Good News from Israel

Blog
 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

We wish you a sweet and blessed Jewish New Year!

Jerusalem Vistas                                                                                               September 2018

To our Jerusalem Vistas Partners and Friends:

We in Jerusalem are wishing you and your loved ones a sweet and blessed Jewish New Year.

We join with our Jewish family in marking this last month of Elul with sincere soul-searching accompanied with repentance. The path always seems to get narrower and steeper but blessed. 

The only hope for Israel, with Iranian forces amassing on our Northern Border in Syria, is Divine intervention. We all know that Israel’s enemies will continue to expand until they are stopped once and for all and that apparently is what the United States and Russia hope to do.  Do you believe it? I hope not. Man is only man. Our God who sits in the heavens shall laugh at the folly of men. Psalm 2. Do not for a moment be tempted to think that your prayers and support are not important! Thank you.

John Bolton, US National Security Advisor said recently in a press briefing in Jerusalem; “Putin has told Trump that he “would like to see the withdrawal of Iranian troops from Syria, but he is not able to do it himself.” As the scriptures below forecast, we are living to witness this end time military build up “from the land of the north.”

Ezekiel 38:3,5. “Thus says the LORD God, Behold I am against you O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Mehech, and Tubal. I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out with all your army…Persia, (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya…they will come to a land that dwells safely to take a booty…”   (Booty-Israel has discovered one of the largest natural gas finds in the world today in their offshore gas wells)

It will be 50 years (as of Oct 2019) that we have been set as “Watchmen on the Walls of Jerusalem,” proclaiming Biblical events in the media as they have unfolded for over half of Israel’s modern lifetime. As you probably know we have been struggling financially for the last six months. We realize that many of our partners are elderly and are on fixed incomes. We are sensitive to these facts so we work to create a new support base, which is difficult because now that we are appealing to internet-based audience, people feel little compulsion to support Jerusalem Vistas.

How well I remember Dr. James Dobson, Founder of ‘Focus on the Family’ and what he did when the ministry was in dire financial need. After seeking the LORD, he wrote to his partners and said: “IF this ministry is no longer supported by its partners, I will have to close it.” 

It was just that simple, and that is exactly the situation that we at Jerusalem Vistas/Israel Vision find ourselves today.  I know that we are not afraid to change. Meridel and I feel very badly that none of our team have been paid their small salaries for the last three months. This has caused tremendous stress, piled upon the added stress of just living here. We cannot carry on in this manner. We have never shirked from ‘following hard after God’ and this crisis is absolutely no different. The truth is, the future of this work lies in your blessed hands.  If you have any way of helping us to go on, we pray that you will find a way to do so and do it immediately.

 

Here below are ways you can support our ministry. Thank you in advance for your support.
On our website, you can donate to us via PayPal.

In His Love,

Jay and Meridel and team

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Harvest in Mid-July!

We have had great weather in Israel this year. From well-needed rain coming at unexpected times to the glorious sun that we almost always have above us. This not only makes life pleasant, but it causes fruits, vegetables, and all plant life to grow and thrive.
Jay and Meridel have always planted, and planted some more, in their small garden. They utilize the borders around the yard and every little corner that a spade of earth can occupy.

The varieties of things that sprout and grow are amazing. Apart from beautiful flowers and trees, one can find bushes of herbal tea to olives, pomegranates, and clementines~there is always something to find and enjoy.

This week the grapes along the arbor and around the fence are more than ready to be harvested. The birds have already noticed and begun their own picking. Early in the morning, Jay and Meridel pulled out the ladders and clippers to began bringing in the luscious clusters of sweet, beautiful grapes to munch on and make into juice.
Enjoying the fruits of one’s labors is very satisfying. When the “harvest” takes place in the early morning, when the dew is barely dry, the air fresh and cool, it adds to the overall joy of the event. A time of laughter and joy and fellowship!

