I’m taking this blog in a different direction, a more theological one, if you will. And I want to talk about the cult’s relationship with Israel, specifically Zionism. With the ongoing genocide of Palestine, it has weighed on my heart to share what I once stood for, had a hand in and what I was convinced to be the unshakable truth.
In October 2009, I took a flight with the leader of the cult, a few adult chaperones, and roughly 25 young people aged 16 - 21—the destination: Israel. The cult leader had recently become actively interested in Zionism and Zionists. If I remember correctly, he had gone on one trip before this one to this, which was new to his side of Israel: Settlements.
We hit hot spots like The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. We visited the assumed tombs of Abraham and Sarah, too. However, the purpose of our trip was to get closer to the Zionists, Aka the Settlers. As many as 700,000 Israeli settlers are living illegally in the West Bank, on Palestinian land. The Israeli Government authorizes a settlement, while outposts are not. Settlements can be as small as a few people living in tents to full-fledged communities with upwards of 40,000 plus.
One of the more memorable settlements we visited during the trip was Hebron. Within Hebron is Gush Etzion. It was the first settlement built in the occupied West Bank in September 1967 and is now populated by over 40,000 Jews.
Moshe and Miriam Levinger decided to reclaim Hebron. There was no Jewish home or inhabitant that they could use as a starting point. They chose the Park Hotel to stage an invasion where they could begin. Rabbi Levinger, posing as a Swiss tourist, offered to rent the entire hotel to an unlimited number of people for an unspecified amount of time, which turned into an unlimited amount. As the story goes, from a Jewish point of view, the Arab owners of the hotel found the cash offered irresistible and asked very few questions. In 2013, Rabbi Levinger was awarded the ‘ Moskowitch Prize for Zionism.’
In Rebbi Levinger’s words, he describes what prompted the move. “ We decided to go to Hebron. Hebron symbolizes an ancient place. Abraham used to live there. He bought the caves of the patriarchs. A group was established, and we met with Shlomo Gazit, one of Moshe Dayan’s chief assistants. His title was ‘ Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.’ He said, “ Bring me some plans.” We gave him plans, but he did not give us an answer. When we saw that the answer was delayed, we moved in without permission and got the “Okay” afterward. Once we arrived in Hebron, we did not know where to go. We had two possibilities: One was to rent a hotel, and the other was to settle on one of the empty hills in Hebron. Eventually, we decided to rent a hotel, which we had done a month before Passover. A month later, they moved us from the hotel to the military administration building so the army could look out for us. Eventually, after two years of pressure, they let us establish Kiryat Arba. In 1970, the building of Kiryat Arab began.” Kiryat Arba is one of the biblical names for Hebron. It took another nine years to fully establish the community.
In 1988, Rabbi Levinger took out his pistol and fired at Arabs, who he claimed were attacking his car with stones. He killed one and injured another. He served a three-month sentence for causing death by negligence. When warned not to repeat his crime, we were told that he responded, “ If they attack me, I will shoot them again.”
In 2018, on one of his trips to visit and speak with the Zionists of Israel, our cult leader met with Rabbi Levinger’s son, Malachi and through a woman named Daniella Weiss, our cult leader had previously met the Rabbi’s other son, Manasseh.
Daniella Weiss is a far-right Israeli Orthodox Zionist, founder of Nachala, an Israeli Settlement Organization, and former mayor of Kedumim, a settlement in the West Bank. Daniella and her husband, Amnon became inseparable from our cult leader. On multiple occasions, they came to Sherwood Park, staying in the home of our cult leader, and would speak to the cult congregation. As our leader became chummier with Weiss, when he would take his yearly and sometimes multiple trips per year there, he would stay in their home. Due to their orthodox beliefs, we ensured everything Kosher was in their honour when they visited. The cult would spend thousands of dollars per visit to purchase new dishes, cookware, and food, as they could not partake or touch anything that had touched meat and dairy together. We would go as far as removing the crucifix as they do not believe in Jesus.
Why did our cult leader become enamoured with the Zionists? The prophet William Branham, whom we followed, spoke of 144,000 Jews. The following are excerpts from his book, “ An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages.”
“Now, where will the Gentile Church be while Jesus is making Himself known to His brethren? Remember that the bride of Joseph with the two children were in the palace, for Joseph had commanded, "Let everyone leave me; put them all out from before me." So the Gentile bride was hidden in the palace of Joseph. Where will the Gentile Church go in the rapture? Into the palace. The bride will be taken off the earth. She will be caught up before the great tribulation to meet her Lord in the air. For three and one-half years, while the retributive wrath of God is poured out, she will be in the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Then will He return, leaving His bride in "His Father's house," while he makes Himself known to His brethren. At this very time, the antichrist covenant that the Jews have made with Rome will be broken. Rome and her allies then sent their troops to destroy all the God-fearing, Word-abiding Jews.
