Blessing Israel in a ‘post-Christian’ world – the ‘anti-Israel’ lobby

One of the hallmarks of the last days (according to Isaiah 60:1-3) is an increase in spiritual darkness among the nations, as well as an increase of light upon Israel.

“Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of YHVH has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and heavy darkness the peoples, but YHVH will rise upon you, and His glory will be seen on you. And the Gentiles will come to your light, and kings to the dawning of your shining”.

There are many biblical watchmen who are sounding a trumpet regarding last days evil in areas such as the value of human life, personal purity, sexual wholeness and godliness. In all these areas a rise in wickedness is manifesting itself in increasing measure. We bless those brothers and sisters who are exposing evil deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11, 16) and who are offering biblical alternatives to a vision-impaired world.

The biblical focus that God has given us homes in on Israel as God’‘s priority people (Romans 1:16; 2:9-10; 3:1-2; 9:4) – and we call the body of Messiah to intercede and labor with fiery passion for Israel’s spiritual salvation, physical rescue and benefit. Isaiah 60 prophesies that though darkness will blind the nations at the end of days, God also promises that His shekinah light will blaze upon the face of Israel – and the nations will be drawn to the God of Israel through that divine radioactivity.

This e-letter throws a spotlight on two targets – the rise of a virulent mutation of mainstream political anti-Semitism, and some helpful intercessory encouragement from the prophecy of Isaiah 60.

As we peer into the swirling and approaching darkness, we can draw strength from the words of Winston Churchill: “These are not dark days; these are great days – the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race.” (speech at Harrow School, Oct 29 1941). As this was true in England in WWII, so it is true for Israel and those who bless her right now.

Blessing Israel in a ‘post-Christian’ world

Every nation that has blessed the Jewish people has received divine favor. From Abimelech (Gen. 21:22) to Potiphar (Gen. 39:1-6), from the Queen of Sheba (2 Chron. 9:1-8) to Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1-4), from Na’aman (2 Kings 5:15-18) to the Roman centurions (Luke 7:4-5; Acts 10:2, 22) – the principle of Genesis 12:3 (“Those who bless you will be blessed”) is active, living and sharper than the two-edged tongue of any politician.

The converse is also true: the one who disparages, mocks, ignores or belittles the Jewish people and their calling (ed., this is the Hebrew sense of the verb meqalelecha - “He who curses you”) will be cursed by the direct hand of God Almighty (see Genesis 12:3b).

We live in what many call a ‘post-Christian world’. The Bible as a source of light, life, wisdom and truth is often mocked or brushed under the rug of political correctness. The wise men of today’s world – the sages of political science, military history and intelligence organizations – often sneer ever so slightly when reference is made to God’s hand in the affairs of men, and of His restoration of Israel to their promised land of Israel.

The ‘anti-Israel lobby’

A new attack has surfaced in the past few years, claiming that the Western world in general, and the USA in particular, are being controlled by an ‘Israel lobby.’ According to these spokesmen, the ‘Israel lobby’ has forced America into unhealthy choices which bring great damage to the USA. This concept of a supra-national Jewish cabal which secretly controls individual countries (or even the world) has historical origins in Greek and Latin paganism, in medieval Europe, as well as in the anti-Jewish Tsarist Russian forgery of the late 1800’s “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.”

One recent American book (The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy; John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007) has attempted to influence public opinion, in order to diminish US support for the Jewish state. Since its writers are respected professors at the University of Chicago and Harvard, we feel that it is important for you to be able to consult some cutting-edge analyses and critiques of their book:

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/books/review/Gelb-t.html?_r=2&ref=books&oref=slogin (Leslie H. Gelb)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040401282.html (Eliot A. Cohen)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/04/AR2007100402101.html (Samuel G. Freedman)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092001959.html?hpid%3Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR (Michael Gerson)
https://politics.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2007/09/09/the-israel-lobby-myth.html (George P. Schultz)
https://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=8&x_nameinnews=190&x_article=1446 (Alex Safian)
https://jewishworldreview.com/0306/wisse_israel_loby.php3 (Ruth Wisse)
https://www.americanthinker.com/2006/03/stephen_walts_war_with_israel.html (Richard Baer, Ed Lasky)
https://www.comw.org/warreport/fulltext/0604dershowitz.pdf (Alan Dershowitz)
https://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=2&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=376&PID=0&IID=1795&TTL=Understanding_the_U.S.-Israel_Alliance:_An_Israeli_Response_to_the_Walt-Mearsheimer_Claim (Dore Gold)

