MARK LEVITT
The State of Your Ministry
by Mark Levitt
Having recently celebrated my seventh anniversary as General Manager
with "my father's" ministry, I'm all the more aware of who our staff
here is working for. "What would the Lord want and what would our
donors want?" is often posed when making important decisions, and our
assumption is that your wishes thinly veil God's will.
Many supporters flow onto and off of a variety of ministries'
mailing lists, tiring of each one's message. Some ministries teach that
Christianity is a means to financial success, a close family, or simply
getting and staying happy. Others beat dead horses, pandering to the
public's interest in quasi-biblical topics. Our ministry's Bible
lessons and ongoing chronicle of prophecy fulfillment can grow tiresome
to those too concerned with personal problems or too impatient for
Christ's return "to keep oil in their lamps" (Matt. 25:1-13). But that
subtracts zero from the importance of our mission.
Someone has to fill the cavernous niche created by our media's
chronic slamming of Israel (helping to fulfill Matt. 24:9 regarding
Israel being hated of all nations) and ignorance of the Bible and God's
plan. You may recall that Zola is not only trying to stay in Israel
more than before, but also our on-location correspondent Norma Archbold
is only a fax away.
And now on to my report from the "engine room" of this outreach:
what's going on management-wise at ZLM? Answer: preparation for
challenging and rewarding battle. We're also helping a few allies.
Our 32-page, full-color catalog should enhance our distribution of
Bible teaching materials for several years. Because we offer so many
books, videos, music titles, etc., we decided to upgrade the quality and
lessen the frequency of our catalog production, so please save yours or
pass it on to a friend. Hopefully, you agree there's no better place to
shop for birthday and holiday gifts.
Besides receiving donations of letter-folding and envelope-stuffing
machines, we've replaced our decade-old package and letter posting
systems with rebuilt three-year-old technology. We got incredible
returns for our money, and we don't need the very latest equipment. As
for our personal computers, we're staying with our 1990 hardware and
only modestly upgrading our software. A couple of years ago, we
upgraded our main computer for a song, and it's more than holding its
own as is our '86 copier and our ministry "limo" (an '84 Ford station
wagon with 68,000 miles).
We own no real estate, production studios, TV cameras or printing
presses. We've had great success in economizing with well-managed
mom-and-pop suppliers for our printing, tape duplication and TV
production, and we invest where it counts most: TV production, air time
and quality teaching materials. Right now our most significant asset is
our inventory, which is a challenge to keep moderate considering the
many items we offer.
We've also upgraded our personnel by improving our recruiting,
training and compensation. We've reduced our turnover and geared our
compensation to reward productivity as well as seniority. Our staff
leasing company has helped us to offer some big company benefits without
overspending. Granted, our employees could make more if they moved to
secular employers, but part of their paycheck is the joy of doing the
Lord's work and the treasure they're stowing away in heaven.
We used to rent a full-scale studio to produce our TV programs, but
Zola bought a peculiar house where the prior owners were caterers who
loved to entertain so much that they enclosed their whole back yard to
make a huge den for big dinner parties. That den now serves as our free
production studio. When you see Zola talking from his desk, that's
really his desk, and our crew has enough space for lights, cameras, etc.
with little set-up time and no overhead!
You may have noticed our publicizing other outreaches: The Ruff
House homeless shelter here in Dallas (214-225-7255), The Jewish
National Fund that plants trees in Israel (800-247-2818), a couple of
organizations that rescue Jews from Russia, and several ministries in
Israel. We've also helped one of our staff members in his prison
outreach, including a Bible relay service if you have an extra Bible,
send it to us and we'll put it into some grateful hands. We know there
are other worthy causes and are happy to alert you to a few of them.
Some of our Israel footage has been put to use by another outreach
toward the creation of a multi-media Bible (1-800-WATCH-IT). We also
advertised our Israel, Greece and Turkey video footage in a producers'
magazine to no avail. Apparently there are just too few making
Bible-related TV programs about Israel, but our video library is ready
for such opportunities.
