It woke me shortly after I dropped off to sleep in the early minutes of Saturday morning, causing the windows of our apartment above the Hinnom Valley to drone with a humming sound, and vibrating the mattress beneath me.
The quake was minor, but it effectively ended what little hope I had of catching a brief nap before the shuttle came to fetch me to the airport on the first leg of my flight to Annapolis.
Situated in an unstable part of the world (geographically, I mean this time), the ancient homeland of the Jewish people straddles two tectonic plates in the Syria-Africa Rift, meaning Israel is no stranger to earthquakes.
Seismologists say they are happening all the time, especially down under the floor of the Dead Sea Valley.
Most of the shivers are just that, shivers, felt barely if at all as we carry on with the never-uneventful life in this land.
But once or twice a year one comes along that is strong enough to momentarily stop us in our tracks, and to make the breaking news headlines in The Jerusalem Post, Ha’aretz, and YNetnews.
Interestingly, some seem to be “tied” to political earthquakes. I recall one that shook our apartment in Jerusalem’s Talbiyeh neighborhood on November 22, 1996, the day Prime Minister Shimon Peres presented his super-leftist government to the Knesset following the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
And on February 11, 2004, a size 5 quake cracked the ceiling in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament building, shortly before lawmakers were scheduled to take their seats for the day’s debates. As reported by Jerusalem Newswire at the time, the question of forcefully removing the Jews from the Gaza Strip was then on the top of the Knesset’s agenda.
This week we have had three reported quakes and felt two. It is the week leading up to the Annapolis Conference on the Creation of a Palestinian State on Jewish Land.
Of course, no-one would be foolish enough to say there was REALLY any tie in between the quakes and the conference.
Would they?
Well, time to board my plane! I hate leaving Israel, but it’s only for five days this time.
We are praying for you Stan that God’s Holy Will will be performed in your life in every dimension. Re earthquakes: Is it interesting to anyone else but me that the Jerusalem seems to be about halfway between Mt Hermon and Mt Sinai? Our God is Sovereign and He will not be undone at any of man’s plans. I am so grieved that our President has taken this “project” on as a legacy of his presidency. I don’t believe it will be exactly what he is hoping to remembered for as time passes. We do continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and know nothing escapes the Almighty! Nothing is too hard for Him and we pray for mercy on all counts, that the evil will be struck down and the righteous raised up in honor of His Name!
The Lord be praised in all!
i pray daily for the protection of israel especialyy at this precarious times.i do believe she (israel)really needs our prayers.i do believe that at the end the will and the plans of A lmighty will stand (isaiah 44:25)and her enemies will bow out in shame and defeat.let us keep praying.psalm 122:6!
We’ll try again:
Isa 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
God says He has given Israel into their hand(the Chaldeans, i.e. America). America very heavily lays the yoke, i.e. makes incredible demands on Israel for land concessions. Here is Annapolis in scripture.
7 And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
lady forever = America thinks nothing will happen to her. Even Christians think that. God says you are sorely mistaken.
8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
given to pleasures/ dwellest careslessly = perfect description of our nation, innit? There is none else beside us, cuz we’re the Greatest Nation on Earthâ„¢ God has us SO pegged, doesn’t He? Almost like He’s omniscient or something.
America really thinks it has special permission from God to do what she wants in the world. Wonder where they got THAT idea? Maybe all these people saying it is God’s ‘favored nation’ , and has ‘replaced Israel’?
9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
God promises the result of this will be massive loss of life. Not wiggling out of this one. It’s gonna HURT.
Read the whole chapter if you want to know more. It’s all well and good people are trying to ‘pray it away’, but part of me wonders if it’s for Israel or for THEM. Not that it makes any difference.
Good flying, Stan. Be safe.
