Introduction Messenger September/October 2013

"How do we know we are living in the last days?" "What makes you so sure that the church has not replaced Israel?" "You focus too much on Israel - shouldn't we be more concerned as Christians about being light and salt in the world"? These are some of the questions we are often asked in our work as Christians for Israel, and they are good questions. The answer is - we don't know everything, and we do not pretend to hold the whole truth. But we simply trust God's word as true and faithful, and seek to understand and discern the times we are living in in the light of that Word, and encourage others to do the same.

When speaking about His coming again, and the "end of the world" (referring not to the destruction of the earth, but to the end of this period of world history), Jesus told us to wait, watch, and discern the signs of the times (Matthew 24). One of the most important signs, He said, is the fig tree: "When its branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you will know that the summer is near". His disciples understood that He was referring to Israel. We cannot know the hour or the day of His coming, but we can make sure we are waiting and watching and discerning the signs of His coming. Today, the fig tree (Israel) is sprouting leaves. After almost 2000 years of dispersion, persecution, and attempted genocide, the Jewish people are coming to life. This is a miracle the enemy is not happy about. That is why we are also witnessing the second great sign of the coming of Christ - the "falling away", or "mystery of lawlessness" (see eg. 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Thessalonians 2). Confusion, worldliness, and lack of love all around us.

When we study God's word, and seek to discern the world in which we live, we can be sure that we are living in the "last days". Thank God that that is a cause for hope, not despair! We can hold our heads high, as our "redemption is nigh".

We hope you will be encouraged as you read the stories in this edition of The Messenger. They are all signs of hope - sure messages that the King is coming, to establish His kingdom on earth. Maranatha.

God bless you.
Andrew Tucker, Executive Director