Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
I LOVE ISRAEL,
I LOVE THE PEOPLE.
IT'S TOTALLY SO...
IT'S INDESCRIBABLE.
IT FEELS LIKE HOME...
IT JUST FEELS LIKE HOME.
WELCOME TO JERUSALEM...
IT JUST TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.
IT JUST SHOWS THE FINGER PRINT OF GOD EVERYWHERE.
TO REALIZE HOW SPECIAL THIS CITY AND THE PEOPLE WERE TO THE LORD...
IT'S GOD'S CHOSEN LAND AND JESUS WALKED ON IT.
I THINK THERE'S A RESTORATION AS PASTOR MYLES TALKED ABOUT.
HOW GOD IS REALLY GATHERING THE JEWS.
THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST WE'VE BEEN GRAFTED-IN
AND NOW THIS IS OUR CITY ALSO.
SHALOM AND WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM.
I'M MYLES WEISS
AND I'M KATHARINE WEISS.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY OF RESTORATION, THE STORY OF ISRAEL.
WE'RE BRINGING ONE OF OUR TOURS TO YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO BRING A TOUR TO OUR VIEWERS.
SOME MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT SO WE'RE BRINGING IT DIRECTLY TO YOU.
RIGHT, AND HERE WE CAN SEE ON OUR MAP THAT AFTER LANDING IN TEL AVIV...
WE STARTED IN NETANYA ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST.
THEN WE WENT UP TO CAESAREA MARITIMA
OVER TO MEGIDDO...
TO MOUNT CARMEL...
TO THE SEA OF GALILEE
AND AT THE SEA OF GALILEE IN THAT AREA WE WENT UP ON THE MOUNT OF BEATITUDES.
WE WENT TO CAPERNAUM, JESUS' HEADQUARTERS IN THE NORTH...
THEN TO THE JORDAN RIVER TO BE BAPTIZED
WE WENT UP TO DAN...TO TEL DAN
WHICH IS AT THE NORTH TO CAESAREA PHILIPPI
AND THEN TO BEIT SHEAN
TO QUMRAN AND THEN FINALLY UP TO JERUSALEM.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING OUR STORY TODAY.
WE ALSO HAVE AN AMAZING BUS DRIVER, DAVID.
YES, HE'S WONDERFUL
HE'S SUCH A BLESSING MYLES.
HE STARTS OUR DAY WITH JOY AND WE'RE SAFE IN HIS HANDS AS HE DRIVES THE ROADS.
AND HE HAS FAVOR IN THE LAND AND HE'S A BLESSING TO OUR MINISTRY.
HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR VERY MANY YEARS.
HE LOVES OUR MINISTRY.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO MASADA.
(Katharine Weiss speaking)
AS OUR BUS HEADS SOUTH
THE WINDING HIGHWAY LEADS US THROUGH THE BARREN WILDERNESS ADJACENT TO THE DEAD SEA.
WE PASS QUMRAN AND NOW WE CAN SEE THE MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD OF MASADA LOOMING IN THE DISTANCE.
A TRAIL FOR THE STRONG HEART ZIGZAGS ITS WAY UP THE TOP.
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE'LL TAKE THE CABLE CAR THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND UP WE GO SOME 1400 FEET TO THE UPPER LEVEL FORTIFICATION BUILT BY KING HEROD IN 35 B.C.
AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN YUVAL TELLS US ABOUT KING HEROD'S REMARKABLE BUILDING PROJECT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL AND TO SEE THOSE AMAZING STRUCTURES
AND INDEED UNDERSTANDABLE WHY HEROD WAS CONSIDERED SUCH A GREAT BUILDER.
HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT HE EVENTUALLY CREATED AN ARTIFICIAL OASIS
WITH A SOPHISTICATED WATER SYSTEM, BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURES.
BUT IT'S NOT THE MAIN STORY.
OUR MAIN STORY GOES BACK TO THE YEARS 72 - 73 A.D.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 75 - 76 YEARS AFTER HEROD'S DEATH...
