MESSIAHMAS/CHRISTMAS IN ISRAEL
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS IN ISRAEL
Israel is the land of Christmas. The prophets of Israel prophesied that God was to come to the land of Israel, to be born here, live here, die on the cursed tree planted in Yerushalayim, to be resurrected in the land of Israel, and to reign over the earth as King of Kings. God chose Yerushalayim in Israel as His seat of authority over all the earth (Zechariah). The Holy Land is truly a holy land (see, “Discovering the Holy Land from the Garden in Eden to the New Jerusalem” by Dr. Reginald K. Lisemby).
The geographic land of Israel was the stage for the events of God’s redemption of Adam and Eve and their children. Yet, not only the redemption of man, but the establishment of the kingdom of God in heaven on earth is the final chapter of His redemptive plan, and that place on earth that will be heaven on earth, is the land of Israel.
Yeshua was Israeli in every sense of the word, prophetically, culturally, and religiously. The “child born to us” was to be a child born to Israel, an Israeli! That Jewish child “born to us” was also to be a king, a king to whom “every knee will bow;” an Israeli King for the world! The magi knew this, and they studied God’s Word written in the heavens, they saw His kingly star, and they came to Israel, the land of Christmas. They came to worship the king, unknowing that the King was a Jewish baby.
The land of Israel and the kingdom of Messiah are biblically in concert. The biblical prophecies of Christmas all state that the stage of Christmas is to be the land of Israel (e.g. Isaiah 7:1-16; 9:2-7; 11:1-10; Micah 5:2). Christmas is about the towns of Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem? Interestingly, Egypt was also a part of the Christmas story and prophetically Egypt is exempt from the everlasting curse of other nations in prophecy, and is to be blessed by God in the future.
THE GRANDMOTHERS OF CHRISTMAS
Mattityahu (Matthew) when writing his gospel was all about the Jewishness of Yeshua. He was also inspired to remember and record Yeshua’s Arab babushkas or grandmothers!
The geographic land of Israel was the stage for the events of God’s redemption of Adam and Eve and their children. Yet, not only the redemption of man, but the establishment of the kingdom of God in heaven on earth is the final chapter of His redemptive plan, and that place on earth that will be heaven on earth, is the land of Israel.
Yeshua was Israeli in every sense of the word, prophetically, culturally, and religiously. The “child born to us” was to be a child born to Israel, an Israeli! That Jewish child “born to us” was also to be a king, a king to whom “every knee will bow;” an Israeli King for the world! The magi knew this, and they studied God’s Word written in the heavens, they saw His kingly star, and they came to Israel, the land of Christmas. They came to worship the king, unknowing that the King was a Jewish baby.
The land of Israel and the kingdom of Messiah are biblically in concert. The biblical prophecies of Christmas all state that the stage of Christmas is to be the land of Israel (e.g. Isaiah 7:1-16; 9:2-7; 11:1-10; Micah 5:2). Christmas is about the towns of Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem? Interestingly, Egypt was also a part of the Christmas story and prophetically Egypt is exempt from the everlasting curse of other nations in prophecy, and is to be blessed by God in the future.
THE GRANDMOTHERS OF CHRISTMAS
Mattityahu (Matthew) when writing his gospel was all about the Jewishness of Yeshua. He was also inspired to remember and record Yeshua’s Arab babushkas or grandmothers!
*Tamar – a Hamite, Tamar preserved the seed of Judah (Genesis 38). God’s son was coming from the tribe of Yudah and she preserved that line, and God established her line (Matthew 1:3).
*Rahav – a Hamite/Canaanite, Rahav hid two of Israel’s dozen spies when they came to her home on the wall of Yericho. She was saved by the scarlet cord hung in her window and married the Jew, Salmon. Together, they birthed Boaz who was the great grandfather of David. Rahav was the great, great grandmother of King David (Joshua 2; 6:25; Matthew 1:5).
*Ruth –an Arab Moabitess from the descent of Lot, married Naomi’s son who died with both his brother and their father. Ruth later married Boaz, a kinsman redeemer of Naomi. Ruth and Boaz birthed Oved, the grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:21; Matthew 1:5).
*BatSheva – possibly a daughter (Bat in Hebrew means “daughter”) of Sheva, an Arab sheik (Sheva is a Semitic word for “oath”). Bethsheba married King David, and they birthed Shlomo who is in the lineage of Messiah, Yeshua (Matthew 1:6).
Yeshua was and is the Good Samaritan, not only by being the antitype or fulfillment of the good Samaritan and his good deeds, but also by His multicultural and international DNA.
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
*An Angel appeared to ZecharYah in the Temple as he burned incense (Luke 1:11).
*An Angel spoke to ZecharYah to name his son, Yochanon, and conversed with him about the character and ministry of his son who was to be Elijah-like, the forerunner of Messiah (Luke 1:13-19).
*An Angel [Gavriel] pronounced rebuke upon ZecharYah for his unbelief (Luke 1:19).
*An Angel [Gavriel} appeared to the virgin, Miriam saluting her as favored and blessed six times (Luke 1:26-38).
*An Angel appeared to Yoseph concerning Miriam’s impregnation as from the Lord God (Matthew 1:20-23).
*An Angel appeared to the Shepherds in the fields of BeitLechem announcing to them the birth of a savior (Luke 2:9-12).
