Israel Work History (Worldwide Church of God)

Israel Work History (Worldwide Church of God)

I first met Elder Mordakhai Joseph in Jerusalem during my first Feast of Tabernacles in 1980.
Later, when I attended Sukkot/Tabernacles again with the Worldwide Church of God in 1982 in Jerusalem, I stayed on as a volunteer at Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan near Haifa for five more months. Right next door in Kiryat Ata was where our only member in Israel Simcha Gombo (a Morrocan Jewess) lived with her deaf daughter, Michal.

During my initial search for Simcha's home on Hannah Senesh Street, I "just happened" to ask directions from a young Israeli reporter who helped me to find her place. Once there he started talking with her and revealed he was a reporter and wanted to write an article about her, since he found our beliefs fascinating, since sitting and listening to us talk. He was graciously waiting to help me find my way back to the kibbutz. She told him to write about me.

Ilan Itzhayek wrote a full length article that was published in the entire Galilee region. It was about my former drug addiction, wandering in different religions looking for the truth, and how by a series of miracles God brought me into the Worldwide Church of God, mentioning some of our beliefs about Europe, and how we considered Herbert W. Armstrong in the spirit of Elijah.
I was later interviewed by the local high school principal and Bible teacher about our beliefs, especially why we keep the Jewish holy days and believe we are Israelites. (I've since discovered Brit-Am Israel, a Jewish organization, also teaches the Israelite origins of the West).

That same article was posted at the kibbutz in the communal dining room for all to see and read and led to an invitation for me to speak against drugs. I resisted, feeling most people have to learn for themselves, but when Ofrah, the volunteer leader, persisted saying perhaps it could help someone, I relented on the condition I could give God the glory and mention Him as the reason for my deliverance. She agreed and I spoke to over twenty young people from all over the world and mentioned how we're all missing something and try to fill it with this and that and only God and His Holy Spirit are the answer.

When Richard Frankel, a minister who used to live in Israel and served as the regular Feast coordinator for the Middle East, found out that this little ol' "shepherd boy" in the field was "making waves," he basically demanded that I return to America since he "trusts that God will get His message to the Jews through His apostle..." and how Mr. Armstrong had carefully built bridges with Israel over the years. (Acts 7:25, 35 flashed through my mind).

He said in no way was Ilan (the reporter) to consider himself a spokesman for the Church or me a representative of it! (The Worldwide Church of God always taught we are representatives of God's Church and Kingdom).

I wondered why Mr. Frankel didn't trust God to see that nothing could be done to undermine those bridges that God through Mr. Armstrong had built, besides Mr. Armstrong NEVER went to the average Israeli but only addressed leaders in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, I complied.
However, another article had been sent out by Ilan for possible publication that I did receive permission from Mr. Armstrong through Aaron Dean to go ahead with it. Obviously, Mr. Armstrong didn't feel threatened!

Mr. Richard Paige, then in charge of the Ambassador College digs in Jerusalem, met Ilan and I in Haifa for a pleasant visit, during his trip to make arrangements for the next archaeological dig. I humbly presented him with some grapefruits I had picked from our kibbutz orchard. He said he loves grapefruit and later reported they were the best!

I wanted to return to Israel to live, fulfilling a goal I had to live all over Israel, study Hebrew, learn the culture, etc., (which I've since done as mentioned within From Toledo to Jerusalem) but Mr. Frankel's influence required that I wait until I could have a minister over there to "supervise" my activities. (God had supervised them very well, thank you).

When Raymond Clore, a Consul General for the US was assigned by our government to work over there for four years (and with whom I briefly corresponded), I appealed to Headquarters again to move over there and was denied permission because they hadn't sent Mr. Clore -- the US government had! So I encountered petty politics from ministers I permitted to have power over my personal life. A local elder questioned whether they were setting an unusual precedent with me in deciding where a member can live.

During that time, Mr. George Kackos (Toledo, Ohio's wonderful minister, who was on the refresher program at Ambassador College) and Mordakhai Joseph both encountered the attitude that "we don't need him, we have plenty of AC students to send if we want." In fact, a female Ambassador College graduate from Oregon, Sylvia Owens (top of her class Mr. Paige informed me), was permitted to stay and live in Jerusalem (whom Ilan and I had arranged to meet and visited the Biblical Zoo with).

