Dear Friends,
Thank you for your heartfelt love for Israel, your curiosity about what’s going on there, and your desire for Zola Levitt Ministries to keep you abreast of Bible prophecy events. I recently traveled to the Holy Land with our film crew on a fact-finding expedition. What we found—and who we found—was truly amazing!
The Honorable Daniel Ayalon is Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and its most recent Ambassador to the United Nations. He not only took time for a TV interview with us, but offered additional time on any subsequent day. I regretted having to decline, but our schedule was already packed.
I asked Mr. Ayalon why the United Nations forever discriminates against Israel. He explained that the twenty-two Muslim countries surrounding Israel always vote against Israel. So do the thirty-some Muslim-dominated countries that constitute their immediate political association. Add to that the fifty other nations with whom the Arab-block is politically allied. Then it is easy to see how every discussion and vote in the UN begins with a hundred nations actively lined up against Israel.
The unholy alliance against the Holy Land, described by Ambassador Ayalon, gives credibility to Zachariah’s prophecy that “all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem” (Zec. 12:3, 9). It also harks to the words of Psalm 2:1 where “the people rage” and where, in v. 2, the “kings of the earth set themselves against the Lord and against His Anointed.” This is surely the case today, is it not?
In 83:2-4, the psalmist further declared: “Behold, your enemies make a tumult, and those who hate you have lifted up their heads. They have taken crafty counsel against your people… [and said] ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’” This simple verse is, in effect, the mantra of millions of Muslims today.
In the past, possibly because of its bid to join the European Union, Turkey represented itself as a moderate and “secular” Islamic state. It expressed interest in developing relations with Israel—and the West in general. During my visits to Turkey, I heard Turks swear that their government will never come under the sway of the Islamic religious elite, most of whom seem to cast aspersions on Israel.
But that was in the past.
Now, right before our eyes, Turkey has allied itself with radical, nuclear-progressing Iran. It seems more inclined than ever to raise its hand against Israel, bringing the anti-Israel alliance noted explicitly in Ezekiel 38 crisply into focus.
Last year this ministry developed an eight-part TV series, Ezekiel and the MidEast ‘Piece’ Process. It takes an unvarnished look at Ezekiel’s prophecies and correlates them to modern happenings. The events of today prompt me to consider making an update. If we had waited until this year to release the series—when Turkey is in the process of abandoning Israel—that story would have stood out with viewers.
Ezekiel 38 verse 6 prophesies that the “house of Togarmah” (modern day Turkey) will be a major player in a confederacy with Persia (Iran) against Israel (38:5). The formation of this political alliance will enable passage for armies to sweep into Israel from Iran. Now Bible followers should wonder not what’s coming next, but when. An invasion is on its way!
I think you’ll find interesting another issue that is dawning just over the horizon.
From time to time, Zola Levitt Presents has mentioned an institute in Israel, where religious Jews re-create the priestly paraphernalia that will be used in the Third Temple. They fashion vessels and priestly garments according to exact biblical requirements and retool the actual Table of Shewbread, Altar of Incense, and the Menorah (candelabra). I have seen these items with my own eyes many times. Pilgrims who travel with me to Israel get to see them during each trip. Even though the next Temple-building step is prophesied, seeing it firsthand caught me completely off guard.
I simply could not believe where I was standing, what I was doing, and with whom I was speaking.
Just outside Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho, there exists a religious Jewish community whose residents are devoted to bringing about the Third Temple. To that end, they are building a life-size replica of the sacrificial Altar. They also have established a field school that trains priests to offer sacrifices in the Temple.
I interviewed the head Orthodox rabbi and his associate. After talking with them, I held in my hands the architectural renderings for the Temple’s Altar. Then I walked the grounds where the chalk line was laid down only days earlier for its construction. We recorded it all on videotape—demonstrative footage the world desperately needs to see.
Twenty-some years ago, while returning to the States from Israel with a Zola Tour, a passenger named Anita Winget approached me and said, “Jeff, I really want to help your ministry. I’m an artist. Is there anything I can do for you?” At the time, I was working on a book about the Tabernacle—The House That God Built. She subsequently designed its cover.
The book’s cover shows Moses holding a blueprint and reminds me of holding that architectural blueprint at the priests’ training school: holding the future in my hands! I’m happy to recommend this short, easy-to-read booklet to you, and it is offered later in this letter. As you probably can tell, I am anxious to deliver these breaking stories of prophecy fulfillment to the world through television—but I’m coping with a challenge.
It is expensive to come to Israel, conduct interviews, compensate our U.S.-based crew and the staff we hire in Israel, and then produce the television programs. But those prices pale in comparison to the sky-high costs of television airtime needed to bring this teaching to you and viewers across America and around the world.
Please remember us in your prayers.
Trusting God’s sufficiency, we will continue our mission work, relying on the Lord and sincere Believers to answer our appeals. We’re also going to continue taking pilgrims to Israel, even if more of the world abandons it. We do this because Scripture beckons us to love Israel.
Your messenger,
Jeff
P.S. If you want to visit the Holy Land with me next year, be aware that we’re already booking our March, June, and October tours. Our Spring Tour departs March 14 with two return dates—either March 24 for the 11-day Israel Tour, or March 28 if you include Petra. Our Summer Discovery Tour travels June 6–16 and offers pilgrims the opportunity to dig for a day with archaeologists. The four options for our Fall 2010 Tours include adding Petra and/or Athens, and depart October 12 and 17. Your refundable deposit will hold a place for you. Please call 1-800-WONDERS or 214-696-9760 and get the ball rolling.
Dear Jeff,
Thanks for the exciting news about Third Temple preparations. I want you to keep me and others updated on their progress.
“I am a sincere Believer who agrees that the Bible’s teaching must reach as many viewers and readers as possible. Here is my gift for December to help.”
Learn the 5,000-year story of God’s dwelling place among His people. Six informative half-hour segments deal with the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, the Temples of Solomon and Herod, and the future Temples of God, featuring lovely location footage from the Holy Land.
A complete story of God’s House on Earth, past and future. The past, present, and future of the House of God on Earth are clearly explained. A vital and important part of God’s plan which should be understood by every Bible student.
Zola discovered, quite by accident, an amazing series of biblical “coincidences.” It seems that every one of us, as we develop in the womb, follows the schedule of the seven feasts of Israel that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. This half-hour program illustrates the surprising similarities of these two chains of events, each established by God according to His purpose.
Various theories of the Lord’s return and the Kingdom examined in detail. The return of the Lord and the establishment of His Kingdom on Earth. Exact scriptural information contrasting the Second Coming and the Rapture of the Church.
Seven vital doctrines are chosen and examined in a very readable and clear style. One of the most popular items offered by this ministry, Zola’s Notebook explains the Bible cover to cover.
