October 8, 2003 (5764)
SPECIAL EDITION

SENATE HEARINGS EXPOSE PENETRATION OF RADICAL WAHHABI ISLAM INTO U.S. MILITARY AND PRISONS – (By Senator Jon Kyl, R-AZ, http://kyl.senate.gov/) Recent hearings by my Subcommittee on Terrorism have exposed the growing dominance of a radical sect of Islam in the United States. This sect, commonly referred to as Wahhabism, preaches jihad against Christian, Jews, and Muslims who don’t toe the Wahhabi line. All 19 of the September 11 hijackers were followers of Wahhabism, as is Osama bin Laden. This violent perversion of Islamic faith has been responsible for terrorist attacks against innocent civilians - both Muslim and non-Muslim - all over the world.

As a movement, Wahhabism has established publishing operations, schools, and charities in many countries. The self-labeled "educational outreach" of this movement - financed largely by the wealth of Saudi Arabia, where Wahhabism is the official, and only state, religion - foments jihad and a fundamentalist theology to young people internationally, including in the United States.

And there have been a increasing number of instances in which Wahhabists have successfully penetrated key U.S. institutions, such as the military and our prison system. As several recent media reports have noted, the two groups that accredit and recommend Muslim chaplains to the military - the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences and an organization under the umbrella of the American Muslim Foundation -- have long been suspected of links to terrorist organizations by the federal government. The Graduate School and another group accused of ties to Islamic extremists -- the Islamic Society of North America -- also refer Muslim clerics to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Just this week, one of the key architects of the U.S. military’s chaplain program, Abdurahman Alamoudi, was arrested and charged with an illegal relationship with Libya, long a state sponsor of terror. Federal investigators also have detained a Muslim clergymen who was once stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Captain James Yee -- and is being investigated for potential ties to al-Qaeda.

The New York State prison system promoted a Muslim cleric to a position that allowed him to supervise the hiring and firing of all prison chaplains. He was later removed from his job when officials discovered he was an al-Qaeda sympathizer who incited prisoners against America. Jose Padilla, a terrorist accused of trying to build a "dirty bomb" to unleash in the United States, was exposed to radical Islam in the U.S. prison system. Richard Reid, the so-called "shoe bomber," was converted to fundamentalist Islam while serving time in a British prison.

The Pentagon is now undertaking a review of its Muslim chaplain selection program, which has accredited clerics since the early days of the Clinton administration. This review is welcome, but long overdue. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons should follow suit.

On October 14, I will chair a hearing through the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security that will analyze the procedures used by the military and prison system to recruit Muslims, particularly focusing on the cleric program. We will also examine whether the instances of Wahhabi infiltration at key U.S. institutions may be part of a larger pattern. We hope to hear from government witnesses on steps they are taking to confront these challenges.

In response to our Senate inquiry, groups such as the Saudi-backed Center for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) (whose terror-related activities are being scrutinized by my subcommittee as well as the federal government) have been quick to accuse investigators of Muslim bias. Yet three of CAIR’s top leaders were arrested this year on terror-related charges. CAIR declined an invitation to appear before my subcommittee to answer questions.

Falsely charging "bigotry" is simply not an acceptable response to serious allegations of criminal activity. Terrorists should not be allowed to disguise their hateful, violent activities under the banner of religious freedom. The fear of being falsely accused of prejudice, coupled with political correctness, may be part of the reason we got into the situation we’re in right now.

America is a welcoming nation, and Americans are respectful of all faiths. It’s time we confront the evil that has distorted and victimized the peace-loving, mainstream Muslim community. In the Senate, we intend to do just that.

