Arrows 2025 Oct 17 Rising Out of Hell

 Cover Story:for October 17, 2025 

Rising Out of Hell 
on Shemini Atseret
by Asher Intrater 

    What is called the "Gaza War" - in which Israel faced attacks on 7 different military fronts - started in 2023 on the Biblical Holy Day of "Shemini Atseret" (Eighth Day Assembly), also called "Simchat Torah" (Joy of the Torah).

     After two years of horribly difficult, yet miraculously successful battles, the main part of the war has come to an end on the same day on the Hebraic calendar. This is the day called, the "last great day of the feast" in John 7:37. It is the day in which we are commanded to "rejoice and only rejoice" - Deuteronomy 16:14-15, Leviticus 23:36. Numbers 29:35. Symbolically it represents the 8th millennium, called the New Creation, in Revelation 21, when there will be no more tears, pain or death.

This timing could not be a mere coincidence. It was not planned by any human agency. I see this as a sign of divine and sovereign guidance. 

     A National Resurrection Experience | On this day 20 living hostages were returned to Israel. They had been 2 years under the ground in tunnels in Gaza. It was a hellish experience - truly Gehinnom. Their returning to Israel was like rising from the grave - a resurrection experience. It was felt by the whole country.

     At this moment we were one family, one soul. Everyone in the country felt that we were going through a resurrection together, from death to life, from darkness to light. It was a tiny taste of what it will be like on the day of resurrection, when millions will rise together. Unfathomable.

     Hosea 6:1-2 Come let us return unto the Lord for He has torn and He will heal us. He has struck us, and  He will bind us up. After two days He will give us life. On the third day He will raise us up, and we will live before Him.

     In a prophetic pattern, the history of the people of Israel reenacts the personal life of Messiah. And vice versa. For 2 days Yeshua was in the grave; on the 3rd day He rose. Israel was exiled for 2,000 years. On the 3rd thousandth year, the nation was reborn. There were 2 years in which our hostages were held under the ground. On the 3rd, they were raised. 

     The most repeated phrase in the media today in Israel is: "and the sons will return to their border" - Jeremiah 31:17. The restoration of Israel is part of the wider promise of the coming of the "New Covenant" - Jeremiah 31:31. 

     Proportionality? | A painful aspect of this day is that almost 2,000 security prisoners were released from Israeli jails as part of the deal to receive back the 20 hostages. That is a 100 to 1 ratio. This includes a large number with "blood on their hands" - having murdered many innocent Israelis. It made me realize why the Scriptures command a death penalty for murders: because if not, the murderers can be released to murder again. This ratio is better than the 1,000 to 1 in the return of Gilad Shalit in 2011. Included in the 1027 terrorists exchanged for Gilad was Yehia Sinwar, who led the attack on Israel in this current war. 

     The Two Together | This ceasefire agreement came as the result of cooperation between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Here again I see something symbolic of Yeshua. In their official position, the President of the United States is like the King of Kings, while the Prime minister of Israel is like the King of Israel. Yeshua is both King of Kings and King of Israel. Success required both.

      It was like pliers - one tool with two prongs joined in the center. One-sided pliers will not work. Spiritually speaking, God is working today through both the nation of Israel and the international Ekklesia. Jew and Gentile together in Yeshua become "one new man" - Ephesians 2:11. It is through the two becoming one that the purposes of God are revealed to the world - Ephesians 3:10. 

     Will This Bring Peace? | We hope that this ceasefire will lead to a wider Abraham Accords. We know that this is not an "eternal" peace. There will be many wars yet to come, even Gog and Magog, and Armageddon. Then will come the wonderful period of peace on earth in the millennial messianic kingdom. In the meantime, we as Jewish, Arab, and international followers of Yeshua hold that peace in our hearts. Our King has taught us how to love our enemies. He is still teaching us. Ultimately His love will bring peace to the whole planet.