'The Last Hour' through the eyes of a Christian Jew

Despite a woeful ignorance regarding biblical prophecy in the first 50 years of my life, I have come to appreciate prophecy and fellow believers who, based on study of the Bible and observation of current events, have embraced the role of “watchmen on the wall.”

I was introduced to God’s prophetic word about 17 years ago in a Sunday afternoon study of the book of Daniel. That eye-opening study led to a life-altering study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, “… which God gave Him to show to His servants what must soon take place.”

Rather than bringing a sense of confusion and despair, this amazing book has become a source of encouragement – and a motivator to tell others about Jesus, “the way” to eternal life.

Enter Amir Tsarfati, author of a new book titled “The Last Hour.”

Tsarfati, an Israeli Christian, has been used by God in a mighty way in a variety of roles ranging from Holy Land tour guide to speaker, blogger and author. His love for Jesus, and for the nation of Israel, is evident no matter how he chooses to bring his message.

“The Last Hour” is subtitled, “An Israeli Insider Looks at the End Times.”

As is the case with all Bible-based Christian “watchmen,” Tsarfati is motivated not by a spirit of panic or condemnation, but by God’s calling on his life to share the good news (Jesus is the Son of God, Who gave His life to redeem us from the death sentence of unforgiven sin).

The Bible is teeming with good news, and there is scarcely a page in this book that does not cite Scripture as the basis or support of Tsarfati’s message.

In the book's foreword, Dr. David Jeremiah writes in part: “I read The Last Hour in one sitting. I was immediately struck by the author’s personal testimony and intrigued by the way the story of God’s plan for the Jewish people paralleled the way God has worked in his own life.”

Jeremiah continued: “Amir’s defense of the uniqueness of Israel in God’s plan of redemption, and his arguments against replacing Israel with the church leave no room for those who believe that God has forsaken His chosen people.”

Tsarfati’s book is powerful on many levels, impressing upon the reader the infallible nature of God's word, including biblical prophecy. An important element of the author's objective is to share the history of Israel, past and present – and to encourage all with the truth that God is forever true to His promises.

We all (Christians and those who have not embraced Jesus as their personal Savior) have questions about the end times: our personal demise and that of the world. A journey with Tsarfati through this book serves as a powerful encouragement to believers, and a loving invitation to those who are still suffering through this life with a hole in their hearts that only God can fill.

Tsarfati writes in the final chapter of his book: “We are in the last hour. The countdown clock is nearing zero. While time winds down for the world, the hands of our clock are moving in the other direction. The apostle John writes, ‘He who has the Son has life’.”

He continues: “My goal in writing this book is not to cause fear but to bring peace. Fear comes from the unknown. Peace comes from the understanding of God’s plan and seeing that He has things completely under control. I pray that as you finish this book, a hallelujah will be on your lips.”

I strongly recommend “The Last Hour” and also Tsarfati’s wide-ranging “Behold Israel” ministry (www.beholdisrael.org).

I give you thanks, Father, for this inspired servant whose love for you and desire to reflect Jesus are evident in all of his messages, written or spoken. I ask your continued blessing on him and on his family as his answer to your calling takes him to all corners of the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

Face 'giants' in His strength

This morning a devotional reminded me of David, the teen-aged shepherd who fearlessly faced down a giant on the battlefield.

I was reminded of an experience I had in junior high school, when I responded to my own “giant” – not confident but bound by fear.

My family had moved from one state to another, and I was uneasy in my role as “new kid.” Among many intimidating realities about my new school was an awareness that fistfights sometimes took place at “the upper field” after the school day had ended.

Then one morning in the first class of the day a classmate approached me with stunning news: one of the toughest guys in school had let it be known that he was going to fight me after school.

My day was ruined. I struggled through the long hours ahead, totally racked by fear of a fistfight with a fellow student I had never even spoken with.

The day passed slowly. I went to my bus stop, looked around, climbed the stairs to the bus … and arrived home without incident some 15 minutes later. No confrontation, no fistfight.

As it turned out, the classmate who told me about the “fighter’s” plans for me had fabricated the whole story. It was a joke, and it is likely the “giant” who immobilized me with fear did not even know I existed.

“Well,” you might respond, “you were new to the school. You were just a kid, and fighting was not your nature. It was natural to be afraid.”

Those things are true, but the point here is the difference between my response and young David’s to our giants:

David responded to news of a fierce warrior who was blaspheming God (1 Samuel 17:43: “The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”). The young shepherd exclaimed: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37)

Unlike David, I did not respond to the prospect of “battle” with a prayerful appeal to God, with confidence that He would see me through this crisis. Instead, I allowed the lie to devastate me, pulling me into a tortured day teeming with fearful imaginations.

I would like to say I learned my lesson and spent the rest of my teen years trusting in the Lord even when challenges seemed overwhelming. In fact, I continued on many occasions to wallow in fear rather than approaching the Father’s throne with confidence in His covering.

The good news: I have learned, like David, to go to the Father immediately when the challenges of life (giants) threaten to cast me down in fear. I am not saying that I live without occasional lapses of anxiety, but I have fully embraced the truth that fear is NOT part of God’s plan for my life – for ANY of those who have surrendered their lives to His lordship.

I give You thanks, Father, that Your desire for your children is not a life without trials and tribulations, but a life built on a foundation of love and confidence as we encounter and move beyond those challenges in Your strength. There has never been, and will never be, a “giant” You have not already defeated. I pray that all of my sisters and brothers in Christ – young and old – will repeatedly ask for Your gift of supernatural peace.

Genesis 15:1 “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great’.”

Exodus 14:13 “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever’.”

Isaiah 43:1 “But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine’!”

Luke 12:7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Complete in Christ

A popular saying comes to mind as I prepare to embark on an 8-week study of Paul’s letter to the Colossians:

“It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

And then there is the familiar directive I embraced as a career journalist: “Define who, what, where, when and why” before you write your article.

This morning I opened the packet I received yesterday as I am one week away from a detailed study of Colossians.

The study overview, prepared by my son-in-law and daughter (an awesome teaching team!) notes that our culture emphasizes self-examination, self-fulfillment as keys to the healthy life.

“Supposedly, it will set you on a path toward self-improvement,” wrote our teaching team. “Yet, how is this working for most people? A quick scan of culture reveals that no matter how much we know about ourselves, we still fall short.”

Short, that is, of enjoying the eternal blessings of joy and peace.

“In God’s word we find a different approach to identity,” write our study leaders. “In understanding that it’s not about us, but rather about Christ in us, we move from a self-centered faith to a Christ-centered one.”

Jesus. Jesus. It’s all about Jesus!

I look forward to this study of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, who were no different from us as they pondered how to walk out this life with Christ – despite the potentially fatal distractions of the fallen world we live in.

I pray, Lord, that you will bless the commitment of this teaching team, and that of the brothers and sisters who will join together in this study of your Word.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17