Letter from Susan:
Shalom Angus and Batya,
I wrote the attached article earlier this month in response to an article from Zechariah's Patrol newsletter, A Cataclysmic Regional War is Coming to the Middle East. I sent it out to my email group and got feedback that encouraged me to strive for a larger audience. I was surprised at what was coming out on the computer screen as I wrote.
We are much further down the path than we think, realize or perhaps can even imagine. The two sticks or houses cannot remain two but must become one in the days ahead. The Jews over there and the Christians over here must come to another level of understanding. Sooner or later Jews and Christians must become Israel - after working through their own 'anti-Semitsm'.
Anyway...something to consider.
Susan Miller
We agreed with Susan that her article deserved a much larger audience!
A Closer Look at Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism historically is understood to be the hatred of Jews, but it can be more accurately defined as anti-YHVH, against the God of Israel. If we look closer we can see the most unlikely groups included in the description anti-Semitic: these can include Jews and Christians. How can that be? Let's take a look.
An excellent article by Martin Gould and Kathleen Walter recently on Newsmax begins:
War is on its way in the Middle East as Muslim countries are determined to force a showdown over the future of Israel, Ronald Reagan's assistant defense secretary Frank Gaffney warned in an exclusive Newsmax TV interview:
"I'm afraid there's a war coming, a very serious, perhaps cataclysmic regional war," he said. "It will be presumably over, at least in part, the future existence of the state of Israel. It may involve all of its neighbors, as they have in the past, attacking Israel to try, as they say, to drive the Jews into the sea. It may involve the use of nuclear weapons," Gaffney predicted. "But whatever form it takes and whenever it occurs, it is unlikely to be contained to that region, and we must do everything we can to prevent freedom's enemies from thinking they have an opportunity to engage in that kind of warfare."
Reading articles such as these is necessary even though they may cause angst or discomfort to our sense of well being for ourselves and our loved ones. Although we know that wars of devastation are coming, perhaps looking through another set of lenses to gain a sense of identity will benefit us in being faithful to the end of our journey as a Believer in the God of Israel. Regardless, war seems to be a major topic of this generation.
The Bible says such wars will happen. Check Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38, Zechariah 12 and Matthew 24 for starters. We search for comfort and answers in Scripture so that even though we know these things are coming upon us, we can stand firm that God will not forsake us. We stand firm because of the Covenant and Oath YHVH gave to the Fathers and to all those who stood at the banks of the Jordan. Consider the following:
"That He may establish thee today for a people unto Himself, and that He may be unto thee a God, as He hath said unto thee, and as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; but with him that standeth here with us this day before YHVH our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day" Deut. 29:13-15.
Notice in the above referenced verse: "and also him that is not here with us this day" This is talking about you and me!
If we are commanded to pray (ask) for the peace of Jerusalem, and we are in Psalm 122:6, then we must expect a reaction from the Spiritual realm. Let us remember that the Word Picture for Peace (Shalom) in Hebrew says, "To Destroy the Authority that Establishes Chaos." Hey, that means that IF we are doing our job then CHAOS is part of the equation. The good news is that after being stirred up, the authority that has established this chaos will be destroyed! Chaos won't just go away without a fight... it must be overcome. Chaos in this world is the manifestation of evil. We are called to be overcomers and to be faithful to what God has asked us to do. In fact, that is what Jacob was told when his name was changed to Israel.
"You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and man and have overcome." Gen 32:28
Understanding what we have been told to do is the key; and doing it essential. It is hard for independent minded Americans to understand the concept of "doing what we are told to do". This brings up unconscious images from Revolutionary history of not doing what the British told us to do, to the image of rebellious teens not doing what their parents tell them to do. As Americans, we don't have a king; as Believers, do we even think about Yeshua as our King? Ultimately Yeshua explains the work and will of God is this:
"This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent" John 6:29. Yeshua later exclaimed, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." That is a statement from our King. It is not hard to see that we are to believe Yeshua and to keep and guard His commandments. If we do, we are partaking in bringing peace and we will see chaos destroyed. If we do not, we will be part of the chaos in the evil system we see manifesting more each day.
Currently we are watching anti-Semitism raise its ugly head again. Our first teachings equate anti-Semitism to be anti-Jewish. As we keep studying, we find that anti-Semitism is really 'against the Name' or 'hatred of the Name 'YHVH'; i.e. Hatred of YHVH'. All the confusion, hatred, greed, murder and corruption being expressed in violent ways all around the earth is an expression of the hatred of YHVH and they are works of the flesh. These works reflect that the flesh of man is at enmity or war with YHVH, a fact that is most clear in this generation. Genesis 3:15 makes this point: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed."
Mankind is at war with God. The Seed at war with man ultimately comes from the tribe of King David. This descendant of King David said:
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'" Matthew 10: 34-36.
