You Are Called To Be Among “David’s Mighty Men”

Many Christians are not aware that David’s warriors, his “mighty men”, were not all Israelites. Actually, many were foreign mercenaries, i.e. Gentiles. In fact, David’s entourage included Cretans, Philistines, Itureans, Arameans, and Hittites[1] along with discontented Israelites. IIttai the Gittite, who was David’s most loyal general, was a Philistine from Gath. Ira and Gareb, the Ithrites (2 Samuel 23:38) were from the Gibeonite city of Kirjath-jearim (1 Chronicles 2:53), and Uriah (whose wife was Bathsheba) was a Hittite along with Ahimelech (1 Samuel 26:6). Zelek was an Ammonite (2 Samuel 23:37) and Ithmah was a Moabite (1 Chronicles 11:39-46). And, the Cherethites were Cretans, professional soldiers who were called David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 20:7).

David and his “mighty men” are examples to us of Yeshua [Jesus] and his multi-national following that exists today. They are the remnant of believers who ‘follow hard’ after their King [Yeshua]. The L-rd told the prophet Zechariah that one day the followers of David [Yeshua] would be transformed, both the Israelites [Judah - known today as Israelis] and non-Israelites [Ephraim – known today as Christians][2].

“For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion [all true believers], against your sons, O Greece [unbelievers], and made you like the sword of a mighty man.” (Zechariah 9:13)      All emphasis author’s

This means that Jews and Christians will, in the end, fight together against the enemies of G-d. The Jews in Israel will be especially anointed.

“In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left…In that day the L-rd will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like G-d, like the Angel of the L-rd before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:6, 8)

In Psalm 71:3, Jewish Bible expositors believe that David’s plea implies that G-d has commanded others to save him [i.e. Israel].

“Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given [others] commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.”

To confirm this, the noted Rabbi Emden wrote in 1757 the following.

“For if it had not been for the Christians, our remnant would surely have been destroyed, and Israel’s hope would have been extinguished amidst the Gentiles [unbelievers], who hate us because of our faith…But G-d, our L-rd, has caused the Christian wise men to arise, who protect us in every generation.”

Christians have always been called to play a role in G-d’s plan for Israel, either as warriors, as in David’s case, or as those who would help Israel in other ways, such as the Christians noted in the above quote or in the form of the encouragement [physical, emotional, financial and spiritual] received by the long list of Christian Zionist Heroes noted in the article “The Struggle of Israel”.

Many signs are converging in the world to make us know that the Day of the L-rd is at hand (Matthew 24:1-44). There are mysteries in the heavens (See article “Blood Moons Rising”). Current news articles demonstrate that anti-Semitism is rampant around the world and anti-Christian hatred is spreading. The Islamization of Europe and the rise of ISIS pervade the headlines. Moral decay is prevalent in the family and the societies of every nation. Deadly plagues are breaking out on every continent: Ebola, Chikungunya, the Pneumonic Plague, Bubonic Plague, drug-resistant infections, mystery viruses and MERS. Plagues of insects and disease carrying beasts are wreaking havoc in the world; wars and civil unrest exist on every continent. The weather is changing radically all around the world: more frequent earthquakes, volcanoes, and storms of every kind. The L-rd gave us warning of these events in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). The apostles also told us about the time of the end (2 Peter, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:1-9). The predictions about how the world will look before the Messiah returns is similarly recorded in the Jewish Talmud.

But these signs do not compare to the convergence of prophetic words that is occurring. For instance, Rabbi Amram Vaknin, described as a "mystic rabbi living in southern Israel," is urging all Jews to pray and repent as the third Blood Moon of a tetrad cycle approaches, according to a report in Breaking Israel News.

“Vaknin is not easily dismissed because he reportedly predicted the events of the Gaza flotilla and the Carmel forest fire in 2010, the Operations Pillar of Defense of 2012 and Protective Edge of 2014. He warns that Israel is facing great judgment and potential danger at this time, according to the report. The rabbi's concerns have a lot to do with the number 44 and the current U.S. president.

“One of Vaknin's students, Gil Nachman, quoting the rabbi, explained that the numeric value of the Hebrew word for blood, dam, which is 44, alludes to the 44th president of the United States. Vaknin predicted that the 44th president would ‘bring bloodshed (dam) to the Jewish people’. It should be noted that the rabbi made this prediction before President Barack Obama’s election to office. Vaknin believes that only the Messiah can reverse the danger posed by Obama.”

