Terry McIntosh Ministries, Inc.

WARNING

2009-10-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Oct. 5, 2009, 6 pm CST - We are taking prudent action regarding an email just in boasting of a coming attack against Germany and/or its President Angela Merkel. I don't know if this is legitimate or not, but it demands action. I am not sharing the email, because that is what the operatives want us to do. Surely others have received the same letter, howbeit this one is specific to our address.

We recently had a post on our youtube site written in German that basically called me a dumb a--. After I responded to it and blessed them in name of Christ, I discovered a few days later that the negative post had been removed, and in fact, someone had been into our youtube account. We have changed the password, and there is no further threat of intrusion there.

This incoming boast of coming darkness in the name of allah (can't bring myself to capitalize it) could just be a scare that someone wants to promote internationally. If you should get such an email, you shouldn't feel pressed to report it as I do, because we are doing that very thing.

I have talked to authorities in Washington and tomorrow in Lexington.

Whether legit or not, it is good to pray for the welfare and protection of Germany and its good people including ruling authorities.

Always in Christ,
Terry

Who are the Palestinians? - Jerusalem Direct Radio

2008-09-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

A one state solution may be the proper way to settle the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, according to some people. For most Israelis, the merest mention of this term is like a dose of ethnic poison, a premonition of their demise as a nation.

In recent weeks, the notion of a single bi-national state for Arabs and Jews has experienced something of a revival among Palestinians The main point of discussion is that the search for a two-state solution – an independent Palestine dwelling alongside Israel – is now floundering so badly it may never recover. After many years of failed negotiations, the two-state vision is still far from reality, and few expect current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to change matters by much, if at all.

For most Israeli Jews, the prospect of dwelling among millions of Palestinians in a single bi-national state would be the fulfillment of their darkest nightmares. The Jewish character of their country would eventually be overwhelmed by a faster growing Arab population.
Israel as a Jewish state would be unlikely to survive.

Israel has been walling itself off from the West Bank, partly for security reasons but also to fortify its own identity as a sovereign Jewish state while not worried about what happens to Palestinians, and the one-state concept has not found legs to stand on.

Enter Robert Mendelson. You probably haven’t heard of Robert Mendelson. He is not to be confused with others by the same name. Robert is a humble layman, and simply strives to serve the purpose of God. He has shared his research with many ministers and religious organizations in an effort to educate God’s people about this subject. I have studied his material, and thus far find it to be intriguing and of real interest. According to research by Mendelson, Palestinians most assuredly have rights to land in Israel and the West Bank, and that according to the Bible. This is going to be interesting, Saints, and perhaps this revelation of an old truth will set us free from harmful theology preached by many Christians today. Peter said there “will be false teachers among you, and that false teachers would spread heresies "denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--" That's always a good test of false teachers.. A servant of Christ will not deny Christ's words. Never.

What I believe and preach has been through the spirit of revelation. It has not been based on my ability to seek out hidden truths in the written word of God. When I say there is blood on Christian hands, it is because the Lord showed me. When I say, “Israel, give life and receive it,” it is because I heard the Lord say it. My theology about Israel is not based on personal interpretation of scripture. Mendelson’s research, however, may compliment what the Lord has been saying to me personally. Time will tell.

We do agree that a heresy rampant in Christian eschatology is causing tremendous damage. This heresy is a key element of Satan's deception, a powerful lie that many have embraced.. According to Mendelson, a case of mistaken identity has caused Christianity to break God's covenants with Abraham by dividing the Israelites and encouraging one tribe of Israelites to oppress another. It's not a question of Jew vs. Arab, Edomite, Ammonite, Philistine, and the like. It's not a matter of cousins feuding. It's right in the same family: Get this - Jacob's descendents, the heirs of Abraham's covenant, include Palestinians! They're Israelites in Bible history along with the tribe of Judah we already recognize as being Israelites.

Now, no one can rightly deny that the blood of Edomites, Philistines, and Arabs is present in the Palestinian gene pool. According to Mendelson, if this were the Palestinians' only heritage it would be impossible to say they have rights to land in the West Bank or elsewhere in Israel. But - with emphasis, BUT - it makes all the difference in the world that they're also descended from Ephraim and Manasseh, the two tribes descended from Joseph. Ancient history overwhelms in a brief lesson, but if this bears out as true, boy, this is good stuff!

To the Bible - John 4, verses 1-30, describes Jesus' encounter with a Samaritan woman at a place known as "Jacob's well". You know the story. Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water. The woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” Jews did not normally associate with Samaritans, and she was surprised that Jesus spoke to her.

Stop. Now, who are the Samaritans? This opens up an entire debate, and it demands that we examine it honestly and without prejudice. No one can deny that a small sect of Samaritans live in Palestine, but the exact historical origins of the Samaritans are disputed to this day. Jewish tradition claims that Samaritans arrived by the hands of the Assyrians in order to replace the Israelites . 2 Kings 17 is the reference used to support that claim. Jewish historian Josephus claims that the Samaritans are descendants of mixed ancestry, both of Israelite lineage and of deportees brought into the region of Samaria by the Assyrians. This is true, but there is more.

