In the heart of El Reno, Oklahoma, a remarkable story of benevolence and unexpected blessings unfolded, all in the name of a woman named Diane Sweeney.

Sweeney’s legacy, inspired by the benevolent teachings of Jesus, took an extraordinary form, touching the life of an unsuspecting teenager, Gabriella Bonham.

It all began when Sweeney, an Oklahoma City resident with a giving spirit, expressed her heartfelt wish to her nephew, Rick Ingram. She shared her desire that when she died, her beloved 2016 Volkswagen Beetle would find a new owner among those who attended her funeral.

Sweeney cherished a simple life, rooted in her Christian faith, family and her cherished Volkswagen Beetle. She believed in the power of benevolence and kindness, values that resonated deeply with her Christian faith.

Tragically, Sweeney’s life was cut short on July 7, 2022. However, her wish did not go unheeded. About 30 days prior to her death, Ingram had promised his beloved aunt that her wish would come true.

After Sweeney’s death, Ingram, along with his cousin, Suzanne Singleterry, decided to make her final wish a reality. They reached out to local news outlets, including Channel 4, to spread the word about her benevolent act.

“She always had a giving spirit,” Ingram told Fox News Digital. “She told us of her wish. I remember it clear as day. I told her I would make it happen.”

The response was overwhelming. One of the attendees at Sweeney’s funeral was 16-year-old Gabriella Bonham from El Reno. She had initially heard about the funeral on TV and found the idea of attending amusing. She gathered her older sisters and cousins to join her in this unique adventure.

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Little did Bonham know that this simple outing would turn into a deeply moving experience. As she sat among those who had known Sweeney, Bonham discovered the warmth, kindness and generosity that had defined Sweeney’s life. Through family stories and heartwarming anecdotes, Bonham felt like she knew a stranger better than she ever could have imagined.

“It was very interesting to not know her and to see her life through her family’s eyes,” she told Fox News Digital.

At the end of the service, Bonham filled out a raffle ticket, as per Sweeney’s wish, and went on with her life. However, more than a year passed before Bonham received a life-changing phone call. The estate had finally been settled, and the time had come to hold the raffle. Two trusted friends, Rudy Espinoza and Taylor Hurt, were entrusted with the tickets, and on Sept. 15, 2023, the drawing took place, facilitated by the staff of Resthaven Funeral Home in Oklahoma City.

The call Bonham received that day would change her life forever. She had been experiencing difficulties with her current car, making her daily life a struggle. When she received the news, she was overwhelmed with shock and gratitude. Her parents and family joined in her excitement as they realized Bonham had won Diane’s cherished Volkswagen Beetle.

Ingram, who made that life-changing call, couldn’t have been happier. He felt a deep sense of divine purpose, a belief that Sweeney’s benevolent wish had been fulfilled. A young girl was starting her life just as Sweeney’s was coming to an end, continuing the legacy of kindness and compassion.

“The perfect winner was drawn,” Ingram said.

As Bonham drove away in her new car, she felt the weight of responsibility and the gift of benevolence that Sweeney had passed on. The hope and prayer is that the spirit of Diane Sweeney—her generosity and commitment to others—will live on in Bonham. {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.

Throughout the United States, there are pockets of revival happening, revival that is giving believers hope for their future and the future of the church.

And, Pastor Mike Signorelli says, the church can glean from past revivals like the Azusa Street Revival in 1906, the Jesus Movement of the 1970s and the five-year Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida that began in 1995 to spark a potential Third Great Awakening in America that could potentially see millions turn their hearts to Jesus.

Signorelli, the pastor of V1Church in New York City and producer of the new film “The Domino Revival”—which will hit theaters for one night only on Oct. 24—likes to refer to revisiting past revivals as “re-digging old wells.”

He explored many of the past revivals throughout the filming of “The Domino Revival.”

“I think there are two reasons why we have these generals in the faith and that we have these moves of God that happen,” Signorelli told Charisma News for a Beyond the Article video recently. “We learn what to do and we learn what not to do. Each movement is showing us a new way. It’s showing us a new path.”

The Azusa Revival in Los Angeles, sparked by Pastor William Seymour in the early part of the 20^th century is a particularly fascinating event to study, Signorelli says, because of the “recreative miracles” that happened there.

