Scripture Reading for March 16, 2019
Torah: Leviticus 1:1-6:7, “Vayikra” (And he called … ) Haftorah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23 New Testament: Hebrews 13:10-15 Gospel: John 17:11-12, “Beshimka” (Your Name …)
Qumranology: The Scapegoat and Atonement
In 69 CE, Roman legions circled the walls of Jerusalem, poised to attack. Nervous Jewish factions fought among each other, clashing over the best way to prevent a violent end to their four-year rebellion. Amidst the turmoil, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar approached, Yom Kippur. On this day, nothing was more important for…
Evangelicals voice concerns with Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan at White House
By Samuel Smith, Christian Post— Evangelical leaders gathered last week at the White House to offer their concerns as the Trump administration will soon unveil its Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal that reportedly could give the Palestinians a capital in parts of East Jerusalem. Last Thursday, a group of conservative evangelical leaders met with Jason Greenblatt, President…
State Dept: Golan Heights is Israeli
By Gary Willig, Arutz 7— US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released the 2018 Human Rights Reports on Thursday. The report included a section on Israel, the Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria, and Gaza. Notably, the report referred to the Golan Heights as “Israeli-controlled” instead of “Israeli-occupied,” and drops the words “occupied” and “occupation” from…
US calls Golan ‘Israeli-controlled,’ drops all mention of West Bank ‘occupation’
By Eric Cortellessa, Times of Israel— For the first time, the Trump administration referred to the Golan Heights on Wednesday as “Israeli-controlled” and ceased to refer to the West Bank as “occupied” in the State Department’s annual report on human rights around the world. While last year’s report marked a departure from years of American…
What’s Behind the Crisis Over the Temple Mount?
By Yochanan Visser, Israel Today— On Tuesday, Israeli police finally decided to close the Temple Mount in Jerusalem after a Muslim terrorist threw a firebomb at a station of the Border Police near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. One police officer was seriously wounded by the firebomb while Muslim worshippers engaged in a violent confrontation after police…
Israel Warns Against Religious War on the Temple Mount
By Khaled Abu Toameh, Jpost— Israel accused the Palestinian Authority of inciting a religious war on the Temple Mount after a Palestinian Molotov cocktail attack on an Israeli police station on the holy site sparked an afternoon riot. Police closed the al-Aqsa compound for the remainder of the day but are expected to fully reopen…
The U.S. Peace Plan Will Divide Jerusalem–Saudi Reporter
BY Alon Einhorn, Jerusalem Post— A senior reporter for the Al Riyadh, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent newspapers, claimed that the US President Donald Trump’s “Deal of the Century” will divide Jerusalem. The reporter Hadeel Oueis wrote on her twitter account that “The Old City of Jerusalem will be divided in half: the Arab…
Jeffress: Don’t expect Dems to tone down their anti-Semitism
By Chad Groening, Steve Jordahl, One News Now— Leaders of two Christian ministries are sounding off on the anti-Semitic resolution that almost was, saying the version that ultimately made it to the floor of the House reflects not only the cowardice of Democratic leaders but also the “godlessness” that’s taking over the party. On Thursday…
Scripture Reading for March 9, 2019
Torah: Exodus 38:21-40;38, “Pekudei” (accounting of … ) Haftorah: I Kings 7:51- 8:21 New Testament: I Corinthians 3:16-17 Gospel: Luke 21:5-19, “Hamicdash” (The Temple … )