This Generation - Afrikaans

April 1, 2025

Hierdie Geslag!

Mat. 24:34‐: “Voorwaar Ek sê vir julle, hierdie geslag sal sekerlik nie verbygaan voordat al hierdie dinge gebeur het nie.”

Hierdie vers en die woorde: “Hierdie Geslag” uit die Olyfberg rede het al tot baie spekulasies, misverstande, profetiese uitlatings en voorspellings aanleiding gegee wat nie gewerk het nie.

Die word aangeneem uit die verhaal van die Eksodus dat die geslag wat in die woestyn omgekom het veertig jaar geduur het, dit sou beteken dat ‘n Bybelse geslag dan veertig jaar moet wees.

Hierdie idee was deur Hal Lindsey in sy groot verkoopstuk “The Late Great Planet Earth,” uitgedra waar hy gespekuleer het dat iets apokalipties in ‘n veertig jaar siklus vanaf die geboorte van Israel moet gebeur.

Die Gees van Waarheid en die gees van dwaling

Daar is twee weergawes van die foutiewe verklaring van die woord “hierdie geslag”? Die eerste gaan oor ‘n beweging met hulle Post Millennialisme siening en hulle moderne volgelinge, die Koninkryk Nou en die Oorwinnaars bewegings (Die dwaling dat die Kerk die wêreld moet oorwin voordat Christus kom om Sy Koninkryk op te rig, Christus sal kom vir ‘n triomferende kerk.) Dit is egter ‘n direkte teenoorgestelde wat die Woord van die Here leer. Jesus kom nie VIR ‘n triomferende kerk nie maar MET ‘n triomferende kerk, ‘n Kerk wat weg geraap is. Dit is die SAAD van die vrou wat die slang se kop verbrysel en nie die vrou, die Kerk nie. Romeine 16:20: “En die [God van vrede] sal die Satan spoedig onder julle voete verbrysel.?” Dit is die Wederkoms van Jesus wat die finale oorwinning ‘n finale oorwinning maak.

Post? Millennialiste vergeet dat die vroeë Apostoliese kerk voor die Raad van Nicia byna almal pre millennialiste was. Daar was ketters soos Soirthis, wat ‘n pre millennium volger was, maar daar is geen indikasie dat die apostoliese kerk geglo het aan enigiets anders as dat daar ‘n letterlike Millennium regering van die Here Jesus sal wees nie.

Nadat Konstantyn die Romeinse Ryk verchristen het en die kerk deur Augustinus van Hippo geplatoniseer is om die sogenaamde verchristening van die Roomse Ryk te akkomodeer, het hulle ‘n nuwe Eskatologie nodig gehad; ‘n nuwe leer basis om die Laaste Dae te verklaar. Terwyl Jesus gesê het dat Sy Koninkryk nie van hierdie wêreld is nie het die “Christendom” gesê o’ ja dit is! Dit is die oorsprong en die basis van die dwase denkrigting van die post millennialisme.

Inderdaad sal die sagmoediges die aarde beërwe, maar as daar nie ‘n aarde is nie hoe sal hulle dit beërwe? En vir die idee dat die kerk die aarde gaan oorneem, en dat Satan alreeds vir ‘n duisend jaar gebind is, moet daar gevra word: Wanneer het die duisend jaar van vrede dan begin?

Diegene wat Augustinus volg glo nie aan die Y2K nie maar aan Y1K? die dwaling dat Christus sou teruggekeer het aan die einde van die eerste Millennium. Met die aanbreek van 999 n.C. het mense begin om hulle grond, geld en kastele, ens. aan die Pous en die kerk te gee. Ons weet egter dat Jesus nie in 999 n.C. onder Pous Sylvester gekom het nie, en niemand het hulle geld terug gekry nie! Dieselfde mense, soos Gary North in Amerika, het begin om die idee van Y2K aan te blaas met wilde dwase spekulasies oor die wederkoms van Christus. Daar was mense soos Brae in Amerika, en ander wat probeer het om te beweer dat die gebeure van die Olyfberg rede totaal in vervulling gekom het in 70 n.C. met die verwoesting van Jerusalem.

Hulle het beweer dat “ Hierdie geslag” moet diegene insluit wat in die lewe was toe Christus op die aarde was en wat die vernietiging van die Tempel gesien het. Dit sou ongeveer 40 jaar later gewees het wat hulle sou gepas het. Maar in vers 21 sê Jesus dat daar ‘n Verdrukking sal wees wat van die fondasie van die wêreld af nie sal wees nie en ook nie weer sal wees nie.

Daar was ander verdrukkinge vir beide die Jode en die kerk wat baie swaarder was as dit wat in 70 n.C gebeur het toe die Romeine die tempel verwoes het, so het hierdie verklaring deur die toets van die geskiedenis gefaal. By dit alles is die Olyfberg rede nie net Mat. 24 nie maar Mat. 24 en 25. In 70 n.C. het Jesus nie die bokke van die skape geskei nie ook het die Here nie aan die mense hulle ewige beloning gegee wat gebaseer word op dit wat hulle met hulle talente gedoen het nie.

Wat seker is? is dat die dinge wat in 70 n.C. gebeur het ‘n voorspel, ‘n skaduwee was van dinge wat in die laaste dae gaan gebeur daarom is dit belangrik om dit te bestudeer.

