Intercession

woman kneeling and praying over beautiful sunrise background (Intercession)

“THE MESSIAH’S VICTORIOUS INTERCESSION”

THE RESURRECTED CHIEF INTERCESSOR

BY QUAY MESSNER, PRAYER COORDINATOR, OEUSA

Operation Exodus USA is a Christian ministry that helps Jewish people in the USA go home (make Aliyah) to their God-given land, Israel. This simple statement defines our mission. The mission is rooted in many prophetic scriptures that promise a final regathering of Jewish people who have been scattered to “the ends of the earth” to the land He gave them. “Even though you are banished to the ends of the earth, the LORD your God will gather you from there and bring you back again. The LORD your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors,”1 Notice that this is recorded in Deuteronomy before they entered the land for the first time! The mission may be unfamiliar to many in the Church, but a careful, honest search of the scriptures will reveal the quality and quantity of the basis of the work.

Our ministry has further been defined as “an intercessory ministry with a prophetic task.” The intercessory aspect is primarily prayer, but it also includes the motives and character of those who intercede. The prophetic task facet also embodies relationships with the potential Olim and includes encouragement, financial support, and practical helps. We could picture the intercession component as a person on his/her knees with voice and arms raised in prayer, and the prophetic task as the person walking to, embracing, and assisting the object of their prayers – the Olim. The ministry is not complete without both expressions in operation.

An intercessor intervenes with a higher authority on behalf of someone in need or trouble. For example, a lawyer is an intercessor for a defendant in court, appealing to the judge for a ruling favorable to the defendant. However, in this case the lawyer does not fulfill the ultimate Kingdom of God definition of an intercessor. In God’s Kingdom, the intercessor is committed to prevail in prayer as long as necessary, even if the desired outcome is delayed. The true intercessor is willing to be part of the answer to the prayer – no matter the personal cost. Who is able to fulfill such a role? If we are honest, we will come to the conclusion that no person or ministry is qualified. But, wait – behold, there is One who qualified, is still qualified, and will qualify forever! “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”2 And in another place it is written: “He shall divide the spoil with the strong because He poured out His soul unto death… and made intercession for the transgressors.”3

Jesus is the One who qualifies us to serve the mission of this ministry. And He is qualified and qualifies to the uttermost. We enter the ministry knowing that there will be hard work and at times opposition, both to prayer and practical service. “Go through the gates…Prepare the way…Build up the highway…Take out the stones.”4 Sometimes there are iron bars on gates, preparation always involves time and energy, building requires wisdom and strength, and removing stones can be a formidable task. Yet we are confident that the One who has qualified us to plead His own cause before His Father is the same Jesus who is seated in the highest place of intercession and has already been victorious over every obstacle imaginable or unimaginable that resists the completion of the Aliyah.

How can we be so confident? We must unite our faith to the scriptures, which do not lie. “The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!”5 The prophetic promise of the Father to the Son was made by King David.

The apostles testify to the Resurrection, Ascension, and Seat of Intercession in various places: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,”6 Peter preached: “…David… foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of Christ…This Jesus God raised up and… exalted at the right hand of God…”7 Furthermore, we pray to our Father through Jesus and we are there with Him: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”8

Our ultimate conclusion is that our mission – both the intercessory and the prophetic task components – is without a doubt accomplished through the power of His Resurrection, Ascension, and Rule over His enemies! He is the Lord of Aliyah, and our mission is as sure to be accomplished as the sun is sure to rise and set every day.

We pray as Paul prayed for the Ephesians: “May God, our Father, give us each day a spirit of wisdom and understanding; that we may know the glorious inheritance He has given us; that we may know the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us; according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”9

We are participating in The Messiah’s victorious intercession for the restoration of His people according to the scriptures! What a joy!

1. Dt 30:4-5 NLT 2. Heb 7:25 ESV 3. Isa 53:12 NKJV 4. Isa 62:10 NKJV 5. Ps 110:1-2 NKJV 6. Phil 2:9 NKJV 7. Acts 2:29-33 ESV 8. Col 3:1 ESV 9. Eph 1:17-21 ESV

You’re invited to be a vital part of our ministry by joining our Prayer Intercessory Network.