May you be blessed with good news at Annapolis. I pray that you will not have to return to Israel with a grieving heart. My prayers are with Israel. Strangely, I do not ask God to stay His hand of judgement on America. We need it to wake us up out of our sleep. Perhaps it will turn us to God. This last Saturday, I heard about the history of God’s use of earthquakes in Israel as their wake up call. The leaders of both countries are asleep as though in hibernation. We are considered alarmists when we warn of the dangers, and then they turn over in their bed for restful slumber. If our president thinks that this will give him a legacy of bringing peace and safety to Israel, then he will be in for a rude awakening. If all comes to agreement , the nightmare will begin. I am most thankful to God that He hears our prayers for Jerusalem and Israel and that nothing stays His hand from His good purposes in all of this. God grant His peace in Jerusalem and prosperity for all who love her. Amen.
Man’s “peace” is not peace. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3. The Day of Jehovah will be an astonishment to the world. Travail in childbirth is absolute agony. I have travailed in childbirth twice, and it is a pain over which there is no control, there is no stopping it as it intensifies. There is no escape. Praise God that He promises His children, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober…putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” 1Thess. 5:4-9.
There is a Christian Rally today in Annapolis to “Defend Jerusalem”, Sunday November 25, 2007 at 2pm ET at the same spot and with the same purpose and the day before the “Middle East Summit” being planned in Annapolis, Md. at the Naval Academy, where we will also have a presence there too at Gate 1 at King George and Randall St. from 11 am to 2pm on both days.
See link for more details.
My prayers include you, Stan. I pray that God gives us mercy and wisdom. I pray for peace among all heathens and believers. As God will show His Glory among the heathens (Ezekiel 39 verses 21, 22) so that ALL will know His Glorious name in Jerusalem and no longer profane His name.
May you reach here in the USA safe and return home safely.
Stan, we continue to be in prayer. I will be fasting tomorrow….Mama is not physically able….But her life of obedience is precious to God….when Mama prays…Heaven opens….I have watched her life and her prayer life for 62 years….I pray that her mantle may fall on me when she goes home.
God Bless You, as you are about your Father’s business.
BIWX
Bush and Rice are being warned almost constantly that they are treading into dangerous territory. President Bush has been warned about the prophetic significance of all of his decisions regarding Israel, yet with all the wise counsel and at times not so wise counsel President Bush has and is blundering down the road that leads straight to Genesis 12:3 and the cursing GOD told Abraham about.
Indeed these are perilous times, BUT we need to keep ours eyes looking up for our redemption draws nigh.
Can’t wait to get there… everything is falling into place quite miraculously. My Media Ethics project, which would have been presented Tuesday, has been postponed till next Tuesday… that was the last deciding factor.
Stan–So glad to know that you will be able to get to Annapolis! I KNOW God will bless your steps and make your path plan. BLOW THAT HORN SO ALL MAY HEAR THE TRUTH OF THE LORD!! Shalom! —(Trying to keep up on things even though temporarily without email >>> Library internet service is a great thing! ) BE BLESSED and know that we are all praying for and with you. GOD’S WILL BE DONE!!! AMEN!
Stan,
thank you for being a watchman. I too believe, that earthquakes and hurricanes are not just coincidental with wrong political decisions. It took me a while to see the connection between Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and Katrina hitting US less than a month later. “As you do to Israel - I will do to you” - says the Lord. America caused hundreds of Jews to become homeless - in the same proportion America got our own people become homeless. And many still are - in both countries!
You had 3 quakes last week, we had unusually severe thunderstorms for this time of the year. It really made me think. Yes, I do fear for America. And together with my family, friends, Sunday school class we are praying that God Almighty would open the eyes of political leaders, American and Israeli, and would give them a healthy fear of breaking His rules.
As Bush/Rice sell Israel down the tubes greased by Kadima/Olmert and their collaborators, Israel needs to go it withourt the US, Just like in 1967, HaShem will protect and intercede,
when are we going to learn that moslems do not want peace with israel they want to destroy israel.all you have to do to is look at gaza and the terrorist who control it. if the palies want a home land let them have a chunk of jordan since they are jordanian moslems.except no land for peace deal because you will end up with neither.if moslems wanted peace they could have had it long ago but they are a hate full people unworthy of trust by decent people.
