Surviving the Holy War

By Rev. Jihad Cobey

Surviving the Holy War is an account of a true life story that demonstrates Gods interventions during the darkest of times. Rev. Jihad Cobey was kidnapped by the PLO, arrested by government authorities, poisoned in one of the Arab countries, diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and trapped in Lebanon during the Israeli siege of Beirut. He had a close encounter with Satan, among other events covered in this book. Through it all, the Lord miraculously set him free from each of these events.
A true life story filled with Gods great demonstrations of His love and care for His children. It will enrich you spiritually; it will exhort and uplift you by seeing Gods ways that have not been seen before. Most of all; it presents the message of Jesus Christ and His saving grace in a unique and exciting way.
The book is an actual account of real events, places, people, and incidents that took place in the life of the author on three continents and in more than seven countries. The author wants to share this book so that others might learn of the rewards and consequences of the choices that man makes in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 5, 2010
• ISBN: 9781466917125

Rev. Jihad Cobey

Born and raised and educated in Beirut,Lebanon, Jihad Cobey is an ordained minister and holds three degrees in communications, Broadcast Engineering and in computer science earned from the Middle East and the U.S. He is a private pilot by hobby and a preacher by heart. enjoys Music and plays several musical instruments. Well travelled across the Middle East, Europe and the United States. Married to his only wife, Badia, and they are Blessed from the LORD with two college age children a daughter, jessica, and a son, Jonathan.They all reside in Troy, Michigan. Jihad's vision in this book is to relate to the reader God's ways in intervening in our lives in order to restore Man back to Himself. If you are deprived of Love, Depressed with feelings of lonliness, or if you have even had thooughts of ending your life because your circumstances are not going your way, Or you have lost all hope in this life, This book will give you the keys to unlock God's greatest Joy, Peace and Love back into your life. The deepest failures are the steping stones for the greatest success. discover your purpose in this life and the life after throught God's Greatest work and message mentioned in this book...DISCOVER IT TODAY. In Jesus Christ Service, Jihad Cobey

Book preview

Contents

Surviving The Holy War

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

The American Dream

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

In Conventional warfare, fighting forces may choose to use the amount of lethal force necessary to defeat the enemy and win the war. This amount varies, depending on the size of the opposing force, the commander can choose from as little as a few soldiers, to an all out war that is necessary to eliminate the enemy.

In a Jihad or Holy War, however, the convenience of choosing the amount of force one needs to defeat the enemy does not exist. In a Jihad, engagement is an all-out war or nothing, it is do or die, kill or be killed; in a Jihad there is no truce. It’s an all-out engagement against the enemy.

Jihad is the process of engaging with the enemy in an attempt to fully destroy his existence. The enemy’s efforts are also directed to disintegrate the opposition.

Jihad, as defined in the Arabic Language means Holy War. This word as used within the context of the Arabic Language has two different meanings that are used interchangeably between Islam and Christianity.

In Islam, Jihad carries with it the physical warfare connotation against the ungodly infidels, unbelievers, and all the enemies of Allah. Sura (4:76) - "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…"

It is Islam’s highest form of worship. The followers of Islam are ordained by Allah to conduct Jihad.

Sura (2:216) Fighting is ordained for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.

Those who don’t conduct a Jihad are considered reprobates and hypocrites and should be punished. Every Muslim’s goal in this life is to fulfill Allah’s Call for the Holy Jihad or Holy War thereby assuring the entry into the Jinnah of Islam.

Sura (3:150) - Soon shall we cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority. 

Jihad, or Holy War in Islam is a physical engagement against an apparent physical opponent that is a danger to Islam. This may be a person, a State, an army, or even an Ideology. All such entities, if they are in opposition to the concept of Islam, a Jihad or a Holy War is declared against all such infidels. Anyone who dares to criticize Islam is considered an Infidel and worthy of death without exception. This is the concept of Jihad or Holy War in Islam. It is a Physical war by Muslims carried in the name of Allah against all non-Muslim Infidels and unbelievers.

Long before Islam was ever born in the Arabian Peninsula, and long before the Prophet Muhammad ever commanded his followers for a Jihad, the Bible mentions the word Jihad more than ten times in the New Testament, which conveys by its usage a Spiritual Struggle or Spiritual Warfare, and never once mentioned as physical fighting between Peoples.

Paul, after his conversion, as we know, never engaged in physical battles against his enemies, he writes to Timothy in 2Tim 4:7 using the exact Arabic word Jihad in the verse saying:

" I have fought a good fight, (a Jihad)I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith."

Paul, who never carried a weapon to force people to believe what he was preaching, was in that verse stating that he fought a GOOD FIGHT, This term as used in the Arabic Language means Jihad; it is a defined term that puts the person in a one-on-one battle against Sin, Satan, The Flesh, and The World if a person overcomes, then, he has won the battle and thus he had a GOOD FIGHT; otherwise, if a person surrenders to those enemies, then the Bible clearly states that such a person is no longer in a Jihad but rather has abandoned ship, and therefore is shipwrecked.

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Jihad as explained in the Arabic Bible is a constant Holy War within the believer against Evil, never once mentioned as a tool against people. In Ephesians chapter six, we read an exhortation and a clear biblical statement in regards to this warfare, it states:

Eph 6:12: for we wrestle (Jihad) not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Furthermore, Christians are instructed to arm themselves in this Jihad so they can win the battle. Paul continues to say:

Eph 6:11: Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Those who take the Holy War or Jihad lightly have lost the war and are shipwrecked.

Paul exhorts Timothy to stand firm in his Holy War by saying:

1Tim 1:18: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; (Jihad)

1Tim 1:19: Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Islam has distorted the true image of Jihad to denote killings, and acts of violence and wars against nations in the name of the Allah of Islam. The Bible, on the contrary, elevates the believer’s Spirit to Worship the LORD through the Christian’s inner Holy Jihad. It is a symbol of the Christian’s Identification with Christ withstanding all attacks from the enemy, and Defeating Satan himself through this Spiritual Warfare. The significance of this Spiritual war is that it elevates the Believer to a higher level of knowing Christ and worshiping God the Father in freedom and Faith.

You are reading an account and a record of one whose life was demonstrated by such a Jihad.

This is an account of a True life-story that demonstrates God’s interventions during the darkest of times. Kidnapped by the PLO, arrested by Government authorities, Poisoned in one of the Arab countries, diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, trapped in Lebanon during the Israeli siege of Beirut. Had a close encounters with Satan, among other events mentioned in this book, But through it all; The Lord miraculously set me free from all these events.

A true life story filled with God’s great demonstrations of His Love and care for His children. It will keep you focused in each event, at times you will cry, but on other times it will make you laugh, but through it all, undoubtedly; you will resolve of God’s marvelous power. This book will enrich you spiritually; it will exhort you and uplift you by seeing God’s ways that have not been seen before. Most of all; this book presents the message of Jesus Christ and His saving grace in a unique and exciting way. The book is an actual account of real events, places, people, and incidents that took place in the life of the author in three continents and more than seven countries. It is the desire of the author to share this book with all the readers to learn of the rewards and consequences of the choices that man makes in life. The reader will discover many principles of life; like the keys of overcoming bondage; the power behind tithing; the secret of remaining free; the key behind the Power of God’s Word; and How to keep Satan bound out of your life; the difference between the wisdom from God and the intelligence of man and many other principles…You will be amazed and fascinated of God’s marvelous work in this one solitary life.

Without a doubt, the same God that saved me in Beirut has miraculously snatched me from the prison cell in Syria. The same God who protected me during the darkest hours of war in Lebanon in 1982, called me into the ministry from the United States in 1985.

To this Almighty God, I bow the knee in Awe and adoration, and to his Son the Lord Jesus Christ I pay tribute. With thanks giving and Love I dedicate this Testimony for the salvation of just one person, you, the reader of this true account, to the Glory of God the Father through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ my redeemer.

Surviving The Holy War

It was God’s hand that carried me from my mother’s womb on March 21st 1956. All the doctors declared to my father It had to be either the mother or the baby, which do you want? they, furthermore; announced that the baby was literally attached to the womb and the doctors have to surgically detach the baby from the mother, a procedure with little or no hope for both to survive; thus, they asked which will it be the mother or the baby? In today’s choices, aborting the baby would be the apparent remedy, but not so with God. My Godly father asked God to decide, a decision that I am eternally grateful for. The five-hour surgical procedure went flawlessly as God decided to spare my mother’s life and to give me His precious Gift of LIFE…

As my earthly father held me, he was asked to name his new-born son, almost without hesitation he said: because my son came with struggle into this world, I will name him Jihad." A name I will ever live up to till the day I die.

I grew to love my name because I learned to adore the Lord who named me through my earthly father, as I purposed to live up to the meaning of my name:

Jihad----Holy War for the LORD.

This is my story, a true and real expression of God’s matchless Love and Grace.

A true story of one whose life was once bound with Fear; but it was liberated in Victory.

A true story of one whose life was once filled with pain and depression that turned into Joy, Freedom, and Hope.

A true story of one whose life had experienced God’s unfailing presence in the darkest of times;

A true story of one solitary life whose God changed the world around it.

My name is Jihad and this is the record of my Jihad or Holy War in this life!

