March 2003 Newsletter

March 2003 

SIGNS IN THE SKY

Flip's response to those asking about the prophetic significance of the Space Shuttle Columbia's disintegration over Texas.

I don't know how much of a prophet I am other than the fact that, on occasion, I speak prophetically about the events of the day as viewed through the grid of the Bible. Through many signs and judgments God has been calling us as a nation to repent over the shedding of innocent blood and an outright rejection of Him and His Word. The sign in the sky over Texas was just a reminder, "Mr. President, if you are relying on technology to get you out of this one in the Mid-East you had better think again."

We are about to get entrenched in a war from which we will not easily be able to extricate ourselves. This does not at all mean we should not fight - this war must be fought! It is simply a fact that Almighty God (not to be confused with allah) has placed us in a situation where there are few choices. Islam will either dominate, subjugate, and enslave or Christianity will bring liberty - there is no common ground between the two. We will either win those lost in Islam to Christ, be killed by them, or kill them. Not a comforting thought, but true. God has allowed it to come to this so that we would have no place to turn but Him. He knows how to make us cry.

The disintegration of the Space Shuttle Columbia this past Saturday morning was just one more tragic manifestation of this truth. It made us cry. We cried over the devastation of 9-11. Some of us have cried over the millions of Christians killed in the Sudan by Islamic terrorists over the past several years. Many of us have wept over the mindless acts of violence perpetrated by the monsters created by Islam. Many Muslim mothers have wept over the suicidal deaths of their own children to the lie called Islam. Oh yes, God knows how to make us cry!

Joy over the tragic deaths of seven precious people? It is like 9-11 all over again. The world weeps and Islam rejoices. Why? The Bible tells us that those who reject God, whose specific Name is JESUS, will find themselves living out this principle: "…all who hate me love death." Proverbs 8:36

Islam is a demonic menace to all mankind, but it has been raised up by God Himself to deal with the sorry state of His Church and the sorry state of His nation, Israel. That's right! The Muslims don't know this, but God is using them to bring His people back to Himself. Islam is the instrument God is using to make us all cry. It is the shell in which the devil himself resides to rob, kill, and destroy.

Just a short list of Islam's great achievements might be of help here: child suicide bombers, terrorists, dictators, political corruption, subjugation of women, hatred of Jews, hatred of America, hatred of each other, poverty, backwardness, and pure unadulterated evil. The very same spirit that inhabited the shell of Pharoah and Haman son of Hammedatha, inhabits the shells of Muslims today.

Islam is a murderous religion. In particular, it hates all those who hold to the testimony of Jesus, and it hates the Jews. It sees value in people only as they convert to its demonic theology. This spirit now inhabits 1.3 billion people on our planet. Muslims hate Israel and they hate Christianity. In reality, they hate God! It tells us in Revelation 12:12 that the devil has been hurled down to earth and that, "...He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

A Condensed "Biblical History" of Islam

Yes, the devil is filled with fury, manifesting himself in the lie called Islam, because he knows his time is short. If this Bible verse doesn't fit Islam to a "T," I do not know what does. It is an oppressive, stifling, false religion that has enslaved over 1.3 billion people with its lie. Long before Islam came into being through Mohammed, however, an ancient hostility existed between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael. They were brothers (half brothers really). Both were to become great nations. Ishmael, however, was to be a "wild donkey of a man" who could get along with no one, including his brothers (Arabs today). (Genesis 16:11-12.)

It was Isaac, the "son of the promise," through whom the whole world would be redeemed. Yes, Jesus would come from the seed of Isaac - not Ishmael. The descendants of Ishmael (the rejected brother) hated the descendants of Isaac for that. There was a jealousy that ran deep and persists to this day. Islamic Jihad is almost always declared against Christianity or Israel.

Further, we see that the sons of Isaac, to whom the promise was given, Jacob and Esau were twins who wrestled in their mother's womb. Esau was born first and therefore entitled to the promise. He despised his birthright, however, by giving it to Jacob for "a mess of pottage" and then had his blessing stolen from him by the same conniving brother. God said in Genesis 25:23, before the twins were born, that the "older will serve the younger." Esau was going to serve Jacob. Esau, the rejected brother, despised Jacob for this, but it was God's doing. He was going to work through the mess of this brotherly hatred.

