June 2002 Personal Letter

Dear Friends,

The Associated Press radio network called me recently to ask my opinion of the deal ending the standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This is what I told the reporter.

First, the Church of the Nativity is a relic church with no real congregation to speak of. It’s a tourist stop in the middle of the town square at the wrong location in Bethlehem, thus its importance to Biblical history is negligible. Jesus was born in a cave at a place where animals and shepherds camped out. That’s why we always took our tour passengers to the Shepherd’s Field, a more likely place for the birth of our Lord.

Second, no one was attacking the church itself, as the media wanted to the world to believe. This was not an Israeli attack against a holy site. History shows that while the Israelis have been fervent in protecting and preserving Biblical sites in the Holy Land, the Palestinians have sought to reek havoc and destruction on many sites, like Joseph’s tomb.

Third, despite what the Palestinians claimed and the media parroted, the Israeli army had one mission in mind: to search for and bring to justice terrorists and those who sponsor, harbor and finance them. There was no “massacre” in Jenin; there was no “siege” in Ramallah; there was no attack against harmless church folks in Bethlehem.

The fact is that the media continues to be guilty of portraying the Middle East situation as World War III. It’s not. (And it won’t be until Armageddon!)

Who is reporting on the nearly 1,000 killed in the Muslim-Hindu conflict in India which began when Muslim radicals set fire to a trainload of Hindus? In a region where Pakistan and India have both recently threatened one another with nuclear strikes, why is there not a hotel full of international journalists covering an event so much larger in scale than that in Israel?

The creation of this phony war by the Arab world and by the media places Israel closer to an End Times posture and the onset of the Tribulation. Nations are beginning to hate the Chosen People for no reason. Will the United States also turn its back on them?

The slippery slope of faulty American policy toward Israel is becoming more dangerous every day. The so-called Bush Doctrine heralded as our war cry against terrorism is completely forgotten when discussing Israel’s war against Palestinian terror. Read this recent statement by President Bush:

“A Palestinian state must be achieved by negotiating an end to occupation, but such a state cannot be based on a foundation of terror or corruption.”

This kind of coded diplo-speak is beginning to make me nauseous!

Notice that the president repeats his “vision” for a “Palestinian state.” This is utter nonsense! You cannot make a nation out of rag-tag Arabs whose prime objective is to destroy another people. A United States leader encouraging and working hand-in-hand with a known assassin, hijacker and mass murderer (a.k.a. Yasser Arafat) is nothing less than morally reprehensible. I think our founding fathers would have a thing or two to say about this if they were still alive. American democratic ideals encourage us to support those who are genuinely sincere in their aspirations for democracy, freedom and peace. Yasser Arafat wants none of that. He wants death for the Israelis, even if it means one Jew at a time. Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh commented on his program in early May that the Bush Doctrine decreed that the United States would pursue the dismantling and destruction of terrorist states, not the creation of them. It’s time for the president to stop playing games with the Arab world and act decisively in defense of the only democracy — and true ally — in the region.

You cannot “negotiate” with a terrorist. It is, in fact, against American policy. We did not call Osama bin Laden up and ask for a summit meeting to negotiate a peace between Al Qaida and the United States. And the only envoys we sent to bin Laden were those equipped with 5,000 pound “bunker-buster” bombs!

The president’s language now shows his eagerness to please the Arab world. He uses the term “occupation” when referring to Israel’s presence on its own soil. No doubt this overture to the Palestinians is a result of Bush’s visit with Crown Prince Abdullah in April. Did the United States “occupy” Los Angeles ten years ago during the bloody riots after the Rodney King incident? Of course not. It was our land. We simply sent troops in to quell the violence and arrest criminals.

If President Bush believes that the current Palestinian Authority is ridden with “terror” and “corruption,” then what prevents him from naming names. Yasser Arafat is a terrorist and a corrupt leader. Until he says so plainly, the president’s credibility remains lost.