THE HEROIC STAND OF THE ZEALOTS,
THE JEWISH FAMILIES WHO CAME HERE AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THROUGHOUT THE REVOLT THE JEWISH ZEALOTS CAME AND TOOK OVER
AND THEN OTHERS FOLLOWED THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
JOSEPHUS WROTE THAT ALTOGETHER 967 PEOPLE CAME TO MASADA;
WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN TO THIS FORTRESS THAT WAS BUILT LONG BEFORE BY HEROD THE GREAT.
AND JOSEPHUS ALSO WROTE THAT WHEN THEY CAME
SINCE IT WAS STILL AN ACTIVE PLACE; AN ACTIVE FORTRESS,
THE STOREROOMS WERE ALL FULL WITH FOOD AND THE CISTERNS FULL WITH WATER.
WE BELIEVE THAT SINCE THE ROMANS CAME HERE ONLY IN 72
THAT THE ZEALOTS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR A POSSIBLE CONFLICT.
THEY COULD HAVE SENT PEOPLE FROM HERE TO THE EIN GEDI
WHICH IS ONLY 10 MILES AWAY FROM HERE TO BRING WATER TO BRING FOOD.
IN EIN GEDI THERE WAS A BIG CITY AT THAT TIME.
THE CITY OF EIN GEDI WAS NOT DESTROYED BY THE ROMANS.
THEY DIDN'T HARM THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THEIR REVOLT.
SO BY THE TIME THAT THE ROMANS CAME
THE PEOPLE THE ZEALOTS WITH THEIR FAMILIES HERE ON TOP OF MASADA
HAD ENOUGH FOOD AND WATER TO SURVIVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THE ROMANS COULDN'T AFFORD THEMSELVES TO STAY AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN
AT THE BASE OF THE CLIFF THAT LONG
BECAUSE WHEN THEY CAME THEY BEGAN TO BUILD A WALL
AT THE BASE OF THE CLIFF ALL AROUND IT AND CAMPS FOR THE SOLDIERS.
WE BELIEVE THAT ABOUT TWO AND A HALF LEGIONS CAME TO MASADA... EVEN MORE
SO MORE THAN 10,000 SOLDIERS, ROMAN SOLDIERS, CAME HERE.
THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM SEVERAL THOUSAND SLAVES JEWISH SLAVES
THAT WERE CAPTURED DURING THE REVOLT IN JERUSALEM AND IN OTHER PLACES.
AND THEY HAD TO BUILD FOR THEM THE CAMPS AND THE WATER AROUND MASADA.
SO THERE WERE ALL TOGETHER 8 CAMPS LOCATED IN DIFFERENT PLACES;
FOUR CAMPS ON THE EAST SIDE; FOUR MORE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
ALL THE CAMPS THE ROMAN CAMPS WERE CONNECTED WITH THE SIEGE WALL.
IT IS BY THE WAY THE MOST PERFECT ROMAN SIEGE SYSTEM EVER TO BE FOUND IN THE WORLD
AND UNESCO YEARS AGO THEY DECLARED MASADA AS A HERITAGE SITE, WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
WHEN THE ROMANS WHEN THEY HAD REALIZED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SPEND HERE YEARS
THEY DECIDED TO TRY AND TO CONQUER MASADA
BECAUSE THE THOUGHT EARLIER WAS TO DO WHAT?
TO WAIT UNTIL THE PEOPLE UP ON THE MOUNTAIN WON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD, WATER
AND THEN THEY WILL SURRENDER BEFORE THEM
BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY DECIDED TO BUILD AN ATTACK RAMP ON THE WEST SIDE OF MASADA
WHICH YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE IN THE MODEL.
AND THEN ALONG THIS RAMP WHICH WAS BACK THEN MUCH WIDER AND HIGHER
THEY BEGAN TO PUSH THIS WAR TOWER ON WHEELS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.
AMAZING...YOU'LL SEE IT WHEN WE ARE GOING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE
AND AS WE WILL LOOK DOWN WE WILL SEE THE RAMP.
AND THEN WITH A BATTERING RAM
THEY BEGAN TO KNOCK DOWN THE WALL TO BREAK THE WALL IN ORDER TO GET IN.