Another prophetic sign given by an Israeli Rabbi connects the redemption of Israel to the jailed Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard. The online news feed, World Net Daily, reports the following.

American born Jonathan Pollard was jailed 30 years ago for spying for Israel. A renowned rabbi, Rabbi Eliyahu in speaking to his wife Esther told her to tell Jonathan:

“You are a cosmic key to the redemption of the Jewish people. Your release is synonymous with the release of the Shechinah [the Divine presence] from galut [exile]. Your release is tied up with the Moshiach Ben David’s [Messiah son of David’s] return to the Land. Your release is bound to the redemption of the land and people of Israel.”

“Rabbi Eliyahu died in 2010 not knowing that Jonathan Pollard would be scheduled for release from prison in November 2015 after the US reached a nuclear deal with Iran who is committed to the destruction of Israel. Only G-d could have created this timing.”

Other rabbinic authorities point to events that would immediately precede the coming of the Messiah. The following was reported by World Net Daily:

“During the 18th century, the Vilna Gaon, a respected rabbinical authority, prophesied that the Hurva Synagoge in Jerusalem[3], which was built during his day, would be destroyed and rebuilt twice, and that when the Hurva was completed for the third time, construction on the Third Temple would begin.

“The Hurva Synagogue was first destroyed shortly after its initial construction when Muslims demanding the return of loans tore it down. The synagogue was rebuilt a hundred years later and became the most important Jewish house of worship in the Holy Land, only be blown to pieces by Jordanian troops during Israel's 1948 War of Independence.” On March 15, 2010, the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem’s Old City had its historic reopening.

Even non-Jewish sources see prophetic significance in the times in which we live. World Net Daily records the words of bestselling author (The Last Pope) Tom Horn. [the following are excerpts from WND interview]

“St. Malachy’s ‘Prophecy of the Popes’ is said to be based on his prophetic vision of the next 112 popes, beginning with Pope Celestine II, who died in 1144. Malachy presented a description of each pope, culminating with the final pope, ‘Peter the Roman,’ whose reign would end with the destruction of Rome [the Vatican] and judgment.

“The current pope, Pope Francis, is the 112th pope, i.e. the last pope according to Malachy’s prophecy. The pope created a frenzy of speculation when he recently commented, ‘I have a feeling my pontificate will be brief. … It is a vague feeling I have that the L-rd chose me for a short mission.’ He must believe that he is part of Malachy’s prophecy as well as the final ‘secret’ [of Fatima].

“Author Tom Horn observed, “There is a great deal of controversy over whether the third secret of Fatima was ever completely released by the Vatican, but part of what was released describes a city, which some believe to be Vatican City. The city is attacked and many priests, including the pope (described as the ‘Bishop in White’), are killed by fighters who could easily be interpreted as members of ISIS.

“Francis appointed Pietro Parolin as his Secretary of State, an Italian (Roman) whose name is Peter,” Horn said. ‘If the Vatican were attacked or Francis and his Camerlengo (papal administrators) were to be killed at the same time or taken out of the way, this man would sit on the pope’s throne and literally be known as ‘Peter the Roman’, the final line in the Prophecy of the Popes.’”

The online news site Prophecy in the News records the following:

"Sir Isaac Newton, the English scientist and devout Christian, had a burning desire to study end-times prophecies of Christ’s return. He had a particular interest in Daniel’s prophecies, and he put together calculations that point to Sept. 23, 2015, as a key date. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn says he finds it fascinating that Isaac Newton's interpretation of Daniel 9 would end up having us count 7 x 7 years from June 7, 1967, into the future. [Newton (1642-1727) could not have known that June 7, 1967 was the date that the Temple Mount was returned to Jewish possession during the 6-day War.] Counting prophetic years of 360 days, it brings you to September 23, 2015, which is Yom Kippur, the day when the Jubilee begins [when everything is restored to its rightful owner.]

“Then you have the scheduled arrival of Pope Francis at the White House on September 23 and a first-ever address to a joint session of Congress the next day. Francis is the 266th pope who will be meeting with President Obama on the 266th day of the year.

“Back on May 21, 2014, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius issued a cryptic statement while standing beside U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington. He said, ‘We have 500 days to avoid climate chaos.’ Going 500 days out from May 21, 2014, brings you to September 23, 2015.”

The L-rd said no one would know the day or the hour of His return, but that we should know the season by observing the world around us. Now is the time to stand with Israel, the watershed of our redemption. Now is the time that You are called to be among David’s Mighty Men. Kee Va Mo'ed! (The Appointed Time Has Come!)