Click the Link below:

PREPARE THE WAY

empty highway Prepare the Way for Aliyah blog

PREPARE THE WAY by Wendy Beckett

God Keeps Covenant

Day 13

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!

Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”  (Isaiah 57:14)

Day 13 of God Keeps Covenant: PREPARE THE WAY  by Wendy Beckett

The focus of our study on Day 12 was how the Lord worked miracles to fulfill His word and bring home thousands from Europe and the countries surrounding Israel. What about the more than 2,000,000 Jewish people who were virtual prisoners of the communist system in all the countries of the Soviet Empire? A small number were allowed to emigrate each year, but many were being watched and imprisoned without cause.

In 1985, a group of international prayer leaders gathered in Jerusalem for a major prayer conference that was convened to intercede specifically for the release of the Soviet Jews. The Lord had been preparing the hearts of some of the men, and during the gathering, they agreed to take a prayer journey behind the Iron Curtain.

What followed was amazing. Skirting the Russian KGB, these intercessors prayed powerful prayers for the release of Soviet Jews in front of the Kremlin, the statues of Lenin and even the headquarters of the KGB itself.

They traveled to Odessa in the Ukraine, to the famous Potemkin stairs, which lead from the port up an embankment into the city. Invaders through the centuries scaled those stairs as their point of entry. The most recent had been the Nazis bent on conquering the Ukraine and destroying the large Jewish population of the country. The intercessors descended the long stairs – praying again for the Jews’ release as they went. As they turned at the bottom to ascend the stairs, they almost bumped into the KGB agents who were following closely behind them, trying to figure out what these odd tourists were doing.

Suddenly, cracks in the Iron Curtain began to appear. In front of the Berlin Wall in June 1987, President Reagan announced, “This wall will fall.” And yes, down it came and ruthless regimes toppled. The peoples held captive by communism had their first taste of freedom! The Lord had heard the prayers of those intercessors as well as the worldwide prayer that had ascended to His throne during the 70 years of Soviet domination.

As a result, in 1990 alone, more than 185,000 Jewish people left the former Soviet Union for Israel. In 2002 that number reached 1,000,000 immigrants (in 12 years), helping to fulfill Isaiah 49:25 (NKJV) “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered.” How terrible the communist massacres were.

Look at how specifically the Scriptures apply to the Aliyah (return) from Russia, the land whose capital, Moscow, is directly north of Israel.

“I (the Lord) will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’” (Isaiah 43:6)

“See, I will bring them from the land of the north.” (Jeremiah 31:8)

“‘Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,’ declares the Lord.”  (Zechariah 2:6)

So yes, the obstacles are being removed and there is a highway for my people to go home from the land of the north.

Lord, what a privilege to be alive in a day when Your Word is being fulfilled before our eyes. Thank You for all those who have been faithful to pray! May Your Jewish people still in the land of the north return to their homeland!

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Direction from God’s Word

Direction from God’s Word Chapter 10

DIRECTION FROM GOD’S WORD

by Derek Prince

WHY ISRAEL?

Chapter 10

DIRECTION FROM GOD’S WORD

Why Israel? Chapter 10 – DIRECTION FROM GOD’S WORD by author Derek Prince.

In considering how we can best pray for Israel, we need to recognize one important fact. The prayers that are going to be answered are those which are already supported in the Scriptures. Why is this so important? Because we need to see that to pray outside the purposes of God, or contrary to the purposes of God, would be fruitless. We are to pray within the parameters of the Word of God. We must not ask God to do what He has said He will not do. This is one reason we need to have a clear understanding of God’s prophetic purposes for Israel. That understanding will enable us to pray effectively for them.

According to Your Word

In the New Testament, the Virgin Mary received the astonishing news that she was to be the mother of the Messiah. When the angel first gave her that message, she didn’t understand it. She didn’t know how it could happen, but she said, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

I believe the greatest miracle ever experienced by a human being was the birth of the Messiah through a virgin. It came to pass when she said, “Be it unto me according to thy word.”