(Myles Weiss speaking)
THIS IS THE VIEW THE ZEALOTS WOULD HAVE HAD
LOOKING DOWN UPON THE ENCROACHING ROMAN LEGION.
MONTH AFTER MONTH THE RAMP GREW CLOSER TO THEIR WALLS.
DAY BY DAY THE SHADOW OF THE MIGHTY BATTERING RAM INCHED CLOSER TO THEIR DOORWAY.
THEY KNEW IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
OUR GROUP ENTERS MASADA'S ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE WHERE YUVAL CONTINUES.
THE ROMANS ARE JUST ABOUT BREAK IN.
THEY HAVE MANAGED TO BUILD ANOTHER WALL
BUT THEY WERE USING THIS TIME WOODEN BEAMS AND SAND AT THE BACK.
SO THE BATTERING RAM WAS NOT SO AFFECTIVE.
SO WHAT THEY DID THEY DECIDED TO SET FIRE IN IT USING FLAMING ARROWS AND OIL.
WHEN THE WOODEN WALL WAS BURNED DOWN IT WAS ALREADY LATE AFTERNOON
AND THEN THE ROMANS ARE TAKING THE DECISION, SILVA THE ROMAN GENERAL TO RETREAT
TO LEAVE BACK TO THEIR CAMPS AND TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT DAY
BECAUSE USUALLY ROMAN SOLDIERS DID NOT FIGHT AT NIGHT TIME.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN HERE.
SO THE DECISION WAS TO GO BACK TO THE CAMPS AND TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT DAY.
AND THAT WAS THE CRUCIAL NIGHT THAT ELEAZAR THE JEWISH COMMANDER
GATHERED THE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS SYNAGOGUE AND SPOKE BEFORE THEM.
AND YOU'VE HEARD THE SPEECH
SAYING THAT IT WILL BE THE BETTER WAY FOR THEM
TO LEAVE THIS WORLD AS FREE AND NOBLE PEOPLE NOT TO FALL ALIVE INTO THE HANDS OF THE ROMANS
BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
SO THE DECISION THEY DID WAS A VERY TOUGH DECISION
AND JOSEPHUS DESCRIBED IT AND IT IS A VERY SHOCKING STORY, VERY DIFFICULT
BUT THE DECISION WAS THAT FIRST EVERY MAN WILL KILL HIS OWN WIFE AND CHILDREN
AND THEY DID IT BY A SLAUGHTERING KNIFE.
THEY JUST SIMPLY CUT THEIR THROAT UNTIL THEY LOST THEIR BLOOD AND DIED.
THEN OUT OF THE MEN TEN MEN WERE CHOSEN WHO WERE TO KILL THE OTHER MEN.
SO THOSE WHO WERE NOT CHOSEN LAID DOWN ON THE GROUND TO WAIT FOR THEIR TURN.
OUT OF THE TEN MEN ONE WAS CHOSEN TO KILL THE NINE MEN AND THEN KILLED HIMSELF.
SO THE MOST PEOPLE WERE KILLED ACTUALLY BY OTHERS.
BUT THERE WERE ONLY 5 SURVIVORS.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT.
THAT'S HOW JOSEPHUS KNEW ABOUT THE STORY...2 WOMEN AND 5 CHILDREN.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEIR HUSBANDS WERE HERE WERE WITH THEM OR NOT.
MAYBE WHEN THEY CAME FROM JERUSALEM OR JUDEA THEY CAME BY THEMSELVES...
ONLY THE WOMEN AND THE 5 CHILDREN
AND THEY FOUND A PLACE TO HIDE HERE ON TOP OF MASADA.
AND THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE ROMANS WERE UP HERE THEY JUST TURNED THEMSELVES IN
AND THEY MET JOSEPHUS AND THEY DESCRIBED IT FOR HIM
ALL ABOUT THAT HAPPENED HERE THE SUICIDE AND THE SPEECH.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM LATER ON...
IF THEY WERE TAKEN AS PRISONERS OR WERE KILLED WE DON'T KNOW
BUT WE CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW IT FELT LIKE FOR THE ROMANS
WHEN THEY CAME UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING UP TO THE MOUNTAIN
EXPECTING RESISTANCE AND THEN NOTHING...SILENCE.
