December 9, 2017 - A. V. Rauf
A Burdensome Stone For All People. What’s Next???
Zechariah 12:3—And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome 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.
To those whohave been diligently studying their Bible, this past week was a major watershed moment in Bible prophecy as President Trump’s announcement set the stage for several events that I believe will now come to fruition in rapid succession.
This past Wednesday, President Donald Trump’s publicly acknowledged Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Furthermore, it was also is importantto recognz that the he American embassy in Tel Aviv will be moved to the city as well.President Trump is expected to sign one final six-month waiver allowing time for diplomatic personnel to prepare for the permanent move. It will take time and planning for a new embassy site in Jerusalem to be established and the six-month delay will allow for logistical and security considerations.
It is important to know that with GOD timing is everything:
Isaiah 46:9-10—Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
It has been said that when looking at God’s prophetic time clock, when you hear of Israel in the news it is God’s prophetic minute hand, but when you hear of Jerusalem in the news it is God’s prophetic second hand.
As we near the latter end of the year 2018 keep in mind that 2018 is Israel’s 70th birthday, and perhaps it was not a coincidence that Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel just with the 70 year anniversary of Isarel looming in the very near future. If you factor in the 6 month planning and preparation timetable, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem should be ready to open by or near May 14th. Remember that the modern state of Israel was born on May 14th, 1948 and U.S. President Harry Truman formally recognized the new nation on this very date.
Regardless of one’s political viewpoint, our mandate is to always pray and intercede for our leaders:
1 Timothy 2:1-3—I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Whether or not one supports or dislikes the current president of the United States, it must be noted that he is the first US president since President Harry Truman to honor God by recognizing Jerusalem. The United States has already seen a substantial economic improvement and indicators show that the United States could be trending upwards and positioning itself for an economic boom.
Psalm 122:6-8—Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palace. 8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Genesis 12:3—And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Historically, blessing Israel has always proven to be a positive for nations that support Israel and negative for those that support the destruction or division of Israel. Since 1948 America, being the first to recognize Israel and its solid support for most of this time,has prospered more than any other nation.
Now let’s take at a look w what happens next…..
The current Pope has already expressed his diapproval of this announcement and how he believes it may lead to more violence in the Middle East.
The Vatican backs a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with both sides agreeing on the status of Jerusalem as part of the peace process. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state, whereas Israel has declared the whole city to be its “united and eternal” capital.
Reccap Tayyip Erdogan, the current leader of Turkey who also is the head of the O. I. C. (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) which is second in size and power compared to the United nations, responded to Trump’s announcement saying: “Mr. Trump, Jerusalem is a red line for all Muslims” ……“We will follow this situation until the end” Erdogan said adding “if this step is taken, in 5 to 10 days we will gather the O.I.C in Istanbul. And this will not be enough. We will gather the whole of the Muslim world in this summit. We will continue our struggle till the end and we will end our relationship with Israel”.
Ezekiel 38-39 is not far from being fulfilled. There has been much rioting in Israel as Palestianins have called for a day of Rage. What the world needs to understand is that the Day of the LORD is nearing closer and closer and closer….
In conclusion, the U.N. has also announced it’s decision regarding the announcement made by Donald Trump. Nearing the one year anniversary of the passage of Security Council Resolution 2334 which formally called for the dividing of God’s covenant land, the United Nations General Assembly has just passed Resolution 11982, a document entitled “Jerusalem.” The vote was 151 to 6, with 9 abstentions. At the heart of the resolution is this unequivocal rejection of Israel’s sovereignty over its eternal capital, Jerusalem (source):
[The General Assembly] reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to immediately cease all such illegal and unilateral measures.
In December 2016 the United Nations voted to sever Judea and Samaria from Israel. In November 2017 the United Nations has voted to sever Jerusalem from Israel. This overwhelming vote may soon lead to the prophetic fulfillmentfor Joel 3:2:
Joel 3:2–I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Not only has the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Isarel hastened the political conflict in the Middle East that will culminate in the ushering in of the seven year tribulation period, what also must be mentioned in closing is that as the nations are in an uproar as a reult of last week’s epic annoncement, many in Isarel have a different reaction. Many activists working in Israel to try to restablish the building of a third temple in Israel have stated that President Donald Trump’s epic proclamation on Wednesday acknowledging Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish people was a major step towards establishing the Third Temple and bringing the Messianic era.
“What he did last night was an enormous step in bringing the Temple,” Asaf Fried, official spokesman for the United Temple Movement, an association of organizations working towards making the Third Temple a reality … He added, “This necessarily had to come from a non-Jew in order to bring them into the process, so they will be able to take their part in the Temple … It was clear that Trump was part of that process, guided by Hashem (God)”, Fried declared.
Yet another Rabbi viewed Trump’s announcemnt as part of a continually unfolding predetermined by prophecy. “Yakov Hayman, the chairman of the United Temple Movement, viewePresident Trump’s statement as part of a historical proge=rssion joining a nuber of major shifts in modern history for the Nation of Israel and the jewish people. “1917 was the Balfour declaration establishing Israel for the nations…..2017 was Trump’s declaration. The next and most important step must be taken by the Jews. We need to begin going up to the Temple Mount in massive numbers. Once we do that, the Temple is the next inevitable step.”
This next step is what very well could be the catalyst for a major war in the very near future. Maranatha!