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Israel’s Interior Ministry turns against Evangelicals, refuses to issue staff visas for pro-Israel groups like the Christian Embassy

1LoverofGod

Well-known
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — No Israeli leader has done more to build a strong and strategic alliance with the world’s 600 million Evangelical Christians than Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu.
“Israel has no better friends — I mean that — no better friends in the world than the Christian communities around the world,” Netanyahu told nearly 200 visiting Evangelical journalists at the inaugural “Christian Media Summit,” which was organized and sponsored by the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem in 2017. “And Israel is the one country in a vast region where Christians not only survive, they thrive.”

"You are ambassadors of truth — you’re not merely the greatest ambassadors that Israel has around the world – you're champions of truth," Netanyahu said the following year, at the second Christian Media Summit in 2018.

“And if there's one thing that I can ask you to do is, to tell the truth. Tell the truth about our history. Tell the truth about our present. Tell the truth about who wants peace and who doesn't want peace.”
At the time, I praised Netanyahu’s decision both to organize these summits and to be the keynote speaker at them.

"I think what these summits show that Israel feels very much under siege — not from bullets, bombs, missiles, and terrorists, although that remains a real threat, but from the propaganda war that's being waged against them in the UN, in the media, all over — and they're reaching out to a constituency, a set of allies, the Christians," I explained in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that was covering the summit.

"It's encouraging to see that the government of Israel realizes that Christian journalists are at least willing to consider their perspective and in fact communicate a fair picture of what's going on," I added.
Israel has continued to hold these summits every year since, including during the COVID pandemic, and Netanyahu has continued to use these and similar forums to thank and praise the Christian Zionists for their steadfast support for the Jewish state.

When he published his memoirs last Fall — BIBI: MY STORY — Netanyahu did a series of interviews with Christian journalists and media outlets that he has been building friendships with for years.

A SERIOUS CRISIS IS DEVELOPING
But a new and serious crisis is developing that requires Netanyahu’s immediate attention.
Israel’s Interior Ministry has suddenly turned against pro-Israel Evangelical organizations that are operating in the country and is threatening to cripple their important work.

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Strange, Christian’s have been Israel’s most ardent supporters.

Some of the persecution of Christians will come from the Jews because Jesus foretold they would be "delivering you up to the Synagogues"

"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake"
Luke 21:12
 
This is sad from our perspective...but from God's perspective is it not a chance for His Bride to bless those who persecute them; to bless and not curse them, as it says in Romans 12:14...Paul echoing the words of Jesus Himself, who said, "I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:44-45a)

Through persecutions such as this, the grace of Jesus Christ is manifested in true believers, and the result is that some among the unbelievers may be drawn to Him. This is why the apostle Peter, who had lived this truth, wrote: "even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken. But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." ( 1 Peter 3:14-17)

So, in our hearts, let's not condemn the Ultra-Orthodox Jews who are persecuting the believers, but pray for the Christians that they may be faithful to Christ and strengthened in their inner being to manifest the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, demonstrating His Character in the midst of persecution, so that their persecutors may see and hopefully be touched and drawn to their Messiah.
 
This is sad from our perspective...but from God's perspective is it not a chance for His Bride to bless those who persecute them; to bless and not curse them, as it says in Romans 12:14...Paul echoing the words of Jesus Himself, who said, "I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:44-45a)

Through persecutions such as this, the grace of Jesus Christ is manifested in true believers, and the result is that some among the unbelievers may be drawn to Him. This is why the apostle Peter, who had lived this truth, wrote: "even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken. But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." ( 1 Peter 3:14-17)

So, in our hearts, let's not condemn the Ultra-Orthodox Jews who are persecuting the believers, but pray for the Christians that they may be faithful to Christ and strengthened in their inner being to manifest the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, demonstrating His Character in the midst of persecution, so that their persecutors may see and hopefully be touched and drawn to their Messiah.
Hate? Of course not; these people are being deceived, so we must pray for them....

That said: the first one who hucks a challa bread at me, and I'm going to stomp on their toe!!!!
 
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