Typology of the Dietary Law - Afrikaans

April 1, 2025

Tipologie van die Dieet Wette.

“Kyk, daar kom dae, spreek die Here HERE, dat Ek 'n honger in die land stuur, nie 'n honger na brood nie en nie 'n dors na water nie, maar om die woorde van die HERE te hoor.” (Amos 8:11)

Wat in die laaste dae gaan gebeur is aan ons vooruit gesê deur gebeure wat alreeds in die geskiedenis gebeur het. Spesifiek wat met Israel in die laaste dae gebeur het voordat hulle in ballingskap weggevoer is en ook wat gebeur het tot en met die Romeinse verwoesting van Jerusalem in 70 nC. is voorbeelde van die finale laaste tyd van die Laaste Dae.

In hierdie tye was daar en sal daar weer hongersnode wees en soos wat ons weet dat gedurende tye van hongersnood sal mense enige iets eet om te oorleef. Reëls en voorsienigheid en voorkeure word vergeet wanneer mense honger genoeg raak. Maar dit is belangrik om op te let dat die fisiese hongersnode van hierdie tye en die wat nog moet kom, simbole is van die meegaande hongersnood van die Woord van God.

In die voorbeelde van Samaria, Juda en Israel in 70 n.C. het die mense nie net letterlik gesterf van die honger nie maar ook geestelik as gevolg van die feit dat hulle nie die Woord van God ontvang het nie. Net soos wat ‘n sterwende persoon enigiets sal eet om aan die lewe te bly sal ‘n geestelike sterwende persoon ook na enige lering gryp wat normaalweg nie goed is nie, wat geen voedingswaarde bevat nie en wat die honger ook nie sal versadig nie. Bybels gesproke word die verskil tussen goeie lering en valse lering uitgedruk as rein en onrein.

(Lees Levitikus hoofstuk 11 voordat jy verder gaan. In hierdie studie word die teks nie streng in vers volgorde gevolg nie.)

Lev. 11: 44?47: “Want Ek is die HERE julle God; toon dan dat julle heilig is en wees heilig, want Ek is heilig; daarom, verontreinig julle self nie deur enige ongedierte wat op die aarde kruip nie. Want Ek is die HERE wat julle uit Egipteland laat optrek het om julle God te wees. So moet julle dan heilig wees, omdat Ek heilig is. Dit is die wet oor die diere en die voëls en al die lewende wesens wat roer in die water en aangaande al die wesens wat op die aarde wemel, om te onderskei tussen wat onrein en rein is, en tussen die diere wat geëet en die diere wat nie geëet mag word nie.”

V: Wat beteken dit om “geheilig” te wees?
A : Die woord “toegewy” (consecrate) in Hebreeus is " qadash" en word ook vertaal as “geheilig.” Dit is om iets uit sy eenvoudige staat, aardse omgewing uit te haal na ‘n afgesonder sfeer. Iets wat skoon en aanvaarbaar gemaak word om in die teenwoordigheid van God te kom vir diens. Op die mees basiese vlak is ‘n gewone item “onrein” en ‘n geheiligde item “rein”.
V: Hoekom is dit belangrik dat die opdrag sê: Toon dat julle heilig is— “ Heilig julleself”?
A: Alhoewel God die reëls vir mense voorsien en stipuleer vir dinge wat afgesonder en skoongemaak moet word, word dit gedoen deur keuse. Dit ons wat KIES of ons geheel en al toegewyd wil wees. Dit gebeur nie in die teenwoordigheid van die Here nie maar in die voorbereiding om in die teenwoordigheid van die Here te kom vir aanbidding en diens.
Punt : Oorweeg ander Skrifte met betrekking tot die verhouding tussen die Woord van God en voedsel.

“En Hy het jou verootmoedig en jou laat honger ly en jou die manna laat eet wat jy en jou vaders nie geken het nie, om aan jou bekend te maak dat die mens nie van brood alleen lewe nie, maar dat die mens lewe van alles wat uit die mond van die HERE uitgaan.” (Deut. 8:3)

“Hoe is dit dat julle nie begryp dat Ek nie in verband met brood vir julle gesê het om op te pas vir die suurdeeg van die Fariseërs en Sadduseërs nie? Toe het hulle begryp dat Hy nie gesê het dat hulle moes oppas vir die suurdeeg van die brood nie, maar vir die leer van die Fariseërs en Sadduseërs.” (Mat.

