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FOR THE TRUTH
JERUSALEM
IN THE FUTURE
The Focus of ADONAI, the LORD
our God and the world, will be on this City until it finally becomes
God's ZION!
NOTE:
This is a Biblical Study, of an important subject based on the
whole Tanakh/ O.T. and also using the 'Jewish New Testament' by Dr
David Stern, with quotations in purple
bold, Italics, as a mark of reverence.
As
it is a Bible study it would be good if you could print it
off and look up the Scripture references we have given, as we
have not typed them all out here. Our desire is that it will inspire
you to: "Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem" in a new and exciting way.
INTRODUCTION.
The
Spiritual and Prophetic Significance of Jerusalem, in Israel.
This
is a very big subject! About as big as the whole Bible – the
Tanakh (O.T.) and the New Testament put together. The KEY FACT is
that it was meant to be a place where the paramount focus was not
on its geographical or political or international religious
importance! Not on any of its spectacular buildings, nor even a
Temple (when there was one) ~
BUT on
the Sovereign God, ADONAI Who chose it as His Place to be and
therefore desired His People to worship Him there! See
Psalm 9:11
[You might
like to see our article on 'Biblical
Zion'.] In Psalm 76:2 it says
~
"God's 'Tent' is in Salem, His
dwelling Place in Zion"
HOW
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JERUSALEM ~ WAS SEEN BY
THE PRESENCE OR
ABSENCE OF THE TEMPLE.
A.
The loss of two Temples Built on two occasions,
[in Jerusalem in Israel] and destroyed on two separate
occasions, the second in N.T. times (after the crucifixion,
resurrection and ascension of the Messiah Jesus) ~ in 70AD/ CE =
Common Era. These were very serious events!
>
In God's plan there was only ever to be one Temple in the
entire world, and it was to be on the site first chosen by King
David, with God's leading.
[This
story is in 1 Chronicles, 28 & 29] and other background events
are in our article, 'Who
owns Jerusalem'. Above all
it was where God chose to live!
>
However it is clear that even the loss of the second,
beautiful Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in AD 70, was a
significant act allowed by God!
>
The very fact that no written genealogical records of Jewish
tribes and families, and especially most of the very ancient
carefully hand written copies of the Torah and the Tanakh ~ or actual
complete artefacts from either of the two Temples have been
proved to have survived, inspite of conjectures of many people,
is very important. There has been
no Temple for 2,000 years.
>
However the 'Dead Sea Scrolls', which predate the
destruction of the Second Temple, certainly validate the accuracy
of any scrolls of the Tanakh that may have been lost, so we can
stand firmly on our beliefs in it.
>
Note: it is incorrect to refer to 'Herod's temple'. Herod was set
on winning fame for himself and favour with the Romans by great
building programs. Instead the 'Herodian Mountain' he built was not
even found or excavated until more recent years, (in an effort to
find his tomb), yet the baby Boy, born to a poor, young, Jewish
couple, in nearby Bethlehem, became the most Influential Person in
the entire world ~ Yeshua/ Jesus/ Yofeh!
>
However Herod persuaded the Jewish Rabbis to allow him to do
"a make-over" to beautify the rather plain Temple,
which the Disciples admired so much! Yet Jesus was concerned His
Father's house was "a den of thieves".
The
rather plain and less expensive, 'Second Temple' had been built 515BC
by the returning Jewish Captives from Babylon. Herod's extensive
'makeover' took from 20BC to 46AD, but then was destroyed by Roman
Titus AD70.
However it was
the significance of its destruction we take note of!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
B.
Yet now, Jewish Orthodox Rabbis are preparing for a third Temple!
>
For many years it was thought that the Jewish people
should not attempt to build a third Temple, as the belief was,
that Messiah Himself would do so, at His future Coming. [To them
there will be a one only future Coming to Jerusalem since they do not
believe Yeshua Who came 2,000 years ago was the true Messiah.] We, as
evangelical Christians rejoice in the expectation of Messiah's Coming
as a Conquering King. Yet Jews need to call on Him first.