…Here it is!
The first glass of freshly pressed grape juice!
Pure, Natural Goodness from God’s Own Land!
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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

The Jerusalem Vistas Online Learning Centre

Dear Friends and Partners

Last week I made some long distance phone calls to our friends and partners in Canada and the USA, HOPING to raise support.  We did have fellowship, I prayed for each one~But~I was shocked and saddened at how many were in a health crisis and in desperate need of prayer for their physical conditions. What is happening to our army of helpers?

Many of our long-term prayer partners were nearly incapacitated. This made me realize two things. First that we must keep up our morning prayer watch for these sickly saints to be made well. Second, we must reach and inspire the younger generation to partner in our faith-based media work.

For forty-nine years, Meridel, myself, our sons and co-workers have done our very best to publish the “Good News” from Zion to a worldwide audience.

Yes, we have regularly changed our format from 16mm film to various video standards to now “digital” materials on the Internet.   We must make these changes to keep current. Thank God we still have the same message.

“TO TELL THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD CONCERNING ISRAEL TODAY.

HELP US TO SHINE THE LIGHT OF BIBLE PROPHECY INTO OUR DARK WORLD.

TO ACHIEVE THIS WE HAVE CREATED THE JERUSALEM VISTAS ONLINE LEARNING CENTRE. 

Our sons are busy creating programming for the younger generation. It’s time! 

Each program will feature GEMS of Biblical truth in the background of the folly of ‘fake news’.  We will separate the facts from the fantasy. You can make it possible for our team to film on location in ISRAEL and GREECE.  These topical, snappy and easy to digest portions are for the internet and social media that aim to educate and inspire!

YOU CAN BE a part of this new venture!  What topics would you like us to highlight? You can help to sponsor us~see below for how you can join. Summer is brutally hot here in the Middle East and the crops could not survive without the dew. Likewise, we need daily, weekly, and monthly “dew” support to keep our studio up and running in this “dry season”.

The budget for this project is $50,000. We have just received a $5,000 gift toward it. Praise God!

Please take a few minutes right now to send your gift and become a JVOLC Sponsor! We Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Together we can move forward!

For out of Zion shall go forth the Teaching (Torah)

and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem…Isaiah 2:3b

Thank You, In His love, Jay and Meridel, and sons  

Here’s How You can become a Jerusalem Vistas Online Learning Centre~JVOLC Sponsor.

1) Safely donate via PayPal using the Donate button at http://israelvision.com/get-involved/donations/
 *PayPal accepts all major credit cards

2) Send a cheque (or post-dated cheques–many people choose to send 6 or12 at a time)
* Please make all Cheques Payable To:  Jerusalem Vistas
 * Our Mailing address is at the bottom of this message

3) Authorize us to debit your Credit Card either for a single gift or monthly. To do this we would need the following information:
– Your name as it appears on the card
– The card number (16 digits)
– The card expiry date (mm/yy)
  * The amount to be deducted & number of times (eg. One Time Only or a specified period)
*You may send the information to this email address ( jvistas@gmail.com ) with a statement authorized us to make the transaction; or if you prefer, send via post

*Note*
We send you the original Credit Card Transaction slip with a tax receipt. All information is confidential and only used as per your directions.

Our Postal Address is:
Jerusalem Vistas
PO Box 40101
Mevasseret Zion, 9080500, Israel

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

We need your support

Joel 2 begins with the thrilling cry, “Blow the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm on my Holy mountain.”

The rams horn “shofar” has always been the trumpet sound around which the Jewish people have been called into action, for battle, and for holy work, and worship.

For nearly 50 years now we at Jerusalem Vistas and Israel Vision have been sounding an alarm via the media. We have made hundreds of documentary programs during half of the modern history of Israel. That is quite an achievement, but we could not have done it without the sacrificial financial help of YOU our partners.

Our programs have been designed to be interesting and topical, following current events in the light of Scripture. Our prayer for these programs has always been to awaken and inspire our viewers into action, for the Lord and of course for Israel.

Yes, we are living in prophetic times, the signs are all around us. But we are not called to be mere observers.  We can be a part of what God is doing in the earth today by our prayers, our actions and by our giving.

