Chapter 43: With the “Steadfastness of Purpose”

With the “Steadfastness of Purpose,” not to be turned aside by the many difficulties I faced on my way to Israel to celebrate Sukkot 2025 (the Feast of Tabernacles), I set my face toward Israel until I reached the Western Wall on God’s Holy Hill on Mount Zion. Already, words that I had previously spoken into the Spiritual Realm at the Gates of Hell and the Fatima Gate just days earlier that Hamas would be humiliated (Jeremiah 47:5) had come to pass with Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire and hostages to be returned. However, given Hamas’ history of reneging on commitments, I continued to pray for the safe release of all hostages. As I was praying for the hostages’ release at the Western Wall, I was blessed when I overheard a woman there say that the first seven hostages had indeed been released this very day!

The Day Before the Hostages were released

On the Day the first 7 Hostages were Released I was at the Western Wall on Mount Zion

With the “Steadfastness of Purpose

With the “Steadfastness of Purpose” not to be turned aside by the many difficulties I faced on my way to Israel to celebrate Sukkot 2025 (the Feast of Tabernacles) I set my face thitherward – I set my face toward Israel. And, it was only by God’s grace that I made my way to Mount Zion in Jerusalem where I was praying for the hostages as the first seven were released and the war between Israel and Gaza ceased!

The Way to Zion: Over 300 years ago my Scottish Forefather, Alexander Skene, while still in prison for his faith along with George Keith, co-authored a Book, “The Way Cast Up, And, the Stumbling Blocks removed from before the feet of those, who are seeking the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward.” Jeremiah 50:5

The Way to Zion: To set their faces “Thitherward” indicates that it is because of their steadfastness of purpose that God’s Remnant will not be turned aside by any difficulties that they may encounter on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. And, now, over 300 years later, in 2025, thanks be to God who removed all the obstacles in my path both here on earth and in the spiritual realm, I made my way to “Mount Zion” and alongside the Jewish people who were praying for the release of the hostages, I was on God’s Holy Hill when Hamas released the first 7 hostages and the war did indeed come to an end.

Jeremiah 50:4-5 ⁴In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. ⁵They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

"Faces Thitherward" implies their steadfastness of purpose not to be turned aside by any difficulties on the way.

Like my Scottish Forebear, Alexander Skene, I longed to be in Jerusalem. Even though the journey would be plagued with many difficulties both in the natural and spiritual realms I knew that I had to press forward – to press forward until I reached God’s Holy Hill on Mount Zion. And, I was determined not to turn back. And, just as I discerned the journey to and from Israel was extremely challenging – especially spiritually.

Needless to say, Heaven is the Zion that is my goal as my citizenship is not here on this earth but with God in the heavens. This is where my ultimate goal is – this is where I have set my face.

We know from Philippians 3:20 that our real home is with God – not here on earth. And, our heavenly citizenship will demand that we are to live our lives here on earth with an eternal perspective and not on worldly pursuits. We are to keep in mind that we are only sojourners here earth. Hebrews 11:9

In Metulla, Sukkot 2023

In Metulla, Sukkot 2025

By all accounts, Metulla, Israel has seen more devastation than all other towns in the Galilee. As of October 2025 when the Galilee celebrated Sukkot, only approximately 30 percent of their residents have returned. Many residents have no home to go back to or they are too afraid of going back because Hezbollah still poses a threat. The schools, road and much of Metulla’s infrastructure has yet to be restored, not to mention that Metulla’s orchards need to be replanted. It is anticipated that it will take at least five years for Metulla to be a thriving community again.

I took the following pictures of Metulla in 2025 during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). The devastation was heartbreaking. Especially heartbreaking is the toll taken on the war-weary residents of Metulla who have been displaced by the war and are still not sure what the future holds.

Pictures and Journal Entries of My Trip to Israel to Celebrate Sukkot 2025:

Below is a summary calendar of my trip, which is followed by pictures and transcripts of the videos where I once again stood in the Gateways of the Enemy, once again speaking into the Spiritual Realm the very words the Lord had given me to speak. The principalities being pulled down were, once again, the prince and kings of Persia however this time the principalities included those from within the dominion of the Grecians, both geographical principalities that Daniel 10 speaks of. These were the principalities operating behind Hamas that were keeping the hostages in captivity and prolonging the war. When these particular principalities lost their place in the heavens they were no longer able to influence Hamas.

