Kindgo
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By Charles Pack
"This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her." Ezekiel 5:5
What city in the entire world is the "key" to Bible Prophecy? Is it Washington, Moscow, London, Paris, Peking, Tokyo, or Capetown? None of these! only one city in world history has been called "The City of God" (Psalms 87:3).
This city is called "Jebus, Salem, The Holy City, City of God, Zion, City of David, and Jerusalem." it is thought to have been in existence as far back as Genesis 14:18 where it is called "Salem": "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God." However, the first certain reference to it in the Bible by the current name, "Jerusalem", is in 1451 B.C. according to date. This would be over 3,400 years ago and makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. "Now it came to pass when Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ali ....(Joshua 10:1). David moved his capitol from Hebron to Jerusalem about 1,000 B.C.
The Word "Jerusalem" means "City of Peace." This is ironical, for rivers of blood have been shed for its possession. it has been conquered over thirty times. The walls have been destroyed and rebuilt many times. in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah we have one account of the rebuilding of the walls. There have been so many Jerusalem buildings and walls demolished that it is said in certain areas that houses stand upon as much as thirty feet of rubble, rock and remain's of previous buildings and walls.
God chose Jerusalem to be His special city: "But I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there." (2 Chronicles 6:6). "Jerusalem, the city which the LORD has chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there" (2 Chronicles 12:13). God said that it is in the MIDDLE of the nations. "Thus saith the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst (middle of) the nations and countries that are round about her" (Ezekiel 5:5). It is the world's "Navel".
As you look at a map you can see that Jerusalem is strategically located on the main land route between Europe and Africa, two major continents. if you will look at a globe of the earth, note that Jerusalem is on the half of the world where 7/8th of the population dwell. Bible prophecy says it will one day be the center of world trade. it will also be the place where Christ will reign over the entire world as Lord of Lords and King of Kings (Micah. 4:2).
Jerusalem is another "key" to Bible Prophecy. Watch Jerusalem! Jesus predicted in Luke 21:24 about A.D. 33, "And 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". Thirty-seven years later the first part of this prophecy was fulfilled when Titus, the Roman general, slaughtered over 1 million Jews and captured 97,000 (per Josephus, the Jewish historian); then he drove the Jews out of Jerusalem.
From A.D. 70 until June 7, 1967, the Jews never had sovereignty over the old walled city of Jerusalem. They were permitted at times to visit the city, and even live in the city, but never to possess it. However, on June 7, 1967, the Israeli army regained control over the city and - pay attention THE LAST PART OF LUKE 21:24 WAS FULFILLED. What? "The Times of the Gentiles" were fulfilled. Think of it! Words spoken by Christ over 1,900 years ago, literally came to pass. Amazing!
What are the "Times of the Gentiles"? This period began with the reign of Nebuchadnezzar in B.C. 606. The final deportation of Jews to Babylon is recorded in Jeremiah 39:7. (Note the footnote in the Scofield Reference Bible.) From the time of Nebuchadnezzar until 1967 Jerusalem (God's holy city) has been under control of Romans, Sarcens, Norsemen, Turks and Arabs-all Gentiles.
But wait! Gentiles still control the world, do they not? Yes! The United States and Russia and others still reign. But "The Times of the Gentiles" are over, i.e., that period of time when God tried through Gentiles to establish His Word upon the earth. Note the uprisings, rebellions, strikes, riots, and anarchy that is now world-wide among the Gentile nations. What does it mean? The Gentile nations are in the last throes of dying. We are like an animal mortally wounded with the death rattle in its throat.
JERUSALEM - The KEY CITY TO PROPHECY
We are in the "transition period" between the end of "The Times of the Gentiles" and the day when "The Fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25). In other words, God is now winding up the Gentile world-rule and He is moving Israel back into the main position so that they will no longer be the tail but will be the head of the nations. "And the LORD shall make thee (Israel) the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath . . . (Deut. 28:13).
JERUSALEM TODAY
The city that the Israeli soldiers captured in 1967 was encompassed by a wall that is 2 1 /8 miles around. The average height is 35 ft. it has 35 towers and 8 gates. The masonry of the wall is of various materials. Much patchwork is in evidence. Of the eight gates only one is closed - the Golden Gate. Jewish tradition says that the Messiah will come through this gate; Arab tradition says that if it is ever opened it will mean evil tidings for the Arabs; therefore, they have built a Moslem cemetery in front of this gate. This cemetery would have to be moved or desecrated in order to open the gate. Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that He will come through the Golden Gate.
