The Jerusalem Battalion

Jerusalem Battalion: A Born-Again Leader’s Mission to Protect and Warn in the End Times

In the March/April 2025 editorial, Dave Robbins interviews Joel Golden, a former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Special Forces commander, now appointed to lead the newly established Jerusalem Battalion. This unique role positions Golden to protect Jerusalem in the end times, directly aligning with biblical prophecy. As a born-again believer, Golden is dedicated to helping warn Jews in Israel, especially those in Judea/Samaria, to flee impending persecution. Together with Endtime Ministries, he will guide efforts to spread the message of salvation, offer protection, and assist in making Aliyah. This mission aims to ensure Jews are prepared for the coming Great Tribulation.

By Dave Robbins and Joel Golden

Many of you are familiar with our efforts to warn the Jews to flee the coming Great Tribulation, both in Judea (Matthew 24:15-21) and around the world. It may seem like an overwhelming task but nothing is impossible for God! Just look at what the Lord is doing in preparing the way for this final mission in the end time!

Here’s an excerpt from my interview with former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Special Forces Commander Joel Golden:

Dave: God has been doing incredible things in your life. The last time we spoke, you were serving as a special forces commander in the IDF, the Israeli Defense Forces.
But since then, God has opened up a remarkable new opportunity for you. Can you share with us how everything unfolded and what’s coming up for you in the near future?

Joel: As you said, I’ve been in the Special Forces all these years and I’m getting a little bit older. The IDF had been offering me position after position trying to figure out what to do instead of just letting me go home and finish my days right. The first thing they did was they gave me an honorary rank; it’s a very high rank if you want it. If you had to translate into American ranks, I would say a two-star general. They started offering me all kinds of positions. All of them seemed to be positions that would take almost all my time mainly for the work that the Lord gave me, the ministry work, so I always denied them. But the last thing they offered me and I accepted, was actually amazing; first of all, the position never even existed. I’m the first one to have this position. I’ll tell you something else, Dave. The moment they offered it to me, the first thing I thought about was you. I remember listening to all the times that you at Endtime, you guys talk about how we’re going to help all these Jews in Judea and Samaria when it’s time for them to run. Knowing how the IDF works, knowing how the police here works, I was always wondering how that would work out. When they offered me this, I said OK, Lord, I see; I understand. What they offered me is called the Jerusalem Battalion. It’s going to be my battalion. Exactly about a month from today, actually two days less than a month, I’ll have my soldiers for the first time for a two week training run. I will have my own battalion of infantry men and I’ve been tasked with protecting and keeping the city of Jerusalem.

Dave: Wow, that’s incredible! Let’s break this down for everyone. When you say, “protecting the city of Jerusalem,” why does the IDF feel the need to assign a specific battalion to safeguard Jerusalem at this moment? You mentioned that this is the first time it’s ever happened.

Joel: A lot of things changed after October 7. One of the things they realized is we need IDF protection inside our cities for the uprising and potential threats we have from within and from outside and just to have the Jewish people protected in a better way. So, they opened up these battalions; there’s a few of them; Jerusalem is not the only one. It’s just in my eyes the most important one. That’s where the battle (Armageddon) ends up. And it’s all underneath a division called the David Division in the military which is also now a new division. Like I said, the IDF said here, Jerusalem is yours and immediately I realized what the Lord was showing us and what my job really would be.

Dave: I want our audience to fully grasp just how incredible this is. Everyone needs to know that Joel Golden is a true born again believer, as I would define being born again. In these end times, Endtime Ministries will be working with people in Judea/Samaria, what is commonly referred to as the modern-day West Bank. I prefer to call it Judea/Samaria so people understand the region we’re talking about. Our goal is to help those people move into what I would consider Israel proper — the pre-1967 borders —and assist them in escaping the coming persecution.

What’s even more incredible is that we’ll have a born-again believer overseeing the protection of Jerusalem. In modern military terms, think of it as a two-star general leading this brigade. Joel, you’ll be helping us navigate the security protocols with the military and police. How do you think the military and police would respond now if we went into Judea/Samaria for a door-knocking campaign, encouraging people to flee and come to safety?

Joel: It would be very difficult and dependent upon your approach angle when you start walking around door-to-door. It would be a touchy subject for sure. But I tell you what though, having as you said, a Jesus-believing, Bible-reading, born again Christian as the battalion commander over the Jerusalem battalion, I’ve already done things that’s brought people to say why would you need that? For example, we know where the last battle (Armageddon) is going to end and where it’s coming from, right? From the Jezreel Valley. I’ve got things put in place already. I’ve said I want a connection between the Jezreel Valley and the command post in Jerusalem. I will have live feeds to see what is going on there as it unfolds.