In 70 n.C. was die kerk uit Jerusalem gered onder die leierskap van Simeon, ‘n neef van Jesus wat Pastoor was van Jerusalem nadat die Apostel Jakobus gemartel was. Hulle het gevlug na ‘n plek met die naam van Pella wat ook ‘n tipe was van die wegraping, net soos wat dit gebeur het op Pinksterdag is dit ‘n voorbeeld wat in die laaste dae gaan gebeur. Maar nie dit wat Joel gesê het en dit wat ons lees in Handelinge 2, ook nie dit wat ons lees in Mat. 24:29 het in 70 n.C. gebeur nie: ??“die son verduister word, en die maan sal sy glans nie gee nie??” dit het net gedeeltelik in vervulling gekom. Daar was ook nie ‘n unieke Groot Verdrukking voor of na 70 n.C. nie, dit is dinge wat nog gaan kom wat gebaseer is op die gebeure van 70 n.C. met die uiteindelike vervulling met die Wederkoms van Jesus.

Die gelykenis van die vyeboom en die ander bome

Die ander misverstand met betrekking tot “hierdie geslag” is die pre? millennialiste wat besef dat dit ook ‘n toekomstige betekenis het en hulle gebruik dit om datums te bepaal. Hulle glo met reg dat daar ‘n toekomstige vervulling van die Olyfberg rede gaan wees, dat daar ‘n Antichris sal wees, ‘n terugkeer van die Jode na Israel, en ‘n toekomstige 1000 jaar regering van Jesus op die aarde.

Hulle neem die gelykenis van die Vyeboom in Mat. 24:32?34 “??? Wanneer sy tak al sag word en sy blare uitbot, weet julle dat die somer naby is. So weet julle ook, wanneer julle ál hierdie dinge sien, dat dit naby is, voor die deur. Voorwaar Ek sê vir julle, hierdie geslag sal sekerlik nie verbygaan voordat al hierdie dinge gebeur het nie.” En hulle gebruik die veertig jaar konsep in die Eksodus vir ‘n geslag as basis en die feit dat Israel in Mei 1948 weer ‘n volk geword het en dan bereken hulle: 1948 na ‘58 na ‘68 na ‘78 na 1988 en kom tot die gevolgtrekking van ‘n datum vir die Wederkoms. ‘n Persoon met die naam van Edgar Whisenant het ‘n boek geskryf: “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988.”

In 1987 op Yom Kippur, die Joodse dag van Ootmoediging was daar ‘n Baptiste fundamentalis prediker van Amerika wat op Speakers Corner in Londen gestaan het en vir Moslems vertel het dat hy binne 48 uur weg sal wees, en natuurlik was hy na die datum nog daar, hy het ‘n openbare gek van homself gemaak en vernederd die land verlaat. Maar die volgende jaar het dieselfde man weer na vore gekom met nog ‘n datum, hy het gesê: “Dit was nie in 1987 nie maar 1988” Hierdie mense was nie hierdie hiper charismate nie, hulle was fundamentele Baptiste! Hulle het gekke van hulleself gemaak deur om datums vir die Wederkoms te bepaal wat nie gewerk het nie en daarmee het hulle ook ‘n bespotting van Bybelse Profesie gemaak.

Baie mense verstaan dat die hergeboorte van Israel die Vyeboom is wat begin bot, maar is dit?

Daar is geen twyfel dat die terugkeer van die Jode na die nasie Israel ‘n profetiese merkwaardigheid is nie; die verhoog word opgestel vir die Groot Verdrukking ? ha tekufot tsorat Yacov – soos wat Jeremia die profeet sê: “? 'n tyd van benoudheid vir Jakob? (Jer. 30:7) Daar is geen twyfel dat Israel deur die Antichris mislei gaan word nie. Daar is ook geen twyfel dat Israel weer terug gekeer het vir wat Daniël sê die 70 ste Week nie, daar is geen twyfel dat hierdie dinge besig is om te gebeur nie. Maar is hierdie dinge die enigste betekenis van die vyeboom? Het hierdie beeldspraak dalk ‘n ander betekenis?

Wanneer die Heilige Gees ons ’n meervoudige weergawe gee van dinge dan moet ons dit deeglik ondersoek, biddend en ons moet alles bestudeer in die lig van vergelyking van al die weergawes.

In hierdie geval het ons nie net Mat. 24 en 25 nie maar ook Lukas 17, 21 en Mark 13. Jesus het nie gesê: “Wanneer julle die vyeboom sien”? punt? nie! Hy wys vir ons: Leer die gelykenis van die

vyeboom EN die ander bome, nie net die vyeboom nie. Die gelykenis van die vyeboom en die ander bome kom van uit Boek Rigters 8?9.

Die seuns van Gideon, 70 van hulle, was deur Abimeleg uitgewis en net Jotam, wat die gelykenis van die vyeboom en die ander bome geken het? het die bedrieër herken.

“Toe sê al die bome vir die steekdoring: Kom jy, wees koning oor ons!” (Rigt. 9:14) Die Steekdoring wou omdat die olyfboom dit nie wou doen nie omdat die wingerdstok dit nie wou doen nie. Aan die einde maak die ongeloof en ontrouheid van God se mense die ‘n pad oop vir die bewind van die Antichris. Dit is die uiteindelike betekenis van die vyeboom.

In Judaïsme is die vyeboom ‘n metafoor van die boom van die lewe ? Eytz Hayim? dit wat ons sien in ‘n millennium konteks van Esegiël 47 en die skeppings verhaal in Genesis, en dit wat ons sien in die einde van die Boek Openbaring. “En die blare van die boom is vir die genesing van die nasies.” In die Bybel is vyeblare ‘n metafoor vir goeie werke. Ongeredde mense sal altyd probeer om hulleself te regverdig deur hulle goeie werke.

Elke “godsdiens” is vasgestel op ‘n werke gebaseerde regverdigheid. Die regverdigheid van die Evangelie is nie gebaseer op werke nie, Christene doen nie goeie werke om gered te word nie, hulle doen goeie werke omdat hulle gered is.