“It’s one thing to believe that God can heal you. But it’s another thing to believe that He can help you grow out a leg,” Signorelli says. “The most bizarre, crazy stories came out of Azusa, California.”

Then there is the Toronto Revival, which was a forerunner to the Messianic movement where many Jews accepted Jesus as their Messiah.

“If you know anything about Canada these days, they are definitely a post-Christian culture,” Signorelli says. “And so seeing that outpouring was incredible. Then, when you look at Brownsville, Brownsville was the longest-standing continuous revival in the nation.”

But not all good things came out of Brownsville.

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“But with Brownsville, that also decimated that local church [Brownsville Assembly of God] after it was over and they had to go through a rebuilding process because everybody was converging on one place. When everyone left, their finances went with them. The building went into disarray. They had to fix the roof and to go through projects and pay off debt.

“So, every revival gives us a revelation of what’s possible, but then there is also the unintended consequences of revival. The importance of me digging up old wells was basically to say, hey, God did something here, and let’s pull from that. It’s just like a well where water flows from it. The water from that revival is still there, but we have to unearth it.”

Which is exactly what Signorelli did with revivalists like Aimee Semple McPherson, who preached in the early 20th century and used the medium of radio. Nearly 100 years later, he is using women like Jenny Weaver to reach people for Christ through social media.

The Jesus Movement also began in California 50 years ago, but Greg Laurie, one of the main characters in “The Jesus Revolution” movie, is still being used mightily by God as the pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Riverside, California. That church recently saw thousands of people baptized at Pirate’s Cove, where he and his wife, Cathy, were baptized themselves in the 1970s.

“The Bible is not the story of what happened, it’s the story of what always happens,” Signorelli says. “God used women like Mary Magdalene that he delivered from seven demons and then upon Jesus’ resurrection, she goes and tells people that Christ is resurrected.

“These things echo. That’s the point of the movie Domino Revival is that dominoes drop and one domino hits another. One person’s ‘yes’ becomes a lineage that we have, a heritage, and so sometimes we’ve got to go back and retrace the steps of our heritage.”

In essence, Signorelli says, we must learn from the past to go forward into the future. {eoa}

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If you are at all familiar with the Bible, Jonathan Cahn says, you’re familiar with the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree in Matthew 21. Jesus cursed the fig tree because He was hungry and found no fruit on it, only leaves.

Cahn said in a recent sermon there is a parallel between the fig tree and Israel, which for nearly two millennia, failed to produce the spiritual fruit that God so dearly desired. But then came the reestablishment of Israel as a nation in 1948, and Cahn says that the tree has returned.

And, he says, it—meaning Israel—is beginning to grow as God intended.

“When God spoke to Jeremiah, He spoke about the good figs and the bad figs,” Cahn says. “Those were actually the people of Israel. The king was a bad fig, and judgment was coming. What does that mean?

“What it would mean is that Israel is not only just coming back as a nation, but it will again produce fruit to God; believers, apostles of Messiah and disciples, and then the word could go forth again. That hadn’t happened for almost 2,000 years. But it’s happening again now. The fig tree is beginning to blossom.”

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Cahn says through the prophet Hosea, God said the children of Israel would “abide for many days without king or priest.” But in these last days before Jesus’ glorious return, that scenario is beginning to change.

“In the last days, they will come, they will come, they will return to the Lord. They will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness and to David their king, which is the biblical way of saying ‘Messiah.’ There was a first, but their main coming is at the end.

“What is the biggest part of the week for the Jewish people? The end, the Sabbath. They repent. What is the time of repentance in the Hebrew year? It’s the last part, in the autumn. The Jewish people are going to come back to the Lord in the end and we are already seeing the beginning of that. The fig tree is blossoming.”

Cahn says that the tree’s branches are a mirror of the tree’s roots, and obviously that a tree cannot bear fruit without its roots. What does that mean not only for Israel, but also , Cahn asks?

“You can only go up in the Lord as much as you go down in the Lord,” Cahn says. “God said be fruitful, but you can only be fruitful if you are rootful. Your fruitfulness is based upon your rootfulness and it’s dependent on it. Your fruits will not exceed your roots. It will equal it.

“Do you want to bear fruit? You’ve got to get down. You’ve got to get deeper. You’ve got to get in His presence. You’ve got to get deeper in His love, and when you do, you will bear the fruit of your life. Your life is a tree. God called you to bear a life of love, of joy, of gentleness, of peace, of goodness, of self-control and of faithfulness.

