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Iraq:

Evangelism

And the Future Facing Christians

The most conspicuous evangelists have gross

misunderstandings about God’s objectives at the End of this Age.

They have no idea what is coming, and what biblical era we are about to enter.

This is one illustration.

By Malcolm B Heap, Midnight Ministries

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"Baghdad is undoubtedly the most dangerous city in the world. I was there last month. When Joel and I walked out of the airport, my friend, George Sada, personal advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, met us. As we climbed into the car, he opened the glove box, pulled out a Smith and Wesson .38 Special pistol, shoved it between our seats, and said, ‘We may need this on the ten mile trip into Baghdad.’

"George has five personal bodyguards who are Assyrians from the north, and they all carried AK-47 Russian assault rifles. They climbed into a car behind us – their job – to protect us at all costs. George accelerated his car to 100 mph and started to move evasively back and forth across the highway. My heart was pounding, as I asked him, ‘Why are you doing this?’

" ‘I want to make sure we are not hit by any incoming RPG’s’ he replied. An RPG is a rocked propelled grenade, and they can destroy a car easily.

"I was astounded as I watched our bodyguards pass us at well over 100 mph and place themselves in harm’s way, shielding us from possible attack. When we ran into a traffic jam in the city, our protectors crossed to the other side of the road and ran head-on into the oncoming traffic at 40 mph, blaring the horn and flashing their headlights. George said, ‘We avoid traffic jams at all costs. This is where suicide bombers look for potential targets. They know you are Westerners by the way you look and we must protect you.’

"This probably sounds overdramatic to some of you, but that is exactly how it happened. We couldn’t stay at a hotel because of the danger, so George put us up at his house. In fact, while I did a radio interview from the rooftop of George’s house, a guard with a machinegun walked the perimeter of the roof with his gun raised and ready. The five machinegun-toting-bodyguards guarded us day and night.

"I stayed in daily contact with the White House, informing them as we met various Iraqi leaders. The President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani (a Kurd from the north), received us graciously with a beautiful gift – a hand carved chess set. I could hardly believe my ears as he told me, ‘I will protect persecuted Christians in Iraq. I will rebuild their churches. I will give them land and a job. I love Christians!’ He also said that his country needed to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their new constitution, which is the primary reason I was in Iraq.

"When we left President Talabani’s home, there were four Iraqi television cameras representing major networks, including Al Arabiya, waiting to interview us. I told them we were there to make sure religious freedom was guaranteed in the new constitution. George was there with us and translated for me. After the interview, George remarked, ‘Now you are the most wanted man by Al Qaeda in all of Iraq, and I am the number two most wanted man.’ I asked him why, and he said, ‘Because of what you just said on national TV and because I interpreted in Arabic for you.’ George is truly a brave man, he lives that danger every day.

"Our primary goal on this trip, however, was the meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari. He is the executive authority in Iraq, while the President, Talabani, is the figurehead. Al-Jaafari is a Muslim from the Dawaa party. In our lengthy meeting, I presented hundreds of petitions that our partners and others had signed, and I requested that they adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the constitution. He seemed startled when I asked him this question: ‘Mr Prime Minister, if someone in Iraq were to change religions from Islam to another faith and be killed for this action, is this not the most basic abuse of fundamental human rights?’ His response was to give me a 45 minute lecture on the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He wouldn’t answer the question!

"Iraqi legislators are divided on the issue of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but many of them support our cause and the bill. And with God’s grace, I am determined to continue influencing this process and encouraging it to progress in the right direction.

"Iraqi lawmakers may be divided, but the Christian community should not be. Please tell your friends to sign our petition by going to our website, www.worldcompassion.tv.

"I want to present these petitions in Baghdad before October 15. We can influence the process until that date. Believe me, this is one of the most important things you will ever do!" (Terry Law, Insider, Vol 3, no 10, 1 Oct 2005.)

Misguided!

You may discern the unbiblical concepts (in bold type) which are propounded above. For those who cannot, let me explain the misconceptions and fallacies mentioned. Before I do, however, I must emphasise that it in no way reflects upon Terry Law as a sincere man of God, or mean that he won’t inherit salvation in the Kingdom of God. God’s rewards are dependent upon your heart’s response, not on your intellect. Motive is all important.