The Samaritans have always claimed to be the descendants of Israelites of the Northern Kingdom who remained behind during the Babylonian Captivity. Some modern scholars agree. I did some personal research and discovered that a genetic study (ref: Shen, et al., 2004) concluded from Y-chromosome analysis that Samaritans descend from the Israelites (including the Cohen family, or priests), and other DNA analysis shows descent from Assyrians and other foreign women, effectively validating both local and foreign origins for the Samaritans. They are Israelites of mixed blood line according to those test results. I am told that DNA does not lie, but this does not identify all Palestinians as descendants of Israel. As of November 1, 2007, there were 712 Samaritans living in Kiryat Luza near the city of Nablus in the West Bank, and in the city of Holon in Israel. The Samaritans speak either Modern Hebrew (in Holon) or Palestinian Arabic (in Nablus) as their mother language.

About the Arab Palestinian - Results of another DNA study by geneticist Ariella Oppenheim matched historical accounts that Arab Israelis and Palestinians together as the one same population, represent modern "descendants of a core population that lived in the area since prehistoric times", albeit they were Christianized and later largely Islamized, then both ultimately becoming culturally Arabic. Referring to those of the Muslim faith more specifically, DNA tests reaffirmed that Palestinian "Muslim Arabs are descended from Christians and Jews who lived in the southern Levant, a region that includes Israel and the Sinai." This indicates that the Arab Palestinian is also descended from the house of Israel. So how many times removed must one be before he is excluded from the House of Israel? I think this is the real question at hand. Do Arab Palestinians represent a remnant of one of the lost tribes of Israel?

In the time of Jesus, Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans, and they were treated as a lower class of people. Samaritans worshipped the God of Abraham, and read from the Torah. Efforts made to disassociate Samaritans from Israel is disputed by Jesus himself, and his testimony is what should make the difference about who they really are.

This takes us back to the well in John 4:10. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than OUR father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" By referring to Jacob as the Samaritans’ "father", the woman announced her Israelite heritage.

No one but an Israelite is descended from Jacob, and Jesus didn't correct her on that point. If, as some believe, Samaritans are full-blooded Gentiles put there hundreds of years earlier by the Assyrians after every last Israelite was exiled, then Jacob (or his heirs) could not have given the well to the Samaritans. The Samaritans would have taken possession of a deserted town and their "father" would have been the king of Assyria, not Jacob. Jesus accepted the Samaritan woman's claim to Israelite heritage by first listening to her testimony, and then making no attempt to correct her. This is not in the Bible by accident. Samartians were from the family of Jacob, an Israelite.

Verses 9-13 relates Jesus' testimony that Palestinians are Israelites, descendents of Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh. The meeting at Jacob's well took place in a town named "Sychar", which is situated in the "mountains of Israel,“ and confirms connecting proof of the Palestinians' identity with the land.

A detailed explanation of how these Israelite tribes came to be known collectively as "Samaritans" and later, "Palestinians.” follows shortly. Before that, we need Jesus to testify a second time. After the Samaritan woman told her friends about Jesus, many of them accepted him as the Messiah. This explains why Jesus said what he did as he sent the apostles out on their missions.

Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus; "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel." If Samaritans were strictly Gentiles, Jesus would have included them with other Gentiles and just said "Gentiles". By making them a separate category, Jesus indicated they were Israelites other than the Jewish tribes. Since the Samaritans were accepting his gospel, they weren't "lost". Instead, Jesus sent the apostles to the Israelites who hadn't accepted him, the tribes associated with Judah. Jesus was clear about Samaritans being Israelites. I like this.

An essential part of his mission was to establish proof of their identity so that at the "End of the Age" salvation would come through his gospel. Other examples of this theme are found in Luke 9, 10, 17, and John 8. We begin with Luke 9:52-56; “And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village."

For some reason many Christian commentaries refer to this incident as though Samaritans opposed Jesus. That's not the case. They didn't reject Jesus--they were disappointed he chose to go to Jerusalem instead of staying with them. Jesus understood this, which is why he rebuked James and John, who wanted to deal harshly with the Samaritans. Next, there's the parable of the "Good Samaritan" in Luke 10. Jesus presents a non-Jew Samaritan as worthy of salvation. Because Palestinians are the Samaritans' descendants, this could just as well be called the parable of the "Good Palestinian.”

There's not a single example of Jesus condemning Samaritans. Every example Jesus presented put them in a favorable light.