Radical Islam is a mental illness subscribed to by the majority of Middle East Arabs. It’s an attempt to cover up their ineptitude in many areas. Continuing to talk to these people about anything is demeaning to the American democracy. We possess a large taxpayer funded military machine. Why don’t we use it?

Bush was my choice for president, but I cannot subscribe to his policies. Just like his father, he’s simply marching in place. I do not believe a genuine war on terrorism is taking place. How can it be when America treats one of the world’s leading terrorists as a statesman and peacemaker? The president’s brilliant speech after September 11 is on par with his father’s famous “read my lips” speech. It won’t last.

My conviction is that if the Lord tarries, we will lose this war on terrorism. We will continue to sell out to the Saudis and other oil interests and therefore we will lose, eventually fading into insignificance as a nation.

Secretary of State Colin Powell has announced a “peace conference” in the summer that will include the United States, the UN, Russia and the European Union. That’s three and a half votes against Israel right there! Why on earth does Powell or Bush or any right-thinking leader want to crawl on his belly to rehabilitate Yasser Arafat?

It’s another complete waste of time, just like Madrid and Oslo. The Arabs, including the Palestinians, do not want to make peace with Israel at all. They are embarrassed by Israeli successes. And their goal is to get the Jews out of the Middle East, in six million coffins, if necessary.

This peace conference should interest Christians, however, because now we have full-fledged European participation. It is European involvement in the peace of Israel that takes center stage at the convocation of the Tribulation. Could this be the event in which the Antichrist finally emerges? Only time will tell, but the pieces of the prophecy puzzle are now coming together as the world takes sides, mostly against the Chosen People, and as other political powers begin to exert their strength.

This is a time, like never before, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Arafat wants to march into this holy city and raise his own flag, once and for all driving the Israelis into the sea. But remember that God is faithful to His promises. He has brought the nation back, albeit in unbelief (as Ezekiel describes in the “dry bones” prophecy), and He is protecting the nation from ruin. It will stand as God has pledged and the throne of David will one day be occupied by the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ. Think of it! The Jewish people are the only ones on earth to be given an eternal land grant and Jerusalem is the only city that has been promised an eternal existence. Even when the Lord wipes away this old earth and heavens, He will create a New Jerusalem. What a glorious sight indeed! Are you ready? Ready for our Lord’s return? Make certain that you are and dare to join us on one of our many Israel tours, both here and in the Holy Land.

We’re leaving a spot open for you to join us in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, June 14-16. Experience the fascinating sites at this resort city made famous by the memorable Passion Play. This will be a weekend of teaching, worship and relaxation as we tour Bible and Israel sites, including a full-scale tabernacle complete with a high priest. Ask for details when you call us at (214) 696-9760.

On Saturday, July 13, we have scheduled a “Little Israel” Solidarity Tour here in Dallas. The popularity of this one-day teaching tour is growing, with participants coming from around the country. Priced at only $49, touring the Biblical Arts Center with its replicas of Israel sites culminating in the light and sound show of Miracle at Pentecost makes this a great weekend getaway. Write or call for more information.

Our fall tour to Israel this year is planned for October 19 to November 9, which includes extensions to Greece and Petra. By the way, we’ve placed our tour after the Feast of Trumpets, which begins on September 7. (We didn’t want any conflict with the Rapture, should it occur at that time!) Give Tony a call for a full-color brochure at (214) 696-9760 or call 1-800-WONDERS anytime.

When you receive this letter, I’ll be gearing up for Eureka Springs and Sandra will be leading our Kibbutz tour to Israel. Pray for us as we try to provide spiritually uplifting tour experiences to the hundreds who join us each year. And pray for me as I make plans for speaking in churches from Colorado to the West Coast. I’d love to stop by your church. Let Claudia know if your group would be interested in hosting us as we travel through your area without the usual honorariums and travel expenses. Call 817-417-0059 for more details.

Your Messenger,

P.S. With significant global events relating to Israel occurring everyday, I’ve reinstated our Levitt Letter Extra (LLX) to provide you with fresh commentary on these events as they happen. Subscribe to the LLX to arrive either by email or first-class mail. Call the office for more information.