Shalom Dear Friends and Valued Partners

I wanted to know what the Bible has to say on the topic of:  “Black Lives Matter”. Thankfully we are beloved creations of the Holy One of Israel, The Mighty God.

Guess what? He loves us, because, “ALL LIVES MATTER”

He loves all of His creation and everyone in it. He has no favourites, every life matters, everyone is special to Him. That includes you and your family. The Bible says, God is no respecter of persons. He shows no partiality. See Acts 10:34

The truth is that we were ALL created for a purpose. Let each one ask our Creator, “What is Your intent for my life? He will tell you. In my opinion I think this is what God calls us to.
       
            * To be born of His Spirit
            * To love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength
            * To worship and praise Him
            * To honour His eternal covenants
            * To Obey His instructions
            * To further His Will or purposes on earth
            * To be fruitful and multiply

Summer 2020 is unlike any summer we have ever experienced. These words are particularly chilling today in light of the current upheaval in the US and worldwide. “Already we know almost nothing about the Revolution and the years before the Revolution. Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists, except an endless present in which the Party is always right.” From George Orwell’s iconic book, “1984” published in Great Britain four years after the end of WW2.

I’m sure that you are confused and pained by the total upheaval in US. Never before have we witnessed such utter lawlessness and anarchy. The fruit of hatred and rebellion is exploding across the earth. Jesus told us to recognize such signs as an indication of His soon return. The following is a father’s tearful statement recorded on “Hannity”  Fox News, July 1, 2020.

I didn’t know how to teach my kid to die! I hugged and kissed him every day and said, ‘I love you.’ You can’t kiss a photograph.” Horace Anderson, father of youth killed in CHOP, Seattle, USA. June 2020

“Where is God in all of this,” you wonder? Could He be saying, “Where are you?”

We have allowed “Truth to fall in the streets because it does not exist in our homes, schools and universities.” When Israel went into Babylonian captivity, clear directives  were given by the Prophet Jeremiah.

“For he has sent us to Babylon saying, 'Build houses and dwell in them and plant gardens and eat their fruit. Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away. Captivity is long; and pray to the LORD for it; (Babylon) for in its peace you will have peace.’” ...Jeremiah 29:28,7.

The word education in Latin means: “to bring forth from within.” Let us all pray today for peace to prosper through us, right where we are. The voice of the silent majority is not heard. Their silence is stunning. May people everywhere be fortified and encouraged by God’s Holy Spirit. We believe they will stand tall in the midst of insurrection and take back what is being lost. Let “Salvation” spring forth across the globe. We have been brought to the kingdom for such a time as this!

The Big Picture

Business as usual belongs to yesterday. Today each one of us is looking into a mirror whether we like it or not. What do you see? What are you focused on? Who are you focused on? Our long term goals and plans are on hold. Today is the only day we will ever live.

Here in Israel, we are in a state of extreme caution due to the COVID-19 resurgence. Travel remains restricted. We thank you for your prayers and love. Yesterday we had a call from loved ones in Canada and it was strengthening. We were happy to pray for their healing needs.

The Rawling’s Good News!

We close with exceptionally good news: 

Daniel has found the love of his life. 

He and Shelly Bandel are engaged to be married. They were friends in high school.

 
Shelly went to Canada and became a businesswoman in the fashion industry.








When the pandemic was looming she  returned home to be close to her parents and elderly grandparents.



 May we all be thankful for the lives around us and tell them, “I love you” as often as we can.





REMEMBER~YOUR LIFE MATTERS! Jesus promises: “He who overcomes and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations”...Revelation 2:26

“Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”...Matthew 18:20

Jay and I wrote this letter in concert. Can you tell who wrote what?

We pray love and strength for your journey.

Jay and Meridel

Dear Special Friends and Valued Partners,

Photo Credit: Janine Robinson on Unsplash

We are glad to report that Israel is still a leading nation worldwide in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Israeli government is NOW warning us to prepare for a resurgence of the pest. What does that mean?

What is God saying through all this as we watch the absolute chaos gripping the nations in addition to the effect of the virus. Is there a glimmer of hope?  I believe there is? In spite of the signs around us being very grave.

We, at Jerusalem Vistas are in a financial crisis since giving during the last months of the pandemic has sharply fallen off. We have urgent back bills and it is very humbling to tell you that we have had to lay off our faithful bookkeeper of sixteen years. Legally we have to pay her by July 31st the back salary that she has not received totaling CDN$ 35,000. Your help to meet this need will be an answer to all our prayers. Thank you for doing your part.