God used this hatred to bring Jacob to his knees at Peniel (Genesis 32:22-33:10). God brought Jacob to the end of his lying self so that he would realize there was no hope for him apart from Almighty God. Yes, God made Jacob cry, and He used the hatred of Esau to do it! Jacob cried out to God for fear of what his brother Esau would do to him. God answered him by changing his name from Jacob (one who wrestles with men) to Israel (one who wrestles with God). The hostility between these brothers actually brought God's purposes for Israel into being.

That being said, Esau intermarried with the daughters of Ishmael (Genesis 28:8-9) and the hatred these two (rejected?) brothers had for Israel continues to this day.

Enter 610 A.D., when Mohammed received his first "revelations." The natural brotherly hatred the descendants of Ishmael and Esau had toward the descendants of their brother Israel was ratcheted up exponentially. Demons are now involved and the false religion they inspire is Islam. Now it is more than just brotherly hatred - it is a demonic loathing that says that Israel has no right to exist! It says that Christians must convert, or die!

That is precisely where we find ourselves today! No peace accord, no political solution, no amount of negotiation or compromise can possibly solve the mess we are in. God is using the murderous, suicide inspiring, demonic spirit of Islam to bring Israel and His Church in America to their knees. Just as He used Esau to bring Jacob to his knees and forced him to cry out to God for mercy, so He is using Islam to bring His nation Israel to her knees so that she will cry out "Baruch haba, ba'shem Adonai." Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.

Jesus said it to the Jews when they rejected Him the first time, "…You will not see Me again until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.'" Matthew 23:39. God is using Islam, in all of its demonic wrath, to bring Israel to her knees and acknowledge that her Messiah has already come. Oh yes, God knows how to make her cry. She need look no further than Jesus for her salvation!

He is using Islam to bring the Church of Jesus Christ in America to her knees so that she too will cry out to God for mercy over the shedding of innocent blood in our cities and the blatant rejection of God in our culture. He has not been silent about this innocent blood, and Islam has become His megaphone.

So, this is where we find ourselves at this point in history. I pray that we will have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is shouting to us through Islam. But we are living in an age of great biblical ignorance. Many American Christians believe that if we have the right technology, support Israel, and are tolerant of Islam that everything will be fine and we can continue to ignore God's call to repentance.

Surely God would not judge America, would He? It is Islam that is the bad guy. Perhaps we ought to just look around at some signs in the sky. Nineteen men with box cutters? They certainly weren't very high tech. The Space Shuttle disintegrating into pieces, over Crawford, Texas, the home our President? This was the best technology America had to offer. An Israeli commander on board the disintegrated Space Shuttle? An impending war with Iraq? Oh yes, God knows how to make us cry!

Someone is making it very clear that, apart from the mercy of Almighty God, we are in an utterly hopeless situation. He knows how to make us cry! Maybe we ought to start doing that now. After all, we have killed over 45 million of His babies, expelled Him from school, banished Him from the schoolyard, called His enemies friends, ad nauseam. Oh sure, we have sung "God Bless America" from the steps of the capital building. Shouldn't that count for something? Or is it possible that the Lord sees through our little charade of honoring Him with our lips while our hearts are far from Him?

Soon, very soon, we as a nation will cry out to God for the help that only He can give. He knows how to make us cry! 2 Chronicles 7:14, "…if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." It wouldn't be a bad idea to start now!

ANOTHER ARROW BEING LAUNCHED FROM THE BOW OF FAMILY
This is what Shekinah Thomas (15), daughter of Rusty and Liz Thomas, spoke at the Memorial Service for the Unborn in front of City Hall in Waco, TX, on January 22, 2003.

My name is Shekinah Thomas and I'm a survivor. One third of my generation is dead. Every person who is here today who is 30 years and younger is a survivor of a holocaust that the Jews said would never happen again. But it has, and this time it has cost the lives of over 40 million babies.

This murder must end, and the only way it will end is if my generation picks up the torch that the generation before us has dropped and runs with it. The blood of these babies is crying out for vengeance and God will bring it, unless we give Him a reason to show mercy on a nation that is begging for judgment. The time has come for my generation to stand in the gap. If we do not stand for these little ones, then who will?

God has shown us what we must do. He has even given us examples of it in His Word. When Moses was sentenced to die as a baby, his mother did what God said and preserved his life. Moses ended up defying Pharoah and leading all the children of Israel out of slavery. Because of one person's obedience, an entire nation was saved.

