February 27, 2025

Written by Tekoa Manning and guest author Merri Trifiro

How goes the Empire?

When those in power want something from another land or people, they label them as “Other” and “Enemy,” whether this is based on reality or perception. They then push this narrative until it is firmly established in the minds and hearts of people.

Dehumanizing the “Others” makes it easier to see them as objects—things whose worth is considered lower than that of animals.

Throughout human history, people have committed horrific acts against one another, including selling others into slavery, forcing displacement, and evicting individuals from their homes, families, and lands. Communities have been victimized by mass killings, and genocide has tragically occurred.

The notion of “Humanity trashing Humanity” is nothing new; it is as old as the dirt from which Man was formed. However, life is in the blood. Once blood has been shed, it opens the floodgates to further carnage. Bloodshed has persisted through every generation and every epoch of human existence since Cain slew Abel.

And it continues, even as I write this.

In the world of Empire Builders, the Way of Love remains elusive. Empires have risen and fallen throughout history, and this cycle will continue. On continents near and far, Asians and Europeans have conquered lands and peoples while simultaneously warring with each other.

Empire building has always been a fundamental aspect of the world. Our nation, in particular, was built on the backs, blood, and sacred graves of its First Nations. This often occurred in the name of Christianity. The tactics employed are universally the same, exemplifying the classic story of a lie: “If you tell a lie big enough and often enough, people will believe it.” This saying highlights a troubling truth.

Our nation has perpetuated the pattern of Empire Builders. People seeking wealth, trade, and resources for their sovereign crowns, as well as others searching for a fresh start, religious liberty, and greater opportunity, sailed to our shores from Spain, Portugal, Holland, England, France, and beyond.

Those who were already here, the First Nations, were viewed by Europeans as “fearful savages,” people who needed to be “civilized.” How did “we” achieve this? Through the subjugation of these peoples and the assumption of their lands and resources until complete control was established. Those who dared to resist were often killed or exiled.

Once again, I am reminded of Ezekiel 38:13: “Have you come to take a spoil?”

Let’s skip ahead past the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.

In the 1950s and 1960s, and in some areas extending into the 1970s and beyond, many public facilities, such as water fountains, were often segregated and inaccessible to people of color. Bathrooms, buses, restaurants, theaters, neighborhoods, and schools were also divided along racial lines. A century after the abolition of slavery, those who were considered “free” still lived in a segregated reality where they were treated as “other.”

The color of one’s skin dictated one’s freedom of movement; for white individuals, it granted unrestricted access, while people of color faced significant limitations.

Ignorance. Brainwashing. Political theater.

How many white people in America dared to blink an eye at such injustice? Most remained silent, content with their privilege, and continued to eat at restaurants that displayed signs saying, “No Colored Allowed.” They accepted it as “just the way it is.” Anyone who stood up against those in power was marginalized, demonized, or even murdered.

Our U.S. military, even during the earlier days of the Vietnam War, still had separate units for whites and blacks, despite the fact that they were all fighting and dying for their country. We accepted this as a matter of course. This nation normalized injustice until it became known as “The American Way.”

When we look back at history, we shudder at what humans are capable of. Why did this behavior and abhorrent treatment of others persist for so long in this “Land of the Free”? Why did lynchings, murders, and open hatred continue to occur even after laws were enacted to prohibit such actions? Why?

Because it has not yet been written upon each heart, change does not happen overnight; it occurs gradually. In Nazi Germany, people slowly adapted to the government-imposed agenda and assimilated into a collective mindset. This process began with forced separation:

* No Jews are allowed to visit the park.
* No Jews are allowed in these shops.
* Jews can only see certain doctors.
* Jews are not allowed outside after dark.
* Jews must wear a yellow star.
* Jews were confined to walled-in and gated ghettos.

Before long, the people of Germany were convinced that the “dirty Jews” had stolen their wealth; they viewed Jews as swine, dogs, inhumane, and a threat to their prosperity. It soon became customary to see yellow stars, just as it had become customary in America to see signs stating “No colors allowed.”

It was seen as abnormal to encounter a Black man in a nice restaurant or in a bathroom with a White man. To further advance this agenda, governments enclosed “these people” in confined areas and provided only some with work vouchers. Fear tactics and threats continued to intimidate, with officials bursting into “others’” homes in the middle of the night to assert control. The chilling image was complete with large dogs and guns. Oh, the horrors of it all! Where is the perfect love that casts out fear?