Daar is meer aan die vyeboom as die nasie van Israel maar die hoof aspek van Israel met betrekking tot die Vyeboom is dat Jesus die vyeboom vervloek het. Hoekom? Omdat hy blare gehad het maar nie vrugte nie. Israel het die werke maar nie die vrugte van die Heilige Gees nie.

Die blare verskyn gewoonlik dieselfde tyd as die vrugte. In die Midde Ooste sal die son die vrugte verbrand as die blare hulle nie beskerm nie. Geloof sonder die werke is dood. Maar dit was nie die seisoen vir vye toe Jesus gekom het nie! Die Seun van die Mens kom op ‘n tyd dat niemand dit verwag nie.

Maar die dag en die uur weet niemand nie

Jy kan nie die Wederkoms van die Here bereken op die basis van ‘n geslag van 40 jaar nie, ook kan jy nie die dag bepaal op die basis van die hergeboorte van Israel nie. Ons kan ook nie spekuleer dat dit net Jerusalem beteken nie en begin bereken vanaf die tyd dat die nasies nie meer Jerusalem sal vertrap nie. In 1967 het die Jode beheer gehad oor die Tempelberg, dus vanaf 67?77, na 87 na 97? dus sal dit in 2007 wees en sal Jesus terug wees omdat Jerusalem nie meer deur die Nasies vertrap is nie.

Maar Jesus het gesê totdat die tye van die nasies vervul is, maar Jerusalem is nog steeds onder die voete van die Heidene. Die Israeli Generaal Moshe Dayan het ‘n eensydige beheer oor die Tempelberg aan die Moslems gegee. Die Moskee van Omar, met ‘n opskrif uit die Koran wat sê:

“God het nie ‘n Seun nie”? is op die Tempelberg, net so die Moskee van Al?Aqsa. Dit is nog steeds onder die voete van die Heidene, die tye van die nasie is besig om uit te loop? maar dit is nog nie verby nie.

Na hulle Soort

Dit is nooit wys om te spekuleer oor die Wederkoms van Christus nie en die korrekte verklaring oor “hierdie geslag” het komplikasies. Ons het die Hebreeuse woord Dor en Min?Dor la Dor? “van geslag tot geslag.” Dor is ‘n biologiese geslag; Min is? “van ’n soort” soos verwys na die Boek Genesis.

God het die spesies na hulle soorte geskape? let op die onmoontlikheid van Darwinisme.

Daar is absoluut geen bewyse dat ‘n hersaamgestelde DNS oor die genus grens in die natuurlike omgewing verander nie, en nou dat die Mens begin het om betrokke te raak in biogenetiese ingenieurswese en die oordrag van DNS oor die genus grens? loop ons die gevaar om monsters te ontwikkel. Dinge kan baie maklik verkeerd loop en alle dinge wat die gevalle mens vir boosheid kan gebruik? sal hy gebruik!

Kan kernkrag energie vir ‘n goeie doel gebruik word? Ja, maar die gevalle mens sal dit ook vir verkeerde dinge gebruik, dieselfde met biogenetiese ingenieurswese. Die wêreld is in die hande van die Bose.

As hulle spesies kan kloon of nuwes kan uitvind gebaseer op verkillende DNS vermengings dan kan ons nie langer seker wees dat die monsters waarvan ons lees in Openbaring net simbole is nie maar ook ‘n werklikheid! God het hulle gemaak na hulle soort of? “Min” in die Hebreeuse Teks, en nie basters nie.

Daar is nou rotte wat al 1% menslike breins het as gevolg van biogenetiese veranderinge. Kan u dink wat gaan rotte doen met ‘n menslike denke? Die teoretiese moontlikhede kan nie buite rekening gelaat word nie. Min is ‘n soort van en is ook die wortel van die Hebreeuse term vir seks en seksuele reproduksie? minee. Maar, geslag? dor? is ‘n heel ander Hebreeuse woord. Die probleem kom wanneer ons hierdie Hebreeuse term in Grieks weergee.

Die woord gennao in Grieks is baie naby aan min. Jesus is die monogenes? “die eniggeborene.”

Gennao beteken “begotten? eniggebore.” Dit is ook die wortel van die woord Genesis. Maar die woord wat in Mat. 24 gebruik word is genne[ a ] en nie genna[ o ] nie. Die konteks en sy aansluitings bepaal wat dit beteken.

Daar kan twee moontlike betekenisse wees. Dink aan die Engelse woord “blue.” Dink aan ‘n blou beker, dit is duidelik hy is blou, dit verwys na die kleur. Maar “blue” in Engels is ook ‘n metafoor om sleg te voel. Daar is ook ‘n soort musiek wat deur die swart Amerikaners uitgevind is naamlik die “Blues.” Rhythm & Blues is ook ‘n soort Joodse musiek, dit is beide opgewek en ook terneergedruk.

Wat beteken blue dan? Is dit ‘n kleur of is dit ‘n metafoor vir om sleg te voel? Wel, die omstandighede sal dit verklaar. So is dit in die geval van gennea. Gennea kan byna ‘n sinoniem wees vir gennao, wat van die selfde soort beteken omdat dit betrekking het op die gemeenskaplike afstamming. Om gebore te word uit dieselfde oorsprong kan byna ‘n sinoniem wees vir gennao, of dit kan ‘n bestek van tyd beteken of dit kan ‘n metafoor soos “blue” wees.

Byvoorbeeld: Daar is ‘n vliegtuig wat 747 genoem word. Hulle word al vanaf 1960 gemonteer.