“Do you want to bear the fruits of love? Then, you’ve got to get into the roots of love. Get more rooted. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t give what you didn’t receive. A tree can only give what it received. You’ve got to get into God’s presence. You’ve got to start soaking up His love into your whole being; into your emotions, into your mind, into your heart, into your hurts, into your past, into your fears—into every part of your being—that’s how you’re going to change. A tree cannot do it on its own. All you need to do is receive and be the tree and let it happen. Focus on getting from God; focus on receiving; get good at it. When their comes a famine, you won’t wither because you are rooted in God.” {eoa}

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At the recent Proceed Conference at Tim Sheets’ Oasis Church in Ohio, Prophet Chuck Pierce told those in attendance that great harvest always creates war.

And, Pierce says, Christians need to get ready because God is on the verge of bringing about “one of the greatest harvest times we have ever known.”

“There is going to be a war over the harvest field,” Pierce says. “At every key gate in this harvest, there is a war. The Lord has said, ‘I am ready for my people to journey to their land of prosperity. They need to know that I have gathered them in this place to tell them that I am read for them to journey to their promise and their land of prosperity.'”

Pierce says the Lord recently has begun to prophetically show him an “angelic troop”—which was also confirmed by Sheets earlier in the evening—that was coming into the Ohio Valley where Oasis Church is located in Middletown.

But the gate to harvest isn’t just located there. It’s in many different places in America.

“God said if you will stand and guard the door of my entrances and listen for me daily, joy will break forth,” Pierce said. “I will speak daily for I am opening up a portal over this Ohio Valley, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and all of Kentucky. The Ohio Valley will be where the intersecting winds of the nation form a new gate for America. I saw these angelic troops coming in, and they were stirring the winds. The Lord says it has begun.”

As we near the middle of this decade, Pierce says, indeed it is a time of chaos on this earth. Believers can look all around them to see the havoc the enemy is trying to create.

But in the midst of the chaos, Pierce says, believers must find their promise for prosperity and they must continue to know that God has put them here to prosper through the chaos.

“You are called to prosper, and it’s not just about money,” Pierce says. “It’s about accomplishing what God is asking to accomplish. Our covenant prosperity is embedded in a timed harvest cycle, and that’s why it is so important to it. God is not in time; we’re in time, and He set our covenant plan in time for us to understand and have a harvest mentality.

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“The Lord said ‘I have found ways for you to recover and now that path of recovery that you’re on is going to take you right up to the gate of your future. This year is about the door that is already opened up for us and God is opening up doors in certain territories. These are the doors that will shift this nation in the coming year. This year is about going through your gate, entering the door of your future, ascending through the portal that He opens up and warring to secure your promise. You can’t get away from war.”

Earlier that evening, Sheets spoke of Moses, who, in Exodus 32:26, “stood at the gate and said, ‘Whoever is for the Lord, come to me. And all of the sons of Levi gathered together to him.'”

Pierce says it’s the same path that we as believers must follow today.

“Let’s go,” Pierce says. “This era is about a new Holy Spirit movement in the church. We’ve had movements throughout history and throughout the world and especially throughout America. But there is a new Holy Spirit movement coming and this wineskin will have an explosive kingdom movement about it.

“We [God’s prophets] are going to come into a new supernatural anointing to be able to tell the future before the enemy even knows how to try to thwart what God is ready to do in this land.” {eoa}

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When some Christians hear the words “forgive” or “forgiveness,” it might bring up feelings of grief, painful memories or bitterness and resentment toward others. Yet, other believers feel warmth in their hearts, followed by relief and the joy of reconciliation.

But the one thing believers who cannot find it in their hearts to forgive those who have wronged them, abused them or treated them with disrespect seem to forget is what Jesus did for them on the cross. His sacrifice was the ultimate act of forgiveness—for your sins.

“Our first command is to love—first God, then one another,” says Pastor Doug Stringer, the founder and chairman of Somebody Cares International. “One of the biggest challenges in our society today is a lack of love. This expresses itself in many ways, including the lack of civility and character displayed in our disagreements—even in the church.

