When President Donald Trump stated that Jerusalem was Israel’s capital and that the USA would establish its Embassy in Jerusalem, there was an immediate outcry from the Arab nations. Nikki Haley, rebuked the UN for their consistent condemnation of Israel in the UN. Israel is surrounded by enemies and the Arab nations have started four wars since 1947 to destroy Israel and to drive the Jews into the sea.
Zechariah prophesied that Jerusalem would be in the latter days a “burdensom stone” for the nations. It is now that we are seeing a controversy over Jerusalem developing among the nations in the earth today. This is very significant as the world increasingly turns against Biblical laws and denies a Creator.
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensom stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it….
In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; (Zechariah 12: 1-3,6-8)
Isaiah also prophesied in very figurative language of a judgement upon the nations and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion. Isaiah uses the symbol of the earth for the people and the heaven as the symbol for the rulers of the nations in a number of places.
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment…. For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. (Isaiah 34:1-,8 [KJV])
Isaiah gives us an explanation as to why we should be closely watching the matters that concern Israel, especially in these troubled times.
In Isaiah it is written that the Jews are God’s “witnesses” and today we see the nation of Israel re-established as prophesied.
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, ... I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:10-11)
This concept of “witnesses” is the declaration that the Jews throughout man’s history have been proof of God’s existence and that He is working among the nations. The people of Israel, the Jews, the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem are signs for us to watch and confirmation of God’s existence and that he has a purpose with this earth and that he will bring judgement on the nations.
Israel is a small nation barely 150 kms by 50 kms and a unique democracy in the Middle East. One must wonder at the hatred that these surrounding Semitic nations have. Israel occupies only about 18% of the Mandate for the Palestinian Jews set forth in the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The Arabs have about 77% of that Mandate in the state of Jordan and the rest is held by Egypt (Sinai) and Syria (Golan Heights). In 1948 Jordan with Britain’s help occupied Judea and Samaria, on the mountains of Israel, as a result of the war waged by seven Arab nations against the reborn state of Israel. This area was the heartland of ancient Israel.
Why is there so much hatred towards this small nation?
The Jews have a unique history which is recorded in detail in the Bible and Jerusalem is the indisputable capital of Israel. No other nation claimed Jerusalem as its capital. Invaders have occupied Israel, but the result was that Israel was left a down-trodden, impoverished waste land and for the last two thousand years. A small remnant of Jews lived in Jerusalem, Hebron, Acre and Safed. As prophecy showed us, the Jews would return to their homeland as a nation reborn, after dispersion throughout the world and persecution by many nations.
The Jews throughout history have been a sign, the witnesses to show there is a Creator who has a purpose with the nations and Israel. There are many prophecies that state that Israel would be scattered, persecuted and finally regathered as a nation in their own land and dwell on the mountains of Israel, that is Judea and Samaria. The pages of history attest to the truth and fulfilment of those prophecies, but listen to the words of those Prophets.
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock…. they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, : and shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. (Jeremiah 31:10,12 )
Ezekiel prophesied that in the “ latter years” of man’s rule among the nations, that Israel, dwelling on the mountains of Israel, will be invaded by a northern army.
In the latter years you (Gogian army) shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. (Ezekiel 38:8)
Luke recorded the prophecy of Jesus related to the Jews in the last days.
They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (This was fulfilled in June 1967, the Six Day War which liberated Jerusalem.)
And,
there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:24-27)
There are earthquakes that frequently shake the earth, but Zechariah 14 describes one that will shake the earth when the Messiah of Israel returns.
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:1-4)
From the details given it would be an earthquake of Biblical proportions.
Joel 3 gives an account of the invading nations being gathered together in the Valley of Jehoshaphat when the “earth shall shake”.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (concision/threshing): for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Joel 3:14-17)
President Donald Trump’s decision to declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel has revealed the hatred and increasing antagonism of many nations towards Israel. This is a sign that the prophecies of the written Word are being fulfilled before our eyes, with Jerusalem becoming a “burdensome stone for all people.”
For more Jerusalem in the last days
The Bible suggests in prophecy that the most outrageous things would occur in world poltics: alliances would end abruptly and the world would plunge into an unstable time. We are today in the day of political upheaval, not seen in a generation.
25 May 2018 Britain awakes and moves back into the gulf
Events, are moving at such a pace that we don't have time to analyse those with significance in depth.
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:6-7)
We hear 'Trump', and we associate it with 'Trumpet', which is the likely origin of the surname which was given to a Trumpeter or Drummer in the Army. The trumpet in the Bible speaks also of a call to war as Amos points out. Amos also says that when the trumpet of war is blown, Yahweh has done it. We are told that what is done is revealed to his servants.
Events, like the last sands in the hourglass, are moving at such a pace that sometimes we don't have time to analyse those with significance in depth.
Events, like the last sands in the hourglass, are moving at such a pace that sometimes we don't have time to analyse those with significance in depth.
