Icej nz newsletter apr14, 2014

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ICEJ NEW ZEALAND

“Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them.. I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely.” (Jeremiah 32:37)

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM April 2014, Nissan 5774

PO Box 100474 Auckland 0745 Telephone: 09 837 5384 / Email: icejnz@ihug.co.nz

Find us online: www.icej.org

NZ REGISTERED CHARITY CC41177

God is at work KŶ ZĞŵĞŵďƌĂŶĐĞ Θ ŽLJĐŽƩƐ H.E. Yosef Livne Ambassador of Israel to New Zealand x Pesach / Passover (this year 15-­‐22 April) commemorates and celebrates x the deliverance of the Jewish people from the bondage of slavery to the x ŐLJƉƟĂŶƐ͕ ƌĞůĞĂƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ to grapple with God in the wilderness and prepare for entry to the Promised Land. We may not be able to affect world affairs but we can mould and mirror ourselves more and more into the likeness of God as revealed in the Jewish Messiah. As we reflect on the names of God we learn more of His character. As we come into the season of the first two of the pilgrimage feasts, Pesach and Shavuot and reflect on the spiritual significance of these feasts, we see God’s unfolding grace, His perfect plan to reconcile and restore a fallen humanity. Firstly by the shedding of His blood there is cleansing and remission of sin, once and for all as the shed blood of the Lamb of God is painted over the doorposts of our hearts. And secondly by His grace, the writing of the torah of God upon our hearts allows us to respond to His grace received by faith and progressively aligns our will with His. As much as God is at work in the hearts of men, he is also at work in the Nations. Israel is God’s instrument to the nations. Anti-Semitism is an antiGod response to the peculiar role God has placed on the Jewish people. Where there are geopolitical rumblings around the world, notably the Ukraine right now; watching how the Jewish people are treated is often a barometer or portent of events to follow. Encouraging and supporting aliyah in such circumstances contributes to the prophetic fulfillment of Israel’s natural and spiritual restoration, which Scripture records will be more significant than the exodus from Egypt which we celebrate at Pesach (Jeremiah 16:14-15, 23:7-8). KƵƌ ƉƌĂLJĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƟŽŶƐ ĂǀĂŝů ŵƵĐŚ͘

Time passes on and the pain of ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĂƐ ĨƌĞƐŚ ĂƐ ϲϵ LJĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ when the camps were liberated. What ŵĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŚĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ ŵŽƵƌŶŝŶŐ ƐŽ ƉŽŝŐŶĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĂƌƉ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ ŚŽƌƌŝĨLJŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ has been, it has not inoculated the ǁŽƌůĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ǀŝŽůĞŶƚ ŶƟͲ^ĞŵŝƟƐŵ͘ zĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ĨĂĐŝŶŐ ƚŽĚĂLJ ƚŚĞ unbridled hatred of those around the world who do not mask their hatred of Jews. Last Monday (27 January International Holocaust Remembrance Day) people of goodwill around the globe congregated to commemorate the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Shoa. They were not simply victims. They were not just innocent - they were Jews who found themselves squeezed out of existence first as citizens, then as people and lastly as human beings. With frightening efficiency the Nazi machine driven by a state – sanctioned, planned and implemented strategy to annihilate a people, amassed them into a reality that had been created away from the World and left but one exit-through the chimneys of Auschwitz. There was no other way out-not conversion, not through collaboration. Death was the Nazi last name given to Jews. The horrors of this unique event are so terrible and so inhumanly cruel, that they deserve a global time out to recall and remember. The U.N does not deserve a pat on the shoulder for dedicating a special date for the memorial. The question that needs to be asked is why it took so long? The answer to this question lies in front of us. Indeed, it is just as nakedly abhorrent as the causes of the Shoah.

Anti Semitism is still rampart around the world. It never disappeared. In some cases the messengers of hate try to mask their views under the guise of anti-Israeli or anti-Zionist propaganda. Nevertheless, the ancient hatred comes through. It all started by small steps, boycott the Jew, distance him from society, make him a pariah. And today, listen to the voices that call for Silencing Israel. Keep Israeli academics away from Universities, throw their products from store shelves and shun their culture and art. Let there be no mistake- this is where it all starts, does anyone know where it will end? A few decades ago Martin Niemoller wrote these piercing lines: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out... because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out... because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out... because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me... and there was no one left to speak for me.” KŶ ,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚ ZĞŵĞŵďƌĂŶĐĞ ĂLJ͕ ƐŚŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ǁĞ ƌĞŇĞĐƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞƐĞ ǁŽƌĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ͍

His Excellency Mr Yosef Livne is the ambassador ŽĨ /ƐƌĂĞů ƚŽ EĞǁ ĞĂůĂŶĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ŽƉͲĞĚ ĂƌƟĐůĞ ĮƌƐƚ appeared in scoop.co.nz and jwire.com.au on ϯϬ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ͘ /ƚƐ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ ŝƐ ƟŵĞůLJ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌƚŚ ƌĞƉĞĂƟŶŐ ĂƐ ǁĞ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ zŽŵ ,Ă^ŚŽĂŚ͕ /ƐƌĂĞů͛Ɛ ĚĂLJ ŽĨ ƌĞŵĞŵďƌĂŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ^ŚŽĂŚ ;,ŽůŽĐĂƵƐƚͿ which this year is commemorated on 27-­‐28 April.

Derek McDowell – Director ICEJ-NZ ŽǀĞƌ ŝŵĂŐĞ͗ Z hd Z^ͬ ĂǀŝĚ DĚnjŝŶĂƌŝƐŚǀŝůŝ Ͳ ƵŶŝĨŽƌŵĞĚ ŵĂŶ͕ ďĞůŝĞǀĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞŵĂŶ͕ ƐƚĂŶĚƐ ŐƵĂƌĚ near a Ukrainian military base outside the ĐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ^ĞǀĂƐƚŽƉŽů͕ DĂƌĐŚ ϳ͕ ϮϬϭϰ͘

2 INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM NZ BRANCH

Benjamin Netanyahu: Those Who Boycott Israel Are Anti-Semites

<ŶŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂŵĞƐ ŽĨ 'ŽĚ Ͳ Ă ƌĞŇĞĐƟŽŶ Roger Spackman EĂŵĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƵƐ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞLJ ŽŌĞŶ ĚŽ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ũƵƐƚ ŝĚĞŶƟĨLJ ĂŶ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů͖ ͙ƚŚĞLJ ĐĂŶ ĂĐƚƵĂůůLJ reveal who a person is, and what he or she is like. We have all heard ƚŚĞ ĂŶĂůŽŐLJ ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŶĂŵĞƐ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ǁŝƚŚ others... is similar to how God also ŐŽĞƐ ďLJ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ŶĂŵĞƐ͙ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ each of these names represents a ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ ŚĂǀĞ ǁŝƚŚ ,ŝŵ͘ God goes by many different names in the Bible. One commentator has counted over 63 found in Scripture. Each of these names provides us helpful insights to our faith and Christian life. They help us identify the one true God! The pagan nations worshipped false gods and so one reason God gave us His name is so we can know how He is different. His names describe His character. The term for name in the Old Testament means “individual mark” and communicated an individual’s essence. In the New Testament, the word for name comes from a verb that means “to know.” To know the name of God means to personally know His personality. EĂŵĞƐ 'ŽĚ ĐŚŽŽƐĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁŶ ďLJ These names are given by God, not thought up by people. God is not some abstract thought or nameless power. He is personal and knowable. And one of the ways His personality is known is through the giving of His names. Each name of God reveals one of His qualities or characteristics. t (PE UIF $SFBUPS &MPIJN

