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Conference yukon::christian_v7

Title:The CHRISTIAN Notesfile
Notice:Jesus reigns! - Intros: note 4; Praise: note 165
Moderator:ICTHUS::YUILLEON
Created:Tue Feb 16 1993
Last Modified:Fri May 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:962
Total number of notes:42902

762.0. "According to the Bible, "Israel" belongs to whom?" by COVERT::COVERT (John R. Covert) Tue Jul 25 1995 04:01

This is probably better discussed on a biblical basis here, rather than
in Soapbox.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Claim:
------

  Rabin is giving away the country.

Response:
---------

Rabin can not give away the West Bank; it isn't his.

The United Nations gave away the country when it partitioned the land
and gave half of it to millions of secular Europeans a great many of
whom do not practice Judaism.

Prior to that, a huge percentage of the population were indigent Jews
and those gentiles grafted into Israel by having joined the Church.
Some areas (Bethlehem, Nazareth) were more than 70% Christian Arabs,
who have a biblical right (by virtue of their grafting into Israel)
to share the land with faithful Jews.

The "troubles" have caused the Christian Arabs to emigrate in droves.
And thus the land has been lost to the biblical Israel, both Christian
and Jew.

The biblical solution would be for everyone there to live together,
sharing the land in peace, and forming a new people worthy of being
called God's sons and worthy of the promised land.

/john
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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762.1JULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeTue Jul 25 1995 04:541
762.2ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseTue Jul 25 1995 12:3063
Following the first statement of promise, Abraham received the promise:
 "To your offspring I will give this land"
					Genesis 12:7

On repetition; the promise of the land was specified as the reason Abraham
was ever brought out of Ur of the Chaldees in Genesis 15:7.

The promise of the land was formally restated as part of the covenant,
detailing the full extent, from the Nile to the Euphrates, and superseding
the then inhabitants in Genesis 15:18-21 - cf Isaiah 27:12.

The next restatement of the promise of land of Canaan included its duration
- an everlasting inheritance from God to Israel, for the duration of time :
	"The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, 
	 I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your 
	 descendants after you for the generations to come."
					Genesis 17:8

The promise of the land was repeated to Jacob, as he left for Paddan Aram 
in Genesis 28:13.

God also appoints where everyone is to live, as emphasised in Acts 17:26,
Deuteronomy 32:8, Jeremiah 27:5.

Prophecies concerning the last times refer to Judah and Israel as one in the 
land - Zechariah 12:2,4-5; Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 11:10-13.

The promise is not conditional; it is made to Abraham and his physical 
descendants.  There are many references to God bringing Israel back to the 
land 'from all the nations', in a return which eclipses the return from 
Egypt and from Babylon, and is identified as occurring 'in the last days' 
(see Hosea 3:4-5).  

Until this century, the very idea of Israel being re-established as a
nation was ridiculed by 'orthodox' and godly churchmen. When Israel was
re-established, it gave a new perspective on the utter truth of God's Word,
and particularly on the literal interpretation of prophecy. 

I would be considerably more concerned for the way Rabin is dealing with
Israel were it not for Jeremiah 31:38-40.  These verses detail an outline 
of where the city limits would be built - areas which would not even have 
been considered suitable for building on in Jeremiah's day (the valley 
where dead bodies and ashes are thrown...).  This was apparently the area
apportioned to returning refugees between WW1 and WW2.  Apportioned by non 
Christian and non-Jewish staff, moreover.

The crunch is in the last sentence of Jeremiah 31, following the 
description of the area, which says: 
	"The city will never again be uprooted or demolished."

I'm interested in Rabin's activities, but confident that it is God who will
fulfil His Word; not politians or negotiators.  If Rabin aligns himself
contrary to God's will, Rabin will be moved.  Not God.

I understand that Shamir recognised the Old Testament as holy writings - as 
scripture - while Rabin merely views them as 'literature', only inspired at 
a human level.  