Die volgende generasie (geslag) sal die 787 wees, ‘n vliegtuig wat aanmekaar vanaf Rio de Janeiro na Tokyo kan vlieg, dit is die volgende generasie. (geslag) As ons ‘n 747 neem wat in 1968 gemonteer is en 20 jaar terug geskroot is, en ons neem een wat in 1995 gemonteer is en wat nog vlieg, dan is hulle nog steeds van dieselfde generasie / geslag, hulle is van “dieselfde soort.” Dit is die 787’s wat die volgende generasie / geslag is. Op dieselfde manier kan die betekenis van gennea vasgestel word, deur die woord verband.

In Mat. 24:34 beteken dit “van ‘n soort” omdat ons ‘n geslag van Jesus is. Hy is die monogenes? die Eniggeborene van die Vader? en die Kerk is saamgestel deur hulle wat wedergebore is. Ons is gebore in ‘n geestelike opset, ons is gebore uit dieselfde soort, wedergebore uit die Gees, en ons is van dieselfde soort. Wat Mat. 24 vir ons sê is dat die Kerk nie sal nie verbygaan nie, diegene van hierdie soort wat uit Jesus gebore is sal nie verbygaan totdat al hierdie dinge gebeur het nie.

Hierdie gebeure sal hulleself herhaal maar op ‘n baie groter skaal as dit wat in 70 n.C. gebeur het.

Dit is wat die pre millennialiste nog altyd geglo het, maar die post millennialiste kan dit nie begryp nie.

Die oordele oor Egipte en die gebeure wat plaasgevind het in die Boek Eksodus is ‘n beeld van wat met die hele planeet in die Laaste Dae gaan gebeur. Dit is ‘n herhaling, maar dit beteken nie ‘n geslag van veertig jaar nie.

Wie het ons Boodskap geglo?

Hierdie dinge het tot groot verwarring aanleiding gegee wat veroorsaak het dat Christene, ware gelowiges geminag is. Hulle het geëindig waar die seun geëindig het wat wolf, wolf uitgeroep het, in hierdie fabel het hy so baie wolf? wolf uitgeroep dat toe die wolf regtig daar was het

niemand hom geglo nie. Netso sal Satan as hy nie mense kan mislei nie, sal hy hulle in dinge soos die Y2K of die wegraping in 1982 / 1993 laat deel neem. Hoe meer Satan valse alarms kan uitstuur hoe meer sal mense dit nie glo wanneer die ware alarms begin weerklank nie.

Hierdie dinge word nie noodwendig deur mense met verkeerde motiewe gedoen nie, maar deur Christene wat graag die regte dinge wil doen. Maar in plaas daarvan om die regte klanke uit te stuur blaas hulle ‘n valse basuin soos wat Paulus in Korinte waarsku en wanneer dit kom by die ware basuine gaan niemand luister nie.

Ons het nou gekom by ‘n punt waar onmoontlike dinge begin gebeur. In ons moderne media aangedrewe samelewing kyk die wêreld vandag na Hollywood inplaas van na die Kerk. Daar is flieks soos die “End of Days” met Arnold Schwarzenegger, mense kry hulle eskatologie daarvan!

Mense sal dink: “Wel dit kan nie die Antichris wees nie.” “Dit kan nie van ‘n profetiese belang wees nie; die prent was nie so nie.” Moet nie dink dat mense nie so sal reageer nie, daar is baie mense wat so gaan dink.

Wat erger is as die wêreld wat na Hollywood kyk, is dat wedergebore Evangeliese Christene hierdie dinge omhels soos die onbybelse film: “The Passion of the Christ.” Hierdie prent was deur ‘n man gemaak wat ‘n self erkende tradisionele Katoliek is, wat erken het dat die prent nie net op die Evangelies gebaseer is nie maar ook op die openbaringe van ‘n Rooms Katolieke mistieke vrou Anne Catherine Emmerich. In hierdie prent dryf Mel Gibson met sy eie hande die spykers deur die metacarpus van Jesus inplaas van die radius, wat natuurlik inpas by die RKK superstisie van die stigmata.

Mel glo ook nie dat dit nodig is om in Jesus Christus te glo vir redding nie. (Dit is heel duidelik dat hy nog nooit tot redding en bekering gekom nie.) In sy onderhoud met Diane Sawyer, Maandag, die 18 de Februarie 2004 was dit soos volg: Diane: “ Toe ons met Gibson en sy akteurs gepraat het? het ons gewonder, sou dit beteken dat met sy (Gibson) se tradisionele siening, dat die deur na die Hemel geslote is vir Jode, Protestante, Moslems?

Mel Gibson: ??“Dit is glad en geheel nie die geval nie. Dit is moontlik vir mense wat nie eens Christene is nie om in die Koninkryk van die Hemel in te gaan, dit is net makliker? ek moet dit sê want dit is wat ek glo.”

Diane Sawyer:?? “Ons het ‘n geen stop kaartjie?”

Mel Gibson:???“Wel, ja, ek sê dit is ‘n makliker rit van waar ek is en ek moet dit glo.”

In Augustus 2004 was daar deur ‘n Australiaanse koerant man ondersoek gedoen na wat se impak die film “The Passion” op Mel se lewe gehad het, hy het gesê: “Ek het nou baie meer geld as wat ek ooit gehad het en ek het nie nou meer nodig om sulke vrae te antwoord nie.” Met

ander woorde hy het die fliek gemaak om geld te maak? ‘n Bybelse en historiese onakkurate film. Die Evangelie sê: ? “want as julle nie glo dat dit Ek is nie, sal julle in jul sondes sterwe.” (Joh. 8:24) As iemand nie wedergebore is nie kan hy nie in die Koninkryk van Hemel ingaan nie.

By dit alles sê “wedergebore” Evangliese predikers dat hierdie prent baie goeie Evangelisasie materiaal is? As die Kerk na Hollywood toe gaan vir haar Evangelie hoekom sal ongeredde mense nie Hollywood hardloop vir hulle eskatologie nie?