FOR INSIGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES ON ISRAEL AND BIBLE PROPHECY
ASK FOR OUR FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER "THE LEVITT LETTER".
AT LEVITT.COM YOU CAN READ THE NEWSLETTER,
WATCH THE TV PROGRAM,
OR VISIT OUR ON-LINE STORE.
STAY CURRENT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA VIA FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
COME WITH US ON A TOUR OF ISRAEL OR PETRA
OR A CRUISE TO GREECE AND EPHESUS.
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION.
OUR RESOURCE FOR THIS PROGRAM...
THE FLAG OF ISRAEL
THIS BEAUTIFUL 3 X 5 FOOT FLAG
PROUDLY BOAST 2 BLUE STRIPES
AND THE STAR OF DAVID ON A FIELD OF WHITE.
FLY THIS FLAG TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN STATE
EACH APRIL ON ISRAEL'S INDEPENDENCE DAY.
OR YOU MAY DECIDE TO FLY IT JUST TO SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR THE HOLY LAND AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
CONTACT US AND ASK FOR THE FLAG OF ISRAEL.
YOU KNOW KATHARINE AND I ARE PRIVILEGED TO WRITE FOR THE LEVITT LETTER.
IT'S A NEWS MAGAZINE THAT TELLS YOU WHAT'S GOING ON IN ISRAEL.
IT HAS A FINANCIAL LESSON,
SOME PROPHETIC WORDS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN TIME REGARDING THE COMING OF THE LORD.
AND WITH TODAY'S MAINSTREAM MEDIA NOT BRINGING THE TRUE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST
IT'S A REALLY GOOD THING FOR YOU.
IT'S FREE TO YOU.
JUST GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT 1-800-WONDERS OR LEVITT.COM.
WE'D BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU.
AND IF YOU CAN SEND US A DONATION THAT HELPS US SEND IT TO WHOEVER DOES NEED IT.
RIGHT, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING BEFORE WE SEND IT TO BE PEOPLE
THAT ARE IN JAIL OR IN PRISON WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO.
EXACTLY SO
YOU KNOW THE STORY OF MASADA IS SUCH A HEAVY STORY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S NOT WIDELY KNOWN
IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ELEAZAR AND HIS MEN WERE RELUCTANT TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE ROMANS
BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS JEWISH SLAVES
THAT WERE BUILDING THE RAMP THAT WAS COMING UP TO MASADA ITSELF
AND SO THEY WERE RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO KILL THEIR OWN BRETHREN.
RIGHT WELL THEY WITHSTOOD THEM FOR SO LONG THEY FINALLY GOT THE SLAVES AND SAID
THIS IS HOW WERE GOING TO DO IT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM BUILD IT...THE RAMP.
YES, EXACTLY SO
EXACTLY, AND EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE HEAVINESS THERE'S SOME SILVER LININGS IN THE STORY AREN'T THERE?
ABSOLUTELY
EZEKIEL IS FOUND AGAIN...
EZEKIEL 37 IS FOUND IN THE SYNAGOGUE...
THE PLANTING OF THE WORD OF GOD
THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE SAYING THESE SUFFERINGS MIGHT COME OUR WAY
BUT GOD HIMSELF IS A RESURRECTED GOD AND HE WILL REVIVE US AND HE WILL RESTORE US.
EXACTLY SO
THERE'S ALWAYS A SILVER LINING WITH THE LORD.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE SYNAGOGUE IN MASADA AND HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY.
DO YOU REMEMBER WAY BACK AT CAESAREA MARITIME WE SPOKE ABOUT HEROD AND KINGDOMS IN CONFLICT
AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HEBRAIC VIEW OF THE WORLD AND THE ROMAN VIEW OF THE WORLD
AND THE WAY THAT THOSE KINGDOMS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN CONFLICT
AND ARE STILL BEING PLAYED OUT WITH US THE CHURCH...YES?
WELL I THINK MASADA IS ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF THAT CONFLICT
AND YOU'RE SITTING IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
WHEN THE ZEALOTS CAME HERE THEY REFUSED TO LIVE IN THE COMFORT SPOTS OF THE ROMANS.