Chapter One

God’s Almighty hand was with me again, when I had Typhoid as an infant close to death in Beirut, Lebanon; with very limited medical resources, God carried me through that vicious illness, being bed ridden for four weeks in the hospital hanging between life and death, my heavenly Father pulled me through by the prayers of the saints and my Godly parents.

I grew up living with my Godly parents and two brothers, Emad and Fuad. As I religiously attended the First Baptist Church of Beirut with my family, we memorized the scriptures, attended Sunday school, and read the Bible. Furthermore; my Dad conducted daily Bible study sessions to all of us, his three sons Jihad, Emad, and Fuad. Our childhood was exemplary; we had our share of disobedience and punishment, but over all we were happy children growing up in the city of Beirut. We had no problems with our Muslim friends and we integrated quickly to any changes that might come, we were peaceful at heart, and we loved our parents dearly, I remember my father physically disciplining me only once in my entire life, and I deserved it; I’d rather say that all of us brothers grew up in a very loving, caring, giving atmosphere, with our parents providing us all of our needs and wants, As it appeared, I was a pretty good guy, but deep inside my heart, I was as lost as one can ever be. No matter how good and Godly the atmosphere may have been, and no matter how nice one may have portrayed himself to be, this will not cleanse the inner heart of any person and make him a child of God. A person can be born in a church, and memorize the Bible, and preach his life out, and still die without really knowing who God is. It is not important what a man does for God, as much as what God does through man’s life that matters.

In 1971, the Lord, in a very loving way, revealed to me through his Word that I should repent. Fear came all over me and thoughts of death and hell became real in my mind. This occurred at 9:00 PM in September, 1971 at the T.V repair shop where I used to work. The fear of hell continued to haunt me in the store, I could not stand it. I closed the shop and ran home like someone was chastening me, I did not know what to do, Suddenly, and as if that Holy Hand was carrying me, and the scriptures that I memorized from my Dad’s daily Bible study and Sunday school class, became real to me: Fear not, I will never leave you nor forsake you, he that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life but the wrath of God is come upon him, and more verses came to my mind. At that moment, I realized that if I were to die right then, I would be in Hell, I realized at that moment that I needed a Saviour. I arrived home and went to the bedroom and knelt by my bed and cried out to God from the depth of my being, I opened my heart, confessed my sin, and submitted my being to the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ. I lie not, with God as my witness, instantaneously, the Fear departed and the Spirit of the peace of God that passeth all understanding came upon me, I felt I was already in heaven. I Thank God for His matchless Grace and for His Holy Hand that pulled me out of my mother’s womb the first time to give me Life on earth; it had carried me through the second time to give me Life Eternal by being Born again of God.

I became persuaded that no power in creation could separate me from God the Father, nor any other creature can release me from my Lord Jesus Christ, the seal of His Holy Spirit, my Comforter, assured me that every Heartbeat I have Testifies of that precious Hand that formed me in my mother’s womb.

I went on in life with that precious event in my life to enroll at a local college in Beirut, where for four years, I studied Radio and Television Communications. I was the youngest graduate in the whole class, having received my degree in 1975 at age 19.

My college studies did not prevent me from getting involved in the ministry of serving the Lord whom I dearly love. During my four years of study, I dedicated every summer (3 months) of each year to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Lebanon, and for four years in a row, and three months of each year, I spent with a group of missionary students preaching and distributing Christian literature throughout Lebanon; we knocked, literally, at every door of every house in every village and city throughout the country of Lebanon, we used official maps, and had VW vans to take us to the most remote places in the country.

We slept in sleeping bags in the wilderness, in empty school rooms, sometimes on the plain open grounds. The summer time in Lebanon is the most refreshing time of the year, and the climate has a very pleasant atmosphere. Despite the fact that we were met sometimes with violent resistance to the gospel, where at one time we were literally stoned out of the village by extremely violent residents, yet the majority of the population received us with respect, we had the privilege of conducting meetings throughout the villages and cities of Lebanon, The Team I was with had nine Christian students from many foreign countries. We conducted open air music concerts, we had preaching meetings, one-on-one witnessing, gave out thousands of Gospels and Tracts, and we did something very special, we supported the Local churches where there was one, by directing new converts to these churches. I honestly believe that from the summer of 1971 to the end of 1974 God used me to proclaim his message to the people of Lebanon. I would not trade those four years for all the gold of the world, the experience I had and the miracles I saw God do in the lives of the people of Lebanon could not be found in any Bible school in the world. Indeed, those were very precious days of my youth.

Several months after the completion of this project, code named Operation Mobilization, the country of Lebanon experienced a dramatic political, social, and economic earthquake, that shocked every resident and non-resident to the core, it was in April of 1975 that the Civil War in Lebanon was born, A war that never before in