Israel

Biblical History

After the Confusion of Languages at Babel, Shem’s son Arphaxad and his descendants, who still spoke the original language, probably Hebrew or Aramaic, populated most of the Middle East: Israel, Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Nth-Africa Syria, Yemen and Oman.

1921 BC – God calls Abram out of the land of his nativity, (“Ur of the Chaldees” Ge 11:28).
1897 BC – God’s seal of the Abrahamic Covenant (Ge 17:7).
1871 BC Sacrifice of Isaac (Ge 22:2)
1836 BC Birth of Esau & Jacob(Ge 25:25-26)
1715 BC Joseph stands before Pharaoh (aged 30) & before 7 years of plenty. (Ge 41:14)
1706 BC After 2 years of famine, (5y still remaining), Jacob being 130 y of age, went down to Egypt with his whole family tribe (at that time, Joseph was 39) Ge 47:1
1571 BC birth of Moses.(Ex 2:2-10)
2513 BC Exodus (Ex 12:31)
1012 BC Start of the 1^st Temple
1004 BC Dedication of the Temple by Solomon – The ‘Glory of God’ fills the Temple (2Ch 5:14)
597 BC Second captivity to Babylon. Jehoiachin (2Ki 24:8-16) and Daniel (Da 1:1-6) taken captive
593 BC The ‘Glory of God’ departs from the Temple. (Eze 10.18[xv])
586 BC Jerusalem besieged 18 month, from late 588 or early 587 & ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the 1^st Temple by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.
445 Nisan 1^st BC, Artaxerxes Longimanus gives decree to rebuild Jerusalem. (Dan 9:25)
4BC Jesus born
32 AD Jesus died on Nisan 14th 32 AD at 3 PM. It is an astronomical fact that that day fell on a Thursday. After the “last Supper”, Jesus was arrested in the Garden at night, taken to Caiaphas, the high priest. Sham trial before Sanhedrin, false witnesses around mid-night, condemned Christ to death before dawn. Jesus crucified at 9 am, darkness from noon till 3pm. Jesus died at 3pm. Buried on Thursday before sunset 14 Nisan AD 32, counting as ‘day 1’ in the grave. Note: It was at that precise spot of the cross, where, during Abraham’s intending sacrificing of his son Isaac (1871BC), God provided a substitutionary Ram for Abraham.
70 AD The Romans (Titus) levelled Jerusalem and the 2^nd Temple to the ground (Mt 24:2; Lu 21:6, 23:27-31)
14 May 1948 David Ben-Gurion, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel.

The following wars and campaigns highlight the ever increasing Antisemitism and hatred against the existence of the Jewish state that will only end on the Day of the Lord, when He stands on the Mount of Olives to rescue Israel. (Zec 14:4) and “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God” (2Th 1:8).

15 May 1948 the ‘War of Independence’.
1956 ‘Suez-Sinai Campaign’.
1967 ‘Six-Day War’.
1967-1970 ‘War of Attrition’.
1972 Operation ‘Isotope Raid’ on Hijacked Sabena Airliner.
1973 Operation ‘Spring of Youth’ IDF Raid on PLO in Beirut.
1973 ‘Yom Kippur War’.
1976 ‘Entebbe Rescue’.
1978 ‘Operation Litani’.
1981 ‘Operation Opera’ Raid on Iraqi Nuclear Reactor.
1982-85 First ‘Lebanon War’, Operation Peace for Galilee.
1987-1993 First Intifada.
2002 Operation ‘Defensive Shield’.
2000-2005 ‘Palestinian War’ (Al-Aqsa/Second Intifada).
2006 Second ‘Lebanese War’.
2008-2009 ‘Operation Cast Lead’
2012 Operation ‘Pillar of Defence’.
2014 Operation ‘Protective Edge’.
2021 Operation ‘Guardian of Walls’.
2022 Operation ‘Breaking Dawn’.
2023 Operation ‘Shield and Arrow’.
2023 Oct 2, 2023 – Present. The ‘Israel-Hamas War’, Operation Iron Sword’.