Meanwhile, we need to observe the exhortations of Psalm 122:6 etc, and 

		"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

								Andrew
762.3CPCOD::JOHNSONA rare blue and gold afternoonTue Jul 25 1995 14:323
Wonderful note Andrew, thanks.

Leslie
762.4Let's keep this scripturally based, ok?COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue Jul 25 1995 16:569
>The promise ... is made to Abraham and his physical descendants.

Where does the word "physical" appear in Scripture?

Does Scripture not refer to Christians as Abraham's spiritual children?

Does the scriptural phrase "grafted into Israel" not apply?

/john
762.5ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseTue Jul 25 1995 17:1223
762.6OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallTue Jul 25 1995 18:288
    There's a whole other topic in here on replacement theology and why it
    is not Biblical.  God's covenant with Abraham is a permanent and
    everlasting one.  
    
    btw - the Church has a *LOOOOONG* way to go before we make the Jews
    "jealous" of our Messiah.  
    
    Mike
762.7COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertWed Jul 26 1995 02:425
Nothing I have said indicates that I think Israel is replaced.

Together with the Bible, I say that Christians are grafted into Israel.

/john
762.8OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallWed Jul 26 1995 16:485
    With respect to salvation that may be true, but there are areas where
    they are still distinguished in the Bible.  For examples, Abraham's 
    covenant, the land of Israel, and Daniel's 70 weeks to name a few.
    
    Mike
762.9ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseWed Jul 26 1995 17:1527
762.10The only distinction: those who do God's will & those who don'tCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertWed Jul 26 1995 18:529
Well, I'm neither an amillenialist nor a premillenialist, but a believer
in the one religion that has existed since Adam, the one complete faith
in God: for all his people, for all time, for all the world.

Jesus himself had quite a few things to say about who is a "brother" and
who is a "neighbor", and there is no exclusion and division, but a fervent
prayer that "they all be one."

/john
762.11OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallWed Jul 26 1995 23:213
    God declared also that there will always be a remnant in Israel,
    regardless of what the church is doing.  He must honor the covenant
    with them for Gentiles to even have a prayer.
762.12COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertThu Jul 27 1995 00:015
The only way that will happen is for them to live together, sharing the land
in peace, and together learning what the Gospel actually calls them to do
with the land and each other.

/john
762.13POWDML::FLANAGANlet your light shineThu Jul 27 1995 12:0214
    John,
    
    your view is the biblical view!
    Abraham is the father of both the circumcized and the uncircumsized. 
    There is a steady progression in the Bible from God-the tribal God to
    God the father of all people.  Jesus was very clear in his commandment
    to love.  Not love your neighbor, not love your countryperson, but love
    all, even your enemies.
    
    Perhaps when all the diverse peoples living in Jerusalem learn to love,
    respect, and get along one with another, then the whole world may see
    Jerusalem as a renewed symbol of God's love for all of humanity.
    
                            Patricia
762.14CSOA1::LEECHDia do bheatha.Thu Jul 27 1995 12:4311
    re: .13
    
    That would indeed be a good thing.  I don't see it happening, though,
    until Jesus returns.  According to prophesy, there will be a false
    peace for a while, then blamo!  Israel will be right in the middle of
    WWIII.
    
    Well, that's how I read it, anyway.
    
    
    -steve
762.1543755::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseThu Jul 27 1995 15:4222
762.16COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertThu Jul 27 1995 17:228
>After the fall, the flood, and the separation of the nations, He appoints
>Israel to take His message of law and love to all nations.

And then in the New Testament, He appoints all Christians as new (not
replacement, new, additional) members of the People of God (Israel) to
take the Gospel, the more perfect Covenant, to all nations.

/john
762.17The Divine Message Indicated By 70 7'sYIELD::BARBIERIThu Jul 27 1995 18:4430
      70 weeks.
    
