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May 22, 2007 5 Sivan, 5767
Dear Praying Friends,
We send you warm greetings and shalom from the mountains around Jerusalem. This letter includes:
- A perspective on Jerusalem Day - A note on the Israeli political scene - Matters for prayer - Emmaus Way news
Most of you probably know that last week we had rain here. In the fifteen years we have been in Israel it has never rained at this time of year. No rain after Passover was as certain as the sun coming up in the east. Even more amazingly, it rained in Eilat during our time there. Local residents there said to their knowledge it has never ever rained at this time of year. We are inclined to take this as something from the Hand of God with an important message for us.
A perspective on Jerusalem Day
The following is excerpted from the newspaper HaAretz on May 16th:
“Celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem were cancelled Wednesday after storms caused flooding in parts of the capital…. Rainy weather in Jerusalem led police to cancel nearly all public events to be held Wednesday for Jerusalem Day, including the central ceremony which was to take place on Ammunition Hill in the city. Also, a graduation ceremony for paratroopers was cancelled after Sultan’s Pool, where it was to be held, became full of rainwater, disabling the facility’s electrical system.”
The following is a prophecy given through Chuck Pierce on October 14-15, 2006:
“Plant your feet! Ready yourself for change! You are entering a year of shaking and quaking! This year will be known as the Year of Holy Spirit! This will be the year the RIVERS will rise! Watch where the heavens open and floods (physical) reach the earth, and document those places! Those are places targeted for a Holy Spirit invasion. Rising floodwaters will cause you to move to higher ground. As the River of Holy Spirit rises, you will find yourself moving to the high places. I will position My people on the high places this year. As you worship, I will cause ruling thrones of iniquity to topple. Like Dagon, their heads will fall before My Presence! Get ready! I shake loose wicked structures. Watch in the night and watch Me manifest in the light!”
In response to these recent rains, Chuck said, “This is an amazing event. We cannot miss this sign. For Jerusalem to flood, God is saying to us, ‘I am opening the heavens over you, filling the rivers, cleansing the land, and letting you know that I am ready to pour Myself upon My people.’"
The following information was reported on May 12, 2007:
“A flash flood killed four Israeli hikers on Saturday (May 12) near the Dead Sea. The flood, which swept over a portion of a main highway along the frontier with neighboring Jordan, was caused by a rare spring cloudburst. There were eleven hikers in all. They were warned of the impending flood. Some chose not to heed the warning and died.”
Can we conclude that God is letting us know that He is about to visit Jerusalem and Israel? We would say so. It is important to take notice when unusual things take place in Israel, as it is a prophetic nation. Rain is usually a symbol of spiritual outpouring and blessing. Flooding, on the other hand, takes us beyond what we are able to cope with in our own strength and ability. We have much reason to rejoice in the face of His approaching Presence. Years and years of prayers and tears are about to be answered. Yeshua is coming to visit His people Israel. At the same time, we dare not miss the sobriety of the hour. For those earnestly awaiting His appearing, what comes will be an unmitigated blessing. For others it will bring destruction and loss, or worse.
We can’t help but wonder at the cancellation of the main official governmental celebration on Jerusalem Day (Wednesday). We wonder how He felt about the program. What could be emptier than celebrating reunification while considering plans for another division? There was a parade on Tuesday to kick off the celebration. In the lead were the dignitaries riding on old farm vehicles. Immediately following was a contingent of about 200 Messianic Jews from the US and Israel led by our brethren from the US. Behind them were an estimated fifteen thousand people, mostly youth. How amazing. How prophetic. What a picture of the Lord’s plan and desire – first the symbolic picture of the Zionist dream (the farm equipment) which built the country in the natural; then the Messianic Jews, followed by the youth of Israel. We understand the reasoning for our placement was that the security was strongest at that position. But whatever the reason, we take it as Heaven’s statement of intent. This young generation is one that has yet to give their hearts to anything…one that is waiting for the true light to dawn, who will ride the crest of the wave of the coming outpouring.
It is noteworthy as well that the meteorological reports from that day show that ONLY Jerusalem had rain! A friend who has lived in Jerusalem for many years said that not since 1967 has he felt such warfare over Jerusalem as on that day. Another friend, who had the distinct impression that morning that the King was in the city, said the thunder was roaring like battle in the heavenlies. God indeed made a statement, to those who have ears to hear and to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. The battle is His and He will not stand idly by in matters having to do with Jerusalem.
Here is something to pray into. There is much groundwork and preparation yet to be done to prepare for the harvest to come. So let our rejoicing be seasoned with a healthy sobriety for the sovereign moment we have entered into. A gate has been opened and a flood has been released upon the earth. We expect that the waters will mount up over the next few years. In His mercy we will have yet a little time to prepare for the spiritual harvest and the temporal upheaval. Let us now press into the Spirit for understanding to pray God’s will into being.
