December 6, 2013 thru January 2, 2014
The City of
Now as He (Jesus Christ) drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you on every side, and level you, and your children within you on the ground; and they will not leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Luke 19:11-14
By
Alton B. (Don) Billingsley
Keeping Our Eyes on Jerusalem!
Mr. Armstrong continually told us to keep our eyes on Jerusalem! Realizing it is the KEY to the real beginning of the very end-time prophecies we would do well to keep that very sound counsel in mind.
Panorama of the Temple Mount, seen from the Mount of Olives
This is from where Jesus Christ saw the city and wept over it
Jerusalem a Coveted City
Though there are the troublesome areas in this world the one to watch more closely is the city of Jerusalem – a coveted possession – for many nations and has been through the millennia.
There are many Biblical prophecies concerning Jerusalem for the very near future. This writing will make the effort of giving an overview of what the Biblical prophecies reveal.
A Scenario Based on Scripture
In this writing concerning the near future of the City of Jerusalem and making the effort of connecting the prophecies concerning it in sequence, it will be necessary to follow what is written by God’s prophet Isaiah:
“Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept (Scriptural teachings that includes doctrine and prophecy) must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little . . .” (Isaiah 28:9-10, 13).
Mr. Armstrong wrote in the MYSTERY OF THE AGES, Page xi: “I learned that the Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle—thousands of pieces that need putting together—and the pieces will fit together only in one way. Then the picture becomes crystal clear to the one believing what God our Creator says.”
Considering the Present Warfare in the Middle East
To set the stage for the beginning of the fulfillment of these prophecies, we should think about the recent rise and fall of rulers in the Arab Nations in the Middle East. There is the continued rebellion in Egypt after rebellious forces having overthrown its longtime president. There is also the ongoing revolution in the Kingdom of Syria.
In view of prophecy it can be seen these rebellions and warfare in the Arab world are fitting into God’s Time Table for the beginning fulfillment of prophetic events concerning the City of Jerusalem.
There is a purpose being worked out by God with these nations in pursuit of having control of that City and then trying to destroy the Jewish people as Hitler tried during WWII.
And to climax it an all-out war will undoubtedly take place in the Middle East. The prophecies of the Bible make this very plain to the unbiased and astute mind.
Though there are always the gainsayers who fail to see God’s hand in anything in this
world nevertheless God reigns in the nations of mankind and the day is coming when all of mankind will come to know this to be true.
The Almighty Supreme Ever-Ruling God in Heaven
The Almighty God in heaven above has a Time Table that directly connects with His Master Plan of Salvation for all of mankind. And He makes known by His infinite greatness that He knew what the end would be of this 6,000 years allotted to this age from its very beginning:
“Remember the former things of old, for I am God (EL), and there is no other; I am God (ELOH), and there is NONE like Me, declaring the END (Book of Revelation) from the BEGINNING (Book of Genesis, He had the end in mind when He created mankind), and from ancient time things that are NOT yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
God Rules in the Kingdoms of Men
One example among many of God’s rule in the kingdoms of mankind is that of His intervention in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar who ruled over the first world-ruling Empire, Babylon.
During his reign, the very proud and haughty King Nebuchadnezzar had a vivid dream that he forgot. He then sought someone to bring it back to his mind and make the meaning of it known to him. After others failed, God’s prophet Daniel revealed the dream and the interpretation of it to the king:
“They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beast of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times (seven years) shall pass over you till you KNOW that the Most High RULES in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Daniel 4:25).
“. . . and sets over whomever He will, and SETS over it the lowest of men” (Daniel 4:17).
God’s Rule Often Requires His Intervention
Throughout the Holy Bible there are many examples in man’s history that could be used to show where God intervened to thwart the plans of rulers who would have disrupted His Master Plan and His Time Table.
Examples can be used of Russia: Remember Nikita Khrushchev and the standoff with President Kennedy over nuclear missiles being established in Cuba in October, 1962. Had not God intervened and affected the minds of the leadership in Soviet Russia and the United States there would possibly have been a nuclear war. Then there is North Korea who also possesses nuclear bombs and has made threats of the use of them. It is in minds such as these men to want to rule the world as Adolph Hitler tried and failed.
Secret Plans are also in the minds of demented men today for the same purpose but God holds them at bay:
“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect (this explains why mankind can do nothing UNLESS the LORD permits it). The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations (His Master Plan remains in place for the ultimate salvation of mankind)” (Psalm 33:10-11).
God is Working Out His Purpose on this Earth
The Almighty God in heaven above continues to make known His infinite greatness by revealing His future plans in prophecy and then makes them known to His prophets:
“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and NEW things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:9).
God revealed to His prophets, His early apostles and to His late Apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong the major happenings that would affect His people, the House of Israel in this end-time:
“Surely the LORD does nothing (major), UNLESS He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
Among many examples that could be used to show this to be true, there is the example of the LORD God revealing to Abraham his plans for destroying Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-33; Daniel 8:15-19).
