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Chapter 15: The
“God of the Armies of Israel” Frustrated the Plans of Hezbollah who had Plans to create an
Inferno when the Israeli Defense Forces Crossed through the Fatima Gate as
they Withdrew from the Security Zone in Lebanon for the last time – never to
return – on what they Believed would be on July 7, 2000. 1 Samuel 17:45 Just as the Lord
revealed to the Prophet Elisha that the King of Syria was planning on Ambushing
the Israelites – the Lord revealed to Mossad, the branch of the Israeli Intelligence
Community that gathers military intelligence regarding Hezbollah, that
Hezbollah was planning to Ambush the IDF on July 7th as they withdrew from
Lebanon. The
“God of the Armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45) revealed to the Prophet Elisha
that the Syrians were planning on attacking Israel (2 Kings 6:8-23) so Elisha
could warn the King of Israel not to go near the place where the Syrians were
mobilizing their forces to ambush the Israelites, thus frustrating the plans
of the Syrians. And, so it was with the Intelligence Community who alerted Prime
Minister Barak of Hezbollah’s plans to “ambush” the IDF by creating an
inferno at the Fatima Gate as the IDF crossed through the Fatima Gate when
they withdrew from Lebanon. And, that is why Prime Minister Barak
“unexpectedly” withdrew the IDF troops on May 22, 2000 instead of July 7th
while I was at the Iranian Embassy praying for their safety as God Frustrated
the Plans of His and Israel’s Enemies. On
the morning of May 22, 2000, just like Elisha’s warning to Israel’s king,
Israel’s Intelligence warned Prime Minister Barak to stay away from the
border on July 7, 2000 after receiving Intelligence reports that Hezbollah
was planning on going down to the Border Israel shares with Lebanon to set an
ambush as the IDF withdrew on July 7, 2000.
By Way of History: Prime Minister Barak’s Decision to have the
IDF leave the Security Zone in Lebanon by July 7, 2000 was due to the public
outcry and pressure from the international community. One of Prime Minister Barak’s campaign
promises was, if elected, he would end Israel’s presence in Lebanon’s
Security Zone. In keeping with his
promise, in early 2000 the Israeli government agreed on July 7, 2000 as the
official date it would withdraw its forces from the Security Zone, expecting
to redeploy them to the internationally recognized northern border of
Israel. However,
on the morning of May 22, 2000, after Israeli Military Intelligence informed
Prime Minister Ehud Barak that Hezbollah was planning a series of bombings on
the IDF as they withdrew from the "Security Zone" on the official
date of July 7, 2000, Barak made the “unexpected” and wise decision to
immediately start the withdrawal of the IDF soldiers on that same night – the
night of May 22 – so that Hezbollah would be unprepared to bomb them. Starting the withdrawal immediately, about
six weeks before the expected date, gave the IDF a great advantage over
Hezbollah, thus spoiling their planned attacks. And,
that was according to God's Will who frustrates the devices of the crafty so
that their hands cannot carry out their plans. Job 5:12 12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their plans. NKJV The IDF’s Military Intelligence was able to gather reports and photographs
from observation points and aerial patrols that provided evidence that
Hezbollah’s top five military officials were coming from their Beirut
headquarters to tour south Lebanon.