In 66 A.D., the Jews of Judea and Galilee revolted against Rome, which led to the siege of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. Sixty two years later, the Jewish tribes of Judea and Galilee again revolted against the Romans in the "Bar Kochba" rebellion. This was put down in 135 A.D., after which the tribes associated with Judah were expelled from both Galilee and Judea. Samaritans did not revolt in 135 AD. Consequently, they weren't exiled. They remained in Samaria (later to become "Palestine") as the "stump in the land" as revealed in prophecy.

Isaiah 6:13, “And though a tenth remains in the land [during the Babylonian captivity], it will again be laid waste [by the Romans]. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed [Ephraim—the Samaritans] will be the stump in the land."… …where "stump" means the common people remaining after the lofty upper branches, the ruling class, have been cut down. After the Romans drove out the Jewish Israelites, their brothers, the Samaritans, moved in, along with Edomites and later, Arabs. The early Samaritan Christians centuries later were the Christians in the Holy Land the crusaders were supposedly coming to save. Centuries later the land was called "Palestine" and the people first known as Ephraimites, then Samaritans, according to DNA analysis, now became known as “Palestinians.” Same people, name change only.

The point is, Jesus clearly indicated who the Samaritans are, and he placed great importance upon them. The fact that today’s Arab Muslim population are descendants of Jews and Christians of mixed bloodlines identifies them as children of Jacob instead of Ishmael. It also clearly supports the suggestion that Arab Palestinians have a long history in the land.

A historical explanation of how all this came to pass is available upon request, but we don’t have time to address it today, so just listen to what God has said and prophesied about Ephraim in scripture:

Remember as you read these prophecies, "Ephraim" means, "Palestinian" . Jeremiah 31:6- 9, “There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son."

Hosea 11:8-9, "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man--the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. They will follow the LORD…" [This and other passages foretell a return to Christ by Palestinians. ] Zechariah 10:6, “I will strengthen the house of Judah and save he house of Joseph (Ephraim/Palestinians).

Certainly, God loves "Ephraim". His prophecies promising salvation must be fulfilled. .

Ezekiel 37:16-22, says, "Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.' Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand." "When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph--which is in Ephraim's hand-- and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah's stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.'" [God clearly intends the Palestinians and Israelis be united as one new man in Christ.]

Continuing.; v 20 “Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms."

There it is. According to Mendelson, the Bible confirms Palestinians are "Ephraim" and God promised them deliverance. This is a central theme of Old Testament prophecy. As this is the case, what are Christians doing? Do we serve God by giving one-sided support to one Israelite tribe while encouraging both tribes to break God’s covenant? According to the Bible, Christians' support of the modern-day state of Israel’s settlement building policy in the West Bank defies God's Law. Christians are helping one Israelite tribe break a sacred covenant by stealing land allocated to another Israelite tribe. This is so important an issue that it impacts our personal salvation, too.

Saints, this requires serious investigation and great care in handling the word of God. Let’s not throw this away because its new. It’s actually much older than today's Zionist movement that recognizes secular Israel and denies life to Palestinians. Saints, let’s preach and proclaim Christ crucified to both people groups and pray for reconciliation of the two nations - that they shall become one under Messiah Jesus. Judaism will not reconcile the two - Islam will not reconcile the two -Christian Zionism will not reconcile the two. It’s going to take Jesus, and he has a plan.

Anything else is dangerous and leads to harm of the individual, Israel, Palestine, and to our own nation. God forgive us for putting politics first. God forgive us for religious bigotry and racial prejudice. God empower us to show Christ like love and mercy to Palestinians as well as Israelis as we seek the welfare of both peoples.

Until next time, this is Terry McIntosh signing off.

Separation Wall

2008-08-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Jerusalem Direct Radio Broadcast, April 2008 - Last week I shared a testimony with you about the living word of God and how it diffused a serious situation spiraling out of control . To recap briefly, Israel had launched Operation Defensive Shield in an effort to put an end to radical terrorism. Palestinian cities were under lock and key and fighting was intense. In the midst of a blundered invasion, world opinion against Israel was mounting. A regional war involving neighboring countries was considered a real possibility, and that could lead further to WW III. Apparently, the timing of such an event was premature in God’s plan, and He brought an end to the invasion by influencing the thinking of Israel’s then prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Sharon had pledged to continue the military invasion of Palestinian cities, but stunned his military commanders and the world when he suddenly withdrew on the heels of the Lord’s command to stop the invasion and withdraw his soldiers. If you missed that story, you can review it online at www.usajourney.us. Simply go to archives and click on the appropriate lesson entitled “Testimony - Islamic TV.” The Lord’s command to Israel was simple. “Stop. Turn around. Give life and receive it.” It was contrary to sound military judgment and the Zionist theology support base, but it was the Lord‘s will in that moment of time.