Jesus Christ opened the mind of Mr. Armstrong to understand the terrible times that will soon befall the House of Joseph here in this end-time. And he was used by Him to proclaim them faithfully to the House of Joseph and much of the world during His life- time mission.
And as incredible as it may seem to be, Jesus Christ is continuing to use the very same man, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, though he is dead, by the use of his Recorded Works, voice and writings, on our 14 websites.
Iran a Real Quandary for Israel
From the Times of Israel, we read the following regarding the negotiations that have recently taken place between the United States and Iran. It gives enlightenment to what will become the beginning of the end in this age for the nation of Israel and loss of Jerusalem.
On November 29, the Times of Israel published an article with the following headline: “How Sloppy US Diplomacy Is Empowering Iran!”
The article continued:
“After all the hype about an interim agreement between Iran and world powers on Sunday, it became clear on Wednesday that the deal is not actually finalized. Not only has the six-month interim agreement not come into effect yet, but also Iran is free to proceed with its military program at full speed until the deal’s final ‘technical’ details have been worked out, as US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki put it…
“Psaki was speaking on Tuesday, just a few hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced that his country’s interim agreement with the P5+1 — the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany — does not obligate it to stop construction of the heavy-water production plant in Arak, which could be used in the production of weapons-grade plutonium. Zarif said the agreement only required Iran to cease heavy water production at the site.
“Various experts have also said that the agreement published by the White House leaves the Iranians the ability to manufacture crucial components for their nuclear program outside the Arak facility and install them if the site is reopened. The highlight came later on Tuesday when the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that the agreement Washington published was not the one it had agreed to. If it weren’t so sad, it might almost be funny.
“In her earlier announcement, Psaki explained that there is no clear timetable for implementing the signed interim agreement with Iran. If that is really the case, someone on the American negotiating team in Geneva deserves a prize for incompetence – or possibly for misleading the public. Leaving aside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contempt for the interim accord, and his now openly problematic relationship with President Barack Obama over this most acute of crisis, certain Arab countries, particularly those belonging to the Saudi-Egyptian camp, see the handling of the negotiations with Iran and the resulting agreement as part of [a] trend. The White House, they say, is reliably amateurish and clumsy when attempting to intervene in the Middle East…
“The nuclear issue is not the only one that worries various countries in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia. ‘The [Persian] Gulf countries are now concerned that the US is essentially supporting Iranian hegemony in the region… According to Susser, if these processes continue,
the Arab countries will have no choice but to tighten bonds with Iran. ‘They won’t like it but they may not have any other alternative,’ he said.”
Sun da y, N o ve m b er 24, 2013 | R yan Jon es
Topics:
Israel fuming over 'delusional' Iran nuke deal, threatening to review military option
Iran on Sunday hailed the nuclear deal it reached with Western powers as a victory over "the Zionists," while Israel fumed over the details of the agreement, even as US President Barack Obama insisted it would improve the security of the Jewish state.
"All plots hatched by the Zionist regime to stop the nuclear agreement have failed," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said to his nation's media from Geneva.
The deal signed on Sunday is only the first in many proposed steps. It requires Iran to temporarily freeze its nuclear program (while leaving it fully intact) in exchange for a lessening of Western sanctions.
Over the coming six month, Zarif said Iran will give America and its Western allies an opportunity to prove their trustworthiness to the Islamic Republic before moving on to the second step.
Israelis officials seemed incredulous that Obama could enter, eyes fully opened, into such an arrangement.
"What was agreed last night in Geneva is not a historic agreement, it is a historic mistake," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Sunday's cabinet meeting. "Today the world has become much more dangerous because the most dangerous regime in the world took a significant step to getting the most dangerous weapon in the world."
"There is no achievement in this agreement," added Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. "This is the biggest diplomatic victory Iran has known in recent years."
"We awoke this morning to a new reality. A reality in which a bad deal was signed with Iran. A very bad deal," Economic Minister Naftali Bennett wrote on his Facebook page. "If a nuclear suitcase blows up five years from now in New York or Madrid, it will be because of the deal that was signed this morning."
"Just like the failed deal with North Korea, the current deal can actually bring Iran closer to the bomb," said Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz. "Israel cannot take part in the international celebrations based on Iranian deception and self-delusion."
But celebrate appears to be precisely what the Obama Administration wants Israel, and everyone else, to do.
While Obama acknowled ged that Israel and the Arab Gulf states "have reason to be skeptical," US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted the deal had "made the world safer.
Deal Worse than 1938 Munich Agreement
Newsmax wrote on November 26:
“The U.S.-Iran deal on nuclear weapons is far more disastrous than the 1938 Munich Agreement, which permitted Nazi Germany's annexation of portions of Czechoslovakia, says David Horowitz, president of the David Horowitz Freedom Center.
