February 2002 Personal Letter

Dear Friends,

“Be Mine” was one of the valentines I used to receive as a child. Silly cards and heart-shaped candies at that age really didn’t amount to much and sometimes made little boys shiver with fright. As we grew, however, “Be Mine” sentiments made our hearts flutter. Romances blossomed and eventually “Be Mine” became “I do.”

The sentiments of Valentine’s Day, even for adults, are not always taken seriously today, especially when some think that hearts and flowers are adequate substitutes for true love. But did you know that God sends valentines, too? Look back through God’s love letter to us, the Bible:

God told Adam and Eve, “Be Mine… and obey Me in the Garden.”
God told Noah, “Be Mine… and build an ark.”
God told Abram, “Be Mine… and I will make you a great nation.”
God told Moses, “Be Mine… and lead My people.”
God told David, “Be Mine… and your throne will last forever.”
God told Mary, “Be Mine… and you will bear the Son of God.”
And God tells the world every day, “Be Mine… and I will give you life.”

You see, God has been sending love notes to His creation since the beginning because, unlike frail and fickle human beings, His love is genuine, committed, and eternal. It never fails.

As I look back over the events of last year and now into 2002, I continue to see God’s unfailing love at work around the globe and particularly among His Chosen People, Israel. Why did God choose Israel? Deuteronomy 7:7–8 tells us:

The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers….

Biblical history poignantly shows God demonstrating His unfailing love to Israel year after year, despite their times of sorrowful disobedience. And as He loved them then, He loves them now. He has promised to keep that oath He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because the promises of God to Israel are promises of love. And I’m looking forward to seeing many more of those promises fulfilled in the near future.

Many of you have seen my musical Beloved Thief, in which the love story of a man and a woman illustrates God’s love for His people. I like to see the events taking place now as prophetic scenes in God’s great love story for the world. Last year saw more props being added to the stage and new actors entering the scene, while others have left (Arafat is likely to be next). It may very well be that the antichrist is right now waiting in the wings for his cue to enter the world stage. I would not be surprised if we’re nearing the final act in God’s timetable of prophecy fulfillment. The cataclysmic increase in terrorist acts last year was a turning point in history, I believe, and one that will more and more point to Israel and her struggle against Islam and eventually the entire world.

Unfortunately, we seem to be “fighting” terrorism in the most “peaceful” way possible. We’re building coalitions with powerful Arab nations like Saudi Arabia (home to many of the 9-11 terrorists), avoiding the fight altogether in terrorist-harboring nations like Iran, Iraq, and Syria, and devoting our technically-superior military wrath against Taliban tribesmen on horseback hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan. This “peaceful” fight is likely to resemble our past failures in places like Northern Ireland, Oslo, etc., negotiating peace treaties that simply don’t last.

Right now, the Middle East is nearing the end of the catastrophe of Yasser Arafat’s “authority” over the Palestinian-occupied territories in Israel. For nearly 35 years, Arafat has been hailed by the media as some sort of statesman and negotiator, when in reality he is nothing more than a serial killer. As Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, Arafat has made himself “irrelevant.” But the media continues to prop him up.

Recently, I picked up a copy of Bernard Goldberg’s new book Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distorts the News, which not only exposes the media’s ability to twist facts, but also its fundamental agenda and power to do so. As a result of this left-leaning bias, Israel is now perceived as a dangerous, war-torn, third-world country. Nothing could be further from the truth. After leading more than 70 tours to Israel over the course of three decades (all the time Yasser Arafat has been wielding his “authority”), I have yet to witness any of the dangers the media touts as daily disasters in Israel. Now we have a journalist exposing the raw truth as one who knows firsthand.

Why must the media — and much of the world — hate Israel, even calling for the nuclear annihilation of the Jewish people, as former Iranian president Hashemi Rafsanjani has called for? They do so because they hate the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Messiah told us in John 15:21, “The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don’t know God who sent me.” We’re not to be surprised that God’s people are under attack. Nor are we to let it surprise us that God will keep every one of His promises to Israel, vindicating them as His Chosen People, firmly establishing them in the Land, and reigning over them and the world seated on the throne of David in Jerusalem. He will fulfill all these prophetic promises because they are promises born from a love that lasts, a love that flourishes, and a love that gives life!

Because I love you and want you to experience the richness of knowing the Chosen People firsthand, I cannot urge you enough to join me on our next visit to the Holy Land, March 3–24. Arafat’s on the way out; terrorist incidences are down (as we reported they would be), and the Israeli people have their arms open wide to Christian pilgrims. Let me share with you a letter I received recently from Zvi Rivai, our chief guide in Israel:

Israel is the same as it was when you were here [last fall]. For tourist groups it is not dangerous. Since I have been born there have always been big risks for wars and sometimes there are wars… but, anyway, I don’t think that America or another country is safer. The true believers are coming to God’s Kingdom and the fearful are not.

Zvi, a former tank commander and police officer, is especially knowledgeable about the enemy. Intelligent and compassionate, Zvi has assisted me in leading our groups for years. We could have no better believer on the ground in Israel helping us with each tour.

Come to the Promised Land and bless the Chosen People with your visit. In doing so God will bless you beyond measure. Stop listening to the psychologically disturbed media and support Israel before the Rapture comes. Your presence there does so much more for the cause of Christ than you can imagine.

In addition to our Deluxe Tour of Israel, you may add any number of excursions to your itinerary. Of special interest this year is our Biblical tour of mainland Greece, which you can, in fact, take separately from our Israel tour. Not only will we be visiting first-century sites like Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica, and many others, our television crew will be filming our tour in Greece for inclusion in upcoming episodes of Zola Levitt Presents. This may be your chance to make it as a TV personality! Call our tour manager, Tony, at (214) 696-9760 for tour details and a full-color brochure, or call 1-800-WONDERS anytime.

This month I’ll be leading another “Little Israel” tour on Saturday, February 23, at the Biblical Arts Center in Dallas. This one-day event will include tours of Holy Land sites such as the Garden Tomb, the Damascus Gate, the Sea of Galilee, and other important Biblical places presented through remarkable replicas and exhibits. The highlight of this tour is always the narrated light and sound show of the magnificent Miracle at Pentecost, a 124 foot by 20 foot oil painting portraying the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Now only $49 including lunch, this event makes a wonderful “domestic” Israel tour. Call Tony for a brochure.

Speaking of Pentecost, we’re planning another tour of The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, FL during Pentecost weekend, May 17–19, following our Mother’s Day tour there on May 10–12. These tours are often packed and would make great gifts for your loved ones. In addition to our teaching and tours at this great Biblical theme park, we’re adding daily visits to other Christian sites in central Florida from May 13–16. Register early and join me for the entire week!

Finally, not wanting to leave out the men, our travel team has put together a brand new Father’s Day tour to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, June 14–16. This splendid Israel-themed site, which features the famed Passion Play, will provide the perfect backdrop to a time of Bible teaching for the entire family. It has many authentic sites, including a replica Jerusalem street and a full-size tabernacle complete with a high priest. Call Tony for more information.

In the next couple of weeks as you send your valentines to those dearest to you, consider sending one to God. Tell Him “Be Mine” as you rededicate your life to His Word and His will, promising to love Him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.

May the love of God richly bless you!

Your Messenger,

P.S. Heartened by your enthusiastic responses to our New Year’s television special, Upon This Rock, we are offering this videocassette again. It really is a masterpiece that demonstrates what our research staff, production team, interviewers and musicians can accomplish when appointed and anointed by God.