The purpose of their visit was to take counsel with those in south
Lebanon and come up with a strategy to sabotage the IDF’s withdrawal on July
7, 2000 by launching rocket attacks on the IDF troops who had been protecting
the SLA in southern Lebanon and Israel’s north border and settlements from
within the Security Zone they controlled as they withdrew. Their plan was to turn the withdrawal into
an inferno. It’s
a Biblical Principle that the “God of the Armies of Israel” time and time
again forewarned the Israelites of attacks from their enemies. And, I have no doubt that it was the “God
of the Armies of Israel” that alerted Israel’s Intelligence of Hezbollah’s
plans to mobilize their forces and turn the “Fatima Gate,” also known as the
“Good Fence” the official border crossing at the time, into an inferno as the
IDF troops withdrew from Lebanon’s Security Zone back onto Israeli soil. Like
the King of Israel who frustrated the plans of the Syrians, Prime Minister
Barak implemented precautionary measures to withdraw Israeli Forces beginning
on the evening of May 22, 2000, the same day he found out about Hezbollah’s
plans to ambush Israeli Forces and while I was interceding in prayer for the
IDF at the Iranian Embassy, which was now the home for a Christian
Ministry. And, in doing so many lives
were saved. God frustrates the plans of schemers like Hezbollah so the work
of their hands will not succeed Job 5:12. Like
the frustrated Syrians in 2 Kings 6:8-23 who could not carry out
their surprise attack against the ancient Israelis, I have no doubt that Iran and
Hezbollah were extremely frustrated that the IDF began to withdraw on May
22nd, approximately six weeks before the planned date of withdrawal, thus
thwarting their plans to ambush the IDF. Prime Minister Barak’s decision to withdraw from Lebanon’s Security Zone may have
shocked the IDF as well as the international community; however, it was in
accordance with the Lord’s Will who held Prime Minister Barak’s heart in His
hands as he made the decision to begin to withdraw the evening of May 22nd! Proverbs 21:1 1 The king’s heart is like a stream of
water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases. NLT The heart of the powerful, whether they are a King or a Prime
Minister, their heart is in the hand of God who can influence their thoughts
and the decisions they make. And, so
it was with Prime Minister Barak. Because
of Prime Minister Barak’s “righteous” decision, the IDF successfully
redeployed within Israel’s northern border, completely vacating the Security
Zone on May 24, 2000 that began on May 22, 2000! Hezbollah may have called on their top five military officials
to come to south Lebanon to devise a strategy to sabotage the IDF’s
withdrawal on what everyone thought would be on July 7, 2000, however, as we
know, their strategies were worthless.
They were unable to succeed because the “God of Israel’s Armies” was
with the IDF as they crossed over the border back into the safety of Israel
on May 22-24, 2000. The God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had other Plans, and as we know, it was God’s plan
that prevailed. Isaiah 8:10 10 Call your
councils of war, but they
will be worthless. Develop
your strategies, but they will not succeed. For God
is with us!” NLT Like the Prophet Jeremiah so boldly claimed – “the Lord of
Heaven’s Armies” (verse 12) was with the IDF troops – the Lord was their
mighty warrior! (Jeremiah 20:11) Jeremiah 20:11 11 But the LORD stands beside me like a
great warrior. Before Him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me.
They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be
forgotten. NLT The
“God of the Armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45) stood alongside Israel and frustrated
the plans of Hezbollah so that their hands couldn't carry out their evil
plans. Job 5:12 12 He
frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out
their plans. NKJV By all accounts, the sudden and rapid redeployment of the IDF’s
forces surprised and shocked the world.
Even the IDF was Surprised at Barak’s Decision: According to IDF soldier Brigadier General
Amos Gilboa, the sudden change of plans even surprised Shaul Mofaz, the IDF’s
Chief of Staff who almost fell off his chair when Prime Minister Barak
ordered the withdrawal to begin that same night they met with Barak on May
22, 2000. It wasn’t until 16 years
later that the reason for the decision became public knowledge. In 2016, IDF soldier Brigadier General Amos Gilboa published the
book, "The True Story of how Israel left Lebanon (May 2000) codenamed:
‘Dawn’" in which he wrote about secret
internal research he did at the time for Israel's intelligence
community. According to General
Gilboa’s account in his book, even IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz,
"almost fell off his chair he was so shocked" when Prime
Minister Barak told him to prepare to withdraw all IDF forces the night of
May 22, 2000 – the same day that Barak received the intelligence regarding
Hezbollah’s plans. On Earth as in Heaven:
Before going further I want to take a moment and address the spiritual
aspects of the 18 year conflict; otherwise, we won’t really understand the
conflict because it’s a Scriptural principle that all battles here on earth
are being fought in the heavens at the same time. Daniel 10, Ephesians 6 and Revelation 12
are just a few Scriptures that address the war in the heavens as humans take
their stand against Satan here on earth. Because
Iran made it possible for Hezbollah to even exist during the 18 year
conflict, the “Geographical Principalities” over Iran need to be examined –
