February 2022 Personal Letter

FROM SARAH, OUR SABRA
ON THE GROUND IN ISRAEL

Dear Friend,

Shalom from Israel. It’s hard to believe that 2019, the last year of “normal,” was over two years ago. Israel’s government reacted strongly to the recent Omicron variant surge, closing the country to tourists and imposing fines on Israeli citizens to prevent their travel to most countries throughout the world. But a short time later, government officials decided to reopen the borders.

While this upheaval left many people confused, the political landscape remains fairly stable after several years of turmoil. Thus life continues here somewhat as normal, but with one worried eye watching the situation with Iran and its aspirations for nuclear weapons. Soon I will write more about important developments related to that situation.

This letter contains the last installment of the Garden of Eden series. If you missed any of the first four in this series, please see the September–December 2021 Personal Letters at levitt.com/newsletter. Each letter contains valuable keys (revelations) that enlighten us not only about Eden but also about God’s purposes for us as Believers (“Believers” is short for “believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah”).

The December 2021 letter discussed three new keys:

1. The key of inheritance: While Adam and Eve were cast out (of the Garden) toward the east, Abraham set out from the east to go to the land of the inheritance God promised him. God leads Abraham to Mount Moriah, where God asks the patriarch to sacrifice his son Isaac. This foreshadows what will happen forty-two generations later, when God will sacrifice His own Son to restore humanity to Himself on that same mountain.
2. The key of the sacrifice: The sacrifice of the red heifer mirrors the sacrificial death of Yeshua (Jesus). The sacrifice happened outside of the camp, in the presence of the High Priest, to cleanse the people from death. Yeshua’s death, however, was not a reoccurring sacrifice; it was an enduring one.
3. The key of the two women: In the Garden of Eden, a woman (Eve) believes a lie and shares it with man, which initiates the cycle of sin. After Yeshua was crucified, another woman (Mary Magdalene) and at least two others receive the message of truth about the redemption of humanity and share it with men — the disciples waiting in the upper room.

The Key of Restoring Waters

In the first part of this series, I discussed the four rivers that originated from one source, a river flowing eastward from Eden. One of the four rivers was called the Gihon. While we cannot locate any river by that name on a map today, we know of a spring named Gihon in Jerusalem.

During the time of the second Temple, water from this spring would be poured out as “living water” on the altar during the festival of Sukkot. Yeshua (Jesus) stood there and cried out as we read in John’s Gospel: “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them’ ” (John 7:37–38).

King Hezekiah blocked the upper part of the Gihon Spring while building up new defenses ahead of the attack by King Sennacherib of Assyria. Hezekiah allowed the lower part of the waters to flow from the city of David eastward down the Kidron Valley, through the desert, and toward the Dead Sea (2 Chronicles 32:30).

Today it is hard to determine if there is a spring flowing under the Temple Mount. No archeologist can excavate the area. The Jordanian Islamic trust, the Waqf, controls it, and likely fears that evidence of the Jewish city and/or Temple might be found there. But historical evidence from the early 19th century (from Western archaeologists who visited the site) suggests that there is a water source that connected to the lower Gihon that originates under the Temple Mount.

Several Biblical prophecies (Zechariah 14:3–9; Joel 3:18; Ezekiel 47:1–12) mention that these waters will become supernaturally restorative living waters.

In the first part of this series, I discussed a concept called the Separation Theory. According to this theory, it is plausible that the Gihon we see today is the “body” of that spiritual river of life. If so, when Yeshua (Jesus) returns, and the new Jerusalem descends from Heaven, this river will be restored as in the days of Eden.

The Key of the Plains Of Jordan

The Bible refers to the area east of Jerusalem (between the Judean desert and the hills of Moab) as the plains of Jordan or the Aravah. This area includes the city of Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the general area of Sodom and Gomorrah (we don’t know their exact location). If you have visited the Aravah, you know it is a vast, dry desert as far as the eye can see, in every direction. But this was not always the case.

When Abraham and Lot decided to part ways, Abraham gave his nephew first choice of the land. Genesis 13:10 states, “Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)” Therefore, what do the Garden of Eden, the plains of Jordan (Aravah), and Egypt all have in common? They are all watered well by a river.

As with the river flowing from the city of God toward the east, we find many prophecies of an amazing restoration that will occur in the Aravah. A few of the passages that refer to this incredible change include Isaiah 35:1–6; 41:17–20; 43:16–20; and 58:11.

Look at the geographical and spiritual picture that emerges in the Garden of Eden series: God planted a garden in Eden (to the east, Genesis 2:8) and a river flows eastward from this Garden (Genesis 2:10) to the Aravah. One day, when the new Jerusalem is established on Earth, a river will flow eastward from Jerusalem, toward the Dead Sea. It will heal the waters of that sea and restore the entire region back to the days of Eden, which could exemplify the prayer of Lamentations 5:21.

The Key of the Circles of History

In the Gemara (a portion of Jewish rabbinical studies, known as part of the oral Torah), scholars refer to three circles of history, each comprising 2,000 years. The writers of the Gemara didn’t believe in Yeshua (Jesus) and in fact rejected Him. But this ordering of history fits the Messianic understanding and that of the Separation Theory almost perfectly.

THE FIRST 2,000 YEARS ARE THE YEARS OF CHAOS:

During these years, the separation of Earth and the spiritual Heaven gradually occurred. We see that during the first 2,000 years since creation, the spiritual and physical world were still connected in accounts like Genesis 6, where the sons of God have relations with the daughters of man. We also see that humans lived for many years, though lifespans grew shorter and shorter through the generations until the time of Abraham.