You cannot pray anything higher than the revealed Word of God. One of the great functions of an intercessor is to pray into being what God has already said will happen. That is why God has set intercessors on the walls of Jerusalem.

The Role of a Secretary

The Hebrew word for an intercessor in Isaiah 62 is maskir, which means someone who reminds someone else. So, according to the Hebrew understanding, the function of an intercessor is the same as a secretary—one who reminds the boss of what is on the calendar or “to do” list.

As intercessors, our job is to remind God of what is on His prophetic calendar. You say to God, “Do as You have said according to Your Word.” There is much more to intercession than this simple point, but this is the basis of the task. Therefore, an intercessor must be familiar with the Word of God, and must have a clear view of God’s purposes and their outworking.

So, this is the first important principle for the right approach to prayer. When you pray for Israel, stay within the parameters of the Word of God.

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YESHUA

Yeshua chief intercessor, high priest

YESHUA

THE RESURRECTED CHIEF INTERCESSOR

By Adrianne Prosser

…For God said to him, ‘‘The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow: You are a priest forever. Because of this oath, Jesus [Yeshua] is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” 

Hebrews 7:21–22, 25 NLT

Yeshua’s priesthood is unlike any other. He is not a temporary high priest, bound by time or tradition, who must repeatedly offer sacrifices. As revealed in the Book of Hebrews, Yeshua is our eternal High Priest, ordained according to the order of Melchizedek. He offered Himself once and for all — the perfect, spotless sacrifice. And He now lives forever, not only as our Savior, but as our Chief Intercessor, continually standing at the right hand of the Father, pleading on behalf of those who come to God through Him.

As intercessors in this pivotal hour, we are called to align our hearts with the heart of the Father. We are invited into a holy agreement with Yeshua — to stand in the gap, contending for the fulfillment of His promises and the restoration of Israel. Through Yeshua, the way of salvation is wide open — for Jew and Gentile alike — inviting all to come, to believe, and to receive the fullness of life only He can give.

There is an urgency in the Spirit — a call to cry out for the resurrection power of Yeshua to awaken the hearts of His people. Seated with Christ in heavenly places, we are God’s vessels on earth — interceding not only for the physical return (Aliyah) of His people to the land of Israel, but also for the spiritual return of their hearts to the Lord their God. As Scripture says, “. . . Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” (Joel 2:13 NLT)

The same power that raised Messiah from the dead is now at work in us, compelling us to declare His Living Word boldly over the Churches in our nation — declaring for the full revelation of God’s redemptive plan to be revealed. We are calling for the fire of God’s truth to consume every lie, and for the hammer of His Word to shatter the stronghold of Replacement Theology — a false teaching that blinds the Church to the eternal covenant God has with Israel. (Jeremiah 23:29)

God shakes the heavens and the earth to bring about the fulfillment of His redemptive plan. Let us rise in faith, anchored in His Word, aligned with His heart, and encouraged by His Spirit. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill all of us completely with joy and peace because we trust fully in Him. Then we will overflow with confidence through the power of the Holy Spirit! (Romans 15:13)

Aliyah by Wendy Beckett

Day 12 Aliyah by Wendy Beckett blog

ALIYAH by Wendy Beckett

God Keeps Covenant

Day 12

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘…Anyone of His people among you – may the Lord his God be with him and let him go up.’” (II Chronicles 36:23)

Day 12 of God Keeps Covenant: ALIYAH  by Wendy Beckett

Aliyah” is a Hebrew word that literally means “to go up” or “ascend.” In the passage above, King Cyrus was giving his blessing to Jewish people who wished to return or “go up” to rebuild Jerusalem and other areas of Israel after their 70 years of captivity in Babylon.

There are approximately 70 passages in the Bible that refer to the return of the Jewish people to their land. Some verses specify that it will be “in the latter days.” Other Scriptures speak of this migration coming from every corner of the earth. In many places the Lord declares explicitly and emphatically, I will bring you back.”

When Israel became a nation in 1948 and the restrictions on immigration were finally lifted, Jews who had survived the ravages of the Holocaust poured into their “Promised Land” from countries across Europe.