16:11?12)

“En Jesus sê vir hulle: Ek is die brood van die lewe; wie na My toe kom, sal nooit honger kry nie; en wie in My glo, sal nooit dors kry nie”. (Joh. 6:35)

Toepassing:

Verstaan jy dat hierdie wette bedoel is om ons te leer om te onderskei tussen rein en onrein, en tussen die eetbare dinge en dinge wat ons nie mag eet nie, en dat dit nie beperk is tot fisiese voedsel nie maar ook geestelike voedsel?

Is jy bereid om jou politieke korrektheid eenkant te sit om hierdie soort onderskeidings te kan maak? Sien jy die nodigheid om jouself voor te berei, om te kies om jou self te heilig as ‘n voorbehoude om in die teenwoordigheid van God te kom? Bespreek die volgende Skrif of dit van toepassing is vir dit wat ons hier bespreek.

“En dit bid ek dat julle liefde nog meer en meer oorvloedig mag word in kennis en alle ervaring, om die dinge waar dit op aankom, te onderskei, sodat julle rein en vir niemand 'n aanstoot mag wees nie, tot op die dag van Christus, vervul met die vrug van geregtigheid wat daar is deur Jesus Christus tot heerlikheid en lof van God.” (Fil. 1:9?10)

Waarneming:

Diere word deurgaans in die Skrifte gebruik, nie net vir geestelike dinge en omstandighede nie, maar ook heel dikwels om ons te leer oor die kwaliteite en die natuur van Jesus. In die res van hierdie hoofstuk leer die “rein” diere ons iets oor die Messias, ‘n duidelike voorbeeld van om die Lam te wees, en die onrein diere verteenwoordig die valse leraars / leiers, soos wanneer valse leraars as wolwe beskryf word.

Eerstens: Wat KAN ons eet?

Lev. 11:1?3: “En die HERE het met Moses en Aäron gespreek en aan hulle gesê: Spreek met die kinders van Israel en sê: Dit is die diere wat julle mag eet van al die viervoetige diere wat op die aarde is. Alles wat onder die diere gesplitste kloue het, en wel heeltemal gesplitste kloue, en herkou dit mag julle eet.”

V: Wat is sommige van die dinge wat aanvaarbaar is om te eet? Hoe kan hulle ons leer van die Messias?

  1. Die Lam . “??Dáár is die Lam van God wat die sonde van die wêreld wegneem! (Joh. 1:29) Die Paaslam is ‘n simbool van die Messias.
  2. Bok: Die Yom Kippur sondebok was ‘n beeld van die Messias.
  3. Vleis: . Soos die van Osse, die sterke sal vir die swakke sterf soos wat die onskuldige vir die skuldige gesterf het. [Daar is baie meer voorbeelde in die Skrifte as wat hier bespreek word, doen jou self die guns en ondersoek dit.]

Lev. 11: 9: “Dit mag julle eet van alles wat in die water is: alles wat vinne en skubbe het in die water, in die seë en in die riviere dit mag julle eet.”

V: Wat is sommige van die dinge wat aanvaarbaar was om te eet? Hoe leer dit ons van die Messias?
A . Vis: “En die HERE het 'n groot vis beskik om Jona in te sluk; en Jona was drie dae en drie nagte in die ingewande van die vis. (Jona 1:17) Jesus Self wys vir ons dat Jona se 3 dae in die vis ‘n teken van Sy geloofwaardigheid is.
V: Verse 13?19 praat van onrein voëls. Wat is die voorbeelde van onrein voëls, hoe tipeer dit die Messias?

A) 1) Kuikens: . “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, jy wat die profete doodmaak en stenig dié wat na jou gestuur is, hoe dikwels wou Ek jou kinders bymekaarmaak net soos 'n hen haar kuikens onder die vlerke bymekaarmaak, en julle wou nie! (Mat. 23:37)

