Check this out. How does this relate to end time prophesy? Any comments, observations or Scriptures? Is this the beginning of the end? Please pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Voice Of The Martyrs newsletter Sept. 27, 2005Public Slurs Taunt Israeli Messianic JewsOn September 12, the Israeli High Court heard a petition from anultra-orthodox group, the Gur Hassidim, requesting permission to holdmassive demonstrations outside the home of Polly Sigulim, a Messianic Jew.Since April 2004, the group has been holding smaller demonstrations weeklyoutside her home in Asad. The demonstrations included shouts and insultsagainst Christians and Jesus. The authorities banned the demonstrationswhen the harassment began escalating. Gur Hassidim has requested permission for a demonstration of 700 people.The High Court President, Aharon Barak, suggested a compromise of a250-person demonstration once a year. He ordered the lawyers of the policeand the Hassidim to discuss his idea, but they were unable to reach anagreement. As a result, a ruling on this matter from the High Court isexpected to be issued soon. According to a September 21 report from CompassDirect, a Jewish girl became a Christian after reading a New Testament thatwas given to her by the Sigulim family. After she turned eighteen and wasbaptized, ultra-orthodox Jews began to organize demonstrations in front ofthe Sigulim home.Demonstrations and harassment against Messianic Jews is prevalent in Asad.A blog posting by Shmulik Eitan recounts the treatment of his sister and herhusband, Yakim Figueras, pastor of the Messianic Jewish congregation inAsad. Eitan claims that the family experiences abuse almost daily. Stonesare thrown at their home and taunts are shouted at them, such as "Jesus thebastard," "Nazis" and "filthy Christians." Last year, a chess club operatedby a Christian couple, Eddie and Lura Beckford, was severely damaged afterprotestors broke in and lit the facility on fire. On September 17, ademonstration at the chess club required police intervention after thedemonstrators became unruly. The crowd disbursed only after policethreatened them with arrest.Pray that the harassment against these families will cease. Pray for thecontinued ministry of this congregation in the midst of this turmoil andadversity. Video footage of the demonstrations being held outside of theSigulim home can be viewed at http://www.persecution.net/news/israel4.html For more information on difficulties facing Christians in Israel, go tohttp://www.persecution.net/country/israel.htm Read Glenn Penner'sSeptember 19 weblog, "Caught in the Middle in the Middle East"http://www.persecution.net/weblog.htm for further commentary on theresponse of Western Christians to persecution in the region.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