In the same way, we must be in obedience to God. We must fight this battle, and He will be faithful to conquer. I'm asking my generation to be leaders. It is our only hope. If you do not know what to do or how to begin, talk to my family and me and we will show you how to start. We must be the champions that God raised up in the Bible to drive the evil out of the land. Please join us. Thank you.

STORMING THE GATES OF HELL IN CLEVELAND, OH

Joining Tom Raddell and Mary Ellen Urmin in the frozen tundra of Cleveland in January is an experience most could do without. But the warmth of the Gospel proclamation dispelled most of the cold. We had a pastors' breakfast with over 40 pastors in attendance. We stormed the gates at Cleveland State University with the graphic truth about child killing. God touched many students, others were angered, but no one was left wavering between two opinions. We went to the abortuaries, the streets, and well over 400 folks braved the freezing, arctic air to march for life with Lake County Right to Life. They allowed me to preach. God moved! Thank you, Jesus.

FLIP IN ROCHESTER AND BUFFALO, NY

What an awesome time we had in the Lord in Buffalo and Rochester. Several folks surrendered their hearts to Christ. We fought the Gospel battle at SUNY Brockport, a university that has lost all sight of God. We reminded the students that Jesus Christ is God, and that apart from Him there is no other. We proclaimed that, Abortion is murder, Homosexuality is sin, and Islam is a lie. When this statement was made there was an audible gasp, which marked the end of the lecture and the beginning of the battle. Each one of us was immediately engaged in conversations (arguments?), and contending for the Gospel of Christ. Jesus was lifted up!

Almost 200 folks attended the Banquet for Rescue Rochester. Bob and Bonnie Behn from Buffalo joined us there. It was a marvelous time to rekindle old friendships with saints who are following hard after Christ. Mike Warren and Jerry Crawford have been engaged in the Gospel battle for the lives of pre-born children for over 17 years in Rochester. Genesee Hospital closed its doors for good. Mike and Jerry made it very clear that this would happen if this hospital continued to kill babies. It was a miracle from God Himself. They are faithful brothers in Christ.

LEADERSHIP MEETING IN CHARLOTTE, NC

Forty five leaders from across the nation joined us in Charlotte to strategize the demise of abortion in America. We also asked for help with our national event this summer in Charlotte, July 12-20, 2003! Our leaders pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. How about you? There is no better place to bring your family for a missionary endeavor than to the very gates of hell with people who have a radical love for Jesus.

CONFRONTING THE GATES OF HELL AT RHEMA

Many of you remember that Pastor Mark Holick had his ordination revoked this past summer by Tulsa, Oklahoma- based Rhema Ministerial Association International (RMAI). Tom Winters, Rhema's attorney, said that the reason for the revocation was because Pastor Mark brings his church to the infamous abortion mill in Wichita, Kansas, where George Tiller kills late-term babies, baptizes them, and then incinerates them in his furnace. Rhema fears being sued because of Pastor Mark's Gospel activities.

Rhema may demonstrate great faith in many areas, and teach it well, but it exhibits no faith at all when it comes to protecting its bank account from the enemies of God who may come to sue. To care more about money than little baby boys and girls being led away to slaughter; to care more about money than allowing one of its pastors to speak for those who have no voice; to care more about money than to hearken to the call of Christ are sure signs of a church that has lost its vision, and mission, and left its first love.

We are asking you to join us in Tulsa, March 27-30, 2003, to confront Rhema with her responsibility before God to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We will be having nightly rallies and daily street activities.

SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION - Kristene O'Dell
Some confusion has been expressed concerning Flip and Faye's move to North Carolina. Please forgive us.

The leadership structure has not changed. Flip remains the National Director of Operation Save America and Operation Rescue. The national ministry has moved to Concord, North Carolina. The administrative office, however, is still located in Dallas. You may send all correspondence and donations to the PO Box in Dallas. That address has not changed: PO Box 740066, Dallas, TX, 75374. The phone number is 972-240-9370.

John Reyes has been placed as the local leader for the work in Dallas. He is doing a great job! His mailing address is PO Box 5292, Dallas, TX, 75208. The phone number to John's office is 214-943-8786.

Keep following hard after Christ,
Flip