LEARNING DAILY

 

Zechariah 8:7-8, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold I will save my people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; I will bring them back, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.  They shall be my people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.’”

 

The Old Testament is full of prophecy concerning the last days.  We have seen that God spoke through the prophets to warn the Jewish people they would be scattered if they did not follow Him.  They chose to follow idols and He scattered them.  He did promise to bring them back to the promised land; He has fulfilled this as well.  The prophecy above speaks of not only bringing His people back to Israel but to live in Jerusalem itself. 

 

Today, we see Jerusalem at the very center of the world’s focus.  Zechariah’s prophecy deals with the New Jerusalem as he sees “old men and old women sitting in the streets of Jerusalem, each with their staff in hand because of great age and the streets full of boys and girls playing” (verse 4).  Jerusalem was under the control of the Palestinians as God brought His people back to the area; their desire was to exterminate the Jews.  It was during the Six-Day War of 1967 that the Jews miraculously defeated the Arab armies and came to control Jerusalem.  This happened as God said it would – in the last days!  The Jewish General Moshe Dayan allowed the Arabs to remain in control of the site of their mosque and the Dome of the Rock.  Today, we see the conflict over this sacred area for both Jew and Arab continuing.

 

Are you wondering why this is important?  I am thankful for Pastor Billy Crone giving a long list of Biblical events happening there.  Let me list some of them to answer your question.  Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac on Mt. Moriah, which is just outside of the city.  It was later incorporated into the city by Solomon.  David made the capital of the Jewish nation becoming known as the “city of God”.  In Ezekiel, the city is identified as “the center of nations” and “the center of the world”.  Jerusalem is where Jesus Christ took our place on the cross and from where He ascended into heaven.  Jesus wept over this city.  Jerusalem will be the city the Lord Jesus will reign for one thousand years.   Near the city is the location where Satan will be defeated for eternity at the end of the millennium.  It is where God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will live with the Jewish people and the Church for eternity (the New Jerusalem).

 

It is important that the Jewish people control Jerusalem now in order for the future events to occur.  Crone has written a book titled The Final Countdown Tribulation Rising, the Jewish People and the Antichrist.  In this book he gives prophecy regarding the Jewish people and what will happen during the end times.  He has done the research and the writing and I give him credit; it is quite fascinating!  Ezekiel 45 speaks of the currency of Israel becoming the shekel.  Until 1980 Israel’s currency was the British pound.  In Zephaniah 3:9, the Lord states He will restore Israel’s pure language in order to serve Him in one accord.  There has been a revival of the Hebrew language worldwide.

 

I believe it is time for us to wake up and realize the events unfolding before our eyes are indications that we are in the last days.  But there is more to write about regarding Jerusalem.