• A Note from Zola

• Entertainment and Cynicism

• Iraq in Prophecy

• Eggs Over Easy

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A Note from Zola

Dear Friends,

          Please know that this month you will have a chance to ask questions of a genuine Rabbi on our television program. That is to say, we will be having a Rabbi from Israel, Rabbi Henri Noach, as our guest on a program to be taped in late March and if you send your questions in immediately (or preferably fax, phone, or e-mail them — our numbers are below), I will be able to ask him your questions on our program and you will hear his answers when we broadcast it.

       I met Rabbi Noach in Jerusalem on our December tour when we were filming our upcoming series, The Covenants of God. He commented on the Abrahamic covenant, particularly the B'rit Mila, the covenant of circumcision which began with Abraham. His Bible knowledge was terrific for a Rabbi, and his grasp of Christian things seemed adequate as well.

          While he is not a believer in the Messiah, he is thoroughly knowledgeable about the Old Testament, the Jewish community, Israel, etc. So I look forward to receiving your questions for our program. Please write to our P. O. Box, fax us at (214) 696-5885, or e-mail us at:

          I suppose I must comment on Iraq, which is a problem since at this writing I don't know if we are going to bomb the place or not. Either way, however, I have spoken at length about the difficulties of dealing with dictators and the necessity of opposing their plans for regional or global domination.

          The mere fact of his hiding horrific weapons justifies whatever steps we take, and if by the time you read this we have taken the ultimate step, then I favor it. I will comment further in the upcoming personal letter. Further on Iraq, the Palestinian people in Israel again side with Saddam Hussein simply because he shot missiles at Tel Aviv in the Persian Gulf War.

          Their open hatred is astonishing, considering that they pose as a people trying to make peace. They simply want the destruction of Israel under any circumstances, even if they have to posture at peace-making to get to their goal. I am sure you saw the news, the gangs of Palestinian youths waving Iraqi flags and shouting encouragements to Saddam to do the job they themselves can't seem to get done: the annihilation of Israel and all of its people.

          I suppose it's obvious to say that there is no point in talking to folks like that about peace. It should also be noted that the same Palestinians burned American and British flags, as well as Israeli flags, on the same occasion. (One wonders why they burned Israeli flags. Israel isn't even a part of this argument, but the world is supposed to think that country is somehow at fault.)

          A very interesting story on 60 Minutes recently corroborated a point that I have been making for some time. It seems that Mayor Suarez of Miami, Florida, once phoned the local newspaper, The Miami Herald, and threatened to withdraw the city's advertising. He did not like their editorial policies and he therefore threaten their revenues.

          I have for years pointed out that the reason for the anti-Israel bias in the American news media is the threat of the withdrawal of petro-dollar advertising from those media. Here was a practical example of just what I have been saying. If your local paper or The New York Times seem to find every sort of fault with Israel and Netanyahu and every reason to praise the Palestinians and Arafat, take into consideration that the two hundred million Arabs and all of their oil ultimately purchase a lot more advertising space than five million Israelis with little to sell in this country.

          Consider that Israel, with one-fifth of one percent of the land the Arabs hold, has a very small voice in the world of media advertising, although it is an economic powerhouse in the Middle East. I feel sure that Arab dictators have voiced the very message that Mayor Suarez put on The Miami Herald answer machine and which was ultimately played on 60 Minutes for the entire nation (the Mayor said it was easy to tell that he was only joking in that message, but I didn't laugh).

          Our new series The Covenants of God will begin to air for most of you during the next month. Having made most of the programs already, I can tell you that this will be a very helpful teaching series for those of you interested in serious Bible study. God made certain covenants with men and nations throughout the biblical history account, and they are an important key to understanding our relations with Him, so thanks for your help in making the series.

          I would appreciate any further prayer and financial support you can give us as we finish out these programs and be sure to stay tuned in April.

          Our Pentecost Tour this year will be May 24th to June 3rd and will visit the famous tunnel in Jerusalem, as well as the Temple Mount, Western Wall, our Lord's empty tomb, the Upper Room, and many other sites. We will cover Israel from the lovely, green countryside of the Galilee to the stark desert fortress of Masada by the Dead Sea.

          TOUR TIP: Our Deluxe Tour of Israel is considerably cheaper this year than ever before because we will be using Lufthansa, a premium airline which provides a number of gateway cities for your U.S. departure. Our price is the same as always, but there will be virtually no domestic airfare added on. Savings will range as high as $500-$600, depending on where you live.