We now have a home page on the Internet. You'll find our newsletter
articles there and much more, so please surf by for a visit. Our
address is: http://levitt.metronet.com/
It was a most productive year. We began 1995 with a considerable
nest egg, and you've seen us put it to use. For those of you who have
been on board for awhile, it may be difficult to imagine how our TV
programs impact viewers seeing Zola Levitt Presents for the first
or second time. Please know that your support benefits transient
viewers and readers immeasurably; think how many seeds we've planted by
teaching the Bible on location from Israel over the airwaves in all
fifty states.
After we aired our nine-program House of David II series,
The Witnessing Series taught how to witness to Gentiles, Jews and
Arabs. The First Christians ten-program series, with unique music
available on a separate audiocassette, has taught about the
characteristics and traditions of those who first believed in Christ.
Finally, a millennial project, The Jerusalem 3000 series, will shed
biblical light on just where Jerusalem is in view of the "peace
process," Rabin's assassination, and ongoing developments.
Besides your prayer and financial support, we need your help as a
recruiter. Your friends would benefit from our TV programs and
newsletters, so please pass Levitt Letters onto them and tell
them to tune us in. We've created a free 8-1/2" x 14" promotional poster
to publicize our broadcast times in your area, so please send for some
copies to put up in your church, Christian bookstore, etc.
If you wish to donate larger assets to us, yet keep benefitting from
them for the remainder of your life, please contact Wes Putnam at 5956
Sherry Lane, Suite #1000, Dallas 75225-8042 or call him at 214-691-5015.
He's an independent expert at avoiding rendering more unto Caesar than
necessary, and will gladly assist you regardless of what your charities
are.
Does this article seem presumptuous? I'm assuming that you're not
only receiving this newsletter, but taking time to read it because you
like our outreach and care about supporting the message we deliver. I
also believe that you want to help us and want to know how. Obviously
we have always said that if you're too poor to donate, then please do
not send money. You can still help this outreach to grow by praying and
telling people to watch our programs. And be sure to always tell us on
which station you're watching us.
One of our most potent opponents now is the "info-mercial."
Advertising programs, contrived to fill some trivial need that's been
cleverly blown out of proportion, can easily yield more revenue than
Bible lessons with brief product offers and low-key fund appeals. We
don't want to harangue our viewers for contributions and won't, so the
key to our continuing to compete for airtime lies in more viewers and
newsletter subscribers. Please get a copy of our airing schedule and
amplify our message to your circle of friends and family.
We love you and know you're behind us 100%. Thanks in advance for
making possible the victorious year ahead!
P.S. Our independently audited financial reports, free for the
asking, show that 50% of our revenue pays for airtime, 20% for video
production, 12% for employees, 10% for postage, and most of the rest for
printing and rent.
Thomas McCall
Israel, The Center of Divine History
Part XIII
By Thomas S. McCall, Th.D.
Israel is not only the center of past history, but also of biblical prophecy, which
is, after all, future history as revealed by God. The final restoration of Israel is a
central part of biblical prophecy about the End Times, but it is only one of many
parts. There are many good and exciting things the Lord has promised, including
the Rapture of the Church, the return of Christ to the earth, the Millennial
Kingdom, and the eternal New Jerusalem. However, there are also some very
devastating events in the divine forecast, such as the War of Gog and Magog, the
Great Tribulation and the War of Armageddon.
PREPARATION FOR EZEKIEL 38-39
The war described in Ezekiel 38-39 is predicted as occurring in the last days, and
there are some similarities between it and the War of Armageddon. But there are
enough differences that we must conclude it is a different conflict altogether, and
there are indications that it must be seven years before Armageddon. Such
timing would place it at the beginning of the Tribulation. One possible scenario
is that this war, known as Gog and Magog, would occur between the Rapture of
the Church and the beginning of the Tribulation.
