YHVH's End Time Weapon

 If we are going to understand the present Israeli – Arab conflict, we have to examine its roots.  The drama of our day, which many consider to be the “last days”, is the Genesis conflict between Jacob and his brother Esau.  We, along with many others, are viewing the 10 nations of Psalm 83 as the protagonists that constitute the Islamic “uma” (the “nation Islam”), and the "Israel" mentioned there, as the present Jewish nation-state.  However, there is one more representative of Israel who although not recognized, has a very important role to play in this configuration. This entity is mentioned by most prophets but for some strange reason, it remains hidden in the shadow of prophetic history. 

The prophet Obadiah is not the only one who resurrects the above-mentioned ‘mystery man’.  The sole chapter of the ‘book’ of Obadiah is all about Edom/Esau, describing the very nature of his latter-day conduct and how he has dealt (or will deal) with his brother’s time of corrective judgment, called “Jacob’s trouble” - tsarah - distress, calamity.  “Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; and it is the time of Jacob's distress, but he will be saved from it” (Jeremiah 30:7).  There are many previous examples of Jacob being saved out of his troubles throughout history as his Elohim extended compassion and forgiveness to Jacob/Israel after severe judgments (tribulation or distress).  No doubt we are facing this reality today.  Amazingly, Esau seems to appear each time in the context of Jacob’s troubles.  But in the case of Obadiah, it says that YHVH would judge Esau and his land by fire. Where does this fire originate? None other than from "… the house of Jacob [that] will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau, for YHVH has spoken” (Obadiah 1:18).

It seems that the Almighty One, who has hidden this mighty mystery person, will resurrect him as a corporate entity (house) when the right time comes. But when will that be?  Obadiah states that when YHVH causes the House of Jacob to “possess their possessions” (ver.17), He will set that house on fire as mentioned above.  But lo and behold a flame, out of that fire, also appears… it originates from none other than the House of Joseph! Many today in Christendom, Judaism, and Messianism do not recognize this house, but maintain that he is included in the House of Judah. This mistake snuffs out the flame that is so needed, especially in this latter-day war with Esau and the other nations that have joined with him to wipe out Israel as a nation (see Psalm 83).  

Why is it that many believe that the present-day enemies of Israel are those ancient foes of Jacob, but fail to recognize Joseph (in his gentile garments) as still a viable Israelite entity? The spirit of anti-Semitism not only tries to snuff out the fire of Jacob (the Jews) but also the flame of Joseph. Removing the House of Joseph or the stick of Joseph's prophetic history, as though it does not exist in the Word of Elohim, results in severe consequences, especially in the body of Messiah, which is supposed to be the united House of Israel.  Not recognizing Joseph and the role that he plays causes the body to limp along on one leg, or worse… during the time to fight the end-time battle with Esau and the kingdoms of this Greek world, the bow of Judah would thus remain arrow-less, contrary to the prophetic prediction: “For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; and I will make you like a warrior's sword. Then YHVH will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning, and Adoni YHVH will blow the trumpet, and will march in the storm winds of the south” (Zechariah 9:13-14 emphasis added).  

What is interesting about the above-mentioned “Jacob’s Troubles”, is the context in which it is set.  “For, behold, days are coming,' declares YHVH, 'when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.' YHVH says, 'I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall possess it'" (Jeremiah 30:3 emphases added).   Is there a link between the Two Houses of Israel (Judah and Joseph/Israel) returning to their possession and the troubles that they will face when this union between the Land and these two families takes place?  “Now these are the words which YHVH spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah, for thus says YHVH, 'I have heard a sound of terror, of dread, and there is no peace. Ask now, and see, If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale?  Alas! For that day is great, there is none like it, and it is the time of Jacob's distress/trouble, but he will be saved from it” (Jeremiah 30:4-7 emphasis added). 

Contrary to the common belief that Jacob's trouble or distress applies to the Jewish nation only, the above scripture makes it quite clear that the union of Israel's Two Houses is followed by a tribulation period. Zechariah 9:6-11 elaborates even more on this time- period. "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; For I am YHVH their Elohim, and I will hear them.  Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in YHVH. I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; and they shall increase as they once increased.  I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries; They shall live, together with their children, and they shall return…”  But in spite of the joy that this restoration will generate, notice what comes next:  "He shall pass through the sea of trouble, and strike the waves of the sea: All the depths of the River shall dry up" (emphasis added. This passage echoes the exodus from Egypt).

This season is followed, of course, by the two being engaged in military campaigns, such as we saw above, where they are described as fire, as a bow, an arrow, and a sword. Isaiah 11:11-16 delineates more aspects of their military feats and their results. Jeremiah 51:19-24 expounds further on Israel's might, as a powerful hammer in YHVH's hand. Thus, not only does YHVH take the two sticks (of Ezekiel 37) and makes them One in His hand, but He will also use that Oneness as His instrument of war.

Ancient Israel was beset by certain enemies who were determined (unsuccessfully) to annihilate her. It is the same Israel now who is facing the identical foes as she did then.  The spiritual parallels (of the kingdoms of the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Greece) are manifesting themselves through the same people groups that were already identified eons ago in the Word of YHVH.  

