Dear prayer partners
The Jewish festival of Succoth, or Feast of Tabernacles, was celebrated in Israel last month. It is one of the three Biblical feasts, or seasons appointed by God, yet it is not part of the Christian tradition. Unlike Passover or Pentecost, when the Church celebrates major events in God’s plan of salvation at the same time as Jews remember major events from their history, this fall celebration was for centuries a symbol of division rather than unity between Christians and Jews.

Yet the prophetic Scriptures present a very different picture. The prophet Zechariah proclaims: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zech 14:16). An Orthodox Jew once remarked in a conversation that he was quite surprised when he read the passage because he realized that we will be celebrating this feast together. When this word is fulfilled, Jews will no longer see Christians as strangers or idol worshippers but will embrace them as their own. It is implied that they will have discovered that Jesus is not their enemy or a foreigner but their brother and saviour. Like Joseph’s brothers, they will learn that his suffering was preordained by God for the salvation of the world, and that he is their flesh and blood.
In fact, it will take a change in mind-set on the part of Christians as well. Those who will go up to Jerusalem will have understood that the Jews have a special role in God’s plan and recognized the importance of Jerusalem. There will be no room for replacement theology or antisemitism. The great mystery that Paul often refers to in his writings will become manifest: there will be one body, from Jew and Gentile, together worshipping the Lord, the God of Israel.

Since 1980, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has organized a Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles as a prophetic foretaste of things to come. We are told that we managed to turn this time into high holiday-season in Israel, with tens of thousands of Christians visiting the land. This year’s Feast was particularly colourful. As we watched worship teams from Israel, Brazil or Fiji taking turns on the podium and demonstrating a wide variety of cultural expressions, we were reminded of another prophetic vision from the book of Revelation: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” (Rev 7:9)

More and more pilgrims from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Oceania are coming to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, which reflects the amazing work of God among the nations. We have a sense that with each passing year, we are drawing closer to the fulfilment of the great promises God has for Israel and for the nations, and that the stage is being set for the grand finale.

Let us pray together that the fullness of the Gentiles might come in (Rom 11:25) and for the Jewish people to be able to say to Jesus: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mt 23:39). Then they will see Him.

Indeed, we live in exciting times. Make plans to join us next year at the Feast and witness this marvellous global movement of God’s Spirit. Next year in Jerusalem!
Mojmir Kallus

ICEJ Vice President, International Affairs

1) Prayer for Israel

Stepping into Full Spiritual Blessing
Continue to pray that this would be a Jubilee year of prophetic release for Jerusalem, even as we celebrate past liberations of Jerusalem from 50 and 100 years ago.
May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfil all your petitions! (Psalm 20:5)

Aliyah and Integration
Pray for Aliyah and the geopolitical situation in the Former Soviet Union. Troubles in terms of instability and economic hardship are driving Aliyah numbers up but are simultaneously making the process more difficult overall.
“My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” (1 Sam. 2:1-2)
Pray for the social conditions and upward mobility of the Ethiopian community. They have made great strides, but their youth are still beginning their lives from a worse starting point than many of their peers. Pray for good teachers and role models and healthy edifying pastimes outside of school.

“How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)

Security
The Hamas and PLO seem to be making concrete progress on a unity government. Pray that this will not create a united adversary but rather a better partner for Israel, and that this is will not provide opportunity for Hamas to expand infiltration of the West Bank.
“I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies…” (Genesis 22:17)

Pray for Operation Good Neighbor in the North, where Israel, together with Christian organizations, is attempting to alleviate the suffering in Syria.
“But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:5)

Pray for water security for Israel. The lake of Galilee is threatening to go saline. This will affect Israeli water exports to Jordan, which is an important component of the two countries’ relationship.

“For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a landof brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys...“ (Deut 8:7)
2) Prayer for the nations

Middle East
Pray for the Kurds and their national aspirations. The Kurds have suffered much at the hands of oppressive governments, yet they have managed to create a well-functioning autonomous region in Northern Iraq, and their fighters have been instrumental in holding the line against ISIS. Pray that they may be blessed for their favourable attitude toward Israel and that they may enjoy unity in adversity. Pray for the local body, especially as the central government in Bagdad imposes a flight ban and deploys military forces to secure its interest.

The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia… (Daniel 10:13)

3) Prayer for the ICEJ
ICEJ Events
The ICEJ is active year round. We both organise and impact events related to Israel in the country and internationally. Pray for our leadership that they will be granted access to and favour.

“And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favour in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the sceptre.” (Esther 5:2)
ICEJ’s Israeli Partners

Pray for our Israeli friends and partners who are great enablers of the ICEJ’s support and aid efforts in Israel, that they would be encouraged and inspired by the love and support that Christians have for Israel globally.

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down tin his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” (Eph. 2:14-16)

ICEJ Staff
Pray for the health, integrity and strength of our National Branch directors around the world, who are promoting God’s purposes for Israel and the body of Christ tenaciously and effectively.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—sour faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)
Pray for the health and recuperation of the staff after an enormous effort at the Feast of Tabernacles. Also pray for the many Feast Team Members who joined HQ staff from all over the world, that they would be richly blessed and strengthened.
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31)