Jerusalem’s Old City is the most controversial piece of real estate in the world. More specifically, the Temple Mount. Recently, the United Nations confirmed the UNESCO decision that the Temple Mount had no connection with historic Israel. Donald Trump has pledged to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, essentially confirming that the US recognizes Jerusalem (and not Tel Aviv) as Israel’s capital. While some countries in the past did have embassies in Jerusalem, they have all now moved to Tel Aviv. These moves were against the desire of the State of Israel. I know of no other country where the international community does not recognize her capital.
But what does God think? God loves Jerusalem. The Psalmist laments in Ps 137:
If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
But the world hates Jerusalem. We read in Zechariah that God is:
“going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. (Zech. 12:2-3)
Jerusalem will be a cup that sends the nations reeling. In other words, she will cause the nations to be confused. They will not be able to figure her out or know what to do with her. For instance, the nations will seek to erase her history as we see with UNESCO or take it over, as the UN wanted to do in 1948. And the imagery her is of a hernia, “all that try to move it will injure themselves.” Be careful, UN.
In the past 83 years, Jerusalem has been under the control of five entities. The Turkish, the British, and then the UN had control over her for a very brief time in 1947. They voted for Jerusalem to become an international city controlled by the UN. Shortly after that, the Jordanians seized control during the Israeli War for Independence. And then, in 1967, the Israelis captured Jerusalem when Jordan attacked her during the Six-Day War.
Since that time, she has been in Jewish hands. But the controversy surrounding her has remained and even increased. Now the Palestinians want control over Jerusalem and, more specifically, THE TEMPLE MOUNT. In fact, the Temple Mount is full of vocal and aggressive Hamas activists that harass Jews who want to visit. There truly is no real estate more controversial than Jerusalem’s Old City and the Temple Mount.
Why Jerusalem? It is a dot on the earth. It’s not much bigger than a shopping mall, and yet all the nations are going crazy over it. Why the Temple Mount? Because that is where Yeshua will return. It is from this area that He will rule in the age to come. His throne will be here. There is more warfare over this little piece of land than any other in the world. Nations have fought over it for centuries.
But according to Joseph Farar, the Temple Mount is not even mentioned in the Koran. He says, “Koran says nothing about Jerusalem. It mentions Mecca hundreds of times. It mentions Medina countless times. It never mentions Jerusalem. With good reason. There is no historical evidence to suggest Mohammed ever visited Jerusalem.”
Of course this doesn’t matter to them. What matters to them is that Jews cannot control Jerusalem and they must be dealt with. In Zechariah 12:3 it says that all nations will gather against Jerusalem.
God is not impressed. The UN may claim Jerusalem is not Jewish, but they are mere ants in the eyes of God. They have no authority over Jerusalem. Yes, God used them in 1947—during a momentary lapse in their anti-Semitic judgment—but they have no say over her future.
The closer we get to the coming of Yeshua, the more controversial this piece of real estate will become. In fact, the Bible says all nations will attack her leading up to the final attack on Jerusalem in Zechariah 14. But, as we know, the Lord will come and fight against them as He sets up His millennial kingdom.
Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. (Zech. 14:3-4a, 9)
We will not keep silent here at Messiah's Mandate. We will always support Israel's right to exist. And we will continue to plead with our people to turn to the Messiah. Out team in Tel Aviv is able to do this because partners like you stand with us month after month. When you go to www.StandWithMMI.org and make a donation, it can result in more Israelis finding Messiah. Thank you for standing with us! And if you are considering a Year-End tax deductible charity in which to give, we would be delighted to receive your generosity.
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