Israel

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings George,

You piqued my interest when you said that only a very nominal number of Jews were "true believers". You are in a better position that I to obtain some "accurate?" statistics, so if you don't mind answering some questions....

What is the currently population of Israel?

What percentage claim to be Jewish?

What percentage of the Jews are Christian?

Are you able to go out and preach the Gospel? Or pass out Christian literature, including Bibles?

What would you say is the percentage of aethiests, spiritists or otherwise demonicly influenced religions?

How strong is the Orthodox Jews in the government of Israel?

How many Christians are in Israel that are actively prostylizing?

I was once told by a Pastor there not to write e-mails to him that contained reference to Christianity because Big Jewish Brother was watching and could cause him to be kicked out of Israel. Is that the same today?

Have you had contact with the "Temple Mount Faithful"? What are your thoughts regarding them? How strong are they? How many in Israel overall, AND in the government that support a rebuilding of the Temple?

Looking forward to your responses.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[George]

What is the currently population of Israel?

6 Million Jews -- Several million arabs (that I am not sure about)

What percentage claim to be Jewish?

Not sure.

What percentage of the Jews are Christian?

An incredibly small amount -- perhaps 70 congregations and they are all small. The largest probably 125 or so.

Are you able to go out and preach the Gospel? Or pass out Christian literature, including Bibles?

The anti-missionaries would be called immediately and hassel you ASAP. It's a sad thing because there's organizations that front as Christian organizations that are funding these anti-missionary groups.

What would you say is the percentage of aethiests, spiritists or otherwise demonicly influenced religions?

Only 20% of Israel is orthodox. 80% are secular and a large number are in one of these classes.

How strong is the Orthodox Jews in the government of Israel?

It's affect is weaking with the Shas party out of power, but they certainly have pull! Nobody wants to confront the ultra religious except the Shinui party which is completely secular and they hate the religious.

How many Christians are in Israel that are actively prostylizing?

The sad thing is that there's hardly any! Even the Christian organizations that are here don't want to offend. Let's just say there's a huge field here and there's no harvesters.

I was once told by a Pastor there not to write e-mails to him that contained reference to Christianity because Big Jewish Brother was watching and could cause him to be kicked out of Israel. Is that the same today?

If they kick me out -- then they kick me out -- I'll leave kicking! The bottom line is that FEAR is the #1 reason why even the Christians here don't witness! I won't even go into it.

Have you had contact with the "Temple Mount Faithful"? What are your thoughts regarding them? How strong are they? How many in Israel overall, AND in the government that support a rebuilding of the Temple?

No I haven't and probably won't. It's another orthodox group that feeds on Christian funds -- because Christians believe they are supporting the building of Messiah's temple. The other questions I am not sure about, but there's Christian organizations pushing for the building of this temple. They are so naive -- just the dimenions should tell them they are not suppose to build it. The size of the Ezekiel Temple is 3 1/2 square miles inside a city that's 3000+ square miles. To give you an idea -- the entire old city of Jerusalem including the Temple mount today -- all 4 quarters: Jewish, Arab, Armenian, Christian is only 2 1/2 square miles. What are they going to do destroy the old city? Read Zechariah 6 and see who builds the Temple.

Your brother in Messiah with much agape love,

George

[Dad Ernie]

Thank you George. I remain of the opinion that no physical temple shall ever again be rebuilt.

If you run across any further statistics from reliable sources, I would appreciate hearing about them. Also it would be interesting if you could post to this forum information regarding the various religious(?) groups that are in Israel, particularly those in government.

May God give you the courage and the blessings to full your mission to Him.

Blessings to you and yours,

Dad Ernie

[Guest charlie]

Do you ever get scared over there George?

[George]

No, but there are times when I am walking the streets that I feel the need to pray like never before. I think it's more scary to be walking out of His will!

Your brother in Messiah with much agape love,

George

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings George,

Have you found any Palestinians or heard of any that are receptive to the Gospel?

Have you been in the vicinity of any of the suicide bombers?

A friend of mine recently predicted to his pastor that he should begin teaching about persecution and preparing them for what is to come within the next two years. I think most Christians "don't get it", that God uses "persecution" to draw people closer to Him, because that is the only way they will stay in constant touch with Him. Sounds like you are getting one of God's lessons.

May God bless and protect you,

Dad Ernie

[George]

Have you found any Palestinians or heard of any that are receptive to the Gospel?

There's a great hunger for the Word inside of the arab communities. Where there's no PA authority the gospel is received very welcomely, but inside areas where there's a strong PA presence it depends whether or not the gang leader can be bribed. Each of the arab communities is basically run by gangs, and depending on who's in charge decides how easily the gospel can be delivered. In East Jerusalem, the congregation grew so large that they broke the fellowship into 2 churches, not becuase of a split but because a lack of room.