The new city of Jerusalem that the Jews constructed after they became an independent nation on May 14, 1948, was formally joined to the Old, Walled City on June 29, 1967. The twain are now one. I have before me an Almanac of the "city outside the walls" which shows just a few dozen buildings in 1936. Today, Jerusalem's inhabitants number 463,000 with 71.5% Jewishness. Remember the prophecy in Psalms 10 2:16, "When the LORD shall buildup Zion, He shall appear in His glory." Zion (both the old and new cities) are most certainly being built up. Jesus is coming very soon!
JLRUSALEM - THE CAUSE OF ARMAGEDDON
Jerusalem is a "Key" in prophecy. Today it is in the hands of the Jews. However, according to Revelation 11:2 when the Antichrist sets himself up as God in Jerusalem he will take back the temple and the "holy city". "For it (the temple court) is given to the nations; and the HOLY CITY shall they tread under foot forty and two months." As a result of this reconquering the city, and the continual controversy about the city, in which three major faiths (Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant) have interests, we have the provocation for "The Battle of Armageddon". This battle will be fought over Jerusalem. Did you know that? Isaiah 34 brings that out about the Battle of Armageddon. Verse 2 says: "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". Why? Verse 8 says: "For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences FOR THE CONTROVERSY OF ZION". The controversy of (about) Zion will precipitate "The Battle of Armageddon".
Zechariah also predicted this battle over Jerusalem: "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto ALL the peoples round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all (lie nations of the earth be gathered together against it" (Zechariah 12:2, 3 - B.C. 487). Also, Zechariah 14:2-3 declares, "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 t lie city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle".
AFTER THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES
Luke 21:24 predicts the end of the "Times of the Gentiles" when the Jews repossess the city. Verses 27 and 28 say: "And THEN shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near". When these things "begin to come to pass" we are to look up for the coming of Christ. Beloved, we can see that the rapture is very near. Paul said: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive And remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Following the rapture comes the Tribulation period, in the middle of which, Jerusalem falls back into Gentile hands. Three and one-half years later the Battle of Armageddon will be fought over this city. We read in Matthew 24:21-22 about this Tribulation period: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened".
TESTIMONIES OF OTHERS
Dr. Paul Bauman, of LeTourneau College, a prophetic scholar and many- time visitor to Israel in the past years, said: "Why was the capture of the Old City so significant? It meant that the Jews could now rush to their Wailing Wall and pray there for the first time in nearly twenty years. It meant that the temple area (the most sacred spot on earth to them) was in their hands for the first time in nearly twenty centuries.
It meant that Israel is in full possession of Jerusalem as an independent and undivided city for the first time in more than twenty-five centuries! . . .. One thing is sure. If Israel succeeds in maintaining its hold on the city of Jerusalem, then what happened in June of 1967 will prove to be a most significant event. it would mark a phasing out of the period of God's particular work among the Gentiles and the beginning once more of His special dealings with the Jews."
The late Dr. Wilbur Smith, seminary professor, and perhaps the world's greatest living bibliographer said one week after the SIX DAYS WAR, "if the Jews can keep their sovereignty over the old city of Jerusalem, we are VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THIS AGE." Not only has Israel kept the old, walled, Bible city, but they have annexed it and made the two cities one.
By capturing Jerusalem's Old City from the Jordanians, Israel now controls seventeen Christian 'holy places' that are sacred to Jews and Moslems as well. The result has been a frantic exercise in diplomatic footwork between Rome and Jerusalem, causing confusion, embarrassment and, among Christians, sharp conflicts.
The Orthodox Patriarch told the Catholics, 'You may speak as you like for tile Vatican, but you have no right to speak for me or the Orthodox Church. The Copts sternly warned that any Israel-Vatican agreement was worthless to them.' Both the Armenian Orthodox and Anglican churches also firmly declared their independence. Furthermore, the World Council of Churches in Geneva informed Israel that the Vatican - whatever its good intentions - had no right to speak for Protestants. So you see, even now the seeds are beginning to sprout that will bring forth the Battle of Armageddon.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
What should one do in the light of the "Times of the Gentiles" being now over and the "Fullness of the Gentiles" to come soon.? If you are not a Christian, you should become one at once. Do not wait! You may say, I will take my chances with other unbelievers; or, maybe I will be saved during the Tribulation Period. Did you know that every one who believes during the Tribulation Period will have to die for their faith either by starvation or execution? Why not be saved and LIVE for your faith and influence others, here, now?
"And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Rev. 20:4).
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and enslaved, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, and that no man might BUY OR SELL, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Rev. 13:16-17). Unless you can buy or sell, you will die of starvation. if you worship the beast, then you cannot worship Christ. Why not be saved now?
How can one be saved? The Bible says: "There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Eccl. 7:20). "The wages of sin is death (eternal death)" (Romans 6:23). However, "He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who (Christ) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). Christ became sin for you, paid the penalty for you, bore your sins in His own body on the tree. All you need to do is believe, confess and receive Christ today. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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