We learned then, and now reminded through the testimony, that the Bible tells the truth when it says the word of the Lord is alive and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. (Heb. 4:12). Nothing is impossible with our Lord. His word is alive and makes a real difference. We can depend on it - His promises as recorded in the Bible, and His present word to us today as spoken to our hearts, in our hearing, in vision, or in sleep. It’s not a question of “Does the Lord speak to us today?” What is needed is real discernment to know the difference between the Lord’s word and other voices that mislead us. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us, teach us, and remind us of what he has taught us. Jesus said that the Spirit would speak to us about things that he hears in the Throne Room of God. (John 16). We could not have survived the many obstacles we faced in Palestine and Israel without clear and present direction from the Lord. I have tried some things on my own and failed miserably every time. I, for one, need that personal direction and wisdom from on high. So, God does speak to us today and it is vitally important that we be able to discern what He is saying.

This situation demands spiritual discernment to be properly understood. We have to leave worldly wisdom behind us and look at this with spiritual eyes. When the Lord said, “Israel, give life and receive it,” He was telling Israel that if they would extend life to the Palestinians, that he was able to protect them., too. It did not matter who or what started the fighting, or who was to be held responsible for the thousands of injuries or deaths, or what anyone’s end time eschatology demands. God is bigger than all those things, and He wanted to stop the killing for the benefit of both Israel and Palestine.

Most of us Evangelical Christians agree and believe that Jesus Christ will return and establish the physical kingdom of God upon earth at the appointed time. Our theology teaches that war will proceed that event and the world will tremble under the weight of judgment. But, saints, God is able to give Israel and Palestine a period of rest - a reprieve from violence and unnecessary bloodshed. It is not God’s wish for people to perish, but that all come to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. Dead people cannot do that. When God says, “Give life and receive it,” He is saying that Israel and Palestine do not have to engage in ongoing warfare to usher in anybody’s supposed end time scenario. Nothing will stop God’s plan from unfolding, so we don‘t have to worry about that. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” If Israel wants peace, they must pursue a policy of peace instead of military conquest to the harm of millions of innocent people, many times including the saints of God. The same principle applies to Palestinians as well, but the message was directed to the invading army - Israel.

The rest of the story now unfolds. Sharon withdrew his troops from Palestine after the Lord’s command was spoken publicly and into the natural and spiritual realms. On the heel of troop redeployment, I shared with prayer and ministry partners that Israel would be tested and they were.

The next thirty days recorded a number of foiled terrorist attacks against Israel. Would be suicide bombers were caught in record numbers. God was demonstrating His ability to shield natural Israel against those who want to destroy them. But, Israel made a tragic mistake and authorized construction of the now infamous Security Fence or Separation Wall for the purpose of security. According to the UN, "The path of Israel's security barrier carves off 14 percent of the West Bank, traps 274,000 Palestinians in tiny enclaves and cuts off another 400,000 from their fields, jobs, schools and hospitals.”

This is the opposite of “Give life.” The wall is choking off life. It may have seemed like the thing to do from a military and practical point of view. But it was not what the Lord wanted. A suicide bomber made his way into Jerusalem and killed two Israelis once the government approved building the fence. As horrible as it was, it was a warning to the leaders of Israel. "Trust me, not your fence." (It is unfortunate that no Christian voice offering proper guidance was found within the Zionist circles of influence.)

The fence chokes off all hope for thousands of Arabs by cutting off access to work and the ability to provide a decent life for their families. It turns moderates into desperate radicals. This is contrary to the Lord's command. As soon as construction actually started on the fence, the Lord lifted His hand of protection. Two suicide bombers made their way into Jerusalem and killed 26 Israelis. Israel had chosen to trust in their own wisdom and the strength of a fence. The covenant of protection was broken, and Israel paid a heavy price. Fences come down, but the Lord reigns forever.

In response, Israel launched a second military invasion that continued to claim lives on both sides. I believe Jesus watched from His lofty place, and grieved for both peoples. The new invasion did not, however, escalate to the brink of regional conflict since the situation had cooled down considerably from Operation Defensive Shield. God would not allow the situation to prematurely spiral out of control.

Construction work on the fence continues today, and it remains a thorn in man's pursuit of natural peace. It is not permanent, however. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of future days when Israel will be invaded by its enemies. Chapter 38 10-11 says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people - all of them living without walls and without gates and bars." Verse 14 says, "...In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it?"

Can you believe that Israel and Palestine will be living together peacefully? Yes, but an invading army from the North will change that. Verse 18 says, "..."When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord." Verse 22 says, ..."I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord." End quote.

Regardless of timelines, it is clear that the Separation Wall will come down, and our call for its destruction is based in Scripture. God is able to give Israel a period of rest from conflict if they will honor Jesus the Christ and put their trust in him even today.This has to happen eventually to stay in line with the written word of God. The Lord wants Israel to take refuge in Him and not a fence or military might. The choice, at least for now, remains in the hands of Israel to "give life and receive it," or reject it and suffer continued harm. The fence is not the defining point, but it does represent a choice. The defining point is found in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That fact must be accepted, and until it is, Israel can expect to be in harm’s way.