  1. Duif: “ En Johannes het getuig en gesê: Ek het die Gees soos 'n duif uit die hemel sien neerdaal, en Hy het op Hom gebly.” (Joh. 1:32)
  2. Lev. 11: 20? 22 : “Al die insekte met vlerke wat op vier pote loop 'n gruwel is hulle vir julle Maar die volgende mag julle eet van al die insekte met vlerke wat op vier pote loop: wat bokant die pote springbene het om daarmee op die grond te spring. Van hulle mag julle die volgende eet: die treksprinkaan volgens sy soorte en die boomsprinkaan volgens sy soorte en die springer volgens sy soorte en die voetganger volgens sy soorte.”
  3. V: Wat is sommige van die dinge wat vir ons aanvaarbaar is om te eet? Wat leer dit ons van die Messias?
  4. A : Sprinkane: “En Ek sal julle vergoed die jare wat die treksprinkaan, die voetganger, die kaalvreter en die afknyper verslind het??my groot leërmag wat Ek teen julle gestuur het.” (Joel 2:25) Wanneer mense hulle bekeer dan sal die Here dit herstel wat die sprinkane opgevreet het.
  5. Dit wat ons NOOIT mag eet nie.
  6. Lev. 11: 4?8: “Maar die volgende mag julle nie eet nie van die wat herkou en van die wat gesplitste kloue het: die kameel, want hy herkou, maar het geen gesplitste kloue nie onrein is hy vir julle; en die das, want hy herkou, maar het geen gesplitste kloue nie onrein is hy vir julle; en die haas, want hy herkou, maar het geen gesplitste kloue nie onrein is hy vir julle; ook die vark, want hy het gesplitste kloue, ja, heeltemal gesplitste kloue, maar hy herkou nie onrein is hy vir julle. Van hulle vleis mag julle nie eet nie en aan hulle aas nie raak nie onrein is hulle vir julle.”
  7. V: Hoe verwys onrein dinge na valse gelowe en vals lering?
  8. Kameel: . “Blinde leiers, julle wat die muggie uitsif, maar die kameel insluk!” (Mat. 23:24) Hierdie is slegte geestelike leiers wat op die kleinste onperfekte dinge fokus terwyl hulle die mees uitstaande verkeerde dinge ignoreer, dit is ironies dat beide die muggie en die kameel “onrein” is en ten spyte van hulle valse toegewydheid kan hulle nie die “onrein” dinge vermy nie.
  9. Vark: “Moenie wat heilig is, aan die honde gee nie; en gooi julle pêrels nie voor die varke nie, sodat hulle dit nie miskien met hulle pote vertrap en omdraai en julle verskeur nie.” (Mat. 7:6) Nota: Wat is die betekenis van die verhaal toe Jesus die duiwels in die trop varke gedryf het en van die krans af in die see? (Mat. 8:28?34; Mark 5:1?20; Luk. 8:26?39) Dit is beeld van die oordeel waar die onheiliges na ‘n plek toe gestuur word wat vir Satan en sy engele voorberei is. Diegene wat met die Evangelie spot sal in die poel van vuur eindig.
  10. Donkie . “Jy mag nie met 'n os en 'n esel tegelyk ploeë nie.” (Deut. 22:10) ‘n Herhalende Bybelse lering is om NOOIT die onrein met die rein te meng nie, dit moet apart en rein gehou word.
  11. Wilde donkie . “Want húlle het opgetrek na Assur??'n wilde?esel wat eiesinnig rondloop, is Efraim! ??hulle het onwettige bondgenootskappe gewerf.” (Hos. 8:9) Dit is beeld van diegene wat aan fisiese wellus oorgegee is.
  12. Perd: . “Wees nie soos 'n perd, soos 'n muilesel wat geen verstand het nie, wat 'n mens moet tem met toom en teuel as sy tuig, anders kom hy nie naby jou nie.” (Ps. 32:9) Sulke diere is rigtingloos en hulle verteenwoordig diegene wat van een lering na die ander gaan met geen gesaghebbende rigting of regverdiging nie.
  13. Perd . “Die perd help niks vir die oorwinning en red nie deur sy groot krag nie.”(Ps. 33:17) Daar is diegene wat net op hulleself en of hulle besittings vertrou, hulle is ‘n god vir hulleself.

Lev. 11:10?12: “Maar alles wat geen vinne en skubbe het in die seë en in die riviere nie, van al die gewemel van die water en van al die lewende wesens wat in die water is 'n gruwel is dit vir julle. Ja, 'n gruwel moet hulle vir julle wees; van hulle vleis mag julle nie eet nie, en hulle aas moet julle vir 'n gruwel hou. Alles wat geen vinne of skubbe in die water het nie 'n gruwel is dit vir julle.

V: Hoe verteenwoordig die onrein dinge valse geloof en lering?
A : Skulpvis:. Hulle is naby aan die bodem van die see. Bybels verteenwoordig die see die nasies. Hierdie diere verteenwoordig mense wat so ver in die wêreld afgedaal het dat hulle nie gered sal word nie, hulle is te naby.

Let op die kontras van Christus se belofte: “Ek sal julle vissers van mense maak” (Mat 4:19) waar mense uit die nasies uit die see gered word en in die koninkryk van God.

Lev. 11:13?19: “En die volgende moet julle van die voëls vir 'n gruwel hou hulle mag nie geëet word nie, 'n gruwel is hulle: die arend en die lammervanger en die aasvoël; en die kuikendief en die valk volgens sy soorte elke kraai volgens sy soorte; en die volstruis en die naguil en die seemeeu en die kleinvalk volgens sy soorte; en die steenuil en die visvanger en die steunuil; en die silweruil en die pelikaan en die klein aasvoël; en die groot sprinkaanvoël, die reier volgens sy soorte, die hoep hoep en die vlermuis.”