In the War of Gog and Magog, the nation to the extreme north of Israel (Magog)
organizes an invasion of Israel. Magog has traditionally been interpreted as being
what we know as Russia, which is to the extreme due north of Israel. But Russia
does not act alone. The Bear of the north forms an alliance with several specific
nations surrounding Israel at a distance: Persia, Ethiopia and Libya.
THE RUSSO-ISLAMIC ALLIANCE
These countries are predominantly Moslem nations, so the resulting partnership
might be called the Russo-Islamic Alliance, joined together to destroy Israel. One
peculiarity about the Russo-Islamic Alliance is that it does not include the
traditional enemies of Israel, the adjacent neighbors of Syria, Moab, Edom and
Egypt. The absence of these enemies suggests that there is some kind of
pacification between Israel and these neighbors, perhaps a peace accord that is
in place at the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy. That may be why Israel
considers itself to be secure (Ezek. 38:8) before the invasion.
At any rate, the Russo-Islamic Alliance determines that it must invade Israel to
gain a spoil (Ezek. 38:11-12). What kind of spoil is the Alliance after? All that the
text says is that there are "cattle and goods" in Israel that attract Magog, and
that they dwell "in the midst of the land (earth)." One thing is certain: the
strategic importance of Israel in the Middle East. Whoever controls Israel controls
the land bridge between Europe, Africa and Asia. Whatever the attraction, the
Russo-Islamic Alliance attacks Israel in an invasion with overwhelming forces.
The Alliance is convinced that it cannot lose in a conflict with the relatively puny
nation of Israel.
THE SURPRISING DESTRUCTION OF GOG AND MAGOG
However, the Russo-Islamic forces have made a serious miscalculation. They
have not reckoned that the Lord God of the universe promised over 2,500 years
ago to protect Israel and repel this very invasion. It will not be the valiant citizen
soldiers of Israel who will accomplish this victory, though, but the supernatural
power of the Almighty. There will be earthquakes and fire from heaven, and the
powerful invading armies will "fall upon the mountains of Israel" and will "fall
upon the open fields" (Ezek. 39:4-5). To the astonishment of Israel and the world,
the hostile invasion with overwhelming numbers and resources is a total failure.
The invaders of Israel suffer an 85% casualty rate (Ezek. 39:2). Dead soldiers and
military debris are spread out all over the country, while the relatively tiny army
of Israel comes through the contest unscathed.
The Russo-Islamic effort to destroy Israel will collapse in a great dispirited heap.
In the aftermath of the war, the Jewish nation will have to devote seven months
to decontaminating the countryside of all the dead invaders' bodies (Ezek.
39:11-12). Special note is also made of the use of the military debris left behind.
Israel will use this accumulation of trash for fuel for a period of seven years (Ezek.
39:9-10). The length of time is not incidental. The seven years mentioned by
Ezekiel is precisely the same amount of time indicated by his contemporary,
Daniel, in the famous Seventieth Week. It is apparent that Ezekiel and Daniel are
referring to the same period of future time, which is the Tribulation.
THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE TRIBULATION
In this prophetic scenario, with the disappearance of the Church through the
Rapture and the devastation of the Middle East in the collapse of the
Russo-Islamic invasion (Gog and Magog War), the stage is set for the rise of the
Antichrist and the dire developments of the Tribulation.
What we have witnessed over the past 150 years or so on the world scene has led
us inexorably toward this scenario portrayed in the Scriptures. The nations have
been pre-occupied with two world wars and numerous smaller conflicts and an
expanding marketplace. On the other hand, the Lord and Satan have been
engaged in a titanic struggle over the restoration of the tiny nation of Israel in
preparation for the temporary reign of the Antichrist, and the glorious permanent
return of the true Messiah, Christ Jesus.