Mordakhai (Mark) Joseph encouraged me that Jesus' disciples also tried to stop someone from casting out demons in Jesus' name because he wasn't of their clique. He was later basically told to stay out of this situation! I still remember him fondly and what correspondence we've shared and wish him all the best with his new book on the Middle East. Meanwhile, I yearn to return to Zion.

Following God's Government

Revealing email exchange with a typical PCG member:

----- Original Message -----
From: David
To: James.G.Emmanuel
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 10:06 AM
Subject: Re:
-----Original Message-----
From: "James.G.Emmanuel"
Sent: Dec 7, 2008 8:45 AM
To: davidbenariel
Subject:
Why do you take another mans work & try to profit off it!

Why do you carelessly assume I do when I don't? Beyond Babylon is the Work that God has given me to do and share and I do, whether or not you fail to recognize that fact.

Many people have told me to write what Ive reveiled to them concerning the E.U. and all I have read and lernt through God's Prophet H.W.Armstrong. But one must understand how God's Goverment works! The Word of God Only comes through His Prophets or Anoited Ministers through His one true Church the P.C.G.

Sounds like you've been brainwashed well, sad to say. Also sounds like you wouldn't take the word of the shepherds that the King of the Jews had been born since God sent them first to His Son, not the priests at headquarters. Think and pray about it. Have you even read Beyond Babylon? I know how God's government works, and it's from the TOP DOWN - not from Flurry or any other man. Stop looking to men and look to God, so help you God.

David Ben-Ariel

P.S.
Do you care if I use your email to post on my blog or would you prefer it without your name?
Thanks, James.

James.G.Emmanuel

----- Original Message -----

From: James.G.Emmanuel

To: David

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:30 AM

Subject: Re: Re:

YES YOU MAY. Sure People who Study the Bible can come to new revelation and can talk to others about it But you have no Authority or Office to Preach as a Minister of God. I Want the whole world to know God's True Church is The Philideldhians. Who else has all the works of God's Late Prophet H.W.Armstrong. I hope we can all Grow includind myself, especialy, more towards the Truth.

Herbert W. Armstrong wasn't an ordained minister either when he wrote The United States and Britain in Prophecy and presented it to the Church of God, Seventh Day. He had the authority of the Word of God, the plain truth backed him up, as those who were humble and not merely looking to "men of stature" recognized.

You really need to learn what following God's government is all about and stop letting blind obedience mislead you. I address the these issues within:

Stephen Flurry's response to Judean Voice ad
Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)

David Ben-Ariel

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Re: Gerry's tantrum II

"Gerry's tantrum II": Some good points have been made, especially by Richard noting how Flurry didn't like dirt from so many years dug up on him and then turned right around and threw some dirt about me from years ago. And by "anonymous" about how the good guys in the Bible were for and not against the construction of the Temple. (And Gavin, for the record, I never post anonymously).

This "little known blogger" has published a few "ads" of my own all over the Internet world in response to Flurry's wacko ad. Please feel free to widely disseminate them to the "largest possible audience." :-)

Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel

Is David Ben-Ariel A Terrorist?

The Temple Mount Faithful is not a terrorist organization!

Is Gerald Flurry a False Prophet?

Star Witness testifies against Gerald Flurry

Gerald Flurry's latest fusillade - cheap shots in The Edmond Sun and The Oklahoman newspapers - unfortunately reveals he has failed to repent of his character assassination attempts against me, and foolishly digs himself in deeper before both God and man.

In light of this darkness Gerald Flurry has exposed about himself, any objective reader would consider his complaints about FOX 25 News as sheer gall and rank hypocrisy! His wild-eyed allegations that they're trying to "stop" him are making him sound mad, and portray the Philadelphia Church of God as paranoid and very cultic!

"On October 16, Winkler made contact with an alleged terror-sympathizer who had been deported from Israel. This star witness wrote on his blog about Winkler’s intent to do a story on the PCG and said it would run in late November."

Terror-sympathizer? Has Gerald Flurry completely gone off the deep end? Is the Pastor General of the Philadelphia Church of God so far removed from reality he doesn't recognize he's way off base? Let the PCG beware! If the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch.

This "star witness" testifies that I sent that same preemptive information to the Philadelphia Church of God (about an imminent FOX 25 report) and would have given them greater details if they had asked for more, but since I was blacklisted by the PCG for writing Beyond Babylon without being an ordained minister, they failed to do so and gave me the cold shoulder, failing to show the love of God and Jesus Christ.

