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The Greatest Friends of Israel Are . . .  
Copyright 2003 Bruce S. Herwig

Can one bold witness for Christ be part of God's plan to evangelize Israel?

“Build Your Game” School held at the Barona Valley Ranch resort, 20 miles outside of San Diego, California. I had recently closed down my real estate office and my eviction legal practice. Now I had more time to enjoy travel and golf. I desired to take my golf game to a higher level. My wife, Carol, came with me to enjoy a relaxing week at the resort. Little did we know that we would be part of God's plan to bless and evangelize Israel.

There were about 12 other students and four instructors. One student introduced himself as Chuck. His full name was Charles L. Boxenbaum. Even though I was a Christian and he was Jewish, our love of real estate and golf helped us hit it off right away. As a result, we practiced together and had lunch together. Chuck was an extremely successful business man who owned many commercial high-rises and developments though out California and in many other states. He lived in a five acre estate in Beverly Hills. 

As we learned that week, we had several other things in common. Chuck was a member of Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. I told him that I had caddied there while attending UCLA School of Law. I also told him I often caddied for the real estate tycoon, Del Webb. Chuck said he had been a friend of Del Webb.  

I may have even caddied for Chuck as he was a member during the time I was a caddy there. 

Also, one of my legal clients was the former mayor of Beverly Hills, Charlotte. Chuck knew her too. She had been attending the same Beverly Hills Temple. I told Chuck that Charlotte called me her “righteous gentile” friend because I believed in God and helped others. She told me that her father used this term to describe those that risked their own lives in order to help Jews escape from the Nazis during World War II.

As I learned later, Chuck was extremely influential in the Jewish community in Los Angeles, throughout the United States, and even in Israel. During one of our many conversations, I asked Chuck if he had a special love and concern for the State of Israel? He nodded and said yes. Then I told Chuck that I and my wife were evangelical Christians and had committed our lives to be followers of Jesus Christ. I then made the statement that was to intensify our relationship and be used by God to accomplish His will. I boldly told Chuck that “the greatest friends of Israel are evangelical Christians”. (I had never before heard or read this phrase. I believe God gave me this phrase so His will would be accomplished as part of His divine plan.) 

Chuck told me later that no one had ever told him this before and neither he nor anyone he knew believed this. Chuck then confided that every Jewish person he knew thought of Christians more as enemies of Israel than as friends. I told him that evangelical Christians believed and lived differently than other Christians. He then asked for my definition of an evangelical Christian. 

I told him that evangelical Christians believed that the entire bible, both the Old Testament and New Testament, are the inspired word of the one and only true God and therefore the Bible contains only truth. The Bible gives us God's instructions how we are to live our lives according to God's word. It also gives us hope that by faith we can be deemed righteous by God through the works of His Son, Jesus Christ, and thus we can spend eternity with God.

Evangelical Christians believe that God gave the land of Israel to Abraham and his seed when He made a covenant with Abraham. In effect God “deeded” this land to the Jewish people. Therefore, we believe that State of Israel is the only true owner of the land that so many other tribes and nations claim as theirs. We believe Genesis 12:3 when God told Abraham that “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the people on earth will be blessed through you.” The Bible also tells us to pray for the peace of Israel.

As evangelical Christians, we believe that just as God promised to Abraham, his seeds are to be a blessing to this world; as evidenced by all the numerous Nobel Prize recipients and their contributions in science, medicine, music, the arts, media, and the financial world. Every time you receive or send a text on your cell phone; thank one of Abraham's seed.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has always been a third part of the one true God, Jehovah. We believe that the virgin birth, life, death on the cross and resurrection on the third day by Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of the prophets in the Old testament and that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel.

We believe that the Jewish people were not responsible for the death of Jesus because Jesus told his disciples that no one could take his life but he would freely gave it up for a ransom for many. 

Jesus first came to earth as a lamb of God to shed His blood as the perfect Lamb of God, without blemish, a final sacrifice for the forgiveness of all mankind’s sins. Whoever, by faith, accepts the free grace of God by believing and following the one true Son of God and the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, receives forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. The Bible tells us and we believe that Jesus will return in the future in a cloud from heaven in Israel's darkest hour. However this time, Jesus will be riding on a white horse and will be holding a sword. Jesus will come as the Lion of Judah and destroy the collation of enemies of Israel. Some Bible scholars believe this collation will be led by Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and will include other nations. The triumphant Lord Jesus will then set up His Kingdom on earth in Jerusalem.