Wanneer die ware dinge begin gebeur, wie gaan dit glo? Die tekens van die tye en wêreld gebeure toon duidelik dat Christus se Wederkoms baie naby is. Afval en misleiding in die kerk is ‘n baie duidelike teken. Dit is merkwaardig hoe vinnig die ekumeniese beweging, gelei deur agente van Lucifer soos Chuck Colson, wedergebore Christene se voete onder hulle uit geslaan het met die idee dat die Roomse kerk Bybels is.

My moeder se familie is Katoliek, maar jy moet wedergebore wees; redding is nie deur sakramente nie, nie deur ‘n ex opera operato ritueel nie. Om vir die dooies te bid is die sonde van towery, transubstansiasie is kannibalisme en afgodery. Die Apostels het die drink of eet van bloed verbied, maar as geredde Christene nie deur ‘n Chuck Colson kan sien nie, wat gaan gebeur as die ware misleiding kom? As geredde Christene nie deur hierdie valse akteurs en geld predikers, mammon aanbidders wat hebsug ‘n deugsaamheid noem, op die TV kan sien nie, wat gaan hulle doen wanneer die ware vervalser kom?

Die Hebreeuse profete vertel vir ons dat een van die dinge wat ons in die Laaste Dae moet doen is om die basuin na ons mond toe bring, soos wat ons lees In Joel 2: Blaas die basuin op Sion, blaas die basuin op my heilige berg.

In hierdie boodskap se historiese opset het dit te doen met die inval van Nebukadnezar, die Babiloniese leër, die sprinkane is ‘n beeld van die Babiloniese inval. In Openbaring 9 sien ons ook die demoniese leërmag van die Antichris. In die Vineyard beweging en hulle denominasies soos die Holy Trinity Brompton in London? spring hulle rond en sing:

“They run on the city, they run on the walls, great is the army who carries His Word.” Hulle sing oor die Babiloniese leërmag van Satan en die Antichris en hulle dink hulle sing oor hulleself? Die Kerk triomfeer!? Uitvindsels van mense onder die inspirasie van Satan.

Want ons is almal ook deur een Gees gedoop tot een liggaam

Dit is waar, hierdie geslag sal nie verbygaan totdat al hierdie dinge gebeur het nie. Wel hierdie dinge is besig om te gebeur. Ons is hierdie geslag, wat beteken dit?

Beteken dit dat dit ‘n waarborg is dat jy in die lewe sal wees wanneer Jesus kom? Nee, miskien kan jy, miskien ek ook, miskien ook nie? maar dit sal diegene wees wat uit God gebore is, hulle wat wedergebore is, die gennao? wat van “die soort is,” dit is hulle wat hier sal wees wanneer dit gaan gebeur wanneer Hy kom, en Hy kom!

As Hy nie gou gaan kom nie sou Satan nie so vasberade gewees het om so intensief misleiding te versprei nie, en wat van al die vele valse leraars en profete in hierdie geslag?

Daar is geen Bybelse logika vir wederkoms datums in die jaar 2000 of in die jaar 1000 of in 1988 nie. Netso om te beweer dat Jesus se Wederkoms in die Jaar 2007 moet wees.

Ware Christene moet hierdie dwalende spekulasies oorlaat aan kultus leiers soos die JW’s, wat dit verdien om gekke in die openbaar van hulleself te maak deur die bepalings van datums.

Die enigste ding wat ons verseker kan weet is dat Hy verseker binnekort gaan kom!

