There is an interesting verse in the Old Testament which describes the kind of men that were available to David to aid him in establishing his kingdom in Israel: “From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do — 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command”. 1 Chronicles 12:38. Little by little the Lord added to their number until there was a great army; according to 1 Chronicles 12:22, like the army of God. Seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, showed up from every tribe (1 Chronicles 12:33). Even the priestly tribe of Levi went to battle — reminding us of a day when the men of the cloth were not afraid to go to battle if the situation called for it.
Here is what is striking. Only two hundred men (and their relatives) alongside of so many thousands. Whatever these men were lacking in the quantity of soldiers, they made up for in the quality of their depth of wisdom. And this is why this is so important today. Many Christians sense that a new generation of Issacharites is needed. Of course, our “weapons” are not of the flesh. Nevertheless, the church in the West needs solid, wise, and powerful men who understand the times and know what God’s people should do. Just as the original men of Issachar helped to prepare for the kingdom of David, today’s Issachars are anticipating the imminent return of David’s ancestor and descendant to take His place on His throne as KING of Kings and LORD of Lords! Rise up men of Issachar!
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The first report for today’s update was received from Dr. Nibras on the afternoon of March 27, 2026:
Peace be with you and with the followers of Jesus, my brother jack. We find these words in Psalm 90:
10The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is your wrath. 12So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13Return O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Psalm 90:10-13
Most people in the world recognize that we are living in a unique time. There is a subtle, ominous feeling that persists. I find it interesting that the secular world seems more attentive to this than the religious world, at least for the most part. However, a growing number of Christians, especially those who pay attention to biblical prophecies, recognize the convergence of events that distinguishes our generation from all previous ones.
This is the case for the community of believers at the House of Blessing in the Middle East. Those who perceive what the Holy Spirit is saying today understand that we are on the cusp of the end times. Based on this understanding, HOB continues to exert every effort to guide souls before Jesus calls His people to Him.
In previous updates, I mentioned that the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr had ended. While we were praying, I received a call from Pastor Abdelrahem, who updated me on the latest developments from the HOB missionary’s work sites. The pastor said that the HOB leaders were very eager to begin their work and had started early.
By the grace of God, 12,000 copies of the teaching booklets have been printed, and the total will reach 20,000. The Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments, will also be printed, together totaling approximately 2,000 pages. Abdelrahem instructed us to produce this edition as a gift for the sheikhs and mullahs for Easter (these men are all followers of Jesus now and teaching multitudes of people). I tell you, this is like a million dollars to the elders (sheikhs), as the Bible is like a direct encounter with Jesus for them. Please pray for its availability; we urgently need 100 of the complete Bibles. The doors have been flung wide open for spreading not only the booklets but also the Gospel message. From the very beginning, even after the end of Ramadan, the harvest of souls has been plentiful.
In a brief phone update, the pastor mentioned receiving reports that the message of Christ has reached hundreds of families, introducing them to the truth of His identity and the reason for his coming into the world. For example, Omar, Mortada, Shahbandar, Durgham, Mullah Malih, and their team of missionaries have reached 643 families. The pastor emphasized that these are large families in the Middle East, typically consisting of 8-12 members or more. When the head of the household professes the true Jesus Christ and prays the prayer of repentance, the entire family prays, even the children who are able to understand.
Similar reports have come from Fatima, Mufida, Sarah, Fadwa, and their group of missionaries. They visited 345 families and achieved the same results. The same is true for Al-Sudani, Jaafar, Al-Barzani, Abu Haikal, Abu Al-Maati, Mutawalli, Abu Layla, Azazma, and their men, as well as many others too numerous to mention in this brief report. Even communion celebrations are temporarily suspended to allow more time for evangelization.
The pastor says the weather is still cold, but the thirst for the true word of God is great. Jesus said the fields are white and ready for harvest. In the Middle East today, as in many other parts of the world, missionaries are working tirelessly to reach everyone. Pastor Abdelrahem, also said that the Lord continues to multiply food. More people are being fed than we can possibly imagine. God is generous!
This below is the story of four elders (sheikhs), and how God’s love transformed them and led many others to worship Jesus. Their names are: Abu Jawdat, Abu Ali, Abu Tawfeek, and Abu Daham.