> However after a time of reflection at a
Retreat, one of the Senior respected Rabbis was able to convince
other leaders that Messiah wanted the Jewish people to prepare a
magnificent Temple in Jerusalem for Messiah's Coming.
>
So Rabbi Yisrael Ariel became the
founder of 'The Temple Institute' in 1987! While today
there are many political and legal reasons the actual Temple
Sanctuary cannot be built on the true site on the 'Temple Mount', the
preparations that are being under-taken from accurate information
is thrilling!
[To
see modern, re-created, identical, carefully crafted copies of the
original sacred vessels made over recent Years, see the 'Temple
Institute' web site here.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SERIOUS CONCEPTS ABOUT THE PAST ~ REVEAL THE FUTURE.
1.
The utter destruction of the TEMPLE was a serious, meaningful
event which as we've pointed out was deliberately allowed by
God the second time in the Common Era [A.D] foretold clearly by
Yeshua/ Jesus in Matthew 24.
This
emphasises that God Himself did not want the Jewish Faith to
survive on things – icons or relics - which
can become a focus of worship, ~ but
on a spiritual and inward recognition of ADONAI
Himself as "The
Holy One of Israel". [Called this 33 times in Scripture!]
So God allowed the City and even the Temple to be
destroyed!
> How
else could we understand the terrible history of the rape and pillage
and destruction for 2000 years of this ancient, but battered City?
>
Fortunately, the written records of historians, both
Jewish, Christian and secular writers confirm without a doubt, the
true importance and significance of Jerusalem! All copies of
the Hebrew Tanakh especially, confirm it too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.
SO the future of Jerusalem is still based on its Divine choice
as a centre for worship of ADONAI ~ “The God of Israel”!
It will yet be exactly ~ that. Please keep reading why and
how it will be.
> Yet the real reason
[for the destruction of the 2nd Temple]
~ is surely that Yeshua/ Jesus fulfilled the meanings of every
part of the Building's structure and furnishings. Therefore: even
more, Yeshua/ Jesus represented the services and sacrifices that the
Temple had represented, to teach the Hebrew Jewish people how to meet
with God!
> So
in fact there was and is no need for one place physically or
geographically to go to. To me it is
so wonderful that Yeshua/ Jesus explained this truth, Himself
to a Gentile woman! [John 4: 23, 24.]
Yeshua said: "A
time is coming... when the true worshippers will worship the Father
in Spirit and in Truth... God is Spirit and His worshippers
must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Our
heart's attitude is important.
3.
Yet we know God will allow the
third, future Temple to be built, also for a very precious
reason, and it will be the center of the World's attention.
[Cp.
Revelation 11: 1-12 with Luke 21: 24, & 2 Thess. 2: 4. & our
other article: 'The
Spiritual Future of Israel']
As
said the City is only important ~ as the Place we call "the
Temple of YHWH's Presence", the center of Blessing for Jewish
People's worship, peace, protection and meaningful devotion. ~
See Psalms 42 & 43.
Not
just a BUILDING but for PEOPLE ~ the Jewish Israeli people ~ soon!
So God will answer the prayer Jewish People pray every
year at Pasach!
>
So very much could be written about this, however Psalm
122 to 128 are a great set of songs about Jerusalem, yet it is
very dependant also on the true devotion of God's own Jewish
People to their own ADONAI. It is a shame that for the sake
of space we cannot print them out in full, so please take time to
read them! Here are some phrases... [Ps. 122] "I
will say, 'Peace be within you' ~ for the sake of the House of the
LORD our God..." [Psalm
124: "If the LORD had not
been on our side ... when
men attacked us... they would have swallowed us alive... Our help is
in the name of ADONAI".
"The
LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YET,
OUR AMAZING GOD ~ HAS AND WILL STILL USE VISIBLE EVENTS IN JERUSALEM
AND HIS WRITTEN WORD TO TEACH US OF HIMSELF.
There
is far more significance to the existence of Jerusalem than most
people recognise! It will survive even Damascus soon.
1.
The destruction of the City and of the Temple in AD 70.
Jerusalem
is, sadly, an example of the effects of
repeated, continuous sin against God, right up to the first century
A.D. Even the
Land, (almost forsaken) the City and the Temple:
destroyed twice, the Jewish People: dispersed for
2000 years ~ are facts! All the actual fulfilments of specific
Prophecy were not “accidents of History” as some
Secular Jewish People say, but real events with real messages.