Many of the actions I’ve described are being replicated today by the State of Israel, carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces against the Palestinians. The persecuted have become the persecutors, creating a vicious cycle of fear, violence, and trauma responses.

The reports and records indicate that Shiri and her two beloved sons, Ariel, age four, and Kfir, age eight months, were killed along with their captors in an Israeli airstrike on November 30, 2023, which was the last day of the 2023 Gaza Ceasefire. However, Israel claims to have forensic evidence showing that the boys were killed by their captors “with their bare hands,” although no documentation or evidence supporting this claim has been presented.

Kfir, the youngest child taken hostage, had crimson hair and a large smile that touched the hearts of many. The awareness of their suffering spread worldwide.

The loss of life, along with the tragedy and terror experienced on October 7, 2023, is a profound and brutal wound to the Israeli people and to all of us who possess even a modicum of compassion and conscience.

The immense loss of life, liberty, safety, homes, families, and livelihoods—rooted in decades of conflict—remains an ongoing tragedy for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, who endure daily hardships under Israeli occupation and military control.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, there have been 48,348 Palestinian deaths as a result of Israel’s war on Gaza, with 111,761 individuals wounded. The Government Media Office has updated its death toll to at least 61,709, stating that thousands of Palestinians who are missing under the rubble are presumed dead.

I ask you, would Yeshua (Jesus) have compassion for these children? Babies raising babies without access to basic human necessities?

 Without a mother or father…I should think you know what His response would be, and is!

How many babies and children have been blown up, torn to bits, or dug out from the tons of rubble in Gaza? How many children who barely survived are now missing multiple body parts, orphaned, with their entire families killed? It is unimaginable to consider the horror faced by some of these children as they underwent amputations without any anesthesia. Such horrors are beyond comprehension! All hospitals and medical services have been demolished. While we mourn for the Bibas family, should we not also shed tears for Palestinian children and families? It’s a question worth asking. We know, too, that these children are not part of Hamas.

Today, I heard people state that the reason Egypt and Jordan do not want to take in more Palestinians is because they consider them “animals and murderers who hate all Jews” and “troublemakers.” Perhaps the reality is more complicated; they have already taken in large numbers of displaced persons since 1948, which was supposed to be a temporary situation. According to international law, occupation is not meant to be endless.

If you recall, there was a ship full of Jewish people fleeing the Holocaust that was turned away from every port. Tragically, history repeats itself.

Sadly, we humans often treat one another inhumanely, judging people based on their skin color, religion, fears, and what we have been taught about different groups. All people are beloved by God. Yet, some describe others as “ignorant, uneducated people who live in rocks and want to murder the ‘chosen people.’”

At the same time, they view “the chosen people” as infallible saints, righteous individuals who uphold the Bible or Torah and stand for life, liberty, and justice. We often assign blame entirely to Hamas, labeling them as “animals” and “evil Amalek.”

What do we really know about the government of Israel? We should examine the actions of its leadership, particularly those involved in the Zionist Project leading up to 1948.

It’s important to investigate the manipulations directed against their “best friend” and benefactor, the United States, since the inception of Israel. The extent of this is impressive.

All people are capable of doing evil. Evil exists as evil thinks and acts. If the world is following a similar path, it remains under the control of empire. All empires eventually fall, but the kingdom rises, and its true citizens are those who reflect, speak, and embody the teachings of Yeshua/Jesus. That is the Kingdom that is already present!

Palestine is not a sovereign nation and lacks a formal military or structured government. Since the creation of Hamas—an organization that was initially set up and even funded by Israel—the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza have been unable to hold presidential elections. This has allowed President Abbas to remain focused on disputes over control, enabling Israel to continue expanding settlements in the West Bank. Furthermore, very few residents of Gaza today were of voting age or had even been born when Hamas was elected.

Palestinians have no rights, autonomy of movement, or access to their stolen homes, businesses, lands, orchards, personal possessions, or even citizenship.

What did Black people, who had been free for 100 years, have? In 1967, a Black-and-white couple was arrested for getting married. I was born in 1967. What was their last name? “Loving.” It could have been any other last name, but it wasn’t.

We often fail to realize that just because the law now allows people of color to eat at any restaurant, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be treated with the same respect and dignity. Their experiences, even today, often deny them the good service or food that hasn’t been disrespected.

