Dear Pray4Zion Partners,

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

The United Nations are currently having its Annual Debate of the General Assembly which began on  September 25th – October 1st, when all 193 member states will gather in New York to be faced with a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state. In the next few months our nation South Africa will also have to decide if it will accept the creation of a new Islamic state in the Middle East with the Old City of Jerusalem (East Jerusalem) as its capital.

At the same time Israel is facing both the threat of a chemical weapons attack from Syria and a nuclear Iran. At the UN General Assembly all these threats will converge as the nations will be faced with the choice to either stand up for Israel or join her enemies.

The Bible speaks of a point in time when “all the nations” will gather against Jerusalem and when the Lord will intervene and judge the nations.
(Joel 3:1-3) The judgment will come because they - the nations have divided up His land (Israel) and dispersed His people (The Jews).
Furthermore, the New Testament (Matthew 25: 31-46) speaks of a coming judgment of the nations, based on how they have treated “these least of my brothers”. We are now entering a time when the world community is trying to divide Jerusalem and disperse those Jews who are living in the biblical heartland of Israel.

This period coincides with the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah (September 16th) and Yom Kippur beginning (September 26th) tonight at 4:56pm and ending tomorrow evening at 6:07pm. Rosh Hashanah marked a day of judgment whereas Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. The Israeli Prime Minister will deliver his most important speech ever in the UN the day after Yom Kippur!

We have the Choice… The nations will have a vote in the UN. Will they choose to become “Goat” or “Sheep” nations? Will they care for the Jewish people? Will they gather against Jerusalem or align themselves with God’s plans and purposes for world peace? We can read about this in Isaiah 2.
This is a vision of world peace, which is universally accepted. The scripture is written on a monument right across from the UN in New York.
This is the time when “Nation will not take up sword against nation nor will they train for war any more.” This is the Peace of Jerusalem that we are praying for and that we are asking the nations to prepare for. It can, according to the text, only come about when the Lord God of Israel reigns in Jerusalem.

We believe that “all nations” gathering against Israel could mean the international community as a whole or even the “United Nations”, but we do not believe that each and every nation will have to join. They have a choice. This is why Matthew 25:31-46 clearly speaks of a separation of Sheep and Goat nations. This is also why the place where the judgment happens is a “Valley of Decision.” The nations will have to make a decision. Where does our nation stand?

We are not implying that “the final judgment” is imminent. It may or may not. What we are saying is that it is a time for decisions, which according to Scripture will have direct consequences for the nations.

We are calling upon the worldwide body of Christ to pray for the peace of Jerusalem at a time when there international community would like to divide the city, but also for our own nation South Africa as these leaders may soon be entering “the Valley of Decision”, in other words a decisive vote about the future of Jerusalem in the United Nations.

-Please pray for the leaders of the nations to hear about the biblical, legal and historical rights of the Jewish people. Please pray for our own leaders in South Africa - that they would clearly say NO to dividing Jerusalem.

-Please pray for divine protection over Israel from any attack of the enemy, chemical, nuclear or through “diplomatic terrorism.”

-Please pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu that God will make him wise and fearless as he addresses the UN on behalf of Israel.

We encourage you to keep Jerusalem in your prayers, as only God can bring true peace to this region. Whatever happens in Jerusalem has deep significance for the entire world. This is the Holy City to which Yeshua
(Jesus) will soon return. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem… May those who love you prosper.” (Psalm 122:6)

Thank you for being a blessing,
With Shalom always,
Alf & Julie Saunders