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dŚĞ ZĞĐŽŐŶŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ ,ŝƐ EĂŵĞ One of the leading theologians of this generation, Walter Brueggermann

wrote book on this topic called “Awed to Heaven, Rooted to Earth,” and in it IF QSBZT BOE TBZT i:PV BSF OPU UIF (PE we would have chosen.” In commenting on this statement, Michael Card - one of the most successful but little known musicians who wrote songs such as El Shaddai for Amy Grant, in reading this book, then comments “That troubling prayer resonates in my heart. For the truth is, most often I would have chosen (and indeed do choose) a god other than Him. Most often, I would rather not learn the hard lessons the hard way. I would rather not have to worship in the wilderness, where God continuously calls me to find and be found by Him. I would rather God simply meet my expectations, fix my problems, heal my hurts, and be on His way. I want a God who is faithful to me in ways I understand and expect, who expresses faithfulness in the ways I choose” (Discipleship Journal, Jan/Feb, 2005, 25-29). One of the most helpful correctives to our selfish desires and egocentric expressions of prayer is to focus on who God actually is, not necessarily who we want Him to be. And the only way we can truly know God in this way, is to know the names by which He is identified in Scripture. These six statements will help us grow in recognition of His wonderful Name. 1. His name is good. Psalm 52:9: “I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good.” Let us never forget this: God is good, even when bad things happen! 2. His name is great. 2 Samuel 7:2526: “…Do as you promised, so that your

name will be great forever…” There is no greater name than the name of God. 3. His name is majestic. Psalm 8:1: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” This means that His name, which stands for all that He is, is excellent and famous in the earth. There is no one else like Him. He is omnipotent (all powerful) and incomparable. Exodus 15:11: “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you--majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” 4. His name is glorious. Psalm 115:1: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory…” The word “glory” encompasses all of His attributes. The word literally means, “heavy” and refers to the fact that God is weighty, or awesome. Sometimes we try to make a name for ourselves as we crave credit for what we’ve done. We need to remember that His name alone deserves the glory. 5. His name is holy. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray he told them to begin like this in Matthew 6:9: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name.” His Name must be set apart because He is holy. 6. His name is near. God is high and holy and yet, amazingly, He is also close to us. Theologically speaking, He is both transcendent and He is imminent. Allow this truth to penetrate you. He is not distant, but has instead come close to each one of us so that we can get to know Him. Psalm 75:1: “We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; all creation tells of your wonderful deeds.” God is powerful and He is also personal. KŶĐĞ ǁĞ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞ ,ŝƐ EĂŵĞ ǁĞ cannot help but to respond ƚŽ ,ŝŵ͘ dƌƵĞ ŚĂƌŵŽŶLJ ĂŶĚ ĨƌĞĞĚŽŵ ĐŽŵĞƐ ĂƐ ǁĞ ĂůŝŐŶ ŽƵƌ ůŝǀĞƐ͕ ŽƵƌ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚƐ͕ ŽƵƌ ďĞŚĂǀŝŽƵƌ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ ĂĐƟŽŶƐ ƵƉŽŶ ƚŚĞ tŽƌĚ ŽĨ 'ŽĚ͘ Ƶƚ ĮƌƐƚ͕ ǁĞ ŵƵƐƚ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞ ,ŝƐ EĂŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞŶ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͘​͘​͘ ĂŶĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ŇŽǁ results… ZŽŐĞƌ ^ƉĂĐŬŵĂŶ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ ǁŝĨĞ ĞďďŝĞ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ƉĂƐƚŽƌƐ ŽĨ dĞ ƚĂƚƵ ĂƉƟƐƚ ŚƵƌĐŚ ŝŶ ƵĐŬůĂŶĚ͘