Evangelistic Christians also have been commanded by Jesus when He spoke these final words in Matthew 28:18-20 to His eleven disciples before He ascended in a cloud into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father: “All authority in heaven and earth have been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV). 

Chuck listened carefully and thoughtfully. When I finished, he wanted to know what proof I had that would convince him that my statement “the greatest friends of Israel are evangelical Christians” was true. 

My next comments to Chuck was even more shocking and unbelievable to him. I began by talking about the conservative economic and political leaning of most evangelical Christians. I continued with how I was shocked to learn that during the 2004 election the nationwide Jewish vote was almost 90% for non-evangelical Christian candidates. 

I challenged Chuck to look at the voting records of evangelical Christians as compared to the other members of congress when voting on bills dealing with Israel. I told him that I was confident that he would learn that it was the evangelical Christians and not the other members of congress that were the ones who voted most in favor of the bills that benefited Israel. I asked him to have one of his assistants research this and then he would know what I said was true.

Chuck accepted my challenge and had the necessary research completed just before our Graves Academy class ended. Chuck was anxious to see me one morning and he could hardly wait to tell me the results of the research he had his assistant complete. Chuck confessed that to his surprise, what I had stated about the voting records was true and by a wide margin. Evangelical Christians were the greatest friends and supporters of Israel. 

Chuck asked me if there were many evangelical Christians. I told him that there were thousands of evangelical Christian churches. Many of the largest member churches in the USA and throughout the world were evangelical Christian churches. I further explained that many of these churches were in the southern states. 

Chuck asked if we and our wives would have lunch together. When we sat down and finished the introductions, Chuck ask if I would tell his wife all that we had spoken about this week. I had assumed that Chuck had keep his wife informed of our conversations as I had with Carol. I began by stating that evangelical Christians were the greatest friend of Israel. Then I stated that both Carol and I were evangelical Christians. Chuck's wife looked at me with concern, got up and turned to leave. Chuck convinced her to listen to me by telling her that what I had said was true, He told her that he had verified it to be true. After she was again sitting, I gave a quick overview of what an evangelical Christian believes and how we are commanded to support Israel. I saw her mellowing as I continued with this new and opposite information from what she currently believed. Chuck kept assuring her that I was speaking the truth.

After returning home, Chuck and I exchanged e-mails. He had further research done about evangelical Christians and their love and support for Israel; their sacrifice to help Jews in World War ll escape the death camps of the Nazis; their support of the United Nations vote in 1948 to create the State of Israel; their continued support in the six day war and continued support today. 

In one e-mail I challenged Chuck that now that he knew the truth that it was the evangelical Christians and not the others who were the greatest friends of Israel; how could he help to get this truth out to all the Jewish Temples before the upcoming elections. We discussed that he could use his influence here and in Israel to help get this important message to his people. He told me that he would do further research on evangelical pastors that were very pro-Israel. Then, after determining the right pastor, he would consider writing a letter on his stationary to some of the largest and most influential temples and ask them to allow this message be presented in the temple.

We continued our exchange of e-mails. Then in November 2006, I received a package from Chuck containing a letter and a book titled “Jerusalem Countdown-a warning to the world”, written by John Hagee, pastor of the large Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. Chuck was very impressed with John Hagee's messages had chosen him to be the bearer of this message to these influential temples. John Hagee's message was to be “Why the greatest friends of Israel are evangelical Christians”.

With the business of life we discontinued our e-mails and I never heard from Chuck again. I often wondered if Chuck had used his influence to share this important message with others here and in Israel. Had Chuck ever followed through by using John Hagee to speak in his or other large temples? 

It was in June of 2014 while listening Marcus Lamb, the president and founder of the Day Star Evangelical Christian TV Network in Dallas, Texas, when God allowed me to know how my conversations with Chuck were used by God to be a blessing to Israel and be a part of God's plan to reach Israel for Jesus Christ.

Marcus Lamb was talking about how the Day Star TV Network was the only evangelical Christian TV station on in Israel 24 hours a day, both on Satellite and cable. Then Marcus turned to his guest and asked. Would you like to know how Day Star received the license from the Israeli government to broadcast there? He told them we never applied for a license to broadcast in Israel. The guest asked how could they get the license if they never applied. 

