Why ‘Jerusalem’? [v291]

MAY 2023

For such a relatively small city in a country that is one of the smallest in the world, why is it continually in the news? Is there something ‘SPECIAL’ about Jerusalem?

INTRODUCTION
Back in November 2021, I wrote a post that looked into the reasons why tourists liked certain cities and what things travelers deemed most ‘important’ to return to those certain cities.

According to the consulting firm “Euromonitor International,” they listed the Top Cities for ‘TOURISM’ [ In which the person stayed in the city for more than 24 hours and not more than 12 months, and stayed in ‘collective’ accommodations which were not personal residences ]. Each arrival is then counted separately and includes people traveling more than once a year and people visiting several cities during one trip. This was their list from 2022:

Number 1 is Hong Kong

[ VIDEO: “Amazing Virtual Tour of Hong Kong”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GC1zeyn8gA ]

2-Bangkok, Thailand
3-London, United Kingdom
4-Macau, Macau
5-Singapore, Singapore
6-Paris, France
7-Dubai, United Arab Emirates
8-New York City, United States
9-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10-Istanbul, Turkey
11-Delhi, India
12-Antalya, Turkey
13-Shenzhen, China
14-Mumbai, India
15-Phuket, Thailand
16-Rome, Italy
17-Tokyo, Japan
18-Pattaya, Thailand
19-Taipei, Taiwan
20-Mecca, Saudi Arabia

[ More Details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_international_visitors ]

[ Previous Post (Has details about each city in the above list):
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/where-you-return-to-v273/ ]

MOST ‘INFLUENTIAL’ CITY?
Well, the most ‘visited’ or ‘popular’ cities are not necessarily the most “important,” and people usually don’t visit a city because of its “importance.” However, its ‘INFLUENCE’ can sometimes be the ‘catalyst’ for changing important world events.

The management consultancy firm A.T. Kearney tries to determine a city’s ‘influence’ with its annual “Global Cities Report” which ranks cities that are “improving in their competitiveness and what factors are driving that success.” It examines dozens of variables, which are then subdivided into categories: business activity, culture, human capital, political engagement, and information exchange. Scores in these categories are then added together to create a “ranking.”

So, for this list, I used their ‘updated’ data from last year (2022)—rather than from my original post—in which I used their data from 2019. So, just like I did then, to provide a bit of ‘suspense’, I have listed their top 20 cities in descending order:

20-Boston, USA
19-Madrid, Spain
18-Toronto, Canada
17-Sydney, Australia
16-Shanghai, China
15-San Francisco, USA
14-Berlin, Germany
13-Seoul, South Korea
12-Washington, D.C., USA
11-Brussels, Belgium
10-Hong Kong, China
9-Singapore, Malaysia
8-Melbourne, Australia
7-Chicago, Illinois
6-Los Angeles, USA
5-Beijing, China
4-Tokyo, Japan
3-Paris, France
2-London, UK
1-New York City, USA

[ More Details: https://www.kearney.com/industry/public-sector/global-cities/2022 ]

In addition to ‘influence’, another aspect of a city’s ‘importance’ is its ‘POPULATION’, which I gathered from the “World Population Review.”

This time I will just list them in ascending order, with the number in the parenthesis being their population, and the number in the ‘brackets’ is their A.T. Kearney “influence rank”:

1-Tokyo, Japan (37,194,104) [ #4 ]
2-Delhi, India (32,941,308) [ #71]
3-Shanghai, China (29,210,808) [ #16 ]
4-Dhaka, Bangladesh (23,209,616) [ #96 ]
5-Sao Paulo, Brazil (22,619,736) [ #45 ]
6-Mexico City (22,281,442) [ #31 ]
7-Cairo, Eqypt (22,183,200) [ #61 ]
8-Beijing, China (21,766,214) [ #5 ]
9-Mumbai, India (21,296,516) [ #60 ]
10-Osaka, Japan (19,013,434) [ #47 ]
11-Chongqing, China (17,340,704) [ #107 ]
12-Karachi, Pakistan (17,236,230) [ #131 ]
13-Kinshasa, DR of the Congo (16,315,534) [ #122 ]
14-Lagos, Nigeria (15,945,912) [ #112 ]
15-Istanbul, Turkey (15,847,768) [ #28 ]
16-Buenos Aires, Argentina (15,490,415) [ #25 ]
17-Kolkata, India (15,332,793) [ #137 ]
18-Manila, Philippines (14,667,089) [ #72 ]
19-Guangzhou, China (14,284,353) [ #56 ]
20-Tianjin, China (14,238,643) [ #95 ]

[ Entire Report: https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities ]

One more indication of the ‘influence’ of a city is the ‘AREA’ that it covers. Now, defining the ‘largest’ cities in the world based on their ‘area’ can be tricky since countries can have different definitions of what a “city” is. What the United States considers a “city” can be very different from what China or Africa considers to be a “city.”

So, based on what the “World Population Review” says, the largest city in the world is Sermersooq in Greenland. Sermersooq, formally named Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq—formed on January 1, 2009, from five smaller municipalities—spans over 205,400 square miles, but is sparsely populated (only 23,123 people—8.8 people per square mile). However, based on an ‘American’ definition of a “city” (defined as a “built up urbanized area” by “Demographia”), their data shows that the top 10 largest cities in the world, based on their area are:

[ Note: The number in the parentheses is the ‘density’ or people per square mile ]

1-New York City, USA [ 4,669 square miles ] (26,403 per sq. mi.)
2-Boston, USA [ 3,683 square miles ] (13,976 per sq. mi.)
3-Tokyo, Japan [ 3,178 square miles ] (16, 480 per sq. mi.)
4-Atlanta, USA [ 2,857 square miles ] (3,685 per sq. mi.)
5-Chicago, USA [ 2,705 square miles ] (11,472 per sq. mi.)
6-Los Angeles, USA [ 2,452 square miles ] (7,476 per sq. mi.)
7-Moscow, Russia [ 2,274 square miles ] (13,200 per sq. mi.)
8-Washington-Baltimore, USA [ 2,124 square miles ] (4,693 per sq. mi.)
9-Philadelphia, USA [ 2,096 square miles ] (11,937 per sq. mi.)
10-Dallas, USA [ 2,038 square miles ] (3,400 per sq. mi.)