“‘It is catastrophic. It's worse than Munich because after [British Prime Minister Neville] Chamberlain sold the Czechs down the river to [Adolf] Hitler, although they suffered and many of them died, they weren't obliterated,’ Horowitz told ‘The Steve Malzberg Show’ on Newsmax TV. ‘Whereas the [President Barack] Obama-[Secretary of State John] Kerry deal with Iran jeopardizes the lives of the entire Jewish people in Israel,’ he said Monday. ‘When Israel is the size of New Jersey, a nuclear bomb or two could just wipe out the population.’''
Charles Krauthammer agrees. According to newsbusters.org, dated November 25, he said:
“I just heard the Secretary of State say we’re going to get a destruction of the 20 percent uranium. That is simply untrue. What’s going to happen is the 20 percent enriched uranium is going to be turned into an oxide so it’s inoperative. That process is completely chemically reversible, which means Iran holds on to its 20 percent uranium and can turn it into active stuff any time it wants. This is a sham from beginning to end. It’s the worst deal since Munich.”
JTA wrote on November 25:
“Netanyahu… reiterated [on Sunday] that Israel will strike Iran’s nuclear program — with or without
U.S. approval — if Israel deems it necessary. ‘This agreement and what it means endangers many countries, including, of course, Israel,’ Netanyahu said. ‘Israel is not bound by this agreement. The Iranian regime is committed to the destruction of Israel, and Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself, by itself, against any threat.’”
The Guardian wrote on November 24:
“Netanyahu, who has staked his premiership on the need to defend Israel against the Iranian threat by military action if necessary, faces further isolation from key allies in the west who brokered and endorsed the diplomatic accord with Tehran. The issue has severely strained relations between Israel and the US over recent weeks.
“But the prospect of diplomatic alienation did not stop a string of minsters taking to the airwaves to denounce the deal. ‘If in another five or six years a nuclear suitcase explodes in New York or Madrid, it will be because of the agreement that was signed this morning,’ the economy minister, Naftali Bennett, said. ‘We woke up this morning to a reality in which a bad, a very bad agreement was signed in Geneva.’
“The foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman… added: ‘Obviously when you look at the smiles of the Iranians over there in Geneva, you realise that this is the Iranians' greatest victory, maybe since the Khomeini revolution, and it doesn't really change the situation within Iran.’”
The Washington Post wrote on November 24:
“Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the deal ‘brings us to a nuclear arms race. The world has to understand that this is the biggest diplomatic victory Iran has had in recent years,’ Lieberman said. ‘There's no doubt the agreement recognizes Iran's right to enrich uranium.’… Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, last week referred to Israel as ‘the rabid dog of the region’ and promised ‘the Zionist regime is doomed to destruction.’”
The Washington Times wrote on November 25:
“Asking Iran to ‘halt and scale back its nuclear program’ is like asking President Barack Obama to take responsibility for his presidency. It will never occur. From one dishonest broker to another, this explains why Obama agreed to the ‘sucker’s deal’ negotiated in Geneva between Iran and five other so called ‘superpowers,’ Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia.
“Obama bowed to Iran’s demand that Tehran be allowed to keep its current supply of enriched uranium with the promise it won’t produce anymore high grade uranium to use in a nuclear bomb. Iran also ‘promised’ it would stop construction on a nuclear reactor in Arak being built to produce plutonium used to make a bomb. In exchange for Iran’s generous assurances, economic sanctions will be lifted for six months and the cash starved, mullah run nation will be able to tap some of its $7 billion in frozen funds. ‘Halting’ isn’t dismantling or ending Iran’s nuclear program. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said ‘Iran gets everything that it wanted at this stage and it pays nothing.’…
“Remember this is the same Iran arming Syrian President Assad to continue his massacre of his own people. The same Iran that professes its goal is to wipe Israel from the face of the earth and the same Iran that funds terrorism globally through groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, enemies to Israel and America…”
Newsmax wrote on November 24:
“Former CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden on Sunday criticized the Obama administration's deal with Iran saying it will only delay, not derail the country's nuclear program… ‘Practically the worst of all possible outcomes, because now what you have here is a nuclear capable state,’ Hayden said… ‘And my fear is, this interim agreement, which doesn't roll back much of anything at all, becomes a permanent agreement,’ Hayden said.”
W ed n es d ay, D e cem be r 04, 201 3 | Isra e l T oda y S t af f
Nearly half of Israelis believe it is time to reduce their nation's dependence on America and seek new allies, according to the latest edition of a monthly poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute.
While 71 percent of those polled labeled America as Israel's truest ally, a 49 percent plurality said it was time to find a new national benefactor, though less than 30 percent believed Israel would be successful on that front.
