Charisma Magazine

With more Jews professing faith in Yeshua than ever before, Israel’s supporters wonder if this isn’t the beginning of an end-times prophecy being fulfilled

Inside a prayer cave on the mountain where Elijah once challenged the prophets of Baal to call down fire from heaven, Jordan Elias was playing a song of worship and repentance when he had a radical encounter with God.

“It was as if a presence burst through the door and filled the cave in an instant, and I immediately sensed the holiness of God,” recalls the 23-year-old Elias. “It was heavy. A good word to describe it is ka’vod. In Hebrew, it means ‘the weight of His glory.’ I tried to stand, but the presence of God just compelled me to my knees and onto my face. I began weeping and crying out: ‘Lord, I’m Your servant. Give me Your fire.’”

God created everything in six days, and He rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:2). This initiated a set time each week called the Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, which means “to rest or lay aside labor.” There are Hebrew words translated rest in the English translation of the Torah. They include: shabath, which alludes to letting go (Exod. 23:11); shamat, alluding to letting alone; and nuwach, to settle down (Isa. 23:12). They all carry the same connotation. A shabbat was a personal letting go and resting. God commanded that the land and animals rest and be “let alone” in order to fulfill the commandment.

The theme of resting from labor was so important that God hallowed the seventh day each week as a Sabbath of rest. Every seventh year was a Sabbatical rest year (called Shemitah in Hebrew). Every seven cycles of seven years—forty-nine years—was designated a Jubilee cycle of complete rest. During these three Sabbatical cycles, people, animals, and the land enjoyed exemption from work (Exod. 23:10–12; Lev. 25:4–55). With each of the seven feasts, God commanded the people to refrain from work. The Sabbath was created for man’s enjoyment: And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

In 2006 Israeli leaders gave Christian Life Missions a message commending the nonprofit organization for giving to the country during the second Lebanese war. Below we've transcribed the Hebrew message signed by the heads of the municipalities in the north of Israel.  

From The 2^nd Lebanon War in 2006

Whoever makes peace in heaven will make peace with Israel.

This is in appreciation in honor of that which was given on Thursday, October 12, 2006.

This certificate is presented to

Christians Life Missions

For your generosity, your donations and your activities for the residents of the people who live one the border in Israel.

In the days of the 2^nd Lebanese war, your generous assistance helps us to hold on in the terrible days of war and strengthen our self-determination to hold on in the country.

May you be blessed and may your prayers from the Bible become true to you,

The one who comes in strength are heroes to stand against the storm, Your are our strength in the days of rage.

We hold you hand and strength your hand and wish you blessings.

Signed by all the heads of the municipalities in the north of Israel.

We are on the brink of a spiritual breakthrough in the nation of Israel. Today, the number of Israeli Messianic Jewish believers is estimated at 12,000, with about 140 different congregations and home fellowships. God is birthing a new end-time movement of Jewish lovers in Yeshua that is becoming a prophetic voice to Israel as well as to other nations. This is truly a time to rejoice.

Nevertheless, many Jewish believers in Israel regularly experience not only rejection by the traditional Jewish religious establishment but also growing antagonism and hostility from extremist ultra-orthodox elements. What is happening to the Messianic Jews is to be expected considering we are in the end times. Similar persecution is being experienced by believers all over the world.