“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” Luke 18:13
We, as believers, have much cause to be grateful that God’s justice is not based on man’s opinions of what is just. Most of us, at least in the West, have heard the silly talk of St. Peter giving us some kind of exam as we arrive at heaven’s pearly gates, to determine if we are qualified to go in. That’s pure nonsense!
It is the Great God Almighty, who is always one with Himself, who looks upon a moral situation and either sees death or life. If a person dies unatoned for, uncleansed, and unprotected from his sin, God sees death and that is their judgment. There is no appeal available. On the other hand, if a person has humbled themselves and asked God for mercy, as the tax collector in the Scripture above, he receives the full benefits bought by the God-Man, Jesus Christ through His agony on the cross. God looks at that man (or woman) and sees them forgiven and totally justified because they are covered by the righteousness of Christ. All of hell cannot change God’s moral judgment of “eternal life.”
Because of the Blood of Jesus, we don’t just ‘slip into’ heaven, we enter as first-class citizens of God’s Eternal Kingdom! Thank God for His grace and mercy!
On to the House of Blessing…
Below is a message from Pastor Abdelrahem. In this message he refers to the new ministry opening in the Najran region in southern Saudi Arabia. At the time of his comments, the work had just begun. Abdelrahem also touched on his own calling by the Lord to ministry. Intertwined with a bit of his personal spiritual journey he described Israel’s spiritual journey and how the love of the Father has been a constant all the way through Old Testament history and right on through the Church Age up to the present day. He also shares his burden for the modern day church.
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My dear brother Jack, peace be with you and all who love Jesus. The Lord has instructed us to go to Saudi Arabia to open the doors of the houses of God to spread His gospel and to urge people to support God’s chosen vessels. People should wake up. Time is so short. JESUS is coming very soon!
I don’t know exactly why God chose me to be a central figure in this recent move of God. I am certain that every miraculous salvation of a lost soul and every miracle leaves us with a continuing worthwhile task. I have always felt that God’s plan of salvation goes beyond mere survival in preparation for heaven. God’s people who have already departed are no different from us. From the beginning, God’s plan was to redeem people on this earth. First, God called Abram from Ur, showed him the way to Canaan — the future Israel — and then changed his name to Abraham, saying to him, “From you will come blessings to the nations, and from you will come kingdoms.” (Genesis 17:3-6). Here we see the concern for the people of Israel and their land, and for the nation from which the redemption of humanity and its restoration to its former glory are to be created.
Question is: Did God suddenly lose this concern? Did He lose it when He opened the door for the nations to be saved? Two thousand years ago, Jesus opened the door to the Gentiles, and now millions of them believe in Jesus Christ. The Jewish Apostle Paul said, “We who have been born again have become part of the congregation of Israel” (Ephesians 2:11-13). This shows that we, too, are part of the family of Israel; the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is why Christians feel a special connection with Jews. We cannot love Christ and hate or ignore the Jews. Christians naturally love Jews if they understand their heritage according to the Bible. No, God has not changed His mind, nor has He deviated from fulfilling His plan. God still has a plan for all the nations of the world, just as He has from the beginning. God told Abraham that his firstborn son, Ishmael, would be fruitful and that God would make him into a great nation, according to Genesis 20:17. God made a covenant with him to ensure this promise. Today, there are more than 22 nations that did not descend from Isaac — more than 235 million Arabs from Abraham’s first born son, Ishmael, and from Abraham’s six sons through Keturah, his second wife after Sarah died (Genesis 25:1-2).
Abraham is the father of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, through his son Isaac. It was through the Jewish people in general, and through Jesus Christ in particular, that the body of Christ was established. Christians exist in all nations of the world. The United States is considered a Christian nation, as are Canada and Lebanon. These and many other western nations are descended from Jacob, the son of Isaac.