V: Hoe verteenwoordig die onrein dinge valse geloof en lering?
  1. Aasvoël . “Want oral waar die dooie liggaam lê, daar sal die aasvoëls saamkom.” (Mat. 24:28) Valse leraars wat op die skape teer en vir hulle niks terug gee nie, is tevrede om die bene kaal te vreet totdat hulle geheel versadig is.
  2. Die Arend: “??? Van ver kom hulle aangevlieg net soos 'n arend wat op sy prooi neerskiet!” (Hab. 1:8b) In realiteit is valse leraars roofdiere.
  3. Die Pelikaan en die uil : . “Ek is soos 'n pelikaan van die woestyn, ek het geword soos 'n uil op die puinhope. Ek is slapeloos en het geword soos 'n eensame voël op die dak.” (Ps. 102:6?7) Diegene wat nie hou van aktiwiteite nie, wat die geestelike vermy, is geestelik leeg en dor, hulle hou van vakuum leerstellings.

Lev. 11: 26?28: “? aan al die diere wat gesplitste kloue het, wat nie heeltemal gesplits is nie, en wat nie herkou nie. Onrein is hulle vir julle; elkeen wat aan hulle raak, sal onrein wees. En alles wat op kaal pote loop onder al die viervoetige diere onrein is hulle vir julle; elkeen wat aan hulle aas raak, sal tot die aand toe onrein wees. Ook hy wat hulle aas dra, moet sy klere was en sal onrein wees tot die aand toe.

Onrein is hulle vir julle.”

V: Hoe verteenwoordig die onrein dinge valse geloof en lering?

1) Die Jakkals: Jesus noem Herodus ‘n jakkals.(Luk. 13:32). Herodus verteenwoordig korrupte leraars.

2a) Wolf: “Maar die huurling en hy wat nie 'n herder is nie, van wie die skape nie die eiendom is nie, sien die wolf kom en laat die skape staan en vlug, en die wolf vang hulle en jaag die skape uitmekaar.” (Joh. 10:12) Daar is sogenaamde pastore / herders net in naam vir wie dit nie ‘n roeping is nie maar ‘n be?roep, soos enige ander beroep. Hulle is huurlinge wat niks met die welsyn van die skape te doen wil hê nie. “Maar pas op vir die valse profete wat in skaapsklere na julle kom en van binne roofsugtige wolwe is. (Mat. 7:15)

  1. Wolf : “Want ek weet dit, dat ná my vertrek wrede wolwe onder julle sal inkom en die kudde nie sal spaar nie.” (Hand 20:29?30) In sy vaarwel boodskap aan die leiers van Efese, praat Paulus van valse leraars.
  2. Hond: “ Want honde het my omsingel; 'n bende kwaaddoeners het my omring; hulle het my hande en my voete deurgrawe. (Ps. 22:16)? Ongelowiges.
  3. Hond: “Want dit sou vir hulle beter wees as hulle die weg van die geregtigheid nie geken het nie, as dat hulle, nadat hulle dit leer ken het, hulle afkeer van die heilige gebod wat aan hulle oorgelewer is. Maar oor hulle het gekom wat die ware spreekwoord sê: Die hond het omgedraai na sy eie uitbraaksel, en die gewaste sog om in die modder te rol. (2 Pet. 2:21?22) Teruggevalle Christene of die saad wat rotsagtige deel geval het, ’n ander uitdrukking van ongelowiges.
  4. Hond: “ Let op die honde; let op die slegte arbeiders; let op die versnyding. " (Filp. 3:2) Valse gelowiges.
  5. Hond: “ Maar buite is die honde en die towenaars en die hoereerders en die moordenaars en die afgode dienaars en elkeen wat leuens liefhet en doen.” (Op. 22:15) Let op die “eenheid” wat die honde saamhou.
  6. Lev. 11:29?30: “En die volgende is vir julle onrein onder die ongediertes wat op die aarde wemel: die mol en die muis en die akkedis volgens sy soorte, en die krimpvarkie en die geitjie en die klipsalmander en die koggelmander en die verkleurmannetjie.”
  7. Q: Hoe kan onrein dinge valse gelowe en lering voorstel?
  8. Verkleurmannetjie: Die Hebreeuse woord vir verkleurmannetjie is "sabua"? iets wat van kleur verander, dieselfde woord wat vir geveinsdes? skynheiliges gebruik word. Eendag staan hulle vir die waarheid en die volgende dag verkondig hulle dwaalleer. “Maar daar was ook valse profete onder die volk, net soos daar onder julle valse leraars sal wees wat verderflike ketterye heimlik sal invoer, en ook die Here wat hulle gekoop het, verloën en 'n vinnige verderf oor hulleself bring;” (2 Pet. 2:1)
  9. Leviatan . “Hy kyk alles aan wat hoog is; hy is koning oor al die trotse roofdiere.” (“ He looks on everything that is high; He is king over all the sons of pride.) (Job 41:34) Mense geheel en al onder beheer deur eie belange.