The Separation Wall we’ve been talking about today is a natural wall , but there is a spiritual wall that separates many of us from God and from each other. It’s foundations is one of harsh words, rejection, betrayal, bitterness, and hurts of many kinds. This invisible wall is built around our hearts and is meant to be a security fence - to protect ourselves from further harm, insult, and injury. God knows that we have been bombarded by such things, and we can only bear up under so much of it. We have taken practical steps to protect ourselves from hurt. But, like the natural wall under construction by Israel, it is in reality a Separation Wall that eventually cuts us off from others, our families, those we love, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I can believe the Lord’s word to Israel about giving life also applies to us individually. We are called to be peacemakers. And who do you make peace with? Your enemies and even loved ones you are in dispute with. Peacemakers open themselves up to potential rejection, but that is what we are called to do. We are not called to separate ourselves. Jesus said, (Matt. 5: 9) “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” He also said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Jesus seems to be saying that if we want mercy, we must show it to those around us. This is how I want to encourage someone today.

Some hurts are deep and beyond human repair. Have you ever been there, saint? Have you ever found yourself sitting alone tugging at the hair on your head to keep from crying? Have you ever been so hurt that you thought death was a better solution? Nothing anyone can say or do will change how you feel, and nobody can completely understand the depth of pain you are feeling. It’s out of these depths of despair that we build that spiritual Separation wall. If that’s not you today, just pray for someone you know who has retreated behind their own wall.

And if you are there today, hurting, I encourage you to sit before the Lord. Confess your own sins related to any outstanding hurtful situations. 1st John 1: 9 says that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Don’t hide them. Be honest. He knows anyway. Talk to the Lord about that separation wall you’ve constructed around your heart. Cast all your burdens upon Christ and he will carry them for you. Give them to him. Don’t hold on to what is harming you. It’s not worth it. Forgive that person or persons for the wrong done to you, and don’t allow the hurt to isolate you. Forgiveness sets you free in a way that a wall can never do. It can only be experienced, and not taught. Trust your Savior, Jesus Christ, to protect you from harm instead of that separation barrier, else you’ll turn around one day, and find that you’re all alone. Tear it down now and allow the healing power of God to sooth the pain. He loves you and will do it, if you will only trust him in the same way he is saying to natural Israel, “Give life and receive it.” Speak blessings upon those who curse you and the Lord will bless you.

Yes, it is contrary to man’s wisdom which says, “To hell with all of them.” But remember that the word of the Lord is alive and active, powerful to make a real difference in your life even today. Tear down that wall, saint, and let go of the past. Forgiveness opens the door to fresh starts. I don’t mean to say that you are going to like everyone who has hurt you, but you should pray for them anyway. Once that wall is torn down, God will help you to love them with the love of God in spite of past hurts.

Pray with me now. “Lord, I don’t want to trust in the wall around my heart. I am putting my trust in you for healing. Forgive me, Lord, as I now forgive others. Help me, Lord, to be a peacemaker in difficult situations, and bless those who curse me. I will trust in you. Amen.”
God bless you, saint, as you walk out this challenge with the help of God.

Let us hear from you and be sure to include any prayer request you have. Until next week, God bless you and remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

This is Terry McIntosh signing off.

A Powerful Testimony

2008-08-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Jerusalem Direct Radio Program - (Aired April 2008)- I’m departing from our lessons regarding overbalanced Christian Zionist theology for this week in order to share a testimony with you about the miracle working power of God. April 13 is the 6 year anniversary of my first appearance on Islamic TV with a message to both nations of Israel and Palestine. This was an unprecedented event in the history of Palestine and the Islamic world. No Christ crucified preaching evangelist had ever been featured on Islamic TV lifting up Christ as the solution to an ongoing conflict. Now, any boasting I do is done in the Lord. Believe me, I know this did not happen because of me. I just happened to be the conduit through which the Lord spoke at that critical moment of time. I am humbled to have been a part of it.

Here’s the background. Israel launched "Operation Defensive Shield" in late march 2002 for the purpose of rooting out and destroying terrorism against Israel. It was a heavy handed response to ongoing criminal action against Israel that insured harm to hundreds of thousands of innocent people, but the offensive was launched with full approval of the Israeli government and its leaders, then prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Here’s the story. An explosion had ripped through a Tel Aviv restaurant as Israel kept Yasser Arafat under siege in his West Bank headquarters. The terror attack added to the whole equation as Israel pledged to halt the “campaign of terror” against Israel. A second suicide bomber killed ten Israelis in the port city of Haifa. Israel closed down the highways and the cities. No one could travel in or out. Fighting broke out in Jericho as well as almost every other city in the West Bank. President Bush and the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution that called on Israel to withdraw its troops from Palestinian cities. Fighting was intense, and food shortage was soon to be a major problem as Israel blocked all commerce in and out of the Palestinian cities. The death toll was mounting as thousands of innocent people were injured or killed as a result of the invasion.