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM NZ BRANCH 3

WÄžĆ?Ä‚Ä?Ĺš ƚŽ ^ŚĂǀƾŽĆš Ͳ dŚĞ dĹ˝ĆŒÄ‚Ĺš ŽĨ zÄžĆ?ŚƾĂ Todd  and  Rev  Julia  Vincent Ç€ÄžĆŒ ůŽŽŏĞĚ Ä‚Ćš LJŽƾĆŒĆ?ÄžůĨ Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ ĹľĹ?ĆŒĆŒĹ˝ĆŒ ĂŜĚ ƚŚŽƾĹ?Śƚ͕ ƚŚĹ?Ć? ĹľĹ?ĆŒĆŒĹ˝ĆŒ Ĺ?Ć? Ä?ÄžÄ?ŽžĹ?ĹśĹ? Ç Ä‚Ç‡ ĆšŽŽ ĹšŽŜÄžĆ?ƚ͕ ÄžĹ?ĆšĹšÄžĆŒ / ŜĞĞĚ ƚŽ Ĺ?Ğƚ Ä‚ ĹŻÄžĆ?Ć?ͲÄ?ůƾŜƚůLJ Ä‚Ä?Ä?ĆľĆŒÄ‚ĆšÄž ĹľĹ?ĆŒĆŒĹ˝ĆŒ Ĺ˝ĆŒ / ŜĞĞĚ ƚŽ Ĺ?Ğƚ Ä‚ Ä?ÄžĆŠÄžĆŒ ůŽŽŏĹ?ĹśĹ? ĹľÄžÍ˜ dĹ˝ Ä?Äž Ć?ĆľĆŒÄžÍ• Ä‚ ĹľĹ?ĆŒĆŒĹ˝ĆŒ Ä?Ä‚Ĺś ŽŜůLJ ĆŒÄžĹ‡ÄžÄ?Ćš ƚŚĞ ŽƾĆšÇ Ä‚ĆŒÄš Ä‚Ć‰Ć‰ÄžÄ‚ĆŒÄ‚ĹśÄ?Äž ŽĨ Ç ĹšÄ‚Ćš Ĺ?Ćš Ć?ĞĞĆ?͘ /Ĺś Ä‚ Ç Ä‚Ç‡ 'ŽĚ͛Ć? tĹ˝ĆŒÄšÍŹĹ?ĹśĆ?ĆšĆŒĆľÄ?Ć&#x;ŽŜ ĚŽĞĆ? Ä‚ Ć?Ĺ?ĹľĹ?ĹŻÄ‚ĆŒ ƚŚĹ?ĹśĹ?1,  but  unlike  a  mirror  his  Word  ĹšÄ‚Ć? ƚŚĞ Ä‚Ä?Ĺ?ĹŻĹ?ƚLJ ƚŽ Ĺ?Ĺ˝ žƾÄ?Ĺš ÄšÄžÄžĆ‰ÄžĆŒÍ• Ĺ?Ćš Ä?Ä‚Ĺś Ä‚ĹŻĆ?Ĺ˝ ÄšĹ?Ć?Ä?ÄžĆŒĹś ĂŜĚ ĆŒÄžĹ‡ÄžÄ?Ćš Ç ĹšÄ‚ĆšÍ›Ć? Ĺ?Ĺś LJŽƾĆŒ ĹľĹ?ŜĚ ĂŜĚ ĹšÄžÄ‚ĆŒĆš2  â€“  it’s  the  truth  Ä‚ŜĚ Ĺ?Ćš Ä?ĂŜ͛ƚ ĹŻĹ?Ğ͘ /Ĩ Ç ÄžÍ›ĆŒÄž ĹšŽŜÄžĆ?Ćš Ä‚Ä?ŽƾĆš ƚŚĹ?Ć?Í• Ć?ŽžÄžĆ&#x;žĞĆ? ƚŚĹ?Ć? ĆŒÄžĹ‡ÄžÄ?Ć&#x;ŽŜ ŽĨ ŽƾĆŒĆ?ĞůǀĞĆ?Í™Ĺ?Ć?Í™Ç ÄžĹŻĹŻ Ĺ?Ćš Ä‚Ĺ?Ŝ͛ƚ Ć‰ĆŒÄžĆŠÇ‡Í˜ ŽĞĆ? ƚŚĂƚ žĞĂŜ / ŜĞĞĚ ƚŽ Ä?ŚĂŜĹ?Äž 'ŽĚ͛Ć? tĹ˝ĆŒÄš Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ĺ?Ğƚ Ä‚ Ä?ÄžĆŠÄžĆŒ žĞÍ? KÄ?Ç€Ĺ?ŽƾĆ?ůLJ ƚŚĞ ĹŻÄ‚ĆŠÄžĆŒ Ĺ?Ć? ĆšĆŒĆľÄžÍ˜ In the garden of Eden Genesis tells us that God created us in his own likeness, He blessed man and woman and declared them to be very good. While we followed God’s instruction, teaching and laws we remained in relationship with Him, we were in His presence, we had shalom and lived. However as we know, this shalom was broken when we disobeyed the instruction of his Word, teaching and laws. Soon we found ourselves separated from God; we had set our face towards rebellion and in a sense divorce. In this Genesis passage we have the first account of Mankind’s disobedience to God’s Torah (instruction/teaching/ law) and the result was severe. We are told in Genesis that we only had to follow a very short list of instructions (there weren’t the 613 items at this stage) sadly we were distracted by our own wants and needs before God’s. As a parent figure God could understandably be seen as disappointed with his children. As a parent, have you ever said to your children not to touch this or do that or you will hurt yourself? However the child does it anyway and‌well‌ hmmm now where did I put those plasters? God regards following his Torah as a way of showing that we love Him, it also says that we want to be resorted to a loving relationship with Him and as a consequence those around us. So God sets about teaching His children what this relationship with Him will look like and what our responsibilities will be. Perhaps He thought; if they found it difficult to follow a few laws I might

4 Â Â INTERNATIONAL Â CHRISTIAN Â EMBASSY Â JERUSALEM Â NZ Â BRANCH

need to take this bit slowly. God’s aim is to take us from a relationship with Him as a child to adolescence to an adult and in another way we would go from being strangers, to slaves, then friends and after that, sons/daughters (heirs). But it doesn’t stop there, ultimately His aim is to have the closest most intimate relationship with us possible; that being marriage as seen in the book of Revelation. But how do we get there? How do we hit the mark of being ready, on time, pure and spotless as a bride on her wedding day? We follow the groom’s leading! What’s interesting about the Hebrew word Torah is that it comes from the root word yarah which means to shoot an arrow as to hit the mark. Sin means to miss the mark. Torah also means God’s teaching or instruction that enables us to hit the mark. What is the mark? The aim is for our whole being to be in a perfect, restored, loving relationship with God and those around us, that’s the mark! Torah also refers to the first five books of the Bible. These first five books are also known as the marriage contract called the Ketubah. This covenant contract highlights the history and responsibilities of both parties entering into the covenant of marriage, in this case God and Israel. Scripture shows God trying to bring about this union with Himself through a series of covenant relationships. He does this with both faithful, obedient

individuals and groups of people like Noah, Abraham and his sons leading to Jacob becoming Israel and with his twelve sons. Later on we see covenants with Moses and King David and the people of Israel. All the while His intent and aim is that they would be set apart, holy, for Him in a completely unadulterated union, or in other words‌ one3 -FBEJOH SJHIU VQ UP :FTIVB )B Mashiach Himself, these covenant relationships grow in number and in intimacy, they even make a way for us Gentiles to enter in also. (John 10:16-17) But what about the problem of sin; missing the mark? How can a perfect God be in union with a fallen people? Well in God’s plan to be married to us; He would pay the price4 for his bride with Himself, that’s how much he values us. The only way to Him would be through Him, through the sacrifice of his shed blood. The Messiah redeemed us from the curse that results from being unfaithful to God’s Torah by becoming a curse for us on the cross. (Galatians 3:13) As we look at the Mosaic Covenant, we see God’s plan start to take shape. It will ultimately be fully realised in the person PG :FTIVB (PE T 8PSE NBEF ÏFTI *O the covenant with Moses we read that Moses takes blood from the sacrificed animals and throws half on the alter, he then reads the terms of the covenant to continued on page 5, column 1

Torah  of  Yeshua...

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dŚĞ <Ä‚Ĺ?ĨĞŜĹ? :ÄžÇ Ć?