Professors Mearsheimer and Walt were interviewed on a Muslim website a few years ago, and Walt targeted Evangelicals in a disparaging way, stating that “the Israeli Lobby … has been strengthened by the Christian Evangelicals who believe, and I’m oversimplifying a lot here, but their view of Israel is shaped by their interpretation of Old Testament prophecy. They believe the re-establishment of a Jewish state in all of Palestine is foreordained in Biblical prophecy, and it is a key sign leading up to the Second Coming, the End of times” (https://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/n/2673 – Altmuslim website. February 14, 2008).

To state their general point more succinctly – these professors feel that Americans who believe in the biblical restoration of Israel are promoting activities which are contrary to America’s best interests. In light of such voices gaining ground in the courtyard of public opinion, believers need to wake up and smell the coffee on this one.

Hubris versus Hutzpah

Former CIA officer and Head of the Bin Laden Unit ‘Alec’ from 1996-1999, Michael Scheuer has recently authored two books “Through our enemies’ eyes: Osama bin Laden, radical Islam and the future of America” (Potomac Books, Washington DC, 2006) and “Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror” (Brassey’s, Washington D.C., 2004 – ed., referred to as IH). Having studied Bin Laden for some time, Scheuer’s insights and even appreciation for the man are quite interesting. His comments on Israel, however, do reflect a strong anti-biblical current within the larger American intelligence community.

Scheuer refers to Bin Laden’s “clear, focused, limited goals” which include “the end of U.S. aid to Israel and the ultimate elimination of that state” (IH, xviii). He approvingly quotes a Gazan Muslim professor who stated that “Israel and the Zionist Christian movement have played a major role in steering U.S. policy … by misinterpreting Bible verses … (and recruiting) large numbers of Christian extremists who are more loyal to Israel and Judaism than they are to the United States and Christianity” (IH, p, 3).

According to Scheuer Israel is a “faraway theocracy-in-all-but-name”. Its “diplomats, politicians, intelligence services, U.S.-citizen spies, and the retired senior U.S. officials and wealthy Jewish-American organizations who lobby an always amenable Congress … (are) binding the American Gulliver to the tiny Jewish state and its policies”. Scheuer quotes from al Qaeda, stating that “al Qaeda does not seem too far off the mark when it describes the U.S.-Israel relationship as a detriment to America. ‘The close link between America and the Zionist entity is in itself a curse for America’ “ (IH, p, 227).

Scheuer wants all Americans to participate in “silencing” the ‘Israel lobby.’ In the meantime he wants all Americans to know that the USA’s foreign policies are being set by “elites with their guidance, lobbying, money, and machinations of oil companies, weapons makers, evangelical preachers, and Israel and its acolytes” (IH, p. 259).

Though Scheuer describes himself as an ardent Catholic, his understanding of St. Paul’s teachings in Romans 9-11 regarding the irrevocable calling and gifts of Israel are less than apostolically based. The CIA’s motto, incised into its main entrance in Langley, may offer Schneuer some help here: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).

‘Bizarre Judeo-Christian support’

Robert Baer was a case officer in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations from 1976 to 1997. He spent much time in Beirut, northern Iraq and Dushanbe. The movie Syriana starring George Clooney is based on experience he gained as a spy. Baer has stated in various forums that he supports American dialogue with Iran and with its Lebanese proxies, including Hezbollah.

Baer shows a grudging respect for Israel in his books and interviews, though sometimes his conclusions regarding Christian support for Israel sound rather close to those of Scheuer, Mearsheimer and Walt. The following quote is from an e-interview (https://www.chronogram.com/issue/2006/02/news/index.php).

“RB (Robert Baer): I think it’s bizarre, in a very pragmatic sense, that America would be so strongly behind Israel. Simply in economic terms, it costs so much. I’m not just talking about direct aid, the billions we’ve given the military.