THE DANGER OF POST SOVIET RUSSIA
In our present generation during the Cold War, the mighty Soviet Union seemed
to be the perfect vehicle for the fulfillment of Magog, with its experience in
supplying the Islamic enemies of Israel in their several wars against the revived
Jewish nation. In the Yom Kippur War, almost all of the pieces of the prophetic
puzzle seemed to be in place for the fulfillment of Ezekiel's predictions. But the
event was delayed, and the Rapture, Gog and Magog, and the Tribulation were
postponed for a later time.
The Soviet Union has collapsed in the ash heap of discredited international
communism. How, then, will Ezekiel's prophecy about Gog and Magog be
fulfilled? As we have seen, the sinister Russian bear is alive and well. In the
aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russians show a disturbing political
schizophrenia. Some desire the blessings of freedom, democracy and even
Christianity. But there are many political and military leaders who miss the
power and prestige of the old system. Some Russian generals and military
hardware have actually found their way into such havens as Iran (Persia). Also,
there is a rise in Russia of anti-Semitism, and the pressure on the several million
Jewish people in Russia is growing at an alarming rate.
Thus, the new Russia could turn out to be just as dangerous to Israel as the old
Soviet Union. It would not be unthinkable for the upcoming leaders in Russia to
take their nation down the same path of cooperation with the Islamic countries
against Israel. Whatever the near term developments, Ezekiel's prophecy is still
on track, and the war of Gog and Magog will come to pass just as the Lord has
predicted, in His time and in His way.
A Note From Zola
Dear Friends,
What a year!
As far as this ministry goes ,your ministry, that is, we produced more new
programs this year than we used to do in some two or three year spans in the
past. Most notably, we made two lengthy series on location in Israel, The First
Christians and Jerusalem 3000. The latter programs will be starting
in February, but we made them during our Feast of Tabernacles tour in
October.
At the same time, the ministry accomplished many other of its tasks, creating new
products in several areas, including video, books, audio tapes, poetry, etc. All of
these materials, biblically oriented, should enhance knowledge of Scripture and
knowledge of Israel, which is one of the most important subjects in Christianity
today.
As you can see from Mark's article on the State of the Ministry, it has been an
exhaustively busy year. Financially speaking, we continue to keep our heads
above water, but that's about it. Sadly, we had to leave our flagship station,
KXTX-39 in Dallas, where we first started with a Christmas program in 1978.
Dallas people, I was told, were surprised not to find the program when they tuned
in to see what I might say about the Rabin assassination. They were
disappointed, and yet these same folks who tune in now and again somehow did
not donate enough to keep the airtime bills paid. It is difficult for us to drop a
station, particularly a station with which we have enjoyed a 17-year relationship,
but it is absolutely necessary when the donations are not there. Otherwise, we
are simply asking viewers of other stations around the country to pay the bills for
the people in Dallas. That isn't fair.
We don't spend much time fund-raising on our program, since I think that's not
productive, but we obviously must meet the bills of each station with donations
from viewers of that station. I thought all viewers understood that. I have to
endure endless derision and jokes about my profession because of a few bad
apples among religious broadcasters, but really all we ever ask for is subsistence,
not riches. No one can accuse us of misusing funds, enriching ourselves, or
otherwise abusing our relationship of faith with you. I do not steal the donations.
My salary has nothing to do with what comes in, and other than normal
cost-of-living raises throughout the years, has not changed since Day One.
Our 18th year, the one coming up, will be the most important we have
undertaken because of Jerusalem 3000. Obviously, we must thoroughly cover
the 3,000th anniversary of this significant city, the capital of Israel and the capital
of the Kingdom to come. You, Christian, whoever you are, will live in Jerusalem
for a thousand years, even if that name has never been uttered in your church
even once. And that could start seven years from today. Even if your
denomination thinks Israel is totally irrelevant, if you watch our program you are
going to hear all about it every week!
Doing two consecutive location series is financially punishing for us. Location
programs are now starting to approach the range of $20,000 each! But there is
no way to adequately cover Jerusalem without going to Jerusalem. And so we will
need some extra help with that. As usual, I guarantee you will be pleased with
the results. As we post-produce these programs through the winter, we will
deeply covet your best donations to put this important series on the air. Some
prophecy teachers think we are so close to the end, that it is possible this is our
final series. Looking at Israel and the world, I couldn't get up very much of an
argument against that.