          Our Grand Tour, from May 20 to June 2, visits the New Testament sites of Corinth, Ephesus, and Athens, with its famous Acropolis and Mars Hill. The Grand Tour also includes a leisurely Mediterranean cruise to the Greek islands of Mykonos, Rhodes and Patmos. This is the only time that we'll go to Greece in 1998, so this is the time to jump on board!

          Our free, full-color brochure is yours for the asking by calling our answering service at 1-800-WONDERS (966-3377) or writing to our office. I hope you can join us for this breathtaking excursion!

Your Messenger,

By Zola Levitt

         It's time we said something about prophecy and the coming of the Millennium. Lately, this ministry has been contacted by the Jerusalem Report magazine and the Associated Press, to name two news media, with basically the same questions: Is the end of the world around the corner, or is Armageddon scheduled for the year 2000 etc.?

          It seems that rather than look at the Scriptures, reporters would rather survey a number of different teachers and save the trouble of communing with God. We were a bit loathe to talk to the Associated Press because a few months ago one of its reporters, David Briggs, came to Dallas to interview me, Dr. John Walvoord, and one or two other teachers in regard to the above questions. I was impressed that they would actually send a reporter to interview me in person, though I should have been very leery of the news media through plenty of experience with them.

          Jonathan Dorfman of The Boston Globe newspaper once called our office and politely asked for materials about the Dead Sea Scrolls. The reporter said he was not totally knowledgeable on the subject, but wanted to do a good job with it and that he would be grateful if we could help. We sent him videotapes from our series on that subject, written materials, etc., and answered his questions.

          In the end The Boston Globe ran one sentence about me: "The breathless ranting of Zola Levitt, a televangelist and Jewish Believer, is just one example of the riot of distortions that leaves many people confused."

          I wrote to the editor to protest and was virtually sneered at as someone not fit to commune with so great a newspaper. Virtually the same thing has happened with The Dallas Morning News, Bruce Grey of The Indiana University Daily Student and Valerie Fields of The Arlington [Texas] Morning News. After such bitter experiences, I was very leery of the reporter from the Associated Press, but his questions were good and he wrote copiously in a notebook for two hours while I virtually explained the entire end times system, as I understood it, with all prophecies included. In the end he ran one sentence also: something about my analogy that the end times was like a Polaroid photograph coming into focus over a few minutes and that we were very near the end of the development process.

          On the most recent occasion, the Chief of the Associated Press Bureau in Jerusalem contacted us with questions about whether we would have increased pilgrimages to Israel due to the Millennium, and would that be the Second Coming. He also asked if the Millennium will bring terrible bloodshed, followed by a thousand years of peace, and would any of our pilgrims be carrying out symbolic acts, like camping on the Mount of Olives or coming to Israel and not returning home.

          In reply, I sent him a very straightforward explanation of the end, which I would like to share here. First of all Scripture does not give any year—end of the Millennium or otherwise—for the "Day of God's wrath," or the "Day of the Lord," which is the whole system of end times events. This is a misconception that is held throughout the world of non-Bible readers.

          With that said, interesting studies have been published, and I have sometimes referred to them myself, about the elegance of 6,000 years of biblical history and then a one thousand-year Kingdom of rest — the whole thing being modeled on an earthly week ("...one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." II Peter 3:8).

          I would still stand on the fact that nothing special will happen at the change of the Millennium. As to our pilgrims, they are Bible readers and will show no particular response to the Millennium other than a little annoyance over the extra pilgrims getting in the way on the usual Israel tours during that year. They will certainly not camp on the Mount of Olives, since the Lord has promised to bring them from everywhere, even out of their graves and out of the sea, to join in the Rapture of the church (not the Second Coming) at such time as He feels is right.

          The Millennium could not be the Second Coming at all if one holds to a pre-Tribulation Rapture — the most reasonable positioning of the Rapture in the prophetic system. If the year 2000 were the Second Coming, then the Rapture should have been in 1993.

          On the pre-Tribulation Rapture, while there are copious arguments in our book, Raptured, which I wrote with Dr. Thomas McCall, I could simply mention that since the Rapture is a surprise in Scripture ("in the twinkling of an eye" ...... "like lightning across the sky"), then it would have to be the first event of the end times progression. Otherwise, we would be able to predict it by actions we could plainly see — like the Antichrist's seven-year covenant with Israel, the rebuilding of the Temple, etc., etc.

          With all of the above said, no Christian should forget that the end is coming and it is indeed a Christian attitude to await it eagerly and to be ready for it when it happens. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief...." I Thessalonians 5:4.