Overview for Intercessors

The decades-long conflict between the Israeli government and ‘Palestinian’ authorities over the city of Jerusalem, the temple, the land and the status of Palestinian refugees remains among the world’s most volatile issues. During this conflict, both Jews and Muslims have been coming to faith in Christ despite their religions’ instructions to reject Christ as Lord and Saviour. Christian activity is routinely opposed by Islamists among the Palestinian Arab populations of the West Bank and Gaza, and occasionally opposed by ultra-Orthodox and other anti-missionary Jews in Israel proper. Despite this opposition, some churches include both Jews who have accepted Christ as the Messiah and Arabs who have left Islam and placed their faith in Jesus. Active ministry efforts among both groups involve Bible distribution, discipleship, evangelism, church planting and theological education. The ‘Palestinian’ Authority maintains some control over the West Bank under Israeli federal authority, while the militant Muslim group Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. Both groups are adamantly opposed to Christian activity and indoctrinate their populace to hate the West, Jews and Christians.

Major Religion

The two major religions in Israel are Judaism and Sunni Islam, with Christians composing a 2% minority.

Persecutor

In Muslim regions, Christian converts from Islam face severe persecution from their families, society, Palestinian government authorities and Hamas. In Jewish communities, Jews who follow Christ risk rejection, social pressure and occasional violence from ultra-Orthodox Jews and organized anti-missionary groups.

What it means to follow Jesus

Christian converts from Islam in the West Bank and Gaza face violence at the hands of their family members and local governments, which are run by the ‘Palestinian’ authorities. Christians in Israel proper often experience family rejection, low social standing and limited hope of job advancement. Jewish anti-missionary groups, especially Yad L’Achim, sometimes protest outside churches, cursing Christians and vandalizing their buildings. The anti-missionary activities have at times included violence against Christians.

Access to Bibles

Bible societies operate in Israel, including the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Christians have access to Bibles throughout the country, though they are dangerous for Christians or seekers to possess in Islamist-controlled areas.

Prayer Requests

Israeli-Arab conflict in the Holy Land moved to a new level over a century ago, intensifying since 1948. The 2023 Israel-Hamas war saw horrific attacks against civilians in Israel, followed by much greater numbers of civilian deaths in Gaza following the Israeli Defence Force’s invasion. Resolution to any conflict is elusive due to competing claims and agendas. Both sides lay claim to the land, and all human efforts to resolve this conflict have failed. The violence in 2023 saw waves of global marches, protests, and counter-protests with a divided world arguing about who to blame. The lines are often blurred between supporting so called ‘Palestinians’ and expressing anti-Semitism. Pray that both sides of this conflict will find true reconciliation and genuine Shalom through Jesus the Messiah.
Major outreach challenges:
- The ultra-Orthodox Haredi are only 10% of the population, but they have strong political influence. They are like modern Pharisees, who strictly observe and preserve their religious laws and identity. Pray for many more to become like Nicodemus (John chapters 3, 7, and 19).
- The Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) arrived as immigrants over a decade ago. Now they are largely a poor, urban underclass. Fewer than 2,000 (out of 120,000) are Messianic believers. Pray for the Gospel to reach them.
- The Arabs are over 90% Muslim. But Arabs also make up the majority of Christians in the Holy Land. They face pressure from all sides, as Israelis discriminate against them, Islamists persecute them, and the international community largely overlooks their situation. Pray for protection and boldness for witnesses and hearers of the Gospel.
- The Druze community are closed to outsiders, but a small movement to Jesus has begun among them. Pray that our God of the impossible make it possible for receiving hearts.
- Pray for certain missionaries in Israel who work tirelessly with their own printing capability to be able to distribute targeted Gospel Tracks and relevant Scripture verses to reach dear lost souls for Jesus.
- The 8 million Jews outside Israel live mostly in the USA, the former USSR, and other Western nations. Perhaps 100,000 now have links with Messianic congregations, and a much larger number attend other Christian churches. Pray for Gentile churches to have greater sensitivity to the Jewish remnant within the global Church.
- Pray for Messianic congregations that have been increasingly targeted by anti-missionary groups.
- Pray for Christian families in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip who face continual pressure.
- Pray for Christian converts from Islam in Palestinian areas, especially those who have lost jobs.
- Pray for young believers from Orthodox Jewish backgrounds trying to restart their lives with little education.
- Pray for African congregations and other ethnic churches that face discrimination.
- Let us repeat the prayers of the Moravians in 1738 who had a great love for the Jews, which is also illustrated from the life of Count Zinzendorf the protector of the Moravians who prayed: “Deliver Thy people Israel from their blindness; bring many of them to know Thee, till the fullness of the Gentiles is come and all Israel is saved.” (Lu 21:24; Ro 11:25)