It takes education, knowledge, and a spirit of love to acquire understanding. I’ve heard many perspectives concerning Palestinians today.

Othering breeds hatred, which in turn breeds violence.

Where is the image of Yeshua/Jesus among us? What is happening still, under our watch?

Can I get a witness? How free is free?

Can we talk?
How many journalists have been killed by Israel since the war began? Over 200. Statistics for Doctors, nurses, hospitals, ambulances, and medical staff are equally alarming!

But people should have left, we say. They were warned and given opportunities. Were they really? Thousands of Jews could not leave Austria or Germany because of poverty, old age, young children, inadequate paperwork, and the Great Depression—during which no one wanted to accept them. What if our president at that time had turned a blind eye and claimed there was nothing we could do because it was Hitler? What do we say now as we witness evil in our midst?
 It’s all the KKK.
 It’s all Hamas. 
It’s us!
 If we woke up to bombings, sealed doors, and deceased family members under concrete, how would we react? Listening to politicians debate our fate, we might see things differently if we lacked basic necessities for our crying children—such as water and electricity.

Before this conflict, many Palestinians lived under a blockade with limited access to electricity and clean water, deprived of care and compassion. This situation did not arise in a vacuum, and the State of Israel does not represent all Israelis.

Those who believe in the Messiah are faithful Israel. If we harbor hatred or lust, we have sinned and must repent. Jesus wept then and still weeps today.

Recently, someone suggested that “God is getting rid of ‘those people’” for the land to belong to Jews. But who are “those people”? They are descendants of Abraham, deserving of human rights. None are free until all are free.

Eventually, people will rise up to defend their lives after enduring oppression.

One person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter. Under international law, those under military occupation have the right to resist their own destruction.

In war zones, many false stories often arise. One such claim was that an Israeli baby was found burned in an oven. This story originated from Eli Beer, the president of United Hatzalah of Israel, a volunteer emergency medical services organization. A source from United Hatzalah later informed Haaretz that the claim stemmed from a volunteer who thought they saw a baby and inaccurately relayed this information to Beer.

Where’s an Atticus Finch?

In 1947-48, 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from or fled their homes due to the actions of militias during the creation of the state of Israel. While there had been resistance to the formation of a Jewish state, as it threatened the regional culture, lands, and way of life, hundreds of Palestinian towns and villages were emptied of their populations and destroyed. This tragedy is known as the ‘Nakba’ by Palestinians and marked the beginning of decades of displacement, conflict, and persecution.

 ” A land without a people for a people without a land.” We say or were told that the Land was worthless and had no vegetation. Yet, it had olive groves tended and flourishing for hundreds of years, oranges, dates, flowers, and families who were happy there, established there for centuries. It had LIFE.

Without journalists, it’s hard to see the truth and know the truth, so murdering journalists is essential if you have an agenda and need to keep control of the narrative. 
Thankfully, we HAVE NOT rounded up all our Jews in America and told them they have to go live in Israel, where they belong, and forced them to leave.
“A 700km fence, which Israel is still extending, has isolated Palestinian communities inside “military zones,” and they must obtain multiple special permits any time they enter or leave their homes. In Gaza, more than 2 million Palestinians live under an Israeli blockade, which has created a humanitarian crisis. It is near-impossible for Gazans to travel abroad or into the rest of the OPT, and they are effectively segregated from the rest of the world.”

Of course, Gaza is rubble now. However, some have plans and visions of making it a new luxurious Riviera, completely devoid of Palestinians. 
We read the Bible, and as good Christians, we’ve come to this modern conclusion that the Land has always been, and so must be for the Jewish people and that this is what was promised to them.

 Is this all we understand about His Promises?

Did I lose you?

If you’re still here with me, Beloved, and your ears, eyes, and heart are heavy, pray about looking again and digging deeper with a fresh lens.
Do it, if not for the sake of knowledge, for His Name’s sake, if you’re following in His Footprint, set before you.
 May your heart be broken for what breaks His HEART. 
And may we Cry Out with the rocks, that His mercy remains upon us, who yet, and still, know not, what we do!
 May His FireWater wash over us, and His Peace Keep us as we go about our Abba Father’s business of Loving mercy, Doing justly, and walking humbly before Him and among ALL. 
May it be so
May it be now
Amen and Amen