Most Israelis view America as a diminishing ally for two reasons:
The Obama Administration is viewed as overtly hostile toward the Jewish state, a perception only enhanced by Secretary of State John Kerry'srecent remarks that Israeli concerns over Iran's nuclear deal were secondary to America's agenda; and
Washington's failure to correctly gauge the "Arab Spring," punish the Assad regime for using chemical weapons against Syrians, and leverage economic sanctions to bring an actual end to Iran's nuclear program make America look weak in the Middle East.
Over the past year, Israel has been seen cozying up to Russia, which has been all too happy to fill the void left by America, not only in Israel, but around the region.
Israel has also boosted relations with China of late, sending several delegations aimed at involving Beijing more directly in the Middle East peace process.
Burgeoning Israel-China relations and cooperation on diplomatic issues like defensible borders is all discussed in greater depth in the upcoming issue of Israel Today Magazine.
Questions Concerning the Future of Jerusalem
Along with these very serious concerns of the continuing deadly threats from Iran and the Palestinians with the leadership in Israel (in reality the Tribe of Judah) there is also the concern of losing the aid and military support from America if they bomb Iran.
In the interim there are also the other Tribes of Israel (brothers to Judah) who are trying to undermine Israel (Judah) while seeking to turn over Jerusalem and all of the areas won from the Arabs in previous warfare back to the Arab nations! Virtually all of the other nations in Europe are also turning their backs on this tiny nation of Israel as those news articles revealed.
Israel has its back against the wall without support from any nation.
Background to Israel Becoming a Nation
Before going further let us take a look at some of the background history of Jerusalem from the time she became a recognized nation by the UN in 1948. This is necessary to understand in view of the problems facing Israel from the Arabs at this time.
The following quotes from the internet give a brief overview of that time when Israel and Jerusalem won its independence as a nation.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Israeli Declaration of Independence (Hebrew: תואמצעה תזרכה,Hakhrazat HaAtzma'ut or Hebrew: תואמצעה תליגמ Megilat HaAtzma'ut), was made on 14 May 1948 (5 Iyar 5708), the British Mandate terminating soon
afterwards at midnight Palestine time.[2] David Ben- Gurion, the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization: Retrieved 7 December 2013[3][4] and the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine,[5] declared the establishment of a Jewish
state in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the State of Israel.[6]
This was its beginning! However it was not until the six-day war on June 5, 1967 with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq that Israel was able to capture and establish its ownership over the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights which was very important for their security. In addition they were able to capture East Jerusalem (the Temple Mount formerly controlled by Jordan). This made possible the full ownership of the city of Jerusalem by Israel (Information from Wikipedia the Free Dictionary).
Prophecy makes known that God willed that the nation of Judah to once again come into existence. And God through circumstances made it happen!
And it did on Friday, November 29, 1947. Had not God intervened it would not have happened for there were too many nations against it including all of the Arab nations. However God so affected the minds of the leaders of those nations who were members of the United Nations they gave a majority vote for the consent of the partition resolution in 1948.
A note in passing: All of the Tribes (Nations) of Israel voted for partition with the lone exception of the United Kingdom of Great Britain who abstained.
Israel a Nation to Face Many Problems and Enemies
A paraphrase of what one writer wrote about it: "The Jews in Tel Aviv celebrated this miracle for the partition resolution only for a moment. Ben Gurion and other top leaders of Israel knew even a greater miracle would have to take place to win
independence for the state of Israel, as the cry, “Perish Judea' arose like thunder on Arab lips."
History also tells us that the Arab nations did indeed come fiercely against this tiny nation but due to continued miracles from God they were not able to destroy and drive them into the sea as threatened by President Nassar of Egypt in 1967! The effort continues yet today from other enemies.
Israel and the Arab Nations
It has been said, and is a true statement: God will not let the Arabs destroy Israel, and neither will God let Israel destroy them. As to why, Abraham fathered Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 16:11-12; 17:20). Ishmael later came to be Arab through intermarriage with the descendants of Esau (Genesis 28:9), twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 25:21-26).
Only Jesus Christ will be able to remove the ancient hatred that began with Ishmael and Esau against Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 27:41-42), and has been perpetuated ever since (Ezekiel 35:5). Jesus Christ will forcibly bring peace to that area and to this earth while ruling with a rod of iron! (Psalm 2:9). And all those who will not accept His rule of law will perish (Luke 19:27).
The Weighty Problem of Jerusalem
History reveals the growing and mounting problems in and around Jerusalem will affect the whole world! It always has and will continue to be until the hatred and hostility is replaced by Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace, when He returns to this earth and establishes His Headquarters in Mount Zion.
In the meantime Jerusalem will continue to remain in the news for there are momentous prophecies that are to be fulfilled that center around and in that City!
The Vatican also Seeks Control and Possession of Jerusalem
The Vatican has lustful eyes as well for the City of Jerusalem. In an indirect move even before the partition for the Jewish people was given, which did not include Jerusalem, the Vatican wanted it to be internationalized and still wants it to take place. Please note the following news item:
Catholic World News, November 2- Migliore has reiterated the Vatican's contention that the city of Jerusalem should be protected by a special international statute.