      70 7's.
    
      Now where else have I seen that number?
    
      I believe that, as with individuals, so with corporate bodies.
      The limits of divine forebearance are infinite, i.e. 70 7's
      indicates the rejection by he whom God loves.
    
      Israel sealed her probation.  God could no longer use her as
      a corporate body.  69.5 weeks of years took place at Calvary.  
      Had Israel received the Messiah, she would have been so on fire 
      so as to usher in the closing scenes and the 2nd coming within 
       3.5 years (or within the 70 weeks of years).
    
      But, Israel rejected the Messiah.  And within 3.5 years, she
      killed the first martyr and went on killing more.
    
      70 7's.  Going all the way with God or _all the way without Him_.
    
      As a corporate body, Israel sealed her probation by her own choice.
      The vinedresser (Isaiah 5) was rejected.
    
      This is not to say that many of Hebrew lineage will not be saved.
      Just that as a corporate body, Israel fully rejected the Messiah
      and could not be used by God.
    
    							Tony
                                                 
762.18fwiwOUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallFri Jul 28 1995 00:196
    My pastor just returned from doing 2 weeks of ministry work in
    Jerusalem.  He told me that you just can't comprehend the hate between
    the Arabs and Jews as a tourist.  When you live there and try to blend
    in, the tensions and emotions are mind-boggling.
    
    Mike
762.19In Christ we live, and move, and have our being. JOBURG::FRANKFrank RobertsonFri Jul 28 1995 14:3118
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    What Land Belongs to any man, God owns The cattle on a thousand hills,
    Why be troubled by this. Is Land the kingdom of God or does he not say
    that he shall dwell within the hearts of man. The Land means Nothing,
    It is what is within you, Its Christ in you the hope of glory, Christ
    in you, that makes the difference.
    
    
    I am Not Freeking you out but rather enlightening you to Christ.
    
762.20it matters to GodOUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallFri Jul 28 1995 19:242
    God gave them the land and will restore His kingdom in Jerusalem during
    the millenium.  
762.21My ConcernYIELD::BARBIERIFri Jul 28 1995 19:5214
      I guess my biggest concern about the application of a lot of
      texts to physical Israel is the age-old problem of seeing physical
      into what is a spiritual book.  Kind of like when Jesus said, 
      "Destroy this temple."
    
      I believe that applying a lot of texts to physical Israel removes
      things God is trying to say as pertains a last day complete
      revelation of the gospel and what this revelation accomplishes
      in the hearts of the final generation.
    
      But, I know we all agree that God is love and that He loves Jew
      and non-Jew equally, i.e. infinitely.
    
    							Tony
762.22God isn't finished with Israel yetOUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallFri Jul 28 1995 20:352
    It is equally as dangerous to claim something for the church which was
    never intended to be for the church.  
762.23Personal Conviction...But I Pray I'm TeachableYIELD::BARBIERIMon Jul 31 1995 12:3539
      Yeah, Mike, but we probably ought to give credence to our
      own convictions albeit praying to be teachable.  As per
      this topic, you probably have some interpretation about
      something never being intended for the church that I don't
      share.
    
      I just see it as a spiritual book and everything God intended
      for Israel such as former and latter rains and a land wherein
      only righteousness dwells and the covenant of God's character
      written in the heart - I see these as things Christ longs to
      do in all believers.
    
      And if the word is spiritual, then its ultimate understanding
      is in the spiritual realm which means to me that everything
      spiritual about Israel is a description of something Christ 
      longs to produce in every person on earth.
    
      Just one quick example is Armageddon.  I am amazed that people
      look forward to a physical battle!  One can find mention of
      Megiddo in Zechariah right about the place a people is described
      who see the sin of crucifying Christ.  The battle's in the heart!
      It is the final battle of the temptation to lose faith in the
      face of the intense persuasion of temptation on the mind to feel
      that God could never accept you as hideous as you are.
    