Here is a brief summary of some of the recent programs that we have broadcast around the globe via the internet.

http://israelvisiontv.blogspot.com/2018/05/jerusalem-vistas-summarythis-is-what-we.html

These shows represent 100’s of man-hours of work. We are glad to do this for you and of course the Lord but we require your help to pay the bills including the salaries of our team.

Over the years we have experienced that summertime is often a downtime forgiving. However, our expenses carry on regardless of the season so I am asking you to make a special sacrificial offering to us TODAY.  Thank you.

May the Lord bless you mightily as you stand with us.

“I will bless them that bless you”…Genesis 12: 1-3

Thanks for helping us to sound an alarm. Prayer and anointed action are needed in this region as never before!

Here are some ways you can take action to stand with and bless Jerusalem Vistas / Israel Vision:

1) Safely donate via PayPal using the Donate button on our website www.israelvision.tv
 *PayPal accepts all major credit cards

2) Send a cheque (or post-dated cheques–many people choose to send 6 or12 at a time)
* Please make all Cheques Payable To:  Jerusalem Vistas
 * Our Mailing address is at the bottom of this message

3) Authorize us to debit your Credit Card either for a single gift or monthly. To do this we would need the following information:
– Your name as it appears on the card
– The card number (16 digits)
– The card expiry date (mm/yy)
  * The amount to be deducted & number of times (eg. One Time Only or a specified period)
*You may send the information to this email address ( jvistas@gmail.com ) with a statement authorized us to make the transaction; or if you prefer, send via post

*Note*
We send you the original Credit Card Transaction slip with a tax receipt. All information is confidential and only used as per your directions.

Our Postal Address is:
Jerusalem Vistas
PO Box 40101
Mevasseret Zion, 9080500, Israel

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

From Meridel’s Desk… January 2018

Shalom
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and financial contributions. It has been put into the ‘pot’ to help keep our doors open and the work going forward. Here are some pointers to encourage you in prayer for us. The time is grave and growing ever more so… and we have to daily submit our hearts to Jesus. I told Jay, I feel like a leaf trembling on the end of a branch. But God…! We have learned to encourage ourselves in Him day after day.

Kindly join Jay and I in this prayer for our four sons all working in Media: David 48 yrs, Christian 46, Joshua 42 and Daniel 31. They have been a tremendous blessing to us over these many years, but we sense the Holy Spirit wants to loose them for even greater service. We pray: Sanctify them – purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy – by the Truth. Your Word is Truth. Just as you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:17, 18.

Ministry Goals for 2018:

Well the LORD IS ON THE MOVE! When we grow weary He brings strength from most
unexpected quarters, for which we are daily grateful.

1. Our film on Human Trafficking and Sexual Abuse Change Action Nepal has been translated into German; for Germany and Switzerland, the cost donated by a Swiss friend.

2. This film has also just been synchronised into Spanish by a dear friend who gave us the best price for his work. We have given a Pastor in Guatemala our release for multiple televised showings out to his 11 million viewers. We spent years in South America in the 70’s and since then have prayed these many years for our work to go out in Spanish.

3. We have just released a video on our web sites and blog about the situation in Gaza. It is very topical with the current unrest and rocket attacks. Iran stands in the shadow of terror.

4. Our son Josh is moving up to Jerusalem from Jaffa. He and Daniel, our camera man-editor are excited to finally be setting up Israel Vision’s brand new television studio. This is a new day! Josh is a professional in many aspects of media, currently working for ‘start ups’ in Tel Aviv. I quote him: “Dad, I have made a lot of people wealthy, now I am going to devote part of each day to promote Israel Vision and Still Small Voice projects for they really count.”

5. CAN – Change Action Nepal is finally incorporated provincially and federally in Canada. Our lawyer has a special love for Nepal and is donating her expertise. She has guided us through all of the legal process and is now willing to serve on the Board.