“We allow our preferences to divide our families, friendships and churches. … It is crucial that the church returns to her first love, Jesus Christ, if we are to love one another and then the lost in a way that brings healing and hope to our communities and nation.”

Throughout the Bible, God shows how much He values forgiveness. In Colossians 3:13, He instructs Christians to “forgive as the Lord forgave you,” and to “forgive them so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25).

While some might have missed it, National Forgiveness and Happiness Day took place last Saturday, Oct. 7. Created and sponsored by Robert Moyers of the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance, the event is celebrated annually and it’s goal is to “do the will of God each day and to love one another as God loves us,” Moyers says.

The organization came up with a “Prayer of Forgiveness,” which asks God to forgive others and pleads with God to provide us with the power to forgive others and help one forgive oneself.

While many people hold onto grudges and fantasize about revenge, studies have revealed that the best way to heal is to actually forgive the person who hurt you. It won’t make you weak, but it will contribute to the creation of a more successful and happier you.

Bible teacher Kyle Winkler says that when you take offense and hold on to it, you are “sipping on poison.”

“Romans 12 says to do all you can to live in peace,” Winkler says. “The key word obviously is peace, which means to live in harmony with. I’ll tell you, the older I get, the more I crave this thing called peace. I’m not perfect, but I can tell you as time has gone on, I’ve gotten a lot better about nipping things in the bud before they spiral out of control.

“All of this bitterness and offense can turn into hatred and all kinds of division. Living with all of that bitterness and offense, all is really does is hurt you. It’s toxic to you. If you really want to live free and you really want to be used at the maximum level that God wants to you, then you have to learn how to have peace with people.”

According to a 2019 Barna Research study, while most Christians have engaged in no-strings-attached forgiveness at some point in their lives, one in four practicing Christians struggle to forgive.

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Charles Washington, the pastor of Regeneration Temple Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, emphasized that forgiveness is a “posture of the heart” and mirrors the act of repentance. He likened repentance to turning away from sin, while forgiveness is a decision to let go of grudges and bitterness.

Washington’s personal experience of forgiving his father, who abandoned him when he was just eight years old, taught him the importance of having a forgiving heart. He realized that forgiveness starts with the heart and letting go of past grievances.

Washington says the decline in forgiveness among Christians can be attributed to the present “selfie generation,” where self-centeredness and the pursuit of personal gain take precedence over love and forgiveness. He stressed that societal values and the focus on self-esteem have made it harder for individuals to engage in genuine forgiveness.

Stringer says there are many scriptures about forgiveness we can turn to, including:

• “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matt. 12:25, NKJV).
• Jesus prayed to the Father, “that we all may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).
• “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
• “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself'”(Matt. 22:37-39).

The need for forgiveness in America remains significant, but many Christians struggle to fully embrace forgiveness due to a changing societal landscape that prioritizes self-centeredness and personal gain.

The role of the church in fostering forgiveness is crucial, as it can provide guidance and support for individuals seeking to let go of past grievances and embrace the profound act of forgiveness, ultimately finding healing and reconciliation in the process. {eoa}

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The recent outbreak of violence in the Middle East has captured the world’s attention as Israel continues to battle its mortal enemies of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the constant threats of annihilation from neighboring Iran.

As the conflict escalates, concerns are growing that it could have more far-reaching consequences, extending beyond the region itself. End times expert Michael Snyder says those in the Western world supporting Israel should be wary of impending violence and the escalating threat of antisemitism.

“There will be violence and destruction in the months ahead, and it won’t be limited to the Middle East,” Snyder said in a recent blog. “I believe Western nations that show support for Israel, including the United States, will see it like we’ve never seen it before.”

The conflict in the Middle East has continued for centuries. But the recent eruption of conflict in that region, primarily between Israel and Hamas, is a significant concern for those who support Israel. This escalation has the potential to be one of the most pivotal events of our time and could lead the fulfillment of biblical prophecy in our lifetime, many kingdom leaders say.

“It’s in real time, before your very eyes,” Pastor Greg Laurie says. “It is a strong indication that it could be the start of a series of events predicted in Scripture long ago.”

Despite any threats of violence America, and no matter what lies the secular media attempts to feed the public, Pastor John Hagee says that the U.S. will continue to stand with Israel in “her darkest hour.”

The founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, Hagee says, “I know where I stand, and where CUFI’s 10 million members-plus stand. We stand with Israel. Christians across the United States and the world stand with Israel. We stand with Israel now and forever.”

Antisemitism continues to rear its ugly head, and the current conflict provides fertile ground for an escalation of this unholy ideal. As the conflict intensifies, Snyder says incidents of anti-Jewish hate are at an all-time high, posing a genuine threat to Jewish communities across the Western world.

Radical Islam’s influence in the West has become a major cause for concern. Over the past few decades, many migrants from regions where radical Islam is prevalent have relocated to Western nations.

While the majority are peace-loving, many sympathize with terror organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The presence of these individuals in the Western world presents a challenge, as their support for extremist ideologies can contribute to the growth of antisemitism.

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The brutality of Hamas’s tactics, demonstrated in the recent conflict, leaves no room for negotiation. Hamas’ goal is the destruction of Israel, fueled by an intense hatred for the Jewish people.

The deliberate massacre of women, children and babies is a grim reminder of the level of hatred that fuels these terror organizations. Such inhuman acts can further stoke the flames of violence and antisemitism globally.

This article in June from Charisma News columnist Dr. Michael Brown explains that notion in detail. Hatred for Jews in the last few years has exploded on the Internet and there have been several violent acts already perpetrated in America against members of Jewish synagogues during that time.

It’s even spread to American churches, as explained in this 2014 Charisma News article titled “What You Need to Know About the Growing Antisemitism in Mainline Churches.” It’s shocking to read about how many mainline denominations have, for years, turned their backs on the Jewish people.

But Brown says, thankfully in the end, truth will overcome lies and light will overcome darkness.

“We do well in the here and now not to underestimate the power of those dark lies,” Brown says. “They have led to shedding of an ocean of Jewish blood over the centuries.”

This growing domestic hostility should raise a red flag among American churches who support Israel. Western supporters of Israel should be wary as there is a real danger that violence and terror attacks may shatter our false sense of security we now cling to that these incidents couldn’t happen here in America.

While peaceful coexistence remains the ultimate goal, the escalating violence and extremism in the Middle East pose a growing threat to those who support Israel, making vigilance and proactive measures essential to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens globally, but particularly here in the U.S. {eoa}

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Whether many Christians choose to believe it or not, Pastor Greg Laurie says we are “seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled in our lifetime,” and we could be on the cusp of the series of events foretold in Ezekiel 37 and 38—the Battle of Armageddon.

As the attacks on Israel by terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah—and threats from neighboring Iran—ramp up, Laurie says it’s still unclear where the current conflict is headed. But, the ongoing bloodshed in Israel and the Gaza Strip is a strong indication that it could be the start of a series of events predicted in Scripture centuries ago, and how Bible prophecy focuses on one city in particular.

“It’s in real time, before your very eyes,” Laurie said in a recent sermon posted on X. “… It’s interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem. The Bible predicted thousands of years ago that the end time events would evolve around Jerusalem. Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris.

“But Jerusalem, this tiny little city in this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. It’s the focal point of end times events.”

Laurie quoted the prophet Zechariah, who foretold how God would use the city of Jerusalem to bring his judgment upon the world. Zechariah 12:3 reads, “And it will be on that day that I will set Jerusalem as a weighty stone to all the peoples. All who carry it will surely gash themselves, and all the nations of the land will be gathered against it.”

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Interpretation of Bible prophecy often divides the church, but Laurie says there is little question that the “super sign” that set the prophetic clock in motion is the regathering of the Jews to Israel—their homeland. In recent years, tens of thousands of Jews have made Aliyah to Israel.

Iran has certainly left little doubt in recent years that one of its main objectives is to destroy Israel. Bible scholars have speculated that what was foretold in the latter chapters of Ezekiel will ultimately lead to an invasion from the north to Israel by “Magog”—which many believe to be Russia.

Thus the connection with Iran, Laurie says.

“There’s another thing the Bible says about Magog. If she is indeed Russia, one of her allies that will march with her will be Persia,” Laurie says. Laurie noted Persia is the ancient name for Iran.

“So, the Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered, and one of the allies that would attack Israel with mother Russia, or Magog, whoever it is, would be Iran, or Persia, Laurie says.