Following are day-by-day pictures of my 2025 trip to Israel

Saturday October 4, 2025 at the Gates of Hell (Banias) and Metulla, Israel (at the Good Fence Memorial, Arazim Hotel, Metulla Sign Post, Sam’s Grocery Store and a Video at the Fatima Gate

The Gates of Hell (Temple of Pan) Banias –

A Gateway of the Enemy

The Good Fence Memorial, Metulla, Israel

Arazim Hotel, Metulla, Israel October 4, 2025

Arazim Hotel, Metulla, Israel October 7, 2023

Metulla Sign Post October 4, 2025

Metulla Sign Post October 7, 2023

Outside of the Grocery Store (what’s left of it) where we shopped in 2023

As can be seen from the above screenshot, this Video of me was Recorded at the Fatima Gate, a Gateway of the Enemy, on October 4, 2025.

This Date is Significant as it was Six Days before the Gaza Peace Deal was Signed on October 9th, and Ten Days before any Hostages were Released on October 13th! At this time (October 4th), No One knew for sure if or when a Ceasefire Agreement would be signed or if the remaining living hostages would actually be released. In fact, given the past actions of Hamas, there was a great deal of skepticism that either event would become a reality. Again, the Ceasefire and release of the Hostages occurred after I had prayed at both the Gates of Hell in Caesarea Philippi and Fatima Gate in Metulla.

The Transcript of what I spoke into the Spiritual Realm at the Fatima Gate is shown below.

Fatima Gate Video Transcript 10-04-25

“Today is Saturday, October 4th 3035 and in Genesis 22:17, God told Abraham his descendents would stand in the gateway of the enemy and this is a gateway of the enemy, the Fatima Gate. And in the name of the Lord, I speak into the spiritual realm Jeremiah 47, verses 4 and 5:

Jeremiah 47:4-5 (NLT)
⁴“The time has come for the Philistines to be destroyed,

along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon.

Yes, the LORD is destroying the remnant of the Philistines,

those colonists from the island of Crete.
⁵Gaza will be humiliated, its head shaved bald;

Ashkelon will lie silent.

You remnant from the Mediterranean coast,

how long will you lament and mourn?

Isaiah 9 verse 1: “Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You”

And Father God, we speak into the spiritual realm to the principalities wreaking havoc of war upon Israel: Let the hostages go! Let my people go and end this war! And we are believing, Lord, that even while we are here that the war will cease.

And we are praying all of this according to your word and in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen, so be it Lord!”

Sunday October 5, 2025 Visited Friends in Metulla, Israel

Monday October 6, 2025 Travel from the Sea of Galilee and Mount Arbel to Hostage Square in Jerusalem

Mt. Arbel is directly behind me in the distance

Mt. Arbel viewed from my hotel lobby

At Hostage Square in Jerusalem

Tuesday and Wednesday, October 7 & 8 – No Pictures – Days of Preparation

Thursday October 9, 2025 Dinner with Friends in Metulla, Israel

Friday October 10, 2025 at Gath (Tel Tsafit National Park) and Matheus Frank Home (Eben Ezer) in the German Colony: Both are Gateways of the Enemy

Gath (Tel Tsafit National Park) – a Gateway of the Enemy

Matheus Frank Home, German Colony

Gateway Video made on October 10, 2025 at Gath (Tel Tsafit National Park) – a Gateway of the Enemy

Below is a Transcript of this Video

Gath Video Transcript 10-10-25

“Today is Friday, October the 10th, 2025, and these are the Scriptures I read at the Fatima Gate at Metulla on October 4, 2025. And I mentioned these Scriptures there on October the 4th: Jeremiah 47:4 and 5. The allies of Hamas in Gaza, Lebanon, they have already been humiliated by the nation of Israel. And we are believing that before the end of Sukkot October 2025, right now, that the Philistines, specifically Hamas, in Gaza that they will be humiliated and that there will be a ceasefire and that they will have to release all the hostages, Amos 9:7:

Are you Israelites more important to me than the Ethiopians?” asks the LORD. “I brought Israel out of Egypt, but I also brought the Philistines from Crete and led the Arameans out of Kir.”

And in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the word of God, we declare the Principalities working through Hamas and all the violence it has created, Let the Hostages Go! Let God’s people go and let them go. We pray Lord that it will be during this season. Amen and Amen, so be it Lord. And Lord we just pray the fighting will end in the next couple days during the Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot.”

Saturday October 11, 2025 at the Matheus Frank Home German Colony – a Gateway of the Enemy

In Front of the Frank House

Matheus Frank Home – Gateway of the Enemy

Matheus Frank Home Sign

Videos taken at the Matheus Frank House – the First House built in the German Colony in 1873

Frank House Video Transcript 10-11-25

“The significance of the Matheus Frank Home Eben Ezer is it is the first house built in the German Colony here in Jerusalem, but it’s significant that it is here in the Rephaim Valley, the Rephiam from the Bible. And it [the sign] reads, Matheus Frank built in 1873 the first house in the German Colony, bearing the inscription Eben Ezer, which is taken from 1 Samuel 7, 12, and behind it is an adjacent flour mill. And behind the house were the congregation’s sports facilities.