6. This year, our team will concentrate on producing topical video updates for our viewers, right here within our own studio in Israel. We will continue to educate concerning the importance of Israel. Israel is not a political issue… it is actually a Biblical issue for ALL peoples, whether they believe the Bible or not. We are watching horrified as anti-Semitism explodes to pre WW11 levels. So to we see the onslaught against Christians globally. God is calling out: “WHO is on the LORD”S side?” Lets allow HIM to move us and lead us in 2018!

7. I, Meridel am completing my latest book entitled “Erasing Indelible Stains”… I lay bare the depths of what INIQUITY is and how this mysterious force affects our generations. I paint an in depth portrait of the horrors of sexual abuse within the frame work of so called ‘normal life’. I systematically dissect this crippling disease and do my best to tenderly and carefully walk my reader through the delicate deliverance and healing processes.

8. Jay and team are completing a film he directed and Daniel shot in December. Tracey is a British woman who rides her horses by faith. This time she rode her faithful steeds from Northern Israel up into Jerusalem and as far south as the Ramon Crater. On camera, she shares the history of Israel that she learns from locals along her route.

9. The Heart of God at Work in Israel Today: is an in depth look at the outreaches going on to the needy from within the Messianic Community here in Israel, be they Jews, Arabs, Ethiopians Refugees. We completed the film in Dec and Jay is now helping the producers introduce it into Canada. Our mandate has always been to seek the Kingdom of God as we love to film the work for other ministries in the land as well as our own. Meridel and Daniel are in prayer about going to Dallas Texas to TD Jakes Pastors and Leaders Conference this April 17th to 21st. We don’t want to miss anything God has for us. We do understand that we need to move with the times. We hesitate only because of the expense; but it is vital for us all to be strengthened. I, Meridel would be so happy if Josh could free himself to go in my place. Mention this in your prayers please. Your caring, praying and giving to us over the coming year will enable us to continue to work to bring forth this mystery of the Kingdom of God on earth. My family joins in with heart felt thanks for your support.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven this 2018.

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Remember the Tentifada in 2011?

“Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labours with child together,A great throng shall return there. They shall come with weeping…”Jeremiah 31:8,9a.

In spite of her neighbours with their ongoing lies and continuous attacks, paradoxically, Israel IS Noah’s Arc for Jews according to the Almighty. They began to return home in the 1880’s. No nation wanted Jews. If you doubt this, do a little checking, (Canada included!) The situation only grew worse during WWII. Poor Jews returned to Biblical Zion with weeping weakened by disease and malnutrition just as the Prophets perceived and faithfully penned. This is what makes Israel absolutely unique! Oh, how we love to work to encourage any we meet, to come and take their rightful place here in history…this has always been an underlying goal of our original call, which sent us to Jewish Communities world wide.

Wanting now to focus on inside of Israel, we at Israel Vision are re-posting this production from the summer of 2011. Israelis of all ages were out in protest, locally known as the Tentifada, living in tents and trying to tell the government that they must keep their promises to their citizens. Did these protests bring significant change?Israel is not a perfect country, but it is the only Democracy in the Middle East and our people for the most part remain steadfast and loyal. However, many people, young and old alike, have reached the breaking point. Today, in 2018 is again one of those times.

Anyone who has lived in Israel can attest to the fact that the rents and cost of living are extremely high, and wages are low. Compared to the USA, we pay 23% more in our “cost of living index”.  At the same time, the wages are disgracefully low…so low in fact that a large sector of society can barely afford to rent the meanest of places. The idea of owning an apartment is now, “pie in the sky”, to say nothing of ever owning a house.

To buy a very small apartment will cost about 1.5 to 2 million shekels (between 4-5 hundred thousand dollars). The banks do not give mortgages easily. You must have at least 25% down, and an income of about 20,000 shekels per month, (US 6,000). The long and short of it is: most ordinary people barely earn above minimum wage of 5,000 shekels or US 1,500 dollars per month.

As for rentals, if you live around Jerusalem you will be lucky to find something for under 5,000 shekels (about $1,500)per month. In Israel you must also add property taxes (yes, the renter pays the taxes), building upkeep, and Insurance in addition to the on going monthly expenses of electricity, water, gas and phone/internet/cable. All this for a tiny place with no closets, cupboards, appliances and in most cases no light fixtures. Of course, there are always “good deals”but they are few and far in between and there will be dozens of people wanting them. No wonder people are up in arms. We are a hungry country with 1 in 3 children in Israel living in poverty. Can you believe that? Its a shocker!

