JERUSALEM: THE FOCUS OF POLITICAL AND MILITARY UPHEAVALS

Jerusalem is a very unique city. It has often been at the centre of the world’s attention. In fact it was in the news last week: The USA moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This unilateral decision has delighted Israelis but enraged Palestinians and the Arab world. Why?

This move of the US embassy to Jerusalem is understood as a validation of Israel’s claim that Jerusalem is its undivided capital city. This will effectively put an end to the peace process in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And it will ignite an explosive issue that may escalate into violence and chaos, not only in Israel, but in the Middle-east and perhaps even worldwide. The moving of the US embassy to Jerusalem may give radical militants a solid reason to go on a jihad against American and Israeli interests everywhere. Events that happen in this city create ripples that are felt around the world! This is why Jerusalem is so unique among all cities of the world.

To understand how Jerusalem became such a hotbed of strife, we need to learn something about its history. The city of Jerusalem was founded about 3,000 years ago by King David. Its name (Yerushalaim) means “City of Peace.” But there has been very little peace for the people who live there. Throughout history Jerusalem has been the site of numerous conflicts. According to a lecturer in archaeology named Eric Cline, it has been “destroyed completely at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked an additional 52 times, captured and recaptured 44 times. It has been the scene of 20 revolts and innumerable riots, and had at least five separate periods of violent terrorist attacks during the past century.” But it is still called the City of peace!

While the history of Jerusalem’s conflicts can be researched easily, the following questions are often asked today: What lies ahead for Jerusalem in the end times? Will there be more strife or will it finally find the peace suggested in its name? And what does the Bible say about Jerusalem in prophecy? To answer these questions, let us begin with an overview of the tensions within Jerusalem today.

Conflict between Religions

Three major religions of the world – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – claim Jerusalem as one of their holy places. All of them are monotheistic faiths which recognise Abraham as their common spiritual father. But the relationship between Jews, Christians and Muslims has always been very problematic.

When the nation of Israel was established 70 years ago, it dreamed that Jerusalem would become its capital one day. And the Lord brought about circumstances which fulfilled that dream against all odds. The United Nations had different plans. It intended to make Jerusalem a separate ‘international city’ jointly controlled by all nations. This UN resolution was passed in 1947. But when Israel’s war of independence ended in 1949 Israel controlled the western half of Jerusalem, and Jordan controlled the eastern half.

Then during the six-day war in 1967, Israel against all odds managed to gain control of East Jerusalem. In 1980 it declared Jerusalem to be its capital. Before that, its capital was Tel Aviv. But the United Nations condemned Israel for doing this and chose to pursue a two-state solution in which East Jerusalem would become the capital of a Palestinian state. All countries moved their embassies out of Jerusalem in protest against Israel’s declaration. Today the embassies of 86 countries in Israel are found not in Jerusalem, but in Tel Aviv.

However, since 1995 the US had planned to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move its embassy there, 70 km away from its present location. Every US president from Clinton to Obama had not carried out the plan, citing security issues. But Donald Trump broke with tradition, and fulfilled his election campaign promise to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy there.

This move took place significantly on the 70th anniversary of Israel’s declaration of Independence on 14 May 1948. Although it is temporarily located in an existing consular office space in a middle-class neighbourhood, an embassy building will eventually be built. Several other countries, including Guatemala and Paraguay plan to move their embassy to Jerusalem. Israel is very happy about this – especially the mayor of Jerusalem, who has named the square adjacent to the embassy in honour of the US President.

But thousands of Palestinians have begun to protest in anger. Injuries and deaths have already been reported in clashes with Israelis. Demonstrations against the provocative move of the embassy to Jerusalem are happening in many places. An Al-Qaeda leader has even called for a jihad against the US.

All the strife that goes on about this city is not surprising at all. God has already revealed through His prophets that Jerusalem will be a hotbed of strife until our Lord Jesus returns to earth. But God has also revealed His deep love for this city and His plan for Jerusalem to be a special place to Him in the future. “So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.” (Zechariah 1:14); “And the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” (Zechariah 2:12)

However, God also revealed that Jerusalem would go through very difficult trials. He gave this prophecy in Zechariah 12:2-3 – “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege 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.” This is the reason why Jerusalem has often been at the centre of regional and world conflicts for thousands of years.