THEY LIVED IN THE WALLS.
NOW I DON'T ADVOCATE ASCETICISM
AND I DON'T ADVOCATE EPICUREANISM.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO INDULGE OVERLY OR TORTURE OURSELVES
BUT IT IS NOTABLE THAT THEY WERE...
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM TO NOT PARTAKE OF THE ROMAN SYSTEM IN ANY WAY.
YOU ARE ALSO SITTING IN THE SYNAGOGUE WHERE WHEN THE QUMRAN SCROLLS WERE FOUND
EZEKIEL 37 WAS FOUND IN THIS BUILDING.
EZEKIEL 37 IF YOU REMEMBER IS THE PASSAGE WHERE GOD PROPHESIED
THAT THE GRAVES ARE GOING TO OPEN,
THE BONES ARE GOING TO COME TOGETHER
AND THAT THERE WILL BE A RENAISSANCE OR REBUILDING OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL.
IN FACT IT WAS A CLEAR PROPHETIC PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN NAZI GERMANY
AND THE REBIRTH THAT FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
WELL THAT WAS FOUND RIGHT HERE.
GOD CONFIRMS HIS WORD WITH SIGNS.
HE CONFIRMS HIS WORD AND DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO DO.
AND THAT'S REALLY OUR STORY ISN'T IT?
GOD SAYS AND THEN HE DOES IT
AND OUR JOB IS TO BELIEVE IT RIGHT?
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
AND IN THIS SETTING IT'S REALLY A PLACE FOR US TO CONSIDER
WHAT WE ARE BEING CALLED TO AS THE CHURCH OF GOD IN THIS ERA IN THIS TIME.
ARE WE BEING CALLED TO LIVE FOR ENTERTAINMENT?
ARE WE BEING CALLED TO LIVE AS ROMANS WITHIN A CHURCH SETTING?
OR CAN WE LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE ZEALOTS
AND LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE PROPHETS THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES
AND REALLY ADD IN TO OUR HEARTS THE PICTURE THAT WE GET FROM RUTH...RUTH THE GENTILE...
RUTH THE MOABITESS... RUTH THE ONE THAT IS GRAFTED IN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL
AND BECOMES THE ANCESTOR OF KING DAVID
AND THEREBY THE ANCESTOR OF YESHUA HAMASHIACH, JESUS CHRIST...DAVID'S GREATER SON.
AND SO YOU REPRESENT RUTH.
REMEMBER HER CRY?
SHE CAME FROM THE DESERT, THE DESERT "MIDBAR"... IT MEANS "TO SPEAK".
WHENEVER WE'RE IN THIS QUIET PLACE
WHEN THESE ZEALOTS WERE HERE
WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING THROUGH HERE
IT'S A TIME FOR US TO HEAR WHAT GOD IS SAYING.
LET HIM WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR HERE WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH.
AND THAT'S WHAT SEASON THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
WELL WHAT DID RUTH SAY TO NAOMI HER JEWISH MOTHER-IN LAW,
SHE SAID DON'T LET ME GO FROM YOU, WHERE YOU GO I WILL GO, WHERE YOU LIVE I WILL LIVE,
YOUR PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE AND YOUR GOD MY GOD.
AND I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE AWAKENING THAT'S TAKING PLACE
IN THE CHURCH OF GOD TODAY AROUND THE WORLD IS THAT SAME MESSAGE.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT IS GOING TO THE ISRAELITES AROUND THE WORLD,
THE HEBREWS IN THE DIASPORA AND THOSE THAT ARE LIVING HERE
IS THAT THE HEART CRY THAT'S COMING FROM YOU AS RUTH THE GENTILE TO NAOMIS
IS LET'S GO INTO THE HARVEST FIELD AND MEET BOAZ TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE KINSMAN REDEEMER, WE FOUND HIM AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE HIM AGAIN.
AND THIS STORY IS CONTINUED TO UNFOLD.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND READ PART OF ELEAZAR'S SPEECH TO THE BRETHREN HERE
BEFORE THEY DID THAT DASTARDLY THING.
IT WAS A TERRIBLE CHOICE.