      The above is a good example of what I mean.  Physical wars, physical
      this, physical that, physical Israel.
    
      There's no endtime physical Armageddon.  Its a spiritual inward
      battle fought by the remnant.
    
      You know what I mean Mike.  I see Israel's mistake being replayed
      TOTALLY by Christianity.  Taking a spiritual book and totally being
      blind to its real applications.  Looking to physical temples, etc.
    
      I wouldn't doubt if the sanctuary does get rebuilt.  And if it does,
      it'll be 100% deception.
    
    							Tony
762.24ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseMon Jul 31 1995 13:1243
Hi Tony,

There are two traps one falls into, in totally 'spiritualising' the Bible.

One is in losing the factual origin of actual events.  This leads one to
overlook or ignore the roots of our faith - creation, the fall, the flood,
and what God has done throughout history.  This is an opening through which
the enemy can erode our assurance, and understanding of where we stand, and 
our hold on the faith.

The other is that there is no genuine future promise.  This leads to 
confusion and ignorance, even when prophecies are fulfilled.  Remember 
Matthew 16:3 - Jesus expected people to recognise the spiritual times from 
the physical fulfillments.  The saved are expected to recognise when Jesus' 
coming is imminent from the fulfillment of actual prophecy, as per Matthew 
24, homing in on verse 33.

Every prophecy that has been fulfilled has been clearly understood to be
fulfilled, in a totally literal way.  For instance, the many prophecies
concerning Jesus' death, are more literally fulfilled, even, than people
would expect.  Where God says that something will happen, and He expresses
it in a factual, temporal context, I expect that to be fulfilled, if only
as a guarantee that any spiritual picture would similarly be fulfilled! 

To dismiss Zechariah 12:10 because the physical generation of the
crucifixion has passed, is to miss the point that all mankind is in
rebellion, and has rejected the Messiah, and that the LORD Jesus is offered
to every generation, most of whom crucify Him in their hearts.  Bearing our
sins for us pierced Him more severely than the nails on the cross.  This is
not just spiritualising that verse; it is actually how those who have
rejected the Messiah will feel.  God who created the physical world also
made it to fulfil the actual physical prophecy He writes in His Word.

Isaiah 46: 10-11 says:
   "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still
    to come.  I say: My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please.
                                   ....
    What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that 
    will I do."

God's word has to stand both physically and spiritually.

								Andrew
762.25Yeah, I Overemphasized...YIELD::BARBIERIMon Jul 31 1995 14:5016
      Hi Andy,
    
        OK, I overemphasized the spiritual aspect, but I did so because
        of my concern.
    
        So far as Zech 12:10 is concerned, I hope it is my experience.
        For only then will Zech 13 take place.  I fountain will be
        opened.
    
        As far as I'm concerned, every time we manifest anger, we 
        demonstrate that the sin of the cross is still not completely
        repented of.  (But, this is a digression.)
    
        Its something for all of us to repent from.
    
    						Tony
762.26it's literal unless the Holy Spirit says otherwiseOUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallMon Jul 31 1995 18:534
    Spiritualizing the Book also leads one to symbolically interpreting all
    of the Book Of Revelation as the SDA church does.
    
    Mike
762.27I'm Comfortable With Much SpiritualizingYIELD::BARBIERIMon Jul 31 1995 20:4923
      Hi Mike,
    
        So when Jesus says, "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, it
        must be literal leaven unless the Holy Spirit says so?  When
        Elijah says to Ahab that there won't be any rain except at his
        word, it must be physical rain at all times unless the Holy
        Spirit says so?
    
        Actually, you're right.  The Holy Spirit inspired the statement
        that God's word is spirit.
    
        BTW, Jesus said "Destroy this temple and I will raise it up."
    
        According to your mode of interpretation and realizing they didn't
        have a NT, why shouldn't they have expected Jesus to be referring
        to the earthly sanctuary?  On what basis should they have known
        He referred to His physical body (and far more than this actually).
    