ÍžÄ?ŽŜĆ&#x;ŜƾĞĚ ĨĆŒŽž ƉĂĹ?Äž Ď°Íż the people of Israel, they then answer with “all that the LORD says we will do and obeyâ€? Exodus 24:7 ( like an I do at a betrothal or a wedding). After hearing the people agree, Moses takes the rest of the blood and sprinkles it on all the people. He then says “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these wordsâ€?. The bride had now agreed to the groom’s proposal. Next Moses takes 70 elders (representing Israel) up Mount Sinai to meet the LORD, it’s here they ate, drank and confirmed the covenant. (Exodus 24:9-11) If this has a familiar sound to it in the New Covenant (New Testament) it should. Later on in Scripture we read that on the eve of Passover on .PVOU ;JPO UIJT TBNF HSPPN :FTIVB offers the disciples (who represent New Covenant Israel) a deeper more intimate relationship. This same LORD, who their ancestors had met on Mt Sinai, was now calling them to feed on Himself, the true bread from heaven and to drink the true drink of His blood5. In this way the covenant was confirmed. It is this that we partake of at communion, also looking forward to the fullness at the wedding feast. Torah was given on Mt Sinai 50 days after Passover and the commandments were written on stone. When we come to the New Covenant however we see parallels with the earlier Covenant at Sinai; although this time God intended for his Torah to be written on our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit would be poured out 50 days after the Lamb of (PE :FTIVB EJFE BOE SPTF BHBJO ɨJT happened at Pentecost/Shavuot . God’s Word was seen to be faithful and true as seen in Jeremiah 31:31-33. “The days are coming,â€? declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,â€? declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,â€? declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.â€?

As believing Gentiles we have been grafted in to this New Covenant made with believing Israel. With this we are now invited to follow the truth of His instruction revealed through His living 8PSE :FTIVB TBJE “ don’t think that I come to abolish Torah (God’s instruction) instead I have come to fulfil Torahâ€?6. In Hebrew fulfilling means to uphold and carry to its intended goal; to correctly sustain the purpose of its intended aim. In another way fulfilling is like the fullness of a full moon (covered in light). :FTIVB BMTP TBJE “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.â€? (Matthew 22:37-40) Paul would repeat this understanding in Romans 13:10b Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law (Torah). Therefore  to  love  Yeshua  is  to  wear  ĆšĹšÄž LJŽŏÄž7 ŽĨ ĹšĹ?Ć? dĹ˝ĆŒÄ‚ĹšÍ˜ Ć? :ŽŚŜ Ď­Ď°Í—Ď­Ďą Ć?ĂLJĆ?Í• “If  you  love  me,  you  will  keep  my  commandmentsâ€?͘ dŚĞ ĆšĆŒÄ‚ĹŠÄžÄ?ĆšĹ˝ĆŒÇ‡ has  been  set,  the  arrow  has  been  ĆŒÄžĹŻÄžÄ‚Ć?ĞĚ͕ ĂŜĚ Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ ĨƾůůŜÄžĆ?Ć? ŽĨ Ć&#x;žĞ the  mark  will  be  hit!  God’s  Word  will  accomplish  all  that  it  was  sent  to  do8.  /Ĺś ƚŚĞ žĞĂŜĆ&#x;žĞ Ä‚Ć? WÄ‚ƾů Ć?Ĺ˝ ĂƉƚůLJ Ć?ĂLJĆ?Í• ÍžÍ™Ç Äž Ć?ĞĞ ŽŜůLJ Ä‚ ĆŒÄžĹ‡ÄžÄ?Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ä‚Ć? Ĺ?Ĺś Ä‚ mirror;  then  we  shall  see  face  to  face.  Now  I  know  in  part;  then  I  shall  know  fully,  even  as  I  am  fully  knownâ€?.Ďľ  The  ĆŒÄžĹŻÄ‚Ć&#x;ŽŜĆ?ĹšĹ?Ɖ ĹŻĹ˝Ć?Ćš Ĺ?Ĺś 'ĞŜĞĆ?Ĺ?Ć? Ç Ĺ˝ĆľĹŻÄš Ä?Äž ĆŒÄžĆ?ĆšĹ˝ĆŒÄžÄš ĂŜĚ Ä?ĆŒŽƾĹ?Śƚ ƚŽ ĹľÄ‚ĆšĆľĆŒĹ?ĆšÇ‡Í˜ ^ĞĞ the  faithful  bride  has  made  herself  ĆŒÄžÄ‚ĚLJ10͘ dŚĞ Ĺ?ĆŒŽŽž Ä‚Ç Ä‚Ĺ?ĆšĆ? ĂŜĚ ƚŚĞ ĆšÇ Ĺ˝ Ć?ŚĂůů Ä?ÄžÄ?ŽžÄž ŽŜĞ͘ WÄžĆŒĨÄžÄ?Ć&#x;ŽŜÍŠ Footnotes: 1.  James  1:  23-­â€?24 2.  Hebrews  4:12 3.  John  17:21 4.  1  Corinthians  6:20 5.  John  6:  55-­â€?56 ϲ͘ DÄ‚ĆŠĹšÄžÇ ĎąÍ—Ď­Ďł ĎłÍ˜ DÄ‚ĆŠĹšÄžÇ Ď­Ď­Í—ώϾͲϯϏ 8.  Isaiah  55:11 ĎľÍ˜ / Ĺ˝ĆŒĹ?ŜƚŚĹ?Ä‚ĹśĆ? Ď­ĎŻÍ—Ď­ĎŽ Ď­ĎŹÍ˜ ZĞǀĞůĂĆ&#x;ŽŜ ϭϾ͗ϳ

dŽĚĚ ĂŜĚ :ƾůĹ?Ä‚ ĂƊĞŜĚ :ÄžĆ?ĆľĆ? &Ĺ?ĆŒĆ?Ćš ĹšĆľĆŒÄ?Ĺš Ĺ?Ĺś Auckland  where  Julia  is  an  associate  pastor.  dŚĞLJ Ä‚ĆŒÄž Ä?Ĺ˝Ä‚ĆŒÄš žĞžÄ?ÄžĆŒĆ? ŽĨ W&/ͲE ĂŜĚ ŚĂǀĞ Ä‚ ůŽŜĹ?Ć?ƚĂŜĚĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä‚Ć?Ć?Ĺ˝Ä?Ĺ?Ä‚Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ / :͘