          Having shared the above, I won't have to worry about our readership depending on the silly entertainment and cynicism that passes for news coverage these days. The reason the reporters use only a statement or take a sentence to insult a sincere teacher, who gave them time and effort, is that they are entertainers and what they write has to push advertising. Thus they don't really care about the subject but about the sensational things their dupe might say in the interview.

          And I suppose it makes them feel quite superior to print offensive comments about their interviewees. All taken together, this newsletter would be a much better source of prophetic knowledge than any secular news medium. At the very least, it quotes Scripture and cites each verse that is explained. Thanks for reading it!

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Iraq in Prophecy

          There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the prediction that it would take Israel seven years to clear up all the battle debris and use it for fuel. This seven year period fits in well with the seven years of the Tribulation era. As the Rapture of the Church is imminent and must also occur before the Tribulation, we have long thought that the Rapture and the Gog/Magog War might well happen very close to each other.

          Thus, as the Gog/Magog War conditions come into focus in world events, there is reason for much anticipation that the return of the Lord for His own may be drawing very near indeed!

          What Does Ezekiel Actually Prophesy?

          When comparing prophecy with current events, we must have the details of the prophecy clearly in mind. There are many aspects to the Gog/Magog War described by Ezekiel.

          Some of these are:

1. Israel returned to the Land after a long period of dispersion a. Brought back from the sword b. The Land having laid waste always c. Dry Bones regathered from the graveyard of the nations.

2. A specific (and unusual) alliance of nations attack the revived Israel a. Russia (Rosh, Meshech & Tubal, to the extreme north) is identified as Magog, led by the prince, Gog b. Persia (Iran, perhaps along with Mesopotamian countries like Iraq) c. Ethiopia (the area generally to the south of Egypt) d. Lybia (the area generally to the west of Egypt) e. Togormah (the area generally around the Black Sea) f. Gomer (the area generally west of Russia, eastern Europe).

3. Russia (Magog) leads the alliance in a massive invasion of Israel a. Invasion "like a cloud" b. Huge cavalry of horses c. Swords, shields and armor d. Hooks in the jaws to bring the invaders against Israel e. Motive for invasion the posses- sions of Israel.

4. The invasion is supernaturally defeated a. Massive earthquakes and fire from Heaven b. Invaders fall on the mountains and in the valleys of Israel c. Israel recognizes that the Lord God has accomplished the victory d. Only one-sixth of the invading army survives (17%).

5. Israel survives and cleans up aftermath of the War a. Special crews bury contaminated dead bodies of invaders for seven months b. Israel uses the debris for fuel for seven years

          All of these details must be taken into consideration when we attempt to compare the Gog/Magog War with the later Armageddon and also current events. It is clear that there are some similarities between Gog/Magog and Armageddon, but more differences. Also, how does what is happening now compare with Ezekiel's prophecy?

          The Showdown with Saddam Hussein For those who take Bible prophecy seriously, the events taking place in the headlines and on television today, take on considerable significance. With hostilities between the U.S. and Iraq looming as we go to press, we once again wonder if this present crisis is moving inexorably toward the prophetic Gog/Magog War.

          There are many elements currently in place. Russia, even though reduced from its previous Soviet power, is obviously a major player now, and there are numerous reports of Russia's dealing behind the scenes in weapons of mass destruction with Iran (Persia) and Iraq. Russia also, in spite of its reputed current passivity, still has thousands of nuclear missiles which have never been disarmed.

          These missiles could still be used to threaten the U.S. and the West in any critical showdown among the powers. While Russia is certainly involved in the current crisis, it would appear that Russia is not presently in a position to mount a full-scale invasion of Israel such as that described in Ezekiel.

          However, it would probably not take long for Russia to produce a massive army for this purpose, given the proper circumstances. Iraq, the location of the ancient capital Babylon, is an enigma to the modern world. Saddam Hussein sees himself in multiple roles as the leader of Arab/Muslim terrorism, and the reincarnation of the Babylonian King Nebucadnezzar and the great Arab general Saladin, who defeated the Crusader army and created the process that led to the eventual removal of the Europeans from Jerusalem. Hussein is a hero to most Iraqis, and is greatly admired by the fanatical Arabs, who consider him to be the best hope for the unification of the Arab nations and the removal of the hated Israelis from the sacred Muslim lands.