PRAYER / INTERCESSION: Lord, act in Your own displeasure toward those who would strike terror into the earth. (Ezekiel 32:22-25; Psalm 7:11-16) Root out and bring terrorists to justice. Please show mercy, expose and thwart terrorist schemes. Grant wisdom, discernment and protection to all in authority working to prevent terrorist attacks. Lord, bring the Word of God to bear on the hearts and minds of those who make public policy in America. (Psalm 19:7-11; John 8:31,32) Continue to grant opportunity for a Biblical worldview and principles into the public discourse. (Ephesians 3:10)

We pray that Wahhabists, Muslims and all Arab nations will come to faith in Jesus of Nazareth and embrace God’s end-time purpose for their nations and the nation of Israel; We ask that You would send forth laborers to bring in the appointed harvest from the whole of the Middle East.


Nations That Oppose God's Purposes For Israel Are Responsible For The Judgment Which They
Will Bring Upon Themselves
One Of The Most Profound And Powerful Ministries Available To All Christians Is Intercession

NATIONS THAT OPPOSE GOD'S PURPOSES FOR ISRAEL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUDGMENT WHICH THEY WILL BRING UPON THEMSELVES – (Excerpted from an article by Derek Prince, “A Watchman For A Nation”, 6/1/03, Maoz Israel Ministries, www.maozisrael.org ). In recent months, virtually all the nations of Europe have taken their stand against Israel. In all the checkered history of Europe, I cannot recall a single occasion on which all its nations agreed about anything. Such agreement in this case was supernatural. It was the work of the spirit of antichrist, preparing the nations to resist the establishment of Christ's kingdom. It is natural to ask: Did God have His "watchmen" in those nations? Did they give them warning? [Since this article was written, the U.S., UN, EU and Russia have all agreed to a plan to divide Israel into two states.]

The prophet Ezekiel relates how God made him a watchman to his people Israel. (3:16-21) He explains that if a nation embarks on a course in opposition to God's revealed purpose, the watchman's responsibility is to warn his nation. If the nation heeds and repents, that nation will be saved. If it does not heed, it will come under God's judgment, but the watchman himself will save his own soul. As God's servants today, we are responsible to deliver His message to the nations as given in Jeremiah 31:10.

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock." The Lord is warning the nations not to oppose His purposes in regathering Israel, but to cooperate with them. In Zechariah 2:8, God warns the nations: "He who touches you [Israel] touches the apple of His [God's] eye." The apple of the eye is the most sensitive part of the entire body. It is the part we are quickest to defend. That is how God reacts to any threat to Israel.

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Unfortunately, I meet so many Christians today who are "wise in their own opinions." They think they know better than God how He should deal with the Jewish people.

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In Israel itself, the watchman's task is to remind the people of their unique accountability to God as revealed in Amos 3:2: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." If Israel fails to live up to their God-given responsibility, He warns them that He will judge them severely. Thousands of years of history bear witness to this truth.

This is not the end of the story, however. God emphatically declares that in His appointed time He will regather and restore Israel as a people. Furthermore, He requires the other nations to play their part in this restoration of Israel. This is an important theme of Paul's message to Gentile believers in Romans 11:13-15 and 25-27:

For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that hardening [blindness] in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."

Unfortunately, I meet so many Christians today who are "wise in their own opinions." They think they know better than God how He should deal with the Jewish people.

Paul is here restating in Romans what God has already plainly said in Jeremiah 32:37-41: Behold, I will gather them [Israel] out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place [the land of Israel], and I will cause them to dwell safely. They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land [Israel], with all My heart and with all My soul.

The words "forever" and "everlasting" make it clear that God is not speaking about some temporary restoration of Israel but about establishing them in their own land as a permanent and irrevocable fact. Furthermore, God says He will do this with "all My heart and with all My soul." It would be presumptuous for any nation to resist anything that God does with all His heart and soul. I believe that my own nation, Britain, discovered this, to her own cost, when she was administering the United Nations' Mandate over Palestine. It so happens that I was residing in Jerusalem at the time, and I was an eyewitness of various ways that the British occupying forces opposed the transition to a Jewish State.

