Today, perhaps for the last time, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will address the General Assembly of the United Nations. Once again, it’s expected Ahmadinejad will – as he has for years – delegitimize, demonize, and threaten the nation of Israel.
For example, on Monday, he said “… they (Israelis) have been occupying those territories for the last 60 to 70 years, with the support and force of the Westerners. They have no roots in history.” In 2005, he called Israel a “tumor” and longed for the day Israel would be “wiped off the map.”
Ahmadinejad – and Iran’s ruling mullahs – marry their genocidal rhetoric against Israel with an ambitious nuclear program. They declare it’s for peaceful purposes but their transparent goals could one day soon arm this theocracy with the means to annihilate the Jewish state.
Yet, while representatives from most every country on earth gather for the 67th Annual meeting of the General Assembly in New York City, another gathering is taking place in Jerusalem. This is the 25th anniversary of the All Nations Convocation. Watch more here.
For 25 years, Tom Hess, the founder of the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations has called Christian leaders and believers in Jesus from around the world to Jerusalem during the “ten days of awe.” The “ten days of awe” begin on Rosh Ha Shanah, the Jewish New Year and last until Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
They come to repent, pray, and prepare the way of the Lord. This year's theme is “We Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving – Preparing the Way for the King of Glory.”
They also stand solidly with the nation of Israel and against the many threats it faces today, particularly from Iran. Therefore at the beginning of Yom Kippur and hours before Ahmadinejad takes the podium in the U.N. General Assembly, they released the following declaration. They hope to rally prayer from Christians around the world; ask the nations to oppose Iran’s genocidal plans; and call them to stand with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people “for such a time as this.”
Their declaration reads:
PRAYER AND DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL BY THE ALL NATIONS CONVOCATION IN JERUSALEM
We, 180 nations from around the world gathered here in Jerusalem for the “All Nations Convocation Jerusalem”, from Rosh Ha Shanah to Yom Kippur, in light of the threat against Israel, we declare our solidarity with the people and the Land of Israel.
We proclaim under the Abrahamic covenant fulfilled in the new covenant, the decree of the Lord, that the whole land of Israel and its united capital Jerusalem, is given by God, the Creator as a sovereign and undivided inheritance for the Jewish people.
We are praying, fasting and believing that as many nations as possible will stand and exit the General Assembly of the United Nations when Ahmadinejad starts to speak to show their disapproval against his threats to destroy Israel.
We make this declaration on this day of Yom Kippur 25th September, 2012.
Tom Hess
On behalf of All Nations Convocation Jerusalem