If Ester is a type of the Bride of Christ perhaps it is full time we as the Bride intercede for Isreal. Perhaps those who have eyes to see and ears to hear have been brought to such a time as this. A time to intercede for Isreal.
Not unlike the quivering Jewish people, we are trembling for the certain judgement that our leaders will bring on this nation for what thet are about to do today. Please, Father, have mercy on the innocents of both nations. We are only slaves to the dictates of our ungodly leaders. Shalom………not until Messiah returns. Grace
STAN I BELIEVE THEY ARE, I ALSO BELIEVE WHAT HAPPEN TO PM SHARON IS THE HAND OF GOD WORKING TO SHOW MANKIND THAT HE IS THE GREAT”I AM”. THE TIME IS VERY CLOSE TO WHEN HE WILL SET UPON HIS THRONE IN JERUSALEM.
GOD BLESS YOU STAN PRAYING FOR SAFE FLIGHT TO AMERICA AND HOME AGAIN
My heart is very heavy today, because what took place in maryland and knowing that ELIOHIM is bringing judgement on America and the world becuse of this ; read Ps. 83 and say America to most of the countrys.
Dear brother Stan, many thanks for all your ministries. The Lord be with you!
Personally we rest on the Word of the Lord and thus can be at peace in spite of all that is so out of the Lord’s purposes. It has to come to the point of utter “calamity” to cause His people to cry out to Him and very speedely He will be there with His help. We do not know how much He will have to wait and allow to happen in order for His dear people to turn away from all else and know that their only help comes from above. Lord speed your return and bring your peace to Jerusalem.
several weeks ago, as i was reaching for my tanakh in the bookshelf, i saw the books start shaking then the bookcase, then the 5 foot brass lampstand beside it.
i am not a stranget to “open” visions. as i weekly sat on the bed, i asked Adonai what this meant..”SOON” the only word utered in my spirit. i asked again same answer.
A few days later(regarding the drought sent by ADONAI to the S.E. USA for months) it was birthed in spirit that a dual shaking of the firmaments would soon take place. the firmament of the earth..the land sea and skies, and the firmament of man..civilization….
I truly believe and bear witness that that which the US government is doing to Yisrael, will lead to even more devastation.
‘nough said. YISRAEL belongs to YAH. ELOHIM One does not give away that which belongs not to him but YAH.
truly dangerous, tremulous days are “HERE”.
i will make one crucial addition to my last entry..read jeremiah 11:11-17. these scriptures were sent to me during prayer as i headed home two thursdays evenings ago. it was confirmed in two diferent ways on friday next day. this se us drought was sent by elohim. as per his word to my spirit over two months ago. first sunday in august, as i left a laodecian church. the pastor had just asked the peoples to pray for rain…lol….
the reason for the drought..you may ask ?
because of the apostacy of the churches in the bible belt, their backslidings and rebellions bordering on witchcraft. (not my words but those of the ruach).
a remnant philadelphian church will make it home, the rest?……………………………….
anyway are we praying yet ?
pray for the peace of yerushalayim. meaning “come quickly lord jesus”. only in the new kingdom will there be true peace in the city of peace..just a thought for this fyi tuesday…i’m gone..be blessed in yeshua bye !
Amazing comments from many of your readers. May God bless you Stan. Keep up the good work. God will prevail over all this wickedness. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. See 2 Chronicles 7:14. Amazing verse.
Dear Sisters and brothers:
I am praying in agreement with you all and interceding on this very critical point. I want to encourage you all to share what you know about prophecy re. Israel, God’s Timepiece, with your brethren that do not understand this. Please explain it to them and warn them about God’s impending judgements. Ask your intercessors to rise up in “a time such as this” to pray and plead to God. Many brethren are discouraged and down and the spiritual attacks are fierce. Work hard in spreading the word and lead many to Christ in any way you can….all in a spirit of love and conviction of the truth. Many are confused and frustrated in these times. Our churches are struggling in a huge way. Pour yourself out like you never have before! Make a way in the desert for people to come to know the King! Amen.