But that doesn’t mean that misunderstandings do not matter. They do! Very much so! They can seriously affect your life and the life of believers who depend upon you for advice or leadership guidance. So, a church leader with misconceptions is a like a guide dog who has lost the scent. Jesus warned:

They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch (Matt 15:14).

Besides the travesty of having a blind leader as your guide, Jesus is also highlighting the problem inherent in most believers, that they tend to blindly follow the leaders. It isn’t just a problem of yesteryear. Human nature hasn’t changed.

The misconceptions in Terry Law’s account above can be outlined by asking him four questions:

1. If you need bodyguards to protect you, in whose arm are you trusting, and in whose name are you going?

Human, not divine.

2. If the primary purpose of you being in Iraq is to ensure that the political process desired by the US government is effected, are you pursuing a human objective, or God’s objective?

A human objective. If God wanted to open the door to mass evangelism in Iraq, He could reveal by a dream or vision, and provide enablement through supernatural means.

3. If your evangelistic effort is undergirded by political processes (such as signing petitions) to push for legislative human changes), are you trusting in the Spirit, or trusting in the flesh?

The flesh.

4. If you need political power to further your aims, your aims are misguided, are they not? You are not in the will of God.

Correcting The False Premises

Jesus said quite simply:

My kingdom is not of this world... My kingdom is not from here (Jn 18:36).

Jesus avoided any involvement in the politics of this world. He didn’t rely upon the arm of man to work out God’s plans and purposes. God had His agenda and Jesus slotted into that. Jesus didn’t pursue an agenda of His own and then beseech God to back Him up. He set us the example of how to operate. He continually listened to, and followed, the Spirit. He tuned out humanly expedient options (Jn 6:15).

Many evangelists go wrong by thinking God’s agenda centres on numbers – ‘souls’. It doesn’t. It centres on His truth.

Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice (Jn 18:37).

Comparatively few are of the truth. God is not calling the majority at this time. His is not a big flock, but a little flock (Luke 12:32).

That’s not a failing or weakness, but a strength.

For I say to you that God is able to raise up children... from these stones (Matt 3:9).

God’s ways are opposite to man’s reasoning.

If a person cannot come to Jesus unless God calls him (Jn 6:44), then God is the instigator of evangelism, not man. Evangelists who plan their strategy are missing vital revelation. They are blind.

This is not the only day of salvation. Second Corinthians 6:2 has been mistranslated as "the day of salvation". It should read "a day of salvation." There are other days of salvation. The next is in the Millennium; and after that is the Great White Throne judgement period (Rev 20:5-15) when anyone alive today who does not know about Jesus will be given their opportunity to be saved then. Millions, perhaps billions, from all previous aeons who never heard of Christ, will be raised up from the grave, granted physical life, and called by God just like you and me now. Their minds will be opened to the truth – the books will be opened to them (Rev 20:12) – and they will choose whether they will live God’s way or not.

It is a diabolical misconception to think that if we don’t reach all these people with the Gospel now that they will be consigned to a horrendous future in a lake of fire that burns endlessly. That is a complete misinterpretation of Bible teaching, and an utter insult to God’s nature of love. It’s nonsense.

That’s why it is written that the Gospel reaches only "as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39; Joel 2:32). Can you exceed the number He intends to call? Of course not. So, just let Him lead you – without great aspirations.

Don’t try to reach a whole nation with the ambition of seeing many converted. If God means it to happen, it will happen. You don’t have to pull any political strings to cause it. God will arrange it like He did with Paul. Paul didn’t try to reach top echelons of Roman government. God organised it.

The Biblical Benchmark

What are we to strive for? Reaching massive numbers with the Gospel? That’s not paramount.

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ... that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil 1:27).

Striving to reach numbers is a physical goal. It is the spiritual goal that must supercede the physical.

We know that in due course EVERY knee will bow to the King of kings (Phil 2:10). But, not in this age, nor with the help of man. It will be despite man!