[ Note: Manilla has the highest population density with 111,532 people per square mile! (New York City is the most densely populated city in the U.S.) ]

[ More Details: https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-city-rankings/largest-city-in-the-world-by-area ]

So, to me, it looks like that to be an ‘important’ and ‘influential’ city, it needs to be accomplished and successful in categories like business activity, culture, human capital, political engagement, and information exchange, then have a ‘substantial’ population and cover a reasonably large area to accommodate the people, who are ‘producing’ the success.

HOWEVER, when looking at the ‘stats’ of the city I would like to focus on—JERUSALEM—they are not even in the ‘ball park’!

– TOURISM: It is 52nd (pretty good for a small country)

– INFLUENCE: Not even mentioned as an ‘influential’ city in A.T. Kearney’s 2022 “Global Cities Report” (which means it was more than #157)

– POPULATION: Ranked the 598th largest city in the world in 2023 with 969,804 people, however, it has a relatively high population density of 19,792 people per square mile

– AREA: Only covers an area of 49 square miles (1/100th of the size of New York City!)

So, WHY is Jerusalem such a ‘focus’ for so many worldwide and in the ‘news’ on a DAILY BASIS?

[ VIDEO: “Why Jerusalem Matters”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F-hF8ztwy8 ]

<<< TABLE OF CONTENTS >>>

WHY DOES ‘ISRAEL’ MATTER?
DAILY IN THE ‘HEADLINES’
HISTORICAL ‘OVERVIEW’
WHY ISRAEL MATTERS TO THE ‘WORLD’
– GENERAL FACTS
– TECHNOLOGY
– RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
– MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS
– DISEASE RESEARCH
– MEDICINES AND VACCINES

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT ‘OVERVIEW’
SOME ‘CAUSES’?
– MAP: State of Israel

ISRAEL’S ‘HISTORY’
B.C. TIMELINE
A.D. TIMELINE
HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
‘RETURN’ TO LIFE
THE MIRACLE OF ISRAEL’S ‘REGATHERING’
THE MIRACLE OF ISRAEL’S ‘RECOGNITION’

JERUSALEM’S ‘SIGNIFICANCE’
ISRAEL’S ‘CAPITAL’
‘LEGAL’ BASIS FOR JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL’S CAPITAL
JERUSALEM’S SIGNIFICANCE TO ‘JUDAISM’
THE ‘CRADLE’ OF CIVILIZATION
– MAP: Heinrich Bunting Map of the World (With Jerusalem in the Center)
JERUSALEM’S SIGNIFICANCE TO ‘JUDAISM’
‘RELIGIOUS’ SIGNIFICANCE OF JERUSALEM
– MAP: Israel – Zoomed Into Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
– PHOTO: Aerial view of Jerusalem

SATAN ‘HATES’ ISRAEL/JERUSALEM

ISRAEL/JERUSALEM IS SPECIAL TO ‘GOD’
– MAP: The Canaanite City of Jebus (Before It Was Jerusalem)
– CONCEPT: The City Of David (After Conquering Jebus)
– CONCEPT: The City Of David (At the Time of Solomon’s Temple)

JERUSALEM IS SPECIAL TO ‘JESUS’

WRAP-UP
WHY IS ISRAEL ‘SPECIAL’?
ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO BECOME A ‘STATE’?
UNQUESTIONED ‘RIGHT’ TO THE LAND
THE ‘BIBLICAL’ EVIDENCE
THE ‘HISTORICAL’ AND ‘ARCHAEOLOGICAL’ EVIDENCE
THE ‘LEGAL’ EVIDENCE
‘PROVING’ JERUSALEM IS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL
JERUSALEM ‘IS’ ISRAEL’S ETERNAL CAPITAL
‘RETURNING’ TO ISRAEL
‘JUDGING’ ISRAEL
“STEALING” ARAB LAND?
A LONG HISTORY OF “NO”
CURRENT ‘SITUATION’
JERUSALEM ‘IS’ SPECIAL!
SATAN ‘ATTACKS’ ISRAEL
‘PROMISES’ BEING FULFILLED
JERUSALEM ‘COUNTDOWN’

<<< SUMMARY >>>

The following is a collection of ‘snippets’ from the post that aims to give you the overall ‘jest’ of this post.
[ 10-15 Minute Read ].

WHY DOES ‘ISRAEL’ MATTER?
Before I try to answer the question, “Why is Jerusalem such a ‘focus’ for so many worldwide?,” let me step back a bit to give you a ‘larger’ view—that of the country in which Jerusalem resides… ISRAEL.

DAILY IN THE ‘HEADLINES’
Hardly a day goes by when we do not hear a mention of the nation of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, or the Jewish people in general. Why do these people occupy such a singular position in the world today? Why does the nation Israel play such a prominent role in the world today—since it is a VERY small country (about the size of New Jersey, and 32 Israels could fit into the state of Texas)? Yet, the nation is often at the center of international debate and controversy.

Don’t necessarily agree with me on my ‘premise’? Well, try this little exercise: Google “Ukraine conflict.” (I got over 919 million results in May ’23). Next, try the “North Korea conflict.” (I got 153 million results.) Now, Google “Israel conflict.” (I got 549 million results!)

The population of Ukraine is 45.5 million and they are in a conflict with Russia, with a population of 143.5 million. North Korea’s population is 25 million, and they are right across from 50 million South Koreans—the most ‘militarized’ border in the world. So, what about Israel? Well, it has 9.2 million people locked in a conflict with 4.75 million Palestinians. See what I mean? Israel shouldn’t even be mentioned in world news based on its ‘importance’.
[ more… ]

HISTORICAL ‘OVERVIEW’
Never before in human history has a people group lived on a specific region of land, were forcibly removed, and then returned to the same piece of land 70 years later. Then, only to be forcibly removed again and scattered to the ends of the earth to then return—to the same piece of real estate—2,000 years later.

