Jerusalem, Israel
PRAYER UPDATE FEBRUARY 8, 2025
Israel and the Nations
GPW News and Prayer Update
PART ONE:
HOSTAGE DEAL – FIRST AND SECOND STAGES:
During the
past two weeks, most of the women taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza, on October 7,
2023, were released. There is still no word about the Bibas wife/mother and two
young children. Their husband/father, Yarden Bibas, was released, along with
several men, on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
On February
8, 2025, Israel saw the release of three male hostages in the continuing
efforts of getting Hamas to release all those who were taken captive on that
fatal day in October 2023. As of now, there are still 76 hostages (some alive;
some dead) who have not been released by Hamas.
The evil
perpetuated against the Israeli hostages, has been further exposed, showing
signs of increased wickedness used against them in captivity. The three men who
were released out of Gaza on February 8th, were obviously victims of starvation
by Hamas. They looked like Holocaust Survivor! Two of them could hardly walk.
Their arms were being held up by Hamas!
They were paraded around. Then, forced on global television, to give
speeches, thanking Hamas for releasing them. These men looked like they had
been broken by Hamas…
Reportedly,
one hostage did not even know, before his release, that his wife and children
were already killed by Hamas. Another hostage came home knowing his wife was
killed by Hamas, but hopeful, that his three-year old son was waiting to see
him, after 491 days of separation.
The third
hostage was released, knowing that his wife had also been in captivity, but she was set free in an earlier hostage deal.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still in the States during this hostage
release, and he is being criticized by Israelis for not being here in Israel
during this ordeal.
Israeli demonstrators will likely start again, soon, in their protests, in order to pressure the government to make new deals to get the rest of the hostages out, as the second round of negotiations begins. This is further dividing the nation over those who want to continue the war, and finish off Hamas, and those who want to keep the ceasefire, fearing that, otherwise, Hamas will kill the rest of the hostages that are still being held captive.
The Israeli negotiators
are switching from Mossad/Shin Bet security agents, to Netanyahu’s political
advisor on Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, who will be focusing on diplomacy
with Qatar and Egypt (and, likely Turkey).
PRAYER
POINTS:
PRAY for a spiritual breakthrough. Worldly
wickedness was on display in the most recent hostage release, exposed and seen
parading around Jewish souls, making a spectacle of them. The whole nation has
become captive to the enemy. This has to end!
Our struggle,
our wrestling, is not against flesh and blood enemies. But, against principalities,
against mighty powers, against evil rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness, against authorities in the unseen world, against
the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in this evil day, and having done all, STAND!
(Ephesians 6:12-13).
PRAY for Israel! National sin opened up a portal for the enemy
to enter in. Still, as Aaron and Hur did for Moses, intercessors are needed to assist,
as well – to hold up arms, and stand with Israel in this battle. (Exodus
17:11-13).
The nation needs
deliverance out of all its troubles. (Psalm 25:22).
Pray for the
healing of the sufferings of the Jewish People, as in those sufferings, we see
the Messiah, that died for us. May they see the same! (Isaiah 53:5).
Pray comfort
over the Israeli people, as so many have lost loved ones – killed in this
battle against Hamas in the south, and Hezbollah in the north. (Isaiah 40). Israel, and Israel alone, is the only nation
that receives double for all her sins! (See
Psalm 142).
THE
WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE AND BEYOND:
On Tuesday, February
4, 2025, Netanyahu met with American President Donald Trump, at the White House
– the first world leader to meet with Trump in his new term as the 47th
President of the United States.
Several side meetings with advisors led up to the press conference. Then, with Trump and Netanyahu on the platform, in a large room in the White House, the world watched, intently, on their video screens. After the briefing, there seemed to be shock, followed by an obsession to analyze what Trump said,
or meant. The two points that were most surprising were that Trump expected the
nations (especially, Egypt and Jordan) to receive Gazan refugees, and give them
a better life. And, secondly, that the United States would take over the Gaza Strip,
for a time, to reconstruct it, and provide a beautiful place for the nations to
come – similar to the French Riviera.
Nations were
stunned by these two Trump announcements. They did not expect that there might
be an alternative to a Palestinian State (including Gaza, along with Judea and
Samaria). Voices of opposition started
coming in, after the White House briefing, with many nations invoking the “two-state
solution” mantra.