Honey and the Sting

 This is the title of a song that was penned many years ago and fits our present reality.

"Sobering up" is the current catchphrase – hit'pak'chut – here in Israel. Hitpakchut does not mean that up until now people were being inebriated with alcohol, but for too long there has been a deep rift among various sections of the population, to the point that each group was completely unable to see the other's point of view or show empathy to anyone but those in their own opinion-group. Our prayers have been directed toward a call for disillusion. That is to say that, politicians, religious leaders, entertainment, and economic success cannot and will never satisfy. Abba has indeed answered this prayer, though at a tremendous cost. The Jewish people in Israel are in a different place at the moment, amidst the sorrow, grief, fears, and uncertainty there is a great measure of brotherhood. A brotherhood that on October 7th, and beyond, manifested in many cases of self-sacrificial acts for the sake of saving others' lives. And this keeps going on, with compassion, help, and support of every type being shown toward one another, especially toward those in need as well as toward our troops in the armed forces. A "waking up" (another translation for "hitpakchut") is happening in most circles.

But something even more significant is taking place. Many are turning to Abba, even among those who are not declaredly religious or traditional. People are truly taking a 'second look' and are asking themselves deep questions. They are daring to tread and step into areas that were thought to be 'dangerous', that which has been labeled here as "religionization" (similar to "Judaizing" in the Brit Chadasha). Up until recently, this was the 'demon' that the secular dreaded, so much so that any show of interest or introduction of biblical topics (not even in the realm of religion) would cause many to rise up with this 'fear of religionization', or in other words what they thought to be Jewish missionizing.  This fear seems to have evaporated to the point that soldiers of every background get together to pray before going on a mission or to sing together verses or prayers and no one seems to be worried or concerned (as they would have done in the past) that they are being brainwashed or manipulated. 

The stories of those whose lives were spared on October 7th when they prayed or cried out the Sh'ma, or had their communities' gates closed because of the Shabbat are circulating around the country. People are not ashamed or embarrassed to bring Elohim's name into the conversation. But what seems to be the peak of all these events was a speech delivered by a Knesset member, from the podium of Israel's legislature. This is unprecedented. No one has ever spoken words like these in that house, words that address and recognize a much Higher Authority than those who are occupying the Knesset's 120 seats. Some of you may read the transcript already but for those of you who haven't, we are posting it at the end of this article.

However, in order to be firmly planted on the ground of reality, there is much more to the story, as you can well imagine. As mentioned, there are of course many bereaved and traumatized families in Israel whose lives have been shuttered by the atrocities that they and their dear ones have experienced and are now having to somehow continue their everyday existence. All of these people are now displaced. Those who are from kibbutzim still have their communities to 'fall back' on and are trying to bolster each other up as they stay together in their new and temporary homes, but that is not the case for those who are residents of the southern towns. In their new 'homes', mostly in hotels, they are rather forlorn, with their routines totally disrupted. Most are unable to continue in their jobs, as they are very far removed from their workplaces. Their children are not in their secure and familiar framework of school. What are they to do? How are they to handle their daily living? What little help they get is often not sufficient, both financially, but mostly emotionally. The reports about these ones are very grim. There is also a serious concern as to their inter-family relationships (similar to the Covid 'season'). This is just a very brief glimpse into another aspect of the current reality, which hardly scratches the surface…

But now back to the Knesset Member's speech. 

“I want to talk for a moment about one little spiritual element that caught my eyes and ears. I'm talking about Margalit Megiddish mother of [former hostage] Ori Megiddish who BARUCH HASHEM was returned home.

A few days before Ori came home there is a video/picture of mother Margalit standing and doing hafrashat challah [ritual before shabbat]. While she is doing the hafrashat challa she is praying to HASHEM, asking Him for mercy and His help, asking Him to bring her child home - which is a normal thing that the ears and eyes are used to. It looks natural and logical; many people pray at such a time [of distress]. But during this prayer, there was a completely spontaneous moment where, suddenly, in tears, in truthful endless sorrow, in the mental tension/anguish of having her child in the hands of Hamas in Gaza - while she prays, suddenly, like an aside, bursting out of her mouth she says: "HASHEM! I love you!"

I saw this and I thought, wow. To keep loving HASHEM at this moment?! You say to HASHEM, from the depths of the soul, from the kishkas [inner core] it came out, with tears, "I love you?" Your daughter is in Gaza held by Hamas. I just couldn't digest it. I couldn't do it. And since then I can't stop thinking about it.

Now, I know, to a lot of people this kind of thing looks primitive, unsophisticated, simple, voodoo, mumbo jumbo, like a woman not absorbing the reality in which she finds herself. But I want to say, that as soon as she said it, I envied her. I envied her unimaginable degree of faith. It's NOT simple. It's NOT primitive. It is spirituality at the highest level, so high and powerful and sophisticated and strong.