THERE'S NO GOOD CHOICE TO SUBMIT TO ROME OR SUICIDE.
I DON'T ADVOCATE SUICIDE, WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
IT IS AGAINST THE LAWS OF GOD BECAUSE IT'S MARRING THE IMAGE OF GOD.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE CAUGHT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE DON'T ADVOCATE IT.
BUT HERE IS SOMETHING OF WHAT HE SAID,
WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELVES IN THEIR POSITION IT'S ALMOST UNFATHOMABLE.
YOU KNOW... HOW WOULD WE DO THIS...
HOW COULD I KILL MY WIFE AND CHILDREN AND THEN MYSELF?
YOU KNOW IT'S AN UNFATHOMABLE THING.
BUT IT BRINGS UP FOR US THE IDEA OF COMMITMENT
AND THE IDEA OF BEING COMMITTED TO THE ONE TRUE GOD,
COMMITTED TO YESHUA
AND COMMITTED TO RUACH HA KODESH, THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND FOLLOWING THE WAYS OF OUR GOD ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES.
AND I'D LIKE TO CLOSE WITH SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T USUALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO.
I WOULD LIKE YUVAL TO COME AND STAND WITH ME.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO KNOWS FOR A FACT THAT THEY HAVE JEWISH BLOOD IN THEIR BACKGROUND?
ANYBODY HERE THAT'S JEWISH BY FAMILY?
YOU COME PLEASE.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY
FOR YOUR JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD
AS THE CHURCH AS THE BELIEVERS I WANT YOU TO SAY LIKE THE ZEALOTS SAID
AND LIKE RUTH SAID
AND LIKE EZEKIEL SAW
THAT THIS...RESTORATION IS CONTINUING UNTIL WE SEE THE DAY OF THE LORD.
I'M GOING TO ASK KATHARINE TO COME AND LEAD US IN PRAYER.
AND IF YOU'D JUST STRETCH YOUR HANDS TOWARDS US OR JUST HOWEVER YOU FEEL LED TO PRAY OUT FOR US
WE WANT TO PRAY FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE.AMEN?
FATHER WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN YOUR LAND IN THE DESERT
WHERE YOU SPEAK SO CLEARLY AND WE LIKE RUTH ALIGN OURSELVES WITH YOUR WORD
THAT YOUR PEOPLE SHALL BE OUR PEOPLE, YOUR GOD OUR GOD
AND WHERE YOU GO WE WILL GO AND WHERE YOU DIE WE WILL DIE.
AND FATHER WE JUST THANK YOU LORD FOR A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY FATHER,
A HOLY CRY FOR YOU TO STAND WITH YOUR PEOPLE AND BE THE PROTECTOR AND BE THE KEEPER OF ISRAEL.
FATHER WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT ASKING THEM TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE
BUT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO STAND IN YOUR LIFE.
SO WE AGREE FATHER THAT EZEKIEL 37 WILL COME ALIVE,
THAT NOT ONLY THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT THEM BACK
AND THAT YOU ARE BREATHING BREATH INTO THEM
BUT THEY WILL BECOME YOUR ARMY, THE ARMY OF THE LIVING GOD
AND THAT THE ANGELS OF THE LIVING GOD WILL KEEP THEM,
PROTECT THEM, AND BE THE DEFENDER OF ISRAEL.
BEIT SHEM YESHUA,
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN
(Myles Weiss speaking)
AMEN...AMEN...THANK YOU
TODAH RABAH...
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THAT WAS A HOLY MOMENT UP IN THE SYNAGOGUE IN MASADA.
WHAT A BLESSING FOR OUR PILGRIMS TO BE ABLE TO PRAY TOGETHER
ABOUT STANDING WITH ISRAEL IN THE DAYS IN WHICH WE'RE LIVING.
IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO STAND WITH WHAT GOD
HAS ORDAINED THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO HAVE IS THEIR LAND.
AND WE GO TO JERUSALEM;
WE GO AND CELEBRATE SHABBAT TOGETHER.
SO HERE WE GO...
UP TO JERUSALEM.
