Jesus | Elisha Vision

Corona Virus HOPE

24 03 2020

False prophecy, gain-sayers, and media hype all have something in common. It is like bloggers who try to generate clicks. There is an ulterior motive. They want followers, viewers, and readers for their own agendas. This is a particular problem with the present virus pandemic/panic. Today I offer a less apoplectic and less apocalyptic opinion. There is hope in the numbers. What if Trump is right and the W.H.O. is wrong?

It just may be that the terrible numbers in Italy and Europe do not apply to the U.S. Our model seems to hold the same promise as South Korea which has leveled off. Italy has ten times the deaths (to date) as we do, yet with only a small difference in positive cases. Consider this report from yesterday, March 23.

Israeli Expert: Trump Right, World Health Organization Wrong on Coronavirus Death Rate – In the final analysis, mortality rates for coronavirus originally cited by President Donald Trump are going to be proven more accurate than the higher numbers claimed by the World Health Organization, according to an Israeli expert in epidemic modeling.

I know we are all tired of the never ending coverage, but we need to favor hope over panic, faith over fear, and life over death. Of course Satan only came “to steal, kill & destroy;” but Jesus brings life. That is not only eternal life, but life now in the midst of the testing and trials of our earthly existence. Turn to God in these times. Don’t give in to the exaggerated predictions based on exponential formulas. Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us. Trust Him. Trust Yehovah God and His Holy Spirit. Jesus said:

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:9-10

NOW ABOUT THAT HOPE:

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 10:13-20

Will your anchor hold? Have faith to trust Him. Hold on to His shalom. And pray for the shalom of Jerusalem, along with prayer for rain in Israel. I am praying for a turning point by Passover and Firstfruits.

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

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Tags: coronavirus, Hope, Jerusalem, Jesus, virus
Categories : Israel Commentary

Abraham the Believer

17 06 2019

Talit

As we leave for our 2019 Elisha Vision “Speak to the Dirt” Israel tour, my thoughts turn to Abraham. Most translations of Genesis 15:6 say that he believed in the LORD. However there are several like this from the New Living Translation:

And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:6

This is a better translation, that he believed the LORD (Yehovah). Even though many don’t believe in God, believing in God is a no-brainer.

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. James 2:19 NLT

So as you continue reading in James 2 you will find that the New Testament leaves out the word “in” for all translations.

And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. James 2:23 NLT

That means the New Testament leaders understood that Abraham did not just believe “in” God, he believed God. What a totally transformative meaning. He was a believer in the Messiah! You see, that is the promise that Yehovah made to Abraham. He would have a son who would be the line of ancestry from which the Messiah would come. That is why he was not afraid to offer Isaac. He believed God’s promise!

May we walk in the faith of Abraham and be counted righteous through the promised Messiah. Abraham believed, long before Yeshua appeared on this earth. How much more should we believe, who know the many fulfilled promises evident in the birth, death, and resurrection of Yeshua haMashiach, Jesus the Messiah!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for rain.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)

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Tags: Abraham, Belief, faith, Jesus, Messiah, Yeshua
Categories : Israel Commentary

Happy Hanukka

14 12 2017

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. John 10:22

Pray for rain and peace for Jerusalem.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Elisha Vision, Hanukkah, Israel, Jerusalem, Jesus
Categories : Israel Commentary

Glorious Resurrection Day, but Please Stop Using the E word.

13 04 2017

HE’S ALIVE! Christians all over the world will celebrate the resurrection of Yeshua/Jesus this Sunday. It is a most glorious worship of the One who conquered death. We cannot overemphasize the magnitude of that event. We should be giddy with joy. Yet I am grieved over an almost universal blind spot in churches this week. Most will use the name of the pagan goddess of Babylon freely in their services.

We are instructed: In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 2 Corinthians 13:1 (see also Deuteronomy 19:15 and Matthew 18:16). So what are you going to do from now on after reading the following four separate Scripture witnesses?

Simple Islam – Excerpts from Chapter 11 – Stop Saying the Names of other gods.

