Jerusalem 2008
Jerusalem 2008
The international community (on November 29) delivered Israel yet another ultimatum: Create and live alongside a separate, independent Palestinian State by 12/12/08 ... or else!
A "peace" conference (27-29/12) was hosted last week by the United States at Annapolis, Maryland, and brought together Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and the Palestinian Authority's President Mahmoud Abbas. Their deliberations were witnessed by 40 leaders of nations (among them representatives of the UN, the European Union, the Arab League, Russia and China) and multinational corporations.
"Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.' " (Psalm 2.1-3)
One of the most significant consequences of the "accord" of this conference, is that the nations of the earth have thrust the "problem", status and destiny of Jerusalem right to the very top of their political agenda ... ahead of ecological disaster, Africa's AID's catastrophe, and multiplying bloodbaths continuing to be perpetuated by totalitarian regimes on every side.
During the conference, the PA's President Abbas told those attending that Israel "must end (its) occupation in all Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem."
He continued by saying that it was his "duty" to point out that "Jerusalem must be central to any deal. We want East Jerusalem to be our capital."
(Prime Minister Olmert shocked many of his fellow-countrymen during the Annapolis meeting by stating that he was "convinced that the reality that emerged in our region in 1967 will change significantly". A thinly-veiled reference to his apparent willingness to consider relinquishing neighbourhoods of Jerusalem to the Palestinians.)
"The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath, saying, 'I have installed My King on Zion, My holy Hill.' I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, 'You are My son; today I have become your Father. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; You will dash them to pieces like pottery.' " (Psalm 2.4-9)
Jerusalem's continuing and escalating status as the international community's number-one problem and "hot-potato" is neither novel nor surprising. It is in fact the key to the understanding and fulfillment of all Bible prophecy concerning the Last Days. Jerusalem is God's city, and the Temple Mount in its heart will be the platform for Jesus' Throne during His millennial reign. Therefore, who is to occupy and control it will be fiercely contested and bitterly fought for, until satan himself (and his human and supernatural followers) are literally blasted out of their seigeworks around the city "by the splendour of His coming". (2 Thessalonians 2.8)
"This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths." (Zechariah 14.12)
"The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great wine press of God's wrath. They were trampled in the wine press outside the city (of Jerusalem), and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 300 kilometers." (Revelation 14.19-20)
This year is the 40th anniversary of the restoration of the whole of Jerusalem to Israel's jurisdiction and stewardship. This extraordinary event in 1967 was the fulfillment of the Lord's word concerning His return,
"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near (70AD) ... Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (1967)...At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (?) ... I tell you the truth, this generation (40 years ... 2007) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away." (Luke 21.20-33)
Thus for some years now, I have plainly urged Christians to have a special regard for the "signs" of this year. Already some have taken it upon themselves to "stone" me: They have seen nothing worthy of their attention, and so have already begun to play mystical games with 2008's significance. So be it!
Annapolis 07 and its "resolutions" are the extraordinary signs and an extraordinary and quickened lunge forward, towards the scenario into which Jesus steps as this world's only King.
Sadly, it is unlikely that this world's "great ones" will heed the psalmist's counsel, "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." (Psalm 2.10-12)
Most will continue rushing headlong down the path of deception and destruction foreseen by the prophet Zechariah, "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup (of judgement ... Isaiah 51.22-23) that sends all the surrounding people reeling. Judah will be beseiged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." (Zechariah 12.1-3)
Jerusalem is going to remain an intractable "problem": Primarily because it is God's city, and because it will indubitably be the centre of His earthly Kingdom and the place of his earthly Throne. And also because at the end of this Age there must be a Jewish community resident in that city, crying out to Jesus to return, so that He may be released from Heaven to come back on to this earth,
"That He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. He must remain in Heaven (whom Heaven must hold back) until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets." (Acts 3.20-21)
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ... I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.' " (Matthew 23.37-39)
All of this world's nations and countries will be judged by their response to the "immovable rock" which obstructs them in the pursuit of their own brain-fevered lusts and designs.
This satan-inspired "crusade" (which is nevertheless permitted by God) to bring "peace" to the Middle East by dealing to and sorting out "these troublesome and stubborn Jews", will reach its crescendo at the edge of the abyss ... into which not Israel is plunged, but the devil and all of his cohorts.
"I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half the city (East Jerusalem?) will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem ... The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name." (Zechariah 14.2-4 & 9)
FOOTNOTE
November 29 last week was also the 60th anniversary of the UN vote to end Britain's "Mandate of Palestine". (Resolution 181) That Resolution provided for the partitioning of "Palestine" into a Jewish and an Arab state, with greater Jerusalem (and Bethlehem) under international control.
This plan was swept away by the Arab initiated, hate-inspired 1948-49 conflict.
Israeli history books still point to 29/11/1947 as "the most important date in Israel's acquisition of independence".
In the Bible, the number 6 represents humanity...man being created on the 6th day. Last week's anniversary signals (for Israel and also for the Church) that the days of "glorying" and trusting in human strength and giftedness are now at an end.
"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel (the Jewish governor): 'Not by might (human strength) nor by power ( political force), but by My Spirit', says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4.6)
"But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen." (Hosea 1.7)
