Dear Friend:
On December 28, I was watching “Your World with Neil Cavuto” (Stuart Varney substituting). That’s a business-oriented news program, and the host was discussing the economic situation in Iraq with Thomas Delare, U.S. Counselor for Economic Affairs in Baghdad.
In their talk, they took up the subject of Iraq’s progress toward modernity, and the guest pointed out that, to be fair, it needed to be compared with its Middle Eastern neighbors. Obviously, Iraq would not be comparable to, say, a Western European nation at this point. The host suggested that Syria would be a good comparison, but that would be comparing apples and oranges. Mr. Delare said Syria was “mired in the past” and that neighboring Jordan would be a better comparison for Iraq. He also suggested Turkey, bordering Iraq to the north. Both of those nations, Mr. Delare averred, might represent a kind of goal for a future Iraq under some form of democracy. Both Jordan and Turkey at least have elected parliaments, though they do not rise to the level of western democracies, of course.
What did not come up—and never comes up—was Israel. Compared to the countries mentioned, modern, 21st century Israel is a marvel. It is a flourishing democracy with absolutely free elections, utterly free citizens, including Arab citizens, and a most prosperous economy exceeding that of the western European nations these days. As far as I can see, and I have traveled the whole world, Israel can be compared only to Great Britain or the U.S. itself as far as freedom, economic progress and an enjoyable way of life are concerned. With that said, we must realize that the entire nation of Israel is smaller than a medium-size Middle Eastern city most any of the other countries. The nation of Israel is smaller than the city of Baghdad! The five million Jewish people running Israel’s successful economy have displayed such ingenuity and such progressive ways, that the nation is helpful to the whole world. Truly, the advanced medicines and medical procedures, the computer software, the fact of Israel’s helpful rescue teams arriving at every emergency situation in the world, including Muslim disasters, and all the rest, ought to make any nation proud.
Personally, I’m of the opinion that Israel should not be wiped off the map.
Let’s continue this game of comparison. Let’s say we’re going to compare the five million people of Israel to the 65 million of Iran. Israel is a nation that has sought peace since Abraham dealt with his neighbors at Hebron for a burial site for his wife (and succeeded in securing one). King David solidified the borders of that nation 3,000 years ago, and Solomon, whose very name means peace (Shlomo from Shalom), kept peace and prosperity in the Land for 40 years. I can’t say that Israel’s entire history was peaceful, but try this: the Jewish people have never persecuted any other people, never mind that they are constantly accused of that and of being imperialistic, warmongering, etc., etc. The fact is they have never gone over their borders to conquer a neighbor.
They have not done that in a span of 4,000 years!
The history of Iran involves ancient Persia, a warring empire that conquered neighbor after neighbor—most significantly Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians (Daniel 7)—and invaded Israel itself.
They assaulted the Greeks at Athens, but were repulsed in one of the most important battles of ancient times. Had the Persians won, we might all be speaking Farsi in the Western world; but the democracy of Greece held out, winning a decisive battle at a little town called Marathon. A runner, exhausted, arrived at Athens with news of the impending invasion, and a defensive force was fielded immediately. According to a recent article in National Review magazine, a fact not usually mentioned about that intrepid runner was that he had spent the morning fighting in heavy armor, and had already run over 200 miles that week. He died after his run from Marathon, a hero who should be remembered for all time. Talk about a second effort!
(When we made a television program at the Olympic stadium in Athens, our producer asked our Greek advisor the distance from Marathon, but I guessed it correctly: 26 miles and 385 yards. The same run is done all over the world, named for the little town of Marathon where the western world and its way of life were saved.)
The Persians became weaker and, after Roman times, eventually became Islamic. Down the line, that caused a similar deterioration to that of Egypt and the other Middle Eastern powers who came under Muslim domination.
And, finally, Iran today says that Israel, a nation less than 10% of its size and outstripping them in nearly every way, should be “wiped off the map.”
While Washington dithers over the Iranian nuclear threat, the Israelis probably will have to take care of it. I certainly hope they will. I sure hope that someday the Islamic conquering and subsequent deteriorating of nations does not include all of Europe and the United States.
But I think we can trust little Israel just as much as we could trust the tireless runner of Marathon who ultimately saved the day, and democracy in the bargain.
This is your last chance to see a real Middle Eastern democracy on our March tour of Israel, which I will lead personally. As we visited The Holy Land Experience in Orlando this past December, I was reminded of the beauty and wonder of the real Israel. Why not join me and experience firsthand what the Bible authors described in such painstaking detail. Our Deluxe Tour (Israel Only) is March 19–30, while our Petra extension returns April 2. If summer is a better time for you, then consider joining my wife, Sandra, as she leads our Discovery Tour, June 6–16. We are already taking reservations for this tour, and I have no doubt that you will have the experience of a lifetime when you go on our “dig for a day.” That’s right! You will join real archaeologists to uncover more evidence that the Land really does belong to God’s Chosen People. I plan to personally lead the November Tour to Israel.
To request further information about either of these tours, you may call Tony at (214) 696-9760 during regular business hours or 1-800-WONDERS (800-966-3377) anytime. You can also request a tour brochure online at www.levitt.com.
I want to thank you for your year-end giving which, now that it is accounted for and banked, is giving us a strong start on 2006 TV programming. I don’t want to get rhapsodic about this, but suffice it to say I deeply appreciate your constant support, your prayers, and your confidence in this small ministry. I hope that when we all arrive in the Kingdom, the wonderful people that run our diminutive outreach will somehow be regarded alongside little Israel and the intrepid runner of Marathon as those who gave their all and did some real saving!
Anticipating your year-end support, we went ahead and planned the first quarter or so of 2006 TV production. We already have taped some fascinating interviews with two converted Muslim terrorists. One of them, Walid Shoebat, comments on the remarks of incarcerated terrorists in an Israeli maximum-security prison. We made the footage during our November tour (saving on-location charges), and we taped the rest of those programs in December in Dallas. They will be part of a new series to be called Revelation. In addition, I will put the finishing touches on our newest hour-long special The Ark of the Covenant, which we have been producing on location for some two years. Obviously these undertakings will be covered by your year-end giving, but we are always depending on you to continue throughout the year. As usual, we step out boldly and then trust the Lord and you. In the past 27 years, we’ve never been let down.
Sandra and I will speak at churches in the Midwest after July 4 and then drive west across Kansas to Denver, Colorado. After serving Denver and Colorado Springs, we will drive on to Southern California, via Utah and Nevada. Our trip home will involve Phoenix and any other possible stopovers en route to Dallas on September 15. If your church is anywhere near any of these routes, then please contact Scott at 214-696-8844 or . Thanks.
As we go to print, we are in prayer for the survival and well-being of Ariel Sharon. There probably has never been a better time in modern days to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Your messenger,
P.S. Passover begins at sundown on April 12. The two-sided insert describes my Miracle of Passover DVD, VHS, study booklet, and audiocassette, along with my favorite haggadah, created by Jews for Jesus. This important festival is so reminiscent of our Lord who, on this very evening over 2,000 years ago, established Communion at his Last Supper. The Passover demonstration comprises the first two programs we ever presented on our television outreach.