World opinion was gathering against Israel, and it appeared the fighting could escalate into a regional war and even lead into WWIII. In was into this setting that the Lord got involved to bring some sense and hope into the situation. I had already planned a trip back to Jericho for a stay at the Jesus House of Prayer, and felt compelled to go in spite of the hazards and unknowing if I could access Jericho. The family and I, and ministry partners, had been through this sort of thing before, but never on such a grand scale. On the flight over to Israel, the Lord spoke to me in a strange way that was really mystifying. I heard the Spirit say into my hearing, “Get ready.” Shortly later, he said, “Your time is now up.” (That frightened me at the time), and also, “ We have work to do.” And again, he said, “As early as next week.“ I did not understand any of it because it was all so very strange.

I arrived to Jerusalem on April 1 and made my way down to Jericho, which was under lock and key - nobody in and nobody out. I had been through this before, and opted to take the Palestinian way into the city to avoid checkpoints and Israeli patrols. It was raining very hard, actually harder than I have ever seen it rain in Jericho. By phone I arranged to have a trusted friend prepare to pick me up and I had my driver drop me off on the road west of Jericho. Israel was patrolling the area. The military had dug trenches all around the city to keep everyone in it. They had also lined the trenches with barbed wire. Once I could see my friend waiting for me in the far distance, I scanned to see if any army patrols were nearby, and they weren’t. The heavy rain was my cover, and I ran, with luggage, through a muddy and slippery field. Once getting to the wire fence, I had to run alongside of it until I found a way under it. I fell into the trench and was covered with mud, but made it through unharmed to the Jesus House of Prayer.

I immediately begin to preach to, and pray for, the saints there, and met a young man on April 5 that was considering suicide. Instead he gave his life to the Lord, so, so much for those who will say that I shouldn’t have entered Jericho. I began to call upon Palestine to repent and follow Christ as he was the only one who could save them. On April 12, the Lord compelled me to draft a short message to both nations and instructed me to go on television. Now that was a new thing, and I knew it would take the power of God to get it done. I took the message with me to the local station, showed it to them, and asked if they would air the message. A miracle happened as the owner of the station, said, yes, and I will air it 3 times a day for 30 days.

I then better understood the Lord’s word to me on the flight over. When he had said, Get ready, you time is now up, as early as next week, he had been planning this spot on an Islamic owned television station. April 13 fell within the "next week" time line from the time the Lord spoke those words. I knew this was a divine appointment.

President Bush reiterated his call to stop the Israeli invasion of cities as multitudes of innocent people were paying the ultimate price of a heavy handed military operation. PM Sharon snubbed his nose at Bush, the UN, and world. Israel was standing at a crossroad that would determine the immediate future. Saints at the Jesus House began fasting and friends stateside joined us. This was going to be a showdown.

The message contained exact words that the Spirit gave me. I did not change it. I demanded that Israel withdraw and stop the invasion and to “Give life and receive it." I charged Palestine to follow Christ crucified as there is no other name under heaven that can save us. I don’t know if you realize what that meant to an Islamic audience, but it was very important. It was an unprecedented message for a specific time and purpose. The fighting was not going to resolve anything, and was only killing innocents. In the end, Israel captured about 25 known terrorists as a result of the operation. It turned out to be a military blunder that harmed Israel in the world court more than ever before.

Anyway, to the astonishment of everyone, including his own military leaders, PM Sharon stunned the world by ordering the military to withdraw from Palestine on April 16 - three days after the message to Israel was first broadcast. We saw the power of God at work in a real way. The Lord had said, “Israel, give life and receive it.” Six days post TV, Israel pulled its soldiers out and was completely gone by day 8. This major shift contradicted sound military advice and to the public dismay of military commanders.

What had happened? What made the difference? Was it George Bush? No. Was it fear of the world court? No. Had Israel destroyed all the terrorist cells? No.

Christ made the difference.

There is something supernaturally powerful about the word of God. Heb. 4:12 says the word of the Lord is living and active. That is either true or not. The written word, yes, and also the vision, the dream, and the verbal command. Every true word of God is living and active to make a real difference. I know what all our detractors say about this, and they are just out of touch with the Lord about it. We saw firsthand, and personally experienced, the powerful word of God make a difference in a critical situation that needed to be quelled for the benefit of both Israel and Palestine.

No, I don’t think that Arial Sharon heard the broadcast and trembled at my voice demanding that he pull out. Not at all. I do know, however, that the Lord’s word goes out to accomplish what he desires for it to do. It goes out through the natural and spiritual realms and results in what He wants. And Saints, that is something that we can depend on. If he can turn a military giant around with a simple command, how much more can he do on your behalf? I tell you, it is not a matter of maybe, it is a fact that the Lord can rescue you from any problem of any kind at any given moment in your life.