The Jewish people are the only ancient people group in history to retain their identity while away from their original homeland. Throughout the last 2,000 years, this region was conquered and reconquered many times over, having many masters. However, it never became a ‘homeland’ for any other people group who would ‘cultivate’ it—other than the Israelites.
[ more… ]

WHY ISRAEL MATTERS TO THE ‘WORLD’
By area, Israel is 153rd of the 234 countries in the world (based on World Population Review). Even though it has less than 1/900th of the world’s population, it can make claim to an amazing list of accomplishments, and boast that it is one of the most ‘distinctive’ places in the world—and the list continues to grow daily!

Perhaps what is more amazing is that the following achievements are from Israel’s FIRST 67 YEARS of ‘existence’! [ Israel is now 75 years old in 2023 ]:

– GENERAL FACTS
– TECHNOLOGY
– RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
– MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS
– DISEASE RESEARCH
– MEDICINES AND VACCINES

Now, as mentioned, these selected items were from 2015, and I can just imagine that Israel has increased this list since. Then, they did all this—and more—while being continually strained economically, since they are required to spend more per capita on its own ‘protection’ than any other country on earth!

[ Update: One of the amazing technologies Israel has developed—and the only country to do so—is to create drinking water from the air!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foYjh8Hbc_c

[ VIDEO: Watergen Creating Drinking Water Out of Air ]

Now, let’s look into one of the big reasons why they need to do some of these things—especially the military things.

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT ‘OVERVIEW’
The Israeli-Arab conflict is one of the world’s most enduring conflicts—for the past four centuries or so—and is all about who is the sole ‘rightful’ owner of the land.

In just the past few hundred years, the conflict has become MORE ‘INTENSE’, and is now referred to as the “Israeli-Palestinian” conflict.

Recent public declarations of claims to a Jewish homeland in Palestine started in 1897 with the “First Zionist Congress” and then with the” Balfour Declaration” of 1917. These created early tensions in the region.

Following World War I, the Mandate for Palestine included a binding obligation for the “establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” Tensions increased to open sectarian conflict.

The Arab revolt of 1936-1939 in Palestine, motivated by opposition to mass Jewish immigration. Most of the Arab groups were defeated by the British and much of the Arab leadership were forced out.

The renewed violence, which had sporadically lasted until the beginning of World War II, ended with the eruption of World War II. The situation in Mandatory Palestine calmed down.

Following the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, the Arab League decided to intervene on behalf of Palestinian Arabs, marching their forces into former British Palestine, beginning the main phase of the 1948-1949 war. Cease-fire and armistice agreements were made in 1949, with Israel holding much of the former Mandate territory, Jordan occupying and later annexing the West Bank, and Egypt taking over the Gaza Strip.
[ more… ]

SOME ‘CAUSES’?
First, both Jews and Arabs need to share a degree of responsibility for the current stalemate. Jews can rightly say they bought from Arabs some of the lands that Jews now own. Other lands were won by Jews in wars started by Arabs—the wars of 1948 and 1967.

Jews are not wrong to claim that they have redeemed much of the land by making it productive, and in the process, have created many jobs for both Jews AND Arabs. It should be also acknowledged that land that was formerly owned by Arabs is now ‘legally’ owned by the Jews. One should also understand that Arabs whose forebears sold land are ‘pained’ that lands that were once in their family have now been lost to them. Arabs who had no responsibility for either the 1948 or the 1960s wars feel a certain loss of dignity, even though previous Arab generations started the wars that led to those losses.

Arabs, similarly, need to acknowledge that the pain they feel because of the lost territory was caused by wars and terrorism launched by Arabs. They should recall that their own Palestinian authority controls much of the West Bank, that Hamas controls all of Gaza, and that Arabs on portions of land all over Israel. That has been painful indeed, but they should acknowledge that the physical wall would never have been built if it were not for repeated terrorist attacks by Arabs on Israeli civilians, and that the wall has successfully reduced those strikes to a dramatic degree.

One should also be apprised of these little-known facts:
———
– MAP: State of Israel

So, the saga continues to determine the ‘rightful’ owner of the land. Well, maybe a look at Israel’s history—way back—might help to try to determine this.

ISRAEL’S ‘HISTORY’
So, let me explore the rich, biblical history of the Jewish people in the land of promise to get an idea of who these people are, and why they feel entitled to this land in the first place.

The Jews have lived on their land for more than 4,000 years. They were the majority from the 13th century BC to 135 AD. Between that last date (the second Jewish revolt against the Romans) in the 19th century, they were not always the majority in the land, but for four long periods during those centuries, they ‘congregated’ in Israel to preserve and rebuild their culture.

From the mid-second century through the seventh century, the Galilee was a center for Jewish learning and influence. Then, from the eighth century through the 10th century, Tiberius in Galilee was a haven for Jewish thought and life. Then, from the 16th century through the 19th century, Safed in Galilee became a Jewish mecca. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Russian pogroms and European anti-Semitism drove hundreds of rabbis and their families to Palestine to settle there. In the intervening years, there were always the Jews in the land, but in much smaller numbers.

So, Israel has maintained ‘continuity’ with its ancient forebearers in ways that no other modern nation has ever done.

B.C. TIMELINE
[ more… ]

A.D. TIMELINE
[ more… ]

HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
So, to give a bit more detail and ‘confirmation’ that the land that Israel is inhabiting REALLY IS theirs, the following are some historical and archaeological evidence.

The Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) Jay Sekulow has fought with Israel hand-in-hand in some of Israel’s most strategic, international battles. The following is his ‘overview’ of Israel’s history.

Biblical and extra-biblical sources indicate that the Jewish people have resided in Palestine since approximately 2200 BC. None of the other contemporary groups from that time—the Amorites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Philistines, or Gergesenes—still exist. HOWEVER, the Jews do!
———
With the rise of Alexander the Great, the control of the region can be compared to a game of “hot potato,” with rules changing hands every few generations. The works of the famed, first-century Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus provide a full accounting of Alexander the Great in Palestine. Alexander’s conquest ended Persian control of Palestine in 332 BC.
———
For the next almost 1,900 years, even though the Jews were dispersed worldwide (called the “Diaspora”), the Jewish population in Jerusalem was small, but the city was a major center for worship.

