Dear Friends,

As I write to you today everyone is still thinking about Israel’s bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor. My view is very predictable I suppose, but very rational. If you have a neighbor who has promised that he will murder you, you develop quite a lot of concern when you see him buy a gun.

There’s not the least question in my mind that Iraq, a disorganized backward country under the totalitarian control of an unstable military dictator, would gladly have bombed Israel off the face of the earth this summer or fall. I have a letter from the Consulate General of Israel explaining just this point. The Consulate General went on to say, “Under no circumstances will we allow an enemy to develop weapons of mass destruction against our people. We shall defend the citizens of Israel in good time, with all the means at our disposal.”

God has defended His land before and a cursory reading of the Bible by the Iraqis would have convinced them that threatening the Promised Land is a hazardous undertaking. In a way, though, France and Italy, who supplied the technology and built the reactor, are more to blame than the people of Iraq. The Iraqis are capable only of killing people, not building advanced scientific equipment, at least to date. France and Italy sold their birthright as normal feeling human beings for a few barrels of oil. Presumably they would have been content to sacrifice 3,000,000 Israeli civilians in order to keep their machines running. “They have their reward.”

The entire incident is still another of those previews of the coming Russian Invasion of Israel. This time we have all seen Israel’s very real power and her courage to use it. Make no mistake about it, God is taking a part in all this. No one will succeed in defeating Israel: “And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God” (Amos 9:15).

Closer to home we too are surviving, thanks to your help. Our new broadcasting outlets are coming along slowly but surely and ZOLA LEVITT LIVE is now viewed by some 1/2 million people per week. We will undertake the production of new fall shows shortly and if everything hangs together right we will continue to bring you our special messages as always. The CBN Network has promised to air our shows at least through the summer and we hope to work out something with them for the fall season. Channel 39 out of Dallas and all of its cable affiliates will continue as usual at 9:00 PM Sundays. For the present, CBN is running ZOLA LEVITT LIVE at 5:30 PM Sundays E.S.T. (4:30 C.S.T., etc.). If you used to watch the show on Thursday or Saturday nights on CBN you should now watch it on Sunday afternoon.

We’re faced with two purchases for our office which I would Like to refer to all of you. Perhaps in our large family there is someone with office supply connections. We need an IBM Selectric III correcting typewriter and a sturdy metal storage cabinet. It seems Like small potatoes to ask you for these things but frankly I’m jealous of every dollar and would rather spend your money getting out the Word. As you see, our needs are much simpler than those of the more venerable ministries who build buildings and undertake huge and expensive peripheral projects. We only make television programs and we have acquired very little property (last month I did buy a second-hand office chair far $35 so that the occasional visitor could be seated).

Now if you don’t have a typewriter or a storage cabinet, please feel face to send money. It’s that time again—production time—when our expenses overwhelm us. Do yourself a favor; we can make you better shows if we have a proper budget. If you were planning to give something in the fall, this would frankly be a better time. I know I can count on those of you who are able.

Your messenger,

P.S. We are still negotiating about an upcoming Israel trip. If you’re interested in going with me please drop us a Line immediately.