God chose Abraham because he was a man of faith, a man God trusted to keep His covenant. I believe that the Christian church, in these last days, must re-examine its concept of faith. Faith, in its early stages, is designed for the benefit of the individual alone, whereas it should be directed toward God and used to accomplish His plan and purpose on this earth, which includes the nations. God has a plan, and He will use people like us to accomplish it. As believers in God, worshippers of God, and those who believe in Him, we should all be concerned with His plan. We should desire to participate in His work, even if it requires giving up our personal plans. I myself have had to give up similar plans in my life. I have gone through stages of growth and development in my Christian journey. In the beginning, I was simply practicing what I had learned, and my faith was weak. But as I grew older, I began to see things more clearly. And the clearer my vision became, the more capable I was of acting. Today, my thoughts are different from what they were when I began my Christian journey more than 53 years ago. I have a responsibility to explain what I have learned to my generation.
In this generation things change quickly. I remember Jesus’ words to the blind Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 16:1-3. The Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Him, asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, saying, “When evening comes, you say it will be fine weather because the sky is red, and in the morning it will be bad weather because the sky is red and overcast.” (Then He addressed them rather sharply): “You hypocrites! You can see the appearance of the heavens, but you cannot see the signs of the times?”
Question: Do we even know the times we live in? From the very beginning of my Christian experience, I was told that we live in the end times. When you first accept the gift of salvation, you feel content simply because you are saved. This is the natural state. You are like children, and children don’t bear much responsibility. Someone cares for you. But you don’t remain children forever, and if you are normal, you mature. If you realize that you are normal Christians, you mature to the point where you understand that you are servants of God. You are responsible individuals created to accomplish something God your Father planned for you. In the days after the time of Jacob and Joseph, the Israelites lived in Egypt for over 400 years. They were one large Israelite family descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; twelve tribes in total. They entered the land with eighty people and in time, multiplied until they numbered over two million Israelites. For over 400 years, Egypt was their only home.
Another question: What if the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were to address His people throughout the world today — I mean those who claim to be inspired by the Holy Spirit? What if God were to send a prophet to announce that He has a mission for us, a mission designed to take us from our current land to a land of his choosing, resulting in radical life changes? The Israelites underwent radical changes. They had to abort, pack their belongings, cross the Red Sea, and go into the wilderness. Without their faithfulness, none of us would be here today. Let us thank God for those who obeyed and followed Moses into the wilderness and Joshua into the Promised Land.
A common misconception among modern Christians is that the born-again Gentile is saved primarily to go to heaven. In the meantime, they discover God’s promises and indulge in their pleasures until the Rapture or the Lord’s return. What if God were to say once again to his Church, to His Christians: “ I have something for you to do.” This is of utmost importance, and for the sake of all the nations of the world. Are we ready for the Holy Spirit to lead us into other parts of humanity? Focus on what you believe to be God’s plan and purpose for the earth and its inhabitants at this time.
What do we find in the Scriptures to help us understand God’s heart? Does God still love this world? We know for certain that He loved it when He sent Jesus. The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The prophet Isaiah had this to say in Isaiah 11:9b, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk also prophesied the same words in Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waterways cover the sea.” I see what the prophets Habakkuk and Isaiah are saying — God will cause the knowledge of His glory to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Let us consider the words of Isaiah 61:11:
“For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”
I believe that God gives us a solution in Isaiah 11. In verses 1 and 2, He says: “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit, and the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him…” I believe that the shoot that comes up from the stump of Jesse is Jesus. He comes as Savior and Redeemer. The Church includes every Jew, Arab, and foreigner who has been born again in the Spirit of Christ. Redemption began in Israel through Abraham. Our Redeemer was born and lived in the land of Israel. Our Father promised, from Jerusalem, Israel, that Jesus Christ would rule and reign over the nations. His coming is also linked to Jerusalem.
His Servant Forever,
Pastor Abdelrahem
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Report received from Dr. Nibras on August 21, 2026
Peace be with you, brother Jack, and with all the friends of Jesus. We praise the Lord of the harvest. Many have been converted and have become part of the Kingdom of God. At the same time, we are witnessing a rise in tensions between the countries of the Middle East. This escalation is a clear indication of an inevitable major conflict. People will find themselves caught in the crossfire when it breaks out.
Although the HOB missionaries are well aware of what is happening, they are doing their best to focus on what is immediately before them. Wherever they go, they preach the good news of the imminent return of Christ, and the crowds continue to grow.