dŚĞ :ÄžÇ Ć? Ä‚ĆŒÄž Ä?ĞůĹ?ĞǀĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ÄŽĆŒĆ?Ćš Ć?ĞƊůĞĚ Ĺ?Ĺś <Ä‚Ĺ?ĨĞŜĹ?Í• Ç ĹšĹ?Ä?Ĺš Ç Ä‚Ć? ŽŜÄž ŽĨ ĹšĹ?ŜĂ͛Ć? Ĺ?ĹľĆ‰ÄžĆŒĹ?Ä‚ĹŻ Ä?ĂƉĹ?ƚĂůĆ?Í• Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ ϴƚŚ Ä?ÄžĹśĆšĆľĆŒÇ‡Í• Ĺ˝ĆŒ Ć‰ÄžĆŒĹšÄ‚Ć‰Ć? ĞǀĞŜ ÄžÄ‚ĆŒĹŻĹ?ÄžĆŒÍ˜ Scholars say that they were Sephardi Jewish merchants from Persia or Iraq who made their way eastward along the Silk Route and settled in Kaifeng with the blessing of the Chinese emperor. The Jews quickly established themselves in the city, where people were tolerant and accepting, unlike much of the rest of the Diaspora. In 1163, Kaifeng’s Jews built a large and beautiful synagogue, renovated many times over the centuries. At its peak, during the Ming Dynasty (13681644), the Kaifeng Jewish community may have numbered as many as 5,000. By the 17th century, a number of Chinese Jews had attained high ranks in the Chinese civil service, but along with success came the blight of assimilation, which took an increasingly heavy toll on the community and its cohesion. As a result, by the mid- 1800s, the Chinese Jews’ knowledge and practice of Judaism had largely faded away. Nevertheless, against all odds, Kaifeng’s Jews struggled to preserve their Jewish identity, passing down whatever little they knew to their progeny. Currently, there are estimated to be c.1,000 Jewish descendants in Kaifeng. But now the Kaifeng Jews want to make Aliyah – to return to Zion. The last time Chinese Jews were able to make aliyah to Israel was back in 2009. For the past five years, the Government has refused to grant the necessary permission to bring more to Jerusalem. The government and Israeli rabbinic authorities continue to be lobbied to allow the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, as well as other “lostâ€? and “hiddenâ€? Jews, to come home to Zion. We  too  can  do  our  part  in  Ć‰ÄžĆ&#x;Ć&#x;ŽŜĹ?ĹśĹ? ƚŚĞ >Ĺ˝ĆŒÄš ƚŽ ĨƾůĎůů ,Ĺ?Ć? tĹ˝ĆŒÄš in  keeping  with  the  passage  of  Isaiah  ϰϾÍ—Ď­ĎŽ Í´ Íž ĞŚŽůĚ͕ ƚŚĞĆ?Äž Ć?ŚĂůů Ä?ŽžÄž ĨĆŒŽž Ä‚ĨÄ‚ĆŒÍ• ĂŜĚ Ä?ĞŚŽůĚ͕ ƚŚĞĆ?Äž ĨĆŒŽž ƚŚĞ ŜŽĆŒĆšĹš ĂŜĚ ĨĆŒŽž ƚŚĞ Ç ÄžĆ?ƚ͕ ĂŜĚ ƚŚĞĆ?Äž ĨĆŒŽž ƚŚĞ ůĂŜĚ ŽĨ ^Ĺ?ĹśĹ?ĹľÍ˜Í&#x; Íž/Ĺś ,ÄžÄ?ĆŒÄžÇ Í• the  word  â€œSinimâ€?  means:  Chinese)

INTERNATIONAL Â CHRISTIAN Â EMBASSY Â JERUSALEM Â NZ Â BRANCH Â Â 5 Â Â

dŚĞ :ÄžÇ Ć? Ĺ?Ĺś hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ŜĞ  Howard  Flower  and  Derek  McDowell  -­â€?  a  media  review dŚĞ :ÄžÇ Ĺ?Ć?Ĺš Ä?ŽžžƾŜĹ?ƚLJ Ĺ?Ĺś hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ŜĞ͕ which  numbers  around  200,000  žÄžĹľÄ?ÄžĆŒĆ?Í• ŚĂĆ? Ä?ĞĞŜ Ä?Ä‚ĆľĹ?Śƚ Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ ĹľĹ?ĚĚůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Ĺ?ŜƚĞŜĆ?Äž ƉŽůĹ?Ć&#x;Ä?Ä‚ĹŻ ƾŜĆŒÄžĆ?Ćš Ĺ?Ĺś hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśÄžÍ˜ dŚĞ :ÄžÇ Ĺ?Ć?Ĺš Ĺ?ĞŜÄ?LJ Ĺ?Ć? Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ç€Ĺ?ÄšĹ?ĹśĹ? ÄžĹľÄžĆŒĹ?ĞŜÄ?LJ Ä‚Ĺ?Äš ƚŽ ƚŚĞ :ÄžÇ Ĺ?Ć?Ĺš Ä?ŽžžƾŜĹ?ƚLJ Ć?Ć‰ĆŒÄžÄ‚Äš Ä‚Ä?ĆŒĹ˝Ć?Ć? hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśÄžÍ˜ Ä?Ä?Ĺ˝ĆŒÄšĹ?ĹśĹ? ƚŽ ƚŚĞ :ÄžÇ Ĺ?Ć?Ĺš Ĺ?ĞŜÄ?LJ͕ ƚŚĞ Ä‚Ĺ?Äš Ĺ?Ć? žĞĂŜƚ ƚŽ Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ç€Ĺ?ĚĞ ÄžĹľÄžĆŒĹ?ĞŜÄ?LJ Ä‚Ć?Ć?Ĺ?Ć?ƚĂŜÄ?Äž ƚŽ ƚŚĞ :ÄžÇ Ĺ?Ć?Ĺš Ä?ŽžžƾŜĹ?ƚLJ ĂŜĚ :ÄžÇ Ĺ?Ć?Ĺš Ĺ?ĹśĆ?Ć&#x;ƚƾĆ&#x;ŽŜĆ? ŽĨ hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśÄžÍ˜ DĹ˝Ć?Ćš :ÄžÇ Ć? Ĺ?Ĺś hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ŜĞ ĆŒÄžĆ?Ĺ?ĚĞ Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ Ä?ĂƉĹ?ƚĂů ŽĨ <Ĺ?Ğǀ͘ ,Ĺ˝Ç ÄžÇ€ÄžĆŒÍ• ĆšĹšÄžĆŒÄž Ä‚ĆŒÄž Ć?Ĺ?njĂÄ?ĹŻÄž :ÄžÇ Ĺ?Ć?Ĺš Ä?ŽžžƾŜĹ?Ć&#x;ÄžĆ? Ĺ?Ĺś KĚĞĆ?Ć?Ä‚Í• >ǀŽǀ͕ ĂŜĚ ĹśÄžĆ‰ĆŒĹ˝Ć‰ÄžĆšĆŒĹ˝Ç€Ć?ĹŹÍ˜ ^Ĺ?ĹśÄ?Äž ƚŚĞ Ä?ŽůůĂƉĆ?Äž ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ŽǀĹ?Ğƚ hĹśĹ?ŽŜÍ• Ä‚ĆŒŽƾŜÄš ĎŻĎŻĎŹÍ•ĎŹĎŹĎŹ hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ä‚Ĺś :ÄžÇ Ć? ŚĂǀĞ žĂĚĞ Ä‚ĹŻĹ?LJĂŚ ƚŽ /Ć?ĆŒÄ‚ÄžĹŻÍ˜ ^Ĺ?ĹśÄ?Äž ƚŚĞ ÄžÄ‚ĆŒĹŻÇ‡ ϭϾϾϏĆ?Í• ƚŚĞ / : ŚĂĆ? Ć?ƉŽŜĆ?Ĺ˝ĆŒÄžÄš Ĺ˝Ç€ÄžĆŒ Ď°ĎŽÍ•ĎŹĎŹĎŹ ŽĨ ƚŚĞĆ?Äž hĹŹĆŒÄ‚Ĺ?ĹśĹ?Ä‚Ĺś :ÄžÇ Ć? Ĺ?Ĺś žĂŏĹ?ĹśĹ? ƚŚĞĹ?ĆŒ Ç Ä‚Ç‡ ĹšŽžÄž ƚŽ /Ć?ĆŒÄ‚ÄžĹŻÍ˜ The Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharanksy has stated, “We have a moral responsibility to ensure the safety and security of Ukraine’s Jews. Leaders of the Jewish community in Ukraine have expressed numerous security concerns revolving around the increased fighting and fear that violence will overflow against the Jewish community.â€? “We are in constant contact with the leadership of the Ukrainian Jewish community and are following events closely. The Jewish Agency’s assistance aims to increase security at the Jewish communal institutions in Ukraine,â€? said Sharansky. The emergency assistance will be sent from The Jewish Agency’s Emergency Assistance Fund for Jewish Communities. The fund was established in March 2012, after the terror attacks against a Jewish school in Toulouse, France. According to The Jewish Agency, “though most of world Jewry lives in physical safety, the fund provides financial assistance to Jewish communities that have security concerns, strengthening security measures and helping to ensure that Jewish life takes place in safety.â€? Over the last two years, the fund has granted over $4 million in financial assistance to 50 communities in 25 countries. Commenting on the outburst of violence in the Ukraine, Shavei Israel 6   INTERNATIONAL  CHRISTIAN  EMBASSY  JERUSALEM  NZ  BRANCH

