29th December 2015
Dear Prime Minister,
I pray for you every day.
Like many Evangelicals in America, I admire you greatly. We believe you have come to where you are for “such a time as this”, as Mordecai said to Esther. I have listened to many of your speeches, recalling what you said to the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio years ago and, more recently, to the United Nations. You always speak with irresistible logic, eloquence and passion. For example:
For in every generation, there were those who rose up to destroy our people.
In antiquity, we faced destruction from the ancient empires of Babylon and Rome.
In the Middle Ages, we faced inquisition and expulsion.
In modern times, we faced pogroms and the Holocaust.
Yet the Jewish people persevered.
I stand here today representing Israel, a country 67 years young, but a nation-state of a people nearly 4,000 years old.
Those seemingly invincible empires have long gone.
But Israel lives.
The people of Israel live.
Even in our darkest hours, we never gave up hope of rebuilding our eternal capital Jerusalem.
I humbly and lovingly ask you to consider what I say below, even if you have heard this 1,000 times.
I fear that many of my American friends – and yours – are not saying to you what needs to be said. I call it the Elephant in the Room when it comes to the hope of Israel.
Do forgive me for quoting from the Christian Bible: the Apostle Paul says in Romans 11 says that the veil on Israel will be lifted if Israel turns to the Lord. The promise is conditional on Israel turning from their unbelief:
“God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you [Gentiles] if you continue to trust his kindness. . . And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the [olive] tree” (Romans 11:22-23 – New Living Translation).
The promise still remains: when Israel turns to the Lord, the veil will be taken away.
Jeremiah was accused of treason when he prophesied that Jerusalem would be taken. The people of Israel said “not possible”. But Jeremiah was right. In much the same way there are those who believe that it is not possible for Israel to be finally destroyed. I pray this does not happen, but, Prime Minister, it could happen.
In a word: until the nation of Israel repents over their rejection of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Savior, the situation for Israel will not get better. The only solution: for Israel to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the fulfillment of the ancient promises concerning Israel’s Messiah. When this is done, God will fight for you as He did with ancient Israel.
I plan to be in Israel in May 2016 and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you face to face for half an hour.
God bless you, Prime Minister.
Warm wishes and fervent prayers for your wisdom and safety,
The Rev. Dr. R. T. Kendall.