specifically the Spirit Prince and Spirit Kings of Persia. These satanic angels fell when Satan fell
and are under Satan’s command. These
fallen angels continue to have dominion over Iran (ancient Persia) and
continue to operate through Iran and the terrorist organizations, such as
Hezbollah, that Iran supports to try and carry out their goal here on earth,
which is to thwart God’s Will and Plans for Israel and to utterly destroy
Israel. To this day, Hezbollah’s power
politically, militarily and spiritually is the formidable force inside
Lebanon, which means Iran is the power in control of Lebanon. In Essence the Iranian Embassy is
the “Persian Embassy” The
Past is Prologue to the Future – Hezbollah is an Iranian Satrap: Lebanon’s
Fate has become that of an Iranian Satrapy with Hezbollah as their Satrap
(subordinate ruling authority). In
other words, the leaders of Iran, both political and religious, consider
Lebanon to be a province of Iran that is governed by Hezbollah in their
stead. Esther 8:9 Like
their Biblical Forebears, Xerxes (Ahasuerus), Cyrus, and Darius, modern-day
Persia (Iran) had set up Satraps that ruled in their stead in geographical
areas outside of Iran where they had taken control. And Iran’s (Ancient Persia) occupation of
Lebanon through Hezbollah continues to hold the interests of Lebanon and the
Lebanese people themselves in captivity, both politically and spiritually. Esther 8:9 9 The
king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the
month of Sivan, on the twenty-third
day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded
concerning the Jews, to the satraps
and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia,
127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its
own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. ESV Back
to May 22, 2000 when the IDF “Unexpectedly” began to withdraw from Lebanon’s
Security Zone on May 22, 2000 rather than July 7, 2000. What? On the morning of May 22, 2000, Prime Minister Barak made the decision
that the IDF would start to withdraw from Lebanon’s Security Zone on May 22,
2000 while I was literally standing in the “Gateway of the Enemy” at the
Iranian Embassy in Washington, DC, praying for the safe withdrawal of the IDF
on what I thought would be July 7th, which is the date that I, along with the
international community, believed the IDF would withdraw from the Security
Zone. It
was not until I left the Iranian Embassy later that night that I heard on the
news that the IDF had started to withdraw from the Security Zone inside
Lebanon while I was at the Iranian Embassy – however, at the time no one knew
why. It
was not until years later when classified information became unclassified
that along with the International Community I found out that on the morning
of May 22, 2000 Prime Minister Barak was informed by Israel’s Intelligence
that Hezbollah was making plans to create an inferno as the IDF withdrew on
July 7th. Again,
it’s important to point out that Prime Minister Barak didn’t make the
decision to begin to withdraw from Lebanon on the evening of May 22, 2000
until after he was told on the morning of May 22, 2000 of Hezbollah’s plans
to attack the IDF on July 7. Barak’s
decision was “Unexpected” and not only shocked the International Community
but the IDF as well who were preparing to withdraw on July 7, 2000. The
timing of when the Prime Minister found out about Hezbollah’s plans is
significant because I received an invitation to come to the Iranian Embassy
on May 22, 2000 almost a week “before” Prime Minister Barak even found out
about Hezbollah’s plans. More to the
point: I could not have known to be at
the Iranian Embassy as the IDF were literally withdrawing from Lebanon unless
it was by “Divine Revelation.” (A copy
of the Invitation, the envelope with the Postmark and a picture of me
standing in the doorway (gateway) of the Iranian Embassy are in Chapter 8. The
account of Elisha (1 Samuel 17) and Prime Minister Barak are both excellent
illustrations of the omniscience of God who knows the plans of the enemy and
who forewarns us so that we might protect ourselves from Satan’s attacks who
works through those like Hezbollah. Like the Prophet Elisha who Warned the King of Israel that the Syrians were Planning to Ambush the Israelis, we are to
Walk by Faith and not by Sight:
It was by faith that I went to the Iranian Embassy and stood in the
Gateway of My Enemies on May 22-23, 2000 and prayed for God, the God of
Israel’s Army, to grant the IDF safe passage as they withdrew from Lebanon’s
Security Zone and crossed back over into Israel through the “Fatima Gate” in
Metulla back into the safety of Israel. When
I received the invitation to come to the Iranian Embassy on May 22, 2000, no
one, not even Prime Minister Barak, knew that he would issue the order for
the IDF to begin to withdraw from Lebanon’s Security of May 22, 2000. Yet,
I was standing in the Doorway of the enemy (the Iranian Embassy) at the
precise time that the unexpected happened on the world stage – the IDF was
withdrawing through the “Fatima Gate” at the border as I was literally
interceding for their safe withdrawal in the doorway of the Iranian
Embassy. Again, I could not have known to be at
the Iranian Embassy to intercede for the IDF as they were “Unexpectedly”
withdrawing from Lebanon’s Security Zone other than by Revelation from the
Lord! Excerpts from Chapter 8:
While standing in the “Doorway” (the Spiritual Gateway) of the Iranian
Embassy and facing towards Israel and
Jerusalem where God’s Name is – in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ, I
took authority over the Prince and Kings of Persia and commanded them to move
