One of the most respected prophetic voices coming out of Israel is Reuven Doron. As an Israeli himself, he has a unique perspective and a special word to the Church in this hour--especially for those in the Lord's Church who have such a romantic view of Israel that they are sending money to help prepare the 3rd Temple to be rebuilt. You will be educated and challenged by this very insightful, if not prophetic Word from the Lord about the events in Jerusalem.

-- Steve Shultz, THE ELIJAH LIST
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"WE DO NOT EVEN PRAY FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE PHYSICAL TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM"--Reuven Doron
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EMBRACE ISRAEL MINISTRIES EMAIL: prayerfocus@embraceisrael.org Saturday, August 25, 2001 Prayer Focus From Jerusalem, August 25, 2001

The Embrace Israel Prayer Focus From Jerusalem is prepared regularly by Pastor Reuven Doron, director of Embrace Israel Ministries.

"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." [Isaiah 62:6-7 NAS]
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Please visit our web site at www.embraceisrael.org and forward to your praying friends.
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PRAYER FOCUS FROM JERUSALEM 8-25-2001 Reuven Doron EMAIL: prayerfocus@embraceisrael.org

Shalom, dear praying friend.

As the trap of violent actions and counter actions continues to tighten its merciless jaws upon both Jew and Arab in the Middle East, God is working “behind the scenes,� saving souls, tenderizing hearts, and preparing the parched ground for His reviving rains. Don’t be lost in-between the waves of bad news, my friend, and don’t lose heart at the duration and intensity of the battle. God’s word is forever established in the heavenlies, and He Himself is diligently watching over it to fulfill all His great and precious promises. Our position is to watch with Him, work His works, and pray His prayers.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE BOTH GLAD AND SAD OVER FATE OF JERUSALEM?

You may ask: is it possible to be simultaneously glad and sad over the fate of Jerusalem, weeping over her present suffering and rejoicing for her future glory? Of course it is, as Isaiah prophesied, saying, “Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her; be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her, that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, that you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.� (Isaiah 66:10-11 NASB)

Thank you for standing with us in prayer during our recent annual Embrace Israel conference. We experienced heights of worship, depths of revelation, and such consistency of grace and joy that it was evident that the Lord was not only accepting our offering of worship and intercession, but was Himself enjoying the celebration with His children. For video or audio recordings please see our web site.

A THIRD TEMPLE IN OUR DAY?

In the prophetic frenzy surrounding end time events, one of the most misunderstood and abused items is that of the rebuilding of the third Temple in Jerusalem. Both Old and New Testament scriptures point to the validity of such a Temple, yet its nature, function, and precise timing are still not fully understood but only given us in figurative and prophetic language.

Obviously, God reserves the right to bring this mystery to full light in His own way and in His own time. Yet, powerful forces are literally “pushing� in this direction, aggressively attempting to fulfill these prophecies by the strength of man. Some are doing so ignorantly, others sincerely trying to thus “expedite� the Lord’s return. They are moving ahead in their preparations and are attracting some well meaning, though misguided, Christian support and funding.

For the sake of the elect, in light of the powerful deceptions that are present in our generation, and in order to help the Bride of Messiah focus on the only One who deserves our complete attention and devotion, I will shortly address this often misunderstood issue. Remember that what I write is but a partial revelation in itself, and that more understanding and insight will undoubtedly be added from others in the coming days.

WHO IS THE CORNERSTONE?

On July 29, 2001, the notorious ninth day of the month of Av according to the Hebrew calendar, the very date on which both Temples in Jerusalem were violently destroyed by pagan powers nearly five hundred years apart, a group of well meaning zealots carried out a symbolic ceremony of cornerstone laying in a parking lot next to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

That four and a half ton marble stone was to symbolize the beginning of the third Temple construction and prophetically point in its direction. Fortunately, the Israeli government did not permit this ceremony to take place on top of Temple Mt. as was originally requested by the sponsors, thus avoiding an all out eruption of violent sentiments throughout the Muslim world.

"ARE THESE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN ZEALOTS IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT?"

Much effort, sacrifice, and funding are invested in these, and other related labors, all pointing toward the rebuilding of a third Jewish Temple on Mt. Moriah instead of, or next to, the Islamic shrines and the Dome of the Rock. One does not need to be an expert on Middle East affairs to imagine the uncontrollable Islamic rage that such an act would stir in the present explosive atmosphere. Are these Jewish and Christian zealots in the right theology? The right spirit? The right time?

From my perspective, the only cornerstone that could be laid that would make a positive difference today for Israel and for the nations is Jesus, the Messiah Himself. Any other emphasis will only lead to confusion and possibly deception. Worse yet, mere human attempts to have the physical Temple rebuilt in Jerusalem prior to the Lord’s second coming are in dangerous proximity to the spirit and agenda of the anti-Christ.