Yeshua/ Jesus Himself, foretold the destruction of the Temple, which
happened 40 years later, exactly as He said.
[See
Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.]
>These
all emphasise the requirement of our intelligent trust in the
evidence of the proven historical accuracy of the Word of God,
so now we have other evidence for students of Israel’s
Past, through
careful archaeological finds ~ then even more events of confirmation
~ like the recreation of the nation of Israel!
>
Yet the worst event of all was
the dispersion of the Jewish People
all around the world, something that could only be
seen as raising serious questions, about so much of God's written
Biblical Word.
God Himself
comments on this in Ezekiel 39: 23:
"Israel
will know that I AM YAWEH, the LORD their God.
And the
Nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their
sin, because they were unfaithful to Me. So I hid My Face, [Yeshua]
from them, and handed them over to their enemies."
So this
has been the long, and tragic history for Jewish Israel for 2,000
years.
> Sadly some
Christians do not even believe in God's power to preserve the
ethnic Jewish race of Jacob's descendants 'forevermore'! Psalm
111: 6.
Today's possible 15 million numbers of Ethnic Jews are
a remnant in comparison with Arabs! 1 Chron. 16: 12 - 22, &
34 - 36, is only one Scripture of confirmation, of their eternal
survival, "for Great is the LORD/
ADONAI!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.
However ~ the restoration
of the modern nation of Israel to
part of their original Land, and the reclamation
and uniting of the city
of Jerusalem in 1967 are other examples
of God's miraculous over-ruling in events in
the last 65+ years. Also
developments in every area of life in Israel, are amazing.
Victory
in Israel's wars against greedy neighbours ~ is God at work!
> So
Isaiah's mysterious words in
chapter 66: 7&8 actually happened!
"Can
a country be born in a day, or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labour"-
[from about 1850] "than
she gives birth to her children." So
there are now some 6.3+ million Jews in Israel! Thousands more will
join them as Ezekiel 39: 26 - 28 says!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.
So the description of Israel
as "a Desert" is
a way of identifying it in the important chapter of Revelation 12,
about "the Godly Line", many God-fearing
Non-Jews, (like Ruth) were woven into 'The Israel of God', throughout
History, up to the present time! [See beautiful Message in Hosea 2:
14 &15 of a 'door of Hope'.] Therefore
the past history of Jerusalem, with so many different
'Rulers' and so many wars brought destruction, and
all kinds of odd rebuilding. Also for some 400 years, the
payment of Turkish taxes using trees caused the degeneration of
the entire Land - to become almost a desert, as visitor's noted
sadly, [though we know it is far from that in many places, now]
> The 'Bride' or "A Woman"
in that chapter was seen as basically 'Israel'
when John wrote it. In our lifetime especially
since the 1850's, and into the immediate future the Jewish people
will indeed be given refuge "In the
Desert, in a place prepared for her by God" [2 x's] Eretz
Israel, no less!
4.
However the truth is, as said above, the past, often reveals the
future.
>
Yet the godly Jews, and even isolated
Christian teachers held
on to the promises of restoration, for the City,
the Land and the Jewish People.
>
The strange thing about specific prophecies
in the understanding of even steadfast lovers of
God's promises ~ is that the spectacular
fulfillment of those
prophecies in many cases is not fully
comprehended and appreciated!
This
is true to a degree of the re-establishment of the Nation of
Israel, in 1948 by the declaration of the Jewish Zionists under David
Ben Gurion!
Then
again in the reclaiming of the entire City of Jerusalem...
Forever!
5.
Yet still other prophetic events are near to happening in the 21st C
~
> All these events emphasise the
requirement for our intelligent trust in the evidence of the
proven historical accuracy of the Word of God.
>Yes!
God Who made mankind, is the greatest Communicator of all time,
and has always and often been available to speak, act, or demonstrate
His love and His justice - in many Sovereign acts, and has focused
on what could be visibly witnessed. We will soon see more
of God’s power, there! [Rev. 11.]