War has been a constant since the beginning of the last HOB project when Pastor Abdelrahem purchased the printing press and shipped its first batch of Bibles and teaching booklets. Although some areas are experiencing temporary calm, disease, hunger, and general unrest are widespread, along with rumors and threats of a conflict even more devastating than what the Middle East has seen in the past seventy years. Lives continue to be lost due to political and religious conflicts, and there is little hope of the Middle East returning to anything resembling “normalcy.” Many have commented that something truly sinister has been unleashed in our world over the past decade. I believe that the evil we are witnessing now has not yet fully begun to reveal itself, but it is definitely one of the signs of the end of the age. I realize that some will scoff at the idea that we are living in such a time, but whether we choose to scoff or ignore the many warnings we have received in the Bible, the time has come, and it would be wise to recognize it for what it is.
The missionaries of the House of Blessing are aware of the signs of these times and are making the most of the remaining time. The pastor and I have had many discussions about the signs in the Middle East that point to the imminent return of Christ. In light of what clearly awaits us, he has mentioned to me more than once that, despite the horrors of war and the fact that no Christian missionaries desire it, they recognize its inevitability. They also recognize that war presents an extraordinary opportunity to spread the Word of God. Sunni Muslims and the Shiites are unaware of the certainty that comes from knowing their sins are forgiven forever, and that eternal life in the Kingdom of God is guaranteed to those who accept the free gift Jesus offered through His sacrifice on the cross. This is a hope they lack, yet they respond to it with great joy when they hear the Good News.
Finding a way to share food with the hungry also opens new avenues for spreading God’s love. Hunger is common among refugees, but Iran is among the hardest-hit regions today. The House of Blessing organization is thriving in western, eastern, northern, and parts of central Iran, but conditions are dire. This is partly due to Iran’s current economic crisis, but regardless of politics, civilians are the ones who suffer most. Despite the difficult circumstances, evangelization continues, and the Gospel message has just reached another 5,000 families. These families have now joined the rest of the HOB community.
In the Aleppo and Idlib regions of northern Syria, the training and education of over 13,000 students and 450 teachers continues unabated. Their days are filled with intensive Bible study, prayer times, and, of course, time for worship and reflection in God’s presence. While these men receive their training, mothers and children are also helped to understand the Bible and God’s teachings correctly. The stories of former fighters and their families, and how they were converted through God’s love, still amaze me. Praise be to God!
Just a quick mention of a stunning miracle that just happened in the Najran region of southern Saudi Arabia. A blind woman named Umm Khadij was brought to Pastor Abdelrahem. Her husband, Sheikh Abu Hamidou, was also present. Abdelrahem placed mud and water on her eyes, and the women, Zainab and Ratiba, covered them. At noon, they removed the cloth, and Umm Khadij could see. Even now, people are still going to receive prayers by the pastor and those with him. It was another amazing miracle! What a great thing! Abdelrahem reminded them, “I am only a servant of the Lord and His work. I am not a prophet. I am only delivering the message to the people of the Lord whom He loves.
May the Lord bless you, my brother Jack.
Your brother, Dr. Nibras, servant of the Lord
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Praise God for what He is doing in these last days of the Age. In spite of the fact that we in western nations do not see such a spiritual explosion, it definitely is happening in third world nations, and we are blessed with first hand news right from the front lines in the Middle East. Missionary work in the Najran region is astounding today. Thousands upon thousands are coming to Christ. The need for printed materials is growing exponentially and because it is impossible to ship materials into this area, Abdelrahem and the brothers have decided to purchase another professional printing press, although smaller than the one in northern Jordan. It is another used German made press and papers have been drawn up for about $65,000. About $37,000 has been raised by the sale of sheep and camels by some of the new sheikhs who have found Christ. (Incidentally, camels being sold by sheikhs out in this extreme desert climate is a great sacrifice). Any help would be much appreciated!
While this is going on, the big printing press continues to mass copy Bibles and discipling / teaching booklets. 20,000 booklets have just been shipped north, with another 2,000 of the next order in process.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. Every single Bible and booklet reaches many multiples of people as they get used, reused, and reused again, and God blesses the efforts and multiplies the number of souls reached with each. What a day we live in! Praise God!
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)