Maranata? kom gou Here Jesus! †††

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
New Paragraph

Disclosure - A Christian response

By David Passmore • June 22, 2026
THE CAPTION AT THE HEAD OF THE POSTER IMAGE FOR THE MOVIE ‘DISCLOSURE DAY’ BOLDLY DECLARES ‘WE DESERVE TO KNOW’ Indeed, we do need to know the truth. But will we find it in Stephen Spielberg’s new movie ‘Disclosure Day’? Could it just as well be entitled ‘DECEPTION DAY’? In an interview with USA Today Spielberg says that evidence of non-human contact has become “overwhelming” to him. He has suggested that his film could raise significant theological questions for Christians. But will it? For us Christians - No, not on our watch! The movie raises no questions for those who accept the proven accuracy of God’s Word, the Bible. The film, which is capturing the imagination of the public, only confirms exactly what scripture tells us about what are in fact extra-dimensional beings. ALIENS OR FALLEN ANGELS? God inhabits the heavenly realm along with a vast array of angels. Because Lucifer, a created angel, wanted to usurp God as ruler of the universe, he was expelled to another realm outside of our time and space, along with one third of the angels who rebelled with him. These fallen angels manifest themselves as demons who can appear on earth and disappear at will. Spiritual hosts of wickedness exist in heavenly places, wherever this realm is, it is not the place where God dwells. ARE ALIENS BENEVOLENT? In the movie, the ‘aliens’ are portrayed as friendly beings who want to help mankind in a time of crisis. If the aliens are really demons, not visitors from outer space, this is a dangerous delusion. Whitley Striber in his book ‘Communion’ writes on encountering ‘aliens’; ‘I felt an indescribable sense of menace. Whatever was there seemed so monstrously ugly, so filthy, so dark and sinister. Of course they were demons. They have to be.’ Many others have reported similar malevolent experiences. During the movie, Daniel claims to have had an encounter with extra-terrestrials during which he received a special gift of empathy, which is regarded by him as the ultimate superpower. However, there is only One who completely understands our human frailty. We read this concerning Jesus: ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin.’ (Hebrews 4 v 15). Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 v 28) END TIMES DECEPTION Before he was crucified, Jesus warned his disciples about these last days in which we are living. The first words he used in this context were: “Watch no one deceives you. For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Deception was top of the list! Later, the Apostle Paul wrote about these days: ‘The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.’ (2 Thessalonians 2 v 9) Have you received the love of the truth? Have you received Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life? If not, you are in great danger. Perilous times are here and they are only going to get worse as man turns more and more away from his maker. Things will only change when Jesus returns soon to establish his own Kingdom on earth, where justice and peace will rule. JESUS, OUR ONLY HOPE! The Bible says all human beings are sinners. The message of Jesus is simple; repent and believe the good news, that God wants humanity, his highest creation, to be reestablished in relationship with him. His plan was simple: to give his life in unconditional love for every human being that has and ever will live, by shedding his blood on a Roman cross. In doing this, we can receive forgiveness of sins. Our old life will then be buried with him, giving us new life with the hope of an eternal future of true peace, love and joy, with freedom from pain and tears. Why ignore such a great gift of salvation? If you do, your fate will be sealed for eternity in hell, which is a real place without God, and thus without love, to face only eternal consequences of punishment. We condemn ourselves to such a fate. REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! Jesus loves you and asks that you repent and believe in him. It would be the best and safest decision of your life! If you commit your life to him, he will give you a new heart, you will be a new person inside. You will also gain a new desire for all that is right and true. And his Holy Spirit will give you an ability to discern the lies of the age we are living in. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only son, that whosoever believes in him, will not perish, but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) FINALLY, A RECOMMENDATION  All that is described in this leaflet has been open, in the light for millennia. On the other hand, the theory of extra-terrestrial life has been hidden in darkness, awaiting ‘Disclosure Day’. Which would you prefer to believe, the Word of God, or the word of Stephen Spielberg? I made my choice years ago, and have never regretted it! If this message has spoken to you, just call upon Jesus in a short prayer. Confess to him that you are a sinner in need of salvation. Ask him in sincerity to forgive you and to fill you with his Holy Spirit. You will then become what the Bible describes as being ‘born again’. (John 3 v 7) Then you need to seek a Bible believing church where you can be baptised and become part of a group of believers who can help you get to know Jesus more and more fully. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8 v 32)

Prayer request for Teerth Sond

By David Passmore • June 20, 2026
Prayer request for Teerth Sond Petitioned Prayer-Supplication/Personal Prayer/ Collective Prayer/Thanks Giving Prayer Our Dear brethren in Yeshua, my family & myself Teerth request your prayers in The Spirit that the latest drugs Ramicirumab & Pacilitaxel will destroy the cancer cell in the Authority Of The Lord Yeshua in The Power of The Holy Spirit. Targeted Petition: Please stand with us in prayer & fasting; The Lord will target the 2cm legion & that it will be cast out of my Liver in the love (agape), compassion, kindness, grace, mercy of God. I do not deserve it because of me- but By His Stripes we are healed for His Glory. This will allow the main operation to go ahead (which should have been done 18 months ago). Step by Step in the leading of The Holy Spirit and the in the Lord Step by Step, as our beautiful sister Beryl said, has worked on my Spiritual man- thank you Lord for waking me up. Lord raise me up for your glory forever because of your love to me, the family & fellowship- an unworthy sinner saved by your grace & love. Email sent to my Oncologist & my Local MP: Greetings Natasha & Dr Mano Joseph Hope All Is Well Thank you for our meeting today. At our meeting we discussed my MRI & CT scans which were done in May 2026. We discussed the operation on my oesophagus which I believe is the best option. (This should have been done 18 months ago). My Kidney operation will be done- non evasive- Lord willing within the next month. Will you be talking to Mr Chacravaty about this? The liver must be targeted first- this is wisdom and the latest radiotherapy treatments available- proton therapy-radiotherapy atezolizumab and bevacizumab sorafenib lenvatinib regorafenib cabozantinib durvalumab and tremelimumab At the meeting we discussed the next CT & MRI scans to be held end off July. Wouldn't it be to better to have them in August so by then I've had 4 full treatments on the latest medication. Also we have Zolbetuximab on compassionate usage- all glory to The Lord. After all the past wrongs I have no doubt now Dr Joseph you will pursue the best for me and family. Dear brethren- King Manasseh, David, Hannah, The Church For Peter, James, The Lord Jesus Christ for example made petitions onto the Lord. We pray as one body to cast off the illness in the Power of The Holy & The Authority Of Yeshua. The Great Physician who came for the ill. To lay out raised hands 🙌🏽 upon the head of our Lord. ABBA/Daddy/Lord in your mercy have mercy on us. Love you all in Yeshua our Lord & God. Teerth, Family & Fellowship

The End of an Extended Honeymoon – Are Trump and Netanyahu Parting Ways?