Most God-fearing Christians and Jews completely understand and respect the first commandment to have “no other gods” before Yehovah. Yet, in the Western nations, including America, many have opened up their thinking to other gods in the name of tolerance. This makes me want to ask them: “What part of ‘no other gods’ don’t you understand?”

It is only recently that I have found a more specific prohibition on the subject. You may have noticed by now that I am reluctant to say or write the name of the god of Islam. It is because the Bible prohibits it! What if we in America or at least believers were to practice the following four scriptures? Notice how the Holy Spirit progressively adds another component to the prohibition with each verse.

Here is the prohibition.

And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth. (Exodus 23:13).

Then Joshua adds three more conditions.

You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, but you shall hold fast to Yehovah your God, as you have done to this day. (Joshua 23:7).

The way a person converts to Islam is by standing in a public place and swearing allegiance three times to the god of Islam and his messenger, Muhammad. The next step is to serve that god and bow down to it. You have seen many examples of Muslims doing that even in public five times a day. I am ashamed to say that in a widely publicized picture, President Obama, who professes Christianity, bowed down 90 degrees from the waist to the King of Saudi Arabia, who is the religious custodian/keeper of Mecca.

The third scripture introduces another aspect, blood, which especially applies to radical Islamists. This blood thirsty death cult delights in the shedding of blood in the name of their god. Hence, we hear the perverse oath proclaimed by every suicide bomber before detonation, that his god is the greatest.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take up their names on my lips. (Psalm 16:4).

Fourth, Hosea adds a final point. Not only will we not speak their names, but eventually their names will not even be remembered.

For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more. (Hosea 2:17).

Psalm 83:4 highlights an amazing contrast: They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” Satan does not have an original creative thought in his head. He can only twist and pervert what God says or does. So his plan to remove the remembrance of Israel is nothing more than a copycat idea from the truth that the devil and all his false gods face in eternity.

Now therefore, fear Yehovah, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve Yehovah! (Joshua 24:14)

We have already been lulled into complacency by using the name of the top pagan goddess, called Ishtar in Babylon and known by other names in other cultures. Christians use her name in place of Resurrection Day, calling it by her name, Easter, which is a derivative of the Babylonian “queen of heaven”. (More detail at this link) To top off the deception, some King James Bible translations even miss-translate Acts 12:4 using the name of the goddess instead of Passover, which is the real word in the Greek (Pesach). Most translations have corrected this error, but it is still used almost universally by Christians. Is it that important to correct this error? I am convinced that it is critical, along with using God’s personal name, Yehovah. Only Satan and Allah benefit from our ignorance.

(Note: I have used the banned names in my teaching, much as the Bible does. The prohibition regards using other gods’ names in daily life.)

Disclaimer: This is not meant to condemn or to be taken legalistically. I am just sounding a shofar to alert you to these verses. With all the commercial use of the E-word it is very hard to avoid it. It is so ingrained in our culture that it is easy to slip up and say it. My point is that it is time to pivot from our earlier times of ignorance and seek to align our everyday behavior with God’s revealed purpose. Please Stop Using the E word.

Let’s celebrate the resurrection of the Lamb of Yehovah God with all our might! Praise the name of Jesus/Yeshua! HE IS ALIVE!

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)

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Tags: Easter, Easter error, He is alive, Jesus, Yeshua
Categories : Israel Commentary

You Must Accept Christendom?

9 01 2017

Let me draw a fine point. Must a Jew accept Christendom, or is it enough to accept Jesus/Yeshua as the Messiah of Israel? Growing numbers of Israelis are recognizing Yeshua as the Messiah and Son of God. Do they also have to accept all the traditions of ecclesiastical church history? I think not. Here is an excerpt from my latest book that explains my simple point. (The Hebrew God Who Has No Name – Chapter 8)

Restoration Timing?

Even the Second Coming, the climactic event of history, requires this timing. The Messiah clearly remains in Heaven until a certain time … and then He comes! He comes at the time of restoration of everything the holy prophets have said. Jesus cannot return until Yehovah’s Name is restored according to Peter’s sermon in Acts 3.

that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:20-21

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of Yehovah!’” Matthew 23:37-39

Second Coming?

