|
Listen to article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
SHILOH — One would think they were walking in the streets of the Holy Land as clergy gathered on Thursday morning at Village Hall to discuss the City of Jerusalem. At a time when an astronomical increase in anti-Semitism is seen around the world, a conjunction between the State of Ohio and the Star of David could be traced over the Buckeye Bible Belt on May 18th, Jerusalem Day.
Previous attempts have been made to make Ohio the first state in the nation to have their legislative body recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli Capital. However, clergymen are now jumping on board issuing a joint statement Thursday.
“With the OSU Student Senate unwisely passing its first-ever Israel divestment resolution recently, we as faith leaders representing one-hundred-thirty-five diverse congregations in the Buckeye State are responding and calling on the 135th Ohio General Assembly to pass a concurrent resolution recognizing Jerusalem as the undivided, eternal Capital of Israel,” Pastor Russ Smith said.
“As the words of Psalm 137 ring out to this day, ‘If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!”
The clergy believe the current Administration and federal government agencies are positioning the United States in opposition against Israeli sovereignty.
Elder Roger Eggeman commented Thursday, “With the Biden Administration interfering in Israeli elections and domestic policy, and dispatching the FBI to conduct an ill-conceived investigation of the Israeli Defense Forces, the Nation of Israel must be forewarned: the actions by the Biden Administration indicate America is no longer a trustworthy ally. The Star of David is not ‘another star on the American flag.’ It is Israel’s moral right to self-governance; the GOD of Abraham has promised He will be their shield.”
“We applaud our local officials for recognizing the 75th anniversary of the rebirth of the nation of Israel. As their official proclamations indicate, Israel continues to be a present-day miracle. It is our hope our state lawmakers go further to acknowledge Israeli sovereignty.”
Pastor Dr. Ricky Branham
Pastor Russell Stanford added, “Despite the current boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, and constant barrage of United Nation condemnations, there is no denying this tiny nation of Israel, made up of only eight thousand square miles has become one of the world’s top innovators in medicine, technology, agriculture and cybersecurity.”
“As the United Nations’ General Assembly commemorates Israel’s Independence Day by calling it “a catastrophe,” and as the U.N. votes to take Israel to International Court for its so-called occupation of its own sovereign land, may Israel be reminded that whoever sows injustice will reap calamity.”
The clergymen quoted the Bible saying, “Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
The clergy also pointed out that the 130th Ohio General Assembly formally declared ten-years prior, “Israel has been granted its lands under and through the oldest recorded deed, the Old Testament, a tome of Scripture held sacred and revered by Jews and Christians.”
Listed clergy co-signers of the joint statement have congregations located in (15) counties throughout Ohio. Counties with the most congregations represented include: Richland (82), Crawford (9), Ashland (8), Trumbull (8), Knox (5), Wayne (5), Huron (4), Morrow (4), Stark (3), Warren (2), Licking (1), Lorain (1), Mahoning (1), Marion (1), & Portage (1).
This week, nine mayors and three Boards of County Commissioners gave formal acknowledgement of Israel. Mayors from Mansfield, Ashland, Bucyrus, Shelby, Ontario, Butler, Shiloh, Crestline, and Chesterville gave proclamations recognizing the seventy-fifth anniversary of the rebirth of the modern State of Israel. County Commissioners from Ashland, Morrow, and Richland Counties also followed suit.
“We applaud our local officials for recognizing the 75th anniversary of the rebirth of the nation of Israel,” said Dr. Ricky Branham. “As their official proclamations indicate, Israel continues to be a present-day miracle. It is our hope our state lawmakers go further to acknowledge Israeli sovereignty.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Isaiah Chapter Sixty-two, “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till He establishes, and makes Jerusalem a praise in all the earth.”
View slideshow below of the clergy press conference that took place outside Shiloh Village Hall on Jerusalem Day.
View video below of clergy press conference produced by Frontlines Ohio. (Duration 24 minutes)
Related articles:
