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Modern Day Persecution of Messianics in Jerusalem

By Jim Becka (Beka in Hebrew)

During my life there have been instances when I could feel the

presence of extreme good and evil. I believe Satan and fallen angels wreak

havoc on the world; but, they are balanced by angels serving God and

giving guidance and help to man.

One example of angelic help during a 1973 crisis was when I was in

Israel. Our fellowship, at that time, was probably the only Messianicfellowship in Jerusalem. Some in our congregation were born into

traditional Jewish homes and now openly professed faith in Jesus. This

was unacceptable to many Jews in Israel.

The Jewish Defense League (JDL), an organization many consider to

be a borderline terrorist organization attempted to put an end to our

fellowship the summer of 1973. At that time the JDL was headed by Rabbi

Meir Khane, a man later assassinated. Though Israel has an official stand

in favor of freedom of religion, many Israeli officials belong to orthodox

sects that attempt to stop open worship of Jesus (Yeshuah in Hebrew). Since few in our fellowship had musical abilities, I often played guitar

and lead everyone in song. This night I was standing in front of the group

sharing when someone in the crowd stood and began shouting that Hitler

was a Christian.

Everyone in the small building soon stood as small groups roamed

the building shouting and shaking their fists. They seemed to attempt to

provoke the Messianic Jews into fighting; however, none would.

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At that time, images of the first believers in Jerusalem came to mind.

The persecution they endured must have been similar to what I was

seeing. While the congregation raised their hands and worshipped God, the

JDL became more violent. Amidst everything happing I felt angelic forces

were protecting each believer from harm. The presence of God was more

powerful that I had ever felt and none of the congregation members were

injured.

Amazingly, the only person injured in the attack was one of the JDL.

As the violence continued, one young member of the JDL pickup up a

chalkboard and threw it across the room, striking another JDL in the head.

He lay unconscious on the floor as members of our congregation cared for

him. Amazingly, a few minutes earlier he had been attacking us and now

we were caring for him.

This demoralized the JDL and they became quiet and soon left the

building as police arrived. I later found the JDL plan was to provoke a riot

and have us labeled as troublemakers. The government probably would

have taken action against our fellowship.

There have been other instances when I could feel angelic help in my

life; but none as powerful as the summer of 1973.