Linda Torres, September 2, 2004

There is great little magazine published in Jerusalem by Messianic Jews called "Israel Today." It is composed of beautiful glossy pictures of every corner of Israel interspersed with articles referring to all facets of daily Israeli life. In a recent issue, the cover article was about North American Jews immigrating to Israel voluntarily--many of them physicians. At first glance this seems like an obscure bit of news. Jews have been immigrating to Israel or making "aliyah" for quite some time now. Just before and after the Israeli Independence, large groups of Jews came to Israel from the surrounding Muslim countries. A few years ago the aliyah of the Russian Jews was almost complete--there are only a few hundred thousand or so left in what used to be called Russia. There is preparation for the arrangement for the last few Jews to arrive from North Africa. Aliyah in earnest for Jews from Venezuela, Britain, and France has started due to the recent wave of anti-Semitism in those countries. But the first large groups of Jewish immigrants from the US began only about two years ago when Nefesh b'Nefesh, through the contributions of American Evangelical Christians, sponsored a whole congregation with its rabbi in its move to Israel. At the same time a similar group came from Florida.

So what is so remarkable about the front-page story of a small magazine about yet another group moving to Israel from the US? Two characteristics of this group caught my attention. They were mostly physicians with their families and they were moving voluntarily. The status of physicians in Israel is not the same as their eminent counterparts in the US. Instead of the rich, powerful and authoritative members of the AMA, physicians in Israel are merely another group of workers striving to make ends meet. As they are part of a more socialized system they do not amass large amounts of money (few do in Israel) and figure less in the politics and power structure of the country. An acquaintance I have there was advised by his father to pursue veterinary medicine in order to get a better job! So a group of physicians coming from the US to Israel certainly are not going there to make money or seek status. I submit that they are changing their location in response to spiritual influence.

The importance of such dynamics is related to the inevitable timeline we are gliding along. The scriptures tell innumerable stories of man's response to God's callings. God is a caring and patient Father but He has a timetable that stops for no one and will discipline those that are a part of a plan in order to get them into line. So you will see in scripture and in events today individuals that respond to God immediately without question and those that wait for a stronger stimulus to obey His direction.

The response of these groups indicate to me our place on the timeline to the end of days. The US is in my mind probably the last place that will be emptied of Jews. This country has been blessed with their presence. God has enabled the Jews to make money and prosper since their inception, and that prosperity has been a lynchpin for the success of this country. When they go, the future of this country is dubious. Since that is beginning to occur without duress after a similar process in other parts of the world, especially Europe, it says to me that the clock is ticking toward the events for which this process was initiated. Eventually, soon, the constituents of the Israelite tribes will be assembled in their homeland, and when they are, the proceedings of the last conflicts of this age between God and man will ensue. When their transfer is complete there are no assurances for the US.

These underpinnings are a warning for the Gentile members of this world. For those of us in the US, we are warned that the time is running out for this wonderful country as an instrument for God. We who are born again need to pack our spiritual bags ensuring that we have everything we need to travel to our new home with Yahshua (Jesus)! As for the rest of the world, be warned. When the last Jew is in his place of safety there will be no quarter. Make your peace with God now!