>
Already we have other evidences of God's sovereign acts
in the events of the last 100 years, available to students of
Israel’s Past, some through
careful archaeological
finds! Many of these are
actually in Jerusalem.
Neither
has ADONAI finished
displaying His power and His
love through future events in Jerusalem ~ but
affecting the entire world!
This
includes: Israel, the People, the Land and the City of Jerusalem
~ and lays the legal and ethical base for finding God’s
Truth, for each Believing person as an individual. That
means you and me ~ watching!
Yet
even secular observers around the world will see spectacular acts
of the Sovereign God through this City, in the next decade. Being
aware and ready is important. [We list these briefly at the end of
this article - please see them.]
CONCLUSION: The future of Jerusalem is bound up with future events for Israel and all Jewish people worldwide, changing the world we see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
21st
CENTURY CONSIDERATIONS OF JERUSALEM’S FUTURE
General
guidelines regarding understanding future (prophetic) events in
Jerusalem, Israel and the world.
1.The
Bible is the ONLY place where
reliable prophecies are given
regarding Jerusalem. Significant ones
are: Zechariah chapter 8, also 14: 10 –15, Ezekiel 36 - 39,
Revelation 11: esp.vs13, and Psalms like 83, 102: 12-21, etc.
2
About Prophecy. Sometimes - there
can be two similar fulfilments,
years apart of a prophecy. An example is The Spirit being poured out
twice on Jewish Believers. Acts 2: 17/18, and later to be fulfilled
as in Joel 2: 28/29.
Also Jerusalem and
its Temples were destroyed twice! And
God allowed it to happen! However
events in the past are NOT
indications that they will happen again, in the same way,
so trying to use this idea of foretelling Jerusalem’s future
could be wrong. Scripture explains Scripture.
> E.G.
"A Jewish Diaspora" [dispersal of Jews from the Land of
Israel], has also happened twice, (583B.C E and 70 CE/AD) - and
God gives the reason in Ezekiel 33:21- 29, showing
it was by God's own Sovereign acts.
[Sadly
some mistaken Christians see it being repeated again, ~ a
totally wrong concept.] See Amos 9:27, " 'I
will plant Israel in their own Land, never again to be uprooted from
the Land, I have given them,' says the LORD your God"
All the evidence is, that this verse applies to
Modern Jewish Israel. It is God's land and City to give as HE
wills, for Blessing!
3.
Special events may sometimes emphasise
both the Sovereignty of God, and the sinfulness
of man, as seen in Jesus/Yeshua's life and death. God Sovereignly
foretold and planned the Death of Yeshua, His Son to bring Blessing
to billions of people. Have you found that blessing yet?
Yet
Messiah's death was also brought about by the sinful people who
crucified Yeshua/ Jesus. See Peter's words in Acts 2: 23 -25.
4. So
God may use different methods, or events for
the one important reason. He longs for all
Jewish people to (as it were) endorse
His choice of King Yeshua, to be their chosen King by faith in
His sacrifice for them when He died
as "King of the Jews"
2,000 years ago. Psalm 2, & Luke 23: 38.
All
these points ~ assure Bible Readers of a good future for Jerusalem!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JERUSALEM AN ORDINARY CITY OR FOCUS OF GOD'S PLANS?
1.
Two extremes are seen, when considering the city of
Jerusalem especially.
a)
One is the fact of being an ordinary city, almost like
any other big City...
b)
The other is the spiritual significance it holds, as God’s
specific ‘place’ - and called 'Zion', ~
because of this holy, spiritual dimension! Also to prove God can and
does fulfil every Covenant and Promise He made!
2.
Generally ‘Jerusalem’
can be seen as the ‘representative’ of all Israel.
So when we are asked to “Pray
for the peace of Jerusalem” Psalm
122, we are praying not only for the
City, but the entire Nation.
>
But since there will never be true, lasting peace, except
for the Prince of Peace establishing - (not just ‘lack of war’)
- but a spiritual renewal of all the Jewish
people when they accept Yeshua as Saviour and Messiah by repentance
and faith [NOT by sight]
~ this is the meaning of the prayer.