Things started to change for the Jewish people during World War I in the fall of 1917, when the “Balfour Declaration” created a Jewish national ‘home’ in Palestine (and was ultimately adopted by the international community of nations after WW I).

Great Britain’s postwar financial crisis made it difficult for them to bear the costs of its remaining obligations as mandatory in Palestine. So, Britain notified the United Nations—the successor organization of the League of Nations—and said that it planned to withdraw all remaining forces from Palestine no later than November 29, 1948.
———
Relations in the Middle East remained tense for the next few decades, and in early 1967, Egypt and Syria escalated tensions by renewing calls for the destruction of the state of Israel. Arab forces moved into positions in the Sinai and Golan Heights. Facing an imminent attack, Israel struck preemptively on June 5, 1967, destroying Arab air forces on the ground and catching the forces totally by surprise. In the next six days, Israel utterly routed the Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian militaries.

As a result, the so-called “Six-Day War,” Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the “West Bank” (Judea and Samaria), and the Golan Heights.

Again, tensions continued to remain high in the region following the Six-Day War, and Israel faced a surprise attack in 1973 on the day of Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. This started an 18-day war with Egyptian and Syrian forces. When the cease-fire finally went into effect, the Israeli military had decisively defeated them.

The period following the Yom Kippur War led to the internationalization of the Arab-Israeli conflict. From 1973 to today, there have been several key altercations, declarations, and conflicts that had led us to where we are for Israel today.

BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
Israel is of great significance to the world’s three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All three faiths believe that the Holy Land has been chosen by God to be a location of special significance. It is, therefore, the most ‘coveted’ piece of real estate in the world, as evidenced by the strife that has taken place between Jews, Muslims, and even Christians vying for control of the region. Jews (the descendants of Isaac) and Arabs (the descendants of Ishmael) call the Land, “holy,” and both lay claim to it. While the Holy Land has a special significance to Christians as the location where Jesus was born, crucified, and rose from the dead, today Christians do not claim the land in the way the Jews and the Muslims do.

Since the modern state of Israel came into being in 1948, it has been continuously attacked by Muslim Palestinians, its Arab neighbors, and groups like Hamas and Hezbollah attempting to gain control of Jerusalem. Terrorist groups and individuals have carried out numerous indiscriminate attacks on innocent Israeli citizens, with a declared him to destroy the nation. To put it simply, different religions throughout history have laid claim to this land, and they have killed and died for it. So, we need to understand why.

Whether you are a person of faith or not, it is hard to dismiss the Bible’s historical importance. It is the most complete record of the Jewish people’s beginnings, enslavement, wanderings, kingdoms, and interactions with other nations. Now, I understand that you may come to the Bible with a pre-existing bias, for or against its teachings. Hopefully, you will see that the Bible supports the ‘secular’ history and archaeology that I presented above.

Many believe that the Bible is a key piece of evidence for two main reasons:

– To demonstrate why the Jewish people feel such a connection to the ownership of this land

– To show that there has been an enduring presence of Jews in Israel for the past 4,000 years
———
There are two key promises that I want to point out. Firstly, God made Abram look all around in all directions, and said, “All the land that you see, I will give to you in your offspring, forever” [ Genesis 13:15 ]. This is clearly a ‘promise’ for the land. Here, God is promising Abram and his descendants the land of Israel. It is upon this promise in the coming Covenant that the Jewish people have based their ownership of the land for thousands of years.

Secondly, God promised that Abraham’s descendants would be as innumerable as the dust of the Earth. This refers not only to the Jewish people but also to the Christians who claim Abraham as their ‘spiritual’ Father. In this promise, we see that only the Jewish people have a claim to Israel.
[ more… ]

‘RETURN’ TO LIFE
In the book of Ezekiel, we read about a time when the nation of Israel would one day return to life:

“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God”
[ Ezekiel 36:24-28 ].
———
While Ezekiel was preaching to dry bones in a desert valley, they came together and stood up. But, there was no life in them—not until the ‘breath’ of God entered them. At that point, they suddenly became alive not only physically, but also spiritually.

Then God explained the meaning of the vision, saying to Ezekiel: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel” [ Ezekiel 37:11b ]. This was clearly describing a prophecy about Israel’s FUTURE ‘DESTINY’—after the seven-year Tribulation—and NOT the Church.

The thing is, we are seeing this prophecy come to fruition as the people of Israel returned to their land, and the ‘bones’ are being reassembled! This nation has returned to life physically, and there is coming a day when they will return to life ‘spiritually’. [ I will detail this in next month’s post ].

THE MIRACLE OF ISRAEL’S ‘REGATHERING’
Everything about Israel and the Jewish people is miraculous. Consider the nation’s supernatural origin: It all started when a 90-year-old woman was impregnated by a 99-year-old man after they were no longer capable of bearing children. Then, this nation still exists after 4,000 years while other nations and people have become extinct.

Through the centuries, entire nations and governments have either rejected them or attempted to wipe them out. However, today, the Jewish people number around 14 million people worldwide despite the constant hatred and efforts to destroy them!

Now, while the world’s hatred toward Israel manifests itself in many different ways, ultimately it all has its origins in the work of Satan. So, when we see all the anti-Semitism today—the kind that ‘inspires’ the Arab nations to try to “wipe Israel off the map” and causes European nations to look the other way when the Jewish people are persecuted—we can be sure that Satan is behind it all!

However, ever so slowly, the displaced Jews around the world have felt, in their ‘hearts’ a desire to go back to the Land, and their numbers have increased tremendously in the past few decades. Their return fulfills God’s prophecy ‘spoken’ to Amos:

“I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them”
[ Amos 9:14-15 ].

THE MIRACLE OF ISRAEL’S ‘RECOGNITION’
The fact of Israel’s existence can only be described as a miracle. A 99-year-old man named Abraham and his 90-year-old wife, Sarah, became the parents of Isaac, the child that God promised to build into a nation. Known originally as Abram (“Exalted father”), Abraham was called by God to leave the city of Ur and set out for the land of Canaan, which God promised to give to him and his descendants after him (Genesis 12:1-3).