This is one of three gateways that I have stood in during Sukkot in this trip to Jerusalem. And in all three gateways, the Scripture I read was Jeremiah 47:4-5:

“The time has come for the Philistines to be destroyed, along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon. Yes, the LORD is destroying the remnant of the Philistines, those colonists from the island of Crete. Gaza will be humiliated, its head shaved bald; Ashkelon will lie silent. You remnant from the Mediterranean coast, how long will you lament and mourn?”

This gateway in the Rephiam Valley is where the giants, some of the giants were, the Rephiam. Goliath being one of them. There all three gateways, and I know that God is bringing down the Philistines. The other scripture that’s significant because the Scripture I read, the Philistines were originally from Crete (Greece). That goes back to Daniel 10 where Michael came, battled with the princes and kings of Persia, then he went to battle the Grecian. And that is the Rephiam, the Philistines. And we are just believing that this is the time that the war in Gaza will end and the hostages will be set free to the glory of God. Amen, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen, so be it Lord.”

Sunday October 12, 2025 at the Western Wall (Kotel) Jerusalem

At the Western Wall on the Evening of the Last Day of Sukkot

Monday October 13, 2025 at the Western Wall on the Last Day of Sukkot and at Emek Refaim Street Sign

Went to:

1. Western Wall to pray for Hamas not to play games and release all 20 hostaes – which they did, and

2. And went to “Emek Repham” the Hebrew word “Valley of the Rephaim Giants” aka known the Valley of the Shades (meaning dead) and the Valley of the Ghosts

The War has come to an end! Hamas released all 20 Living Hostages back into Israel!

I was at the Western Wall in the Old City praying for the release of the hostages when the first 7 of the twenty hostages were released. No one knew if Hamas would actually release the 20 hostages until they were actually released.

I also made a video of the Sukkot celebration

Later in the evening on October 13, 2025 I went back down to Jerusalem’s “Emek Refaim” Neighborhood.The English word for “Emek Refaim” is the "Valley of Giants."

The German Colony in Jerusalem takes it’s name. “Emek Refaim,” from the Biblical race of Rephaim Giants”

(Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16 RV translation):

Joshua 15:8 Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem); From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the VALLEY of REPHAIM.

Joshua 18:16 The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel. NIV

“Emek Refaim” or in English the “Valley of Refaim”

Located in the Biblical “Valley of Rephaim
Is also known as the Valley of Refaim from which it takes it’s name;

Also known as the Valley of the Giants, or the Valley of Ghosts and the Valley of Shades meaning the dead

The Valley of Rephaim: the German Colony “Emek Refaim” in Jerusalem, takes its name from this valley.

Emek Refa’im can be translated as either "the valley of the ghosts" or "the valley of the giants."

Frank House on Emek Refaim Street

You can see the date on the keystone of the arch above the door and the name EBEN EZER carved in the stone lintel, mentioned in Samuel 7: 11 when God helped the Israelites against the Philistines.

EBEN-EZER (Hebr. "Eben ha-'Ezer" = the stone of help):

This was the name given by Samuel to the stone he set up between Mizpeh and Shen to commemorate the victory of the Israelites (1 Samuel 7:11 Samuel 7:12 ¹²Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer (stone of help), saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Amplified Bible

Ebenezer means “stone of help” and it was for that reason to commemorate the victory God gave them, “Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.’” (verse 12).

The Western Wall Last Day of Sukkot

Standing at the Emek Refaim Street Sign Post

Celebrations at the Western Wall on Last Day of Sukkot

Tuesday October 14, 2025 at the Frank House, Emek Refaim Street, and the Western Wall

The Transcript of this Video follows below:

Frank House - German Colony Video Transcript 10-14-25

“I’m standing in front of the Matheus House in the Emek Refaim German Quarter. And Emek Refaim is just another name for Valley of the Rephiam Giants and this is what this neighborhood is named after. What I’m speaking here will cover the name of the street that I will be going to from here. In the Valley of Refiam the valley colony, Emek Refiam, in Jerusalem takes its name from this valley, Rephiam Valley. The German Colony in Jerusalem takes its name Emek Refiam from the Biblical basis of the Rephiam giants (Joshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16).

Joshua 15:8:

Then it ran up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). From there it climbed to the top of the hill west of the Hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

Joshua 18:16:

The boundary went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom, north of the Valley of Rephaim. It continued down the Hinnom Valley along the southern slope of the Jebusite city and so to En Rogel.