Israeli Politics
The political and security crisis in the country is not improving. The stupor over the nation seems nearly impenetrable. As factions arise and voice their protest, their effect so far has been as a wave rising and falling back into a great sea. God alone sits on this Throne. Nothing will change without His intervention. The big question is, what will that look like? Will Iran be the instrument of wake-up? Hundreds of rockets from Gaza are being rained upon the western Negev settlement of Sderot. Many the residents have been evacuated. This situation, for a number of reasons, is even more difficult than the Lebanese situation was. The opposing factions in the Palestinian Authority in Gaza have been engaged in a bloody battle, leaving scores dead and wounded. We see no hope on the horizon that they will be able to pull it together and become a government able to lead a people. So where does that leave Israel…if the PA falls apart? Some PA strategists believe that the best thing for them would be a continued Israeli presence, because they believe that such a drain on Israel would eventually bring about our destruction from within. In the midst of all this we have reached a new level of insanity. A proposal is on the table to provide weapons to those loyal to Fatah to help bring about the demise of Hamas. Fatah is no less bent on the expulsion of the Jewish state from the Middle East. They are just less vocal and violent than Hamas. This is a good picture of how desperate the situation is, that we would arm the more moderate faction of our enemy.
By way of a note: with all the coverage and reporting already available, we tend not to dwell on the natural political realm. But from time to time we need to plug into that reality for a barometer of the rising tide, to spur us and give direction to our prayers. Ultimately our main focus is on the new thing God is doing and not on the system that is falling apart.
Upcoming events for prayer
- Shantipi, one of Israel’s annual new age festivals, will take place in the Galilee from May 23-25. This yearly gathering takes place on the Feast of Shavuot. It is a celebration of first fruits, the commemoration of the giving of the Torah at Sinai, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, empowering Yeshua’s first followers to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. We expectantly pray for the Spirit to fall on us here once again. Anywhere from 100-200 believers attend these gatherings to minister hope and life to the thousands of youth searching for a way out of the darkness. Let us pray for God’s grace and supernatural anointing on those that will speak and those that would listen. May those that enter the Kingdom be first fruits that will lead the way for others in the great harvest soon to come. More and more Israelis are coming to faith with each festival. Please pray for Benni, our German volunteer, who will be there the whole time. He is fluent in Hebrew and has a real gift with people.
- From June 29th to July 1st, our friends at Succat Hallel are sponsoring an international conference (called “One Thing”) for youth in Jerusalem. (Succat Hallel is a 24/7 worship ministry facing Mt. Zion). This is a major endeavor in obedience to a command from the Lord. In contrast to what we sensed about the Lord’s reaction to most of the state-sponsored celebration activities, we believe that this event flows in the spirit of what took place 40 years ago. Jerusalem is all about worship. This reflects the heart of who Israel really is. Please pray for Rick and Patti Ridings who sit at the point of this ministry and for those carrying the burden to administrate the gathering. The hotel is already fully booked and more space is being sought to accommodate the local youth wanting to attend. There is also a need for finances to sponsor the young Israelis. Please pray that all who are called will be able to come and that all God wants to impart will be released and received. And above all, that God would be free to move. We believe that it is the appointed time for the youth of Israel to awake and arise to their destiny.
Emmaus Way News
- Our school of worship, “Preparing a Place for the Presence of the Lord”, will be held from June 18th-28th as originally announced. We still have spaces left. If you are interested in attending, please contact Michael@emmausway.org. More information on the school is available from our web site.
- In our last letter we issued an invitation for volunteers to come and help us in Israel. Since then we have been impressed to hold a special nine-week program from July 1st through September 1st. The invitation is for four men and four women roughly between the ages of 18 and 30. (It is not absolutely required to arrive on July 1st and remain until September 1st.) We are very encouraged that participants of former schools have applied to now come for a longer period. We anticipate a wonderfully rich time of worship, study, work and fellowship in the beautiful Judean hills. The basic cost, covering room and board, is $675 for the full nine weeks (airfare not included).
- We are very encouraged and excited at how God is connecting us with other ministries in the Land. It is very much in our heart to flow together with others. It is a powerful thing to be rightly interconnected and properly positioned as a piece of the puzzle. We desire that the revelation we’ve received and the facilities we steward would be a blessing to others as others are a blessing to us.
- Preparation for the summer months has brought about a few special needs. If you would like to help, specific details can be gotten via the needs link at the end of this letter, or feel free to contact us directly.
- Thank you all who have continued to pray for and inquire about Yonit’s health. We praise God that all her recent tests are clear and she is in fine health.
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May God bless you from Zion!
Your servants…
For the Glory of His Name, Arni and Yonit
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