So…in frustration and desperation people set up tents and protest. Today, almost seven years on we must ask, “are things any better?” To be honest, there have been improvements for the disabled which everyone is happy about, but the high cost of living~as in most countries~continues and more and more Israelis are falling through the cracks.

Tentifada in Israel (2011) Part I
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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Revisiting Sderot on the Gaza Border

Yes, this is an old film, but, we are re-posting it for a reason. In recent weeks Iran has become even more antagonistic towards Israel. As a result, the ruling elite in the Gaza strip have begun to once again rear their heads with threats to annihilate the state of Israel.
When the IDF went into Gaza in 2009, Jay, David and Daniel drove to Sderot, a small town on the border of Gaza to see what the people were going through. They heard the explosions, spoke to the citizens and toured the spots where rockets had struck. The idea that citizens had “15 Seconds” to find shelter was sobering. How do you even teach young children to run for a bomb shelter??
During this time, Earl Cox, an international broadcaster and journalist was also in Sderot. He was there to support the people. One evening he even purchased pizzas and drinks for the soldiers of the IDF who were on active duty along the border.
Mr. Cox invited David Rawlings and the Mayor of Sderot to Washington. David was able to record the Mayor as he gave his thoughts on the situation in Israel and thanked the American people for their support.
Now, in 2018 as you watch this, please take note~time has indeed passed, but nothing has really changed~Israel’s enemies continue to surround her and threaten the annihilation of the world’s only Jewish State.
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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Happy New Year greetings from Jay & Meridel

Dear Special

​Friends and Deeply ​A​ppreciated partners,

This is the time of year when one stops to reflect on the last 12 months and to look forward to the next 365 days – by faith.

We as a team are very thankful for all the Miracles that the Lord gave us last year. We heard from many of you and for that we are grateful. Thanks for sharing with us your needs, your hopes and dreams and of your triumphs and victories and your love gifts.​

Many of you have asked about my health. I am so very glad to report – victory.
I just had an Echogram and my heart is beating normally and the blood is moving through my heart in the right direction. ​Praise God.​ I also took a “stress test” and that also turned out very well too.​

My cardiologists are happy with my progress. Thank God forevermore. I sincerely appreciate your prayers and your words of encouragement. 

Meridel has been an outstanding “woman of valor” and “her children and grandchildren rise up and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31: 10-31 After Yeshua she is my best gift from my Heavenly Father.

Here in Israel we are surrounded by those who call for our demise. However we are so glad for His promises that say they are eternal and are for both now and forevermore. The Scriptures says that, “the eyes of the Lord are continually on Israel from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.” Not one of His good promises will fail. Amen and Amen!

Thank God we were able to complete 2 full length movies, called “Keys to Success” and “The Heart of God – at Work in the Holy Land.”  We also finished 2 anniversary specials. First in July, 2017 on the “Seventy Years since the Exodus

​ 47 Ship​

” and secondly just today, “One Hundred Years since General Allenby Liberated Jerusalem.” 

Both of these are available on our Israel Vision website and Blogspot.

www.israelvision.com and israelvisiontv.blogspot.com 

We are ever grateful for YOU our precious supporters that enable us to publish the Word of God out from Jerusalem to a worldwide audience.

May God Richly Bless you is our prayer.

Jay and Meridel and Team​
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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

IVTV Report – General Allenby 100th year commemoration in Jerusalem

100 years ago, on 11th December 1917, General Edmund Allenby, entered Jerusalem on foot, out of respect for the status of Jerusalem as the Holy City important to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now, in 2017 a re-enactment of that historic day took place at Jaffa Gate, of the Old City of Jerusalem. Jay and Meridel Rawlings join the hosts of people including Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and the great, great nephew of General Allenby, Viscount Henry J. H. Allenby

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