        No physical temple was destroyed and rebuilt in 3 days.  If it 
        happens in the end (if one is rebuilt)...well, there will be many 
        deceptions.
    
        						Tony
762.28ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseTue Aug 01 1995 11:1956
762.29OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallTue Aug 01 1995 21:085
    Tony, in addition to what Andrew put so well, over-spiritualizing 
    ignores context.  I know context is important to you and don't
    understand why you make an exception here.
    
    Mike
762.30My Main ThoughtsYIELD::BARBIERIWed Aug 02 1995 12:5876
      Hi Andrew and Mike,
    
        Thanks Mike for the compliment on context being important 
        to me!
    
        I agree Andrew...where there is an OBVIOUS literal application,
        it should apply (unless, I suppose the prophecy is conditional
        such as Ninevah was).  Ninevah repented and thus was not
        destroyed.
    
        I have two points.
    
        One, we can fall into a trap of expectation of a physical inter-
        pretation.  As an example, consider Jesus' prophecy, "Destroy
        this temple..."  Did the earthly sanctuary get destroyed?  Should
        Israel have known better?  
    
        Do you see what I'm saying?  People expect to see the earthly
        sanctuary rebuilt all the while, the earthly sanctuary did not
        meet the specifications of Jesus' prophecy.
    
        But, Jesus prophecy is actually even more spiritual.  I believe destroy
        refers to the experience of that burden of sin and having the
        sanctuary rebuilt refers to overcoming by faith.  Three days refers
        to that experience.  Three days is a wonderful scriptural study.
    
        So, with this example of 'temple', where does the danger lie?  I
        believe it lies with missing the spiritual and insisting on a
        physical especially as it didn't even take place with regard to
        to the earthly sanctuary in terms of Jesus' own quoted words
        "Destroy this temple."
    
        WE ARE THE TEMPLE!!!  It is the faithful who will be built up 
        in the last days!  Christ will perfect a people!  But, what I 
        see is people rejecting what God most longs to do and in place
        looking to some earthly building in Israel.
    
        Two, the spiritual is usually (if not always) MORE IMPORTANT!!!
        What is more important for me to know?
    
        1) That there was a physical drought in Israel during the reign
           of Ahab and that there would be no rain except at the word
           of Elijah and when that word came, there would be physical
           rain?
    
        or
    
        2) That there is a spiritual drought in Christianity and we are
           dying for want of a better understanding of the gospel for
           the message of the cross is the power and power is what we
           lack.  And there is a message called Elijah which will come
           and when we receive it, the latter rain will come and Christians
           will be ripened in preparation for the harvest and the 2nd
           coming of Christ?
    
        You need not guess as to which is more important to me.
    
        Three, I do not believe we need a specific injunction such as
        "The Holy Spirit said this ought to be taken spiritually" in order
        to understand it as such.  What of the above example with Elijah?
        There are numerous examples.
    
        The tenor of this topic is that the spiritual takes a back seat
        to the physical (and again I am not railing against the beauty
        of *some* physical interpretations and their fulfillments. 
        Christ's physical death and resurrection is a beautiful 
        fulfillment!)
    
        But, to me, the nonexpectation of the spiritual is *dangerous*!
        It was a critical aspect of Israel's demise so far as recognizing
        a transition of covenant and it will be a critical aspect of
        Christianity's demise so far as recognition of the last day
        transition of covenant with the fresh light that will be a part
        of it.
                     
    						Tony
762.31ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseWed Aug 02 1995 13:5735
762.32????YIELD::BARBIERIWed Aug 02 1995 15:056
      Hi Andrew,
    
        I hope from my last reply that you realize I give significance
        to physical fulfillments.
    
    							Tony
762.33ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseWed Aug 02 1995 16:079
762.34Nope Andrew...Don't Believe What You Said About MeYIELD::BARBIERIWed Aug 02 1995 17:2613
      No, Andy, thats not true!
    