This is what Marcus Lamb told him: It was in early 2007, (only a few months after I received the book and letter from Chuck) I was sitting at my desk in my office when my secretary called and told me that there were two representatives from the Israeli government here to see him. He wondered why they were here to see him. After being seated and introductions, the very first words out of the mouth of the lead representative were these words “We know that the greatest friends of Israel are evangelical Christians.” 

(Immediately I began to cry as God allowed me to be assured that He had used me to help accomplish this. These were my exact words to Chuck and the title of the message to the temples. I now believe that Chuck had used his influence in Israel to get this message to the Israeli government officials.) 

Marcus said upon hearing these words, he was surprised but also was marveling at the hand of God at work. Then the representatives told him that the government had already voted to give his Day Star TV Network a license for 24 hour broadcast in Israel on both satellite and cable. They also had voted to allow their own Israeli satellite to be used. This satellite allows Day Star to also reach all of the Muslim nations in the middle east with the Good news of Jesus Christ.

I believe: God influenced both Chuck and me to sign up for the exact same Graves Academy Golf School as He had other plans for us than to just improve our golf scores; God knew we had common interests and common acquaintances; God allowed us to find favor with each other; God opened Chuck's heart and mind for the message God put on my mind; God used Chuck to take His message to his and other Temples and to Israel; God open the hearts and minds of those in the Israeli government to know the truth of this message and to vote for the Day Star TV Network licenses; now Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the world, is being honored and receives glory 24 hours a day on the evangelical Christian Day Star TV Network both in Israel and the Muslim nations in the middle east. 

Why was Day Star TV Network chosen by the Israeli government? I believe that God had again used Chuck. Just as Chuck had researched to find the strong pro-Israel evangelical Christian pastor, John Hagee, he probably also researched to find the strong evangelical Christian pro-Israel TV networks such as Day Star. Also there is a strong connection between Marcus Lamb and John Hagee. They are close friends and John Hagee is a strong supporter of the Day Star TV Network. In fact, John Hagee Ministries purchases air time on Day Star several times a week. 

Pastor Larry Hutch, Marcus Lamb's guest, is a Messianic Jew. (A Jewish person who believes that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah of Abraham's seed and has by faith accepted Jesus as their Savior.) Pastor Larry has taught me that in the original Hebrew language, there is no word for our word “coincidence”. He teaches that those in their society were taught to look at these “coincidences” as a sign God was at work. They were to look for God in all “coincidences”. I believe with all my heart that this is still true today. The “coincidences” in this God Story and all my other ones are further proof of this truth.

PS
A few years ago while taking a guided tour of the President Richard Nixon museum, the guide related this story from Nixon's memoirs. It was June 1967 and Israel was being attacked on all sides by six nations. In desperation, Golda Mier, then the Prime Minister of Israel, called President Richard Nation at three in the morning Washington D. C time. She told the aid that the President need to be woken as this was an emergency. She then told Nixon that six nations were simultaneously attacking Israel and unless the United States sends immediately help to Israel, Israel would not survive 24 more hours. 

Nixon then thought about a promise that he had made to his evangelical Christian, mother. He had promised her to help Israel if he ever got a chance. Now was his chance to fulfill his promise to his mother. He agreed to help save Israel. He immediately gave orders to supply Israel with all the war armaments and supplies Israel needed to win the war. A massive U.S. air lift began, resulting in an overwhelming victory for Israel in just six days. It was the influence of an evangelical Christian mother's desire to bless Israel that God used to save Israel. 

POINTS TO PONDER:
Have you ever considered telling a Jewish person about the greatest friends of Israel, the evangelical Christians?

Ask God to open the minds and hearts of others to the good news of Jesus Christ. In the end times, God has promised to open the hearts and minds of Abraham's seed to the saving grace of their Messiah, Jesus Christ.


ACTION POINTS:
If you have ever wanted to talk to a Jewish friend, neighbor or colleague about Jesus? Give this person this God Story and then be prepared for questions from the reader. If this message was unknown and unbelievable to Chuck who was wealthy, educated and influential, most other Jewish men and women will never have heard or will believe this message. Be a light to them and share this God Story and ask God to open their hearts and minds to the truth about their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Expect and thank God for accomplishing His will on earth as it is in heaven.


SCRIPTURE:

“If you belong in Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs to the promise.”  Galatians 3:29 (NIV)

“Now you. Brothers and sisters (in Christ), like Isaac, are children of promise.”  Galatians: 4:28

“The mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, 
and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 3:6

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