LT: So why are we supporting Israel so strongly?

RB: I just don’t know, I guess the Judeo-Christian idea. If it’s true that we have 60-90 million Evangelicals that believe that Israel has to exist at the end-times, that’s probably part of it. A part of it is guilt for the Holocaust.

LT: Jewish Israeli Zionists lobby in the US?

RB: Well, they play on courts that are already there”.

In all three cases mentioned above, it is strikingly clear that all of these men are not speaking from a deep belief in the Bible, or an understanding of the Biblical teaching regarding Israel. By and large, they see the Biblical perspective as being simply one small troublesome gear in a huge secular-political machine. Their perspective is ‘post-Christian’ and their sentiments or convictions are that America would be better off not standing with (or at least standing at a safe distance from) the Jewish state. Their perspectives range somewhere between “cool,” “cold-hearted” and “cruel.”

Sinking in a historian’s Quicksand

Another recent book, “Quicksand: America’s Pursuit of Power in the Middle East” by Geoffrey Wawro; Penguin Press, NY, 2010; hereafter QS) is the attempt by a military historian to advance three themes:

America should not be supporting a corrupt regime in Saudi Arabia;
America should dialogue and work with Shiite Iran;
America should inhibit or severely impede the pro-Israel lobby, as their activities (says Wawro) harm US interests (https://www.tabletmag.com/news-and-politics/34612/not-so-fast-2/).

Wawro’s factual errors, selective and occasionally twisted quotes, and often incorrect generalizations are surprising in light of his training. Nevertheless, what follow are some quotes which clarify his perspectives and attitudes.

Wawro utilizes quotations from sources not only to illustrate a historical point, but also in many cases to convey his own strong feelings about a matter, it seems. One example is from a British General, who says of the Jewish people, “Their superior intellect and communicative abilities are feared by all alike” (QS, p. 54). In another example Wawro refers to a U.S. Secretary of State who “could barely keep his anger at the Jewish lobby in check” (QS, p.99). Such comments are editorial in nature, and reveal mountains about the emotional presuppositions of the author.

Wawro accuses Israel of vicious ethnic cleansing (QS, p.108, 118). He castigates “U.S. compliance with even the most outrageous behavior” of Israel (QS, p. 115), and refers to America as “the only nation that could really crush Israel” (QS, p. 123). At another juncture he seems to draw a historical parallel between Truman’s day and our own through the unsubtle use of a tendentious quote, saying, “The United States is jeopardizing the good will of 30,000,000 Arabs and 220,000,000 Muslims” because of support for Israel (QS, p. 109).

Wawro occasionally reveals his own attitudes regarding Scriptural perspectives on the restoration of Israel to their promised land. He presents a sarcastic quote from a British official (with whom Wawro seems to heartily agree) describing biblical references as “sickening jargon .. developed by Israelis to describe their country’s consolidation .. the overworked Biblical tags like ‘the desert shall blossom as the rose’ and ‘if I forget thee, O Jerusalem.’ It was noisome to the British embassy but music to Ben-Gurion’s ears” (QS, p. 120).

These comments reveal a certain cold-heartedness to the God of Israel, to His word and certainly to His Jewish people. The scorn and cruelty that these comments reflect is rapidly increasing in our day.

The spiritual dynamics behind such utterances need to be made a matter of prayer, for it is these thoughts and heart attitudes which predominate in the corridors of military, intelligence and political leaders of the great nation known as America (as well as in many other Western European nations)!

Pray for the leadership of your country on all these levels, that revelation and a spiritual impartation of God’s heart will be given to the men and women who lead and make decisions – that they would be led according to God’s word and heart.

Shine Your light on me

Isaiah’s last days vision of Gentile darkness simultaneous with future glory on Israel is actually a prophetic invitation to us personally – we are being challenged (like Daniel in Daniel 9:1-3) to pray over the prophetic promises given by God, and to help birth them into their physical manifestation. Hear the words of the Prophet:

“For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined. The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn the place of My sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of My feet. The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of YHVH, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations” (Isaiah 60:12-15)

Bob Dylan refers to the judgment seat of Messiah in his song “Precious Angel.” The refrain keeps pleading, “Shine Your light, Shine Your light on me! You know, I just couldn’t make it by myself, I’m a little too blind to see…” (words & music Bob Dylan, © Special Rider Music, 1979).