PS: Here is some good news. Our sons are stepping in to eventually take over from Meridel and myself. Our Israeli accountant/auditor is reducing his costs to us and strongly recommends that “Jerusalem Vistas continues on as you are doing a very important work for Israel.” He said we stand in a unique place blessing the nation as media pioneers.

 

Let’s remember that Yeshua~Jesus spoke about the events going on all around us, TODAY!  When asked by His closest friends and followers, “When will you return, and what will be the sign of your coming?” He told them to watch for specific signs. I see them as PHYSICAL SIGNS, SPIRITUAL SIGNS AND MIXED SPIRITUAL / PHYSICAL SIGNS. See if you can categorise them below from His list.

1] First He said, “Let no one deceive you.  Many will come in My name saying ‘I am the Messiah.” Some will be deceived.” But do not believe them.”
2] Next He said, “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but don’t be worried. For all these things will come to pass but the end is not yet.”
3] Then He said, “Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom.”
4] Next He said “that there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes all over the earth.”
5] This, He said,” is the beginning of sorrows.”
6] Next, He said, “They will deliver you up to ridicule and even kill you. You will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake and then,
7] Many will be offended, will hate one another and betray one another.”
8] Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive multitudes; and,
9] Because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold.”
10] But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
11] “And this Gospel shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come”...Matthew 24:4-9

During this epidemic we all applauded the outstanding dedication of the first line health care workers and all those in society who reached out, often at their peril, to preserve the lives of the victims and continued doing jobs keeping the rest of us alive. That to me is a clear way of preaching the Good News showing man’s humanity to man and “loving your neighbour as yourself.”

But how soon were our eyes turned to see the rioting, looting, and violence of those who became lawless. Yes, we are all disgusted and sickened at the unjust and unnecessary death of George Floyd. While his brother, at his memorial asked, pleaded and almost begged for the looting, rioting, maiming and killing to stop lest the memory of his brother be defiled. Lawlessness ruled and still does. How sad. How tragic. Where is humility in all of this?

This very difficult yet needed quality of humbling ourselves was placed before us all during the course of the virus in our nations. Here is what an anonymous writer posted on Facebook in Hebrew that was rendered like a song of humility or a lament.

“ We have taken nature for granted; and now we are not allowed to leave the house.
  We have disrespected our parents; now we cannot see them in person.
  We have treated our teachers with content; and now educational institutions are closed.
  We have squandered our money on things we don’t need; and now shopping malls have shut down.
  We have more cars than we need; and now the roads are empty.
  We have ceased to really connect with others; and now are in isolation.
  We have placed an importance on external beauty; and now our faces are covered with masks.
  We can’t keep on as if there is no tomorrow; because if we do tomorrow will not come.
  We all need to pause and take account of our lives; because the gift of this virus is, that we have received a second chance.”

In closing, during the lockdown here in our home, Meridel heard the Still Small Voice ask her, “can you not watch with Me one hour?” In response she fasted on water for twelve days.
To me this was a very sincere and challenging way to humble one’s self and since that time we have received some very powerful answers to prayer.  I say this to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

Finally, we see a breakthrough with the average Palestinian citizens who are defying the PLO/Fatah leadership of President Abbas.  He has rejected the Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley, but 90% of his citizens are saying, “Yes” we want  to live under Israeli sovereignty in place of our corrupt leadership. This is a HUGE glimmer of hope never seen before. Please keep praying for the “Peace of Jerusalem.”  He is answering prayer.

We send you our love and prayers and very best wishes,
Jay, Meridel and sons and team.

The Secret of Israel’s Military Revealed

It is The Spirit, Passion and Love of the IDF Soldiers for Israel and the Israeli People... 

In Honour of Israel's 72nd Independence Day

Nineteen Cantors From Around the World Created this Online Performance~Avinu Shebashamayim

The Power of Words

Jay Shares Scriptures From His Bible Study (See Below Video)

                        

Scripture List:

* Proverbs 18:21

* Proverbs  18:7

* Proverbs 21:23

* James  3:6     

Hag Sameyach…Joyous Passover and Blessed Easter

A Special Passover Message From Jay and Meridel

Dear Friends~Blessings to You at This Sacred Season from the Rawlings Family in Jerusalem.

The magnificent menorah that stood in the Tabernacle of Meeting was crafted of pure gold. It was made using the pattern that Moses saw, which first existed in heaven. “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain”…Hebrews 8:5c. Modern Israel’s official national seal was taken from Moses account in the book of Exodus.

Our President Reuben Rivlin, reminded us at this time during the national and global pandemic crisis to remember the good things. In the past year, Israel launched their first orbiting Lunar lander. Also, Israel produced the world's first 3-D printed vascularised heart! As the father of our nation, he emphasized the importance of strengthening all of our relationships. To that we say Amen!