However, after 10 years in Canaan, Abram remain childless and became concerned about a successor. He proposed adopting his chief steward, Eliezer of Damascus, an Aramaean as his heir (Genesis 15:1-2). However, God assured Abram he would have a son of his own as his heir (Genesis 15:4). Abram’s faith response was so significant that it is recorded five times in the New Testament as the ultimate example of faith in God (Romans 4:3, 9, 22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23).

By the end of the day, God made a Covenant with Abram, promising to give the land of Canaan to his descendants (Genesis 15:18). He later reaffirmed the Covenant with Abram by changing his name to Abraham (“Father of a multitude”) and emphasizing that the land of Canaan was promised to his descendants through Isaac, the son of Sarah (Genesis 17:1-21).

As we read the entire account of the patriarch and his journey of faith, it becomes obvious that God deliberately waited to allow Sarah to conceive a son in her old age, even after the age of natural human limitations, so that the Jewish race would begin with a ‘miraculous’ conception. Then, 2,000+ years later, God would intervene in human history with an even greater miracle—the virgin conception of Jesus, the incarnate son of God (Matthew 1:18-25) to ‘save’ ALL of humanity!

Recent Recognition
At midnight on May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. Eleven minutes after midnight, the U.S. President Harry S. Truman—over the US State Department objections—‘recognized’ the provisional Jewish government as the de facto authority of the Jewish state.
[ more… ]

JERUSALEM’S ‘SIGNIFICANCE’
As mentioned, these days Israel always seems to be at the ‘center’ of the news—politics, conflicts, and ‘suspense’—on a daily basis. One can hardly go a day without hearing or reading about something happening in Israel.

In addition to that, Jerusalem is also in the news on a daily basis—sometimes even more than the ‘general’ news about Israel. The thing is, Jerusalem’s impact and renown are not new—as I previously mentioned—and this has been the case for thousands of years.

ISRAEL’S ‘CAPITAL’
The significance of Jerusalem predates modern history, and any cultural discussion includes the topic of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. However, the ‘religious’ division—particularly the precarious coexistence of the three great monotheistic RELIGIONS of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—has been the PRIMARY ‘OBSTACLE’ to a final resolution.

What Makes Jerusalem So ‘Special’?
Well, Jerusalem has been the de facto capital of Israel becoming the capital of the Hebrew kingdom after its capture by David around 1000 BC, has been the site of all three branches of the Israeli government since their first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, described it as “its eternal capital” (in 1948), and then was ‘unified’ after the Six Day War in 1967.

Then biblically, Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the Scriptures, and the name “Zion” (indicating it a the capital city) over 150 times. It is also the site that the Bible refers to as the place where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

While the overwhelming 850+ references in the Bible clearly demonstrates the city’s religious centrality, those mentions only begin to tell the story of Jerusalem’s spiritual significance.

‘LEGAL’ BASIS FOR JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL’S CAPITAL
On December 5, 1949, David Ben-Gurion said the following:

“We see in our duty to declare that Jewish Jerusalem is an organic and inseparable, part of the state of Israel, as it is an inseparable, part of the history and religion of Israel, and of the soul of our people. Jerusalem is the very heart of the state of Israel. We feel pride in the Jerusalem is sanctified—also in the eyes of adherence of other faith, and we freely and willingly are ready to make all the necessary arrangements to enable the adherence of the other faiths to enjoy their religious needs in Jerusalem.”

Just a few years ago—in June 2017—marked a significant anniversary for the State of Israel. The nation was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ‘UNIFIED’ JERUSALEM, commemorating having regained the parts of Jerusalem that had been illegally occupied by the nation of Jordan for the previous 18 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd9PCaqWQaI&t=11s

[ VIDEO: “The 50th Anniversary of Reunification” ]

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THE ‘CRADLE’ OF CIVILIZATION
Jerusalem is a city steeped in importance for many reasons for many people from many backgrounds. It has been called the “center of the world” with importance so great that people have been fighting over this city for thousands of years. As mentioned, the city is the focus of the struggle between the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—a ‘battlefield’ of clashing civilizations.

Jerusalem is at the center symbolically—if not physically—of our world. We know that, in respect of the world’s shape, its “center” stems from social construction and choices, and not necessarily “natural” or physical reasons. One famous map, “Bunting’s Cloverleaf Map of the World,” created in 1581, is a good example of this socially-constructed centrality. It resembles a ship’s propeller with the shaft in the center being Jerusalem.

– MAP: Heinrich Bunting Map of the World (With Jerusalem in the Center)

Now, Heinrich Bunting did know that the world does not look like a clover leaf but he wanted to go beyond the physical knowledge of our globe’s surface to one of symbols where the physical is not necessarily “real.”

These social constructions of centrality, though medieval ones are still effective and very influential in forming our worldview today, and are still used for political and social ‘agendas’, notably in what concerns Jerusalem, since it is still regarded as one of the holiest sites on Earth and the epitome of desire for two major civilizations—the Jews and the Arabs.

The three central ‘leaves’ are the three parts or continents of the Old World, with the Middle East at the heart—the ‘crossroads’ between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The strong Christian dimension is clear in the three-leaf clover—the Trinity—and inside the circle depicting Jerusalem is Golgotha, with its three crosses visible outside the city, while the city center is the Temple.

Another analogy of Jerusalem is as the “navel of the earth.” Why? Well, according to the Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 10 says:
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As previously mentioned, when compared with the great cities of the world, Jerusalem is REALLY ‘SMALL’. It stands alongside no great river as do London, Paris, and Rome. It boasts no port, no major industries, no mineral wealth, or even an adequate water supply. The city also is not positioned on a major thoroughfare connected to the rest of the world. So then, why is Jerusalem the ‘navel’ of the earth, and the ‘shaft’ that propels the world ever forward?

Well, again, it is because of its spiritual significance—the ‘home’ of two of the world’s monotheistic faiths, Judaism and Christianity, and claimed by a third, Islam.

The spiritual stature of Jerusalem is echoed in its physical location: It sits upon the Judean hills high above the surrounding countryside. Traveling to Jerusalem is always spoken of as “going up to Jerusalem.” Those who leave the City of God are said to “go down”—in perhaps more than just the physical sense.