Dave: That’s unbelievable! Understanding that the Battle of Armageddon is approaching and will begin in the Plain of Megiddo or the Jezreel Valley, it’s expected to move through the Jordan Valley. The forces won’t cross the mountains but will travel down the Jordan Valley, passing near Beit She’an. From there, they will follow the road that leads from the Jordan Valley directly into Jerusalem. The Battle of Armageddon is going to culminate right there in the Kidron Valley between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. You’re telling me that you’ve already made provisions for this coming war because of what the prophecies of the Bible say?

Joel: Of course! Wouldn’t you? I’m in a unique position. I’ve got it all planned out. It was all written for me ahead of time. I don’t have anything to think about; I just need to act. I have the cheat sheet. I know exactly what’s going to happen, where it’s coming from and how it’s going to end. Amen! So, for me it’s just putting the foot to the Word.

Dave: This is incredible! I never imagined something like this could happen. I knew God would open doors and make things happen but for you to say you already have a plan for the Battle of Armageddon because you are going to be the protector of Jerusalem —this is beyond anything I could have imagined!

The Bible says God will gather everyone to Jerusalem and you’re going to be the protector of Jerusalem in the end times. I never expected this — having a born again believer leading the brigade dedicated to protecting Jerusalem. So, you’re saying there may be brigades for cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa but you’ll be in charge of Jerusalem. This is incredible, Joel. It’s truly prophetic and I’m honored to be your friend — that’s something I have to say.

God has brought us together to work through these end times. You mentioned you have already been involved in some efforts and many of the people reading this interview have signed up for the door-knocking campaign when we launch it. You will be instrumental in helping us with our strategy — navigating interactions with the police, military and other authorities, ensuring we approach everything the right way. We are also planning to send a magazine to everyone in Israel.

There’s something else I wanted to share with you that you might not know yet: Endtime Ministries will be returning to television in Israel. Not many people are aware of this but we’ll have a platform to warn people directly. Along with TV broadcasts, we will be sending out email blasts and other communications and we’ll continue with the door-knocking campaign. Since you live there and are on the ground, as an Israeli yourself, you’ll be able to guide us through these upcoming challenges and validate our efforts.

Joel: Amen. And first of all, when you have that television program up and running in the State of Israel, like you said the door knocking program, you have three years into the tribulation. I would suggest that a good thing is to use me, as the general in charge here at that time, in Hebrew speaking to the people in their own language. I think it would be a very good idea for me to address them and tell them what’s coming down and what they need to be ready for.

Dave: Absolutely, Joel. This is at the very top of our priorities. We are definitely going to make this happen. You and I will be working closely together, and I’m certain there will be times when we’ll be doing television programs together, warning the Jewish people about what is coming. Also, my nephew, Vince Stegall, who works with me here at Endtime Ministries, has a system for sending videos — whether YouTube or other formats — to people, helping to educate them. We can use this to reach people across Israel.

If you and I can collaborate on some programs, laying out everything for them — why they need to leave, what regions are at risk and how to prepare — I believe this is God guiding us through these challenging times ahead. With you and me working together, alongside others, we are really at the forefront of this mission with support from our many global affiliates. God has orchestrated all of this, from establishing the college in Jerusalem to our work with the Jewish Agency. We’ve helped thousands of Jews make Aliyah and return to Israel, which is going to be crucial in the coming days.

It’s not just those in Judea and Samaria; the Bible tells us Jews from around the world need to come back to Israel — or at least to the United States — but primarily to Israel. This will be key to helping them make Aliyah, especially as the Bible predicts a time of persecution like the world has never seen. In Revelation 12 when the War in Heaven happens and Satan is cast to the Earth, he targets Israel — the woman crowned with 12 stars — and those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, meaning the church. You think persecution is bad now or that anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe but it will be nothing compared to what is coming. There will be another Holocaust; but this time, we have the opportunity to warn them, to help them escape those dangerous regions.

This is the mission we’re heading into in the end time. I’m confident that you and I, along with our partners, will be working together on this. I hope everyone understands the dynamics of what God is doing here in these last days. He is setting the stage for this final, crucial push and Joel will be a major influence in helping us warn the Jewish people as the end times unfold.

Our efforts to warn the Jews in the end times is truly our greatest mission in Israel. The Bible tells us that when Jesus returns, as described in Romans 11:25-26, all of Israel will be saved.

This is our ultimate goal in Israel: to reach the Jews, to bring them out of harm’s way and to help them find salvation before it’s too late. Anyone we can bring back to Israel will have an opportunity to be saved in these end times. I want to give you the opportunity now, Joel, for any closing thoughts you’d like to share.

Joel: Like you said, the most important thing is the people, getting the message out. One specific point we haven’t talked about yet. You know, being over the Jerusalem Battalion, I will have access to the emergency service system meaning we will be able to get messages out to everyone, over broadcast, the news, everything. So, I’ll be there man. Together, we will be doing this.

Editor’s Note: You can donate to this very important project at warnthejews.com.