By David Passmore • June 19, 2026
The End of an Extended Honeymoon – Are Trump and Netanyahu Parting Ways? Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM  The Israeli public had high hopes for Trump. Unlike his predecessors, he consistently endorsed Israeli measures of self-defence in the different theatres of conflict in which it had to contend. Further to these ends Trump shared in Netanyahu’s determined agenda of preventing the Iranians from pursuing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. During Trump's first term he tore up Obama's negotiated settlement with the Iranians concerning enriched Uranium, echoing Netanyahu’s position that it didn't go far enough. Now in his second term Trump partnered with Israel in a war with Iran that turned out to lack clearly defined goals. The campaign required resolve on the part of America that it wasn't willing to commit. After an initial lightning blitzkrieg that decapitated the Iranian leadership, the Persians dug in and the conflict became a protracted war of attrition hinging on Iran's stranglehold on the straits of Hormuz that could only be realistically lifted by placing boots on the ground or an intensified air war directed against Iranian coastal positions and the destruction of Kharg island, or at least the viable threat to obliterate Kharg island if Iran did not acquiesce. It transpired that Trump and Netanyahu underestimated the resilience of the Iranian regime, thinking that it had already received a near mortal blow during the prior popular demonstrations. So now we are left with a situation where Trump is exasperated with this protracted endeavour and appears to be aiming his frustration towards Netenyahu. A sticking point is Israel's continued occupation of Southern Lebanon. Iran is insistent that Israel withdraw its forces from there as a precursor to fully committing itself to a final status agreement with the U.S. to put an end to its nuclear aspirations. With the midterm elections looming Trump seems to be desperate for an exit strategy from this war. From Israel's perspective the fight against Hizbollah is an inextricable part of the Iranian equation. The IDF has invested massive resources and personnel in the hopes of quashing the Iranian proxy once and for all. Netanyahu is determined to build on the momentum achieved after the spectacular pager attack in 2024. After the catastrophic Hamas massacres of October 7th, the majority of the Israeli public is unwilling to tolerate a capable hostile force on its borders. Trump's proposed solution to this dilemma unrealistically suggests that Syria should take on the role of disarming and removing Hizbollah from Lebanon. In the ultimate reckoning of international relations, America doesn't have iron clad allies, but rather interests like any other nation. If, (as appears to be occurring now) U.S. and Israeli interests fail to align the two countries will cease to act in unison and there may be a rupture in relations on the not-too-distant horizon. Trump has indicated that Israel owes him big time. He has asserted that were it not for his decisive actions they would have been obliterated by Iran's missiles. This is nothing to say of the robust diplomatic support Trump has lent Israel in such forums as the United Nations Security Council and sanctioning officials of the International Criminal Court. Netanyahu is acutely aware of what may be next after Trump. The way public opinion is turning against Israel it is unlikely that the next administration is going to be any way near as friendly as Trump has been thus far to Israel. Trump too of course is mindful of this turning tide opposing Israel. The Iran war has been unpopular to his domestic audience, and the President has been caricatured as Netanyahu’s stooge doing Israel's bidding. Another major consideration for Trump is the colossal impact that the war has had on his other major regional allies: the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia. They have received the brunt of the Iranian backlash that has effectively targeted their energy infrastructure and trading routes. They, along with the Europeans have been exerting pressure on Trump to end the conflict and reopen the Straits of Hormuz regardless of whether the most favourable terms of Iranian capitulation are achieved. Israel, however important a strategic asset and technological powerhouse will not override these broader concerns that are endangering global energy markets. An unspoken factor is Trump's propensity for a belligerent severing of his relationship with allies in the political sphere. His public displays of hostility with former political allies such Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Ron Santos and Elon Musk demonstrate a temperament that the same kind of falling out could invoke with strategic allies as well as those political. Both Trump and Netanyahu are approaching the sunset of their political careers and are naturally inclined to deeply consider the legacies they will leave behind. In the international sphere Trump projected himself as a peacemaker from a position of strength. But as many commentators have pointed out, the war with Iran demonstrated the limits of U.S. power. Trump appraised Iran as low hanging fruit that could be swiftly toppled like Venezuela. However, when push came to shove and the only prospect of landing a decisive blow demanded a massive ground offensive on the scale of the Iraq war, he bottled out and sued for a premature peace that will leave Netanyahu in the cold. Netanyahu is anxious to rehabilitate the injury inflicted on his reputation of the greatest disaster to have occurred in Israel's history having happened on his watch. Eliminating Iran as the great regional adversary pulling the strings of its proxies would have done much in this regard. Neither leader is able to craft their legacies as they would have wanted. Trump is choosing the perceived option of mitigating the damage done to his legacy in foreign affairs. He is trying hard to sell his Iran deal as being more than what Obama bargained in terms of guaranteeing a nuclear free Iran. But as further details of his proposal are leaked this is becoming a tall order. Netanyahu is faced with October elections and he may decide to stay the course in Lebanon as otherwise he will seem weak to most voters. Should this happen, we will be in uncharted waters as it will thwart Trump's designs for an immediate end to this affair.

The Battle for Israel's Reputation

By David Passmore • June 17, 2026
The Battlefield for Israel's Reputation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Israel has enjoyed strong U.S. support since its founding. Within eleven minutes of Israel's Declaration of Independence Truman recognized the Jewish State. Under the Kennedy administration the Pentagon sold advanced missile systems to Israel. However, it was the 1970 attempted PLO takeover of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan that demonstrated to the U.S. Israel's regional prowess and indispensability for implementing Washington's agenda. During Arafat's attempted Coup Syria mobilized its forces on the Jordanian border in support of the PLO's bid to dislodge the ruling Hashemite dynasty. Upon Washington's direction the IDF also mobilized its army upon its border with Jordan, thereby deterring the Syrians from taking further action. From then, the Pentagon and U.S. military planners invested heavily in promoting Israel's defence. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War disaster Nixon's massive air lift came to Israel's aid. For decades U.S. diplomatic and military support for Israel was a non-partisan issue. Both Democrat and Republican members of Congress voted nearly unanimously in support of measures concerning Israel. However, in the mid 2010's this began to change. To the extent that now 80% of Democrats hold views in opposition to Israel and this is reflected in how their representatives are acting. It is difficult to praise an exact moment when this turning point occurred. For years Democrat grassroots activist groups across the nation were lobbying their local representatives about their attitudes to Palestine and the mass student protest movements following the Gaza war built upon this momentum. The dual standards by the academic establishment were riddled with hypocrisy as if by the same criteria Israel is condemned for its responsive self-defence counter attacks in Lebanon and Gaza, Britain and America would be similarly indicted for what they did to Dresden, Hamburg and Berlin in response to Hitler. This is facilitated by the funding of Western Universities by Qatar and other Islamic interests associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. There is alienation between Israelis and the traditional left-centre Jewish Diaspora in the U.S. with a third of New York Jews voting for Mandani a vehement anti-Zionist in the New York Mayoral election. This is counterbalanced by a growing Jewish Right in America led by Ben Shapiro, David Ruben, Dennis Prager, Mark Levin and Trump advisor Steven Miller who are in political harmony with the Evangelical Right. The Republicans are also approaching a crossroads. Just as the Democrats have been hijacked by the Woke Left there has emerged a virulently anti-Zionist Woke Right led by Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and Candace Owen who are also attempting to hijack the Republicans. What is alarming here, is the fact that the majority of young Republicans under forty now hold an unfavourable view of Israel. So, it is very much a matter of fighting for the future of the Republican Party. The growing populist movements in Britain and Europe may counter the anti-Zionist and anti- Semitic political activities of the Muslim vote and their left-wing allies. In any eventuality, even if the least favourable trajectory of U.S. public opinion were to further materialize it is unlikely to dismantle the massive military and intelligence sharing cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. The Pentagon views Israel as far too big of a strategic asset in a volatile region to cut ties with. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

