The Gates of Zion (58 page)

What is your hope? your “belief in fact and truth”?

If you long to know the Messiah, why not take Moshe’s advice to Ellie?

“Just talk to Him… . Just ask Him to make you everything you can be. Give Him your heart… . Your broken heart is just the kind of sacrifice He will accept.” (p. 230)
Chapters 23–24

46. “David studied his own hands. How he wished that his life would matter; that he could make a difference in a world whose reality seemed so barren and hopeless. He thought of his father, whose faith seemed to reach far beyond his existence to touch the lives of those around him.

“And what of Ellie? David’s own selfishness had left wounds in her heart and soul as deep as those on the land he now passed through”

(p. 242).

In what ways do you long to make a difference? How do the beliefs of your father and mother affect your existence? How have you affected those around you?

47. “‘I fear that the Gentiles have made Yeshua into a Gentile.

And so over two thousand years Jews have been murdered and tortured in the name of Yeshua. And what does God have to say about that, eh?’

“Luke took a deep breath. ‘Isn’t it written that the character of God remains unchanging and forever the same? No matter what we try to make Him, for whatever reason, Jesus is the same as He was two thousand years ago, when the first Jews believed.’” (p. 249) How do you picture Jesus or the Messiah? Is your picture or understanding affected at all by the conversation between Grandfather Lebowitz and Luke Thomas above? If so, how?

48. The
LIFE
article Rachel read included these quotes:
The same world that this week celebrates the birth of Jesus
Christ is suffering from an inadequate sense of that event’s
importance.

The right name for our troubles is secularism, which is
defined not as the denial of God but as the practical exclusion
of God from our thinking and living. God becomes a remote
or merely historical figure lacking contact with the real
problems of our day.

For example, in Europe now the problem is not so much
the ruined bridge or the lack of transportation, but rather an
illness of spirit that can only be expressed in the cruel phrase
‘the death of the heart.’

The pathos of it is that many of these hearts have died
while half professing God, seeking in vain to recapture His
importance.
(p. 254)

What does Christmas mean to you? How important is the event to your heart? Do you see signs of “the death of the heart” in your own life? What can you do to “recapture His importance” not only on Christmas, but every day?

Chapters 25–27

49. “‘When first I met you, my eyes were behind bandages.

You did not sound like a heretic.’

“Moshe whispered, ‘Remember the bandages when you see a man, Yacov. Look with your heart’” (p. 265).

What do you see when you look at others? The outside—or the heart? Give a recent example.

50. When Ellie saw the pain in Rachel’s soul, she realized how desperately Rachel needed understanding—and friendship (see p. 276). What person do you know who needs
your
friendship today?

What could you do to reach out with understanding?

Chapters 28–29

51. Howard and Moshe discuss the prophecies regarding the Messiah and why it is difficult for Jews to believe in Jesus as Messiah (chapter 29). If you had experienced all the evils the Jews have, perpetrated by those who claim to know Christ, would you be able to believe in Jesus Christ? Why or why not? Is there anything that would change your mind? If so, what?

52. “As the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53 says, the Messiah came to heal our sins by His wounds as the final sacrifice. He did not come for only one nation.”

“And yet if there had been only one man on earth who needed Him to come and to die, He would have done so. God’s love is so great”

(Conversation between Moshe and Howard, p. 302).

If you accepted this as truth—that the Messiah came to heal
everyone,
including you, and that His love for you is great—how would your life change?

53. Ellie was part of a tremendous miracle—bringing Yacov and Rachel, a brother and sister, together again (see pp. 297–298)!

“For her they were living proof that God was paying attention. As Uncle Howard had said, even an unhappy situation had been turned to good. And theirs was not a rare or isolated instance. Moshe had spent hours telling her about similar miracles” (p. 304).

When have you been part of a miracle—either large or small? Tell the story!

For Ellie, being part of that miracle brought the reality of God home to her. “She was no longer afraid of the uncertain future that loomed ahead. God knew the end of the story. He, after all, had written the Book” (p. 304). What encouragement!

Chapters 30–34

54. “‘They are both innocents.’ Moshe smiled. ‘Each in a different way. Until now, Ellie has had the innocence of one who has never seen the pain of others’ suffering. And Rachel, dear Rachel, has suffered without understanding, like a small child lost in the marketplace. Now Ellie’s eyes are beginning to open, and in the end, it may be she who takes the lost child by the hand and leads her home… .’

“‘I only know this because once I lived in blindness and hopeless confusion at the horror around me. The very thing I have come to love about Ellie is her ability to act in the face of terror. Rachel has not learned this yet, and she is still a victim waiting for the next blow to be struck against her. It is only when our eyes are opened and we rise in indignation against those things that are wrong and evil that we become what God would have us be; is that not so?’” (p. 316).

Would you categorize yourself as more like Ellie or more like Rachel? Why?

55. “The scroll of Isaiah, perfect after two millenia. The Word of God as it existed in the day of Christ! Its prophecies concerning the return of Israel and the coming of the Messiah had remained unchanged over two thousand years of the Diaspora” (p. 327).