      I believe in the literal second coming of Christ, but I also
      believe in a prior 'spiritual' 2nd coming which is one in which
      His character has 'come' in a certain fullness into the heart.
    
      I believe in others as well.
    
      Can you cite where I have stated what you have stated about
      me?  If so, I publically acknowledge my error.  If not, well,
      methinks you were out of line.
    
    						Tony
762.35ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseWed Aug 02 1995 17:4218
Hi Tony,

In citing the example of the drought during the time of Ahab and Elijah, 
you imply that the fact that it happened is insignificant, but that it is 
validated by indicating that Christendom is in a spiritual drought. etc.

This may not be what you meant, but it is what it implied.

In fact, there are many other more directly valid spiritual lessons,
concerning God's mercy and judgement which are sen in this episode, but 
even at times when Christendom is not in drought, that historical event 
occurred, and the more direct lessons apply.

Note that this does not mean I do not anticipate the LORD's return at a
time of spiritual apostacy, but I find this _directly_ taught, for example,
in Matthew 24. 

							Andrew
762.36Your Perception and Not What I Meant (Or Believe)YIELD::BARBIERIWed Aug 02 1995 18:3021
      Hi Andrew,
    
        How do you know what I implied?  Are you telling *me* what
        I meant to infer with my words???
    
        Andrew, you can be wrong sometimes.
    
        Its how you perceived it.  I simply said I found the spiritual
        to be *more* important.  I never said the physical was insigni-
        cant.
    
        It is your perception that it was implied.  But, your perception 
        and what I meant can be two different things. And when you say
        something about me as to how I believe, something implied that
        is your perception and NOT what I meant is 100% irrelevant to
        what my beliefs are.  Thus you err by using such as support.
    
        Really.
    
    							Tony
                                                                    
762.37ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseWed Aug 02 1995 20:5517
Hi Tony,

I could only respond to what I read your note to mean, and I guess I've 
heard too many sermons which use words like that to take away from the Old 
Testament.  It has great value to me as God's Word comes alive.  I know 
that you value the spiritual picture as a living reality; I just feel 
uncomfortable to totally miss the immediate thrust, as I feel that gives 
more body to that spiritual reality.

Naturally, I am even more aware than you that I am very fallible - I have
to spend a lot of my time with me ;-) ...  Glad of your prayers there ...
Incidentally, I hope I don't come over as so arrogant as that.  It's easy
to give a wrong impression in notes, because the typed word doesn't have
inflection etc, and typing in a hurry can come over more curt than it's
meant!  I'm sorry if I've fallen into that trap. 

							Andrew
762.38Thanks AndrewYIELD::BARBIERIThu Aug 03 1995 12:2013
      Hi Andrew,
    
        Thanks for the nice words.
    
        I assure you that I agree that the physical is important.
        I intend not to "totally miss the imemdiate thrust."
    
        I just want that cleared up!
    
        But, I do happen to believe the spiritual is more important
        than the physical.
    
    						Tony
762.39FYI - former Chief Rabbi speaks outOUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallTue Sep 05 1995 20:4914
    Former Chief Rabbi of Israel Takes a Stand
    ------------------------------------------
    "I am surprised that President Clinton, who is known to be a believer
    in G-d and in His Holy Bible, should act against the will of G-d.  This
    is even more puzzling after the President himself confirmed that his
    own pastor had warned him not to harm Israel," said Rabbi Shapira.  The
    rabbi added that if Clinton is rushing to strike a peace deal between
    Israel and the PLO and Syria out of re-election considerations, then he
    must be told that this will have an opposite effect.  "It is highly
    unlikely that G-d will allow someone who supports taking away His
    chosen land from His Chosen People to whom He gave it to keep, to
    remain in a position of power," the former chief rabbi said.
    