Will Gerald Flurry repent and humbly submit to the facts presented in my honest articles that clearly refute his hateful nonsense against me, with certified letters from the State Department, the Israeli government, information from The Jerusalem Post, and other trustworthy sources or have his feelings carried him away beyond the pale?

Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel

Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist?

The Temple Mount Faithful is not a terrorist organization!

Is Gerald Flurry a False Prophet?

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. Check out www.DavidBenAriel.org

Jews from British-Israelite countries urged to 'Go North'

“Building on Nefesh B’Nefesh’s ongoing success in bringing Western Jews on Aliyah [ascend/move to Israel], this initiative will generate momentum by creating a strong support system serving as a catalyst for expansion of the Jewish communities in the North for years to come,” said Angelica Berrie, President of the Russell Berrie Foundation. “Go North will enable modern day pioneers to fulfill their dreams by moving to a region of Israel that is less Westernized and needs the skills, talents and energy they will bring. We see strengthening the North as a vital strategic priority,” she continued.

Jews from British-Israelite countries urged to 'Go North'

Is Gerald Flurry a False Prophet?

If only Gerald Flurry would apply Malachi's Message to himself, he wouldn't have the demonic audacity to anoint himself as "THAT PROPHET" (a title reserved for Jesus Christ), he would humbly hear the Sabbath-keeping Church of God members' legitimate questions and concerns about some of his teachings and dictatorial ministers (like Dennis Leap) rather than angrily "execute" them with excommunication.

Is Gerald Flurry a false prophet? Folks should beware that Gerald Flurry calls himself a prophet. He's taken to himself numerous spiritual titles like a modern day Nimrod, magnifying himself. His son Stephen Flurry sheepishly said on FOX 25 News the PCG considers Mr. Flurry speaks for God and is a prophet. I believe he does, based upon the biblical definitions of a prophet, to the extent it's solidly based upon the Bible and not his private interpretations, and that we should listen to him the same way Jesus Christ said to view the Pharisees - do as they say, but not as they do!

Gerald Flurry (through PCG tithes and offerings) bought and paid for Herbert W. Armstrong's books and booklets from the apostate Worldwide Church of God (rather than go to jail, if necessary, to continue using them without paying the devil for them at extortionate price), so at least he offers the plain truth of the Bible - on those subjects - to anybody who requests them, for free. But is that so he can fleece their soul? Is that to disarm them, to mislead them to imagine everything is kosher in his PCG kingdom, and then devour them? Is that his covering when inwardly he's a ravenous beast who has abused Church of God members' minds and attacks their critical thinking abilities as being "disloyal" to the "government of God?"

Is Gerald Flurry a wolf in sheep's clothing? It certainly appears that way, grieved to say, so I hope and pray Gerald Flurry repents of his arrogance, of his presumptuous religious titles, and remembers the truth, the excellent principles, he has written in Malachi's Message (some say it was plagiarized and it appears to have been), and bless God's people and do a great work that has substance and not just shell - vainly seeking to impress this world, becoming an enemy of God in the process - and boldly warn the world (like the watchmen are called to do) and preach the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom of God that will save mankind from itself, rescue us from the brink of extinction, so help him God!

Otherwise, it appears this world's only hope to hear the plain truth of the Bible and history again (not that they will receive it), in a powerful way, from pure servants of God free of personal ambition and ulterior motivation, will be the brilliant testimony of the Two Witnesses soon to take an international stand in Jerusalem.

For Zion's sake,
David Ben-Ariel

Author, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Extremism breeds extremism

Following the expulsion of families from Beit Hashalom in Hebron, during a radio interview with the BBC, I was asked about our future plans. When I responded that the community would continue to purchase property in Hebron, the interviewer asked, "But won't that just cause more violence?" I answered, "If I bought a home in London and was told that a Jew purchasing on 'that side of the city' would cause a violent reaction, how would that be viewed? Probably as anti-Semitism and racism. Why then can't a Jew buy property in Hebron, just as people purchase homes all over the world?"Another common question I've had to field from journalists is, "Don't you think this has all gotten out of control?" My response is quite simple: "Of course it is totally out of control. That's not the question. The question is who is out of control?" Clearly, in my opinion, those who have lost control are those democratic institutions which are designed to protect citizens from despotic leadership...

Extremism breeds extremism
by David Wilder,
Spokesman of the Jewish community of Hebron