September/October 2004

Return from Babylon

Features

No More Villages to Burn

Christians are being killed in record numbers. If you think Muslims want to dominate the Middle East only, you are dangerously mistaken.

The Babylonian Captivity

God always keeps His promises, even the unpleasant ones. The issues surrounding this captivity will take you from mere history
to important theology.

The Second World Empire

After the Babylonian Empire, Media-Persia took over. This outstanding article sorts
out that kingdom’s rulers and what
they accomplished.

The Exiles Return

God may have removed the Jewish people from their land, but He faithfully brought them back. Learn how He did it and who He used.


More In This Issue

From Bill Sutter’s Desk Sep/Oct 2004

Thus reads the headline on the brochure from Volunteers for Israel (VFI). Since VFI’s inception in 1982, more than a hundred thousand people from thirty countries have volunteered their time and energy to immerse themselves...

Silhouette of man speaking.

Where Do We Sign Up?

Colonel Teddy Roosevelt, later to become the twenty-sixth president of the United States, was certified as an American icon during the Spanish-American War of 1898. The Spanish presence in North America, especially in Cuba...

Tisha B’Av — Israel’s Day of Tragedies

People often have days when nothing, absolutely nothing, goes right. The Jewish people have such a date, when so many tragedies occurred that they established a national day of sadness, fasting, mourning, and remembrance.

Daniel and Darius

Daniel in the lions’ den (Dan. 6) is probably one of the best-known accounts in the Bible. It’s the encouraging, satisfying triumph of faith, righteousness, and justice over wickedness and evil in high places.

Map of the Middle East.

Eye on the Middle East Sep/Oct 2004

I am a former Moslem, born and raised in the Middle East. I am very disappointed and almost scared after watching your presentation about Islam. One of the reasons I fled to the United States

The Ten ‘Lost’ Tribes Weren’t Lost

The phrase the lost tribes of Israel emits a certain ring of mystery that romanticizes the disappearance of the Israelites taken captive by Assyria in 722 B.C. Although the phrase is nowhere in Scripture...

Nehemiah The Leader

Nehemiah was a contemporary of Ezra and cupbearer to the king of Persia. He heard of the sorry situation in Jerusalem and the pitiful plight of its inhabitants, was moved with compassion...

Vision Four: Israel’s Cleansing

God specifically chose Israel to be a holy nation in which He could manifest His grace and truth to mankind (Ex. 19:5–8). Failing to live up to her elective calling, Israel committed gross immorality...

Targeting Hamas

The goal of Hamas is clear. As stated in the organization’s covenant, the Islamic Resistance Movement “strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.” No negotiations or compromises are possible.

God is True and Truth Part One

The Scriptures repeatedly associate what is true and truth with God. The primary Old Testament word used for this association is emet. Its foundational concept is “certainty, dependability”; and it is used “in several categories...

Ezra the Teacher

Ezra, a Levitical priest and scribe (Ezra 7:6–11), exercised a central role in rebuilding the spiritual condition of the Jewish people who returned from Babylon (Ezra 7—10). How was he equipped for such a task?

The Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem

From the moment the Lord formed the nation of Israel after the Exodus, He desired to dwell with His people as their King. Hence, the Tabernacle was built; and the Lord’s Glory indwelled it...

They Cry in Silence Sep/Oct 2004

That stand has led to extreme persecution in Communist Laos. Since 1975, Laos has been under the control of the Communist Pathet Lao. As is the norm for Communist-controlled countries, there is a one-party...

The Eastern Gate

The ground in front of the Eastern Gate of the Temple Mount was still soft from the heavy rains. Confidently, the archaeology student stepped back from the gate to capture its entire view...

Are You a Naomi? Part One

I’m not much of a shopper. My favorite place in the mall is probably the ice cream parlor, where I’ve spent many a pleasant moment contemplating the virtues of hot fudge versus butterscotch...

Israel in the News Sep/Oct 2004

An Israeli toddler being dropped off at nursery school by his mother was killed when a Palestinian Kassam rocket exploded in the heart of Sderot in the Negev. More than 20 others, including youngsters...

Zvi Sep/Oct 2004

But to my regret, this is not so. From time to time I visit the ultra-Orthodox at their synagogues, which they call “holy of holy.” But when I arrive there, even though I am Jewish...

Daily News from Israel

News Digest — 3/28/24

Two men and a child were injured in a shooting attack toward a bus on Route 90 in the...

As Many as 1,000 Terrorists Hiding in Hospital

Two Palestinian terrorists under interrogation estimated that between 600 to 1,000 Hamas operatives are based in Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital...

News Digest — 3/27/24

Media outlets in Lebanon reported early Wednesday morning (27th) that at least 7 people were killed in...

Israel at War: Week 24

With the demand by United States President Joe Biden to build a pier to advance humanitarian aid into Gaza has come some startling and unsettling facts...

News Digest — 3/26/24

Nine operatives were killed overnight in strikes against pro-Iranian militia targets in the...

News Digest — 3/25/24

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated on Sunday evening (24th) in the Purim Megillah reading with the...

News Digest — 3/22/24

An official in the Israel Police force said on Thursday (21st) that during the upcoming Purim holiday, and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan there will be...

News Digest — 3/21/24

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Republican senators on Wednesday (20th) that Israel will continue its efforts to...

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