REUTERS/Baz Ratner: Ukrainian servicemen carry flags as they leave Belbek airport in the Crimea region March 4, 2014.

Chairman Michael Freund said, “Ukraine is in a state of unrest and the country is saturated with widespread anti-Semitism. History has unfortunately shown that when Ukraine teeters on the brink of chaos, the Jews inevitably become targets. Now is the time for Israel to offer refuge to Ukrainian Jews and to encourage them to come home to Zion. Ukrainian Jewry needs our prayers, and they need Israel to bring them on aliyah.� At the same time the World Jewish Congress has warned against the exaggeration of anti-Semitism in Ukraine especially by the Russians who want to foment and incite further anti-Semitism for their own political ends. Ukrainian Jewish leaders including the $IJFG 3BCCJ :BBLPW #MFJDI IBWF NBEF statements accusing Putin of staging anti-Semitic provocations in Kiev during the months leading up to his invasion. A senior Ukrainian Jewish leader Josef Zissels told The Jerusalem Post recently. “I have never claimed that the 3VTTJBO HPWFSONFOU PS :BOVLPWJDI administration were anti-Semitic. It is much worse – they are cynically willing to play the Jewish card in the implementation of their objectives, and are therefore [shown to be] willing to sacrifice Jews.� The WJC called on “all governments, media and nongovernmental organizations and their representatives not to cause this complex situation to deteriorate by making unfounded accusations, or giving exaggerated accounts, of the situation of the

Ukrainian Jewish population.â€? And yet Ukrainian Chief Rabbi :BBLPW #MFJDI TBZT i8F ĂŤOE UIBU BOUJ Semitism, incitement and the history of anti-Semitism in Ukraine includes in large dose Russian incitement against the Jews in Ukraine. It happened during the czars and it’s happening now by Putin inciting the Ukrainian population against the Jews.â€? This is the crux. Whilst antiSemitism may not yet be as bad as some might make out, Ukrainian Jews are concerned for their future. This is what is motivating them to want to leave. As ICEJ’s Aliyah Director Howard Flower says “There has always been significant Anti-Semitism in Ukraine and a year ago many people expressed their misgivings about the Nationalist groups. In January and February there were some serious physical attacks and vandalism which caused a lot of alarm during the period of the protests, attempted crackdown and final overthrowing of the government. Putin was using anti-Semitism and also accusing the nationalistic groups of being Neo-Nazis. After Crimea became part of Russia and the Russian military appeared on the Ukrainian border the main concern was whether there would be an immediate invasion. Furthermore, significant cash flow has been diverted to the Ukrainian Military and social services are not being paid on time as a result. The Russians have raised the price of natural gas. continued on page 7, column 1

:ĞǁƐ ŽĨ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ͘​͘​͘ ;ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƉĂŐĞ ϲͿ

The situation is changing daily. People are not debating the question of antiSemitism as much as they were earlier… but all the above concerns are encouraging Jews to leave.” Howard further comments that the demographic splits by region suggest that there is little chance of any more Ukrainian territories joining Russia voluntarily. In Ukraine only Crimea has a Russian majority. The demographic splits by region are: Kharkov: Ukrainians 50%, Russians 44% Donetsk: Ukrainians 57%, Russians 38% Zaporizhia: Ukrainians 70%, Russians 25% Crimea: Russians: 58%, Ukrainians: 24.0% Odessa: Ukrainians 62 %, Russians 29%

A Ukrainian Rabbi

and in need of assistance to make it ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ / : ŚĂƐ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ Ă ǀĞƌLJ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐŝŶŐ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ŐŝŌƐ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĨƌŽŵ ďĞůŝĞǀĞƌƐ Ăůů ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ Ͳ ĨƌŽŵ DĂůĂLJƐŝĂ ƚŽ DĞdžŝĐŽ͘ ͞tĞ ƚŚĂŶŬ 'ŽĚ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌLJ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ our supporters who has chosen and ĐŚŽŽƐĞƐ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ďĞŚŝŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJ ĞīŽƌƚ ƚŽ ďƌŝŶŐ ĞŶĚĂŶŐĞƌĞĚ hŬƌĂŝŶŝĂŶ :ĞǁƐ ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů͘ zŽƵƌ ŐĞŶĞƌŽƐŝƚLJ ƐŽ ĨĂƌ ǁŝůů ĂůůŽǁ ƵƐ ƚŽ ƐƉŽŶƐŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŇŝŐŚƚƐ ĨŽƌ Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ϱϬ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ Ƶƚ ǁĞ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ĚŽ ŵŽƌĞ ĂƐ ƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ ŐƌŽǁƐ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ĨŽƌ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ͘ dŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ ƉŝƚƐ ƉƌŽͲZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂůŝŐŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂƟĐ tĞƐƚ͘ ZƵƐƐŝĂ ŚĂƐ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ƐǁĂůůŽǁĞĚ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŵĞĂ ĂŶĚ ŵĂƐƐĞĚ ƚƌŽŽƉƐ ĂůŽŶŐ ŽƚŚĞƌ ďŽƌĚĞƌ ĂƌĞĂƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ͘ ŵŝĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŽƐ ĂŶĚ ǀŝŽůĞŶĐĞ͕ ĂŶƟͲ ^ĞŵŝƟĐ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĞŵĞƌŐĞĚ ŽŶ ďŽƚŚ ƐŝĚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĚŝƐƉƵƚĞ͕ ďůĂŵŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƚƌŽƵďůĞƐ ŶŽǁ ĞŶŐƵůĮŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŶĂƟŽŶ͘ >ŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŚƌŝƐƟĂŶ ĐŽŵƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ŚŽƵƌ͕ ƚŚĞ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŐĞŶĐLJ ǁƌŽƚĞ ƵƐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƵƌŐĞŶƚ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ͗