In the same way, pray for God’s light to shine down on the Jewish people – whether in Israel or scattered across the face of the globe in the Exile, and that God would take away our spiritual blindness decisively.

Pray that we in Israel would turn our hearts toward home – that we would seek the Lord our God and Messiah Yeshua with all our hearts, and that He would reveal Himself to us as the Pierced One, as our Eternal Atonement, Redeemer and Restorer.

We appreciate you. Your prayers and support hold up our arms and are the enablement of God to us in the work he has called us to do. Thanks again!

In Messiah Yeshua,

Avner Boskey

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FINAL FRONTIER MINISTRIES

BOX 121971 NASHVILLE TN 37212-1971 USA

Donations can also be made on-line (by PayPal) through: www.davidstent.org

Surfing the Tidal Wave of Anti-Semitism

One of the hallmarks of the last days is a worldwide spike in anti-Semitism. Revelation 12 connects this directly to the final thrashings of the red dragon known as Satan. His war in the heavenlies against Michael, the archangel who holds the Israel portfolio (Daniel 12:1; 10:21), also has ramifications on earth. The enemy attempts to destroy Israel God’s chosen people, because he is painfully aware that their prophetic role is key in the return of Messiah, in world revival, in bringing in the times of refreshing and in the restoration of all things (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 11:12, 15). The devil knows that his own fall and destruction are directly connected to the Jewish people’s coming into their promised inheritance.

As a result, the enemy is increasing his attempts to wipe out Israel. Part of his recent strategies include Hezbollah’s terror rocket attacks against Israel from Lebanese soil in the 2006 Lebanon War, and Hamas’ rocket attacks against Israel from Gazan soil in December 2008/January 2009. In each case Israel had previously pulled out of each territory as a step toward potential peace. In each case Israel’s withdrawal was interpreted by the enemy as weakness, and their murderous desires to attack and destroy Israel grew rather than lessened.

What was astounding is that in each case, Israel’s justified wars of self-defense against her Islamist enemies were met by virulent worldwide media condemnation, descending even to anti-Jewish rioting, physical attacks against Jewish synagogues and cemeteries, and ultimately to thuggery against Jewish and Israeli individuals. The violent Islamist genie has escaped from his bottle. He will not quickly return to his previous prison.

The devil is God’s devil

The Bible teaches that Satan himself is a creation of God, subject to His sovereignty, and ultimately to be crushed under the feet of the body of Messiah (Romans 16:20). Satan’s anti-Messiah in the end will also be slain with the breath of Messiah’s mouth when Yeshua returns (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Whatever power and activity the devil is allowed to exercise up to that point, we should bear in mind that he is very much tethered by a tightly held divine leash.

The rise of demonized anti-Semitism may indeed be one of the last vomits of Satan. Its meteoric rise in our day has a clear meaning – that the devil is panicking. The international explosion of Jew hatred (the German word Judenhass is even clearer than the term anti-Semitism) is an eschatological warning flag, letting all passengers on the Last Days Bus know that we will soon be hitting the last bit of rocky road before arriving at our final destination.

Betting on the horses

Lee Smith’s penetratingly astute analysis of Middle Eastern political realities “The Strong Horse: Power, Politics and the Clash of Arab Civilizations” (Doubleday, 2010) draws its name from Osama Bin Laden’s dictum “When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse” (transcript of CNN interview December 13 2001, https://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/12/13/tape.transcript/). This “strong horse” philosophy guides the Islamic and Arab world more than Western appeals to material prosperity, technological advancement or even the allure of peace. Middle Easterners have spend the past 4,000 years perfecting their political radar for, historically speaking, survival in the Arab and Islamic world depends on spotting the rising dictator (the strong horse) and siding with him.

The strong horse in the Middle East right now is Iran. It alone is succeeding in thumbing its nose at the world greatest superpower. It alone is stinging and goading Israel (the Middle East’s most deadly army). And it alone is stirring up the Shiite masses of Iraq and the Gulf States, where much of the West’s oil lounges in Babylonian luxury.