The more archaeology uncovers, the more it proves the truths of the Bible. If you believe the prophecies to be accurate, how would your view of the coming of the Messiah change?

56. How does almost losing someone put a relationship in perspective (as it did for David and Ellie, when she was nearly raped and David’s hotel was bombed by Arabs—see chap34)? Have you experienced this personally? When?

Epilogue

57. Dear reader, do you doubt God’s love for you? Or do you realize, as Ellie does upon reading Miriam’s note, that God’s love is bigger than heartache (see p. 366)? God promises in Romans 8:35-39 that nothing will separate us from His love. Why not bring your broken heart to Him today—and experience his gift of healing and receive His promise of love?

About the Authors

BODIE AND BROCK THOENE
(pronounced
Tay-nee)
have written over 50 works of historical fiction. That these best sellers have sold more than 10 million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards affirms what millions of readers have already discovered——that the Thoenes are not only master stylists but experts at capturing readers’ minds and hearts.

In their timeless classic series about Israel (The Zion Chronicles, The Zion Covenant, and The Zion Legacy), the Thoenes’ love for both story and research shines.

With The Shiloh Legacy series and
Shiloh Autumn——
poignant portrayals of the American depression——and The Galway Chronicles (dramatic stories of the 1840s famine in Ireland), and the Legends of the West (gripping tales of adventure and danger in a land without law), the Thoenes have made their mark in modern history.

In the A.D. Chronicles, they step seamlessly into the world of Jerusalem and Rome, in the days when Yeshua walked the earth and transformed lives with His touch.

Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as
U.S. News and World Report, The American
West,
and
The Saturday Evening Post.
She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of
The Fall
Guy)
and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in jJournalism and C communications.

Brock has often been described by Bodie as “an essential half of this writing team.” With degrees in both Hhistory and Eeducation, Brock has, in his role asof researcher and story-line consultant, added the vital dimension of historical accuracy. Due to such careful research, The Zion Covenant and The Zion Chronicles series are recognized by the American Library Association, as well as Zionist libraries around the world, as classic historical novels and are used to teach history in college classroomsclassrooms to teach history.

Bodie and Brock have four grown children——Rachel, Jake, Luke, and Ellie——and seven grandchildren. Their children are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generations of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks. Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.

For more information visit:

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THOENE FAMILY CLASSICS™

THOENE FAMILY CLASSIC HISTORICALS

By Bodie and Brock Thoene

Gold Medallion Winners*

THE ZION COVENANT

Vienna Prelude*

Prague Counterpoint

Munich Signature

Jerusalem Interlude

Danzig Passage

Warsaw Requiem*

London Refrain

Paris Encore

Dunkirk Crescendo

THE ZION CHRONICLES

The Gates of Zion*

A Daughter of Zion

The Return to Zion

A Light in Zion

The Key to Zion*

THE SHILOH LEGACY

In My Father’s House*

A Thousand Shall Fall

Say to This Mountain

SHILOH AUTUMN

THE GALWAY CHRONICLES

Only the River Runs Free*

Of Men and of Angels

Ashes of Remembrance*

All Rivers to the Sea

THE ZION LEGACY

Jerusalem Vigil

Thunder from Jerusalem

Jerusalem’s Heart

Jerusalem Scrolls

Stones of Jerusalem

Jerusalem’s Hope

A.D. CHRONICLES

First Light

Second Touch

Third Watch

Fourth Dawn

Fifth Seal

Sixth Covenant

Seventh Day

Eighth Shepherd

Ninth Witness

Tenth Stone

Eleventh Guest

Twelfth Prophecy

●●●

THOENE FAMILY CLASSIC

AMERICAN LEGENDS

LEGENDS OF THE WEST

by Bodie and Brock Thoene

Legends of the West, Volume One

Sequoia Scout

The Year of the Grizzly

Shooting Star

Legends of the West, Volume Two

Gold Rush Prodigal

Delta Passage

Hangtown Lawman

Legends of the West, Volume Three

Hope Valley War

The Legend of Storey County

Cumberland Crossing

Legends of the West, Volume Four

The Man from Shadow Ridge

Cannons of the Comstock

Riders of the Silver Rim

LEGENDS OF VALOR

by Luke Thoene

Sons of Valor

Brothers of Valor

Fathers of Valor

●●●

THOENE CLASSIC

NONFICTION

by Bodie and Brock Thoene

Writer-to-Writer

●●●

THOENE FAMILY

CLASSIC SUSPENSE

by Jake Thoene

CHAPTER 16 SERIES

Shaiton’s Fire

Firefly Blue

Fuel the Fire

●●●

THOENE FAMILY

CLASSICS FOR KIDS

BAKER STREET DETECTIVES

by Luke Thoene and Jake Thoene

The Mystery of the Yellow Hands

The Giant Rat of Sumatra

The Jeweled Peacock of Persia

The Thundering Underground

LAST CHANCE DETECTIVES