The fact is that the first Temple was built by divine initiative according to a heavenly design, and was erected by carefully chosen vessels under highly anointed conditions. Likewise, the second Temple, which was actually a restoration of the first, was repaired and reinstated again by select and anointed individuals whose credentials and labors are recorded in scripture. Is the modern day initiative we witness today able to stand these criteria as its proponents seek to build God’s third Temple in His City?

TRUE WORSHIP AND ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES

For one reason, such a temple, if rebuilt, could in fact keep seeking Jewish souls from placing their hopes for redemption on the Messiah alone by drawing their attention and devotion to a resurrected religious system. Even traditional Jewry recognizes that the Temple can potentially be “antichristos� (replacing the true Christ / Messiah), and that an empty religious system of works is an abomination to the Lord.

"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF BURNT OFFERINGS . . . "

Such anti-religious divine intolerance is revealed in Isaiah’s cry, saying, “‘What are your multiplied sacrifices to me?’ Says the Lord. ‘I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed cattle. And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats… Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me… I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me…

So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you… Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from my sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow.’� (Isaiah 1: 11-17 NASB)

And David, in his heart-rending cry for cleansing and renewal from his sin, reached deep into the heart of God when he prayed, “For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.� (Psalms 51:16, 17 NASB) In other words, spiritual life is not the product of religious works or temple sacrifices, no matter how profound and impressive; rather true holiness and righteousness are the fruit of a humble, crucified life which drinks deeply from the fountain of the Son of God Himself.

And as much as hastening the Lord’s return, for New Testament believers, Peter said, “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.� (Acts 3:19-21 NASB)

How do we hasten the Lord’s return then? By repentance; a genuine return to God, His word, and His plan.

TEMPLE VERSUS JESUS

It was the Temple issue that ultimately pushed Stephen’s hearers to the point of murdering the first martyr of the Faith. Enduring Stephen’s entire discourse, which was built around the theme of God’s dwelling place among His people Israel, it was his final quote from Isaiah which they could not bear as the prophetic rebuke hit home.

“Thus says the Lord, ‘heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,’ declares the Lord.� (Isaiah 66:1-2 NASB)

THE RELIGIOUS AND RITUALISTIC CHARACTER OF ISRAEL'S TEMPLE WORSHIP AT THAT TIME

The point was driven hard with penetrating conviction, exposing the religious and ritualistic character of Israel’s Temple worship at that time. All they had was an empty and glorious shrine filled with the works of men; a Temple which embodied Israel’s entire hope, joy, identity, and pride, but had no life within itself.

Stephen did not even finish quoting the entire passage which concluded, saying, “‘But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word� (Isaiah 66:2 NASB) when the first stone struck him. Silence the messenger, says the flesh, and you can silence the message.

In the same way, it was the Temple issue that came up with decisive force during the Lord’s mock trial. “Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, in order that they might put Him to death; and they did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, and said, ‘this man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’’� (Matthew 26:59-61 NASB)

THE JESUS VS. THE TEMPLE CASE

This was the real issue! The danger which Jesus’ life and words brought against the religious system with the Temple in its heart gave judicial opening to the final blow: “…tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.� (Matthew 26:63 NASB) It was the “Jesus versus Temple� case that brought the Son of God to stand accused before a human court; and it was the question of His divine life in contrast to the Temple’s emptiness which drove Him to the cross.

Paul warned us of such an empty religious system of works, identifying its ministers as “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and AVOID such men as these.� (2 Timothy 3:5 NASB, emphasis mine)

THRONE OF ULTIMATE WICKEDNESS

For Israel’s and for the elect’s sake, when the anti-Christ manifests himself fully on earth, it is my prayer that he not find a place to “enthrone� himself in Jerusalem, but rather will have to seek for it elsewhere, possibly in some apostate hard-hearted segment of Christendom which loves not the Lord, His Bride, His people Israel, and His soon appearing.

ANTI-CHRIST ENTHRONED IN JERUSALEM?

The following scriptural warnings provide some of the support for the view that the anti-Christ will be enthroned in Jerusalem: First, the Lord Jesus Himself, in Matthew 24:15, cautioned, “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…� While this warning may have future implications (I do not know), it is viewed by many Messianic believers today as having been primarily fulfilled in the believing community’s first century flight from Jerusalem during the Roman siege and ultimate defilement of the Temple.

THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS

Secondly, Paul, in 2-Thessalonians 2:3,4, warned of great evil that will flood the earth, saying that when “…the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, …he (will) takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.�

Whatever future fulfillment this warning still carries in its mysterious folds, the fact is that numerous times throughout Israel’s turbulent history the Holy Place was already desecrated and taken over by pagan powers and false messiahs who sought world domination.

From Greek idols in the sanctuary during the Inter Testamental period, to Roman swine offered on the alter following the Lord’s death and resurrection, to modern day Islamic worship on Temple Mt., world powers and principalities have done their best to nullify and “replace� the testimony and reality of the God of Israel.

HITLER NEVER REACHED JERUSALEM

However, Hitler, our most recent candidate for the office of the antichrist who created Nazism (which was a spiritually motivated political movement deeply embedded in a so called “Christian� culture), never reached Jerusalem. Employing powerful spiritual principles to bind Germany to himself in blood covenants and almost taking over the entire world through deception and violence, Hitler established a priesthood, religious ceremonies, a holy place, even presented himself as a messiah with a global mission. Yet, he was “enthroned� on a demonic throne in Europe, far away from Jerusalem, and only for a short time.

OCCUPYING THE HOLY PLACE

So, Jerusalem may not necessarily be in Paul’s prophecy from 2-Thessalonians 2:3,4. All that the word indicates, according to the quotations above, is that the antichrist will occupy the holy place, or the temple of God, having no clear location given. And that, as we know from basic New Testament theology, can just as well be viewed as the heart of man individually (I Corinthians 6:19), or the entire church body corporately. (I Corinthians 3:16,17)

However and until these apocalyptic mysteries are fulfilled and come to pass, we ought to be very cautious of all branches of dispensational theology, or we may find ourselves misinterpreting events in the Middle East and inadvertently misguiding the flock of God. Even if the antichrist’s final advance on earth will reach Jerusalem, Christians and Messianic Jewish disciples should have nothing to do with it.

OUR STAND -- "WE DO NOT EVEN PRAY FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE PHYSICAL TEMPLE"

Our passion is to be like Jesus and to present to God the temple of our bodies as a place for His dwelling. Our mission is to express His Spirit, His divine life, and His eternal interests on earth though the corporate temple of His worldwide Body, the “One New Man,� His Bride. We do not even pray for the rebuilding of the physical Temple in Jerusalem, nor are we looking forward toward it until after the Lord Jesus returns to earth in power and with His Kingdom. He alone is worthy to sit upon that throne!

I pray that Israel, though in deep travail and mortal danger, may become a refuge for the people of God, rather than the headquarters for the enemy's end time activity. Such eventuality, no matter how “prophetically thrilling� to some, will be catastrophic for the Jewish nation and counterproductive to the revival orientation of God’s end time promises to them.

THIRD TEMPLE ISSUE A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE CHURCH

I hope that the reader can take these matters into serious consideration and earnest prayer, since, in my estimation, this third temple issue is a major concern which affects various doctrines and practices in the Church. We know that a great conflict between good and evil will come upon the earth before the end, but to Zion and to the household of faith the Lord’s command is to “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you.� (Isaiah 60:1,2 NASB)

In other words, we have to question anything that adversely influences us toward an "anti-revival" direction and away from the redemptive move of God on earth. Knowing that this view is in contradiction to popular teachings by reputable and respected modern day church fathers, I nevertheless present it here to encourage an alternative, preemptive, and “counter disastrous� prayer among the intercessors.

CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD ISRAEL SHOULD BE TO BUILD UP THE LOCAL MESSIANIC BODY

I maintain that all the funds and contributions toward Israel which stem from benevolent Christian sources today should focus on the building up of the local Messianic Body in the land. This is the only Temple at present in which acceptable sacrifices are daily offered, and from which arises effectual intercession for the salvation of the nation and for her rescue from the enemy’s murderous plans.

As the Apostle instructed, “…while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.� (Galatians 6:10 NASB) And more, “…if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.� (1 Timothy 5:8 NASB) It is time for the church in the nations to discern the Body of Messiah in the land of Israel as their own household.

It was God Himself who affirmed, “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.� (Isaiah 62:6,7 NASB) Pray boldly, my friends, with living faith and complete confidence, allowing nothing to sway you, rather investing wholeheartedly in God’s word until He fulfills all His great and precious promises for His Bride, for Israel, for the nations, and for His creation.

Grace and peace to you, Reuven Doron Embrace Israel Ministries PO Box 10077 Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0077 USA Voice: (319) 393-1096 / Fax: (319) 393-2912 E-Mail: mailbox@embraceisrael.org Internet site: www.embraceisrael.org

AUDIO AND VIDEO TAPES NOW AVAILABLE - 3RD ANNUAL EMBRACE CONFERENCE, "THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY COME". Complete 11 Tape Package or the 4 Tape Conference Highlight package available (audio and video). Speakers include, Reuven Doron, Francis Frangipane, Rick Joyner, David Demian, Marcel Rebiai and Barry Segal. Visit our web site at www.embraceisrael.org or e-mail us for ordering information.

SPECIAL PRAYER INITIATIVE

We are asking intercessors to join in a special prayer initiative: "One Million Hours of Prayer for Israel." Please contact Liz Rhodes and request your prayer card today. You may contact Liz directly via e-mail at mailbox@echad.org or visit the Echad Ministry web site at www.echad.org on the Internet. Please include your name and address in your correspondence.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is permitted provided that complete source and contact information for Embrace Israel Ministries is included.