One by one, the cruelest dictators of the Middle East have “come to Canosa” to kiss the Persian ring. Syria, Sudan, Iraq and now Turkey – all have recently made their way to Teheran, making sure that they are photographed and noted as ardent aficionados of the up and coming Iranian strong horse.

Playing chess with the big boys

Iran (modern Persia) has arranged its Near Eastern chess pieces with consummate skill, surrounding Israel on all sides. The Islamic Republic of Iran supplies Shiite jihadis on Israel’s northern border (Hezbollah) with advanced weaponry. Over the past years Israel has intercepted and captured many Iranian weapons ships just before they docked in Lebanon – such as the Francop (www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/134235). Iran also supplies chemical warfare and delivery missiles to Syria in the Northeast (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_2007_Syrian_arms_depot_explosion); https://abcnews.go.com/International/scud-missile-shipment-hezbollah-raises-mideast-tensions/story?id=10361973). Iran has continued to smuggle rockets and missiles into Islamist Gaza – first to Gaza’s PLO (Israel intercepted the Karine A weapons ship – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karin_A – and then the Santorini, www.waronline.org/en/analysis/pal_weapons.htm). Today Iran smuggles weapons into Gaza by ship, but also through Egyptian tunnels based on truck convoys through Sudan (Israel recently launched long-range air strikes against these Iranian convoys in Sudan; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Sudan_airstrikes).

Iran’s strategy is simple – threaten Israel from all sides; then any attempt to degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons production line can be slowed down or stopped by triggering attacks on Israel by any or all of these above proxies – her client states.

Pray that destructive Iranian strategies will be overturned and turned against their originators; that God would save and protect His chosen people; and that strategies and great discernments would be given to those entrusted with safeguarding the security and survival of the Jewish people (read Psalm 121).

Hiding behind the skirts of useful idiots

Recently a flotilla of naïve and “politically correct” Westerners tried to run the Israeli Navy blockade of Gaza, attempting to sneak 7 ships into Gaza without undergoing Israeli vetting. In light of the above noted history of terrorist weapons smuggling, these Westerners are guilty of foolish negligence at the very least. They are also guilty of unwitting cooperation with Islamist terror strategists (whether from Gaza, from Turkey or from Iran) and attempting to severely downgrade security for Israel’s civilian population.

The largest of these ships (the Mavi Marmara) held more than 560 passengers. At least 50 of them were Turkish terrorists funded and equipped by a Turkish group IHH connected with the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and al-Qaeda (www.investigativeproject.org/blog/2010/06/ihh-terrorist-ties-confirmed). Twenty of these terrorists had already taped al-Qaeda style Islamist suicide videos, in preparation for a violent death fighting Israeli soldiers (www.nypost.com/p/news/international/truth_behind_the_harm_ada_CgqfVG9KrAUT4mQeO335fO). Though world television and newspaper headlines screamed of “brutal Israelis invading peace ships” and “attacking humanitarian aid flotillas”, the truth was shockingly different. Islamist terrorists quite happily hid behind a politically correct “humanitarian” cover as they planned the lynching and murder of Israeli Seals who came to investigate and neutralize any threats that these ships might contain.

On May 31 2010 at approximately 0415 hours Israel’s Navy Seals (Shayetet or Flotilla 13) rappelled down onto the ship from Blackhawk helicopters, expecting to be greeted by Western protestors displaying mild civil disobedience. Instead they were immediately attacked by a murderous Turkish terror mob equipped with iron bars, axes, stun grenades, firebombs, hunting knives, slingshots, night vision equipment and firearms. The Shayetet team was equipped with paintball guns used primarily for moderate riot control. Each Israeli commando was carrying only one Glock 9mm pistol for personal self-defense.

Documented video clips show the Turkish terrorists preparing for and initiating premeditated violent attacks, and their attempted lynchings of Israel’s Shayetet 13 Navy Seals (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2duPV9MQIc&feature=channel; www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvS9PXZ3RWM&feature=channel; www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6sAEYpHF24&feature=channel; www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfWUlNBnwyg).