Emek Refiam in English, the Valley of Rephiam. Again, located in the Biblical Valley of Rephiam, the German neighborhood, Emek Refiam, which I’m standing in right now can also be understood as the Valley of Rephiam from which it takes its name. The German neighborhood Emek Refiam can also be known as the Valley of the Giants or the Valley of Ghosts and the Valley of Shades, meaning the dead. You can find that in Isaiah 14 as well. Emek Refiam can be translated as either the Valley of the Ghosts or the Valley of the Giants. You can see on the keystone of the arch above the door of the Frank House, which is what I am standing in front of located on Emek Refiam street. The name, e-b-e-n e-z-e-r Eben Ezer, carved in the stone mantle mentioned in 1 Samuel 7:11 [12], when God helped the Israelites against the Philistines. Eben Ezer (Ebenezer, Hebrew) means the same as “help,” and that was because God came and helped the Israelites defeat the giants. This was the name given by Samuel to the stone he set up between Mizpah and Shen to commemorate the victory of the Israelites, 1 Samuel 7:12:

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer (meaning stone of help), saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Ebenezer means stone of help and it was for that reason to commemorate the victory that God gave them and took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen he named Ebenezer saying, thus far the Lord has helped us (verse 12). The hostages, I believe that we are standing in a gateway for them, a gateway of the enemy. The hostages have all now been freed, they were freed yesterday and the war as of yesterday has gone and come to an end. And just as the prophet Jeremiah said, Gaza has been humiliated, Jeremiah 47 verses 4 and 5:

The time has come for the Philistines to be destroyed, along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon. Yes, the LORD is destroying the remnant of the Philistines, those colonists from the island of Crete. Gaza will be humiliated, its head shaved bald; Ashkelon will lie silent. You remnant from the Mediterranean coast, how long will you lament and mourn?

It’s been two years since I have been back here to Israel. Last year Houti missiles landed near Ben Gurion Airport all the airlines canceled their flights. However, because of the specific Scriptures that the Lord quickened me to, Jeremiah 47:4-5 one of them, I felt that the Lord would open the door for me to return to Israel during the Feast of Tabernacles in 2025 to witness the humiliation of Gaza, meaning Hamas. That happened yesterday.

Jeremiah 47: 4-5 were two of the Scriptures that the Lord had me to read at all three gates of the enemy that He sent me to before the hostages were released. The gate of the enemy at Metulla, Israel in the north Israel on the border with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the gateway of the enemy in Gath, Israel, which was the hometown of Goliath, one of the giants, one of the giants King David slew, and here in Emek Refiam, in Israel’s German Colony. And needless to say, the Lord sent me to the Gates of Hell in Caesarea Philippi, and that the Gates of Hell will not prevail over God’s children. Amen and Amen, so be it Lord.

Now I am going to walk over to the street sign that identifies this street as the Valley of Rephiam.”

At Emek Refraim Street: Emek Refaim, translated from Hebrew to English means: Valley of the Giants or Valley of the Ghosts, or Valley of the Shades, or Valley of the Dead, Valley of Rephiam.

At the Western Wall Praising and Thanking the Lord for His Mercy and Lovingkindness on my Last Day in Israel (I departed for Ben Gurion Airport just hours after this picture was taken)

My Tale has been Told: I will end my Tale with Psalm 90 which is where I began.

Psalm 90:7-10 ⁷For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

⁸Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

⁹For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

¹⁰The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. KJV

I am now 76 years old and just as Psalm 90:10 reveals that even though I have had the strength to live to 70 or 80 years of age and tell my story, they have been years of labor and much affliction and sorrow.

However, I know that on the day of my death when it pleases the Lord our God to bring me, a long-tossed vessel upon the waves of many afflictions, the Lord our God will bring me to the safety of the sweet harbor of His everlasting rest where I will exchange the sorrows of time for the joys of eternity.

After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 the Selina Metula sent us to the “Selina Kinneret” located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Mt Arbel is located and where we found safety and rest from Hezbollah. Many believe that Mt. Arbel is where Jesus told the Disciples to meet Him after He rose from the dead and gave the Great Commission to the Church.

The first row of the below pictures are of me standing on the shores of the Sea of the Galilee and in front of Mt. Arbel in October 2023; the second row of pictures are of me in front of Mt. Arbel again in October 2025. The picture in the bottom row is of me standing in front of a picture the Lord quickened me to purchase several years back. I knew the picture was prophetic, however, it wasn’t until 2023 and we were sent to the “Selina Kinneret” located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee that I finally understood the symbolism of the picture I am standing in front of.

The sweet harbor of the Sea of Galilee where we were sent to be away from the dangers of Hezbollah is a Foreshadowing of the “Spiritual” Harbor of safety and rest that the Lord will bring me to when I go home to be with the Lord for eternity.

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