SUMMER 2008 REPORT FROM DR. FRUCHTENBAUM
A very vibrant and well taught Messianic Congregation in Haifa invited me to do a series on the Book of Revelation over the course of three Sabbaths. I had taught there on previous trips on a one-time basis only, but I was able to accommodate this series during the trip since the tour group had Saturdays off for free time. The congregation in Haifa was founded even before Israel’s War of Independence in 1948... More, read the new SUMMER 2008 REPORT (PDF)
CALLING ALL PRAYER WARRIORS
Looking back over the years, I can honestly say that most of the things I fretted over during periods of crisis were never worth the energy I wasted on them. Yes, God has proven Himself to be trustworthy time after time. Today, the things I once viewed as tragedies are now part of my testimony to God‘s continuing faithfulness over many years.
These are difficult days for a lot of folks. National polls suggest that the health of our economy is the major concern of voters in the upcoming elections. Rising energy costs, higher grocery bills, affordability of health care and similar issues are splashed across the daily news headlines. Such shared and prominent tensions provide great opportunities for ministry. More, we invite you to read the JULY-AUGUST 2008 PRAYER BAND (PDF) and pray! Thank You.
OUR CONNECTION WITH GUJARAT
Every two years we have an "Arnold Tour." Last Year, it included a teaching camp. Prior to camp, a believer from Gujarat in northwestern India was introduced to Ariel by group leader David Thomson. Bakul Christian knew nothing about Ariel, Jewish ministry, or any such matters. After attending camp, Bakul recognized the great need for this sort of teaching at his home church in the state of Gujarat (pop. 50,000,000).
Afterward, David Thomson and I were invited to Gujarat to conduct teaching seminars among their leaders. During two weeks last November and December, we taught about the Eight Covenants of the Bible, the Jewish Frame of Reference of the Scriptures, God's Plan for Israel, and much more. All this was via Gujarati-speaking translators. More, please read Ariel New Zealand's report in the new... SUMMER 2008 EDITION NEWSLETTER (PDF)
A WORD FROM ARLIE ABOUT THE SUMMER 2008 NEWSLETTER
Arlie Francis, Ariel's executive director would like to share a few thoughts with you regarding the summer newsletter and the ministry. We invite you to click the button and listen for a short 2 minutes, 21 seconds. Thank You.
DR. FRUCHTENBAUM: THE AFIKOMEN And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20)
Yeshua is the love of Dr. Fruchtenbaum's life. For decades, his series on The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective has been one of his favorite teaching subjects. Arnold recently taught this course at Chafer Seminary, and we've prepared a short video clip (about 6 minutes) for your edification.
In Judaism, the central element of the Passover is the breaking of the Afikomen. We invite you to watch now, as Dr. Fruchtenbaum explains the significance of this ceremony as it relates to Messiah's last Passover celebration with His disciples.
JACQUES GABIZON: PASSOVER, THE HISTORY OF REDEMPTION Ariel Canada in conjunction with Beth Ariel Congregation of Montreal recently hosted their annual Passover demonstration. It was a wonderful time of celebration and fellowship resulting in two people coming to faith in Messiah.
You are invited to LISTEN TO PASTOR JACQUES GABIZON'S inspiring Passover message (5 approximately 15 minute audio teaching segments). Invite your friends, family and acquaintances to enjoy this timely message in remembering Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt that points to the completion of God’s redemptive story in the final Passover Lamb… Jesus.
WHEN WAS THE BOOK OF REVELATION WRITTEN? Several members of the Ariel Ministries staff attended the recent Pre-Trib Research Study Group annual gathering which took place (Dec. 10-12, 2007) in Dallas, Texas. Our own Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum is a founding member of this group and spoke on Wednesday morning. His topic was entitled “The Use of the Old Testament in the Book of Revelation.” His paper was well received and stimulated a number of thought provoking questions from the audience. Since 1991 when Dr. Tim LaHaye founded the Pre-Trib Research Study Group, the annual gatherings have grown from thirty-five in attendance at the first meeting, to almost five hundred people this year.
One of the highlights of the conference was a debate between Dr. Mark Hitchcock and Mr. Hank Hanegraaff (known to many radio listeners as The Bible Answer Man). The debated question was when the Book of Revelation was written. Mr. Hanegraaff contends the Book of Revelation was written before 65 A.D. (a preterist position), and not around 95 A.D., the position held by those who believe in a premillennial and pre-tribulational rapture of the Church. Mr. Hanegraaff identifies himself as an “Exegetical Eschatologist” and contends that most of the prophecies foretold in the Book of Revelation occurred BEFORE 70 A.D. Other interesting positions held by Mr. Hanegraaff include:
· There is no rapture of the Church
· The Anti-Christ was Nero
· The tribulation has already occurred
· The Messianic Kingdom is not a literal 1,000 year period
· We are now living in the millennium
You may be asking – “So what? Why is this important?” The key to understanding prophecy is a literal interpretation of God’s Word. All of the Bible prophecies concerning Messiah’s first coming were completely and literally fulfilled. For this reason, we can have confidence that all of the prophecies concerning His second coming will also be fulfilled in the same way. Bible prophecy proves that God exists, has a plan for the world, and that He is trustworthy in every respect concerning our future hope.
Recognizing the imminent rapture of the Church leads to holy living among God’s people and stimulates an active witness in sharing the Gospel with the lost of this age. It is imperative that the Church teach its young the importance of and the methods to diligently study the Bible from a literal and Jewish perspective.
A BOLD FUTURE FOR CAMP SHOSHANAH
At a recent Ariel Ministries Board of Directors meeting, Dr. Fruchtenbaum gave a report on his observations concerning the spiritual condition of the Messianic Movement. His report was alarming. As a teenager, Arnold came to faith in Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people. For over fifty years he has clung to the Good News of the simple Gospel message that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). More, please read... A SPECIAL LETTER FROM ARIEL'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (PDF)
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