Urgent prayer request - India

By David Passmore • June 10, 2026
MAJOR PRAYER REQUEST - STEVE MITCHELL MORIEL ORPHANAGE (Andar Pradesh, INDIA) Please read the enclosed missions report from Moriel Missions Branch India: Our children need us and we put a lot of money into buying and then expanding the Moriel orphanage to take in more children. These precious orphan children are coming to Christ and the devil is angry. Until now we had opposition from radical Sheikhs at the Moriel Horeb church we built in Punjab, but the Hindu Authorities in Andar Pradesh have largely until now left us alone. The BJP government is however as wicked as Hamas or Hezbollah - only Hindu (I was in India when radical Hindus burned the Australian missionary family alive in their car; these are the ones who wanted to murder Steve Mitchell when Moriel helped to quickly get him out of the country some years ago). Some pastors have been murdered again in West Bengal. (Samuel, who oversees the Moriel orphanage went to Bible College with one of them). Because our orphan children are Dalet (treated as subhuman 'out casts' by the Hindu caste system), or from Muslim backgrounds, we have largely been been left alone and some of the local officials liked us. This is obviously not a good situation. Prayer is urgently requested. Please pray for Mark Masih particularly that they will not cancel his visa. They are now forbidding us from bringing any more bibles into the country. What would happen if Britain, Australia, or America outlawed Hindus from bringing the Bhagavad Gita into England, Oz, or the USA? MARANATHA Come Quickly Lord Jesus  "You Will Be Hated By Men For My Name's Sake" Matthew 10:22

Staying the course amidst isolation

By David Passmore • May 30, 2026
Staying The Course Amidst Isolation Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM Living in Israel one gets the feeling that the metaphorical walls are closing in. Israel's reputation is being tarnished all over social media and the mainstream media, and this is reflected in massive public disdain towards this country. We are constantly told that there is near consensus amongst academics and commentators that a genocide was committed in Gaza. The very legitimacy of the state is brought into question. The majority of Americans are now hostile towards Israel. There is real fear that the next U.S. administration will turn against Israel. Even if this were to happen passively, by the U.S. refraining from exercising its veto power towards Security Council Resolutions condemning Israeli actions this could be catastrophic. Internally it is a fractured society leaning increasingly right wing which further alienates Israel from world opinion. An example in point is how Ben Gvir mocked the most recent participants of a global aid flotilla to Gaza. Such conduct further agitates outrage at Israel. The left-wing media presents the ruins of Gaza as a mortal wound in Israel's side. When the world observes this level of carnage no degree of public relations can ameliorate the sense of indignation towards Israel. We can liken the situation of Israel to that of a depressed person. All he sees is hopelessness and gloom. But this isn't the first time that the Jewish nation has been faced with such darkness. Things change and we don't know how the geo-political map will reconfigure in the future. We need to ride out this storm and keep going. On a historical note, the situation is reminiscent of what our ancestors faced when we returned from the Babylonian exile to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was faced with constant lies and conspiracies designed to entrap him by hostile actors: Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab. They employed deception, slander and ridicule in order to maintain their political eminence. There was also a certain sense of abandonment amongst the Jews in Israel then as in our own day. We read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah about the anguish of the leadership in Israel concerning the lack of assistance from the Babylonian diaspora towards the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple. Only 20% of the exiles returned to the land. It was largely the poor who returned. Most of the affluent, established Jews remained in Exile. This is a continuing theme in Jewish history. It is also important to observe that from its very beginnings there were bible believing Christians who spearheaded the return of the Jews to their land. The idea of organizing a return of the Jews to Israel began as a Protestant Restorationist objective that can be traced to 17th century Puritan England. The protagonists of the Cromwellian Republic viewed themselves as the new Israel fighting the Papist forces of Satan. Alongside this, interest grew in the notion that biblical prophecies pertaining to the return of the Jews to Israel were a necessary precursor for the return of Christ. The growth of the British Empire in the 19th century lent political clout to Christian Restorationism with specific missions to the Jews established. Although there had been a longing to return to Israel as written in the thrice daily Amidah prayer, Jewish Zionism arose in the midst of mid nineteenth century nationalism and was further fermented by European antisemitism. It was an altogether secular enterprise. Although Israel's situation appears rather stark, we can draw strength from the Providence afforded to our ancestors in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah when they too were faced with defamation. This is also an opportunity to grow closer to our natural allies in the evangelical world who from the beginning of Zionism were steadfast supporters of the project to establish a Jewish homeland in Israel.  (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).