Christians for Israel Australia

Scripture

Masada and God’s prophetic fingerprint

Masada and God’s prophetic fingerprint

Apr 14, 2016

Deep inside a bleak and arid wilderness, rearing up from the cracked limestone foundations of the lowest place on earth, its ragged walls aloof and separated from the mountain range behind it, the awe-inspiring natural rock fortress of Masada towers over the Dead Sea Valley floor. One thousand nine hundred and forty three years ago, at the dramatic height of its history, Masada marked the last stand of the Jewish people. Or so it surely seemed at the time. For the fewer than 1000 souls atop the mountain, as they watched the inexorable ascent of the Roman ramp that heralded captivity or death, it was all over. From Judea through Samaria, to the faraway hills and valleys of the north, their land smouldered in ruins. During five years of brutal revolt and brutal suppression, Rome had laid Israel waste. Jewish blood reddened the Mediterranean; their corpses choked the Galilee Sea; Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, had been taken, the houses rifled, the women ravished; the God of Israel’s Temple had been burned to the ground. Masada is a colossal memorial to the destruction of a nation – the tombstone of ancient Israel. That such a place, a marker of such apparent finality […]

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The Controversy of Jewish Roots

The Controversy of Jewish Roots

Apr 7, 2016

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven…” The words of Jesus (Yeshua) in Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV What do we understand about the Jewish or Hebraic Roots of Christianity? Having grown up in a Gentile Christian home and preparing for ministry in a Gentile Christian church, little thought was given to the context of the early church in its Jewishness and Torah observance. After all, the only available scripture in the 1st century was the Hebrew Scriptures as we know them. It wasn’t until about 30 years ago that I realised the significance of the destiny of Israel in the light of Bible prophecy and a short time later the significance of the early church being totally Jewish […]

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Anzacs, Israel & Australia’s destiny – a need for balance

Anzacs, Israel & Australia’s destiny – a need for balance

Apr 1, 2016

Photo of Anzacs from AWM: “Australian light horsemen riding waler horses. The soldiers are of the original contingent of the Australian Imperial Force and the photo was taken prior to their departure from Australia in November 1914. The soldier on the right is Trooper William Harry Rankin Woods, 1st Light Horse Regiment, who died of wounds on 15 May 1915, one of the first light horsemen to die during the Battle of Gallipoli.” I recently re-read an article I wrote in 1992 entitled ‘The Anzacs and Israel’ which had been published in several Christian magazines and circulated around Australia and New Zealand. It portrayed a somewhat patriotic ANZAC perspective – which I now realise was not entirely balanced. At that time I was working as a local guide at Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem specialising in British, European and Protestant involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean 1798-1948. This article reflected my attempt to present the significant contribution which ANZAC soldiers had played in helping to lay the foundations for the establishment of Israel – as part of the bigger geo-political picture. This perspective was aided through also conducting In Step with Allenby and the Light Horse tours from Jerusalem, down […]

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Pro-Israel Biblical Declaration

Mar 18, 2016

An important statement of pro-Israel Christian beliefs in relation to Israel was prepared last year by a core group of pro-Israel Christian leaders in Australia. It should not be identified in any way as the official position of any particular organisation – rather, it is an attempt to provide a clear, uncompromising, simply-expressed Biblically-based statement making clear where we as Israel-supporting Aussie Christians stand. This statement (see bottom of this article) is grounded firmly and primarily in God’s Word, and was drawn up in the light of compelling Biblical arguments in support both of Israel’s right to sovereignty over Judea and Samaria and of the indivisibility of Jerusalem, as well as a fundamental rejection of the ‘classic’ two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, viewed increasingly by many as now ‘dead in the water’. In addition, the increasing level of political activity and negative posturing by the United Nations and by many nations of the world on Israel’s right to her God-given land, as well as the positive and powerful heritage of the Anzac legacy, contribute to making this a vital matter on which Australian Christians must now make a clear and uncompromising stand. There are many […]

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Understanding the Feasts of the Lord

Understanding the Feasts of the Lord

Mar 1, 2016

For centuries there has been controversy, particularly in Gentile Christian thinking regarding the Biblical feasts and festivals that the Jewish people have upheld for millennia and by way of contrast, what most Christians have upheld traditionally in Sunday observance and Christmas and Easter celebrations. The origins of the Jewish feasts are clear and precise in scripture as being God given, Holy convocations (special assemblies) which were intended by Him to be eternal. Most Christians have dismissed these God- given festivals as Old Testament and only for Israel and many believe that if New Testament believers should observe them in any way, we could be placing ourselves under law and in effect negate the New Covenant bene ts in our lives. If we believe that the Body of Christ (Messiah) is consistent with Paul’s description in Ephesians 2, we should at least be looking for a level of mutual understanding on these important issues with our Messianic brethren. Firstly let us look at the festivals which God introduced and called His own from Leviticus 23 THE FEASTS OF THE LORD… SABBATH / SHABBAT “And the LORD spoke to Moses, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: The feasts […]

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Is Syria, an End Times Rehearsal?

Feb 20, 2016

Did you know at least one Arab source declares Israel has just seven years before being wiped off the map? Bassam Jarrar, a Palestinian Sunni Islamic scholar published ‘End of Israel 2022’ in Arabic. It was translated by discoveringislam.org Jarrar wrote the rst draft of his book in Lebanon, after being deported from Israel in 1993. He wrote: ‘Arab Muslims will re-enter the Al-Aqsa mosque for a second time, after destroying the Jewish state… the rst temple was destroyed in 586 BC… the forces that will re-enter Jerusalem will destroy, kill and tear apart everything that comes under their control.’ While some will interpret scriptures and events to suit a particular agenda the late Derek Prince said: ‘One of the major themes of Biblical prophecy is the destiny of Israel. From the birth of Israel as a nation to the final consummation of her destiny, every major stage has been predicted by her own prophets.’ (Prophetic Destinies, Derek Prince, Creation House.) Jesus said He will return to Jerusalem, His holy city. (Luke 21:24) So we can be certain Jerusalem remains and is in Jewish hands on that great and awesome day. Years ago a Syrian journalist interviewed on Palestinian Authority […]

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Stringing Pearls

Stringing Pearls

Feb 7, 2016

What exactly is ‘stringing pearls’? Yeshua taught from the Old Covenant Scriptures and He used techniques that were common practice by Rabbis and teachers for hundreds of years. One of those techniques (stringing pearls) was called ‘Gezerah Shevah’ or ‘Comparison of Equals’ which basically means that a passage of Scripture can expand on another passage of Scripture if they share the same word. In other words, Scripture interprets Scripture. Chuck Missler has referred to this as ‘expositional constancy’. So as part of their study practice, Rabbis would look for places in the Bible where the same words were used and then see if and how they might be connected. They must never contradict each other or undermine the plain meaning of the text because God would never undermine His own Word. The connection is from the Hebrew rather than the English rendering. Yeshua ‘stringing pearls’. When Yeshua was asked by a young Pharisee which was the greatest commandment in the Torah, He responded by saying: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as […]

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