Terrorist attack in Jerusalem and "Saved out of Jacob's Trouble"
©July 3, 2008 Asher Intrater

Our youngest son Amiel was present at the terrorist attack yesterday (Wednesday, July 2) in Jerusalem.  Here is his eye witness account:

I was walking towards the city center from the central bus station, waiting on the corner of Malchei Israel and Jaffa streets. Out of Malchei Israel came a huge bulldozer which drove on top of a car and turned it into a pancake. The bulldozer continued its rampage, trying to run over another blue car. The driver in the blue car was spinning her wheel in panic.

I was standing to the right; a bus was on the left. The bulldozer turned into Jaffa Street and went head on into the bus. I was out of harm's way now. The bus continues to drive, turning right, hitting a bus stop filled with citizens running for their lives. He backs up, and continues driving.

An orthodox young man passed by me running towards the bus shouting: "Weapon! Does anyone have a weapon?"

The bulldozer continued. This time it crashed into a bus on its right, backed up, and then picked up the bus forcing it to fall on its side. The bus was full.

I tried calling 100 (the police) but the line was busy. Since I am a volunteer at the Jerusalem rescue squad, I called them at 101.

101: "Hello, this is Red Magen David."
Me: "There is a terrorist attack on Jaffa! A tractor is hitting everything it sees."
101: "Where on Jaffa?"
Me: "Drive from the station and you'll see. It's at the beginning of Jaffa next to the central bus station."
101: "We'll be there right away."

Armed citizens, soldiers and policemen were running toward the terrorist loading their guns. Out of the upside down bus people were starting to come out. A woman carrying a baby crying, with blood stains all over them came out. A woman was being attended to on the floor, her leg was covered in blood, and her toes were completely crooked. A man came out, stained in blood, shouting in pain, "my shoulder," and cursing the terrorist.

I called my mother to tell her I was ok. While I was talking to her, gunshots started going off. "Do you hear the gunshots Mom? They're shooting the terrorist."

It turns out that the young religious man who asked for a weapon was a commando soldier on vacation. He succeeded in borrowing a pistol from someone, and climbed up on top of the bulldozer, hand and foot, while the terrorist shouted "Allah Akhbar." He shot the terrorist three times, killing him on the spot, stopping the rampage and slaughter.

Israel today mourns the loss of 3 dead and dozens injured. After all these years, "Rachel" is still "weeping for her children" (Jeremiah 31:15) at the hands of senseless, demonic violence. Yeshua (Jesus) also weeps for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Just as babies were slaughtered at the time of Yeshua's birth (Matthew 2:18), and no one understood why it happened; so today, the people of Israel don't understand why much of the world hates them.

Yet in the midst of this tribulation, the Messianic remnant is continuing to grow in Israel. People are being saved everyday. A miracle is happening before our eyes. The New Covenant scriptures speak of a time of tribulation in the end times (Matthew 24, Mark 13). It also speaks of "all Israel being saved" – Romans 11:26. The idea of end time's tribulation and of Israel being saved, both come from the same source.

Jeremiah 30:7 – "It is a time of tribulation for Jacob, and he will be saved from it."
Daniel 12:1 – "There will be a time of trouble… and at that time your people will be saved"

When Paul (Saul) spoke of Israel's salvation and Yeshua spoke of end time tribulation, they both had in mind these verses (among others).  The tribulation and the salvation are connected to one another.  From this we learn:

1. There will be tribulation in the end times
2. During that time, Israel will be saved
3. We will be here during that time to help bring about that salvation.

As Israel is in the process of being saved, the devil is panicking and furious because he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12). Israel's salvation is the last stage of the kingdom of God before the Second Coming and the Resurrection of the Dead.

For almost two thousand years, it was impossible to think of Israel being a nation, let alone there being a revival within that nation. But today, despite Islamic Jihad and worldwide anti-Semitism, the nation of Israel has been reestablished, and there are over 10,000 Messianic Jews living in the land. All these believers are united in prayer, praise and prophecy that "all Israel will be saved," and are willing to face the tribulation that will go with it.

It is important in these times that we know the covenant promise of divine protection from evil.

Psalm 91:10-11 – No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to protect you in all your ways.

We affirm this together as a family every Friday night before we eat the Sabbath dinner meal. Please join with us in faith and partnership.