Jerusalem

Originally Posted by debrac

May 2003
Greetings from In and Out of Jerusalem!

Isaiah 11:12; And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble
the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the
four corners of the earth.

ENGLAND
It was a really great time of ministry in England, before flying on to the
United States, with many expressing a desire for a return time of teaching.
There were a number of very well attended large meetings and a meeting of
Ministers, many who also attended the regular evening meetings. Responses
shared back to me were exciting as Biblical truths, I was told, started
revival.

I really appreciate all of the hospitality in England, which was beyond any
expectations. Also time was given for researching the family tree in England
and visiting areas of family roots. The whole time and experience, especially
the several castles and country settings that were visited were more than
memorable. Many thanks to David and Anne for making the visit to England so
very special!

Note: we are still using our Israeli Netvision e-address while in the States
but will send out with Debra's e-address.

IRAQ, WHAT NEXT?
The Iraqi conflict has seemed to have a measure of success with the lack of
Saddam Hussain’s presence promoting the belief that democracy can be introduced
into Iraq. But can it? We have seen news as it debates over “is Saddam dead or
is he alive?” Media clips we have seen are of men we think are doubles of
Saddam. In the “Arab” world the most important issue of any situation is
“Saving Face”. “Saving Face” most often revolves around “not being caught” or
“exposed”. This was evident in 1991 during and after the Gulf War when we saw
the Arab Community expressing the feelings that Saddam had won the war in spite
of the evidences to the contrary and sanctions imposed on Iraq. The same is
true for the current Iraqi conflict. Saddam has disappeared and therefore he
does not lose face (this is also then true of Ossama Bin Laden). Could Saddam
have reversed the order and instead of using a double to represent himself
could he have taken the place of one of his doubles and melted into the
surrounding masses or was his death a result of the very first or later
strikes? In the Arab world it does not matter as long as he can be kept “alive”
by the lack of evidence. The only thing, which would change this, is producing
the alive or dead body of the true, real, provable Saddam Hussain. This is a
result of the cultural realities of a “tribal” setting, which is the centuries
old natural inclination of the Arabic speaking peoples. A cultural, Tribal
controlled society is the result of the pressures of existence, survival in a
sand filled limited water source region. Only the strong survive. Those that
can control wells, rivers or any available water can dominate the populace.
Through untold centuries local and regional battles occurred over who
controlled the water sources. The desert areas of a majority of the Mid-East
promote Tribal leadership because of conflicts over water and land dominance.
Tribal leadership has always been determined by power, which is “who” is the
strongest in dominance over the people. Because the position of dominance has,
in many areas, been handed down for centuries through a leading family in the
form of a dictatorship, monarchy or king, the public has no other concept of
leadership. This is quite often augmented by the religious tenets of the
people, in this case Islam. From this setting it is deeply unlikely that an
American style of Democracy can ever survive in the Mid-East. Democracy is just
not the logical thought processes of the centuries of sandstorms.

This helps to give understanding to the seeming “reactions” of the Iraqi
people, when the Allied Military Forces have moved from one area to another in
Baghdad or Iraq. The Iraqi public shows, with growing expressions as soon as
the Military Allied Forces are at distance and sometimes not at such a
distance, the degrading of what they call the invading oppressors. It is only
the strength and might of the Allied Forces that is respected. Remove the
demonstrated Allied Military dominance through strength and the culture will
eventually only replace Saddam with a similar dictator. This equates, in a very
real sense that American Forces and others will never be able to fully leave
Iraq for if they do then the same forms of “Saddam dominance” will occur again
with the possibilities of Iraq being divided and taken over by surrounding Arab
Nations.

ACCUSATIONS…
The downfall Saddam and/or any residual Allied Military Forces left in Iraq
will give credence to accusations? We have heard several times in the past
weeks the accusation that the “invasion” of Iraq was really only an excuse by
the United States for coming Israeli dominance over an expanded, “greater
Israel” by the “conquered” areas being given to Israel. King Hussain of Jordan
recently expressed this concept by his statement that unless the
Israeli-Palestinian Arab Conflict is resolved, as a result of the Iraqi
conflict by the formation of a “Palestinian State” to eliminate the
“oppression” of Israel then the “liberation” of Iraq is nothing more than
exploitation and/or manipulation of dominance by America and Israel in order to
take over/control of the oil fields. This belief will easily add fuel to an
already flammable Mid-East.

Depression and Expectation, the current emotions of Israel? Pressure by Allied
Forces against Syria provoked the statement that an attack against Israel would
occur if it looked like the Allied Forces were gathering against Syria. While
no one wants war, as obviously it is devastating in the cost of lives and
destroyed property, those we know in Israel express that, as war against Israel
shall occur it would have been better if it had happened while the Iraqi
conflict raged. Because war has not happened the economy of Israel and
surrounding Arab areas will worsen. But does this not set further the stage as
expressed by the Bible that “Jerusalem” shall become a burden to the Nations of
the World. Zech 12:2-3, Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto
all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah
and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone
for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces,
though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. KJV This is
precipitated by the attempts to create a “road map to peace” by dividing the
Land as given by God to the Jewish People. While war-involving Israel has not
yet occurred as a part of the Iraqi conflict, it is closer and the fact that it
has not happened only increases convictions that it will be worse when it does
happen.

MEETINGS
Our time in the United States has so far proved to be busy with the needs of
JMI, which include both setting up meetings and sharing at them. We have open
time both in June and July for those wanting to set up meetings, we can fly
anywhere! Our greatest need at this time is in making preparations for a dig at
Qumran. The hopes have been that the needed funds would be able to be raised,
which would allow a dig to occur this summer. Our Archaeologist, Randall Price,
thought he could handle the expenses and continue planning for a four-week dig
in July-August. But there are many expenses we know by experience, for which
funds are not yet available, which means at this time we are having to postpone
even though everything but the funds have come together.

Blessings, --Gary and Debra

As this is a Faith Ministry reaching out to local and national communities, we
depend on your faith gifts. Please pray about helping us financially on a
monthly basis. Any contributions specifically to help needy families should be
noted as such. Any contributions sent in the USA, to the JMI address, are tax
deductible, in the USA.

(Dr. GR Collett) Jerusalem Ministries
International
gcollet**netvision.net.il P.O. Box 235,
Quincy, WA
98848