*An Angelic invasion appeared to the shepherds, then they returned to heaven (Luke 2:13-15).
*An Angelic vision of prophecy concerning the virgin, her child, a red dragon with its seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems, and its tail sweeping one-third of heaven’s stars/angels was given Yochanon about Christmas (Revelation 12:1-9). A [fallen] Angel, a former Cherub was in the shadows to destroy the babe in the manger (Revelation 12:4).
*An Angel, Michael and his angels was waging war with the dragon and his angels (Revelation 12:7-9).
*An Angel-Star appeared to the Magi leading them to BeitLechem (Matthew 2:9).
*An Angel appeared to Yoseph warning him to flee BeitLechem to Egypt (Matthew 2:13).
*An Angel appeared to Yoseph saying return from Egypt to Israel (Mathew 2:19-21).
CHRISTMAS IN MODERN ISRAEL
*Bethlehem is usually visited by many tourists to the Holy Land in December, and many ministries will bring their recorders and iphones to do live broadcasts from Israel. However, Jews are unwelcome in Bethlehem and Yeshua is an unwelcome in Bethlehem as He was two-thousand years ago. Bethlehem is dominated by Muslim Arabs with who call to Allah in their prayers. The magi today would see myriad minarets in Bethlehem, rather than the roofs of Jewish synagogues on the highest hill of the town.
*Bethlehem is no longer a little town, and it is no longer a “house of bread” to Jews. There is no place for David, or Rachel the wife of Yaaqov, and not for Yeshua. There is nothing messianic about the village today.
*In Israel outside Bethlehem, Christmas is celebrated although usually in low profile. Palestinian Arab Christians may put up a tree and even some secular Jews may have a Christmas tree, although they keep it secret less their rabbi makes a call to share his forceful opinion.
*The Christian culture in Israel celebrates Christmas by sharing time and breaking bread rather than focusing on spending, buying, and gifts. Christmas is about time with family and friends, eating and conversation, fellowship and reminiscing.
*Muslims anticipate Ishmael to come and liberate the nation, Jews anticipate the Davidic-like messiah to liberate their nation, and Christians anticipate the return of Messiah Yeshua to set up His kingdom with His teachings, an offense to both Jews and Muslims.
*Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem says the aliya or “going up” Psalm 122. Its context is Christmas, that is, the throne of David being established.
*An Angel spoke to ZecharYah to name his son, Yochanon, and conversed with him about the character and ministry of his son who was to be Elijah-like, the forerunner of Messiah (Luke 1:13-19).
*An Angel [Gavriel] pronounced rebuke upon ZecharYah for his unbelief (Luke 1:19).
*An Angel [Gavriel} appeared to the virgin, Miriam saluting her as favored and blessed six times (Luke 1:26-38).
*An Angel appeared to Yoseph concerning Miriam’s impregnation as from the Lord God (Matthew 1:20-23).
*An Angel appeared to the Shepherds in the fields of BeitLechem announcing to them the birth of a savior (Luke 2:9-12).
*An Angelic invasion appeared to the shepherds, then they returned to heaven (Luke 2:13-15).
*An Angelic vision of prophecy concerning the virgin, her child, a red dragon with its seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems, and its tail sweeping one-third of heaven’s stars/angels was given Yochanon about Christmas (Revelation 12:1-9). A [fallen] Angel, a former Cherub was in the shadows to destroy the babe in the manger (Revelation 12:4).
*An Angel, Michael and his angels was waging war with the dragon and his angels (Revelation 12:7-9).
*An Angel-Star appeared to the Magi leading them to BeitLechem (Matthew 2:9).
*An Angel appeared to Yoseph warning him to flee BeitLechem to Egypt (Matthew 2:13).
*An Angel appeared to Yoseph saying return from Egypt to Israel (Mathew 2:19-21).
CHRISTMAS IN MODERN ISRAEL
*Bethlehem is usually visited by many tourists to the Holy Land in December, and many ministries will bring their recorders and iphones to do live broadcasts from Israel. However, Jews are unwelcome in Bethlehem and Yeshua is an unwelcome in Bethlehem as He was two-thousand years ago. Bethlehem is dominated by Muslim Arabs with who call to Allah in their prayers. The magi today would see myriad minarets in Bethlehem, rather than the roofs of Jewish synagogues on the highest hill of the town.
*Bethlehem is no longer a little town, and it is no longer a “house of bread” to Jews. There is no place for David, or Rachel the wife of Yaaqov, and not for Yeshua. There is nothing messianic about the village today.
*In Israel outside Bethlehem, Christmas is celebrated although usually in low profile. Palestinian Arab Christians may put up a tree and even some secular Jews may have a Christmas tree, although they keep it secret less their rabbi makes a call to share his forceful opinion.
*The Christian culture in Israel celebrates Christmas by sharing time and breaking bread rather than focusing on spending, buying, and gifts. Christmas is about time with family and friends, eating and conversation, fellowship and reminiscing.
*Muslims anticipate Ishmael to come and liberate the nation, Jews anticipate the Davidic-like messiah to liberate their nation, and Christians anticipate the return of Messiah Yeshua to set up His kingdom with His teachings, an offense to both Jews and Muslims.
*Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem says the aliya or “going up” Psalm 122. Its context is Christmas, that is, the throne of David being established.
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