For the Jewish people whose cry for centuries has been, “Next year in Jerusalem,” it is more than just a ‘spot’ on a world map. It is the ‘ESSENCE’ of all for which the Jews have hoped for, prayed for, cried for, and died for. As previously noted, it is their ‘GOD-GIVEN’ LAND: “The LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son, ‘In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever’” [ 2 Kings 21:7 ].

Jerusalem is the only city God claims as His own, and it will FOREVER be the ‘CENTER’ of the world.

[ Note: Last month’s post mentioned this, and I will broaden the scope of what the Scriptures say about Jerusalem’s ‘near future’ in next month’s post. ]
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Then, the 19th century brought the Middle East to Europe’s attention once more, this time from a geopolitical perspective—in tandem with that interest developed a renewed religious interest in Jerusalem being the center of the world once again.

Despite the reformer’s lack of enthusiasm for Jerusalem, interest did not disappear altogether—the Puritan fathers had fixed ideas about the city and its place in prophecy. Unlike the allegorical notions of the Catholic church fathers who had gone before, their views were literal. Rather than focus on Jerusalem as the place of Jesus’ death and burial, the Puritans envisaged the city as the place of His prophesied return and rulership.
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After the British freed Jerusalem from Ottoman rule at the end of World War I—on December 9, 1917—the victorious General Edmund Allenby took as his title “Viscount Allenby of Megiddo” (or Armageddon). Since this is the location named in the Book of Revelation as the gathering place for the final battle between Jesus and the forces of this world—led by the Antichrist—Allenby’s chosen title is a further indication that he/the British saw their role in terms of Bible prophecy.

Then, the 1917 Balfour Declaration gave British government support to Zionists for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Regarding that historic declaration, historian David Fromkin states in “A Peace to End All Peace”: “Biblical prophecy was the first and most enduring of the many motives that led Britons to want to restore the Jews to Zion.”

The same sentiment was evident on the other side of the Atlantic, where U.S. President Woodrow Wilson—son of a Presbyterian clergyman—expressed his delight in being able to help the Jews return to rebuild the land of ancient Israel.

In 1947, the basis for a Jewish state in Palestine was established by a United Nations resolution. In the subsequent fighting between Arabs and the Jewish community in Palestine, West Jerusalem came under Jewish control, though not the Old City or the Temple Mount. They came under the control of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan until the 1967 Six-Day War. But the change in possession of the city in 1967 did not diminish the view of Jerusalem as the ‘CENTER’ OF THE WORLD, and the Temple Mount the center of Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM’S SIGNIFICANCE TO ‘JUDAISM’
Jerusalem is rather unique in the world since NO other city can trace its roots back over more than three millennia as it can. (A celebration was kicked off on September 4, 1995, to commemorate the 3,000th anniversary of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.) Some scholars believe the first settlements in Jerusalem took place during the Early Bronze Age—somewhere around 3500 BC.

[ Note: Some archaeologists say a portion of Jerusalem—the city of David—actually dates back an additional 1,000 years, being inhabited since the fourth millennium BC when it was known as “Gihon Spring” (which made settlement possible). ]

The history of Jerusalem cannot be separated from the history of Israel. Every invader, conqueror, and empire that came into Palestine impacted life in Jerusalem, in one way or another, and many of those forces specifically set their ‘sights’ on Jerusalem. This has truly been the world’s most sought-after and hotly debated piece of real estate throughout history—and that remains true today.
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‘RELIGIOUS’ SIGNIFICANCE OF JERUSALEM
The city of Jerusalem is given special status in Jewish religious law. In particular, Jews outside Jerusalem pray facing its direction.

Jerusalem has long been embedded into Jewish religious consciousness. Jews have studied and personalized the struggle by King David to capture Jerusalem and his desire to build the Jewish temple there, as described in the Book of Samuel and the Book of Psalms. Many of King David’s yearnings about Jerusalem have been adapted into popular prayers and songs.

Jerusalem appears in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) 669 times and Zion (which usually means Jerusalem, sometimes the Land of Israel) appears 154 times. The first section, the Torah, only mentions Moriah, and in later parts of the Tanakh, the city’s name is written explicitly.

Jerusalem’s ‘Location’
Jerusalem is located in the Judean hills with the Old City at approximately 2,500 feet of elevation. It is about halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea, about 40 miles from Tel Aviv.

– MAP: Israel – Zoomed Into Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

It is made of many hills and valleys, including well-known locations such as the Kidron Valley, Mount of Olives, and Mount Scopus. It has a naturally defensible location that made it very attractive for conquering.

– PHOTO: Aerial view of Jerusalem

Jerusalem has very hot and dry summers and cool, wet winters. A few times a year, snowfall is even seen in the area. There is a 30-degree difference between the coldest month, January (54 degrees Fahrenheit) and the hottest month, August (85 degrees Fahrenheit).

Jerusalem is one of the oldest ‘continually inhabited’ cities in the world. It dates back close to 5,000 years. It is located in the historical Levant region which is the location of several of the oldest cities in the world, including another well-known biblical location, Jericho.

Jerusalem was not always known as Jerusalem. Artifacts from the area began during the Chalcolithic period, however, these are widely considered to have been shepherds who would have moved often with their herds and not created permanent residences. During the Early Bronze period, permanent settlements begin to be seen, which would have been around 3,000 BC. It was established by Caananites, a very recognizable people from the Old Testament. The earliest mention of the city called it “rwš3lmm,” which has been transcribed to “Urusalim.”
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The Temple Mount is of paramount importance to Judaism. This is ‘hallowed ground’ for the Jews, believed to have been a holy site long before the existence of the Temple. In fact, Jewish tradition teaches that this site was the starting point for the creation of the world. Sitting atop the Temple Mount today—where the Jewish temple once stood—are several important Islamic holy sites, including the Dome of the Rock—a Muslim shrine built 1,300 years ago—and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Now, according to the Jewish tradition Mount Moriah was the Garden of Eden, and when God drew from the dust to form Adam (Genesis 2:7), he drew it from the peak of Mount Moriah. When Abraham bound Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2), He did so on the very spot where the Jewish Temple would one day stand. When Jacob dreamed of angels (Genesis 28:10-18), his head was resting on Mount Moriah’s rock. So then, when the Holy Temple was finally built, the Shekhinah (God’s divine Presence/Glory) ‘settled’ there (2 Chronicles 5:2-14).
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A City With No ‘Equal’
So, of all the places in the world, why is Jerusalem so SIGNIFICANT? It was remote from the major trade route of the Mediterranean coast, it didn’t have good water sources, it baked in the summer sun, was chilled by winter winds, and its jagged rocks made it inhospitable.

