Below are just some of the headlines affecting the Middle East today. Be watching for Q&A and MidEast & Beyond Updates with Pastor Barry Stagner on YouTube. In the meantime, some solid sources you can follow for news about Israel and the Middle East on X and other platforms are JNS, All Israel News, Amit Segal, CBN News, TBN Israel, and RLN–Daniel Cohen.
Another Cross-Atlantic Flight for the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back in Washington, D.C. This is his eighth trip to the US capital in less than two years. Despite his relationship with President Donald Trump appearing to be contentious at times, Bibi described this visit as “one of the best we’ve ever had.” Overall, it appears that the prime minister isn’t pushing as hard for another military campaign. Instead, he is playing the long game, looking for regime change in Iran brought about by Trump’s strong hand in the region.
To the Darkest Depths of Pickaxe Mountain
About 140 miles south of Tehran in the Isfahan province stands Pickaxe Mountain. Dug more than three hundred feet beneath this mile-high peak are tunnels that now reportedly contain the equipment and materials needed for Iran to carry on their nuclear weapons aspirations. Because of the depth of this complex, the GBU-57 bunker buster bombs previously used against Iran do not have the capability to reach it. The only weapon available that could destroy such a complex would be a B61-11, which is a nuclear earth-penetrating weapon. President Trump says that Pickaxe will be destroyed soon. It will be interesting, and a little bit frightening, to see how he manages to accomplish this.
Iran Targets US Troops
Everyone has their own way of honoring a ceasefire. Iran chose to do so by firing a barrage of missiles at the headquarters of the US military’s Central Command in Jordan on Wednesday. All the ballistic missiles were shot down. Not surprisingly, President Trump was not happy with this provocation, responding with words that would cause me to lose many subscribers if I chose to quote him. A severe retaliation was promised by the US.
The Islamic Regime Publicly Hanged Protesters from Cranes
On July 19, two protesters against the Islamic regime were hanged. On Tuesday, two more were hanged from cranes in the city of Malekshahr. As young adults Amir-Hossein Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi swung high above the city square, a young woman, Anahita Azarshab, was shot and killed for protesting the executions. Abolfazl’s cousin, Alireza Sepahi, is currently awaiting his turn at the noose. This is all you need to know about the ayatollahs and their radical Shiite Islam.
Earthquake Shakes Southern Japan
A 7.1 earthquake shook southern Japan Tuesday. Centered in Kumamoto, the temblor caused much damage, including the collapse of a building and an explosion in a shopping mall. Two people were killed and many others were injured. Please pray for this area as Behold Israel has numerous friends in this region.
KEEPING UP WITH THE MINISTRY
YouTube Highlights you won’t want to miss:
– “Explore the Bible: Exploring the Psalms” with Dr. Rick Yohn and me – aired Tuesday, July 28
– Q&A CONNECT with Pastor Barry Stagner and me – Thursday, July 30, 5:00 PM PDT
– Live Public Reading of Scripture – Thursday, July 30, 6:00 PM PDT
– Weekly Prayer Meeting (also on Zoom) – Monday, August 3, 7:00 AM PDT
– MidEast & Beyond with Pastor Barry Stagner and me – Monday, August 3, 10:00 AM PDT
– “Who are the Real Jews?”, a premiere teaching – Tuesday, August 4, 12:00 PM PDT
Registration is now open for Behold Israel’s 2027 Bible Experience Tours. There truly is no experience like a visit to the Holy Land. You will never read your Bible the same again. Check out the available dates on our Bible Experience Tours page.
AN IMPORTANT WORD
One of the questions I am asked most often is, “Can a believer lose his salvation?”
My answer is simple: No. It’s not because believers are faithful, but because God is. If you want the greatest proof that God’s faithfulness is not performance-based, don’t begin with the Church. Begin with Israel.
For the vast majority of its history, Israel has been rebellious. They worshiped idols. They rejected the prophets. They turned their backs on their own Messiah. Yet God never rejected them. Why? Because His covenant with Israel has never been based on Israel’s performance. It has always depended on His character.
That is why God said, “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob” (Malachi 3:6). God did not say, “You are not consumed because you obeyed Me.” Instead, He said, “I do not change.” That is the heart of the matter – the faithful, unchanging nature of a perfect God. Paul confirmed this when he wrote, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
Before I continue, let me make one thing absolutely clear. When I point to Israel as the greatest evidence of God’s faithfulness, I am not suggesting that every Jewish person is automatically saved simply because he or she is Jewish. Salvation is not a birthright. Instead, it has always been, and will always be, by grace through faith in the Messiah alone. Israel’s preservation as a nation is unconditional because it rests on God’s covenant promises. Israel’s personal salvation, however, is through faith in Yeshua alone.
The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We do not earn gifts. Thus, if we did not earn our salvation, we cannot maintain it by our own efforts. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. Yeshua said: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). He did not say, “I give them life until they fail.” He said, “They shall never perish.” Either eternal life is eternal, or it isn’t.
Paul emphasized the eternal nature of our salvation when he wrote: “Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). And again, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). You were not sealed until your next sin. You were not sealed until your next failure. You were sealed until the day of redemption.
Our security is not found in our ability to hold on to the Lord. It is found in His ability to hold on to us. And He holds us with a grip that will never let go.
Thank you to everyone who constantly prays for this ministry and for me. Please continue to pray for Pastor Barry and me as we continue our tour across Australia. And for all of you who give financially to keep this ministry going, a heartfelt thanks to you also.
Awaiting His Return,
Amir Tsafati
Amir, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.
The views expressed in opinion articles are solely those of the author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the CURE News and Clergy Blog.
By Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, link