Around the world, every Passover meal begins with asking the children: “Why is this night different from all others?” This year the world has not witnessed any Passover like it. Hopefully more than ever before, our Passover or Easter celebration will be filled with spiritual lessons. Our table will be filled with symbolic foods, the front door will stay open throughout the feast, and a chair will be placed at the table for Elijah, who is always invited. We look for the Messiah, and know that Elijah precedes Him. Why? “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse”…Malachi 4:5,6.

Our dining room table is usually extended to the limit, but this year we are just three. We plan a virtual Passover meal with loved ones via the internet. Our sons are sequestered in their homes, on the other side of Jerusalem, in Finland and Denmark.

Four thousand years ago, the LORD of glory changed history. Moses instructed his enslaved people to slaughter a lamb for each household. Why a lamb? Because it was worshiped as a god by ancient Egypt. The Living God came with a different reality, directly opposed to the status quo. When Jews applied the blood of the Passover lamb to their lentils and doorposts, they first had to overcome fear, knowing that this strange act would be viewed as insurrection against the ruling authorities. Every Jewish family was ordered to stay inside, like a lock down. Did they realize the death angel would be moving through the land to visit every home with no blood covering? I am sure the symbolism is not lost on any of us.

Today, Israel and most nations are in lock down. We choose to seek the LORD, repent, pray and give thanks for our lives and every blessing bestowed upon us. We pray for the multitudes and their families in the valley of decision, with thousands going out into eternity, night by night. I find the Bible is so inspirational as my competent guide book. I am comforted and pray this for all.

I was amazed to see that this weeks Prophetic portion of the Parasha (weekly Bible reading) included:

“For death has come through our windows, has entered our palaces, to kill off the children~no longer to be outside! And the young men~no longer on the streets”…Jeremiah 9:21. The prophet was warning the nation of the coming disaster, but it applies so aptly to all our families, nations and peoples today. And this, “In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem…and the land shall mourn, every family by itself…all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves”...Zechariah 12:11a, 12a,14.

Jesus said: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me,

while it is day, the night is coming when no one can work”…John 9:4

~Only 20% of Israel’s work force is employed presently. Local Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi, has made shockingly accurate predictions in the past. He foresaw the pandemic five years ago. Lately he declared the following;

China will suffer the worst of the diseases; more than 100,000 people will die. (no one knows the actual number of victims in China) This will be a prelude to even greater troubles, endless misfortunes, for China. Even though many financial experts are predicting that China will rule the world economically, China will go bankrupt. China is only rising up in order to fall down. This will show people that the real source of blessing is the LORD God of Israel.

All of Israel needs to come together with one heart as we do in times of war. This pandemic is a type of war. It is not only our country at stake.

The entire world derives divine sustenance [is blessed] through the promises given to Israel and despite God’s anger, He loves His children and wants to show His mercy.

A cure to the corona virus will come from Israel before the end of the upcoming Passover holiday. Miracles and wonders will be seen during the holiday of Passover and the disease will end. God sees all the suffering and fear. He hears our prayers and for that, he will bring great salvation.

We are in the time just before Messiah and God is sweeping (spraying) in between people so that the Messiah will have a clean place to walk. The rabbi said, he was speaking in allegory and concluded with: “The simple message is to repent. The disease is like a keren or [ray of light] that is showing everyone the pathway to repentance.”

“Indeed, my God does nothing without having revealed His purposes

to His servants the Neviim. (prophets)”...Amos 3:7 Israel Bible

May our vision and understanding of the plans and purposes of the LORD God of Israel and His Messiah be enlarged this Passover? Jesus~Yeshua the Messiah left us an example to follow in His footsteps. “Father let this cup pass from me…nevertheless not my will but Yours be done…”This vow speaks into my life along with His final plea: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” The pattern has been set. Let us walk in His ways in these challenging times.

 

Enjoy each other dear friends! Hag Sameyach! Happy Holidays!

Jay and Meridel Rawlings and family

Israel~The Innovation Nation!

Over the years Israel has been under constant attack from her neighbours. In the beginning there was little or no international assistance as they struggled to establish their country.

Agriculture was the first and foremost industry~to feed the people. Of equal importance was the need for defense.

In the short video below we take a look at some of the amazing inventions to come out of this small country. 

Their successes range from Blind Empowerment for the vision impaired to Exo-Skeleton for those unable to walk, to allowing doctors to "see" inside the human body for diagnosis, and a "3D printed heart". Israel has truly excelled in the medical fields.