Even today, Jerusalem does not have the largest land area, the largest population, nor is it the economic center of our world. However, its ‘centrality’ belongs to another order: It is a ‘symbol’ of a people, of a civilization, of captivity, of a restoration, and of a ‘rebirth’. It epitomizes the tears, joys, hopes, failures, and the successes of the ones who take her as their ‘center’.

More wars have been fought at her gates than any other city in the world, even though her name means “City of Peace.” So, why such hostility toward Jerusalem? Well, because she HAS played a key role in God’s plan in the past, IS playing a key role in the present, and WILL play a key role in God’s ‘FINAL’ PLAN for earth’s future:

– Jerusalem is the city of the ‘PAST’
This city was the capital of Israel under King David. David’s son Solomon built the first Temple, and the Shekinah glory came. Jesus was crucified there as well.

– Jerusalem is the city of the ‘PRESENT’
When the Jews formed a nation on May 14, 1948, it was a modern-day miracle. More specifically, a fulfilled prophecy that set the prophetic ‘clock’ ticking. Never has a nation been able to maintain its national identity after being scattered for hundreds of years—until Israel!

– Jerusalem is the city of the ‘FUTURE’
It is in Jerusalem that ‘world history’, as we know it, will end. Jerusalem will be at the ‘CENTER’ of the final conflict as the battle of Armageddon rages. The Lord will enter through the East Gate and establish His Millennial Kingdom.

[ Note: I will discuss, in detail, what the Bible says about Jerusalem’s future in next month’s post. ]

SATAN ‘HATES’ ISRAEL/JERUSALEM
Satan hates God with all of his being since he became so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, influence, and position that he began to desire the glory and honor that belonged to God alone. God said “No.”

The ‘created’ angel of God—called Lucifer (“the star of the morning”)—then lost his exalted position by God ‘casting’ him out of Heaven onto Earth, and he became Satan (“the accuser”) in the form of a serpent:

“How you are fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit”
[ Isaiah 14:12-15 ].

Then, since God is perfect and ‘untouchable’, Satan goes after God’s ‘children’, and especially His “chosen people”:
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Now, the ‘ultimate’ goal of God’s choice of the Jews as His chosen people was to produce the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would be the Savior of the world—and THAT is what Satan HATES!

So, for thousands of years, Satan has demonstrated an intense and insatiable ‘fervor’ to COMPLETELY ‘ELIMINATE’ the Jewish people. Up to now, he has not been able to accomplish his goal. The following are some of his ‘major’ attempts:
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Jeremiah continues to explain what God says it would take to destroy Israel: One would have to first destroy the sun, moon, and stars. Once that had been accomplished, then, and only then, could someone be able to destroy Israel. The last time I looked, the sun, moon, and stars were still functioning, so that must mean that Israel has not ceased being a nation—and WILL NOT NEVER CEASE being a nation!

Satan also wants to destroy Israel so that he can keep God from sending him into eternal perdition, but that’s NOT going to happen either! Satan has already been ‘judged’ (John 6:11) and will end up in the Lake of Fire for eternity:

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever”
[ Revelation 20:10 ].

Now, while the world’s hatred toward Israel manifests itself in many different ways, ultimately, it all has its origins in the works of Satan. Repeatedly, throughout the ages, Satan has attempted to thwart God’s plans, and the mere fact that Israel exists today as a nation affirms that God’s plan is still on track—a fact that really displeases Satan to no end!

So, when we see anti-Semitism today—the kind that inspires the Arab nations to want to wipe Israel out or that causes European nations to look the other way when Jewish people are persecuted—we can be sure that Satan has something to do with it!

ISRAEL/JERUSALEM IS SPECIAL TO ‘GOD’
So why did God choose Israel? Well, there are a few reasons. First off, God was fulfilling a ‘PROMISE’ to Abraham and secondly, He wanted Israel to serve as a ‘MODEL NATION’ to the world.

God had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation and occupy the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:3, 7; 17:4, 7-8; 22:17). God blessed Abraham and his descendants because of Abraham’s faith, a living faith that resulted in diligent obedience to God’s instructions and law (Genesis 26:3-5).

This promise was also repeated to Abraham’s son, Isaac, and to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (Genesis 17:21; 26:24; 28:1-4, 13).
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Why Jerusalem Should Not Have Been Chosen
The ancient city of Jebus (before it was Jerusalem) was situated on the ridge above the Gihon Spring. Jebus covered a small area of approximately 10 acres. It was not located on the Patriarchal Highway and, in fact, one had to turn off the ridge route (the Patriarchal Highway) in order to get to the city (Judges 19:10-12). The city is also isolated by steep valleys (Psalm 125:1-2). The Kidron Valley is on the east and the Tyropean Valley (Central Valley) is on the west (Nehemiah 2:13). The city is isolated and in a bowl because it is surrounded by hills (Psalm 125:1-2). Strategically and geographically, Jebus should not have been chosen as the capital of Israel, YET it was.

– MAP: The Canaanite City of Jebus (Before It Was Jerusalem)

Why Was It Chosen the Capital?
There are two reasons why Jerusalem was chosen as the capital of Israel. The first, from David’s perspective, it was political. The second, from God’s perspective, and more importantly, it was spiritual.

Political Reason
Jerusalem was not conquered during the initial conquest of the Land by Joshua (Joshua 15:63). Thus it was still controlled by the Jebusites. During the period of the Judges, Judah, and Benjamin could not drive the Jebusites out of the city (Judges 1:21; cf. 19:12).