And so as the Ukraine is pulled by its pro European integration “Euro-Maidan” advocates, a reference to the pro-European demonstrations on Kiev’s central maidan, or square, the Russians are attempting to preserve their own national interests by ensuring there is no Ukrainian drift westwards producing a pro-European Ukraine on its western doorstep. This new cold war tension provides an eclectic mix for further Ukrainian instability. Even though Russia has the military advantage, exercising that option to annex more of Ukraine, has consequences; for the effect it will have on a “munted” (what remains of) Ukraine becoming more aggressively proEuropean / anti-Russian and for the effect it will have on its economic relationships with Europe particularly Germany. The US and Europe on the other hand have limited to no military options even if they wanted to exercise them. European interdependence on Russian oil and gas and ͞ ƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚ intra EU economic turmoil and austerity about our Jewish brethren in the measures encourage Europe to want to Ukraine. The Russians have invaded the diffuse the tension with Russia. But in the meantime, Ukraine remains very unstable. Crimean. There is a sense of urgency to bring as many Jews as wish to come to Israel here as quickly as possible. / : ĂƉƉĞĂů There is presently a large rise in / : džĞĐƵƟǀĞ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ :ƵƌŐĞŶ ƵŚůĞƌ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ůŝLJĂŚ ĞůŝŐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ͘ ƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƉŽŝŶƚ͕ ǁĞ ŵƵƐƚ ƐĂLJƐ͗ assure the Jews of the Ukraine that we / : ŚĂƐ ƉƵƚ ŽƵƚ ĂŶ ƵƌŐĞŶƚ ĂƉƉĞĂů stand with them and that they will not to our friends and supporters around face alone whatever their future has in ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ :ĞǁƐ ŝŶ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ store. ĂůĂƌŵĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ƚƵƌŵŽŝů ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞŵ

/Ŷ ϮϬϭϯ͕ ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJ Ϯ͕ϬϬϬ :ĞǁƐ came on Aliyah from the area of ƚŚĞ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ͘ tĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ number might double in 2014. It is ĐůĞĂƌ ƚŽ ƵƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌŝƐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶƟͲ^ĞŵŝƟƐŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Ukraine and throughout Europe is causing concern for many Jews. dŚĞ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŇŝŐŚƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů luggage and all necessary assistance is ΨϲϬϬ ƉĞƌ ĂĚƵůƚ ŝŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ <ŝĞǀ͘͟ / : ŝŶǀŝƚĞƐ LJŽƵ ƚŚĂƚ ŝĨ ƚŚĞ >ŽƌĚ ŝƐ ƐƉĞĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ LJŽƵ Ăƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ͕ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ ƉƌŽƉŚĞƟĐ ǁŽƌŬ͕ ǁŚLJ ŶŽƚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌ ŚĞůƉŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƐƉŽŶƐŽƌ Ă ŇŝŐŚƚ ĨŽƌ Ă hŬƌĂŝŶŝĂŶ :Ğǁ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽ /ƐƌĂĞů͍ ŐĂŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƐƚƐ ĂƌĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ΨϲϬϬ ƉĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ŇŝŐŚƚƐ ŝŶ hŬƌĂŝŶĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌĨĂƌĞ ƚŽ dĞů ǀŝǀ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƚƌĂ ďĂŐŐĂŐĞ ĂůůŽǁĂŶĐĞ͘ / : ƚŚĂŶŬƐ LJŽƵ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵƌ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͘ References: ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁǁǁ͘ƐŚĂǀĞŝ͘ŽƌŐͬĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐͬ ƐƵďďŽƚŶŝŬƐͬĂƌƟĐůĞƐͲƐƵďďŽƚŶŝŬƐͬďƌĞĂŬŝŶŐͲ ƵŬƌĂŝŶŝĂŶͲũĞǁƐͲĨĞĂƌͲĨŽƌͲƚŚĞŝƌͲůŝǀĞƐͲĂƐͲƉŽůŝƟĐĂůͲ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶͲĚĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƚĞƐ͍ͬůĂŶŐсĞŶ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁǁǁ͘ũƉŽƐƚ͘ĐŽŵͬ:ĞǁŝƐŚͲtŽƌůĚͬ:ĞǁŝƐŚͲ &ĞĂƚƵƌĞƐͬt: ͲĚĞŶŽƵŶĐĞƐͲĞdžĂŐŐĞƌĂƚĞĚͲ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐͲŽĨͲhŬƌĂŝŶŝĂŶͲĂŶƟͲ^ĞŵŝƟƐŵͲϯϰϳϭϴϱ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁǁǁ͘ƐƚƌĂƞŽƌ͘ĐŽŵͬǁĞĞŬůLJͬƌƵƐƐŝĂͲĂŶĚͲ ƵŶŝƚĞĚͲƐƚĂƚĞƐͲŶĞŐŽƟĂƚĞͲĨƵƚƵƌĞͲƵŬƌĂŝŶĞ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁǁǁ͘ĨƌĞĞƉ͘ĐŽŵͬƵƐĂƚŽĚĂLJͬ ĂƌƟĐůĞͬϳϯϭϳϭϰϯ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬĞŶ͘ǁŝŬŝƉĞĚŝĂ͘ŽƌŐͬǁŝŬŝͬ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬŝŶƚ͘ŝĐĞũ͘ŽƌŐͬƵŬƌĂŝŶĞ

,ŽǁĂƌĚ &ůŽǁĞƌ ŝƐ / :͛Ɛ ůŝLJĂŚ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ďĂƐĞĚ ŝŶ ^ƚ WĞƚĞƌƐďƵƌŐ͕ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͘

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM NZ BRANCH 7

dŚĞ DĂƌŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƐƚ ƌĞƐŽůǀĞĚ Graeme Carle beast” or “666”.2 In summary, it has been assumed the mark will be imposed using whatever happens to be the latest technology in the Western world. However, none of this would have borne any relevance at all to John’s original audience in Asia Minor in 95-96 A.D. In my latest book on The Revelation, Gotta Serve Somebody (The Mystery of the Marks and 666), I use the keys recovered in the first two in this series3 to unlock the symbols and metaphors of the marks of God as they would have been understood by virtually any Jewish believer in Jesus in the 1st Century.