In addition, they fled from all the surrounding Arab countries, including 47,000 Jews from Yemen. From Morocco 170,000 returned, and 14,000 came from Algeria. There were 104,000 Jews who literally had to be smuggled “home” out of Iraq. Between 1948 and 1955, the Jewish population in Israel doubled.

Almost 30,000 have been rescued from tyrannical regimes in Ethiopia. In one weekend in the early 1990s, 14,400 were taken home on Israeli El-Al commercial airliners just 36 hours before the Ethiopian airport was attacked and closed by advancing Marxist rebels. At one point there were 24 jumbo jets without seats (to carry maximum capacity) ferrying back and forth from Ethiopia to Israel to complete the rescue.

Surely this was one of the fulfillments of Isaiah 60:8. “Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests?” What an accurate description of a return home by airplane – 2,600 years before the advent of air travel!

Israel has welcomed her people home from every corner of the earth since 1948. Their assimilation into Israeli society has been remarkable considering all the cultural and language differences that challenge the new arrivals.

The Lord is working out His promises to Jewish people before our very eyes. And we have yet to see the greatest and most glorious aspects of what He will do. Jeremiah describes an Aliyah yet to come that will overshadow the great Exodus out of Egypt.

“However, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when men will no longer say ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers.” (Jer. 16:14 & 15)

Thank You, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for fulfilling Your promises to Israel’s forefathers that their descendants would return to the land You gave them. We believe that You will never forget what You have spoken until all is fulfilled. We give You glory for Your faithfulness!

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NO JEW LEFT BEHIND

picture of Jewish man with shadow walking by the Western Wall for the No Jew Left Behind blog

No Jew Left Behind

BY LARRY HERZEKOW, ISRAEL REPRESENTATIVE, OEUSA

Then my people will know that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. Ezekiel 39:28 NLT

My wife and I made Aliyah in 1996 with four of our six children — ages 1, 3, 5, and 14. Our two oldest — ages 18 and 21 —  made last-minute decisions to stay stateside for various personal reasons.

We had heard from the Lord, and we knew He was calling us to Israel. Even though the Lord clearly spoke to us, it was not an easy decision. The decision to go would have been almost impossible without the Lord’s direction. Herein lies the challenge for the typical Jewish person today contemplating Aliyah. Without knowing the Lord, the decision factors come down to finances, safety, and “leaving the comforts of home”.

Just a few years prior to moving to Israel, we had absolutely no desire to even visit Israel, let alone move! Satan does not want Jewish people to move to Israel, and he will do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening; the reason: God’s promise to bring back the Jewish people from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12)! Satan is trying his best to destroy God’s promises. 

All over the United States and around the world, everyone is very concerned about the huge uptick in instances of Jewish hatred, which is at levels never seen before! We believe that Aliyah is just one of many ways that God has turned evil into good.

We believe the focus of our prayers needs to be for God to transform the hearts and minds of Jewish people, so  they see Israel as the safe haven that God has promised and is providing for them. This will take much prayer and intercession!

Making Aliyah is never an easy move. But it is one that brings transformation! It brings a richness and a depth of faith in God to a level not previously experienced. In 2024, 31,000 people  representing 100 countries made Aliyah! In Israel we will  receive with open arms those who make Aliyah! It will not be an easy adjustment, but it will make all of us more resilient and stronger.

GENTILES, ESPECIALLY THE CHURCH, HAVE AN ENORMOUS CALLING FROM GOD TO HELP WITH THE ALIYAH PROCESS.

Gentiles, especially the Church, have an enormous calling from God to help with the Aliyah process. As God’s word says in Isaiah 49:22, “Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.” (KJV) “No Jew Left Behind” is the title of an Orthodox Jewish song. The title should be our goal. Let’s make it happen together!