God's purpose, however, goes beyond restoring and reestablishing Israel as a nation in her own land. God will ultimately make them the instrument of His judgment on the other nations. In Jeremiah 51:20-23, God is speaking to Israel, and He says: You are My battle-ax and weapons of war: for with you I will break the nation in pieces; with you I will destroy kingdoms…and with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers.

Further, in Isaiah 60:12, God assures Israel of a place of preeminence among the nations: For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you [Israel] shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined.

Nations that oppose God's purposes for Israel are responsible for the judgment which they will bring upon themselves. No matter how strong or prosperous those nations may appear, they will have no permanent place in history. They are on their way out.

These promises are given to Israel not on the basis of their own merits, but to honor the redemptive work of the Messiah Jesus, and because He has made Israel His people. "And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing…" (Zechariah 8:13).

"The Portion of Jacob is not like them [the Gentile nations], for He [the Lord] is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance (Jeremiah 10:16). Scripture looks forward to a day when: "Ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you"'" (Zechariah 8:32).

DO YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR NATION - WHICHEVER THAT MAY BE? – (Derek Prince, continued) For my part, I hold U.S. citizenship, but the nation with which I have been identified all through my life is Britain. You will never meet anyone more "British" than I am. Every male relative I have ever known personally has been an officer in the British Army. My father retired as a Colonel, my uncle as a Brigadier and my grandfather as a Major General. I was educated at two strongholds of "British tradition" - Eton and Cambridge. In World War II, I served five years in the British Army.

I am not ashamed to say that I care about Britain. I am deeply grateful for all the blessings I have received through the United States, but I am not prepared to write Britain off. I believe that God's desire is to bless both of these English-speaking nations who have led the way in bringing the Gospel to countless other nations. But I believe, according to Scripture, that they will determine their destiny by the way they relate to God's purpose for Israel.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS A HEART TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST? If someone you know might be interested in receiving the Israel / Middle East Alert by e-mail, please contact us with their name, address and e-mail - call 1-800-USA-PRAY or send emails to PrayMidEast@aol.com 

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“Intercession pleads for mercy, not justice.”

ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND AND POWERFUL MINISTRIES AVAILABLE TO ALL CHRISTIANS IS INTERCESSION – (Excerpted from “What Is An Intercessor?” by Derek Prince, IFA Newsletter, 1/98) To “intercede” means literally to “come in between”. The intercessor “came in between” two persons: God, and those who justly deserve God’s wrath. Intercession pleads for mercy, not justice. In Numbers 16:46-48 Aaron provides a vivid picture of the intercessor. Israel had sinned by rebellion against their leaders, and God sent judgment upon them in the form of a plague that was taking the lives of thousands. Moses told Aaron: “Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly into the congregation, and make an atonement for them.”

Aaron put the incense into his censer and ran out into the midst of the congregation. There he took his stand between those who had already been smitten by the plague and those who had not. The fragrant smoke ascending from the censer, as Aaron swung it to and fro, formed a line to divide between the two groups. “And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.” The smoke of the incense from Aaron’s censer typifies “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man.” (James 5:16) As intercession took effect, the plague ceased, Judgment ended and mercy began.

In Exodus 32:7-14 it is Moses who provides the picture of the intercessor. Israel had fallen into idolatry by worshiping a golden calf. God told Moses: “Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them...” However, Moses refused to “let God alone.” Instead, he reminded God of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and pleaded for mercy. As a result, “the Lord repented”.

In Exodus 32:31,32 Moses renews his intercession on behalf of Israel praying: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin- and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of Thy book.” Here is the heart of the intercessor laid bare. Moses was willing to take upon himself the consequence that was due.

In Psalm 106:23 the psalmist also describes this incident: “Therefore He [God] said He would destroy them [Israel] had not Moses His chosen stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy them”. The ministry of intercession is summed up in the statement that Moses “stood before Him in the breach”. Israel’s spiritual defenses had been breached by their sin. But Moses interposed himself and stood in the breach, to hold back the judgment. God delights to show mercy, but is reluctant to administer judgment. Therefore, in each situation where judgment is due, God looks for an intercessor who can hold back the judgment.