(Myles) SHABBAT SHALOM
(People respond) SHABBAT SHALOM
THIS IS THE TIME OF THE WEEK IN WHICH WE WILL REMEMBER GOD'S REST.
IT BEGINS 18 MINUTES BEFORE SUNSET
BECAUSE 18 IS THE NUMERICAL EQUIVALENT OF THE LETTERS THAT EQUAL "CHAI" OR "LIFE"
AND SO WE BEGIN THIS SHABBAT 18 MINUTES BEFORE SUNDOWN
AND THEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT ENDS SATURDAY EVENING
WHEN THE FIRST THREE STARS COME OUT IN THE SKY.
ANOTHER HIDDEN BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FOR MY PEOPLE.
REMEMBER CHAD, THE THREE IN ONE, THERE IT IS AGAIN.
IT'S CONSIDERED THE QUEEN OF THE WEEK, THE SABBATH QUEEN.
I REMEMBER GROWING UP I WAS RAISED BY TWO JEWISH MOTHERS WHICH EXPLAINS A LOT.
BUT MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY MOTHER WOULD GATHER AND LIGHT THE CANDLES
WHICH WE'RE NOT DOING HERE
BUT KATHARINE LIGHTS THE CANDLES EVERY WEEK.
AND WHENEVER THAT'S DONE THE PEACE OF GOD DESCENDS ON THE HOME.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS CEREMONY NOT AS A RITUAL
BUT BECAUSE IT'S A WAY OF KIND OF BREATHING INTO THE SABBATH REST.
AND KATHARINE'S GOT A REALLY GOOD WORD ABOUT IT NOT BEING A MESSAGE OF DON'TS.
COULD YOU TELL THEM?
SURE...WELL AS YOU SLOW DOWN AND FIND GOD'S REST
IT'S NOT SO MUCH "DON'T"...
THANK YOU...
IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT YOU CAN'T DO
BUT IT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.
SO YOU SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.
YOU SHOULD BE ENJOYING CREATION...
TAKING LONG WALKS...
ENJOYING LIFE...
SINGING SOME SONGS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT PUTTING OUT A LOT OF EFFORT.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING WHICH IS SPENDING MORE TIME WITH FAMILY,
MORE TIME WITH FRIENDS, HAVING LAUGHS, AND MAKING AN EFFORT TO GO OUT OF OUR WAY
LIKE YOU DO ON SUNDAY...
TO HAVE SUNDAY DINNER WITH EACH OTHER.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
IT'S GOING OUT OF OUR WAY AND MAKING THAT SPECIAL TIME WITH OUR FAMILY.
SO THINK OF SHABBAT AS A TIME OF "DO'S"...NOT OF "DON'TS" OKAY?
AND SO ALONG THAT LINE THE SABBATH IS CONSIDERED THE QUEEN OF THE WEEK.
IF YOM KIPPUR, THE DAY OF ATONEMENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY IN THE YEAR
WELL, SHABBAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF THE WEEK,
IN FACT, BEGINNING WEDNESDAY
OFTEN PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO CLEAN THE HOUSE AND PREPARE AND GET READY
AND THE WEEK KIND OF LENDS ITSELF GOING UP TOWARDS SHABBAT
AND THEN SATURDAY EVENING IT RECEDES AWAY FROM SHABBAT BACK INTO THE WORK A DAY WORLD.
THERE'S A GREAT PRACTICE THAT WE DO WHICH IS CALLED "LE SHAN HATOV"
SAY IT LOUDER
"LE SHAN HATOV"
"LE SHAN HAVTOV"
WHICH MEANS "POSITIVE SPEECH"
ONLY SPEAKING FOR 24 HOURS A GOOD WORD OVER ONE ANOTHER,
TO YOUR SPOUSE, TO YOUR CHILDREN, TO YOUR FAMILY, TO YOU YOUR FRIENDS.
AND IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE AND YOU BY ACCIDENT SAY SOMETHING NEGATIVE...
REPENT AND SAY TO THE PERSON I'M SORRY, THIS IS SHABBAT
AND I WANT TO BE IN CONCERT WITH THE PRESENCE AND THE POWER OF THE LORD
AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER.
ALRIGHT?