>> Praise
Yeshua, we know He will answer!
3. At this point it
might be important to see the Article on 'Who owns Jerusalem' here?
The answer to that question is a vital part of understanding
"Israel's Future." The Scriptural answer to that question
underlies every physical, political, military and especially the
Spiritual impact on millions of people ~Jews and non-Jews, around the
entire world, but we cannot repeat it all here, as it is a complex
question that needs thinking about.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A. JERUSALEM WILL BE THE FOCUS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.
JERUSALEM will soon be given by God's over-ruling ~ totally into Israeli Jewish control in a surprising way! However from our study it will be in 2 main stages in the next decade - both key events involve war with Israel's Enemies but only in the Middle East, with Victory for Israel by God's Help.
1. First a short war to give Israel a time of 'security' but also 'isolation' as a result of the war described in Psalm 83, Jer. 49: 37, and in a 'Letter to Israel' given by the prophet Isaiah, some 2,500 years ago, in Isaiah 41: 8 -16! The assurance of 'security' first, is 3 times in Ezekiel 38: 8,11 & 14.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.
A few years later on - a huge army called 'Magog' - representing
Islam, will gather to use chemical weapons to eliminate all the
Jewish people from Israel. These events will be 'organised' by
ADONAI as in Ezekiel 38: 4!
>
There is only one future war
described in the Tanakh in detail, and this is in Ezekiel 38 &
39. Israel will not be able to do
anything to defend themselves.
>
Men who have served in the
IDF in Israel will be totally distraught, as Jeremiah 30:1 - 9
describes it. Though it is a "time
of trouble... he will be delivered out of it" -
indicating it will be a
very short time! See here.
3. But Sovereign
ADONAI Himself will step in with Divine judgement by a massive Storm
and Earthquake - completely
destroying the entire Army, but sparing Jewish
people and the
entire Nation from harm!
[The
Muslim mosques and Cult centers throughout Israel may well be
destroyed, including those on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.]
4.
The watching world will be amazed,
as it repeatedly says in these chapters in Ezekiel, and to Jewish
people, too. "Then they will
know that I am ADONAI." Jews
around the world will now become Believers in Yeshua,
as Saviour of their sins, and Messiah! See Ezekiel 39:29 & Zech
12: 9 - [not the entire world just some that attacked] thru' to ch13:
1. Also Romans 11: 12, 15 & 26! This is
God's greatest desire fulfilled for His Jewish People!
Yes! The City of Jerusalem for millennia, has been, now is, and always will be very, very significant! Understanding this will shape our thoughts and even attitudes as we watch modern events, and pray for God’s will to be done, and God’s Glory to be seen. Israel will bring blessing to the World!
5.
This will be after God destroys Islam's power in 'the Magog war',
saving Israel from annihilation, and giving them ALL the
Land He promised!
"
I will gather them to their own Land not
leaving any behind." [39:
28.]
>There
are some lovely prophecies in Zechariah chapter 1, & chapter 8:
3-17, to reassure you that this is God's unfailing, loving purpose
for Jerusalem!
"I
will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem, Then Jerusalem will be
called the 'City of Truth'... and 'the Holy Mountain'." [Zech
8: 3.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Question:
"Will Israel be in the Tribulation under Anti-christ?" -
No.]
B.
ISRAEL ~ AND THE FUTURE LEADER OF A GLOBAL GOVERNMENT.
1.
Finally one last 'World Power' called 'A Beast'
will try to control Israel.
>
First - the Future world Dictator, also
called "Anti-christ", will make a Covenant with all
nations for 7 years, to hand over their Sovereignty to him.
>
But it is clear, he will make a
separate 'Treaty' to give Israel separate *
sovereignty over
all of Israel, but with conditions,
[we believe]
such as the forced
return of all Jews to Israel, in return for
permission to build the Temple.
See
Ezekiel 39:26 -29, also chapter 36: 33 -38!
>
This will allow Israel a time of independence, * instead
of being part of the Beast's world Domination, with a False Prophet
using a lethal, talking Statue to control everyone. See Daniel
9:27 & Mark 13: 14, & Rev.13:14/15.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.