away from the Security Zone as the IDF withdrew from the Security Zone back
into Israel. Why I faced towards Israel:
Facing towards Israel was a prophetic act on my part. When King Solomon dedicated the Temple he
prayed that if His people prayed unto the Lord and His land, the land that
God had chosen and the house which King Solomon built to honor God’s Name, he
asked that God hear their prayers and petitions and uphold their cause. 1 Kings 8:44 44 “If Your people go out to battle against
their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the LORD
toward the city that You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your
name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and
maintain their cause. ESV 1 Kings 8:48-51 48 If they turn to you with their whole
heart and soul in the land of their enemies and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors—toward this
city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor Your name—
49 then hear their prayers
and their petition from heaven where you live, and uphold their cause. NLT I
turned my face towards Israel knowing that God would hear my prayer and
uphold my cause. And, it is to the
glory of God and His faithfulness that God ensured that all the IDF soldiers
withdrew safely from the Security Zone which was not the inferno that
Hezbollah had planned to inflict on the IDF on July 7, 2000, the official
date that everyone thought that the IDF would withdraw. End of Excerpts It
wasn’t until after I left the Iranian Embassy that I found out that the IDF
was literally withdrawing while I was at the Iranian Embassy. Because, like Hezbollah and the rest of the
world, I expected the withdrawal on the official date of the IDF’s withdrawal
would be on July 7, 2000. On the other hand, I wasn’t surprised
because after all, that’s why I was at the Iranian Embassy that specific
night! Why
Prime Minister Barack “unexpectedly” decided that the IDF would begin to
withdraw on May 22 rather than July 7, 2000 is explained in detail in Chapter
8 which includes the documentation that confirms that I was at the Iranian
Embassy on May 22, 2000 while the IDF was literally withdrawing from the
Security Zone in Lebanon and crossing through the “Good Gate,” which was the
official border crossing at that time back onto to Israeli soil. Spiritual Gates: Spiritual gates or gateways are just
as real as physical gates only they are discerned (seen and understood)
spiritually. There are several
spiritual gates mentioned in the Bible, however, the one I want to include in
this chapter is the “Gate of Heaven” because God revealed to Jacob that he
was in the Gate of Heaven through a dream. Gate
of Heaven. In Genesis 28, the LORD appears to Jacob in
a dream and it was through a dream that the Lord revealed that the place
where he had spent the night was a gateway of heaven. Genesis 28:10-17 10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and
went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed
there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of
that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12
Then he dreamed, and behold,
a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and
there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And
behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of
Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will
give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall
be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the
east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the
families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am
with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this
land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to
you." 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I
did not know it." 17 And he was afraid and
said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than
the house of God, and this is
the gate of heaven!" NKJV Notice
that this spiritual gate was shown to Jacob in a dream. Spiritual
gates are not discerned in the natural, but rather, they are revealed
spiritually (e.g., dreams, visions, words of knowledge,
etc.). This gateway was a portal or
entryway between heaven and earth where God’s angels ascended to heaven and
descended to earth and where the Lord Himself stood. Acts
20:22-23 22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit
to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, I am led by the Holy Spirit and am bound to follow the Holy
Spirit wherever He leads me: Like the Apostle Paul, there are times I
come under the power of the Holy Spirit to the point that I know I have no
choice but to go where and when He tells me go and I have stood in many, many
spiritual gateways. And, just as the
Holy Spirit did not reveal everything to the Apostle Paul or to the Apostle
Peter (Acts 10:9-34), neither does He reveal everything to me at one
time. However, in due time the Lord
will “always” reveal the complete picture to me. For example, I didn’t know
for many years why Prime Minister Barak made the unexpected decision to
withdraw the IDF from Lebanon on May 22, 2000 rather than July 7th. We
know from several Scriptures that the Holy Spirit-led the Apostles, and so it
is with those of us today who are Apostolic.
However, Christ forewarns us that not everyone will understand us – in
fact, Jesus tells us that He is pleased that it is God’s will that not
everyone will understand our calling. (Luke 10:21) For that reason it is good that those of us
who have an Apostolic Calling and are led by the Holy Spirit, Walk by Faith
and not by Sight, and really could care less what man thinks! |