Many of the people at enmity with God today identify the problems of this world as the Jews' fault. They express themselves with such statements as, "get rid of the Jews and wipe Israel off the map." This sentiment is now moving beyond the borders of Islam and onto the main streets of every major city in the world occupying parks and city squares. Many cannot express why they are demonstrating; they are just angry and at enmity with: ________ (you fill in the blank). War alliances can make strange bedfellows, whether Islam, Socialists, Communists, University Students, Unions, Unemployed, Underemployed and those who are just angry at life. Many have little in common except their anger toward: _________ (you fill in the blank.) If you filled in both blanks with YHVH... you are correct!
This war with YHVH will continue to manifest in families, in churches, in congregations, in schools, in cities, in states and in countries. Man will be against those who are family, friends, or fellow countrymen. It is time to ask, "What seed am I from?" How you answer that question makes all the difference to your own destiny. How do we tell if we are at war with God? If we consult with Galatians 5 to review the Works of the flesh, we will find these works are considered sin according to the Torah. This is an expression of chaos, darkness, evil, sin and it is happening currently in cities all around the world in the "Occupy Movement."
Gal. 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
In the same chapter of Galatians we can compare these works with the Fruit of the Spirit. There is no opposition in Torah to the Fruits of the Spirit.
Gal. 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such there is no law."
We should examine our lives to see just what are we producing. Works of the Flesh or Fruit of the Spirit? This examination will give a good indicator as to whether we are at enmity with God or at peace with Him.
Until we make peace with our Creator through the One He sent i.e. Yeshua, we remain in a state of enmity with God. When we acknowledge and accept His Peace Treaty Terms, then we will be at peace with Him and peace with ourselves, our family, and our fellowman will be at hand. We know from the gospel of John that the Work of God is for us to believe in the One sent from Heaven. See John 6:29... He is our Messiah sent to remove the curse of the law from us. Notice it is the curse of the Law that is removed, not the Law itself! This is the great Divine Exchange. Yeshua suffered death and separation from God so that we would not have to. It is the curse for the unfaithful wife that our Bridegroom took upon Himself. This curse is found in Numbers 5 describing the test for an unfaithful wife. Israel is the nation who said "yes" to YHVH at the foot of Mt. Sinai and received the wedding Ketubbah. Israel is to be the nation, the bride, the wife to remain faithful. It is a choice that is up to us to accept. We may be called, for there are many called, but few choose to follow Him. He expressed this several times.
"Follow Me" is a familiar call line in the Gospels. To follow Him implies believing and obeying.
The peace treaty terms offered by God is to believe that Yeshua was sent from heaven so that we can believe and accept the price He was willing to pay to rescue us from the penalty of the Law - not from the Law itself. The price: His blood was shed for the remission of sins; He conquered death and the grave for us...because we could not and cannot. The second part of the Peace Treaty is often overlooked. "Keep My Commandments if you love Me" - needs to be investigated. To not guard them is to invite chaos to have its way in our lives. Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18
If we do answer that call to follow Him, then we will hear the phrase, "If you love Me, keep (guard) My Commandments." New Testament Christians tend to see only two Commandments: Love the LORD your God with all your heart and; love your neighbor as yourself. When we keep reading, searching and desiring to know more about the Messiah our life's journey will take us to God's little instruction book called the TORAH. As we keep reading, we discover that it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whom we serve and follow. This is the One who paid the price for us. We are members of the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and these overcomers are those with whom we align ourselves with. God is following His Plan for mankind laid down so many years ago in these sacred Scriptures. Preserved in Hebrew for thousands of years is the plan for peace - His peace - His way - His Messiah - His house - His family. Messiah said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Matthew 23:37 God came to Mt. Sinai, He is the same who came and filled the Tabernacle with His Presence. He is the same Who manifested on earth in the form of a Man to tabernacle among His people. He is the same Who became the offering wholly acceptable unto the Father in heaven. He is the same One who has returned as the Holy Spirit to reside once again in man as a deposit until His enemies are made His footstool. This is Messiah. Without that indwelling Spirit, mankind is at enmity with God and His creation. When He calls heaven and earth to testify against us, He will be His own witness; for He rules from Heaven and He announced His kingdom right here on earth, in the land of Israel 2000 years ago. No wonder mankind is anti-Semitic i.e. anti-God. Mankind is at war with God. The two groups that would be last suspected as being "anti-Semitic" or anti-YHVH are Jews and Christians. However, both groups hate the Peace Plan given them by the Creator. The Jews hate/reject the One sent from heaven to pay the price for the unfaithful and the Christians hate/reject the Law claiming not to be obliged to obey it. The question to answer is: Are you anti-Semitic? The answer must be yes if you are: anti-Messiah or anti-Torah (law). To be either is to be both, for the Messiah is the Living Torah and the Torah is all about the two comings of the same Messiah.
The surprising summary or ending of this article is that of these two groups one would least suspect of being anti-Semitic are Christians and Jews. However, both groups remain isolated and unconnected from the revealed truth of the Scriptures: that the Messiah the Jews look for is Yeshua; and Yeshua did not do away with the Torah or law as Christians believe. The time for the revelation of Truth to come to both of these groups is nearing. Let us not be a stumbling block for either group but rather: I Peter 3:15, "But in your hearts honor Messiah the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Susan |
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