It seems these sheikhs were so devoted to their Savior, Jesus Christ, that they began to spread the message of salvation everywhere. An interesting addition to the story is that these four men’s sons were fighters in the oppressive regime until they met Jesus. And the story becomes even more remarkable! Each of the sheikhs met with their relatives — their uncles and assistants — and told them what had happened to them and their sons. After hearing their story, every man’s relatives were so convinced of its truth, that they were invited to share their story with the worshippers at their mosques. That Friday, roughly one thousand men were in attendance at each of the four mosques and heard their testimonies. After each man recounted his story of what Jesus had done for him, the HOB teachers taught the men about Jesus, the Lamb of God, and His power to forgive all sins. Amazingly, all the men surrendered in each of the four individual mosques and gave their lives to Jesus. Even more astonishing, some of the worshippers at these mosques had been members of the government’s D-force (the IRGC)! Through God’s grace and power of Jesus’ blood to cleanse these men from their sins, their eternal destinies were changed. What a miracle! And this miracle will continue as they share the Gospel within their families!
Even with extended study times, the harvest was plentiful. With the funds available, more Gospels can be printed and distributed, along with educational / teaching booklets. The HOB missionaries extend their heartfelt thanks to you all for your prayers and financial support. The House of Blessing requests and greatly appreciates your prayers. Perhaps this is the end of the age when HOB can preach? Perhaps! Let us pray for a harvest of souls greater than HOB has seen in previous years. God answers prayers and multiplies blessings. We worship a great God!
Your brother, the servant of the Lord,
Dr. Nibras
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My second report was received from Pastor Abdelrahem about four hours after the previous report from Dr. NIbras on March 27, 2026:
Peace be with you, brother Jack. A special greeting to you from the esteemed elders (sheikhs). As we look at our world today and the convergence of prophetic events, it is clear that things will never be the same again. Everything Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 is now unfolding before us at an accelerated pace. Evidence suggests that the groundwork for the time of Revelation has already been laid. We are now on the precipice, as our world slides into the greatest period of tribulation in human history. The formation of the “kingdom of the beast,” a common term today, is nearly complete. Some of our readers may notice similarities with George Orwell’s novel “1984.” How astonishingly our world has changed — and so rapidly!
The Apostle Paul had some important words for us today in Romans 13:
11And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-14
Many true followers of Christ today find themselves increasingly detached from worldly matters. Have you experienced anything like this in the past few weeks or months? As the world becomes increasingly chaotic, our attention, as believers, is turned toward heaven. This is because our identity is not in this world. Once we became followers of Jesus, our identity shifted to the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdom of this earth. We are still paying taxes here, but not for much longer.
It is truly time, as the previous passage indicates, to awaken from our slumber! We must prepare ourselves and walk as true ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven. As long as we are here, we will remain vulnerable to the desires of the flesh, to immoral temptations, and to the followers of Satan. We must place the Lord at the center of everything we do and say. This is the meaning of “being clothed in the Lord.”
The elders, the HOB preachers, and I are fully aware that time is running out. Every morning the Lord blesses us, bringing us another day closer to the Day of the Lord, and it is also an extra day to share God’s love with others, so that we may lead them to Jesus before it is too late. We often forget that life can end suddenly before the end of time.
HOB continues to provide special oregano and additional ingredients for the tea blend that has proved effective in treating the flu virus and other illnesses. God is still healing people! Many overcome their illnesses through this special tea, others through the laying on of hands and prayer, as the Bible urges us. And many more are healed by partaking of Holy communion. God is gracious!
In closing my portion of today’s Mideast Update, and in light of the turbulent times we are living through, I would like to share some verses from Psalm 46. This is its text in the Living Bible.
1God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. 2And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3Let the oceans roar and foam; let the oceans roar and foam, let the mountains tremble!
7The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us. He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us. 8Come, see the glorious things that our God does, how He brings ruin upon the world
10 “Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation in the world!” 11The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among us! He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us!
No matter how fierce the storms or how much the heavens and earth tremble in the days to come, our God will keep His people in His care and will never leave us or forsake us!
Thank you, brother Jack, for your work on the educational teaching booklets. This has greatly helped me learn about Jesus and His life. We pray that the Lord will provide us with the Gospels; the need is very great. But we worship a wise Lord who will speak to the hearts of His beloved, just as He brought me back to this world for a purpose. He will speak to the hearts that love Him and His teachings. Thank you all for your prayers for HOB. And a huge thank you to everyone who donates to HOB and invests in the Kingdom of God! The message of the Gospel has reached many souls. Please pray for us.
