Jerusalem - The Holy City

As talks between Israel and the Palestinians continue, the issue of Jerusalem and who claims the Holy City, is always a main point of discussion. Israel claims Jerusalem as its holiest city which is mentioned 600 times in the Holy Bible while the Palestinians desire East Jerusalem as its capital of a proposed Palestinian State.

Well, what is the truth according to our Lord God's Word? Jerusalem was the capital of the Biblical Jewish Kingdoms and is Israel's capital today. Jews have lived in Jerusalem for the past 3,000 years and Jerusalem is the only city in the world where Jews have been the majority of the populaion. The majoritry of Israelis oppose turning the eastern half of Jerusalem over to the Palestinians since it houses the Western Wall, the Temple Mount and other historic Jewish sites.

Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran. Muslims do not pray towards Jerusalem, as Jews do, and it never has served as a Muslim or an Arab capital. Jordan illegally occupied East Jerusalem from 1948 - 1967 when it destroyed 58 Synagogues, drove the Jews out, and paved roads over Jewish graves. Jews could not even go to the Western Wall. Israel regained control of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War.

What is the future of Jerusalem, again according to the Word of our Lord God? "I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house. . .but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name may be there," says our Lord God in 2Chronicles 6:5-6. Additionally, there will be a great war over Jerusalem. "For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem. . .then The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle," says Zechariah 14:2-3.

As a result, Jerusalem will be the center of the universe during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ as Lord and King. Zechariah 14:16 says "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, The Lord of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles." THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO OUR LORD GOD'S PLANS FOR JERUSALEM - PRESENT AND FUTURE!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank

"The Day Of The Lord"

Isaiah 2:2-3 says:"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, 'come, and let us go up to the mountain of The Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of The Lord from Jerusalem."

These prophetic verses describe a future day when our Lord God will set up His Kingdom on the mountain of The Lord in Jerusalem. All nations shall flow to it, the word of The Lord shall go out from Jerusalem, and nation shall not lift up sword against nation. HALLELUJAH!

These are wonderful and exciting Words from our Lord of what is to happen in the future. However, between now and then there are going to be challenging days. For example, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany and Iran last week met to discuss Iran's nuclear program. Iran at the conclusion of the talks said they were fruitful, intensive and detailed. Iran's objective is to end the sanctions against them which are crippling their economy.

The reaction from United States and Israeli leaders were not as positive. United States Treasury Secretary Jack Tew reacted by saying "We need to see real tangible evidence Iran is curbing their nuclear program, until then sanctions should stay in place." Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also said "We must remember the Iranian regime has systematically mislead the international community. Until we see actions and not just words, the pressure by the international community must continue."

These leaders of Israel and the United States should function according to Isaiah 2:5 which says "O House of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of The Lord." This is an exortation for all of us from our Lord God but especially for our leaders in these days and times we live.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Each Day,

Frank    

"On The Palms Of My Hands"

Our message a number of weeks ago revealed how the leaders of Israel were cautioning other world leaders about the real intentions of incoming Iranian President Rouhani. The President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, remarked this week "Rouhani has called Israel an old wound on the body of the Islamic world for years that should be removed." He also questions the need for Peace Talks between Israelis and Palestinians. It appears Iranian leadership has not changed at all!

More disturbing news for Israel - Israeli Defense Forces Major General Kochaui shared recently that Syria is drawing thousands of global Jihadists and radical Muslims to promote the vision of an Islamic State. He went on to say "A center of global Jihadist is developing on a scale that may affect not only Syria and the borders of Israel but also Jordan and the Sinai. These Jihadists have based themselves in Southern Syria."

Isaiah 49:16 is meant to be an extreme comfort for God's people at a time like this. In this verse our Lord God says "See I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands." Bible scholars interpret this verse to mean our Lord God saying each time He looks at His hands, hundreds of times a day, He is focused on His people as they are there before Him always. He will lift them up lest they dash their feet against a stone. This is a very encouraging and comforting word from our Lord God for the residents of Israel but also for all of God's people. Lord, may this be a reality for each of us continually.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank

Positive Signs

"We are not Sadeh-Lowh (suckers in Persian)" Prime Minister Netanyahu said in his first ever interview with a Persian language media outlet. Netanyahu also said he would welcome diplomatic attempts to block Iran's nuclear program but not any fake efforts on Iran's part.

The BBC Persian channel is aired in Iran despite the regimes attempt to remove it from the airwaves. The channel is watched by some 12 million viewers each week. In the interview, Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people directly and claimed Iran's Ayatollahs are responsible for the severe sanctions against Iran and its dire economic situation. All are a result of Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. The Prime Minister also stressed there is a historic friendship between the Jewish and Persian nations which ended with the Islamic Revolution and can be restored if the Iranian regime is toppled.

Recent reports out of Egypt also show some promising signs. Within the last year the Egyptian Military overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood government and recently banned all Muslim Brotherhood activities. Now we hear of a new conflict brewing in the Middle East not involving Israeli troops. Egypt has made plans to attack targets in Gaza if terror attacks continue against Egyptian troops in the Sinai. These terror attacks have been traced to Hamas who control Gaza. All of this will benefit Israel if the Egyptian military is successful.

Our Lord God is on the move! Who would have thought the Prime Minister of Israel would be able to address the citizens of Iran and who would have thought the Egyptian military would have plans to attack Palestinians? In Genesis 18:14 our Lord God raises the question "Is anything too hard for The Lord?" We who know The Lord answer enphatically - NO! The above two examples are a small sampling of what our Lord God is doing around the world. Prophetic scriptures tell us of great and miraculous movements of our Lord God between now and when Jesus comes back - Zechariah 14:4. Let each of us draw closer to our Lord God than ever before and pray continually.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank