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As we prepare to celebrate Hanukah beginning Wednesday night, we also find Israel increasingly endangered and isolated internationally. Consider the latest news from the epicenter: “U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Monday that Iran will have a nuclear weapon within one year, if not less,” reports Haaretz. “Speaking in an interview with CBS Evening News, Leon Panetta said that it would probably take a year for Tehran to assemble a nuclear bomb, but said that one provisio is if the Iranians have a hidden facility that ‘may be enriching fuel’ [in which case it could take Iran less than a year to get the Bomb]….’The United States does not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. That’s a red line for us and that’s a red line, obviously, for the Israelis,’ he told CBS.” See CBS video here. Yet despite this rapidly growing threat, Panetta — and, more importantly, President Obama — are refusing to take decisive measures to neutralize the Iranian nuclear threat and help the Iranian people overthrow the evil regime in Tehran. What’s more, the Obama administration is publicly pressuring Israel not to even consider taking decisive steps of her own, including preemptive military strikes. This is unconscionable.
More than ever, Christians around the world need to show solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people. Here are two great articles I’d encourage you to read. The first is from the Jerusalem Post: “Tis The Season For The Church To Support Israel.” The second is by columnist Mona Charen: “Obama, Israel, and the U.S. — Obama has weakened the U.S. relationship with Israel.” The Lord was crystal clear in Genesis 12:1-3. He promised to bless individuals and nations who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel. It’s a promise repeated several times in Scripture. Given all the enormous economic, spiritual and geopolitical challenges facing the U.S. right now — and the growing danger that we will not only decline as a nation but implode if we don’t change course immediately — we dare not stop blessing Israel. We dare not ignore, abandon or turn on Israel and the Jewish people. The Lord will surely turn against us if we do.
As for me and my house, we are praying for the Lord to change the heart of our President and Defense Secretary and change them into wise, godly, decisive leaders for the next 12 months. At the same time, we are praying the Lord remove them from power our current administration and raise up leaders in Washington who truly understand how dangerous a nuclear-armed Tehran would be, who understand that the Taliban is our enemy, and will have the courage and convictions to stop Iran and Radical Islam, before it’s too late. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice,” wrote King Solomon (Proverbs 29:2, NKJV). We’re also praying for peace in the Middle East while we prepare for the possibility of war. And we’re praying for a revival of the Church and a Third Great Awakening of spiritual renewal to sweep the United States before it’s too late. Would you commit to pray with us for the same things as we close out 2011, especially as we celebrate the Festival of Light, and celebrate the Light of the world — Jesus the Messiah — who came to set us free from the darkness? This are very challenging times. But let us not grow weary in well doing. Not now. For the Lord is in charge, and He shall win the day.
- Please consider a generous, year-end, tax deductible financial contribution to The Joshua Fund — help us provide food, clothing and medical supplies to the poor and needy in Israel; stockpile supplies ahead of the next Mideast war; educate and mobilize Christians around the world; and teach the Holy Scriptures in Israel and the epicenter.
- The Tehran Initiative is available for Christmas and Hanukah in hardcover or e-book
- Follow the “Epicenter Team” on Facebook with the latest news from the Middle East along with prayer requests.