Why do the nations rage? (Psalm 2)

The world media instantly portrayed Israel’s self-defense as a bloody massacre of innocent humanitarian peaceniks. TV and newspapers followed the story line established by the terrorists themselves, while concealing the terrorist connections of the Turks who tried to lynch the Israeli special forces. Nine Turks were shot at close range by Israeli Seals in hand to hand combat, but nearly all news media perverted these plain and documented facts. Instead they unleashed a huge tidal wave of anti-Semitism.

As a result, may countries are boycotting trade connections with Israel, boycotting Israeli goods, withdrawing ambassadors, cutting off diplomatic relations, etc (three examples include Norway - www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3899094,00.html; Sweden - www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=177545) and Malaysia.

The behavior of the nations to Israel is stunningly close to Bob Dylan’s ascerbic and prophetic description of Israel and the nations in his song “Neighborhood Bully” :

Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize.
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad
The bombs were meant for him. He was supposed to feel bad

Well, he’s surrounded by pacifists who all want peace
They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed must cease
Now, they wouldn’t hurt a fly. To hurt one they would weep
They lay and they wait for this bully to fall asleep
What’s anybody indebted to him for?
Nothin’, they say. He just likes to cause war
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed
They wait for this bully like a dog waits to feed
He’s the neighborhood bully

This newest wave of anti-Semitism is a serious development. From a biblical perspective, the nations are filling up their own cup of judgment and are facing their day of reckoning (Isaiah 31:9; 34:1-8). Israel is being painted into a corner by the hatred of the nations, and God will use this pressure to purify a remnant in Israel (Isaiah 4:4; 10:20-25).

Pray for the Jewish people in Israel and in the Exile, that the pressures and troubles facing Jacob will move us to seek God’s face and heart through Messiah Yeshua.

Prophetic change in the Middle East

For the past 50 years Israel’s strategic defense strategy involved making alliances with non-Arab and non-Islamic neighbors on its periphery. These allies have included Haile Selassie’s Ethiopia, the Shah’s Iran, the Kurds of northern Iraq, the Maronite Christians of Lebanon and the non-Arab secular government of Turkey.

Over the past 35 years Israel has witnessed the rise of Marxist revolutionaries in Ethiopia, Ayatollah Khomeini’s Shiite putsch in Iran, Syria’s smothering takeover of Lebanon through Hezbollah, and the weakening of the Kurds through Shiite and Sunni terror in an Iraq now aflame. The last strategic linchpin now crumbling is the country of Turkey.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s Islamist Prime Minister, has been slowly pulling his country away from a close alliance with Israel and America, and coddling up to Teheran, Damascus, Khartoum, Caracas, Beirut and Gaza. He has moved his country into the position of cursing Israel on a daily basis, aiding Israel’s mortal enemies, and most recently encouraging the terror flotilla to violate Israel’s sovereignty and security.

Students of the prophetic Scriptures know that the Bible points to a Turkic role in the end-time battle with Israel known as the war of Gog and Magog (see Ezekiel 38-39). Countries turning against Israel mentioned in that battle include present day Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, many of the Central Asian “Stans” – and Turkey. Turkey’s about-face regarding Israel seems to be another decisive step towards that final frontier.

Born-again Caliphate or Ottoman windbag?

Turkey has the historic honor of being the last center of the Islamic Caliphate, the Muslim Empire’s once-capital city, so to speak. Koranic Islam looks to a rebirth of the Caliphate as a center for international jihad and Islamic world control. Every Turk is aware of this past historical glory, and some do harbor dreams of future grandeur or delusions of revived Ottoman glory. Erdogan himself sees that the road to Islamic leadership leads directly through the gate labeled “hatred of Israel.” His policies and tactics are taking Turkey out from under the NATO umbrella and far away from Europe and the USA – straight into the arms of Iran, Syria and radical Islam.

Israel and Turkey once shared close ties in trade, intelligence, military matters and tourism. As a result of Erdogan’s shenanigans, the chill in Turkey-Israel relations is more than marked.

Pray for the leadership of Turkey – that God would grant them a revelation of His heart and plans for Israel; that they would no longer curse but bless the Jewish people and their state (see Genesis 12:3); and that any evil plans and alliances would be broken and thwarted by the Holy One of Israel Himself (see Isaiah 8:9-10).