Iran due to their lack of adherence to the moratorium of understanding, something had to budge in Trump's estimation. A reconfiguration of the power balance in the Gulf by introducing the potential of Saudi Arabia to be able to acquire nuclear weapons shifts the dynamic and places further pressure on Iran to strictly abstain from nuclear proliferation. Despite Israeli concerns about the agreement, Trump sought to assuage their alarm by making it contingent upon Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with them. Given the inherently unstable nature of an autocratic Saudi regime Israel views a diplomatic relationship with the Saudis as being on precarious footing in the long term. Israel is already forced to contend with the implications of one nuclear armed Muslim state - Pakistan and it will further weaken its own deterrent capability if another similarly capable hostile neighbour were to emerge in the future. The roles of Turkey and Qatar in all this foray are a wild card. Officially Turkey is served under the NATO nuclear umbrella for defence that is subject to US control. However, its civilian nuclear program remains in its infancy. Now with the Saudi deal, Erdogan may be inclined to exert pressure on the US to help accelerate his own nuclear program. Just as Erdogan's efforts to acquire F35 fighter jets from the US greatly disturbed Israeli military planners, a heightened Turkish nuclear ability will intensify this fear. Qatar views itself as pursuing its own independent foreign policy that has managed to remain rather neutral during the current war, thereby escaping the ire of Iran's strikes on US regional assets. Overall, the Qatari government has grown closer to the Turkish vision for the region and so likely isn't particularly amiable to the Saudi agreement. Ultimately the Saudi deal is a gamble. Many will see it as throwing more fuel on the fire which will further imperil the tinder box region and heighten tensions. But Trump finds himself at a continuing impasse with a stubborn regime in Tehran that is leveraging their geographic hold on the straits of Hormuz to inflict damage on the global energy markets. Iranian strikes upon US Arab regional allies have underscored the de facto alliance between Israel and the Arabs against Iran and its Shia proxies. The US hopes to use the Saudi nuclear deal as a means of making this alliance official by having Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords as a pre-condition.  (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).

Circling the Wagons

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).

A Divided Nation

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).

Why Is It Always Israel? | Zechariah 12 Is Happening Before Our Eyes

By David Passmore • June 29, 2026
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Pray for South Africa!

By Mea Fredrickson • June 23, 2026
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