There is no question that the Second Coming is the crowning event of human history. We are close to the Messiah’s entrance. There is a classic joke about the Messiah finally appearing in Jerusalem and the Mayor goes out to meet Him. The Mayor says: “Welcome to Jerusalem. We have waited for you for so long, but I just have one question. Is this your first or second visit?”

The viewpoint of Jews continues to be a very serious issue. What do they think about the Messiah? How do they consider the Christian hope? Truly, a rapidly growing anticipation of the Messiah exists in Israel. Leading rabbis speak out that His coming is close. As the hope for a peace deal dies, more Israeli’s are considering their faith seriously, even if they are not religious. On a 2007 visit to Israel, I heard two prominent Israeli speakers touch the subject. One was in Jerusalem and one was in the Golan. Both made similar statements that shocked me by their public candor and position taken. Neither man had acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, but both believed in the Messiah, the Son of David. They both said that “when He comes, we will look at His hands and feet; and then we will all rejoice together”. The Golan speaker spoke those exact words to our Christian tour group. He flatly stated that the Holy Spirit (Ruach ha Kodesh) speaks to him in his heart. He said that he didn’t know “about those scholars down in Jerusalem with their stacks of books, but the Messiah is coming and I will look at His hands and feet, and then we will all dance together.”

When Will Jews See Jesus?

One of the most severe judgments of history was the removal of Israel from their land after rejecting the Messiah. Paul describes it as “the severity of God” in Romans 11:22. That event opened the way for the nations to be saved; but what about Israel? When will they see the Messiah?

What if I told you that it hinges on Jews changing one of their most common Scripture prayers? It is located in their Passover hymn (known to Jews as the Hallel – Psalms 113-118).

Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yehovah! We have blessed you from the house of Yehovah. Psalm 118:26

The problem is that the Jews do not pronounce the Name. They replace the word Yehovah with the word Lord, or in Hebrew; Adonai. Therefore, I submit that part of the scales falling off the eyes of the Jewish people definitely involves the revelation of the restoration and use of Yehovah’s Name! Jesus even declared this directly in the Gospels. Although it is mistranslated LORD in our English Bibles, the Name of Yehovah was quoted by Yeshua Himself directly from Psalm 118:26.

Jesus said: for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of Yehovah!” Matthew 23:39

We know He said Yehovah, because this was a direct quote. Psalm 118 has the Name, Yehovah, no less than 28 times in the Hebrew text! So, does that really mean the Jews will begin using His Name again? Yes!

Note, that Jews will say: “Blessed is He” who comes in Yehovah’s Name. Jesus did that; and the Jews of His day did not say blessed is He, but killed Him for “blasphemy” for claiming the Name of Yehovah. We also may be rejected for speaking the Name, but proclaim it we must, as we stand with Israel and the Jewish people as they begin to profess: “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Yehovah!”

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)

(New explanation for why I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah. Here is a link to the best simple explanation I know, from my friend, Keith Johnson.)

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Elisha Vision, Israel, Jesus, Jews, Second Coming, Yeshua
Categories : Israel Commentary

Is the End Near?

14 12 2016

Miracle Message: This amazing picture is from Dollywood in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Terrible forest fires burned thousands of acres in the Southeast with over 14 deaths. At about the same time many major fires burned throughout Israel. In both cases, arson was a cause.

The miracle message is in the photo above. Just one page from the Bible was found near Dollywood burned around the edges, leaving these verses readable.

Joel 1:15
The day of the LORD is near, the day when destruction comes from the Almighty. How terrible that day will be!

Joel 1:19
To you, LORD, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.