Those who strive to see the physical objective achieved in this life are not submitting to the Spirit. Did any of the faithful see the physical inheritance or fulfilment of the promises in their physical lives? No. (Heb 11:13.) Don’t seek it then, either.

What we all need is sound judgement, more faith, and discernment.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and discernment (Phil 1:9).

Evangelists would be better advised to sort out their misconceptions, so their teaching comes into line with the biblical benchmark for truth. If they strove for the faith of the Gospel, instead of striving for numbers with the compromised gospel they have, unity of the Spirit would be much closer.

Dreams From God

God has revealed in dreams to prophets what is coming, not just in Iraq, but in most countries of the world. It’s a tragic picture, but one that we must each face with courage and resolve, putting our physical aspirations behind us, and keeping the spiritual aspirations of the Kingdom of God in front.

These dreams corroborate the fact that the time Jesus spoke of as the worst time in the history of the world is nearly upon us:

For then there will be GREAT tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matt 24:21).

For nation will rise against nation, and king- dom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake (Matt 24:7-9).

And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (24:10).

We have received several dreams about the Tribulation and our urgent need to prepare our minds for what is coming (see the leaflet Get Ready For The Time of Trouble).

Most Christians don’t realise what Jesus inferred when He said not one stone of the Temple would remain in place (Matt 24:2). Now, the spiritual Temple of God is the Church (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19).

In the fearsome time coming shortly, every Christian church will be ‘thrown down’. This is what Jesus meant and implied in Matthew 24:2 and which we explain in our tome, Understanding The Book of Revelation. The only exemptions will be those who comply with man rather than with God (Rev 13) – the Roman Catholic harlot (Rev 17) and other monolithic State churches.

Christians will be nearly wiped out (Rev 6:9-11) as Satan attempts again to expunge truth from off the earth (Rev 12:13). But Jesus promised us that the gates of hades (the unseen place, or the grave) would not prevail against her entirely (Matt 16:18).

In this time, God’s greatest Gospel witness will go forth (Matt 24:14), not with preaching by word, but witness by example – the witness (Grk marturion) of dying for Jesus – martyrdom.

Following are some dreams given to Kassahun Ayele in Ethiopia about the situation in Iraq:

Islamic Division And Violence

Islamic invasion and division amongst themselves.

Nov. 7/03. K. I saw divisions in Islamic religion. Moslems were completely in disagreement with each other and killed each other. Some of them were burning the Koran. Others were burning mosques. The scene was terrible.

Comment: This scenario is what has occurred since in Iraq, and in some other places. "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Cor 14:33).

Factionalism In Iraq

July 25/04. K. War and factionalism to continue in Iraq.

-228I saw a very horrible scene in Iraq. The country was left to various factions after the coalition had left the country. I saw long and fierce battles between various factions. There were corpses and blood everywhere. The scene was very terrible.

Anti-Americanism Rising

October 22, 05. K. Anti-Americanism rising.

I saw many foreigners (mostly Americans) had been killed and were lying in the streets. Their corpses were naked [this depicts the utter disrespect shown to them] and all were covered with blood.

I was very sad and began pleading with some of the passers-by to help me bury them, but no one was willing. I wept for those killed and left the place.

Comment: This is now beginning to happen as a result of the American invasion of Iraq, and will get much worse. It was predicted and repeated in the opening remarks on page 5 of Sunday Versus Sabbath: The Final World Crisis.

Taken Hostage

Nov 29/05. K. I was on a city bus with many others. The bus was heading to the place where I was living. But half way on the road there came a young man with two guns pointed at the bus.

The driver stopped the bus for fear of being shot. The man ordered the driver to come down from the bus and he did as commanded. Later we also came down and they took us as hostages.

Comment: This sort of incident is going to occur more frequently, with people taken hostage indiscriminately, as has been taking place recently in Iraq.

Christian Places of Worship Attacked

May 10/03. K. Protected from bombs.

I was among brothers and sisters. We were all united praising God on a Sabbath day when our prayers and sermon were interrupted by bombs, which I saw had been thrown at our meeting place, but we didn’t get hurt.

Murdering The Saints

June 23/04. K. Christian Meetings To Be Murderously Disrupted.