    {The Jewish Press, July 28, 1995}
762.40Interesting surprise in the TorahOUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallThu Jan 25 1996 14:0432
The Jewish community, throughout the world, have a scheduled Bible reading
for each week, from the Torah (the first five books of Moses).  In a recent
week the reading was from Genesis chapter 12, to Genesis chapter 17.  The
Jewish synagogues around the world read the same passage each day.  

In the days of Moses the Hebrew writing didn't have spaces between the
letters, the spaces were implied - inferred by the readers - the prophets
and priests, (they knew the passages by heart and had little need for
separation of the words).  It wasn't until the days of Ezra (according to
tradition) that the spaces between the letters were included.

There is a passage in Genesis 15:17 - in the Hebrew - that reads in English:
    
    "And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark,
     behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those
     pieces."
    
    If you shift three of the spaces in Hebrew, the passage says: "An evil  
    fire, fire  <twice>  into Rabin is decreed by God."

THIS is the passage that was being read, by rabbis around the world, ON THE
DAY that Rabin was assassinated by TWO gun shots.

To those of you who have followed the "give up land for peace folly" being
practiced by Rabin and others... open your Bibles to Genesis 15:17 and read
it in English!   God's promises to His people are forever!

IT IS NOT THE SIZE OF ISRAEL THAT IS THE PROBLEM....
IT IS THE EXISTENCE OF ISRAEL!    (it always has been!)

Pray for Israel!
    Mike
762.41ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseThu Jan 25 1996 15:5045
Mike, 

I received a tape recently with a report from a Christian Jew in Israel. It
is a regular ministry - he sends out about 4 per year, to encourage prayer
for Israel.  While visiting Wales, before Rabin's assasination, a praying
man and wife told him that a passage was particularly laid on their heart. 
The passage was from Ezekiel 13 and 14, with particular reference to the 
following two passages:

   "Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and
    there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it
    with untempered morter: Say unto them which daub it with untempered 
    morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and 
    ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
    Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is 
    the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?  Therefore thus saith the Lord 
    GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall 
    be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury 
    to consume it.  So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with 
    untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation 
    thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed 
    in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.  Thus will I 
    accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with
    untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither  
    they that daubed it;
							Ezekiel 13:10-14

14:8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a
    proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall
    know that I am the LORD.

							Ezekiel 14:8

The latter verse puzzled them - thinking it referred possibly to Saddam 
Hussein.  The assasination put it in a different light.

Note - I'm not necessarily endorsing the assassin's claim that he was under 
God's command nor necessarily denying it - only God can ultimately know.
I would think it possible that Rabin's disposition of God's land may have 
taken him out of the area of God's protection, which is a very different 
thing.  I understand that Rabin did not acknowledge the God of his
ancestors, or his Bible (the Old Testament) as any more than 'literature'. 


								Andrew
762.42OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallThu Jan 25 1996 16:176
    Yes, sadly, he advocated Reformed Judaism.  I'm currently taking a
    class on the Tanakh at school taught by a local Rabbi who is also in
    Reformed Judaism.  It breaks your heart to hear what they've reduced
    G-d's Word too.
    
    Mike
762.43ROCK::PARKERThu Jan 25 1996 16:2810
    I'm going to reveal my ignorance (as if you didn't already know I'm
    ignorant):
    
    What is the significance of replacing the "o" in God with "-"?  At
    first I thought folks had made typos, but I've seen it enough to figure
    out that there's something significant going on.
    
    So, what's the story?
    
    /Wayne
762.44OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallThu Jan 25 1996 17:234
    It's a common courtesy done when noting with our Jewish friends, who do
    this out of respect for His name and titles.
    
    Mike
762.45ROCK::PARKERThu Jan 25 1996 20:148
    Thanks.  I was indeed ignorant.
    
    What exactly is the significance?  Does substituting "-" for "o"
    signify reverence for His Holy Name?
    