Claims to the City

There are several groups who claim to have rights over Jerusalem. The first are the Jews, who make up about two-thirds of the residents of the modern city – they claim to be its rightful owners. This claim has been challenged because the Jews had been displaced from Jerusalem for hundreds of years and their temple was destroyed long ago. Many Jews are longing for the Temple to be rebuilt, and would like to see animal sacrifices reinstated on the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount Institute has already got everything ready to build a new Temple and resume the animal sacrifices. But this site is presently occupied by two Muslim shrines: the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. The acquisition of Jerusalem by Israel in 1967 and 1973 gave hope to many religious Jews that worship on the Temple Mount might soon be restored. But there are many difficult obstacles to overcome before this can happen.

The second group that claims rights over Jerusalem are the Christians. Christians want to maintain the fragile peace in Jerusalem as it contains many churches and shrines for Holy Land pilgrimages and Bible tours (e.g. the Upper Room, the Via Dolorosa and the Garden Tomb.) After all, Jerusalem is the birthplace of Christianity. Any conflict between Muslims and Jews will upset the current balance of power and could threaten these Christian sites, as well as the safety of the 15,000 Christians who live in and around Jerusalem. Christians represent about two percent of the residents.

The third group that claims rights over the city are the Muslims. They make up about one-third of Jerusalem’s population. They will never give up their Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. These are far too important to Muslims to consider sharing the Temple Mount with the Jews who desire to build their Temple there. The Muslims still control the Temple Mount even though the Jews control the city of Jerusalem.

Muslims and Jews have both said that they cannot and will not share this city with others. And so this dangerous impasse continues to exist with tensions simmering and erupting at the slightest provocation. A fragile peace is maintained on the Temple Mount, in the city and in the region only through world public opinion, along with pressure from Christian churches and Israel’s allies.

The modern State of Israel is another group that lays claim to the city of Jerusalem. This is because Jerusalem was the historic capital of the ancient kingdom of Israel under King David (2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Chronicles 15:1-3). Much archaeological digging has been going on in the city to unearth evidence that the kings of Israel had ruled from Jerusalem for at least four centuries. They have found royal seals and even the palace of King David. These findings have helped to debunk claims that Jerusalem is an Arab city which had never been occupied by Jews in their history.

Conflict Ahead: Jerusalem in Prophecy

The Scriptures reveal that at the time before Christ’s return to earth, Jerusalem will once again be in turmoil and conflict. The present fragile peace will be destroyed. God revealed to the prophet Daniel that, during a seven-year period the Jews would resume animal sacrifices and that a powerful individual called “the little horn” would arise (Daniel 7:8, 11, 21-22). This refers to the Antichrist who is also known as the Beast. Halfway through the seven-year period this man will stop these daily sacrifices, using his influence and power over the world. He will then set up an “abomination of desolation” in the Holy Place (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15).

This abomination will probably be the image of the Antichrist himself which everyone is forced to worship or else they will suffer awful consequences: “…saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Revelation 13:14,15)

As the persecution gets worse and worse, things will come to a head in a great final battle. Satan and his two puppet leaders, the Beast and the False prophet, will stir up all the nations of the world to gather against Israel in “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14). The place where all the forces will assemble for this huge battle will be “Armageddon” or Har Meggido, located about 90 km north of Jerusalem.

The battle itself will take place in Jerusalem. Zechariah prophesied that the conflict will engulf the city and half its inhabitants will be captured. “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 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.” (Zechariah 14:1,2) But when the Jews cry out to God for help Christ will return to the Mount of Olives. He will bring divine deliverance to them by providing a way of escape for all the surviving Jews, and by destroying all the armies that have come against them.

“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south… And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” (Zechariah 14:3-4,12)

Then all the Jews will finally recognise Jesus as their Messiah. They will acknowledge with deep contrition that Jesus was the One their forefathers had pierced. “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 that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10)

Christ’s Reign from Jerusalem

After Christ returns, He will rule over the whole world from Jerusalem: “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one.” (Zechariah 14:9) In Zechariah 8:3 God reveals the glorious future of Jerusalem when Christ dwells there – “Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.”

People from all over the world will come to seek the Lord there: “Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.” (Zechariah 8:22) All nations will have to submit to the Lord Jesus and come to Jerusalem every year to give homage to Him: “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” (14:16)

Then, and only then, will Jerusalem live up to its name as the “City of Peace.” As the prophet Zechariah noted, “The people shall dwell in it; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.” (14:11).

What should we do now? To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We must be ready for the changes that may be coming soon. While we watch the news to see what happens in Jerusalem we should not be worrying about how soon the prophecies about this city will be fulfilled. Only God knows the precise timing of all the end-time events. The most important thing we need to do now is to occupy until Christ returns. This means maximising the remaining time to do as much as we can for the Lord. May the Lord Jesus find us faithfully serving when He returns.

Rev Charles Seet
Life B-P Church Weekly, 20 May 2018