We were gathered in a large and beautiful hall for a spiritual meeting. Suddenly unknown men who hold heavy weapons in their suitcases take us as hostages. They commanded us to kill each other. There were many Indians in the hall with us and our kidnappers gave orders to those Indians to begin killing each other. I pray silently to God to deliver us from these maniacs if it is His will. In the next moment I found myself outside the hall with others.

Meaning: This may depict that the devil wants to destroy our work for God by using his agents. But God will protect us from his evil schemes. I don't know who the Indians represent.

[Possible meaning: Literal situations that will arise, and those like you who are faithful to God will be supernaturally delivered in the troubles. Perhaps the Indians represent a future major target for Al Qaeda terrorists. Some of these terrorists have close links with radical Pakistani Muslims or are of that ethnic background.]

Religious Interference

January 13/05. K. Interference In Christian Worship.

An Arab dressed in a soldier's uniform came to our meeting place suddenly and began to entertain us without our permission. I told him to stop his nonsense.

But he threatened to kill all of us and left the place.

Comment: The Abomination that causes desolation (Dan 9:27, explained in Daniel's Prophecies for Our Time!) is military power that dominates and oppresses, and controls religion. It takes away freedom and will interfere with Christians' worship.

Likewise, similar demonic oppression will be exerted by Arabs and militant Muslims over Christians under their domain. Muslims (the Islamic ‘faith’ was birthed amongst the Arabs) tend to be oppressive and aggressive in their approach, intimidating others, expecting them to accept Islam, too. [The Bible Speaks, Vol 2, Nos 61 and 62 reveal the truth about the Muslim religion.]

Ruthless Military Attacks On Truth

Sep 14/05. K. Ruthless onslaught coming against Truth.

My home was surrounded by local militia men. One of them broke down the door and went straight to the large wooden box where my valuable books and translated materials were stored. He called his friends to help him carry the box. I shut the door, refusing to let them take my property but one of them used his gun to beat me on my head. I fell to the ground unconscious. When I came round, the wooden box was gone. I cried with a broken heart and went into the street hoping to find these enemies but all my efforts were in vain.

Comment: This may not depict a literal event, although it is very possible, and we have to be prepared for what is coming. The dream is a warning, just as Joseph was warned that evil men wanted to kill the baby Jesus (Matt 2:13), police and army will try to stamp out Christian truth.

We take many precautions to secure and protect the truths of God from being destroyed. Satan’s greatest target is the truth of God. He attacks it in every way he can. This onslaught is figuratively portrayed in Rev 12. (The woman embraces the truth.)

Martyrdom

March 2/06. K. Many are dying for Jesus, and many more will die shortly to be true to His name.

I saw many people carrying long and heavy crosses on their shoulders. They were walking slowly. They were very tired and sweating profusely. My sympathy went out to them.

I came near to one of them and asked where they were going. He smiled and said to me, "We are martyrs."

Comment: Not every Christian is called to be a martyr, but many are in our age. It is not an easy assignment, symbolised by the long and heavy crosses in the dream, and the other imagery of their suffering and toil.

But in every situation that we are called to endure, God does not let us suffer beyond our capacity (1 Cor 10:13). He gives you an enablement, through courage, faith, will, and a spirit of resignation that provides the inner peace needed in such trying situations.

Through the Spirit of God, whatever you are called to face, you can go through for Him, if you are willing. The last four words are the key.

The man in the dream had that "peace that passes all understanding" (Phil 4:7).

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your forbearance be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4:4-9.)

Helena Sees The Demons In Muslims

1st Nov 2006. Helena. Iraq.

On the TV news the night before this vision, I saw more horrific scenes of bombing in Iraq. A wedding procession had been attacked. There were many dead and injured, especially children. It was horrendous! People are in total despair after the deaths of so many family members.

God gave me a vision of a Muslim full of demons attacking others. There is so much hatred between Muslims, and in Muslims against those who are not Muslims. All this is being stirred up in people by demons.

The devil uses war to promote hatred and revenge which is against God’s law of love and mercy. Those who promote evil and hatred are used by the devil, who is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2).