    I really am asking out of ignorance.
    
    /Wayne
762.46OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallThu Jan 25 1996 20:305
>    What exactly is the significance?  Does substituting "-" for "o"
>    signify reverence for His Holy Name?
    
    I understand that it does.  This is the same way we lost the vowels in
    YHWH.
762.47HPCGRP::DIEWALDThu Jan 25 1996 20:425
    I still don't understand.  Whats the background for this?
    Tell me more.
    
    Jill
    
762.48A Little More InfoCPCOD::JOHNSONA rare blue and gold afternoonThu Jan 25 1996 20:4630
    I'm a little rusty on this, but it has more to with writing God's
    name in something that is subject to destruction. So temporary
    documents, informal papers, and so on, as opposed to hardcover books 
    and Torah scrolls, are where you'll find a vowel replaced with a dash 
    in any of God's names. When a Torah scroll is worn out, it is not
    simply disposed of, but there is a special process to go through.
    (I've forgotten the details)  Often you'll find HaShem, or Hashem in 
    Jewish liturgy books (when they are in English as well as Hebrew). This 
    is transliteration of the Hebrew for The Name. Because His name is too 
    holy to pronounce casually, He is simply called The Name. 

    Hebrew consists of all consonents. Vowel sounds are indicated by pointing.
    Pointing is a variety of dots and dashes, under, over, or beside the
    consonents to tell you how the word is to be pronounced. One of God's
    holiest names, is made of the Hebrew letters yad, hey, vav, hey. You'll
    see this as YHWH or JHVH in some English writings. This form of God's
    name has a name itself. Its the Tetragrammaton (which is Greek). Because
    this name was so holy, to prevent casual utterance, the pointing was not
    written with the consonants.  Or sometimes the vowel pointing for Adonai, 
    which means "Lord" was used instead. This was never actually meant to be 
    pronounced. In the Renaissance, Christian scholars made that mistake when 
    transliterating and came up with the transliteration Jehovah. Sometimes
    you also hear people say Yaway.

    To confirm that my facts were right, I just looked up Jehovah and 
    Tetragrammaton in my Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary & 
    found that it actually gives much of the same information - so you can 
    probably look it up in any non-pocket to verify what I've just written here.

    Leslie
762.49ROCK::PARKERThu Jan 25 1996 21:0111
    Thanks, Mike and Leslie.
    
    I've just arrived home, and on my drive from work "dawn broke over
    Marblehead" when I realized "o" was a vowel, and that's what was left
    out in the Hebrew.
    
    I suspect there's much to be learned in such reverence for G-d, not
    just out of courtesy to Jewish friends, but reverence from the heart
    for G-d our Father!
    
    /Wayne
762.50OUTSRC::HEISERwatchman on the wallFri Jan 26 1996 14:294
    Re: -1
    
    Exactly!  Christians have a lot to learn from Jews about respect for
    G-d and His Word.
762.51ROCK::PARKERFri Jan 26 1996 14:374
    Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
    Ye ransomed from the fall,
    Bring forth the royal diadem,
    And crown Him Lord of all!
762.52Singing AwayJULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeFri Jan 26 1996 16:461
    Bring forth the royal di - i -  a-dem and crown him Lo-or-ord of All!
762.53Singing too!PAULKM::WEISSFor I am determined to know nothing, except...Fri Jan 26 1996 16:568
>    Bring forth the royal di - i -  a-dem and crown him Lo-or-ord of All!

I love both tunes, but my favorite is the 'coronation' version:

Ladies: And Cro-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-own Him,Crown Him,Crown Him,Crown Him
Men:  Crown Him,Crown Him,Crown Him,Cro-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-own Him

Both:  And Cro-o-own Him Lord Of All!
762.54ICTHUS::YUILLEHe must increase - I must decreaseMon Jan 29 1996 08:421
... provided there's enough people singing to hold both parts... ;-)