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Chapter 18: Spiritual Warfare at the Iranian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on May 22-23, 2000. This particular chapter covers:
1. The two Spiritual Battles going on Simultaneously: (1) The Security Zone in Lebanon that the IDF was withdrawing from back onto to Israeli soil and (2) the Iranian Embassy here in the U.S.
2. The U.S. State Department Rented the Iranian Embassy in Washington D.C. to a Christian Ministry
3. Praying in an Area under the Influence of a Demonic Principality, specifically the Prince and Kings of ancient Persia (Daniel 10)
First and Foremost, the Battle between the IDF, the SLA and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Terrorist Organization was a “Spiritual Battle.” And, that is why I was at the Iranian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on May 22, 2000 Engaged in Spiritual Warfare as the IDF were literally and “unexpectedly” beginning to withdraw from Lebanon’s Security Zone.
As mentioned earlier, at the request of the US State Department, the Iranian Diplomats had to vacate the Iranian Embassy in April 1980 and return to Iran. And, any time Diplomats have to vacate their Embassy at the request of the US State Department, the US State Department is responsible for the upkeep of their Embassy. And, for that reason the US State Department will rent the vacated Embassy to raise money for the upkeep. Hence, the U.S. State Department rented the Iranian Embassy to a Christian Ministry which opened the door for me to go to the Iranian Embassy on May 22-23, 2000 to pray for the safety of the IDF as they withdrew from the Security Zone.
Like the Prophet Daniel, I was praying in an area under the spiritual authority of the demonic prince/principality of Persia. And, on May 22, 2000, the Lord sent me to the Iranian Embassy to confront the Prince and Kings of Persia in the same way that Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi and confronted Satan at the Gates of Hell.
And, that brings me to a more detailed account of the events at the Iranian Embassy located in Washington, D.C. on the evening of May 22-23, 2000 as the IDF soldiers who were scheduled to withdraw from Lebanon’s Security on July 7 were beginning their “unexpected” withdrawal from Lebanon’s Security Zone back into Israel on May 22, 2000. |
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This is a picture of me standing in the doorway of the Iranian Embassy on May 22, 2000. You can see the house number “3003” above my head. And, there are pictures of the Iranian Embassy online that will verify that the doorway I am standing is indeed the doorway of the Iranian Embassy.
It was not until after I left the Embassy that I found out that the IDF actually began their withdrawal from the Security Zone in Lebanon while I was at the Embassy interceding for their safe withdrawal from Lebanon’s Security Zone.
There is a Scriptural basis as to why the Lord had me at the Embassy at that particular time – Daniel 10 and Ephesians 3
It is a well known fact that when Diplomats are inside their Embassy and grounds they consider themselves as being on their own countries soil. In other words, when I was at the Iranian Embassy on May 22-23, 2000, spiritually speaking, it was as good as actually being in Iran.
In Chapter 8 and also later in this study I include a copy of the formal Invitation I received to the Embassy that includes the date of May 22, 2000 and the Embassy’s address of 3003 Massachusetts, NW, Washington, D.C.
I also include a copy of the envelope the invitation was mailed in with the Postmark of May 15, 2000 which was eight days before Prime Minister Barak even found out about Hezbollah’s plans to attack the IDF on July 7, 2000, the official date of their withdrawal.
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Spiritual Warfare: And, as the IDF soldiers began their “unexpected” withdrawal from Lebanon on May 22, 2000, in obedience to the Lord and by His Divine Intervention I was at the Iranian Embassy in Washington, D.C. engaged in spiritual warfare with the principalities operating through the Iranian-backed terrorist: Hezbollah.
Jesus Christ gave us the power over all the enemies of darkness (Luke 10) and it was in His name that as I stood in the doorway of the Iranian Embassy facing towards Israel that I took authority over the Prince and Kings of Persia (Daniel 10) as the IDF soldiers began their withdrawal to ensure their safety.
While all Christians will be confronted with battling our spiritual adversary, the devil – some of us are called to participate in spiritual warfare by pulling down the spiritual strongholds of the devil. A Stronghold of the enemy can also be referring to the physical location where the enemy has set up his stronghold – like the Iranian Embassy and the Iranian Diplomats who are under the influence of the Prince and Kings of Persia who oversee the Embassy.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, NKJV
At the request of the State Department, the Iranian Diplomats have long since departed from the United States. However, the Prince and Kings of Persia, which were the geographical principalities that influenced the Persian government during Queen Esther’s day and that Daniel 10 speaks about, didn’t leave the Iranian Embassy here in America. The Iranian Embassy, though vacated by the Iranian Diplomats, is still owned by Iran which means that the Iranian Embassy in Washington, D.C. is still a Spiritual Stronghold for the country of Iran here in America! Just as the foreigners from other Countries brought the worship and images of their pagan gods with them when they settled in Israel (2 Kings 17:24-33), the Iranians brought their pagan gods with them when they established their Embassy her in America.
And, when the Lord called me to confront the Prince and Kings of Persia operating behind Hezbollah the Iranian-backed terrorist organization that was hell bent on turning the IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon into inferno as the IDF was departing from the Security Zone of Lebanon back into Israel, the Lord opened the door for me to literally be at the Iranian Embassy as the IDF literally started to withdraw on May 22-23, 2000.