Joel 1:20
Even the beasts of the field pant for you because the water brooks are dried up,
and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Joel 2:1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

Here is the last verse again in the New Living Translation:

Sound the alarm in Jerusalem! Raise the battle cry on my holy mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of Yehovah is upon us. Joel 2:1

Jesus prophesied many signs would precede the coming of the Messiah. We are seeing such on almost a daily basis. The burned Bible page indicates that the day of God’s judgements are now here. The end is not yet, but is very close. We are fast approaching the end of days and the glorious kingdom of Messiah Jesus, Yeshua ben Yehovah, Jesus the Son of God.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)

(New explanation for why I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah. Here is a link to the best simple explanation I know, from my friend, Keith Johnson.)

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Elisha Vision, Jesus, Messiah, Yehovah, Yeshua ben Yehovah
Categories : Israel Commentary

Why This is the Last Generation

28 11 2016

Many who will read my prophetic commentary will consider this for the first time. There are multiple possible scenarios leading to the conclusion that we are living in the last generation of time as we know it. Some scenarios are clearly man-made events. Many believe that the planet’s population will reach a breaking point. Others cite climate change or disease or a wayward comet causing the end of the world. And, of course, world war is always a threat.

However, I offer two Bible prophesies which indicate the last generation in clear terms, one each from the Old and New Testaments. Please accept my submission for your prayerful consideration. If you agree with me, it will affect not only your world view, but your perspective on eternity.

So, first let me stipulate that I believe the Bible and take it literally when possible. Therefore, the two perspectives are based not on the reasoning of man, but on the truth of Scriptural revelation. In this post I can only state my case. For an in-depth analysis read my book Generation LAST.

#1. The “Generation Last.” Psalm 102 is a prophecy that only made sense after 1945. The first ten verses are an exact graphic picture of the Holocaust of WW II. Verse 13 is the turning point where God says the set time to favor Zion has come. History bears witness to the fact, with modern Israel appearing in 1948. God turned the page from judgement of the Jewish people, to favor and restoration. Then comes the surprising revelation of verse 18. This is the confirmation verse of the timing of the earlier passage. Notice that the English translation is quite nebulous.

This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. Psalm 102:18

Some translations say “a future generation.” However, the Hebrew phrase used is narrowly specific: “dor acharon.” It literally means “the generation last.” You can see for yourself on the link to the verse (above). Just look at the Hebrew definition.

This Psalm makes perfect sense as a prophecy, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight of recent history. The Psalm had a moderate value for comfort over the millennia, but blossomed into fulfillment in our generation…the last generation!

#2 This generation will not pass away. Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 record what scholars call the Olivet Discourse, the teaching of Jesus on the Mount of Olives. Jesus is answering the most burning question of the ages: “When are you coming back?” When you pour over these chapters you will find that none of the signs He gives are time specific, except one. Most of His signs appear in every generation to some degree. What is the only one that is tied to time? It is His prophecy about Jerusalem. Jesus prophesied both the destruction of Jerusalem (fulfilled in 70 AD), and the restoration of Jerusalem (fulfilled in June, 1967). Once again we have the benefit of being on the other side of fulfilled prophecy. The clincher is in Luke 21. First He speaks of the city’s destruction and the scattering of the Jews to all nations, leaving Jerusalem in the hands of the Gentiles. until their time to rule the city is finished.

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24

But then, Jesus speaks of the fig tree as a symbol of Israel’s restoration. Those who “see” these things happening, including the specific return of Jerusalem to Israeli sovereignty, will be alive for the Messiah’s appearance! The time for Gentile rule of Jerusalem is done.

So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Luke 21:31-32

This was fulfilled in our generation! It is now history. The most important question remaining is: “Are you ready?” Scholars disagree on the length of a generation, but I think it is one hundred years. If so, He could come very soon. I am so excited and filled with anticipation of all the events falling into place. What a great honor that we are blessed to live in this day.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)

Generation LAST is available here on Amazon for $10.00

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Elisha Vision, Israel, Jerusalem, Jesus, Messiah, Second Coming
Categories : Israel Commentary

Elisha Vision – Commentary

Corona Virus HOPE

Abraham the Believer

Happy Hanukka

Glorious Resurrection Day, but Please Stop Using the E word.