At the same time as our work becomes more difficult, our circumstances on
broadcast television become more difficult. Family Channel has put us on very
early Sunday mornings (6:30 a.m. Eastern and Pacific times, 5:30 a.m. Central
time, and 4:30 a.m. Mountain time). That's just the way of the world.
Infomercials and other sorts of programs generate better revenue for networks,
which have their own expenses. We cannot possibly pay what the maker of some
arthritis cure or exercise machine will gladly pay for the same half-hour, and so
we are shunted off to times of little use to the secular world. That costs us too,
of course, since it reduces our audience.
In short, this is an appeal to you for support in the sincerest and most certain
terms. The money is not for me. I still wear a Casio watch. Instead, your funds
will be used to promote entrance into the Kingdom for people everywhere who
know little about it. We are not only witnessing to the Jewish people, but to
Catholics and Protestants everywhere who have no idea what's going on in this
world even as it falls down around their ears. I have a personal fear that the
"weeping and gnashing of teeth" will occur among those who may have gone to
church every Sunday for their whole lives. That is, some people will be left behind
who simply don't know the Lord well enough for Him to claim them on the day of
the Rapture. That's a real shame. We have to help with that.
And finally, there's the vast world of unbelievers. I wish you could see our mail
and realize that people come to Christ watching our programs on a regular basis.
People re-dedicate their lives, marriages are reconciled and wonderful things
happen when Scripture is sent out over the airwaves to the millions. Help us with
this, please!
As always, I will be completely satisfied with whatever the Lord tells you to do in
regard to this ministry. Thank you for these wonderful 17 years, and please stick
with us as we undertake that year that means "life" in Hebrew "chai" our 18th
year!
Letters
Zola,
I have watched your program… gosh… for over 10 years? I think you have
great insight as well as a scriptural base. Hope to meet you one day since I live
in Dallas.
Bless ya, M.O.
P.S. Nice to see a Christian presence on the Net.
I have had no contact with Zola for 35 years but we were pretty close friends
at Miami University of Ohio. Actually I believe the last contact would have been
around 1959.
Tonight I did a Lycos search and found the home page… I was fairly certain
he would be on the net and I thought it unlikely that there was more than one Zola
Levitt!
I have kept up with Zola's books and occasionally watched the TV program.
I also left a message with the answering service at the 800 number. No special
reason for this message except that I thought it was high time I made contact!
— G.W.
Dear Zola,
Found the Levitt Letter on the internet and was thrilled to see it. The article
on Rabin was timely and interesting. Looking forward to the November newsletter
to learn more. I am disappointed in the number of individuals who have accessed
the Levitt Letter and will join with you in prayer that more will find it. We continue
to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
— H.
Hello,
I was "surfing the net" and found your page with Zola's newsletters. There
was a very interesting article in the
October newsletter entitled
"Israel, The Center Of Divine History Part XII" by Thomas S. McCall. I checked back in earlier
newsletters and only found two others (Parts XI and X). Is there any chance you
might have or can get the other nine parts
and either put them on the page or
E-mail them to me? I think it's a great idea to put the newsletters on the WWW
[World Wide Web]. There's too much junk out there and more from people like Zola
Levitt and Thomas McCall is needed. My wife and I have been Christians for many
years but only recently have become "really" interested in Israel and the role God
has ordained for her in these last days. May God bless you and your efforts
greatly as you publish His truth.
Yours in Christ, A.S.
— Zola
Dear Zola,
With the tragic assassination of the Prime Minister, how do you see this
relating to Bible prophecy?
Sincerely, W.
Copyright © 1995 by Zola Levitt Ministries, Inc., a non-profit
501(c)(3) organization. All rights reserved. Brief passages may be quoted
in reviews or other article. For all other use, please get our written
approval.