Commanding the Prince and Kings of Persia to back away from the Security Zone:
As I stood in the doorway of the Iranian Embassy, which is the gateway of a stronghold, I faced towards Israel and in the Name of Jesus and by His power and authority commanded the Prince and Kings of Persia to back away from the Security Zone and allow the IDF and any members of the SLA who wanted to leave Lebanon and cross over into Israel – to cross over safely.
Jesus Christ literally went to a Stronghold of Satan: One of the longest and roughest journeys that Jesus made was to Caesarea Philippi in the northernmost part of Israel. Caesarea Philippi was a particularly pagan area that the locals referred to as the Gates of Hell because the locals believed that the geographical area where they lived was literally the gates to hell. Some may find it strange that the most profound prophetic word spoken by Christ was spoken at a pagan stronghold and not the Temple in Jerusalem. However, Christ chose to go to the enemy’s geographical stronghold and boldly let Satan know that the Gates of Hell would not prevail over His Church.
Anyone who understands “Spiritual Warfare” knows that it was not just happenstance that the Lord opened the door for me to be at the Iranian Embassy as the IDF were safely escaping from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorists. Ephesians 6 and Daniel 10
The Lord opened the door for me to be at the Iranian Embassy on May 22, 2000 - to intercede in prayer that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah would not be in a position to attack or cross over the border into Israel as the IDF withdrew from Lebanon. I'm sure the Lord had many intercessors around the world praying for the IDF as they started to withdraw from the Security Zone. It's just that my place on the wall, so to speak, was the Iranian Embassy. You can only imagine the rage the Iranians would have had if they knew that a Christian was standing in the doorway of their Embassy praying for the safety of the SLA and IDF.
Ephesians 6:12 reveals that our battles are spiritual in nature, that first and foremost our battle is with Satan, the principalities, and the evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.
As previously noted, it’s not that we don’t have our battles with flesh and blood because we certainly do. However the subjugation of the physical world is easy compared with the task of battling and conquering our invisible enemies who are operating behind those people they are able to influence. In other words, our physical enemies here on earth will only be subdued “after” the principality(s) operating through them are subdued.
The Christians battle is against the invisible spirits of spiritual wickedness that seeks to destroy Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And, until Christ returns these evil spirits will be the source and origin of all our spiritual battles. However, the Good News of the Gospel is that the Lord has equipped us with His armor (Ephesians 6) that enables us to take our stand against these fallen principalities. And, we are able to overcome in these spiritual battles with the spiritual weapons that the Lord has provided for us.
Ephesians 6:12 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. The Amplified Bible Classic Edition
Daniel chapter 10 speaks of "geographical principalities" and a "spiritual battle" being fought in the "spiritual realm" between an angel sent by God to give Daniel an answer to his prayer and the satanic principality, the "Prince of Persia," who stood in his way until the archangel "Michael," the prince of Israel, came to his rescue. And, the "Prince of Persia" is to this day a geographical principality over what is now known as Iran. I have no doubt that as I stood in the doorway of the Iranian Embassy on May 22 and May 23 that the archangel Michael withstood the "Prince of Persia" so that the IDF could withdraw from the Security Zone in Lebanon, back into Israel, without any casualties.
The Iranian Embassy still belongs to Iran and is Spiritually part of Iran
It's important to understand that when I was at the Iranian Embassy, even though a Christian Ministry was occupying the Embassy at the time, the Embassy still belonged to the country of Iran. It's interesting that when a country like Iran establishes an Embassy in another country, they actually bring soil from their homeland to put on the foreign soil where they have their Embassy. In other words, spiritually speaking, it was as though I was in the country of Iran itself.
The Prince of Persia did not leave the Iranian Embassy
I said that to say this: the diplomats may have been banished from America, but the "Prince of Persia" (Daniel 10) which is the geographical principality over modern-day Iran, did not have to leave the Iranian Embassy. And, the "Prince and Kings of Persia" that we read about in Daniel 10 are the same evil spirits in the heavenly realm operating behind the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Luke 10:17-21 tells us that the devils are subject unto us through the Name of Jesus Christ and that Christ has given us power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. In other words, spiritually speaking, when I was at the Iranian Embassy I was battling against the "Prince of Persia" the evil spirit in the heavenly realm over Iran that was also operating in the spiritual realm behind the Iranian-backed Hezbollah as the IDF was withdrawing from the Security Zone inside southern Lebanon. And, it was in the mighty Name of Christ Jesus that I took authority over the "Prince of Persia" while at the Iranian Embassy.
Ephesians 6:10-13 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. NKJV
The Iranian Diplomats brought Soil from Iran to the Iranian Embassy: When a country like Iran establishes an Embassy in another country they bring soil from their homeland to put on the foreign soil where they have their Embassy. And, there's actually a Scripture that supports a pagan taking soil from one country to another country.
2 Kings 5:17 17 Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD. NLT
It may sound like a strange request for Naaman, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Army, to ask the prophet Elisha if he could take soil from Israel back to his homeland of Syria. Nonetheless the prophet Elisha granted his request. Naaman couldn't stay in Israel but in a sense he could take Israel with him. And, so it was with the diplomats from Iran - when they came to America it was their way of bringing Iran with them - and it was the soil, in part, that gave the "Prince of Persia" a place here in America.
The Following Account in the next Chapter is how I came to be at the Iranian Embassy on May 22-23, 2000 as the IDF began their Withdrawal from Lebanon. |