          Most of the civilized world consider him to be a destabilizing pariah and a primary source of international terrorism, but are not quite sure how to handle this renegade ruler. The method Saddam Hussein is currently using to assert his presence in the world is through the mysterious hoarding of dreaded chemical and biological weapons. Utilizing the national sovereignty of Iraq, he is reportedly amassing great quantities of weapons that strike terror in the hearts of military and civilian personnel alike. He has in the past shown no qualms about using these kinds of weapons against the Iranians during his war in the last decade with them, and even against his own people in the various uprisings which have occurred.

          It is even suspected by some that he used them during the Gulf War against American troops. At the very least, it is now admitted by authorities that an Iraqi stockpile of these weapons was exploded by Americans, spreading the highly dangerous fumes among their soldiers.

          One interesting report, which has a bearing on the Ezekiel prophecy, is that Saddam Hussein has already distributed considerable shipments of the chemical and biological weaponry to Lybia and the Sudan. This highlights the growing alliance between Iraq, Lybia and the area south of Egypt (Cush, part of ancient Ethiopia). Such an alliance certainly bears watching.

          At any rate, the current world events might be moving toward the scenario described by Ezekiel, but we should be aware of things that are not quite in place. As already indicated, Russia is ostensibly operating as a diplomatic peacemaker at the present time, although it might have some sinister motivations in the background, as some international intelligence reports suggest. It would seem to require considerable effort and some period of time for Russia to prepare to lead the kind of invasion of the proportions outlined by the prophet.

          Also, the current focus is on Iraq. While Babylon plays a major role in the later Tribula-tion, it does not appear to be a dominant force in the Gog/Magog War. Rather, Ezekiel puts the emphasis on Iran (Persia) as the primary ally of Russia, not Iraq, although the two may be connected. Thus, things are not exactly as Ezekiel describes them, although they are close. It should also be remembered that, in our modern, fast-paced world, things can change very rapidly in the course of a few days.

          After all, six months ago, who would have thought that the U.S. would be threatening to bomb Iraq yet again? Developments can happen very quickly.

          In my next article, I will review at least four scenarios that have transpired during the last 25 years in which it seemed that the Gog/Magog prophecy was on the verge of being fulfilled. This will help us get current events in perspective. One thing we can be certain of is that the Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled, and, as the Apostle Paul said: And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed (Romans 13:11, NIV).

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Eggs Over Easy

         It was a bad year for the Jewish people in Israel—suicide bombings, more deaths in Lebanon, murders of innocent civilians, and the peace talks at a standstill. To make matters worse, at year's end the United States was pressing Prime Minister Netanyahu to take a whiff of Shimon Peres' potion for peace that induced visions of granting virtually every whim and wish of the Palestinians.

         On the other side of the desert a huge Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) was being attended by more than 50 Arab nations, including our "moderate" Islamic friends from Saudi Arabia. In his inaugural address to the conference, Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei called for Arab unity to accomplish their supreme common goal—victory over Israel. "It is time," he said, "that the Islamic world should give more support to the front-line states who are waging a heroic struggle against Israel, the usurper of Arab lands ..."

         With all of this going on, were Israelis hunkered down in bunkers while being ministered to by a cadre of grief counselors? Not all, to be sure. Jews in the Middle East know that they live in a very tough neighborhood and that life must go on. And so, in an exemplary demonstration of "life must go on," a group of students from the TECHNION — Israel's version of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology — scaled tall buildings in Tel Aviv, each laden with odd-looking contraptions and cradling fresh eggs in carefully lined baskets.

         Among them was Yair Solomon, who, upon reaching the roof of a nine-story building, packed a raw egg in a jar of apricot jelly, placed it in a plastic tube, sealed it with a water balloon, and used a homemade launcher to blast the egg-bearing rocket skyward. Three seconds later, it smashed on the concrete, exploding the plastic container and apricot jelly jar. From the carnage rolled the jelly-smeared egg — without a crack or the slightest blemish.

         Young Solomon's feat won him the prestigious TECHNION "Egg Drop Award." His was not the only egg to come through unscathed, but Solomon's was the fastest, so he was declared the winner. Students were asked what they had learned from the egg-drop exercise. "Engineering," they replied, "is a profession that is very, very creative and it requires imagination."

         Dropping eggs from buildings when the sky seems to be falling may seem a trivial pursuit to some. But there is a great lesson in it. For Israel, staying alive "is a profession that is very, very creative and it requires imagination." Let's hope that someday we can stand on the street in Tel Aviv and look up at a skyscraper designed by Yair Solomon.

         Let's also hope that by then he will be over dropping raw eggs from tall buildings.

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