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PURIM 2025

Picture of scripture scroll, desserts, and a yamuka to celebrat Purim 2025

Purim 2025

COMMEMORATION AND CELEBRATION

Purim 2025 Begins – Thursday evening, March 13
and Ends – Friday evening, March 14

For if you fail to speak up now, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from a different direction; but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows whether you didn’t come into your royal position precisely for such a time as this.” Ester had them return this answer to Mordekhai: “Go, assemble all the Jews to be found in Shushan, and have them fast for me, neither eating nor drinking for three days, night and day; also I and the girls attending me will fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:14-16 CJB

This year, Jewish people in Israel and throughout the diaspora will commemorate and celebrate Purim—God’s miraculous deliverance of Persian Jews from annihilation at the hand of Haman. Yet, Purim is more than an ancient story – it is a timeless testament to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—a God of providence, faithfulness, and protection. He keeps His covenantal promises, guaranteeing Israel’s preservation and defending His people from destruction. The Scripture below illustrates God’s provision and foreshadows God’s ultimate redemption through Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, the sacrificial Lamb provided for the salvation of ISRAEL and the nations:

Avraham raised his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. Avraham called the place Adonai Yir’eh [Adonai will see (to it), Adonai provides]as it is said to this day, “On the mountain Adonai is seen.” Genesis 22:13-14 CJB

The book of Esther recounts the miraculous rescue of the Jewish people from Haman’s wicked plot to exterminate them. This book is unique among the Scriptures—God’s Name is never explicitly mentioned, yet His Sovereign Hand is  unmistakable in every turn of events. Even when God seems hidden, He is actively working.

This truth resonates deeply today. As Israel faces a horrific war fueled by ancient hatred and daily acts of violence, many wonder—Where is God? But just as He orchestrated Esther’s rise to the palace “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14), He is working in our time—raising up modern-day Esthers willing to pray, fast, and stand in the gap for Israel and the Jewish people. Haman’s spirit of hatred has not vanished with history. It thrives in modern movements seeking to delegitimize and destroy Israel, demonize Jewish identity, and propagate lies that fuel violence and anti-Semitism. The same demonic forces that once sought to annihilate the Jews of Persia are at work today.

The alarming rise of anti-Semitism in our midst is a wake-up call. Therefore, we cannot remain silent. We cannot passively watch as Jewish students face harassment and fear for their lives on campuses; Synagogues are defaced and attacked, and Israel’s very legitimacy is questioned. Like Esther, we must be willing to take a stand, even at great personal cost.

God is looking for modern-day Esthers and Mordecais—people who refuse to bow to fear, who are willing to wait on the LORD, and who choose to take courage in the face of overwhelming adversity. We must remember, those whom the Father calls, He equips and prepares for the work at hand—For His Holy Name’s Sake, and for His glory!

Let us encourage ourselves with these Scriptures:

Put your hope in Adonai, be strong, and let your heart take courage! Yes, put your hope in Adonai! Psalm 27:14 CJB

The God of shalom brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Yeshua, by the blood of an eternal covenant. May that God equip you with every good thing you need to do his will; and may he do in us whatever pleases him, through Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 CJB

Let us join with our Jewish friends as they celebrate Purim by vowing to recommit our focus on fervent intercession on behalf of Israel and our Jewish friends:

  1. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – Pray for the protection and well-being over all Israeli’s living in the Land. Psalm 122-6-9
  2. Pray for God’s Protection – Around Jewish communities in the U.S and around the world. Pray for strength, wisdom, and courage for leaders, Jewish students, and families facing hostility. Psalm 91:11-12; Proverbs 3:13
  3. Pray God’s Word – Declare God’s Word in the face of lies. Counter anti-Semitic rhetoric with God’s Word—educate those around us. Hebrews 4:12
  4. Pray Open Doors over the Aliyah Highway – Pray for the LORD to speak to His chosen people’s heart that now is the time to make Aliyah—NO MORE DELAYS!  Ezekiel 36:24; Psalm 147:2
  5. Pray for the remnant Church – To rise up in the Resurrection power of Yeshua-Christ Jesus, by taking its rightful place in the LORD’s holy Aliyah Highway—to intercede and carry God’s sons and daughters’ home. Isaiah 49:22-23
  6. Pray for Open Doors  Ask the LORD for His favor over the Outreach work in Jewish communities in strategic regions of our nation. Matthew 7:7-8; Revelations 3:8
  7. Pray for Supernatural Provision – Thank the LORD that all needed resources for the greater Aliyah are already supplied:  increase in intercessory and volunteer partners; finances; partnerships with like-minded servants of God who are called by God; Olim needs will be met in times of distress; flights will be made available to bring God’s people home. Malachi 3:10, Philippians 4:19