Lev. 11: 41?43: “En al die ongediertes wat op die aarde wemel, is 'n gruwel dit mag nie geëet word nie. Alles wat op die buik seil en alles wat op vier pote loop, ook alles wat baie pote het, naamlik al die ongediertes wat op die aarde wemel julle mag dit nie eet nie, want dit is 'n gruwel. Moenie julle self 'n gruwel maak deur enige ongedierte wat wemel nie: julle moet jul daaraan nie verontreinig, sodat julle daardeur onrein word nie.”

V: Hoe kan onrein dinge valse gelowe en lering voorstel?

Slang: Satan as die slang is die verleier soos voorgestel toe die slang Eva verlei het. Pasop vir geestelike verleiding.

Adders: . “Slange, addergeslag, hoe sal julle die oordeel van die hel ontvlug?” (Mat. 23:33) Die godsdienstige leiers in die dag van Jesus was korrup, en dit het gegaan oor geld, mag en self verheerliking. Adders verteenwoordig korrupte godsdienstige leiers.

Toepassing:

Het enige van die bogenoemde beskrywings jou laat dink aan godsdienste, organisasies of individuele? Hoekom dink jy hulle is onrein? Hoe gaan jy dit vir jouself bewys?

Kan jy sien hoekom dit so belangrik is om die oorsprong van die “NUWE” dinge wat in die kerke ingevoer word uit te vind en te verstaan? Hoe voel jy oor dinge wat gebaseer word op ander gelowe soos Joga, New Age, en die labirinte? ens?

Wat is JOU beste persoonlike beskerming? Wat moet jy doen vir ander se onthalwe?

Lev. 11:33?34: “En elke erdevoorwerp waar een van hulle in val alles wat daarin is, sal onrein wees, en julle moet die voorwerp self stukkend breek; enige voedsel wat geëet word waar water op kom, sal daarin onrein wees; en enige drank wat in so 'n voorwerp, van watter soort ook, gedrink kan word, sal onrein wees.”

V: Wat word in die aanhalings vanaf vers 31?40 uitgedruk in verband met hierdie les met betrekking tot rein en onrein lering en leraars?
A : Dit is ‘n lering oor mense wat probeer om onder twee verbonde te lewe, soos die Sewende dag Adventiste of kultusse soos die Ebioniete wat glo dat Jesus die Messias is maar nie God nie. Paulus sê vir ons in 1 Kor. 7 dat ‘n Jood en ‘n heiden nie hulle identiteit moet prysgee nie? dit is egter nie die punt nie. Die punt is dat ons nie moet toegee aan Satan se leuens om mense so ver te kry om onder twee verbonde te probeer staan nie.

Punt: Dit is ‘n manier hoe om al die verskillende variasies te dek van hoe om die bogenoemde dinge? rein en onrein te meng om iets te verkry wat ‘n voorkoms van wettigheid het Onthou: Vermenging word deur die Bybel verbied. Sal jy ‘n glas water drink wat net een druppel gif bevat?

Algemene toepassing:
  • Dink ernstig na oor jou die oorsprong van jou invloede. Is hulle stewig gegrondves in die Bybel of wyk dit somtyds af al klink dit na heel aanvaarbare verhale? Is hulle meer afhanklik van verduidelikings, illustrasies as aan Bybelse verklaring?
  • Wie is die leraars na wie jy die meeste luister? Hoe goed het jy hulle gemeet teen God se standaarde? Kom hulle persoonlike lewe ooreen met die kwaliteit van dit wat hulle praat?
  • Wat sal jy doen as jy ge konfronteer word met die feit dat ‘n organisasie of ‘n persoon by een van die onrein tipes pas wat hier gelys word? Is dit reg om toe te laat dat dinge aangaan as hulle “meestal” reg is of as hulle goeie bedoelings het?
  • Bespreek wat die volgende vir jou beteken in die lig van hierdie bespreking:

“Toe U woorde gevind is, het ek hulle opgeëet, en u woord was vir my vreugde en vrolikheid vir my hart; want u Naam is oor my uitgeroep, HERE, God van die leërskare!” (Jer. 15:16) †††


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