Have you been in the vicinity of any of the suicide bombers?

There hasn't been a bombing the entire time I have been here, except for the one in Haifa. I have walked all throughout the areas where bombings took place. As a matter of fact, I lived with my father-in-law across the street from the main marketplace on Jaffa street where there's been at least 4 bombings that I am aware of. A daily detour of the day, while living there was the blowing up of suspicious objects. It's really something else and perhaps I'll put up some footage of a suspicious object being blown up.

The idea of persecution is very real! As a matter of fact, the ultra orthodox are attempting to pass legislation in the Knesset again "preventing" people from witnessing about Jesus. It's already been attempted 2 times without success. You can definitely keep that in your prayers for sure!

Your brother in Messiah with much agape love,

George

[OneAccord]

George,

The reality of persecution must intensify deeply with a new baby in your home. As a mother, it is someting I do think about often, though I am in a relatively safe and protected place and can sleep well at night. It would be very trying to be in a more volatile setting with a baby or child in my charge.

The NT Acts or epistles don't really address the children who were in the churches and how families managed under early persecution.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings George,

I received a letter and a solicitation for help from: Chosen People Ministries today. The letter was written by Dr. Mitchell Glaser with an endorsement by Jay Alan Sekulow of the ACLJ whom I have been listening to now for a couple years and whom I admire for his legal efforts in the support of Christian agendas - antiabortion, prayer in schools, and Christian activities in general.

Do you know anything about this group? Some things were said in the letter which falls into line with my view of end time events regarding the Jews.

If you have any insights, I would appreciate it.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Guest yod]

What is the currently population of Israel?

The last figures I saw was at 6.5 and I remember that because they made a big deal out of the fact that there are now more jews in Israel than in any other single nation.

What percentage claim to be Jewish?

all of them....and then some.

What percentage of the Jews are Christian?

We talked about this before, dad. You won't be able to get a good number on this because it's not a question on the national census.

Although there is freedom of religion you would be inviting trouble to advertise this.....just like you would if you lived in Marshall County Kentucky

or Paris France

It's a different kind of intimidation, yes, but who needs the trouble?

Yet throughout history it was a remnant that accomplished God's will

Gideon could have had 10,000 men if he wanted them.

It's not yet at 144,000 if that is why you are asking.

Are you able to go out and preach the Gospel? Or pass out Christian literature, including Bibles?

I don't know why George didn't elaborate on this question. The answer is YES! I know of a few groups who do this in Tel Aviv.

But this would not be very effective in most of Israel [or New York!] when dealing with jewish people. They see this for the outward religious act that it is.

The best way to preach the gospel in Israel is to form a relationship...a REAL relationship. This gives you the right to have an opinion worth listening to.

You gotta remember that jews have been persecuted by christians more than any other group going all the way back to Antioch. They are suspicious of strangers...especially ones that want to "convert" them because genocide usually follows when it's christians doing the converting.

What would you say is the percentage of aethiests, spiritists or otherwise demonicly influenced religions?

I'd say that even the Orthodox can be demonically "influenced" and every other religion there absolutely is...even what passes for christianity in the middle east would astound you.

The Bahai faith just built it's biggest shrine in the world at Haifa a few years ago.

How strong is the Orthodox Jews in the government of Israel?

They have never been more than 15% of the government but that can be a swing vote in a tight contest so they DO have some influence. This "anti-missionary" bill that keeps coming up should show you how little power they really have. It's been defeated 4 times and their power has been shrinking instead of growing.

The only way it would pass is if large christian missionary groups started going there and stopping people in the street or passing out literature on a large scale regular basis.

Israelis would see that as harrassment.

How many Christians are in Israel that are actively prostylizing?

of the true christians????

ALL OF THEM! They just don't do it in ways that you could measure or count for the Evangelism Committee at your local Baptist Church. It is not a flippant decision to become a follower of Yeshua in Israel. There is no promise of Him making your life easy...or making you rich.

So anyone who has counted the cost is a REAL disciple and they fully understand the importance of where they live....and the reason they are there.

I was once told by a Pastor there not to write e-mails to him that contained reference to Christianity because Big Jewish Brother was watching and could cause him to be kicked out of Israel. Is that the same today?

Your friend suffers from paranoia. If he is seen as being a proselytizer, it could cause him some major hassle with the anti-missionary groups [not sponsored by the government but not hindered for the most part either]

....and yes, he could possibly be kicked out if all he produces for Israel is trouble.

Have you had contact with the "Temple Mount Faithful"? What are your thoughts regarding them? How strong are they? How many in Israel overall, AND in the government that support a rebuilding of the Temple?

I've been there a couple of times. Their determination [and funding/support from American churches] makes me believe that there WILL be a Temple in the near future even though most Israelis are strongly against it at this time.

It won't be the one in Ezekial....but there will be some structure erected and called The Temple.