When politics and religion clash...
Why was Jesus crucified? Because His gospel was highly
politicized. It had everything to do with GOVERNMENT!
God's people would do well to note that fact. His enemies
accused Him of sedition. They distorted His Message to make it
appear He was out to overthrow the government! (John 19:12).
They led the rulers to believe Jesus was a dangerous individual,
a real threat to public order and national security (John
11:48). Jesus had to be stopped! Both the political and
religious authorities turned on Christ!
Why was Stephen murdered? Should he have just kept his opinions
to himself? He blasted the religious establishment for
their hypocrisy. Although he spoke the plain truth, they
confused the issue by taking his words out of context. He
undoubtedly did tell them that Jerusalem was going to fall and
the Temple was going to be destroyed - just like Jesus
prophesied - if they didn't quickly change course (Acts 6:8-15).
He was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (their
religious court). They angrily condemned him to die for being so
blunt (Acts 7).
I read the Book of Acts, making it much more meaningful and
relevant, during my detention in Jerusalem's Russia
n Compound jail. If you examine the evidence surrounding
Paul's frequent arrests and imprisonments, you'll see a pattern
of trumped up charges, misunderstandings and misguided zeal.
It's a miracle that Paul didn't say "enough is enough" and quit.
But God used him to provide for us a very human example, since
we expect Jesus to act divine (I Tim. 1:16).
Many in jail proclaim their innocence, but God knows
that I was an innocent politico-religious prisoner! The Leftist
government in Israel was out to crush their opposition. As a
Christian member of the Temple Mount Faithful, I represent all
that the secular hate. I've been involved in many televised
demonstrations to remind the government of its biblical
responsibilities. Whether they listen or not is between them and
God.
Living by Faith
The Israeli settlers whom Gerald Flurry (pastor general of the
Philadelphia Church of God) once condemned are putting their
lives on the line! By living in Eretz Israel (the Land of
Israel) they are exercising their faith in God's Word that
promises the Holy Land to Israel, not Ishmael. How cowardly for
Gerald Flurry to throw rocks at their faith when he sits safe in
his comfortable office in democratic America. God help him (and
all the other Church leaders) to wake up to this aspect of the
Bible of which too many remain ignorant. Thankfully, from
subsequent articles in The
Philadelphia Trumpet it appears Mr. Flurry's understanding
has improved.
God's people won't suffer the prophesied PERSECUTION (not that
we're seeking it) until we take a PUBLIC STAND on religious
matters that have political ramifications, just like Jesus and
the apostles and prophets! It's an artificial separation between
politics and religion. God
's ONE government has two branches: Church and State
(Malachi 4:4-5). Spiritual issues are fought in the political
arena of men's minds (2 Cor. 10:4). Whether we recognize it or
not, our Israelite nations are engaged in a cultural war. Unless
we join the struggle, promoting the biblical platform that
pierces through the mental fog, how can we expect to be in any
position to help influence our nation's direction away from the
precipice (Rom. 10:14)? God's Church has a superficial
understanding when they fail to put God's truth into practice
and take political action (James 2:14-17)!
I was arrested for a righteous reason. I'm closely associated
with those who call for a return to biblical values. We uphold
God's Law as our true Constitution. We plead with Judah (and
Joseph) to obey God and not men; to put their trust in Him and
not fear the UN; to restore the Temple Mount as the Temple
Mount! If the Jews fail to listen to this opportunity for
restoration, they'll self-destruct, falling apart at the seams.
Israel faces the growing threat of a civil war and European
intervention!
Warning the Jews
My enemies (if you don't have any, God is your enemy), knowing
that I've written that the mosques must go - the Dome of the
Rock and Al-Aksa mosques - have falsely accused me of being in a
plot to destroy those beautiful abominations! It's the serpent
up to his old tricks, telling half-truths and mixing it with
outrageous lies. I did tell the GSS (Israel's Secret Police like
the former East German Stasi) that I was thankful for the
opportunity to clear the air and answer any questions. I didn't
want to incriminate myself in any way - and they did try to
entrap me - but I also didn't want to deny Christ the
opportunity to testify before them (Mark 12:13).
All the while during my six and a half hours of interrogation,
I prayed only to speak what God would have me to say; nothing
more or less (Luke 20:12-19). I did clearly warn them that the
"peace" process is a trap; that it's about to blow up in their
faces, and that a German-led Europe is going to wage a new
crusade to enforce the Vatican's version of peace.
Catholic Europe will backstab and betray both the Arabs and the
Jews. They'll push for Jerusalem to become "an international
city" (Zech. 14:2).
I maintained that the only explosives that I'm involved with is
the BOMBSHELL I've written, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and
Fall. I continually referred them to it, stating that's
where my beliefs are on public record (John 18:20). (Later I
gave them a computer disk with my book on it to assist their
alleged investigation). I told them I know that Israel won't
take God's warning seriously, any more than those Jews who
spurned Jabotinsky's efforts to save them from Hitler. (Ze'ev
Jabotinksy warned the Jews of Hitler's fury but they thought he
was just crying wolf). Nevertheless, God will intervene and save
us after our worst time of suffering, and every survivor in
Jerusalem will be holy.
That whole ordeal brought my name, and the fact that I've
written a book, and that I'm a Sabbath-keeping Christian member
of the Temple Mount Faithful, to Israel's attention (Philip.
1:12-14). It also increases my standing in the Jewish community
who know I've willing to suffer to help try to save Israel from
itself, and that I'm not bitter, but still expect Israeli
citizenship! I've proven that I'm not a fair-weather friend. I
plan on standing by Judah's side, even when they fall because
they've refused to take the necessary actions to insure "Never
Again!" (Isa. 49:5; I Sam. 12:23).