Do we really recognize the severity of the times we live in? Are we failing to confront the issues of our times?  It is the biggest challenge of our generation to make the world a better place for our children, but are we neglecting this duty in order to ensure our peace, stability, and comfort? Heaven forbid!

We face the potential for another world war, and as usual,  the current flash point is in the Mideast, mostly surrounding issues regarding Israel. Additionally, there is the specter of another Holocaust forming on the horizon, targeting the people of Israel. Battlefield shaping in the Middle East is so open and plain that a hermit living in a cave could see it, and a growing Iranian-Russian alliance is presenting huge threat to the United States and Israel. Israel is under bitter scrutiny and oppression. America is not regarded and respected as highly as it was in the past, and we are openly challenged by a variety of threats.

I believe this to be prophetic. So do a lot of others. The only thing we do not have is the actual opening phases of the next conflict. The question is, what are we going to do about it? How do we confront it, and do so with the goal of bringing glory to God, not ourselves? Millions of people seem to be waiting for something to happen, and nothing is coming.  Many of them talk, but plan no action except to follow the times and react as necessary.

If we are waiting for our government to do something about it, we may be disappointed. Most of their efforts seem to be involved in the political rhetoric of appeasement. They feel it is necessary to sell out Israel for access to new export markets and cheap oil we can import. Its sad, but true. Moral clarity will never enter into this equation. Israel is doomed if we wait for them. 

Appeasement is the misguided hope that by placating your opponent, you can carry on unmolested. In reality, appeasement is similar to feeding a crocodile with the hope that it will not eat you.  The problem with that philosophy is that when you run out of food, the crocodile will usually see you as the next meal and devour you.

Do we expect the church to help us or Israel? I don’t think this is within their mission. Most are also chartered non profit organizations, and cannot participate in political activity without losing their financial base. In addition, some are hostile to Israel, and could not be expected to offer any assistance. What is needed is a real, tangible, and vital form of leadership. What is offered is merely words and exhortations to pray, send money, or write letters to political leaders who promptly stuff them into the trash can. 

Again, this is prophetic. All nations are foretold to come against Israel. We live in the nations, so it is not unexpected that our leaders will be against Israel while we are distressed by their actions because we know they only portend to cause destruction and wrath to come upon us.

In Israel, problems also abound. Like most besieged people, they have major issues to confront, and little in the way of answers to their problems.  Their government leaders are not trusted  by the people. The religious Orthodoxy rule with an iron fist, and are highly exclusionary and hostile to the different sects of Judaism and Christianity who identify with Israel and wish to help her survive to fulfill her destiny. They have the ability to pass regulations that prevent any cooperation between the forces who desire to help, and believe that no one will come to help them based on the Talmud, so we have an impasse.

The Israeli economy is reeling from divestment campaigns and military expenditures. People are openly weeping over the division of their land.

In short, the landscape around Israel and her destiny is essentially a barren moonscape, devoid of features, vegetation, or anything. All there is a dust and craters.

This, once again, is prophetic. It is clearly foretold. According to prophecy, however, two other events will occur that will be a great movement of the Lord. They are: 

a)      spiritual reconciliation between the house of Judah and the House of Ephraim

and

b)      the coming of the messiah, 

Now we see the beginnings of a unified Israel, united to stand against oppression. Before it can fully happen, however, there is a specific order that must occur, and this appears to be the sequence of events: 

re-conquest of the land by both houses
resettlement by both houses
divine purification of all from spiritual filth and idolatry
elevation to a new level of understanding
spiritual reconciliation of the two houses
coming of the Davidic king or messiah (not mentioned in preceding stages)
assisting him in straightening out the world

If this interpretation is correct, the first step is the return of both houses of the nation of Israel. This means both the Israelites and the house of Judah.

The house of Judah has began the process. They formed the nation of Israel, and they fought for it’s Independence. They also fought many other wars to help it survive. However, they need help now, and it isn’t going to come from any nation on the Earth. It has to come from individual believers, who care enough to make a difference.

The house of Joseph, characterized in the Bible as both Ephraim and Manasseh, will come to the aid of Judah in the end times, and together, they will form an Israel that will triumph over her enemies. The partnership of Joseph and Judah has  yet to begin, however, there is little disagreement that both will be the main players in end times events regarding a reunited Israel.

Keep in mind the fact that Israel will be redeemed for the sake of God’s Holy name, not for any human glory, recognition, or achievements.

It also seems that Judah will eventually send for Joseph in time of extreme crisis, and Joseph will need to respond so that both can confront a serious threat to the survival of Israel as a nation. This means it won’t be easy or relatively safe to be a part of this foretold event.  .

So, who is Joseph? I personally think it is a hodgepodge of Christians, Jews, Zionists, Karaites, crypto-jews, assimilated Jews, and others who have come to consciousness over the past few years. They are identifiable, but not out in the forefront as of yet. Each seems to have had an inexplicable “waking experience” which brought them to know their identity. Understand the fact that this has happened at a time when a lot of churches out there are preaching against Israel, and their views are not exactly popular or approved. In fact, most are being treated just as badly as their Jewish friends by the opponents. 

So for millions of people who now identify with Israel in one way or another, it appears we have work to do, and this work is going to take place outside of a church pew or website. In short, we need to step onto the stage of world events.

For according to prophecy nothing much is going to happen until both houses are back in the land. Right now, this is nearly impossible. In the future, it may not be. If we don’t begin the process, however, the Lord always has the ability to make it happen by some other method, and not all of them may be agreeable.

So what does this mean? It means that all the different movements of Christianity and Judaism who feel they have a stake in Israel and care deeply about her, should get on with this process without waiting either for the messiah,  or for the conversion of one group to the faith of the other.

What does this mean? A Judeo-Christian Israel? Exactly. There it is. I said it. It didn’t hurt that much to do it, either. 

This would mean that the return of the Israelites will involve the same kind of problems that the return of the tribe of Judah had to contend with. It means it will be carried out on the basis of decisions by human beings on both sides without intervention by the messiah. There will be blood, sweat and tears, as well as mistakes. People will have to make sacrifices, and some may even have to give all.

We must get on with the job anyway, trusting that our mistakes will be corrected when greater spiritual clarity and the messiah comes to rule us.

How would we do it?

The best way, in my opinion, is to form a representative government in exile, state our intentions to stand in support of Israel, and declare ourselves members of the nation of Israel, even though we are prevented from return by current laws and regulations that are in place. After this, we must wait for Judah to send for us, as the Bible says.

For critics of this approach, a government in exile would be the correct legal mechanism, because some of us would not be currently allowed to reside in Israel as citizens by the Israeli government because of the current laws in place. So we are in exile, semi-permanently, and we need a form of governance to represent our position. 

Final Note:

If anyone is interested in pursuing this course, I would like to request that they contact us, either in person or by organization. I think it bears consideration, examination, and further action.

I know that Natsal is ahead of it's time, but it has to be that way. We have to be in place to help these two groups stay alive so this can happen. History can judge us later on how effective we are, but for now, at least our intentions are right. We do care, and we do want to make a difference.  I think our biggest goal ought to be as a spark plug to get the two groups to recognize the fact that they are both in danger, and stand to be annihilated unless they get on the same page.

 We also realize the fact that another non profit isn’t the way to achieve our goals. There has to be something more substantial, more tangible, than just another organization that seeks money and offers advice. We need action, not words.

Persecution will come. You can mark my words. It appears to be just around the corner. How long do we hide from it, and cover our eyes?

Sincerely

The Staff of Natsal