Therefore ISRAEL is given control of Jerusalem
for a possible 7 years.
>
All eyes will be on Jerusalem
at this time -
with God's People now holy, as the result of God saving them from the
Islamic 'Magog' Army.
>
This means Israel
will be a glorious Nation under God,
as Isaiah promises in chapter 60:1-3.during the first dark 42 months
of the 'Tribulation'. > So Israel will
not suffer, and will welcome true Christians, as all
Jews will be Believers! The Jews will build the third Temple and
start sacrifices to teach about Yeshua, as most Jews (and some
Christians) understand so little of the Meaning of the Temple and
the services and sacrifices, pointing to Yeshua.
See
Ezekiel 39: 29, Romans 11: 12, 15 and 26, and Joel 2: 28 - 29!
>
Israel at peace, is another BIG
subject also described on this web site, 'Israel's
Glorious Future'.
>
However during this time, the
Beast will tightly control all people by changing most laws and "he
forced everyone... to receive a mark on his right hand or his
forehead, so that no one could buy or sell, unless he had the mark."
All true Christians will therefore be imprisoned or
killed, except for all the Jewish and some Christian people in
Israel.
See
Zechariah 8: 23 -25.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
C. GOD WILL APPOINT TWO GODLY PROPHETIC WITNESSES.
1.
They speak for Him from Jerusalem. [Open your Bible at Rev.11.]
>
During the first 42 months,
(3.5 years) of the Beasts reign over the world, when everyone must
worship the 'Dragon', it will be a very significant time for the
Prophets, due to them being 'Spokesmen' for God. [N.B. They are not
ancient prophets, as the Bible does not teach 're-incarnation'. They
are probably alive in the world today, as humble prayerful men of
God.]
>
It seems the 2 Prophets will probably work with God -
in sending 'Trumpet Judgements', [as In Revelation
8: 7 - 12] on different parts of the world. Rev.11: 3 - 6, tells that
the followers of 'the Beast' will hate them, and after 1,260 days
[3.5 years], will be glad to see them dead, as verses 7 - 10 says.
"The Beast will attack them...
and kill them.
Their bodies will lie in the streets of the great City... for 3 &
1/2 days... The inhabitants of the Earth will gloat over
them... because these two Prophets had tormented those who live on
the Earth." [This concept is our understanding of
when the first 5 'Trumpet judgements of Rev. ch's 8 & 9, could
take place. Maybe ~ 6 &7, match the 6th & 7th 'Bowl
Judgements' as in Revelation 16: 12 - 21.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.
But the world is in for a great shock a POWERFUL
EARTHQUAKE!
>
First! "But
after the 3 & 1/2 days, the breath of Life from God entered them
and they stood on their feet - but terror struck those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from Heaven, 'come up here'! And they
went up to Heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on."
> Then! "At that very hour there was a severe Earthquake, and a tenth of the City, [i.e. Jerusalem] collapsed. 7,000 people were killed in the Earthquake, but the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the GOD of HEAVEN." It seems this could be a section of the City that were against the National turning to and acceptance of Yeshua, as Zechariah describes in 12: 10 to ch. 13: 1. See 'Earthquakes in Jerusalem'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
D. NOW, A SERIOUS TIME, ENDS MANKIND'S RULERSHIP OF EARTH.
1.
The Control of the world by the 'Beast' and his False 'Prophet' -
changes, for the worst after 3.5 years or 42 months, when they move
to Jerusalem, with their Lethal Statue, that Daniel and Jesus called:
"The Abomination of Desolation".
>
Background facts. As described above,
the 'Beast' of Daniel 7: 27, and Revelation 13, [called the
'Anti-christ'] will make a special 'Treaty' or Covenant for Israel
to be a separate Nation, in their own Land, with Jerusalem as
their capital and the 3rd Temple built and in use to worship
"The God of Israel".
>
But this will change after the
first 3.5 years, when the Beast breaks the Treaty he made with
Israel. Even secular people and certainly Bible-reading
Believers, know from New Testament Scriptures that this personality
called ‘the Anti-christ’, (or more accurately ‘The
False -messiah’), wants Jerusalem!