AND SO WE ALSO START THE HOLIDAY WITH THE SHABBAT.
WE START THE SHABBAT WITH BREAD AND WINE.
WE KNOW THAT IT GOES BACK TO THE SEDER
BUT IT ALSO IS THE TIME OF A KIDDISH, A BLESSING,
"BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELOHEINU MELEKH HA'OLAM"
"HAMOTZI LECHEM MIN HA'ARETZ."
"BLESSED ART THOU O LORD OUR GOD, KING OF THE UNIVERSE"
"WHO BRINGS FORTH BREAD FROM THE EARTH."
AND WE ALSO WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BREAD OF HEAVEN THAT CAME TO EARTH
WENT INTO THE EARTH,
CAME UP OUT OF THE EARTH
AND WENT BACK TO HEAVEN AS A RANSOM FOR US.
SO TAKE SOME BREAD AND SAY THANK YOU TO GOD.
Katharine:
AMEN...THANK YOU LORD
Myles:
BARUCH HASHEM
WE ALSO TAKE THE CUP AND WE SAY
"BARUKH ATAH ADONAI ELOHEINU"
"MELEKH HA'OLAM BOREI PRI HAGAFEN"
"BLESSED ART THOU O LORD OUR GOD,"
"KING OF THE UNIVERSE WHO CREATES THE FRUIT OF THE VINE."
AND WE SAY ALSO
THE HASHEM YESHUA WE THANK YOU THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR SACRIFICE WE CAN BE THE BRANCHES...
YOU'RE THE VINE AND WE ARE THE BRANCHES AND WE'RE ETERNALLY CONNECTED TO THE LORD.
BARUCH HASHEM
TAKE SOME
Katharine:
SHABBAT SHALOM
AND THEN WE SAY...
SHABBAT SHALOM
I LOVE THE RHYTHM OF THE HEBREW LIFE.
YOU SEE IT EVEN WHEN THERE'S A TRAGIC STORY,
THERE'S A RHYTHM OF THE RETURN TO JOY,
THE RETURN TO REST
AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING UPLIFTING, THE LA CHAIM...
"TO LIFE" IN THE MIDST OF THE STORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE WHICH HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT STORY.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE'VE COME INTO MASADA
WE END UP IN JERUSALEM WITH THE SABBATH
AND IT'S JUST SO WONDERFUL.
ABSOLUTELY
AND GOD IS TEACHING US ALL THE RHYTHM OF REST RIGHT MYLES,
AND HIS COMPLETED WORK AND FINISHED WORK.
SO WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YESHUA PAID THE PRICE FOR ALL OF US.
AND WE JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU AGAIN THAT WE DON'T...
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO BRING YOU THESE PROGRAMS WITHOUT YOUR GIFTS OF FUNDS
SO THANK YOU FOR SENDING IN A SPECIAL GIFT TODAY
SO THAT THESE PROGRAMS CAN CONTINUE TO COME YOUR WAY
AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE.
THAT'S RIGHT
WE ALWAYS LIKE TO END OUR PROGRAM
BY REMINDING YOU WHAT IT SAYS IN PSALM 122, VERSE 6
SHAL'ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.
OUR RESOURCE FOR THIS PROGRAM...
THE FLAG OF ISRAEL
THIS BEAUTIFUL 3 X 5 FOOT FLAG
PROUDLY BOAST 2 BLUE STRIPES
AND THE STAR OF DAVID ON A FIELD OF WHITE.
FLY THIS FLAG TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN STATE
EACH APRIL ON ISRAEL'S INDEPENDENCE DAY.
OR YOU MAY DECIDE TO FLY IT JUST TO SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR THE HOLY LAND AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
CONTACT US AND ASK FOR THE FLAG OF ISRAEL.
OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER "THE LEVITT LETTER" IS FREE
AND FULL OF INSIGHTFUL ARTICLES
AND NEWS COMMENTARY FROM A MESSIANIC PERSPECTIVE.
VISIT LEVITT.COM TO FIND OUR NEWSLETTER
ALONG WITH CURRENT AND PAST PROGRAMS,
OUR TELEVISION SCHEDULE,
AND MUCH MORE.