What’s Really happening in Gaza!
Posted by tdtwonations on January 9, 2009
There are so many major stories developing in the conflict in Gaza in the last few days. Here is a quick rundown:
The Gaza Strip- Israel’s Defense Forces have entered the Gaza Strip in a ground war offensive against Hamas after a week of air attacks. Hamas has vowed to fight to the death and they may get their wish as Israel appears to mean business this time. After 3 1/2 years of receiving a missile every three hours compliments of Hamas, this otherwise passive government has decided to go after the terrorist group. On December 23rd the Hamas terrorist government voted unanimously to institute Sharia Law in the Gaza Strip. They are receiving their cues from another terrorist government run by the Ayatollah in Iran. They have become the new spiritual mentors of Hamas. One of the things that Sharia Law calls for is death by crucifixion in certain cases. Check out this quote right from the Qur’an:
In Surah 5:33, The Qur’an mentions crucifixion as a form of punishment for those who fight Allah and his messenger.
- ‘The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.’ Surah 5:33
Because of this verse in the Qur’an crucifixion is still one of the Hadd punishments in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran’s Islamic Criminal Law, Article 195)[33].
The Iranian Influence-The Iranians are especially proud of crucifixion since it was invented in their country when it was part of the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC. Most people think that the Romans invented this gruesome persecution that our Lord Jesus endured, but they merely perfected it. The Persians practiced it several centuries before the Romans even heard of it. It is being practiced in Iran today and sadly, now it will be a part of the Gaza Islamic death culture. The targets will be supposed “Israeli sympathizers” and believers. One time while we were in the Gaza Strip, 4 men were hung because terrorists suspected them of collaborating with the Israelis. After the men had been executed, they were found to be not guilty, but of course it was to late and what’s more, no one seemed to care. How sad and ironic it is that the people of Persia now called Iran have brought back the cruel practice of crucifixion to the land of Israel.
How to Pray-This is an important time to pray for the believers in Gaza and for the suffering people of the Strip. We have spent many days in the refugee camps and the people are so open to Christ. This is also a time to pray for the IDF soldiers who are trying to make Israel a safe place by ridding the region of Hamas. We know Israeli soldiers who are believers and they are now in for the fight of their lives. Everyone will be thrilled if Hamas is successfully defeated. Both Jews and Palestinians have suffered tremendously under their evil. Because Hamas has an unrealistic obsession with eliminating the nation of Israel, both Jews and Palestinians fear for their lives today. Jews are in bomb shelters in the Biblical cities of Ashkelon, and Ashdod and in other southern Israeli towns, villages and cities. Palestinians likewise are confined to their homes as the streets of Gaza are far to unsafe for anyone to leave their homes.
Pastor Hanna and his family are safely out of Gaza and so are many of the believers from the Gaza Baptist Church. Pastor Hanna will be at our e3 World Conference in a few weeks.
The Map- I have attached a map so you can see the major conflict areas. The first map shows Gaza and you should be able to enlarge it to see it better. In Gaza City the “The Gaza Training Center” that was hit by a missile is right across the street from the Gaza Baptist Church. The church is on the frontlines of the conflict! In the second map you can see the places that have been receiving the missiles from Hamas. Since this is a UN Map, you can clearly see the anti-Israel bias as it says “reported Hamas rocket attack locations.” The people of these cities and villages have had to run to safety in bomb shelters on an almost daily basis for years now. I’m sure the people living in southern Israel can attest to the fact that these are real attacks not merely “reported attacks.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this email. Please pray that God would give Israel a victory over Hamas! This would make life so much better for Israelis and Palestinians. May God be glorified in the midst of all this!
There are so many great things that are happening for the Lord in the Middle East despite the war in Gaza. Even though the Middle East is in conflict once again, this is going to be a great year for the Lord in the region. People are desperate, open and ready for Jesus. He is the only answer to all of this!
God Bless you. We love you! Tom and JoAnn
