Last night I lay a sleeping there came a dream so fair
I stood in old Jerusalem, beside the temple there
I heard the children singing and ever as they sang
I thought the voice of Angels from Heaven in answer rang
I thought the voice of Angels from Heaven in answer rang
Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Lift up your gates and sing
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna to your King
And once again the scene was changed, new earth there seemed to be
I saw the Holy City beside the tideless sea
The light of God was on its streets, the gates were open wide
And all who would might enter and no one was denied
No need of moon or stars by night or sun to shine by day
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away
Songwriters: Weatherly, Fred (1873-1952 / Adams, Stephen (1841-1913) / Frey, Hugo (1873-1952)
They say: Good Things Come In Small Packages…
so does POISON !
But NOT in the case of Israel…she is Good and Smart and yes the apple of God’s eye! Her beginnings were meek but she has now become one to be reckoned with. Zechariah 2:8, “For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.” Firstly, the apple of His eye expresses something enormously precious. Something to be protected. Any nation that mistreats her, God’s promises “to shake My hand against them”, a gesture of militant opposition. So don’t mess with Israel…I’m just saying.
As William Shakespeare said about the women in his plays, so the same can be said about Israel, that she displays great intelligence, vitality, and a strong sense of personal independence.
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the existence of God is the Jewish people, God’s chosen people. Early in the Old Testament, God promised that Israel would endure, and He has been true to His word. No ancient or modern nation has encountered what Israel has, and survived. Now a lot of Israel’s suffering has come from her own spiritual rebellion through the ages. But all in all through the persecution the Jews have become stronger.
722 BC: They were overrun by Assyria and this generation never returned to their homeland.
586 BC: They were overrun by Babylon, Jerusalem was destroyed and the people driven into exile.
540-440 BC: The people began returning home, rebuilt their temple and the wall around Jerusalem and reaffirmed their commitment to God and His promise.
AD 70: The Romans destroyed it all and once again the Jews had no temple, no holy city and no homeland.
1917: Great Britain got in after WWI overseeing much of the Middle East called Palestine, including Israel’s former homeland. Then between 1917 and 1948 Britain’s support for Israel broke down.
1948: The U.N. declared Israel a state.
1967 and 1973: Two major wars were fought with Arab neighbours. Israel was victorious in both, giving her a hold on her land and her nation status in the world.
Currently: God continues to keep a watchful eye on Israel and any nation today who opposes Israel will be opposed by God and any who support Israel will be blessed by God.
However, her troubles are not yet over.
Even as recently as December 2016 the U.N. want to take from Israel what truly belongs to Israel.
The bible speaks of an invasion on Israel and we can see the compilation of it beginning today. Many of the countries surrounding her will try to destroy her, which was foretold in Ezekiel 38. The names may be different, but the names by which they are called today, you see in the news everyday.
Magog = the former Soviet Union (may include Kazakhstan, Afganistan and perhaps any other countries existing today ending in “stan”; Rosh = the realm of modern Russia; Meshech and Tubal = regions of modern Turkey; Persia = Iran; Ethiopia and Libya = haven’t changed their names; and Gomer = a region in Turkey.
But this coalition will be like nothing Israel has faced before. Israel will be so outnumbered that her destruction will be averted only by the direct intervention of God. God’s intervention will not only be to save His people from destruction, but to make His name known to Israel and to all the nations. Ezekiel 39. There is a lot to read and understand here and I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface.
But know this! all God’s promises written in the Bible have come to pass, are coming to pass and will come to pass. These are God’s words, and God doesn’t lie.
Mount of Olives
Despite God’s favour on the Jewish people, many remain apart from Him because they have not embraced God’s Son, Jesus as their Messiah. But the good news is that one day they will and Jesus will land His feet, once again, on the Mount of Olives and there will be a New Jerusalem which will come down from heaven with Him, which fulfils Christ’s promise of preparing His followers a dwelling place, where righteousness prevails and Satan loses. John 14:1-4, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Jesus said this to His disciples, but He didn’t just mean it for them…but for all of us.
Don’t give up on Israel.
Pray for Israel.
She is an important place in our future with Christ Jesus.