Worshipers Throw Rocks

29 04 2022

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The title of this post is a real headline. The Temple Mount/Ramadan annual oxymoron played out again this week. Does anybody notice that worship and throwing rocks sounds like a contradiction? Headlines in the Middle East and especially Israel often make no sense. 

Worshipers throw rocks at security forces – Defense establishment preparing for further clashes on the last Friday of the month of Ramadan. Arab rioters threw rocks and shot fireworks at security forces, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. “Violent clashes broke out on the holy site.”

Clashes erupt at Jerusalem holy site – Palestinians clashed with Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem before dawn on Friday as thousands gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

It is so ridiculous to state clashes “erupt” or “broke out,” as if it was just a beautiful sunny morning and suddenly, completely unprovoked, a “CLASH” erupted like some mysterious volcano with no warning. It is planned. It is funded. It is as predictable as the sunrise. It is AS IF there are extra points for riots and terrorism during Ramadan. Oh, wait, the Koran does mention something like that.

Ramadan: ‘A Month of Jihad, Conquest, and Victory’ – By Raymond Ibrahim – Speaking on the first day of Ramadan, April 1, 2022, Mahmoud al-Habbash, the Supreme Sharia Judge of the Palestinian Authority, extolled the jihads waged by the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, during Ramadan:

How was this month [of Ramadan] in the life of Prophet [Muhammad]? …Did the Prophet spend Ramadan in calmness, serenity, laziness, and sleepiness? Far be it from him… The Prophet entered the great Battle of Badr [624] during Ramadan… Also in the month of Ramadan, in the 8th year of the Hijra [629-630], the Prophet and the Muslims conquered Mecca… Ramadan is … a month of Jihad, conquest, and victory.

There are videos of the rioters INSIDE the Al Aksa mosque with their shoes on, which is forbidden. They are even seen kicking a soccer ball around INSIDE THE MOSQUE!

Are these worshippers? Give me a break! Only the blinded ones refuse to see the obvious. (There is a lot of that going around these days.) However, this is not a new phenomena. This spiritual blindness is revealed throughout the Bible.

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”  2 Corinthians 4:4

“But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”  1 John 2:11

So I (Isaiah) said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, YEHOVAH of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain, and especially pray for the salvation of all who are willing.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                   (Read more)


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Categories : Israel Commentary

Elisha Vision Update

23 04 2022

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Much appreciation and thanks to you who read my blog posts and watch my YouTube videos. It is encouraging to me that many benefit from this ministry. My goal is to speak what I hear from the Holy Spirit. We have had over 212 thousand views of this blog. Some are not aware that in addition to this Elisha Vision blog, I also have two video channels on YouTube.

One is my weekly update on the news from God’s perspective. I like to say His plans are not “doom and gloom,” but rather “doom and va-voom!” Here is the link for that weekly video. Please subscribe and share with your friends.

My other YouTube channel is for my teaching videos. For example, this week (through four new 30 minute teachings) I was able to speak at the Kenya PDA Youth Conference. Michael Masambu is the leader and my friend. Those four teachings are available on my “Les Lawrence” channel at this link. I invite you to view the other twelve teaching videos as well. Also, please subscribe and you will be notified whenever I publish a new teaching video. Thank you.

Elisha Vision Ministries includes my traveling schedule in the U.S., Israel, Canada, Kenya, and other countries. I will be in Idaho in late May and early June. At home in North Carolina, I lead two home Bible studies and Issachar Forum: A Prophetic Think Tank, which is a 90 minute live version of the weekly videos. I also have a close association with New Path Church in Raleigh and Grace Assembly in Wake Forest.

Elisha Vision Publishing has published my eight books, four by my wife Doreen, and several by John Fisk. I have also edited a few books for friends. My “lane” or main emphasis is clearly Israel and God’s prophetic purpose for the last days.

You notice I always sign off my blog as “a voice of Christian Zionists.” My desire is that I may in some small way influence you to count yourself as a Christian Zionist.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isaiah 11:12

“Hear the word of Yehovah, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ​‘​He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’ ​​For Yehovah has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.” Jeremiah 31:10-11

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and rain in season.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                    (Read more)


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Categories : Israel Commentary

Do THIS! – Remember Ishtar?

16 04 2022

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The most glorious sunrise in 6,000 years of history on earth revealed that the tomb was empty. Jesus was raised from the dead! He is alive! Just hours before his execution He led His last Passover meal with His disciples. There are three keys from that dinner that guide our relationship with Him today.