,Žǁ ŽŌĞŶ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚůLJ ŝƚ ŚĂƐ ĐŽƐƚ ďŽƚŚ :ĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ 'ĞŶƟůĞƐ ƚŚĞ 'ĞŶƟůĞ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ͛Ɛ ŝŐŶŽƌŝŶŐ Žƌ ĚĞǀĂůƵŝŶŐ ŽƵƌ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŽƌŝŐŝŶƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ϭ͕ϵϬϬ LJĞĂƌƐ͕ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ WĂƵů͛Ɛ ĞdžƉůŝĐŝƚ ǁĂƌŶŝŶŐ͗ I am speaking to you who are 'ĞŶƟůĞƐ͙ zŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĐĂŵĞ ƉĂƌƚĂŬĞƌ with them [Jews] of the rich root of ƚŚĞ ΀:ĞǁŝƐŚ΁ ŽůŝǀĞ ƚƌĞĞ͙ ZĞŵĞŵďĞƌ that it is not you who supports the ƌŽŽƚ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽƚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐ LJŽƵ ;ZŽŵ ϭϭ͗ϭϯͲϭϴͿ It should therefore come as no real surprise to find that the Mark of the Beast can be resolved by simply valuing and reconnecting to our “rich root”. Along with its associated number 666, this mark is perhaps the most infamous and misunderstood mark in human history, yet both would have been readily understood by John’s original listeners. John was Jewish and writing to Jewish leaders, or to Gentile leaders taught by Jewish leaders, who were almost invariably raised knowing Jewish history as well as the Scriptures. Accordingly, The Revelation is described as not sealed at that time (Rev 22:10). However, by the end of the 2nd Century, Irenaeus was writing of the problems in trying to calculate the number of the name of the beast using not Jewish thinking but Greek and Roman numerics. Ever since, scholars and laymen alike have offered numerous interpretations, ingenious calculations and wild speculations but the predicted outcomes have failed to materialise. At the other extreme, some conservative scholars today try to shoe-horn the Roman emperor Nero into fulfilling the prophecy so that it can now be ignored altogether. It seems to me that most today have decided to just wait and see, as Irenaeus counselled in about 170-180 A.D.: It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfillment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved. For if there are many names found possessing this number, it will be asked which among them shall 8 INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM NZ BRANCH

the coming man bear? 1 We have not waited patiently, however. In the United States, Christian writers Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have created the largest Christian publishing phenomenon of our time: the 65 million books of the Left Behind series with attendant action-thriller movies, computer games and radio/audio CDs. These sixteen novels, published between 1995 and 2007, were followed by Left Behind: The Kids, forty more novels for teenagers and young adults, co-written with Chris Fabry between 1998 and 2004. Available in 12 languages, they are now being prepared in another 16. And what of the mark itself? These books portray it as an implanted microchip. In the 1970s, Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth sold over 35 million copies and was translated into more than fifty languages. Mr Lindsey predicted that the mark will be an ultra-violet tattoo. Also in the 1970s, the introduction of Universal Product Code barcodes created another possible fulfilment. Revolutionising shopping, this mark is now on virtually everything sold in shops in the Western world. Although only on the products and not containing much information, some believe this will be adapted and applied to the people buying them. In the 1940s, M.R. DeHaan wrote it would be a black-ink tattoo while in the 1920s, Clarence Larkin,of the famous Bible Prophecy Charts, wrote: The “Mark” will be branded or burnt on. It will probably be the “number of the

/ŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ǁĂŝƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ Ă ǁŽƌůĚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ŐůŽďĂů ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂLJ ŶĞǀĞƌ ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂƚĞ͕ / ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ dŚĞ DĂƌŬ ŝƐ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ŚĞƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ Ăůů ĂůŽŶŐ͘ tĞ͛ǀĞ ũƵƐƚ ŶŽƚ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞĚ ŝƚ͘ ŝŐŐŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ >Ăǁ ŽĨ DŽƐĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĂƌŬ ŝƐ ĂĐƚƵĂůůLJ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƐƚ͛Ɛ ĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ŵĂƌŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ 'ŽĚ ,ŝŵƐĞůĨ ƉůĂĐĞĚ ϯ͕ϱϬϬ LJĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĞŚĞĂĚƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ,ŝƐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ džŽĚƵƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŝůĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌŝŶŐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ŽĨ ŶĂŵĞƐ ĂƐ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŽŬ ŽĨ EƵŵďĞƌƐ͘ / ƚŚĞŶ ƐŚŽǁ ŚŽǁ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůƐŽ ďĞĞŶ ŚĂŵƉĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ŝŐŶŽƌŝŶŐ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ƉŽĞƟĐ ĚĞǀŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ Ă ƐŝŵƉůĞ ŵŝƐƚƌĂŶƐůĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ DĂƩŚĞǁ ϭϴ͗ϮϮ͕ ĐĂƵƐĞĚ ďLJ ŽƵƌ ŽǀĞƌůŽŽŬŝŶŐ :ĞƐƵƐ͛ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ 'ĞŶĞƐŝƐ ϰ͗ϮϯͲϮϰ͘ We don’t need a profound ƚŚĞŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ Žƌ ĞƐŽƚĞƌŝĐ ĞŶůŝŐŚƚĞŶŵĞŶƚ ďƵƚ ǁĞ ĚŽ ŶĞĞĚ Ă ďĂƐŝĐ ŐƌĂƐƉ ŽĨ :ĞǁŝƐŚ ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ KůĚ Testament, i.e. our “rich root”. Footnotes: ϭ͘ /ƌĞŶĂĞƵƐ ŽĨ >LJŽŶƐ͕ ŐĂŝŶƐƚ ,ĞƌĞƐŝĞƐ͕ ŽŽŬ ϱ͕ ĐŚĂƉƚĞƌ ϯϬ͕ ƉĂƌĂ ϯ͘ Ϯ͘ ůĂƌĞŶĐĞ >ĂƌŬŝŶ͕ ŝƐƉĞŶƐĂƟŽŶĂů dƌƵƚŚ͕ ϭϵϭϴ͕ p. 124. 3. Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws (The Mystery of Israel’s Survival) and Slouching Towards ĞƚŚůĞŚĞŵ ;dŚĞ ZŝƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶƟĐŚƌŝƐƚƐͿ͕ ŵŵĂƵƐ Road Publishing.

'ƌĂĞŵĞ ĂƌůĞ͕ ĂŶ ŝƟŶĞƌĂŶƚ ďŝďůĞ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ and author has just released his new book “'ŽƩĂ ƐĞƌǀĞ ƐŽŵĞďŽĚLJ Ͳ ƚŚĞ ŵLJƐƚĞƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬƐ ĂŶĚ ϲϲϲ͕͟ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝƌĚ ŝŶ ŚŝƐ ŐƌŽƵŶĚͲ ďƌĞĂŬŝŶŐ ƐĞƌŝĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŽŬ ŽĨ ZĞǀĞůĂƟŽŶ͘

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