“Long before there was even a dream of a United States of America, William Penn established the colony of Pennsylvania as a Holy Experiment . . . The city of Philadelphia was envisioned as a haven for immigrants fleeing religious persecution in their homelands. William Penn wrote freedom of religion and tolerance of diverse cultures and beliefs into Pennsylvania’s original Charter of Privileges. Philadelphia, in other words, was the world’s first Sanctuary City. Some hundred years after Penn founded the colony and its major city, his Charter of Privileges, with freedom of worship at its heart, became the template for the Bill of Rights.” (Hidden City, 12/14/16)
Philadelphia has a rich history of ethnic diversity, sometimes contentious, but increasingly accepting of differences, as we have sought to represent our name as the City of Brotherly Love. That’s one of the reasons we must address the current rise of antisemitism in Philadelphia.
All religious persecution, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and race extermination is an extension of the agenda of Lucifer who seeks to exalt himself above all others, distorting the truth of God, replacing Him on the throne and destroying the identity and destiny of those created in His likeness and image, especially the Jews. To do this, Lucifer/Satan works through Leviathan/pride, which was his own downfall. (Isaiah 14: 12-14, Ezekiel 28: 17-18) When this is aimed at the Jews, “a people holy to the Lord”, (Deuteronomy 7:6) it becomes antisemitism, fueled by both pride and the spirit of Anti-Christ, which some refer to as the Spirit of Amalek (Exodus 17: 16), the root of antisemitism.
Almost a year ago, we released a guide on how to pray to remove the influence of Leviathan over our city. This could be considered a Part 2, the purpose of which is to further dismantle strongholds manifesting as antisemitism, and any other form of religious or ethnic persecution, especially in this hour when almost every other headline has the potential for “triggering” one group or another – and restore the Brotherly Love that Philadelphia is meant to carry and release it to the nation and nations.
It is interesting to note that not only does Philadelphia have strong ties to America’s Jewish Community, it has been called a “sister city” to Jerusalem. Jewish traders were here by 1650, and settlers began arriving at the time of William Penn in 1682. Congregation Mikveh Israel, the first Jewish congregation in Philadelphia, had its beginnings about 1745. Among its members were numerous Revolutionary War patriots, including Haym Solomon whose financial support enabled George Washington to continue to victory against the British. The first Ashkenazi congregation in the Western Hemisphere was established here in 1795. Thereafter, the Jewish population grew as Eastern European immigration increased, more synagogues were built and Jewish residents became more a part of the culture of the city in business and banking, as well as social clubs, newspapers and extensive charitable giving to provide for the sick, orphaned and poor among them.
On December 14, 1974, men from the Lubavitcher sect of Hasidic Judaism here in the city gathered on Independence Mall to light what is thought to be the first menorah ever illuminated on public property in the world. It was that same year that Congregation Beth Yeshua, now one of the longest standing Messianic Jewish Synagogues in the world, was founded, prompting protests from many in the Jewish Community who saw this as a betrayal of the faith. In ensuing years, other Messianic Synagogues have been built and Philadelphia, with the fifth largest Jewish population in the country, has become the site of the Smithsonian affiliated, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History located at Independence Mall.
This is just one example of the many religious / ethnic communities that have grown and flourished in this city. What makes it unique at this time is the emotionally driven hatred of the Jewish community for perceived injustices that have much deeper causes than those being recognized. The reality is that there are injustices and humanitarian issues that need to be addressed within all groups, however, since the atrocities committed by Hamas and various terrorist allies against the nation of Israel on October 7, the number of emotionally driven, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel/antisemitic events worldwide has increased dramatically. In the midst of this, it is a source of sorrow and concern to see antisemitism arise on university campuses and in the streets of the City of Brotherly Love. Understanding that the protests are not just political, but spiritual in origin, we have an opportunity to do something about them – PRAY.
The primary focus of this guide is Philadelphia and includes protection from any schemes of the enemy in the form of terrorist cells / attacks that the FBI has warned us about.
First pray personal repentance for any of the ways you and your forefathers have engaged in any form of religious persecution/antisemitism; and / or for keeping silent in the face of injustice. (Genesis 12: 3, Matthew 7: 5)
Pray Holy Spirit convicts all those who harbor antisemitism and ethnic hatred of any kind and that they repent for their attitudes and actions. (John 16: 8, James 2: 9)
Pray all submit to the purifying of heart by Holy Spirit as He brings together the One New Man and prepares the Bride of Christ. (Psalm 24: 3-4, Psalm 51: 10, 1 Peter 1: 22)
Even as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, declare God our Father, Creator of all is in control, and His judgments will prevail, and that His love and mercy shine through in this time of antisemitic / ethnic violence, war, and evil. (Psalm 122: 6, Zephaniah 2: 4-7, 1 John 4: 18)
Call forth throne room worship throughout the Church of Philadelphia, that seeks the presence and intimacy of the Lord, experiences His essence of Faith and Love, and establishes a habitation in the heavenlies, the place from which we pray and war. (2 Chronicles 20, Acts 16: 25-34, Hebrews 11:1)
Declare that, as the Spirit of Elijah and the reconciliation it brings is released in Philadelphia, all the sons of Abraham will come to know Jesus as their Messiah, their hearts will be deeply transformed towards one another and that their coming together in mutual respect will represent true Brotherly Love. (Malachi 4: 5-6, Luke 6: 27)
Declare the Prince of the Power of the Air / the father of lies bound. Release the Spirit of Truth to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Declare lies and misinformation fueling hatred and violence replaced with God’s truth that will turn hearts and minds and this truth will replace lies and misinformation of the media. (John 8:32,44, Ephesians 2:2, John 16:8-11)
Pray Philadelphia city leaders, from government, to business and the universities will acknowledge and speak out against words, actions and attitudes of antisemitism and religious intolerance and that those who do not speak out will be removed. (Philippians 2: 3, 1 Timothy 3: 2, Mark 10: 42-45)
Pray that the whole Church of Philadelphia, the faithful church, will turn away from doctrine that minimizes the importance of those God calls “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” and the doctrines and agendas of men and embrace the Key of David, which is aligned to the Heart of God, so that Philadelphia may truly represent the GOD who is LOVE. (Exodus 19: 3-4, Revelation 3: 7- 13, Isaiah 22:22, 1 John 4: 16)
Declare the eyes of those in the Church of Philadelphia opened to see and speak out against the spirit of Amalek manifesting as the spirit of antisemitism. (Ex.17:16)
Declare womb of Philadelphia will give birth to the image of God in this city and through us to the nation and nations, beginning with the dethroning of the anti-Christ spirit and its manifestation as antisemitism. (Acts 13: 22, Psalm 132: 2-5)
Declare all things hidden are made known and terrorist cells, anarchists and evil agendas are exposed and thwarted before they can cause harm, here in Philadelphia and around the world, whether attacks, campaigns, threats, or strategies against Israel or those who support her, or to promote their own agendas. (Luke 8: 17, Psalm 35, Psalm 83:1-8, Psalm 140: 1-13)
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