>
So He will suddenly lay claim to it,
for himself! This could be [we believe] in jealous response to
the huge number of tourist sightseers who will flock to see the
glorious Temple during the first 3+ years of the Beast’s World
rule.
>
This fact of Jerusalem becoming a favourite tourist destination,
[even inspite of the terrible disaster
the Trumpet Judgements brought to large parts of the world] will
cause the 'Beast' - (in jealousy and anger) to place his own statue
in the Temple and re-enforce his demand for everyone to worship him!
>
Scriptures for this belief.
Revelation
gives a terrible description in ch's 17 & 18 including the future
Fall of the Beast's evil city - 'BABYLON' - the opposite to
Jerusalem!
So
there will begin the even more evil 42 months of 'Tribulation time'.
This is a big scenario that we explain in the article ‘The
False-messiah'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUT AFTER THE NEXT 3.5 TERRIBLE YEARS ~ THE GREAT FINALE WILL BE YESHUA - JESUS - IN JERUSALEM!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIRST
LET US CONSIDER WHAT GOD’S PRIORITIES ARE FOR JERUSALEM.
For
Biblically based readers we need to discern what God is longing
for.
What
are GOD’s priorities?
1.
To provide salvation for repentant sinners, everywhere.
Throughout
all of Scripture, God’s plans, and great desire was to bring
people into His Holy, Royal Family – into a special
relationship with Himself. But mankind’s SIN was the tragic
barrier to ever being close to God, here or after we die! So God
planned to atone for the sin’s of any individual ~ through the
death of His own Son in Jerusalem, (God's chosen City on Earth), so
that anyone who would look to Him by faith, would be made holy,
and therefore acceptable to a Holy God. “For
God so loved the world that He gave His only and unique Son, so that
every one who trusts in Him, may have Eternal Life.”
Please see: Yochanan/ John ch. 3: verses 16 - 18 in N.T.
2.
To restore His own Israeli Nation to Himself, as a holy Nation.
The
prophet Ezekiel writes about it so clearly in the 36th
chapter of his book. “This is what
the Sovereign ADONAI says; ‘I will gather you from all the
countries and bring you back into your own Land. I will sprinkle
clean water on you, and you will be clean… I will put My
Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees’…”
Then they will BLESS the world!
>
There are many passages that
indicate these wonderful Plans that God has for His
Jewish Nation, which He is now in the process of fulfilling!
It
is sad, so few people see this probability – even being part of
their total experience in this world like it
is, as a witness to His faithful promises.
>
Isaiah paints it as a beautiful
picture of Jewish Israel, in chapter 60: 1 -3.
“Arise
shine! For YOUR Light is come, and the glory of ADONAI arises on
YOU”. [But by contrast
in a time of world total distress – as in the ‘Tribulation
period’; he continues…] “See,
darkness is over the Earth, and gross darkness is over the peoples –
but the LORD rises upon you, and His Glory appears over you.”
This does not describe the actual Coming of Yeshua,
but the result of all Jewish People ~ realising that Yeshua is their
spiritual Savior and Messiah, after the Magog War and BEFORE the
rapturous Return of Yeshua. See GOD'S reason at the end of this
article!
We
believe Jewish People will spread the Gospel, as in Joel 2: 25 –29!
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[Some readers may disagree with the conclusions from Scripture that the writers of this article describe, but they are not offered at all dogmatically but for your individual prayerful consideration.
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3. We also believe the Father is longing to send His Son Yeshua/ the Messiah back to this weary, wicked world to Reign. Revelation chapter 19, & Psalm 24, 45 & 72 describe it like a Wedding Day! See our specific study on ‘The Second Coming of Yeshua to Earth’.
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LASTLY
A SUMMARY OF ALL THE SPECIAL EVENTS IN JERUSALEM.
[As
this study is rather long already we thought we should only summarise
other events that we have written about separately, especially,
‘Earthquake and Sky Signs in Jerusalem’, and ‘The
Ezekiel War Part 2’.]
1.
After the events of the next 2 Wars ~
Israel will be granted ALL the Land originally promised to them. This
is told about in Isaiah 14: 1 & 2, and in Isaiah 60 & 61,
(esp. verses 7-9! maybe twice as much). Also all ch. 49.