Now, there it is, just one of the many testimonies I want to share with you in the coming weeks. I know it will be judged from different perspectives, and that’s alright. I’m just being faithful to testify of our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done. The facts are thus: That while an overbalanced Zionist support base was encouraging Israel to push ahead, the Lord was saying something different - “Israel, give life and receive it.” The Lord is able to protect Israel from all harm. The cause of their many problems today is not Palestinian terrorism. It is because they reject Jesus Christ and depend upon their own wisdom. Let’s pray always for the restoration of the Jewish people.

This is Terry McIntosh signing off.

(Subsequent events saw Israel break with the charge to "give life" with the construction of the Separation Wall that chokes off life. The Lord lifted his hand of protection and fighting resumed once again. Details followed in a separate report).

Jesus Prophecies/A Divided Jerusalem

2008-08-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Radio Program Aug. 30-31, 2008: Last week we talked about the gift of prophecy and its importance in today’s world. We said that Prophecy is beneficial to those who believe it, and a joke to those who don’t, but always with a consequence. The gifts of the Spirit have been abused by many well meaning saints and outright frauds to the point of disbelieving all prophecies, but we must remember that God has always used the gift to prepare his people and the world for an event that he is going to bring to pass. Bible history is rich in prophecy and applies still today.

Let’s see how prophecy applied to Jesus. More than 300 prophecies were made in the Old Testament and then fulfilled through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. The chances of one person fulfilling a mere 8 of these prophecies are 1 in 100 Zillion. For one person to fulfill 48 of these prophecies, the number becomes staggering--1 chance in 10 to the 157th power (1 with 157 zeros after it). Add to that the 250 other prophecies and it becomes impossible for any other person except Jesus to ever fit that particular sequence of time and events.

As an example, the Old Testament indicated Jesus would be betrayed by someone he trusted, "Even my close friend whom I trusted, he who has shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9). The New Testament, which records Jesus' life and resurrection, reveals that one of the 12 people Jesus chose to be part of his inner circle betrayed him, "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them"(Mark 14:10).

Such accuracy is astounding since the Old Testament was completed in 450 years before Jesus was born. The prophecies were made in astonishing detail by many people throughout those initial books.

I’m certain that God had many reasons for speaking to the ancient prophets and foretelling the birth of a coming Messiah. It served to encourage as one reason. More importantly, it served to establish the fact that God had a plan, He was working it, and there would be no excuse for anyone, including Israel, to reject the Messiah once he came on the scene. God works in the light for all to see so that some may be saved.

God made it plain as plain can be that the Messiah would be born in a specific place. Micah lived in a small village about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem, and he prophesied that the Messiah would be born in neighboring Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 says "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Matthew 2:1 confirms the birth of Christ in tiny Bethlehem. It says in part, "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod..." Micah had prophesied about 700 years into the future. Now, that is astounding, but common ground for the ancient prophets. When we hear a prophecy presented today, if we believe it, we expect it to happen next week or sooner. Not necessarily so as God lives in a different time zone than we do. Micah got it right because he heard it right and spoke it right. Prophecy is subject to the prophet according to I Cor. 14: 32, so one must be careful not to add to or take away from it.

The prophet Daniel went so far as to predict the timing of Messiah’s birth about 500 years beforehand. Daniel 9:25-26 says, "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven sevens' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing."
This prophesy likely refers to weeks of years, or 483 biblical years. Beginning with the exact day on which the Persian King Artaxerxes gave the decree to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (March 5, 444 BC), exactly 173,880 days later--Palm Sunday, March 30, AD33--Christ rode into Jerusalem the week before he was 'cut off' (crucified). This is the precise number of days spanning 483 biblical years, which were then measured as 12 months of 30 days each.
Now that is a specific prophecy that left no room for manipulation. Unfortunately a lot of post modern prophecy leaves the door open to multiple understandings. That has never been the way God operated though his prophets. He is specific and detailed.

Here’s just a few more prophecies relating to Jesus. Hosea 11;1 predicted that he would escape into Egypt as a child. It says, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out ofEgypt I called my son." Matthew 2:14 confirms it so as it says, "So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt." The baby messiah and parents would only return to Jerusalem later after Herod’s death.

Isaiah predicted that the messiah would be rejected by the Jewish people. Isaiah 53:3 says, "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."John confirmed this prophecy in chapter 1:11 "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."
Zechariah predicted that he would be sold for 30 pieces of silver. 11:12 "I told them, 'If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.' So they paid me thirty pieces of silver." Matthew 26:15 confirms by saying, "And asked, What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver."

Isaiah said that the messiah would be crucified with sinners. Isaiah 53:12 "Therefore I willgive him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, becausehe poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he borethe sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Matthew 27:38 confirms by saying, "Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left."