“I’m not saying this is going to lead to [that] scenario, but I’m saying it’s very interesting. If you get up in the morning and read this headline ‘Russia attacks Israel,’ fasten your seat belt.” {eoa}

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More than 56 years ago, the world witnessed an extraordinary series of events that unfolded during the Six-Day War of 1967, which altered the course of history and reaffirmed ancient promises. This war, often described as a miracle in itself, demonstrated the unwavering faith of the people of Israel and their belief in divine intervention.

Following the attacks on Israeli by the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah that began this past weekend—and the continuing threats from neighboring Iran—the Israeli people are once again faced with what seem to overwhelming odds.

More Jews have been killed in 24 hours in Israel than were killed in the entire Yom Kippur war.

Many fear what is happening in Israel right now, but as any believer in Christ should know, our God is the God of the impossible, and He will be unwavering in His covering over His children, the people of Israel.

Here are six ways God’s miraculous power shone through during the Six-Day War in 1967. He certainly can do the same thing today.

1. A United Jerusalem – Before the Six-Day War, Jerusalem was a city divided. The Western Wall and Temple Mount, sacred sites for Jews, were under Jordanian control. The city had been divided after the 1948 War of Independence when Israel gained its freedom but lost the eastern half of Jerusalem. Under Jordan’s rule, religious freedom was nonexistent, and the Jewish Quarter saw the destruction of synagogues and Torah scrolls.

Tensions had been mounting for years leading up to the Six-Day War. Egypt closed the Suez Canal to Israeli shipping, and Yasser Arafat’s founding of the PLO aimed to “destroy Israel.” Arab summits were held to plan Israel’s annihilation, and clashes escalated in the run-up to the war. In May 1967, Egypt declared war on Israel, and other Arab nations joined the fight.

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2. Operation Focus: The Miracle Preemptive Strike – Recognizing the formidable threat posed by Egypt’s superior air force, Israel’s military leaders initiated Operation Focus, a daring and audacious pre-emptive strike. Their goal was to neutralize the enemy’s planes while still on the ground. This operation proved to be one of the most successful air campaigns in military history, with Israel destroying 452 enemy planes while losing just 46 of their own.

3. Divine Intervention – Throughout the war, many instances of divine intervention were reported. Pilot and IDF Major General Ezer Weizmann attributed the lack of warning by the Egyptians to “the finger of God.” Old planes that had malfunctioned in the past operated flawlessly during the conflict, and unexploded enemy shells baffled the Israeli soldiers.

4. Unseen Army – According to israelmyglory.org, “Israel’s tank forces charged on for four days across the burning sands of Sinai to the Suez Canal, withdrew, and returned, all without need of reinforcements. Foreign military experts, “Were amazed at the miracle of a small army with partly obsolete weapons trouncing a mighty army with modern, sophisticated equipment…. If they had not seen the battlefields with their own eyes, they would not have believed it. It was as if an unseen hand—an unseen army—was helping them.”

Angels over Israel? It’s a very strong possibility.

5. Miraculous Surrenders – Even more astonishing were the accounts of Arab soldiers surrendering without a fight. One Israeli infantry recruit encountered an Egyptian truck loaded with soldiers but was met with surrender instead of aggression. The soldier recounted the Egyptian sergeant’s paralyzed state, saying that his arms and body had become frozen. Such accounts demonstrated that the miraculous extended beyond Israel’s military actions.

6. Jerusalem of Gold: A Unifying Anthem – Prior to the Six-Day War, the anthem “Jerusalem of Gold” was written by Naomi Shemer, lamenting the divided city. After the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, Shemer added a verse celebrating the city’s reunification. This song became a symbol of faith and hope during those momentous days.

A Profound Testament

The Six-Day War of 1967 was not merely a military victory; it was a profound testament to the faith of the Israeli people and the belief in divine intervention. The events of that time can serve as an inspiration, especially in the face of recent attacks on Israel.

As history shows, when the odds seemed insurmountable, faith and determination played a significant role in overcoming them.

The miracles of the Six-Day War are a reminder that, in the most challenging of circumstances, unwavering faith can lead to astonishing outcomes. As believers, may we continue to remember Jerusalem and the nation of Israel in our prayers and draw inspiration from the extraordinary events of 1967, where faith, bravery and divine intervention converged to shape history.

It can happen once again. {eoa}

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Hamas, a term that has become synonymous with violence and conflict in the modern world, is a word deeply rooted in both the Hebrew language and the pages of the Bible.