2.
All Jews will be returned to the Land of Israel. God may use
the new ‘World Leader’ (the False-messiah or Antichrist’)
to force Jews to return, but God says in Ezekiel 39: 26, “Though
I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their
own Land not leaving any behind’.”
3.
Because of the voluntary exile of many anti-Israel people before the
Ezekiel war there will be plenty of room for all who come. Some
Believing Non-Jews will join them, and be welcomed by Jewish People.
Zech. 8: 23.
4.
Israel will become a Holy Nation, as clearly promised. “This
is what the Sovereign LORD says… ‘For the sake of My
Holy Name which you have profaned… I will show the holiness of
My Great Name… Then the Nations will know that I AM the LORD…
when I show MYSELF HOLY through you, before their eyes’.”
Ezekiel 36: 22 – 23.
5.
Jerusalem will be fully restored including the Temple on the Temple
Mount. Yochanan/ John describes the Temple being measured in
Revelation 11:1-2. This is where millions of Believers will worship.
[That it will be a literal building is indicated by Jesus’
warning in Matt. 24: 15.] Many people trample through.
6.
God will have 2 human godly prophetic spokesmen to declare God’s
plans and punishments, against specifically anti-God, anti-Israel
nations. Rev 11: 6.
[They will not be
re-incarnations of previous Prophets, but will have a similar
ministry to previous prophets, but will harmonise with the ‘Trumpet
Events’ during the Tribulation that is over the entire world
except for Israel...]
This will
be for 3.5 years, during which efforts to kill them will be made.
7.
Three & half days after they have finally been killed, they
will be raised to life and to Heaven. The entire world will see
this, maybe on modern Media.
8. At that moment a huge
Earthquake will happen to 1/10th of Jerusalem, with
7,000 killed. All Believers will give God the glory. Revelation
11:13.
9. The False-messiah will angrily relocate his
‘worship statue’ to the Temple and demand to be
worshipped there. See 2 Thessalonians 2.
10. All
the Believers in Jerusalem will quickly relocate to the hills north
of Israel. Matthew 24: 15 – 22. [Not to Petra or Pella, we
believe.]
11. Then the
Beast will gather his Army and bring them all to Israel, for
the 'Battle of Armageddon'. The result for him and his false Prophet
is Rev. 19.
12. The
‘bowl judgements’ will follow quickly, and culminate
in a HUGE Earthquake for total destruction of the Evil Anti-christ’s
regime and his army! Even Satan, the Dragon will be captured and
locked away. Rev. 20:1-3!
The
End of the Age is here! The end of Evil, will synchronise with the
sudden return of Yeshua with all
the angels and Believers who were given resurrection bodies to rise
to meet "The KING of kings, and
LORD of lords, the - WORD of God!"
Revelation 19:11 – 21!
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FINALLY
THE FOCUS WITH MARVELLOUS BLESSINGS WILL BE ON JERUSALEM, BECAUSE THE
PRINCE OF PEACE WILL BE THERE
It
seems that this may be the time when the amazing City and Temple
complex described in great detail by Ezekiel (40 – 47) will be
spread out on the much bigger area than the present city!
Most
of all, here is GOD'S reason for restoring Jerusalem: "Then
all the Nations will know that I, YAWEH, the LORD, am your Saviour,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
[Last part of Isaiah
49: 26!!!]
But
there is one certain promise for us all to look forward to as we
pray:
“May
Your Kingdom come”… [It
is the last verse of Ezekiel 40!]
“And
the name of the City from that time on will be:
‘THE
LORD IS THERE’ ~ ‘ YHWH SHAMMAH’
“Behold,
I AM coming soon! My reward is with Me. And I will give to everyone
according to what he has done. I AM the Alpha & the Omega, the
First & the Last, the Beginning & the End. Blessed are those
who wash their robes that they might have right to the Tree of Life,
and may go through the gates into the City.” [Rev.
22: 12 - 14.]
May
it be so, to God's great Glory, Amen!
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So this article is for your blessing and as a basis to your own study. Please give the name of this paper, if you write to us, so we understand your welcome words!
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