THE SECOND 2,000 YEARS ARE THE YEARS OF TORAH:

Moses received the Torah on Mount Sinai approximately 500 years after the time of Abraham. The separation of the physical and spiritual worlds was now fully complete, so God gave humanity His law and moral code to live by.

THE THIRD 2,000 YEARS ARE THE YEARS OF MESSIAH:

What was Yeshua’s (Jesus’) message when He went from town to town? “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). One day Yeshua (Jesus) will return and reign for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). For nearly 2,000 years, we have been waiting for His Kingdom to be established on Earth. According to the circles of history, that day is coming soon.

Final Thoughts

In this series, we have investigated whether the Garden of Eden was once in the place where Jerusalem stands today. This study has been exhilarating because it continually points to God’s marvelous plan for restoring humanity to Himself. I cannot imagine more joyous news! I use the information in this series to present the Gospel relying solely upon Old Testament Scriptures.

As you reflect on what you have learned, I offer you a few insightful questions from my scholarly friend Steven Harel, who is both a Believer and an Israeli tour guide:

• We were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Why therefore do we yearn to reach Jerusalem?
• If Eden is God’s house (dwelling place — Genesis 3:8), why would He move houses?
• If everything started in the Garden of Eden, why does it all end in Jerusalem?

Im tirdefu lada-at oto —
“Press on to know HIM!” (Hosea 6:3 NLT),

   
Sarah Liberman

P.S. Do you have any more thoughts on this captivating topic? Maybe you have a testimony about how the series has helped you. Please write to me at our P.O. Box or staff@levitt.com. I love hearing from you!

: I Can Only Imagine…

What will it be like to once again walk the streets where Jesus walked? We at Zola Tours yearn to return to the Promised Land. Of course, our Israeli friends, including tour guides, bus drivers, and travel partners, are also more than ready for our return. When we get back to Israel and Jordan, we will celebrate heartily! Please note our tentative Fall Tour dates below. Contact our travel manager Sandra at 214-696-9760, travel@levitt.com, or levitt.com/tours. She can help you prepare for your journey of a lifetime.

A Note from David and Kirsten Hart

Sarah’s Garden of Eden series has been fascinating. Kirsten and I were privileged to read her articles before they were printed and delivered to your mailbox each month. That was like being the first to find the prize in a cereal box! (We may be dating ourselves with that comment.) Even better has been discovering these “hidden keys” Sarah has so thoroughly revealed.

In addition to the teaching in our monthly Personal Letter and Levitt Letter, we hope you have enjoyed Our Jewish Roots on television. Ken Berg, our producer, invests tremendous energy into delivering meaningful Biblical lessons combined with stunning Holy Land visuals — all wrapped up with classic Zola music. Our production team packs a five-course spiritual meal into thirty minutes of television. The good news is that we don’t have to slow down, thanks to you and our other readers and viewers. You make every weekly episode of Our Jewish Roots possible, and we appreciate your support so much.

Did you know that this ministry also sends out the Levitt Letter to thousands of readers each month without charging a cent? It costs the ministry a pretty penny, though, to produce and mail each publication. Have you heard that we also send more than a thousand copies of the monthly Levitt Letter to prisoners as an outreach ministry? Many additional souls discretely benefit from the vast archives at levitt.com, including unsaved Jews and curious anti-Semites. With your prayers and support, you heed Yeshua’s admonition to feed His sheep (John 21:15–17) by mobilizing our ministerial efforts.

Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim! —
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!” (Psalm 122:6),

David & Kirsten

P.S. To help us deliver the Good News to whomever tunes us in, reads our newsletters, or frequents our website, please use the enclosed envelope, call 1-800-WONDERS (1-800-966-3377), or visit levitt.com/donate.

Our Jewish Roots TV programs in February

Though international tourism remains tentative, we plan to send a small production crew to Israel at the end of March. Hallelujah! We’ve purchased air tickets and made hotel reservations, so now we are praying for the green light. Dr. Jeffrey Seif’s hiking boots are ready for the new series he will teach around the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). Kirsten and David Hart will be taping music videos and interviews with many beloved Israelis. It’s been a Zola tradition for us to film every teaching segment possible in the Holy Land.

While making “COVID adaptations,” we’ve brought you fresh, new programming interspersed with perennial footage from previous filming in the Holy Land. Berg Productions continuously helps us deliver creative, relevant teaching of the Bible’s timeless truths.

We’re sure you will enjoy our smorgasbord of Biblical knowledge this month. The Warrior King: David-like Leadership in Goliath-like Times not only tells the story of King David’s time but also the story of our own present time. With challenges larger than Goliath all around us Believers, we need Bible-based leaders now more than ever. In 2009, Jeff Seif originally taught this eight-part series from Israel. Now David and Kirsten join Jeff in the studio for an updated analysis and discussion of each program’s teachings. We also get on-location reports from Chaim Malespin and enjoy the music of Zola Levitt.

The Warrior King —

Facing Goliath

Overlooked by his family, young David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel. He was catapulted to renown after his incredible battle against the Philistine giant Goliath.

The Lord’s Anointed

Unfair trials often checker the road to success. Though David had been chosen as the next king, he endured abuse from King Saul, especially because of his bond with Jonathan, the king’s son. We evaluate Saul’s death and David’s gracious response.

Disobedient and Distracted

The Bible tells of the good, the bad, and the ugly. This program examines David’s interactions with Abigail and Bathsheba. Even in David’s sin, God showed His grace and faithfulness to David.

Fighting for Israel

David was both a physical warrior and a spiritual warrior. His spiritual life serves as a role model for us all. We look at David’s wars against the Philistines, Amalekites, and Ammonites, along with modern-day applications and how we Believers can achieve ultimate victory.