Isaiah 59:1-16 gives a detailed and fearful list of the sins of God’s people, but the climax to it all comes in verse 16: “And He [God] saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor...”

The fact that there was not even one person to intercede actually caused wonderment to the heart of God. Apparently this grieved Him more that all the sins previously listed. Let us ponder this statement: “there was no intercessor”. Is the same true today? Many to criticize, to complain, to condemn, but no one to intercede. Judgment, although long due, may still be averted, but – where is the intercessor?

Ezekiel 22:23-31 presents another picture of God’s people in desperate spiritual need. Every section of the community has been corrupted – prophets, priests, princes, and the people as a whole. But even so, the situation was not altogether hopeless. God declared that final judgment might yet be averted if He could find one man to intercede: “And I sought for a man among them, that he should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.”

Once again, the climax is contained in the last words: “but I found none”. One man of the right caliber could have averted the final disaster, but not even one was to be found. As a result, God could no longer withhold the full outpouring of judgment. Here, the ministry of intercession is presented in two aspects. The intercessor “stands in the gap”, he interposes himself in the breach made by the sin of God’s people, thus holding back judgment. But he also makes up the hedge.” By calling God’s people back to repentance and obedience he rebuilds their spiritual defenses.

All these biblical pictures of intercession convey one and the same message to us today: Our situation may be critical, but so long as God can find an intercessor, it is not hopeless.

Lord, make me an intercessor!

Recommended! HASTENING THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH by Johannes Facius. A valuable contribution to our understanding of Messiah’s second appearance on earth. A message that is vital to the evangelization of the world, for the building up and equipping of the Church, and for producing eternal spiritual character in individual believers. Published in England, paperback, 109 pages. Order IFA Item #B406, $9.95 + shipping.

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Pray that the Palestinian Arabs and the Arab nations will come to faith in Jesus of Nazareth and embrace God’s end-time purpose for Israel; Pray that the Lord would send forth laborers to bring in the appointed harvest from the whole of the Middle East.

3O-DAY MUSLIM PRAYER VIGIL: OCTOBER 26 THROUGH NOVEMBER 24 - Why are more than a billion people around the world abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex from dawn to sunset this month and next month? They are Muslims who are fasting during their holy month of Ramadan. A call to prayer for Muslims originated during a meeting in 1992 of several Christian leaders in the Middle East. These men and women strongly sensed God’s desire to call as many Christians as possible to pray for the Muslim world. The prayer movement was planned to coincide with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. This year, Ramadan is from October 26th through November 24th. A daily guide to prayer is available to inspire and guide as you intercede for the Muslim world. Order IFA Item #P041, $4.95 + $3.00 shipping. Credit card orders toll-free 800-872-7729, or via secure eBookstore http://www.ifabooks.com/.

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ISRAEL / MIDDLE EAST Editorial Team:
Gary Bergel / Brian Miller / Tim Winter / William Lee

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS A HEART TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST? If someone you know might be interested in receiving the Israel / Middle East Alert by e-mail, please contact us with their name, address and e-mail - call 1-800-USA-PRAY or send e-mails to PrayMidEast@aol.com  

WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS AND SPRING FINANCIAL SUPPORT! INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt, non-profit Christian ministry founded in 1973 which serves the Church of Jesus Christ by encouraging effective prayer and fasting for the Church, our nation, and their leaders. Your support of this ministry is appreciated and vital to our work of “watching unto prayer.” Credit Card donations can be made securely online at www.ifapray.org  or by calling toll-free, 1-800-USA-PRAY, (1-800-872-7729)

Give the king knowledge of Your way of judging, O God and the spirit of your righteousness to the king’s son to control his actions.
Psalms 72:1  Amplified version.

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