News analysts
were concerned that Trump might be looking to stir up Arabs on the streets, causing
a Middle East War. But, it did not appear that Trump wanted to take actions
that would enrage the Arab public and destabilize the region. It seemed, from
the briefing, that Trump’s goal is to bring peace to the region, not to cause
chaos. However, the focus on Gaza and the Gazans, continues to be a major
distraction.
There were
also comments on social media that a “new world order” was taking place, and
that, perhaps, Saudi Arabia was going to join the Abraham Accords countries, without
demanding that Israel divide the land. So much optimism!
From 2002,
when the Saudis delivered the Saudi Peace Initiative, they have been adamant about
the creation of a Palestinian State. In every statement since then, their
position has not changed.
If Trump is successful in bringing Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords, then that union of the Saudis, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and other Arab states, will join in the updated Saudi plan, insisting (as some of these nations already have), in a Palestinian State on Israeli land.
IT COULD HAPPEN ANOTHER WAY – JORDAN:
Trump may be
able to leverage aid, or other financial resources, to weaken the government of
Jordan, and force it to take in Gazan refugees. This would threaten the
Jordanian monarchy. If King Abdullah’s monarchy falls, this gives the Jordanian Palestinians
supreme power in Jordan. It could force a Palestinian state on the West Bank
and East Bank of the Jordan River. Or, lead Jordan, and other Arab states, into
an eventual war with Israel (see Psalm 83, and the book of Obadiah).
Either way, it’s
the Sunni Muslims, leading the way towards a Palestinian state; towards
dividing the land of Israel; and towards an eventual war with Israel (that could
also involve Shiite Muslims).
PRAYER
POINTS:
We should be
praying, fervently, for every one of those countries who opposed Trump’s Gaza
plan. They are the same nations that will oppose the annexation of Judea and
Samaria in the weeks to come.
The nations
are roaring! (Psalm 2). We can see the hearts of men in this, and how
the Lord is, again, testing the nations!
We should be
looking, intently, at Ezekiel 36:1-7. Some think this scriptural passage
has already taken place. Others don’t. It indicates a time when the nations
will divide the land of Israel. Perhaps,
that happened in 1948, but it is trying to happen again!
In this, we
should be aware of the Saudi peace plan, and pray that it is not allowed to be adopted
by the Arab League, the Abraham Accords nations, or any other international
power. There have already been attempts by the UN, to get enough nations on-board,
to pass a resolution that holds to the creation of a Palestinian State. This
must be blocked in prayer and intercession! We can ask the Lord for a delay in
any attempt to divide His land!
THE BIBLICAL
HOT SPOTS:
The short-term
battle will not just be over what happens to Gaza. It will be over what happens
in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). There are already indications that pro-Hamas
Palestinians are preparing to start a major uprising of violence in Judea and
Samaria, as well as threatening another October 7, 2023, massacre there. So
far, IDF forces have been able to break-up terrorist cells, and thwart such an
attack.
There will
be an attempt by the nations to block any Israeli plans to annex Judea and Samaria,
with fears this will cause a war in that contested territory – the biblical
heartland of the Jewish State! (This
happened during Trump’s first term as president). PRAYER IS NEEDED!
Meanwhile,
the long-term battle will be over Jerusalem. There are several scriptures to
support this. (See Zechariah Chapters 12 and 14).
GOD’S
COVENANT LAND:
This is the Lord’s land. The restoration of Israel is the restoration of Jewish souls, along with the restoration of the land. There are 12+ scriptural passages that indicate what part of the land Israel inherits at any given time. The land mass changes depending on the timing of the promises of God to His people. The most famous scripture is Joshua 1:4 – from the Euphrates River to the Great Sea (Mediterranean). It’s famous because the Palestinians declare that this portion of land belongs to them. They proclaim this in their hostile rallies in America, Europe, and in other countries. (i.e., from the River to the Sea)
OUR
PRAYERS HAVE WEIGHT IN PRAYING FOR GOD’S KINGDOM PURPOSES:
Our eyes are
on the kingdom(s) of this world becoming the Kingdom of our God, and of His Messiah!
(Revelation 11:15; Psalm 22:28; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:14; 1
Corinthians 15:24-25; Matthew 6:10, etc.)
Source: Global Prayer Watch News and Prayer Update)