Israel

Remember, from God’s point of view, Jerusalem is the center of the world. “This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her.” (Ezekiel 5:5).
Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes the resurrection of the nation of Israel as a valley of dry bones brought back to life.
On May 14, 1948 Israel was re-born and became a soveriegn nation again for the first time in 2500 years. 500 years before Christ the nation went into captivity. At the time of Christ it was a Roman occupied territory.

"Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." (Luke 21:29-32)

“But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt"' (Ezekiel 36:8–10).

During the time of Christ, Israel was an occupied province of Rome. She has not been independent since the Babylonians besieged and breached her walls, when Jeremiah hid the Temple artifacts, including the Ark of the Covenant, still hidden to this day.

(Rev. 11:19) “And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple.”

On June 7, 1967 during the Six Day War, Israeli forces captured Jerusalem. Afterward, in negotiatiions, the Temple Mount (site of Dome of Rock) was returned to the Palestinian Authority, beginning a pattern of Israel giving 'land for peace.'

The Oslo Accords were a seven year agreement signed in 1993 under President Bill Clinton with PLO leader Yassar Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Oslo only led to increased terrorism against Israel. The terms of agreement were blatantly violated by the PLO. Israel now refers to the results of this 'peace agreement' as the 'Oslo Wars.'

Two years later, on November 6, 1995, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a radical Israeli man disappointed in the violence toward Israel resulting from the Oslo Accords signed by Rabin.

Three weeks after Rabin's assassination, on November 27, 1995, new Israeli PM Shimon Peres was the first signer of a new European-Mediterranean [peace] Agreement authored by head of NATO, Javier Solana. Fifteen European and twelve Mediterranean countries also signed the Euro-Med Agreement.


This past year EU High Representative Javier Solana re-activated the 1995 NATO Euro/Med Agreement as the 'European Neighborhood Policy,' part of his new 'Barcelona Process.'
Daniel 9:27 - “Then he [AC] shall confirm a covenant with many [Euro & Med countries] ...”

The EU, along with the UN, US, and Russia comprise the 'Quartet.' These four world powers (corners of the earth) have a 'Roadmap' plan for peace in the Middle East that requires Israel to give her land to the Palestinians.

Zechariah 1:18-21 says, “Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

The 'Quartet's #1 priority was to disarm Hamas. The 'democratic' election of Hamas now renders the Quartet's 'Roadmap' as ineffective as 'Oslo' was. Hamas states in its charter that its purpose is the destruction of Israel. By definition it is a terrorist organization; now a democratically elected terrorist organization.

Daniel 11:39 refers to 'dividing the land for gain.' Israel's policy has been 'land for peace.' They keep giving away their land piece by piece, but there is no peace. (Jeremiah 8:11)

Zephaniah 2:4 says “For Gaza will be abandoned.” This past summer 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip handing it over to the Palestinians.

For building walls to keep terrorists out, Israel is criticized with claims that the walls cause the terrorism! The world is pressuring her to take the walls down. “And you will say, 'I will go up against the land of unwalled villages I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates.” (Ezekiel 38:11)

Zechariah 14:2 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 the city.

Here is what the EU is planning in Jerusalem:
Criticize Israel for building the security barrier in Jerusalem.
Demolish houses.
Renew and re-open Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem.

So, the EU is talking about taking over East Jerusalem and re-opening old PLO offices to operate jointly with the PA out of East Jerusalem! Half of the city.


"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto ALL THE PEOPLE round about, when they shall be IN THE SEIGE both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 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." (Zechariah 12:2-3)

All three synoptic gospels in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48 tell the story of a woman who 'had a flow of blood for twelve years.' (Mk. 5:25) Perhaps this woman is a picture of Israel.

Since signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 until 2005, for twelve years, Israel has 'had a flow of blood and suffered many things from many [political] physicians.' She has spent all that she has and is no better, but rather has grown worse. Her 'land for peace' has been sacrificed continually beginning with Jericho and most recently Gaza. The only result has been more terrorist and suicide bomb attacks against her.

Javier Solana has stepped in with EU forces to maintain peace on the Gaza border and is negotiating in Jerusalem. 'Ha'aretz is an Israeli newspaper that is daily singing the praises of JS. He is making overatures to bring peace to ME in spite of EU's reputation for rampant antisemetism.

Meanwhile, Orthodox Jews now have everything necessary to rebuild their Temple. It is all stored and ready as preparations continue for the resumption of 'sacrifice and grain offerings' in worship.

The Jewish Sanhedrin reconvened for the first time in 1600 years in October of 2004. They are now fully functioning again, and have stated their purpose to 'ordain the coming messiah.' Unfortunately, their ordained 'messiah' will not be Jesus Christ. He will not need their ordination when He returns in the clouds for the whole world to see. Then they will fall to their knees before Him.

In Zechariah 12:10 the Lord says, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

"So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward." (Ezekiel 39:22)

We look forward to 'that day' soon when our Lord will return to the Mount of Olives, and set up His millennial reign on earth in Jerusalem.