We could go on a long time reading and demonstrating how prophecy has played such a major role in God’s plan. The point I am wanting to make today is simply this : God’s word is specific and detailed. It is not left to assumption, or like some other thought to be prophets whose words can be manipulated to fit certain scenarios.

It would also take awhile to review all the prophecies concerning Israel. How many times did the Lord warn of impending doom and judgment? How many times did he foretell of future events pertaining to the nation of Israel itself? Too numerous to mention today, but it does take us to the subject of modern prophecies regarding Israel. Having ministered in the Holy Land for the past 16 years, I have heard a lot of things. But its not only in the Holy Land that I hear strange things said about Israel. Most of what I hear is general in nature, but basically promises help, safety, and restoration to the nation. Most of what I hear is not scripturally based, and the truth is thrown to the ground where it is routinely trampled on.

To the heart of the problem: At least one modern prophecy declares that the time of the gentiles is over and that Jerusalem will never be divided again. This propels many Christians to work against peace plans with Palestinians to the harm of innocent people including Israel. The prophecy is time lined to be in the present. It is presented as a fact, and it must be judged with spiritual wisdom and discernment. Did God speak that word to a modern type of prophet? Is this the present time line for an undivided Jerusalem? If so, it’s final without question. If it is only an assumption, it is one that leads many good people to act improperly toward Israel and the Palestinians thereby disrupting the quest for peace, no matter how temporal that peace may be.
How can we know if God actually spoke that word or not? How can we know if it is an assumption or not? Additionally, this particular prophecy is the catalyst for wrong theologies that promise false hope and comfort to the Jewish people. It leads saints into taking recorded scripture out of context like, “I will bless those who bless you.” Now, its true that we are to comfort, but stopping there is missing the mark. Anything less than preaching Christ crucified to the Jewish people is a false hope and a false comfort.

We must test any prophecy as we are instructed to do. I Cor. 14: 29 mandates that we weigh carefully what is said. Far too many saints have failed to exercise this command and have been led into error, especially when it comes to Israel.

Regarding the prophecy and widely held belief that God has restored Israel and the time of the gentiles is over, all we need to do is read scripture, but it also helps to consider certain facts. The fact is that Judaism has always taught that the Jewish people will be redeemed by a Messiah yet to come. Sages have taught that the people of Israel are not permitted to form a secular political state in opposition to waiting for divine deliverance. Judaism forbids military action on behalf of the secular state, and opposes invasion or conquest of other lands. It is taught that God will deliver them, and the Jewish people are to remain in exile until that glorious day.

Zionism teaches that modern Israel is God’s fulfillment of an ancient promise, and is the first such in about 3,000 years. This is incorrect historically. The Hasmonean Dynasty existed for about 100 years and expired about 35 years before Christ was born. We’ve talked about it previously. Jews of that age surely assumed it was prophecy fulfilled, but it wasn’t. Christian Zionists today only assume that secular Israel is fulfillment in our age. It isn’t. It is a wrong assumption easily disputed by scripture.

Like it or not, Zechariah 14 prophecies the day of the Lord as a time when the Lord plants his feet on the Mount of Olives and redeems Israel. Keep in mind that we, too, are a part of Israel in God’s eyes under the New Covenant. This is not just about Jews. It’s about all of us to whom the promises are made through Christ including Palestinians.. It is about the kingdom of God, not a secular state. This is about the kingdom that Jesus preached and it includes all those from every people group who are in relationship with Jesus Christ. This is when Christ ushers in and establishes the real kingdom of God.

Let’s read the scripture, Zechariah 14: 1: 2 , “I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it, the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.” We can already see that Jerusalem will be divided when Christ returns, and that modern prophecy otherwise is dead wrong. Verse 3 says in part, “THEN the Lord will go out and fight against those nations.”
When Christ returns, Jerusalem will be underfoot and in captivity.

The secular state of Israel cannot and will not be the source of Jewish liberation. It only leads to captivity in the end of the matter. I am sorry for that, extremely sorry for that, but this is what the scripture proclaims, and I cannot argue against it. Jesus returns to usher in the true kingdom just as Jewish sages have taught that a Messiah shall do, and the remnant will be saved as Romans declares. It is a sinful shame to preach any other news to Israel. If we truly love them, we must warn them and lift up Jesus as their long awaited Messiah.

Prophecy continues to play an important role in Israel, but we must take care to read the scripture and weigh the prophecy against the word of God. Any prophecy regarding Israel that promises relief and comfort is a false hope. Zionism is not the salvation of the Jews. Jesus Christ is, and if we truly love Israel, we will tell them about this Messiah who has come, is here, and yet to come. We will not coddle them to their own harm.

Until that day, let’s continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We are thus advancing the purpose of God as Jesus taught us to do. God bless you, saint, until next time. This is Terry McIntosh signing off.

General Questions & Comments

2008-03-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Please leave your comments and/or questions regarding any subject matter.