The Vatican's UN representative said that Jerusalem is "the common patrimony of the world and all its believers." Therefore, he continued, the rulers of Jerusalem should be answerable to the international community,
so that access to the city and its holy sites cannot become "the subject of discord among different authorities."
There is more to this statement that meets the eye; however the unsaid part will come to light in the future.
Jerusalem is the crossroads of the world and the most important city on earth! This is realized by many important and influential people today.
This is made known by the fact that both the False Prophet, and the man called the Beast in Bible prophecy, who will head the revitalized 10 nations of Europe, will make their headquarters there in the near future as numerous prophecies make known.
In the meantime it will continue to be a source of real trouble and a stone of stumbling to all of the surrounding nations, as Scripture makes known to us:
No President of the United States or any other leadership of any country has ever been able to resolve the problems there and bring about peace; NOR WILL THEY! Regardless how hard they try, it will never happen, short of Christ Himself bringing it about when He returns to this earth.
Since that time while trying to achieve peace with the Arab nations, Israel has given back some of the areas captured in 1967. However this has not satisfied them for they continually seek to have it all returned to them. And they have the support of the UN, Britain, France, and largely America.
Notice a little more of the history from the internet regarding Jerusalem; the article also brings us up to date regarding the present circumstances of Jerusalem.
History of Jerusalem
JERUSALEM, Israel – Jerusalem. Its name means "City of Peace," yet it's been destroyed, rebuilt, conquered, and re-conquered more times than any other city in history.
"The city has a role to play," Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told CBN News. "It's the center of the world."
For 19 years, Jerusalem was divided between Israel and Jordan with the Old City on the Jordan side. In 1967, the Six-Day War led to the reuniting of the city under Israeli sovereignty.
Now, part of the U.S.-backed peace process seeks to split the city once again. Dividing Jerusalem is the most contentious issue in Middle East peace talks.
Israel maintains Jerusalem is its eternal, undivided capital. Palestinians want the eastern part for the capital of a future state.
CBN's Scott Ross recently asked Mayor Barkat and others about dividing the city. Barkat said dividing the city is impossible.
The Threatening Imminent Danger from Iran
Presently there continues to be the threatening danger from the leadership in Iran to attack Israel with a nuclear bomb! Many news sources reveal Iran is now very close to the bomb’s development! They are speculating Israel will very soon make a preemptive strike against Iran to protect their nation.
And if they do—this appears to be the key for the real beginning of several prophecies to be fulfilled. And they are imminent!
As we have noted from the News Articles they speak of the relationship between America and Israel as being razor-thin and ready to break completely! This would very probably fulfill the prophecy of the brotherhood bond being broken with Manasseh (America).
The Bond to be Broken Between Judah and Israel
Zechariah 11:14 “Then I cut into My other staff Bonds, that I might BREAK the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.”
Israel to Attack Iran
It would appear from what is seen from the News Media there is the real possibility of the leadership of Jerusalem having no choice but to bomb Iran to stop her from developing a nuclear bomb to save their nation and its peoples. If so, it undoubtedly would be a lightning bombing strike similar to that of Egypt in 1967. And this would probably end the tie of brotherhood with America!
Seeing Israel virtually helpless without America’s support, would pose a real possibility of an open conflict with her from Arab nations.
However since Saudi Arabia is very much opposed to the Iranians developing the atom bomb along with a few other Arab nations, it is possible they would yell and threaten Israel but doubtful they would do anything for they are also very much against Iran developing the nuclear bomb.
Because of their opposition it is very likely they would make a secret pack together not to stand in the way of Israel bombing Iran. This secret pack conceivably could also give
permission for Israel to build the 3rd Temple in an area thought by many to be where the Temple stood in the past.
A picture of where some
believe the
Most Holy
Place was located in the
former
Temples.
The Temple to be
Rebuilt in Jerusalem
Quotes from the Internet:
“Some of these modern-day zealots believe the Muslim shrines must first be torn down before the Temple can rise. Others say they subscribe to a "two-shrine solution".
Growing interest
"We have no interest in Al Aqsa, it is outside of the limits of the Temple Mount," explains Fried who says the Temple stood on the site where the Dome of the Rock now stands.
"We want the Temple where the Temple's place is, and Al-Aqsa can remain Al-Aqsa," he says.
"We're not here to provoke the Muslims, they don't interest us."
The Importance of Israel Having Become a Nation
It must be emphasized that Jerusalem is the crossroads of the world and the most important city on earth! This is realized by many important and influential people today and why so many nations lust to possess it.
This is made known by the fact that both the False Prophet, and the man called the Beast in Bible prophecy, who will head the revitalized 10 nations of Europe, will make his headquarters there in the near future as prophecy makes known (Daniel 11:45).
The Temple to be Rebuilt
Shortly before the Beast makes his move there the Sacrificial Offerings will begin by the Priesthood in Jerusalem along with the beginning of construction getting underway for the rebuilding of the 3rd Temple.
The beginning of the sacrificial offerings and construction of the new Temple will set the stage for many other prophecies that are necessary to be fulfilled before the coming of Jesus Christ back to this earth.
Biblical prophecy makes known the 3rd Temple will be built! It being constructed does not depend on man and pacts between them unless God in heaven above would be using them to make it possible.
The major factor appears to be the consideration of the many conflicts taking place in that part of the world as a possible prelude to the building of it. It is highly possible that Jesus Christ will use the outcome of those wars in the Middle East, the ongoing revolution in Syria, amidst the rising and falling of rulers in Arab nations and Egypt, for this to become possible.
All this could prove to be much like a picture puzzle with all of the pieces coming together to make it possible for the beginning of the sacrificial offerings and the construction of the Temple to get underway.
Not Possible!
Realizing any attempt to rebuild the new Temple could set off an all-out war with all of the Arab nations most say this is not possible! To say the impossibility is to leave God out of the picture and the prophetic fact that the Temple will be rebuilt! And it will!
If we believe in the ever-living God in heaven who rules in the kingdoms of men, we should realize with Him all things are possible. He can affect the change of minds to make possible whatever He chooses:
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever he wishes” (Proverbs 21:1).
God’s Plans are for His Return to this Earth
Many Scriptures make known God is directly involved in the kingdoms of men to oversee and make sure His Master Plan continues on Time. Through all of His end-time prophecies His purpose is to pave the way for the coming of Jesus Christ back to this earth (Matthew 24:14).
However, before His return particular prophecies have to soon come to pass concerning not only Jerusalem, but they also include the House of Joseph and their demise as nations. At the right time they will all dovetail together to begin the count-down to the time Jesus Christ will actually return to this earth.
Sacrificial Offerings to Commence Again
One major prophecy is spoken of by God through His prophet Daniel:
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up (‘standing in the holy place’, Matthew 24:15), there shall be 1290 days” (Daniel 12:11).
This Scripture is abundantly clear the sacrificial offerings will commence once again after having ceased in 70 A.D. They ceased to be offered when the Roman General Titus and his enormous Roman armies overwhelmed the Jewish people and conquered the City of Jerusalem at that time.
When considering the sacrificial offerings and the beginning of the construction of the 3rd Temple, it is very interesting there is a parallel example of this taking place in perilous times after the Jewish people returned from Babylon to the City of Jerusalem with the objective of rebuilding the 2nd Temple. This is made known in the book of Ezra.
The Book of Ezra
Undoubtedly history will once again be repeated from that time to the near future – almost word for word! For there appears to be a definite parallel with the nation of Israel (Tribe of Judah) today from the ancient history recorded in the book of Ezra.
It shows how God fulfilled His promise to return the Jewish people back to Jerusalem in 536 B. C. after 70 years of exile in Babylon. Their return could be compared to the Jewish people returning to their ancient heritage in the Promised Land and became a nation in 1948.
Ezra and Nehemiah having returned from Babylon to Jerusalem began restoring the worship of God by observing the Holy Days and beginning the sacrificial offerings to seek favor from God for they were living in fear of the countries around them.
This can be seen from the following Scriptures:
And when the 7th month had come, and the children of Israel were in their cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Joshua .
. . and his brethren the priests and Zerubbabel . . . arose and BUILT THE ALTAR of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God (Ezra 3:1-2)
Consider the following Scripture in view of the present day circumstances of the Jewish nation called Israel today (and they are one Tribe of the House of Israel):
Though FEAR had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they SET THE ALTAR on its foundations; and they OFFERED
burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices (Ezra 3:3)
Scripture reveals when they began these burnt offerings:
From the 1st Day of the 7th month (Feast of Trumpets) they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, ALTHOUGH the foundation of the Temple of the LORD had NOT been laid” (Ezra 3:6).
For FEAR of the countries around them they began the sacrificial offerings to seek God’s favor and protection from these enemy countries.
Historical Duality
The Jewish people have made all of the needed preparations for the sacrificial offerings.
Sometime ago they built the Altar and have it ready to be moved to its rightful location when the time is
right.
Undoubtedly this will make possible the fulfillment of the prophecy to begin the sacrificial offerings. This would also make possible the building of the 3rd Temple.
Aish HaTorah
First Publish: 8/5/2009, 5:06 PM
The world’s largest model of the Holy Temple was inaugurated Wednesday only a few hundred meters away from the Temple Mount, the site where the Temple existed up until 70 CE.
