Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
Zechariah 1:16-17
I wished that this post was on a new topic, but it is not. It is one that has been discussed in posts such as, Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem), A Cup of Trembling, and many more. So why write about Jerusalem again? First, the rhetoric over this city is heating up. Next, Jerusalem is the focal point of prophecy as it relates to the return of Jesus Christ our King. Finally, the world's rebellion against the God's sovereignty is played out in its treatment of Jerusalem, and it is certain that this is stirred by the enemy, himself.
Over the past week Jerusalem has again been the center of attention. In an old post from 2010, The World's Focal Point--Jerusalem, it was discussed how this rather small city, under 3 million people, is continually in the news while cities numbering in the tens of millions are not mentioned hardly ever. Jerusalem is mentioned so often because it has an interesting future, it will be the capital of the whole earth. "And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again (Zechariah 2:12)." Jesus, like his earthy forefather King David, will rid the city of those squatters defiling His capital, and He will reestablish Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Unlike David and like His Heavenly Father, He will rule the entire world from there. This is why Jerusalem stays in the news. Satan wants to try his best to keep this from happening, so he ignites men's passions against the Jewish people and the city itself in a vain attempt to stop God's plan. His vanity is his own calamity. Didn't he try to kill Christ for the same reasons and look what that did for him. Consider the following items from this week's news:
Romney: Jerusalem Capital of Israel
Romney: Jerusalem Capital of Israel
It seems that war in this region is inevitable and prophetic. The problem revolves around the ancient site of the former Jewish Temple. Daniel clearly mentions that some sort of temple or tabernacle like structure will be in place during the reign of the Antichrist. He, the Antichrist, will defile this temple and stop the ensuing sacrifices from taking place while he commits the abomination of desolation (see Daniel 9:27). This is the marker showing the middle of the Tribulation. Just 3.5 lunar years from this time, the Lord Jesus will return to the battle beleaguered city and save the remnant of Israel that is left. The problem is that this temple has to be built on the temple mount that is currently the site of Muslim holy places. Any attempt to build, and war would be immediate. As Zechariah prophesied, Jerusalem is surely a cup of trembling for the world who has already suffered through two great world wars. All eyes are currently fixed on Jerusalem.
Zechariah also saw God's response to this futile demonic attempt to stop Christ's return. Man and demon will try to destroy the city, but God will put a stop to it all. Zechariah (and many other prophets) saw the Lord's response, "Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation (Zechariah 2:13)." Man has tried desperately to solve the Middle East Conflict. It has been the bane of the last several US Presidents as well as many other world leaders. Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace will do what no man can do in moments, bring peace to the world and make Jerusalem live up to its name "the teaching (city) of peace". In short, the world's rebellion will cease as Christ has left the Holy Place to take His rightful throne and fulfill a host of prophecies just too numerous to mention. What a day that will be!
With all eyes fixed on Jerusalem, are you paying attention to the time in which you live. The branch is tender and putting forth leaves. Summer is well nigh. Will you be like those mentioned from Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12 who knew and attended to the times in which they live? Again, summer is well nigh and Jesus Christ is Soon2Come. Get ready!
More Foreboding News
Thanks Bro.Notter for keeping us informed and for preaching prophecy. Robert
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