  1. Jesus said at that moment: “For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” Luke 22:18 The next meal will be the marriage supper of the Lamb!
  2. Do THIS! – He gave a most significant instruction at that Passover which is minimized by many of today’s Christians. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: THIS DO in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 The “THIS” that He was referring to, is the Passover meal which Christians call the Last Supper. It has been shrunk down from a full meal with four meaningful cups, to a thimble of juice and bit of bread. We can all reap the rich importance of Passover, not only the Jews.
  3. The third key is found in the same verse: And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.” Luke 22:19 Somehow, we have managed to replace Jesus in the name of the resurrection celebration with the name of the Babylonian pagan goddess of fertility. Known as “the queen of heaven,” this pagan goddess has been called by various names such as: Ishtar, Astarte, Diana of the Ephesians, and Venus, from which we now have “Easter,” (from Ishtar). This is most unfortunate because most Christians don’t have a clue that our most glorious season does not “remember” Jesus, but rather carries the name of a demonic goddess. I would love to see the church move away from the pagan name and call the glorious morning “Resurrection Day!”

Finally, notice I said these verses guide our “relationship” with Jesus. I am not talking about religious duty, but rather knowing Him as a friend. The Kingdom of God is relational. It is not “what” you know, but “Who” you know. After training His disciples for several years as “disciplined followers,” Jesus promoted them to the highest honor:

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you FRIENDS, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for seasonal rains.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists,              (Read more)

For further background on our use of pagan god’s names, you may like a post I did twelve years ago, April 15, 2010: The Ban On Baals


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Categories : Israel Commentary

Four Headlines – Twisted Truth

8 04 2022

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HEADLINES MATTER – If you did not know the real story you would not get it from these headlines. A terrorist walked into a restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel and started murdering Jews. Three died and a dozen more were injured. His motive was to please the god of Islam as a special offering during Ramadan. Gaza and other Palestinian cities celebrated three innocent civilian Jewish deaths with fireworks and handing out candies to honor their “sweet victory.” The father of the terrorist even celebrated his own son’s death.

Tel Aviv attack: Father of assailant praises son’s actions – ‘Victory will come soon, in the coming days you will see the change. You will be free and independent.’ He is reportedly a former senior officer in the Palestinian national security establishment.

Three of these headlines do not mention Jewish victims and do not use the term: “terrorist.” The fourth is the worst. It makes it sound like Israel murdered a Palestinian during a manhunt. Israeli headlines say something more like this: “Terrorist Eliminated After Murdering Civilians in a Restaurant.”

These new deaths now make fourteen Israelis murdered in four different Israeli cities in the last two weeks. There is a major rise in terrorist attacks. It is worse this year because of the convergence of Ramadan, Passover, and Resurrection Day all at the same time. Pray seriously for Divine protection for Israel in the next two weeks. Pray that these threats will turn the hearts of many to the living God of the Bible.

“The name of Yehovah is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

“Yehovah’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Therefore, Yehovah, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.”  Psalm 12:6-8 NLT

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and pray for rain in Israel.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists              (Read more)


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God is Surrounded by His Faithfulness

1 04 2022

My good friend, Michael Masambu, of Kenya recently posted a three minute devotional about God’s faithfulness that stirred my heart. The nature of God manifests His faithfulness. It is critical to our peace and even our faith. He based his comments on a description of God regarding His promise to King David in Psalm 89. Faithfulness is mentioned four times in the first eight verses, but the most profound is in the eighth verse.

“O Yehovah God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Yehovah? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.” Psalm 89:8

There is no way to approach Him without encountering His faithfulness. It literally defines Yehovah God. His faithfulness defines His very essence of being. It is not what He does, it is who He is. He cannot deny His eternal nature. He is faithful. That attribute of God is why Sarah received the faith to supernaturally birth Isaac in her old age.

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11

Sarah judged God “FAITHFUL” to keep His promise! So, His faithfulness is revealed through His character, but also through His promised word. Yehovah God always does what He says. He cannot lie! Do you see it? When He speaks, the words emanate from His surrounding faithfulness. It will be done. He said it. That settles it! Hear His word, judge Him faithful, and then fasten your seatbelt! Our faith is embedded in His faithfulness!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for Israel’s seasonal rains.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists                      (Read more)

Why  do I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah? Here is a link to the explanation in my book: The Hebrew God Who Has No Name. And here is a link to a great visual from my friend Keith Johnson.


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