Recently, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, made statements regarding Israel and Jerusalem that, at best, were lies, and at worst, were anti-Semitic. There has been very little outrage expressed by the Church regarding these statements. One example from Sec. Kerry's comments follows:
"If the choice is one state, Israel can be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both, and it won't ever really be at peace."
The statements of Sec. Kerry are unacceptable, and shameful to America, but they reflect the prophetic conditions of our time warned of in scripture. They also signal the nearness of the end of the age (not the end of the world, as some incorrectly speak), the creation of a false treaty of peace that will result in a horrific war, the building of a third temple in Jerusalem, and the return of Messiah, Jesus.
In the face of lies, demands, and accusations against Israel by the highest officials, and by the United Nations, it is essential and timely to read and know what God's plans are for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem.
God describes Jacob (Israel) as the "apple of God's eye" (Deut. 32:9-10, Zech. 2:8), meaning Israel is the center of God's presence, fountain, and face. God makes assurances in the strongest terms as the Keeper of Israel:
"Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Ps. 121:4
שָׁמַר
That word "keepeth" in Hebrew has a very strong meaning. It is the word shamar, to keep, guard, observe, have charge of, protect, save life, watchman, wait for, preserve, keep covenant, perform vows, to be on one's guard. The letters of the word, shin, mem, reysh, are even more emphatic, meaning to devour, to chew to pieces, to flood in massive water, chaos, and blood by the Head, the Highest. We will see this meaning fully developed later. While the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, the Church seems to be sleeping, with very little to say about these important prophetic developments. Even though Secretary Kerry and others have spoken concerning Israel and Jerusalem, the words of men will not prevail over the Word of the LORD as given to His prophet, Zechariah regarding Jerusalem:
-The LORD will return to Jerusalem and His house (the third temple) shall be built in it. The LORD shall comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem. (Zech. 1:16-17, 2:12)
-The LORD has said that He will be unto her (Jerusalem) a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. (Zech. 2:5)
-The LORD says that he who touches Zion touches the apple of His eye, and God will shake His hand upon those who touch her, and they shall be a spoil. God also tells all flesh to "Be silent" before the LORD regarding their opposition to Jerusalem. (Zech. 2:8-9, 13)
-Furthermore, the LORD says that He is jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and with great fury. (Zech. 8:2)
-The LORD returns to Zion, dwelling in the midst of Jerusalem on the holy mountain of the LORD of hosts. He calls Jerusalem His city of truth. (Zech. 8:3)
-The Creator of heaven and earth, and the One who forms the spirit of man within him, declares that He will cut in pieces those people of the earth who gather against Jerusalem. (Zech. 12:1-2, 9)
-The LORD Himself will defend, and battle for Jerusalem. (Zech. 14:1-3, 12)
-The LORD considers the city, and the house of David to be as God, and as the angel of the LORD. (Zech. 12:8)
After all of these things, the LORD will reveal His salvation to Jerusalem:
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for His only Son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn."
"And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem...and the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one."
Zech.12:10, 14:8-9
With the nations currently rising up against Israel, and Jerusalem, this makes 2017 to be the year of Zechariah. We ignore the words of the Keeper of Israel and Jerusalem at our own peril. Those nations who move against Jerusalem will be judged harshly and unequivocally. In view of these events, it is time for the Church to wake up, and rise up, to be the Bride, to be the Ekklesia, the called-out assembly of God's people. Many in the Church fast for the new year. If we do so, let us do so sincerely (Isa. 58, Zech. 7), fasting for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the spreading of the Gospel to the Jews, and then the Gentiles. Let us also fast for our own nation, because we do not know the Word of God, nor how to repent before God. The little Word we do know, we ignore, or call irrelevant to our times. We have gone our own way, doing what seems right in our own eyes. This year, let us turn back to the LORD, and to His life and light.
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