Israel’s Operation Rising Lion: Messianic Leader Explains Miraculous Victory

Exclusive interview with Metro Voice

July 3, 2025

6 minutes read

Israel, which has been engaged in an existential fight for survival since 1948, has few rivals when it comes to military intelligence, strategy, and tactics. Yet even Israelis themselves are at a loss to explain the overwhelming success of Operation Rising Lion, in which the nation’s defense forces destroyed much of Iran’s nuclear program.

“From the start of the Gaza war to the beeper episode in southern Lebanon to the preemptive attack on Iran, Israel is good,” Messianic Jewish leader Joel Chernoff told “Metro Voice.” “Israel has a great army, a great air force and great intelligence… but not that good. Even the army, the air force and the man on the street now are beginning to understand that, `Hey, we are good, but come on!’ Things are going ridiculously well, supernaturally well. This is a war and people are dying, but we didn’t expect to do this well. It’s unbelievable.”

Most iranians.

(Almost all except mercenaries of MuIIah’s regime)#IraniansStandWithIsrael https://t.co/I3SbYqNivg pic.twitter.com/oNQ6dr3v47

— Babak (@BabakDaheh60e) June 29, 2025

Chernoff has been a keen observer of the Jewish nation since he helped found the groundbreaking Messianic musical group Lamb in the 1970s. Today, he is executive director of the Alliance for Israel Advocacy; general secretary of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America; and founder of The Joseph Project, which has provided more than $175 million in humanitarian aid to Israel.

“Israel cannot believe how far they have gotten,” he said. “They say they accomplished more in the first day than they thought they were going to accomplish in the first week or two. They just couldn’t believe that they were able to take over Iranian airspace and have free rein to take out their nuclear scientists and cut off the heads of the leadership of the regime – it was unbelievably successful.

“It had to be exquisitely timed, and they executed it. This is a movie. How could this happen?”

Chernoff knows exactly how this happened, thanks to his deep knowledge of Old Testament prophecies.

“I point to Isaiah 54, which is an unbelievably clear passage on the return of the Jewish people to Israel and the three major promises God make to Israel after the return in 1948,” he said. “He promises three things and warns the nations at the same time. First, anyone fiercely attacking you will fall because of you. This doesn’t mean they are bruised a little but that they will fall, which means they are down for the count.

“Second, no weapon that is formed against you is going to prosper. It’s not going to succeed in its purpose, which is to destroy you. Then he says, `every accusation leveled against you, you will condemn.’ You see the United Nations, Europe and portions of the United States electorate and leadership who have been against Israel. Look at the political enemies of Israel; they are coming down one after another.”

Although the terror attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was a dark day for Israel, it may be remembered as one of the greatest strategic blunder in military history. Israel’s response triggered an improbable series of events that set the stage for eventual success against Iran.

The Lord is orchestrating all of this

“The Lord is orchestrating all of this,” Chernoff said. ”Yes, it was a disaster on October 7. Yes, Israel was cocky and had the information, but intelligence is only as good as the assessment of it, and the military leaders just didn’t believe it. They just didn’t believe Hamas would do it, so they got caught off guard. That also happened in 1973 and almost cost us the state of Israel. But God intervened and defeated the enemies of Israel.”

From Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon to the Assad regime in Syria, Israel’s enemies were swept away like pieces from a chessboard

“That whole beeper thing that took down Hezbollah was ridiculous,” Chernoff said. “That came off perfectly and could have failed at any moment. I heard a newscaster say, `I think we all have to admit that something is going on beyond our efforts. God is intervening on our behalf.’ This was a secular guy, but he put on a yarmulke and began to read a portion of scripture out of Psalms, praising and thanking God. This is unprecedented.”

Finally, with an assist from B2 bombers from Missouri’s own Whiteman Air Force Base, Israel has delivered a devastating blow to the nation that has long called for its destruction.

“Now you have a situation where the head of the snake, Iran, is being defeated, or the current regime is being defeated,” he said. “Well, that’s where the money comes from. What is left of Hamas and Hezbollah are in big trouble, because now, the money and the weapons are not coming. So what are they going to do? They are going to collapse.”

Chernoff expects Israel to soon pivot back to Gaza to free the remaining hostages and eliminate Hamas as a threat.

“God has enabled Israel to take back Gaza, and based on scripture, I believe they are going to go in and finish the job, because that is the Promised Land,” he said. “They will create a buffer zone in the southern part of Gaza and resettle it with Jews, and the Gazans probably are going to leave. Something similar may happen in southern Lebanon, which also is part of the Promised Land. God is working the equation.”

A new day is dawning in the Mideast

A new day is dawning in the Mideast, and Chernoff believes it could signal the long-awaited spiritual renewal of the nation of Israel.

“What I see prophetically is that God is preparing our people in Israel for their day of redemption,” he said. “Since the late 1960s, God has been pouring out his spirit upon our people. In 1968, there were fewer than 2,000 Messianic Jews in the United States. Today, there probably are two million. There were zero Messianic synagogues and congregations, and today there are more than 1,000 worldwide.

“But the only place where the spirit of God hasn’t broken out is in Israel. It’s just been a slow, steady rise in terms of numbers. There are 300 Messianic groups in Israel, but it’s just not a revival yet. God needs to break some yokes in Israel, such as abortion and homosexuality. I believe that is one of the things God is doing. He is an incredible multitasker. He is doing several things at one time, always.”

Evangelical Christians, who have long been friends of Israel, can support Israel in a tangible way. As many as 35 percent of children and 30 percent of adults live below the poverty line, and hunger is a serious concern.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for evangelical Christians who love Israel to rally and stand with The Joseph Project International, which is a Messianic Jewish charity,” Chernoff said. “That’s a tremendous witness. Countless acts of kindness in the name of the God of Israel and in the name of the Messiah are going to have dramatic physical and prophetic effect on the people of Israel. We have been doing it for a long time, and the effect is becoming highly visible. We also give to our Arab, Christian and Muslim cousins every chance that we get. We know God is going to touch our Arab cousins – it says so in the scripture.”

Second, Christians can come alongside the local Jewish community and show their support. For example, the Kansas City Jewish Community Center recently held a vigil after former resident Sarah Milgrim was killed in an antisemitic terror attack in Washington, D.C.

“Rising antisemitism is startling,” he said. “One thing you can do is organize and confront antisemitism. and stand with our people at their synagogues. Rally Christians to stand and do something. If there is any antisemitism, rally believers and show your love for Israel in a tangible way. Support the Jewish community in any way you can in a visible way, not just by words. Talk is cheap.

“What are you doing? Stand up. Show our people that you are standing with them and loving them in a real way. That will go a long way toward changing the negative history of Christian antisemitism over the centuries.”

Recent events have made this an unprecedented time to make an eternal impact.

“We have been praying that God would give the military and political leaders of Israel supernatural wisdom, that he would reveal and foil the plans of the enemy,” Chernoff said. “What we are seeing is that God is just doing it. He brought our people back, and he continues to defend the state of Israel.”

For more information about Joel Chernoff, his ministry and music, visit: