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The City of Jerusalem

Many wars have been fought throughout history over claims to a piece of land or a city. The ancient city of Jerusalem has been fought over and changed hands many times in its history and now once more it is the focus of argument and bloodshed between Israelis and Palestinians. But who does it really belong to?

The Bible view is that Jerusalem belongs to God:

‘For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for his habitation.’ [Psalm 13.13.NKJV]

It stands on the site where Abraham prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. It is the Salem where Melchizedek the priest of the Most High God ruled.

Whatever we think of the present day rights and wrongs of the fighting over Jerusalem, we must accept the Bible’s view, that these things have not come about by chance. It was God who gave the land to Abraham’s descendants, the twelve tribes of Israel. It was God who guided Joshua to take the land and settle in it. Jerusalem is on the site of Jebus where King David built his palace and where on Mount Moriah, Solomon built the Temple and where the ark from the tabernacle in the wilderness was brought to rest.

It was God who said to Israel that he would punish them if they failed to keep his commands,

‘The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies...and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.’ [Deuteronomy 22.5]

The history of the Jewish people shows the fulfilment of Bible prophecy, but it was God who also said they would return,

‘But I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back..’ [Jeremiah 23.3.NKJV]

What we are seeing today in modern Israel is God’s hand at work! Jerusalem is in the hands of the Jews because God has decreed it! Jesus tells us that,

‘ Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.’ [Luke 21.24.NKJV]

In 1967 the Israeli’s took Jerusalem from the Arab occupiers in part fulfilment of this prophecy.

But Jesus also put another viewpoint in that prophecy and that is that these events surrounding Jerusalem would also be a sign of his Second Coming,

‘Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. [Luke 21.27,28.NKJV]

To those who are looking this is wonderful news indeed.