Your brother and servant of the Lord,
Abdelrahem
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This next report was received from Dr. Nibras on Palm Sunday, March 30, 2026:
Peace be upon you, my brother Jack, and upon all the beloved of Jesus. Today, we reflected and discussed with Pastor Abdelrahem, along with Aylout Eban, Ma’touq, the sheikhs who have come to believe in Jesus, and Judge Hamoush — the regime judge, who was reached by the testimonies of our brothers Omar, Mortada, Shahbander, Habibullah, and Malih, and all that is happening in our world today. We all turned to the Book of Joel in the Old Testament. We reread the book several times, noting down passages we had previously marked. The first passage is a stern warning to a future world that rejects God, and the second is a cry from the Spirit of God to the lost to repent before it is too late. The generation of the last days is our generation, often called the generation of the end of the age. Many people don’t bother to read or hear what is said about God’s judgment in our time, but it is foolish to ignore anything God says, especially as Jesus’ return draws near. Here is what I read:
15Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as destruction from the Almighty. 16Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of God? 17The seed shrivels under the clods, storehouses are in shambles; barns are broken down, for the grain has withered. Joel 1:15-17
12 “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with frosting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. 14Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him — A grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God? 15Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; 16gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room.17Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar. Joel 2:12-17a
We live in a time when the things mentioned in the first verse have become a tangible reality in many countries around the world. The signs of the great tribulation are visible and ominous. The prophecy of John the Revelator is imminent. Yet, many fail to grasp the reality of what is creeping upon the world like a runaway train. It is time to recognize the signs of this time.
It is time to let go of the things that distract us, those that keep us from looking forward to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who is returning soon! If you are a true believer of Jesus Christ, you are a citizen of his kingdom. We are merely passing through this world! It is time to let go! There is a special blessing promised in 2 Timothy 4:8:
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The Rapture of the Church is very near, brother Jack, and people must be warned, especially those who love the House of Blessing and those who pray for us. We are going through a difficult time, and at the same time, there is a great number of ‘births’ in the Middle East. They have come to know the truth: That Jesus is the Prince of Peace. For this reason, we ask you to pray for us to complete the mission of opening special Gospel classes to plant the love of Jesus in the children so that they may grow up in Him. May God bless you,
Your brother,
Dr. Nibras, servant of the Lord
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The last email in today’s Mideast Update is short. It was received two days earlier on March 28, 2026 from Dr. Nibras:
4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them; If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8
Peace be upon you, my brother Jack, and upon all the beloved of Jesus. I have begun this chapter, and I do not know if it fulfills the promise and the request made of me through Abdelrahem. There is a request for prayer from those beloved of Jesus, like yourselves. There is a dire need to open classrooms to accommodate the students who will enroll in education when Abdelrahem returns from Azerbaijan. The need is extremely urgent, and we worship a generous Lord. There are thousands waiting to enroll in the studies. The teachers will be trained and taught the Gospel. I have asked Sister Rolla and Abu Adam to conduct a special inventory of the cost of the classrooms and provide them with the bare minimum. The need exceeds $10,000. Please pray to provide that. The numbers are many, my brother Jack. We are living in an age of blessing and victory for the Gospel. We are truly in the end times. Hasten to prepare for the Kingdom of the Lord, which will come very soon.
Your brother,
Dr. Nibras, servant of the Lord.
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It has always been my desire to mention the financial needs of HOB as little as necessary, but unless people know, these needs will go unanswered. As long as I have been writing the Mideast Updates, I have never seen the kind of numbers that are coming in today. I just received a text telling me that in Omar’s area of responsibility there are 150,000 believers — most of them new. In Jafaar and Zalatimo’s area there are 64,000. In the regions where Dr. Nibras is located, there are now near 55,000. In the area where Sabazi and Saftawi are ministering, there are 32,000+. This is in only four regions of many where the House of Blessing is working. And now, they are trying to put together some schooling for the younger ones, from 10-15 or so. The younger ones need to be reached with the true Gospel so they can be fortified against the deceptive and destructive teachings they are surrounded with.
I hope this helps us to understand why there is mention of the need in each Mideast Update. Thank you for understanding. I do believe, as the HOB leadership does, that we are at the end of the Age of Grace. The harvest is enormous and the fishers of men are drawing in nets that can barely hold the catch! So, much prayer is needed and whatever provision the Lord brings, is immediately applied to the cost of printing. I am told there are a number of full Bibles and an additional 17,000 teaching booklets completed and ready for transfer to the field. Amazing!! The Lord of the harvest is drawing the masses in. Thank you all for your prayers and support!
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)