Purim reminds our Jewish friends and us that no matter how dark and dangerous the world may seem, God is always at work behind the scenes, positioning His chosen people and His Land for victory. The LORD will never abandon His chosen people that He created for Himself, as we read in 1 Samuel:

Sh’mu’el answered the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet now, just don’t turn away from following Adonai; but  serve Adonai with all your heart. Don’t turn to the side; because then you would go after useless things that can neither help nor rescue, they are so futile. For the sake of his great reputation, Adonai will not abandon his people; because it has pleased Adonai to make you a people for himself. 1 Samuel 12:20-22 CJB

Esther was called “for such a time as this” to risk everything to save her people—her obedience and courage changed history. Today, we are being called to the same level of commitment to our God! Together, let us pray that our faith will grow stronger, and the light of Yeshua will shine brighter through us, dispelling the darkness in this world. May our fervent intercession before God be in agreement with His perfect will and timing for the Aliyah of American Jewish people, and all Jews in the diaspora.

Chag Purim Sameach!

Adrianne Prosser
Outreach Development Director, OEUSA

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Preparation for His Return

Picture of Israel flag with building in Israel in the background, Chapter 9 PREPARATION FOR HIS RETURN of "Why Israel?"

PREPARATION FOR HIS RETURN

by Derek Prince

WHY ISRAEL?

Chapter 9

Preparation for His Return

Why Israel? Chapter 9 – PREPARATION FOR HIS RETURN by author Derek Prince.

In this chapter, we want to find out why Israel is so pivotal. For example, are you aware that approximately half the resolutions of the United Nations have been made about Israel? Can you imagine anything less appropriate or more ridiculous? There must be a reason.

Why is it that every time we open a newspaper or turn on the television, there is something about this little strip of territory called Israel? We are talking about an area that is just a drop in the bucket of the world. What is the reason for the pressure, for the opposition, for the conflict? In this chapter, we will explore the answer to those questions.

They Will Know

As mentioned earlier, Zechariah chapters 12, 13, and 14 all deal with the land of Israel at the close of this age. If you read Zechariah 12, you find the final filling in of this picture. In Zechariah 12:10, it is God speaking, and He says:

“And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; [Notice you cannot supplicate unless God gives you the Spirit of grace. When He gives you the Spirit of grace you can respond with supplication.] then they will look on Me whom they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

God says concerning His people, “They will look on Me whom they [the Jewish people] have pierced.” It is astonishing that Jewish people read this verse without knowing what it means. It is the clearest statement anywhere in Scripture that they will crucify the Lord: “They will look on Me whom they have pierced.”

Next it says, “They will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” A revelation of Jesus is coming to His own people, the Jewish people, by the Holy Spirit. They will finally know who He really is. Then there will be mourning as has never been experienced in the history of Israel. For the first time, they will realize, “We crucified our Messiah. We rejected our God.” Then it goes on:

“In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David…”

If we put these truths from Matthew and Zechariah together, they make it clear that before the Lord returns, certain requirements have to be established. The Jewish people have to be re- established in Jerusalem and in the land, because the Lord Jesus is not coming back until they are. Then, there will have to be a supernatural revelation of Jesus which will turn their hearts to Him.

Satan’s Greatest Fear

If you were asked to guess what would be the greatest fear of Satan, the god of this age, what would you say? What do you think he fears the most? My answer to that question would be simple and direct: the return of Jesus. Why would that be so fearsome to the devil? Because until Jesus comes back, he may lose a lot of battles—but he will never lose the war. He may lose a lot of souls, but he will still be the god of this age. That status will not change until Jesus returns in person. Thus, the event the devil fears the most is the return of Jesus. If he fears that event the most, wouldn’t it make sense that he would also oppose that event the most? Satan looses vehement opposition  against any activity which prepares the way for Jesus to return.