Enduring To The End

What we have to understand is that God is allowing spiritual enemies the ascendancy because it is the time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jer 30:7) – many of Jacob’s descendants being in Britain and America. The balance of power in the world is changing fast.

When God’s standards of righteousness are rejected, and replaced with humanistic substitutes, we have effectively said ‘no’ to God and ‘yes’ to demons. Deuteronomy 28 contains the spiritual outline.

Wickedness is taking over because the majority has chosen it. God has to let people eat the fruit of what they choose – collectively, nationally, and individually. When He sees (which man can’t) that hearts are ready to receive Him, then He can step in to change circumstances and call people.

So, if God has permitted evil spiritual powers to take control of Iraq in order to humble her, as well as begin the humbling of America and Britain for their brazen pride, it is futile to attempt to try and change the situation by human evangelism.

Our duty is to remain faithful to Him in personal obedience and love, despite the awful situations that will arise (Matt 24:9-13). Jesus has forewarned us, as He forewarned His first disciples.

...he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matt 24:13). ...I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt 28:20). Malcolm B Heap

Bible quotations are from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise stated

Further Reading

Help In Trials (HIT)

Enduring To The End in Articles of Faith, Vol 4 (£5)

Why Suffering? (WS) Why Do Christians Suffer? (WCS)

Why Hell? (WH) Why Trials? (WT) Why Have Faith? (WHF)

The Bible Speaks vols 1-5 (TBS1-TBS5)

Our Sabbath Rest (S) The Controversy Concerning Law and Grace (LG)

The Faith Once Delivered To The Saints (FOD)

Sunday Versus Sabbath: The Final World Crisis (SS)

Revelations From God About The Judgement Of Britain (Jud)

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Further Dreams From God

Concerning Iraq

Cause Of Middle East Turmoil

30th November 2006. H. Hostility erupts much more.

I saw a man with a turban on his head. God lifted the turban and showed how the demons had taken over his head; he had become hostile.

Meaning: We are seeing this hostility in Iraq, Lebanon and other war torn countries. The devil is stirring up the nations to war.

In Despair? Go Deeper In Him

10th Dec. 2004. M. In Despair? Go Deeper In God.

There was a news item on the TV news yesterday about a young Iraqi Christian woman. She had been kidnapped for eight days and a large ransom was demanded from the wealthy family. In tears she related some of her ordeal. She was stripped naked and tortured in horrible ways. She was repeatedly raped and tormented for eight days. Finally, the family scraped together $10,000 ransom and she was released (many others are not!). As we heard this sordid and tragic tale, our hearts went out to her and of course, we prayed that God would heal her deep psychological wounds. That night God gave me a dream about her, that for her to receive that healing, she needs to go deeper in Him.

Comment: If you are unfamiliar with the expression 'going deeper in God', it means to give up oneself more to God, to relinquish love of self, to lay oneself completely at His feet, just as Jesus allowed Himself to be cruelly nailed to a cross and die. It is a matter of yielding your spirit and will to God.

George Bush Was Guided By Demons

15th January 2007. H. 1) George Bush deceived.

I saw the face of George Bush. A snake moved across it. There were demons present around his head. [His policies were governed by demons.]

Comment: He is sending more troops to Iraq where many will face death because of the hostility against westerners there. The devil has led him to this decision and demons are now influencing his judgement.

God Has Iraq Solutions

26th August 2006. M. Iraq.

God gave answers to dealing with insurgents in Iraq. There were three different approaches needed to deal with them, according to the three different types of people they were targeting. But I was not permitted to record these answers, and they were wiped upon awakening.

Comment: This epitomises how God is withholding wisdom and answers from America and Britain now, because they have ignored Him.

The solution to war and unrest that affects every country, including Iraq, is in the message which Jesus brought. It’s recorded for us in the Bible, and we expound it in MM literature. Since God has given the solutions there, He has no need to reiterate them in a dream. If people won’t accept what He says in the Bible, final solutions will elude them until they are willing to accept Jesus, the Son of God, and the love that He brings to share with all who obey Him.

The above are merely some of the many revelations which God has given us in dreams during the Iraq conflict. God is continually revealing Himself, His mind, and His love. He will yet extend His loving hand further into that war-torn country.