I think of all the Zen Buddhists and monks and others who devote their entire lives to spiritual ascension - these people don't scratch the ground on which Margait stood at that moment. Because she understood, deeply, that the divine providence of HASHEM, everything, starts and ends with goodness. And even when you are in the valley of the shadow of death, you shall not fear evil. Because He is with you. And there is some giant metaphysical truth where everything that happens, even if you are in a huge dark pit, a mother worrying for her baby girl who is in the hands of the worst human predators, in the hands of the wildest men - even then she understands deep down in her heart that HASHEM is doing something that is for the benefit of some general good that right now, with her mortal eyes, she cannot see.

I am a believer. I am very much a believer...although I am a dry believer as Speaker of the Knesset...I believe in divine providence and I believe everything is for the best. I believe there is some supernal mathematics in the higher worlds that I can't understand with my mortal eyes. But I believe when I'm safe at home and praying by the Shabbat candle. Not when G-D forbid one of my children is in mortal danger.

I want to say to Margalit, this righteous mother - you are my hero. You are an example for me. You are my role model. I wish I could reach the spiritual heights and the sanctification of HASHEM that you did. Continue to daven, Margalit, for all the other abductees. You have a direct connection to HASHEM. Continue. You, and all of our brave soldiers. The nation of Israel is in amazing synergy with the soldiers, our heroes on the ground. And our women who pray - nothing is better than this.

Thank you very much.”

The Present War

 Is the war presently being fought in Israel the beginning of the Gog and Magog War of Ezekiel 38? I don't think so. I may be wrong, but here is a statement from this chapter that leads me to believe that we are not in the throes of the Ezekiel 38 scenario:  "After many days you [Gog] will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them” (Ezekiel 38:8 emphases added).  Obviously, the two sticks of the previous chapter have not yet been joined together on the mountains of Israel, nor are they restored from the sword, or living securely.  At this point in time only the House of Judah has returned to a small portion of the Promised Land. So, what is the present war all about?  

The prophet/watchman Habakkuk was complaining to the Almighty that all he saw was violence:  "The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. 'O YHVH, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, 'Violence!' [chamas] And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law [Torah] is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds" (Habakkuk 1:1-4).

I mentioned Joel chapter three a couple of weeks ago, which describes a war that takes place during the days of Judah and Jerusalem and is fought with the surrounding nations.  I might add that, this war started in the late 1800's when the Jews began to fulfill their national aspirations. "For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land” (Joel 3:1-2). These words echo Ezekiel 36:  "Thus says YHVH Adonai, 'Because the enemy has spoken against you, 'Aha!' and, 'The everlasting heights have become our possession'…  "Surely in the fire of My jealousy, I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with scorn of soul, to drive it out for a prey" (Ezekiel 36:2,5).

For well over a hundred years now, the Jewish people have reclaimed parts of the Promised Land and established the State of Israel. At the same time, the gathering of all nations (in the form of the League of Nations and later the United Nations) has also taken place.  All this was and is for the sake of YHVH's people and His inheritance “Israel”, a large portion of whom are still scattered in the nations and as of yet have not been restored to their identity. Additionally, the sections of the land that they are to reclaim are still occupied by the ten-nation confederacy of Psalm 83.  

Zechariah chapter 10 portrays Judah as a mighty army, during the time of the latter rain or end times: “For YHVH of armies has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like His majestic horse in battle” (Zechariah 10:3).  He then assigns them tasks: "From them will come the cornerstone, from them the tent peg, from them the bow of battle, from them every ruler, all of them together. And they will be as mighty men, treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; and they will fight, for YHVH will be with them” (Zechariah 10:4-5). Judah is seen here as a mighty warrior, which is reminiscent of what is said in Joel 3, regarding the war with the surrounding nations: “Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up!  Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, 'I am a mighty man.'  Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down, O YHVH, Your mighty ones” (Joel 3:9-11 emphases added).  

According to Zechariah 10, while Judah is back in the land with Jerusalem as its capital, YHVH is out in the nations saving the lost sheep of the house of Israel/Joseph.  “And I shall save the house of Joseph, and I shall bring them back because I have had compassion on them; and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am YHVH their Elohim, and I will answer them. And Ephraim will be like a mighty man” (Zechariah 10:6-7 emphasis added).  Here we see that Ephraim is also raised up to be a mighty man.  Could these be the same "mighty men" that Joel is speaking about, who come down and fight this battle with the surrounding nations? Isaiah 11 also speaks of the two joining together in this latter-day battle with the surrounding nations:  "And He will lift up a standard for the nations, and will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.  Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and those who harass Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not harass Ephraim.  And they will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines on the west [the Gaza Strip?]; Together they will plunder the sons of the east; They will possess Edom and Moab; And the sons of Ammon will be subject to them.  And YHVH will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt” (Isaiah 11:12-15). 

When this regional and well over one century-old war comes to an end, and with the tent pegs stretched, Ephraim will take over Gilead and Lebanon and some of the territory of the other surrounding nations that will have become subjected to Israelite rule.  "I will whistle for them [Ephraim] to gather them together, for I have redeemed them; And they will be as numerous as they were before.  When I scatter them among the peoples, they will remember Me in far countries, and they with their children will live and come back.  I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria, and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon Until no room can be found for them". (Zechariah 10:8-10).