In the tumultuous context of current events, where the Palestinian organization has escalated its acts of terrorism against Israel, diving into the meaning and biblical references of Hamas provides valuable insights and reflections on the consequences of violence.

The word “hamas” originates from the Hebrew language and carries a stark connotation—violence. According to the Gesenius Hebrew lexicon, the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew word hamas signifies qualities such as warlike valor, bravery and constancy. While the precise Arabic term used by the Hamas organization may vary, the association with violence remains a common thread.

Surprisingly, hamas appears in the Hebrew Bible numerous times, making its presence known in passages that address the consequences of perpetrating violence against the people of Israel. For those unfamiliar with the depth of this connection, the Hebrew Bible contains 68 instances of the word hamas, marking its significance in biblical history.

A careful study of these passages reveals a recurring theme—the severe judgment and consequences that follow the practice of “Hamas” or violence. One of the earliest mentions of hamas can be found in Genesis 6:11 & 13, where the earth is described as being “filled with violence.”

This violence led to divine judgment, resulting in the catastrophic flood during Noah’s time. These biblical narratives emphasize the notion that those who commit hamas may ultimately face destruction.

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It is essential to clarify that discussions surrounding hamas do not equate to being anti-Arab. The focus here is on violence and terrorism, irrespective of ethnicity or background.

The Bible, in its teachings, warns that those who practice hamas against the children of Israel will bring upon themselves the fierce wrath of God. This retribution serves as a powerful cautionary tale, emphasizing the dire consequences of violence against any group.

The lessons from the Bible extend further into historical accounts, notably those involving Edom, a name associated with the ancestors of the Arab people. Passages such as Obadiah 10 and Joel 3:19 specifically address the hamas or violence perpetrated by Edom against Jacob and Judah, ancestors of the Jewish people.

The Scripture foretells that due to their violence, Edom shall face desolation and be cut off forever, serving as a stark reminder of divine judgment.

This biblical perspective raises awareness about the consequences of violence and serves as a reminder of the need for peace and understanding in a world marred by conflict. Ultimately, the goal is to work toward the end of hamas violence, fostering a world where the prophetic vision of a place where “violence shall no more be heard” becomes a reality.

In striving for such a future, we hope for the swift deliverance of all people from the scourge of violence and the dawn of an era marked by peace and unity. {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.

No matter where the government of the United States—or its President—stands on the subject, Pastor John Hagee says that, as believers, we must stand alongside Israel to fight the forces of darkness and terrorism, now and forever.

More than 48 hours after the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched a brutal and surprising attack—much like Japan did on Pearl Harbor in 1941—that killed more than 900 Israelis, Hagee released a video Monday condemning the despicable act that has received more than 113,000 views.

The founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, Hagee, who wrote books about Israel titled “In Defense of Israel” (2007) and “Jerusalem Countdown” (2006), says there is “no room for equivocation or daylight between America and Israel” right now.

Hagee says we should also grieve for the 11 Americans who were among those who were killed in the attack in Gaza and the many that were abducted, and that Americans should prepare for our military to take action.

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“Hezbollah has threated American troops throughout the Middle East should the United States enter this conflict,” Hagee says. “Since the unprovoked attack, Israel has routed the terrorists from all farming communities and towns bordering the Gaza Strip. More than 300,000 reservists have been mobilized with indications that Israel is planning to extend its counterattack.”

And, Hagee says, millions of believers who support Israel will mount their own counterattack in prayer against the terrorists.

“I want to be clear: Israel will do whatever it deems necessary to protect its people and we will stand vigorously with the Jewish State,” Hagee says. “The world is different today than it was before this weekend’s massacre. No longer is there a distinction between good and evil. It is so easily blurred by anti-Israel sympathizers in the media. A very clear line has been drawn in the sand and everyone, both individuals and nations, must choose between Israel and the madness of terrorism.

“I know where I stand, and where CUFI’s 10 million members-plus stand. We stand with Israel. Christians across the United States and the world stand with Israel. We stand with Israel now and forever. We stand with Israel during her darkest hour in a half century. Please join me in praying for the safety and security of the people of Israel. We will lift up their warriors and leaders in prayer; we will wrap our hearts around the bereaved.” {eoa}

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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.