Out of necessity came a Defense Force with state of the art equipment. To defend her citizens Israel created Iron Dome to thwart rocket attacks and Drone Dome to protect airports against drone attacks. Most recently Israel launched a small craft named Beresheet  into space with the goals of promoting careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as landing its magnetometer, digital time capsule, and laser retroreflector on the Moon. 

This tiny country, constantly under attack from Day One has forged ahead with innovations to help and protect the citizens of the world!

Israel has risen from her beginnings as a struggling farming nation to be one of the top entrepreneurial  nations in the world~and shall continue to do so!

There is No Limit to the Inventive and Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Israeli People!

Tchaikovsky "Flashwaltz" at Hadassah Hospital Jerusalem

A Surprise for Patients and Visitors and Visitors Alike~Music Unites!

Hidden Treasure

In This Energy Age Israel Made an Amazing Discovery~Perhaps One of the Greatest Gas Finds of All Time

If You Hate Israel~You're No Friend of The Jews

A Short Break for a Serious Lesson from Dennis Prager~Please Listen Closely

Renewal: A Short Video Message from Jay

In journalism one always strives to make the complex simple. 

Certainly the prophet Ezekiel succeeded in summarizing a long and complex history of the Jewish People in Chapter 36 of the book named after him.

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh

and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and you will keep My judgments and do them...Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NKJV) 

I suggest for those of you who are interested to take time to read the entire chapter 36 of Ezekiel.

Last week a group of 250 Ukrainians made Aliyah to Israel! When they landed at Ben Gurion Airport, Jay and Daniel were there to greet them. They filmed the excitement of the new citizens and were able to speak to some and get their first impressions of their new home. Daniel has been working on the film and it will be up for viewing in a few days.

Meanwhile, Here is Jay's message...

A Short Message from Jay and Meridel...

An Update to Our Partners and Friends

Shalom and warm greetings from Jerusalem!

One of the greatest privileges of living in Israel for the last fifty years has been to watch and be part of the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. Nearly all of the hundred and fifty documentaries and literally hundreds of TV Talk Show segments that we have produced during these five decades have in various ways shown the Bible to be coming true today. As someone once said, Israel is the greatest audio-visual aid to the Bible. Daily, it shows the words of the prophets coming to pass. What a privilege it has been to be involved in this modern day miracle. 

All of our productions, newsletters, books, booklets, power points and lectures have aimed at showing this miracle to a world wide audience. Thank God our partners have seen the value of our work. Today we are standing at a crossroads. Nearly all of our faithful partners have retired, or have gone on to their heavenly reward. This means that our income has fallen off very sharply.

We do not want to continually ask for help. It seems that with our current cash flow crisis we should consider closing down our ministry. This is a hard decision because Jerusalem Vistas / Israel Vision has served a very noble cause, being at the right time, in the right place, saying the right thing.

Meridel and I and our sons and team are praying to know the wisdom of God in all of this. Would you please pray to see what the Lord says to you about helping us. Even if we close our doors we need a large amount of money to pay ongoing bills, approximately $100,000. We are trusting the Lord to Help us over this hump or to make the decision to close down our ministry.

We are not sad because Jerusalem Vistas / Israel Vision has accomplished its goal over these many years by educating a huge audience of Christian Zionists. They have continued to help Israel in countless ways. So we look forward to your prayers concerning these issues. Thank you...

In His Love,

Jay and Meridel

Why Israel Can't Withdraw to Her Pre-1967 Borders

If Israel Were To Withdraw It Would Be A Disaster! Please Watch and Listen to The Facts!

Double Honour

Jay on Path to Eastern Gate of Jerusalem's "Old City"

Dear Friends:

Today I received this email from our dear Canadian friends, Ralph Rutledge and his sister Norma Jean Mainse. David Mainse, of blessed memory, founded and hosted 100 Huntley Street, Canada’s nationwide Christian TV network. David was a great friend of Israel and of ours. Meridel and I have followed David’s anointed daily blog 100 Words.  

Now, since David’s graduation to Heaven last year his son, Ron Mainse continues to send out his Dad’s blog at the request of many. 

Meridel, Jay and son David~1969

We first met David on a Saturday morning in Sept 1969. Norma Jean served us coffee at their kitchen table, while Ron and Ren pranced through the house, slamming the screen door as young teens do! Maybe they thought we were cool because of our Corvette parked in their drive way. Jay and I had recently been shown the left foot of fellowship by well meaning Pastors, when we prayed for their young people to receive the Baptism of the Holy spirit. Hurt, but not deterred; reading the Friday paper, Jay said, “I have to find someone I can speak with.” That was how he found the Rev. David, Mainse, who hosted at 15 minute TV show in Hamilton Ontario at the time.  