The Man of Sin to Sit in the Temple of God
Rebuilding the Temple will make possible the fulfillment of another prophecy: Speaking about the return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection, the Apostle Paul also spoke of the Man of Sin who will seat himself in the Holy of Holies in the newly built Temple proclaiming that he is God:
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (verses 1-2 – the coming of Jesus Christ and gathering His saints to Him) will NOT come UNLESS the falling away comes first (the first fulfillment has already occurred in 1995, the second one is yet to take place, Daniel 12:7), and the Man of SIN is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself ABOVE ALL that is called God or
that is worshiped, so that HE SITS as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Israel will ally with the Holy Roman Empire
Another prophecy will then begin being fulfilled. A lead in to it is what the small nation of Israel will do after having their relationship with America ended. Scripture indicates they will turn to their former enemy Germany for the help they will need to hold off the Arab forces threatening them.
At this time there will have been the full revival of the prophesied Holy Roman Empire. The Beast will make a pact with Israel and send in a small contingent of soldiers as an added protection for them.
“And forces shall be MUSTERED to him (as did Titus in 70 A. D. to conquer Jerusalem; he was a forerunner of the Beast of this coming time), and they shall DEFILE the Sanctuary Fortress (to guard the Temple), THEN they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31).
The Pope to Move His headquarters to Jerusalem
According to prophecy, the Pope of Rome will establish his headquarters in Jerusalem in the fairly near future. This will be after he will have been given the power of miracles. And by these miracles all of the Christian world will swoon at his feet in worship.
This will make possible for him to bring back to life the Holy Roman Empire of old by consolidating 10 nations in Europe together (Revelation 17:12-13; Daniel 7:23-24). He will then set one man over these nations that will be referred to as the Beast. The following prophecy makes this known:
“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth (Europe), and he had two horns like a lamb (religion) and spoke like a dragon (Vatican is a State as well – a nation within the city of Rome). . . . (Revelation 13:11).
“He performs Great Signs, so that he even makes FIRE come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he DECEIVES those who dwell on the earth BY those Signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the Beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make AN IMAGE (a replica of the old Holy Roman Empire) to the Beast who was wounded by the sword and (once again revived) lived (Revelation 13:13-14).
He was granted POWER (authority) to give BREATH to the image of the Beast, that the image of the Beast should both Speak and Cause as many as would NOT worship the Beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:15).
Certainly all of us should be heeding the warning given us by God's late apostle, "KEEP OUR EYES ON JERUSALEM!"
Even now, this nation, the world, and the Church of God are facing some monumental and horrendous problems with much greater ones ahead of us. Hopefully we are preparing for whatever both mentally by knowing what is before us, and praying fervently at the same time for the spiritual strength need to survive them.
The Battle at Armageddon
Here at the very end-time armies from Europe and the massive armies from Asia will converge to make battle against one another in the Valley of Jehoshaphat of all places right outside the City of Jerusalem each seeking to win over the other and come to be in possession of this coveted possession for their own.
“For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses plundered, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall NOT be cut off from the city” (Zechariah 14:2)
It is interesting that Jesus Christ will only permit the Beast to remove half of the city into captivity. The reason for it will be made known later.
As it has been through the millennia, since Judah and Israel were sent into captivity because of their abominable sins, nations have struggled before and afterwards for possession of Jerusalem, so it will be again at the close of this age.
Zechariah 12:2-3 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem A CUP OF DRUNKENNESS (Margin: reeling) to ALL the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen that I WILL MAKE JERUSALEM A VERY HEAVY STONE for all peoples; all who would HEAVE IT AWAY WILL SURELY BE CUT TO PIECES, though all nations of the earth ARE GATHERED AGAINST IT."
As it will be at the Battle fought in the Valley of Jehoshaphat just outside the City of Jerusalem.
Jesus Christ to Defeat the Armies at Armageddon
It will be at this time Jesus Christ will have returned to this blood-soaked earth having been CROWNED KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, to defeat the armies gathered at Megiddo:
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and
makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns (KING of Kings and LORD of Lords). He had a Name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed with fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a Name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).
The Bride of Jesus Christ having been resurrected will join Him and His angels to fight against these blood-thirsty armies:
“. . . So the LORD will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. Like birds flying about, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; passing over, He will preserve it . . . (Isaiah 31:4-9).
The LORD God, Jesus Christ, will laugh at the puny efforts of the Beast and his huge Roman Armies and the enormous Asian Armies who will be at war against each other (Psalm 2:1-12), who will then turn their attention to the descent of Jesus Christ coming down from heaven to try and do battle with Him.
“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations (Revelation 19:11-21), as He fights in the day of battle (Soncino: an allusion to God’s intervention for Israel at the Red Sea). . .” (Zechariah 14:3).
“In that day,” says the LORD, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will OPEN My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse with of the peoples with blindness” (Zechariah 12:4).
“And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the LORD will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, and raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand, and Judah also will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be gathered together; gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance. Such also shall be the plague on the horse and the mule on the camel and the donkey, and on all the cattle that will be in those camps. So shall the plague be” (Zechariah 14:12-15).