As we have seen from the Scriptures, the Jewish people will have to be in Jerusalem as their city and they must be occupying the land before Jesus will come back. It is so important that we acknowledge this fact, because it is the promise behind all the uproar and all the fuss we see concerning Israel. Satan is doing everything he can to prevent this pivotal step in the scenario which will prepare the way for the return of the Lord.

Thus far, we have examined Biblical facts about the people and the land of Israel. We have also seen that the necessity for Israel being in their land before the return of Jesus gives rise to Satan’s greatest fear. As a result, it is the source of much turmoil among the nations.

With that teaching as a foundation, we are now in a position to look at the right approach we can take to praying for Israel. From there, we will eventually move on to the specific areas for prayer from God’s perspective concerning the people and the land of Israel.

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MERRILL BOLENDER

picture of Merrill within the Israel flag. In loving memory of Merrill Bolender

MERRILL BOLENDER

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Isaiah 46:4 NIV

It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our beloved friend and Chief Intercessor, Merrill Bolender. Merrill has been a pillar of strength and an unwavering advocate for God’s holy work of Aliyah from the early days of Ebenezer Operation Exodus International and the work of Operation Exodus USA.

Please see details of his service at the very end of this email.

In 1948, as a twelve-year-old farm boy in southern Ohio, Merrill clearly heard the Lord saying, “You will be a voice in the wilderness, saying ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’” For many years, this word was a mystery, but over time, the call and vision became clearer.

During the Cold War, 1985–86, Merrill joined a delegation from across the USA to the Soviet Union. Merrill and his wife Donna visited Jewish families in Leningrad and Moscow who had applied to immigrate to Israel but were refused, known as “Refuseniks.” Merrill and other prayer groups interceded on Red Square, praying for God to speak to “Pharaoh,” “Let My people go!” and, if necessary, visit plagues on the Soviet Union to bring her to her knees so the Jewish exodus (Aliyah) could take place. After Chernobyl, drought, a failed expansionist invasion in Afghanistan, the Cold War bankrupting the Soviet economy, and a major earthquake in Armenia, the miracle happened. The Iron Curtain collapsed, and the exodus began, resulting in well over a million Jews making their way to Israel.

From 1975 to 1989, Merrill served on staff at Daystar Christian Ministries in various capacities. He developed a Christian bookstore and lending library, served as Director of Counseling, worked in the Business Office, taught in Christian Maturity Seminars, and served as Assistant Director.

In 1980-1981 and 1987-1988, Merrill worked in Tel Aviv, Israel, in various capacities, including Elder on Pastoral Staff, Manager of Guest Facility, and Director of Immanuel House, which housed three ministries: a Messianic Congregation, a Study Center, and a 60-bed guest facility.

From 1985 to 1986, Merrill led six outreach teams to Central American nations, including Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize, doing humanitarian work such as clothing distribution in refugee and Indian villages, medical clinics, dental clinics, construction, and evangelical outreach using drama, mime, Bible distribution, and nightly outdoor events using the Jesus film with a Spanish soundtrack.

From 2004 to 2020, Merrill, with his wife Donna by his side, served with Ebenezer Operation Exodus, living six months in Odessa, Ukraine, a port on the Black Sea. They sailed on six cruises from the port in Odessa with Olim making Aliyah to Haifa, Israel.

In 2005-2006, Merrill taught for two weeks each year at Samara Revival Bible Institute in Samara, Russia, on the subject: Israel’s Role in History; Past, Present, and Future.

In 2006, Merrill and his wife Donna became Area Representatives for Operation Exodus USA in their state of Indiana raising up intercessory prayer groups and participating in OEUSA intercessory prayer by phone and Zoom.  They were trailblazers as they prayed and made Godly connections on the Aliyah highways throughout the mid-west states, and other countries around the world.