But as they come against the city to destroy it, there will appear in the heavens the sign of the coming of the Son of Man with His mighty armies to destroy them who have been destroying the earth. With the enemy repulsed, Jesus came and presented Himself to the 144,000. Having seen His mighty acts of salvation, they know His power. But also seeing His wounds and knowing that they had rejected Him even to that moment causes them to cry out in the agony of terror and fear, even as did their brethren of old when they stood before Joseph, being sore, afraid that they would be killed. But as Joseph said, "Don't be angry with yourselves. It is all right. God was in it all. He did it to preserve life." Even so, will Jesus speak peace and love to them?
Why did the Jews reject Jesus? God was in it all. It was the only way that He could bring out the Gentile bride. He died on the cross to preserve the life of the Gentile Church.
Now, these 144,000 are not in the bride. In Revelation 14:4, they are called virgins and follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. The fact that they have not defiled themselves with women shows that they are eunuchs (Matthew 19:12). The eunuchs were the keepers of the bridal chambers. They were attendants. Notice that they do not sit on the throne but are before it. No, they are not in the bride but will be in the glorious millennial reign.
Note particularly that the punishment for idolatry was that the name of that tribe was to be blotted out 'from under heaven.' Deuteronomy 29:20 does not say that it would be blotted out 'in heaven,' but from under heaven. And that is exactly as it is, for now, Israel is back in Palestine, and soon the Lord will seal 144,000 of them. But from that number Dan and Ephraim are missing.”
SARDISEAN CHURCH AGE
Revelation 7:4-8,
"And I heard the number of them which were sealed; and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of ALL the tribes of the children of Israel.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand."
(Note: Dan and Ephraim are missing).
Now with this see Daniel 12:1 which refers to these one hundred and forty-four thousand being sealed during the sixth seal and the time of the Great Tribulation or Jacob's trouble.
However, after this period of tribulation, (during the millennium,) as seen by Ezekiel in 48:1-8, and 22-29 we see the tribes back once more in Divine order. But, from the time that Ephraim and Dan joined themselves to idols, they died, and those tribes have no more recognition. Now I realize that since the destruction of Jerusalem, all records of all tribes have been lost, so that no one can say for sure what tribe he is from, BUT GOD KNOWS. That great God Who is bringing Israel back to Palestine knows exactly which tribe every true Israelite is from, and from all the assembled one hundred forty-four thousand Dan and Ephraim will be missing. (End of quote).
Our cult leader came to believe that these 144,000 that William Branham spoke about will come forth from the Zionist’s of Israel and that the gospel will return to them via two witnesses, Moses and Elijah, of Revelation 11 and it will be the message of William Branham.
*And there's them two witnesses. This great thing that is about to happen will carry over to Revelation 11 and pick up those two witnesses, those two prophets, Moses and Elijah, turning the Gospel back to the Jews. We're ready for it. Everything is in order. As the Jews brought the message to the Gentiles, even so the Gentiles will take it right back to the Jews, and the Rapture will come. {End Quote}
After immersing himself into the livelihood and culture of Zionism, our cult leader took the stand of our spiritual lives being parallel to that of the physical lives of the Zionist’s he and other cult members met. Their reality was our spiritual realm. He marvelled at their large families of 6-8 children and put the pressure on us cult members to have big families as children, he claimed, would be our redemption, just as their families are the redemption of the land of Israel.
When they passed the plate for collection in the cult multiple times per year, the money raised was sent to these illegal settlements. While I was in the cult, the funds raised went to purchase a DJI Drone to be used as a spying tool for the Zionists to watch for Arabs; it built a playground in one of the settlements, a mikvah and purchased street lights to light one of their communities. I am proud to say that due to being dirt poor, my ex-husband and I never dropped a dime into the plates. Was it foreshadowing my Free Palestine stance on the genocide of Palestine today? I like to think so.
For an inside view of the stance the cult took and takes, see the photos below.
And to be clear on my stance today: Free Palestine. Ceasefire Now. Donald Trump is a Dipshit.
*The following photos are a couple of excerpts from a newsletter the cult leader and his elder’s wrote in regard to Israel.
Until next time,
Bre. ❤️
Bre I don’t even know what to say to this. I guess if you decide you are a perpetual victim to EVERYTHING, you can justify all the abhorrent behavior. It’s disgusting. You are a powerful woman. We got your back!!