The Total Defeat of Those Armies by Jesus Christ
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the great supper of the great God (margin), that you may eat the flesh of kings . . . (Revelation 19:17-21).
God’s prophet Zechariah wrote of this coming time when Jesus Christ will have returned and after defeating these warring armies will set His foot on the mount of Olives in that same day (Zechariah 14:4-5). He will deliver Jerusalem from her enemies (Psalm 2:1- 6).
The Arabs Have Prepared a Defense Against the Return of Jesus Christ Entering Jerusalem
The Eastern Gate to the Sanctuary
The Eastern Gate (also referred to as the Golden Gate) was prophesied to be closed:
Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the Sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the LORD said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall NOT be opened, and no
man shall enter by it, because the LORD
God of Israel has entered by it (43:1-7), therefore it shall be shut” (Ezekiel 44:1-2).
The Arabs have closed the gate to prevent Jesus Christ from entering it. In addition they have put a cemetery before it as an additional effort to keep Him out. They figure He won’t cross or come through the dead bodies to enter the gate. This would defile Himself.
Plunder and Booty will Belong to the Jewish People
Speaking to the Jewish people in Jerusalem, Jesus Christ says:
“Behold the Day of the LORD is coming, and your plunder (speaking of Jerusalem—plunder from these defeated armies at Armageddon), booty will be divided in your midst (Zechariah 14:1)
The Beginning of the Millennium
So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: (Zechariah 1:14)
‘I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal (of caring love). I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent (Zechariah 1:15).
Soncino Commentary: “. . . As God’s instruments for the correction of Israel, they had gone far beyond what they had been commissioned to do. The nations were appointed as a rod of chastisement to punish and discipline, but not to exterminate.”
“Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy, My house shall be built in it,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem (for the rebuilding of Jerusalem)’ (Zechariah 1:16).
Again proclaim, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘My cities shall again spread through prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion. And I will again choose Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:17). ”’”
The Jewish People to Rise Up Against its Captors
After having defeated these enormous armies, Jesus Christ will first deliver the Jewish people yet in Jerusalem; the half that were not removed and sent elsewhere into captivity:
“The LORD will save the tents of Judah FIRST, so that the glory of the House of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall NOT become greater than that of Judah (Zechariah 12:7)
Soncino Commentary: “The men of Judea who were encamped in tents amid the besieging armies will be the FIRST to enjoy the fruits of the Divine victory, and then follow the deliverance of Jerusalem. The reason for this privilege is stated to be so that Jerusalem and the house of David may not acquire too much fame and lord themselves over the other districts of the Kingdom of Judah.”
“And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts, their God.” (Zechariah 12:5).
The half of the City of Jerusalem that remained in the City of Jerusalem under its leadership, very possibly directed by the resurrected King David, will fight fiercely against the Roman soldiers occupying their beloved City (Zechariah 14:2):
“In that day,” says the LORD, “I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6)
The men of Judah will turn upon the Roman soldiers occupying their City and aid in destroying them as as did the French against the Germans upon their deliverance at the close of WWII.
“In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one is feeble among them in that ay shall be like David, and the House of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them (Zechariah 12:8)
The fighting men of Judah will be strengthened by Jesus Christ to help defeat the Roman soldiers much like the LORD God did in using Israel under the leadership of Joshua to conquer Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-21).
“It shall be in that [same] day that I will seek to DESTROY all the nations that come against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:9).
Repentance Before Their Messiah
At long last the veil of spiritual darkness will be removed from Judah’s eyes. She will then know the truth about their beloved Messiah as being Jesus Christ who lived among their ancestors and was finally crucified to make salvation possible for Judah and for the world. They will be cut to the heart for their evil deeds and cry out for forgiveness:
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplication; then they will LOOK ON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED; they will MOURN for Him as one who mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn (Zechariah 12:10).
“In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem . . . and the land shall mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves . . . all the families that remain (remained in the City while occupied by Roman soldiers), every family by itself, and their wives by themselves (Zechariah 12:11-14).
This Writing about Jerusalem, Past, Present, and Future
Please know this writing is only an overview. Many other Scriptures could be added to make it more complete. Perhaps in the future, God willing, and using me, I can write more about it in further detail.
However this should be enough for us to keep our minds focused on this most important City of Jerusalem in prophecy. The problems now and in the near future will soon be ended upon the return of Jesus Christ back to this earth.
Jerusalem will then become the world Capital when Jesus Christ establishes His Throne on Mount Zion. It will become the showcase City of the whole earth and all of mankind will marvel at its beauty and worship the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords.
With this awesome future in mind, we should be praying, as Jesus Christ told us to pray: “Thy Kingdom Come!”
Take care my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord, and please let us remember to pray for one another.
Our love and prayers from here to all of you wherever you are, Don Billingsley
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