From 2011 to 2020, Merrill authored the book, “WHEN THE CROSS BECAME A SWORD: The Origin and Consequences of Replacement Theology.” The English version is in its tenth printing and is presently printed in sixteen languages, being made available on six continents.

In 2014, Merrill’s book was printed in Polish. As a result, for two years (2014-2015), Merrill was an invited speaker at a World Conference titled “FROM THE HOLOCAUST TO LIVING HOPE” in Oswiecim, Poland, a town bordering Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

In 2015, Merrill’s book was translated into Portuguese, resulting in a two-week speaking tour in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Uberlandia, Brazil.

While we mourn the loss of Merrill, we also celebrate the legacy he leaves behind—a legacy of powerful writings, generosity, and passionate intercession. His memory will continue to inspire us as we carry forward his unfaltering great faith and vision for the greater Aliyah. His love and service to the LORD, and for God’s chosen people and God’s holy Land, are awe-inspiring to all of us at OEUSA.

We extend our deepest condolences to our dearest friend, Donna, Merrill’s beloved wife of 60 years. Their relationship was awe-inspiring, an example of true love and a life committed to serving the LORD in fervent intercession for the Aliyah of Jewish people, strong supporters and lovers of Israel and her people. We also extend our condolences to their children, grandchildren, extended family members, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

Let us honor Merrill’s memory by reaffirming our commitment to the work he held so dear—God’s holy work of Aliyah. We rejoice in Merrill’s homecoming—he is now in the presence of his LORD and Savior!

In God We Trust!

John Prosser
President, OEUSA
And the OEUSA Team

The Bolender family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Operation Exodus USA in memory of Merrill Bolender.

Please enter in the memo or comment section, “In Memory of Merrill Bolender”.

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THE LORD’S PURPOSES ON THE EARTH

THE LORD’S PURPOSES ON THE EARTH blog

THE LORD’S PURPOSES ON THE EARTH

God Keeps Covenant

Day 11
by Wendy D. Beckett

“For Adonai (the Lord) will fulfill his word on the earth with certainty and without delay.” Romans 9:28 CJB

Day 11 of God Keeps Covenant: THE LORD’S PURPOSES ON THE EARTH

After studying the history of the Jewish people and before we move on to more recent events, let us step back to look at the big picture of the Lord’s priorities. How is He fulfilling His Word “on the earth with certainty and without delay”?

First, the Gospel is spreading across the face of the earth at a staggering pace. Bible translators are now using advanced computer technology to speed their vital work. The Internet is making the Gospel available to millions previously without access to its message. Thousands are daily risking their lives to obey the Lord’s command to “go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

Also in His discourse with His disciples concerning the time of His return, the Lord Jesus  gave these same marching orders: “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end shall come.”  (Matthew 24:14) 

 We read John’s vision in Revelation 7:9 of the “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” And we are stirred to pray harder, give more and go where the Lord sends us that the maximum number of people may come into His Kingdom.

Another of the Lord’s priorities is His Church, whom He loves so passionately that He calls her His Bride. Much of the emphasis in the letters of Paul, Peter and John is on teaching the followers of Jesus how to grow up in Him, turn from worldly ways, walk with Him and love others as He did. We are to be “without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:27) 

The Lord Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us that we, His Bride, will make ourselves ready for His coming. (Revelation 19:7) He will help us but we must prepare. We must continually walk more closely with Him, our beloved Bridegroom.

Almost obscured from the Church’s view is a third priority – a distinct stream flowing through the Scriptures – the return of the Jews to their land and their restoration to their Lord. This stream is an integral part of the river of God’s great purposes on the earth. For most of the past 2,000 years this priority has been flowing underground. But this stream is bursting forth as a powerful reality in our day to take its rightful place in the Church.

My desire in this devotional is to set before you just a portion of the tremendous weight of evidence in the Scriptures that the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel is absolutely essential in the Lord’s big picture. His Word cannot be fulfilled on the earth without the promises in the Old Testament Prophets concerning Israel coming to pass.

Father of Love, please keep revealing to us Your heart in this matter. We know You will have to open our eyes so we can see how Israel fits into Your amazing plans for the end of the age and Your return.

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