We told him of our rather unusual call to ‘sell everything and go to Israel.’ David listened intently and later challenged his entire church to pray that we would sell the Corvette Sting Ray in order to be debt free.

Our departure date for Israel was October 20th 1969. David said very carefully looking directly into our eyes: “I do NOT understand your call, but I know this, you are both called by God!”  

“My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.

And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,

and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand:

I and my Father are one”...John 10:27-30 

As David mentions in his article below, he and Norma Jean were our pastors in 1969 when the Lord called us to leave Canada and to do two things. First He said to Meridel, “If you love Me, Love My People,” and secondly He said to me,

"Declare among the nations; Proclaim, and set up a standard;

Publish~do not conceal it”... Jeremiah 50;2a 

So with these brief instructions we gave away our belongings and began a lifetime of blessing Israel. We first began to ‘fish’ for the Jewish people by visiting the heads of Jewish Communities around the globe, 120 nations and seven years later, we made Israel our home. No Jewish soul ever turned us away. The solemn message is even MORE relative today than it was back then:

“Behold, I will send for many fishermen, says the LORD, and they shall fish them:

and afterward I will send for many hunters and they shall hunt them from every mountain

and every hill and out of the holes of the rocks”...Jeremiah 16:16 

Dear David Mainse did not elaborate…since that photo was taken (see above), both Jay and I completed our earned doctorates: his in history and mine in psychology. We are citizens of Israel and very much at home with our Jewish heritage, which we knew nothing of prior to coming to Israel.

Left to Right~Chris, Daniel, David & Josh Rawlings

Over the last forty years, Jay and team have produced 150 documentaries  on the unfolding of Israel’s Biblical, natural and prophetic history with our son David working along side of us for twenty years. 

Because we were are no longer able to support him financially he has taken a position at Media Line in Jerusalem. 

Chris is a Product Designer and team leader working in Finland as a design specialist at Digitalist a company that creates digital solutions & innovations for companies such as Samsung, Intel, Nokia, Time Warner and more. 

Josh is also a web designer working for high tech start ups in Israel and New York.

Daniel is our cameraman/editor for Jerusalem Vistas. This spring and summer he has been miraculously healed of inflammation of the brain. Thank God! All of our men contribute their expertise to the work. Amen!

October 20th will begin our 50th anniversary from the day we left Canada for Israel. We will be rejoicing greatly with Jerusalem and with all who love her! Now we will see what the LORD will do with our sons!

You might remember Meridel's first books; Fishers and Hunters, then; Honour Thy Father???  

Together Jay and I (Meridel) wrote: Love My People~Volume 1 Timeless Secrets. 

Jay and Meridel in Greece

I have been blessed to counsel privately and present seminars with instructive workbooks for survivors and educators who attend my seminars on sexual abuse.  We are in the process of publishing my latest work: Healing the Indelible Stain.

Jay and I are presently building a summer home in Greece, a place of rest and recreation for our tribe. 

Seven of us live in Europe and seven of us live in Israel. We delight in hand picked encounters day by day as we go about the business of the Master in this new outreach for the Lord!

Jay’s favourite scripture is:

"Love, never fails!”...1 Corinthians 13:8

With love and thanksgiving, 

The Rawlings Family

UN Human Rights Chief Called Out for Coddling Terrorists

Unending Bias Against Israel~Failure to Criticize Terrorists~What Does UN Stand For?

Jay's Live Stream for Tisha B'Av

Sorry We Are Late Putting This Up~Technical Difficulties~Enjoy!

Jerusalem a Muslim Holy City? The Oldest Fake News in History

Dr. Mordechai Kedar is Fluent in Arabic and Points Out What is in the Original Arabic Texts

Captured Israeli-Arab ISIS Fighter Sayyaf Sharif Daoud:

Listen to How He Describes Israel~His Father Warned Against Joining Hamas/Fatah

Now The Second "Son of Hamas" Has Defected

Maybe The World Will Finally Open Its Collective Eyes and Ears...Israel is Not the Problem!

Live Stream 2~Israel, Jerusalem and God's Blessings

In this second Live Stream, Jay gives a short update on the blessings of being in the state of Israel as it is being built up.

He speaks of the period after Passover and the counting of the weeks and the sound of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Jay then goes on to talk about some of the blessings for Israel and Jerusalem that are given in the Bible. Using quotes from Ezekiel, he expounds on some of the many promises from God.

As we do more with Live Streams we are praying that you, our friends and partners will choose to become more involved.

Please do send us your questions, prayer requests or any other comments.

We Thank You and Bless You for Your Ongoing Prayers and Support!

Live Stream From Jerusalem~#2