When David came to the throne, in order to ‘unify’ the country, he had to find a “neutral” site that was not in the tribal territory of Judah. The unconquered city of Jebus was in the tribal territory of Benjamin (Joshua 15:7, 8; 18:16, 28). Also, there were not any Benjamites living in the city because the Jebusites were able to regain the city after Judah took the city and burned it during the period of the Judges (Judges 1:8).

David also understood the geo-political realities of the tribal territory of Benjamin. The easiest and most convenient road from Jericho—and thus the Transjordanian Plateau—to the International Coast Highway in the west was via the Central Benjamin Plateau. The tribal territory of Benjamin is lower in elevation than the territories of Judah to its south and Ephraim to its north. David wanted to keep the tribe of Benjamin on Judah’s side so he could control these east-west roads and not let them fall under Ephraim’s control. Eventually, David and his men were able to take the city of Jebus and he moved the capital to the city (2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9).

– CONCEPT: The City Of David (After Conquering Jebus)
– CONCEPT: The City Of David (At the Time of Solomon’s Temple)

Spiritual Reason
God used David as a human ‘instrument’ to bring about His divine purpose of placing His name in the capital of Jerusalem. Just before the nation of Israel entered the Promised Land, He instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel that they were to meet Him three times a year in a place that He would choose to place His name (Deuteronomy 12:1-11). “But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to inherit… then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD” [ Deuteronomy 12:10-11 ].
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Later, it was on Mount Moriah that Solomon built the first Temple (and later the Second Temple stood) where people could bring sacrifices that could only ‘atone’ for, or ‘COVER’ their sins. However, sacrifices could never TOTALLY ‘TAKE AWAY’ their sins. This leads to the second reason.

It was on a nearby hill, called Calvary, that Jesus, the perfect, sinless, Lamb of God, died as the PERFECT ‘SACRIFICE’ in order to pay for ‘ALL’ OF THE SINS of all humanity (Hebrews 9:11-10:18; 13:13; 1 John 2:2; John 19:16-42). His final cry from the Cross was “It is finished” [ John 19:30c ]. (At that time, this word was used in a financial transaction that stated a bill was ‘PAID’ IN FULL.)

So, God chose Jerusalem as the capital of Israel because of the priority He placed on His Son and His Son’s coming to redeem sinners. Jerusalem figures prominently, practically, and prophetically in Jesus’ coming to earth. The two Jerusalem-centered events in the book of Genesis foreshadowed the Person and work of the Lord Jesus in His First and Second Comings to Earth. The first time He came, He was the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world on a Cross outside Jerusalem. The second time He will come, He will be the King/Priest who will rule the world from the Davidic throne on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM IS SPECIAL TO ‘JESUS’
The Jewishness of Jesus was not incidental. The Apostle Paul asked, “What advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?” He answered, “Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God” [ Romans 3:1-2 ]. Then he completed his list like this:

“They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen”
[ Romans 9:4-5 ].

The ‘capstone’ of privileges belonging to the Jews is this: “From their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ.” The highest privilege of the Jewish people is that the Son of God was to be born among them, live among them, and die among them.

God ‘entangled’ Himself with humanity as an ethnic Jew (as Jesus) because 2,000 years earlier He had entangled himself with Abraham, the ‘father’ of the Jewish people. From then on, the Jews were the privileged covenant people of God: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth” [ Amos 3:2 ], and “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” [ Deuteronomy 7:6 ].
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Jesus died most appropriately in Jerusalem because Jerusalem was God’s chosen place for the offering of sacrifices to Himself—and these figurative sacrifices foreshadowed Jesus’ ‘passion’.

For the Jewish people of that time, there was only one place to offer sacrifices to the Lord—Jerusalem. Although towns had synagogues, only Jerusalem had the Temple, and one had to go there to offer sacrifices to the Lord.

This rule had become quite firm. Indeed, even when Temple sacrifices were interrupted during the Babylonian captivity (the Temple was destroyed in 587 B.C. and not rebuilt until 70 years later), rather than relocate the place for sacrifice, the people lamented: “We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you” [ Daniel 3:38 ]. However, Jesus ‘CHANGED’ ALL THAT!

Jesus was born a Jew to achieve the purpose of bringing every race and ethnicity to a humbled dependence upon His merciful atonement. Therefore, it was fitting that Jesus provided a perfect, once-for-all ‘sacrifice’ in the only ‘acceptable’ place on earth—Jerusalem.

WRAP-UP
Now, I am definitely NOT a ‘financial’ expert like the people at A.T. Kearney—not even in the same ‘ballpark’—but I TOTALLY ‘DISAGREE’ with them on New York being the MOST ‘IMPORTANT’ city in the world. Why? Well, because it IS NOWHERE in biblical prophecy as being at all ‘important’ in the “End Times”—which, in my and MANY others’ opinion, is in the last ‘minute’ of the “Doomsday Clock” that indicates the complete destruction of the world.

[ FYI: For more details about the “Doomsday Clock,” visit this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/ ].

HOWEVER, the city of JERUSALEM is mentioned ‘PROMINENTLY’ in the Bible, starting way back 4,000+ years ago!

WHY IS ISRAEL ‘SPECIAL’?
So, why should anyone even pay ANY attention to Israel? Well, at the very least, as I have tried to show, it doesn’t seem that Israel is like ANY other nation on the planet. I’m thinking that it just might have to do with something ‘Sovereign’ at work!

The Bible says that there are tangible things that God is doing with Israel and the Jewish people that were meant to be a ‘sign’ to the world. The Jewish people are the only family that God of the Bible made an ‘everlasting’ “Covenant” with.

What is happening right now with the land of Israel was foretold by the prophet Ezekiel, when “My people Israel” return to the land (Ezekiel 36:8-12). We are watching a nation do things that no other nation has done before, and all of these are culminating in our day. They have been coming back to their land, they became a State” (in 1948), and they ‘resurrected’ their language and their heritage. Israel—with God’s help—has done some amazing things in recent times!

“Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it”
[ Ezekiel 36:36 ].

It seems that God is doing all this so that all the other nations will ‘look’ to Him—via Israel—before it’s TOO ‘LATE’ (the coming “Tribulation”):
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/ ).
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God then made Abram look all around in all directions, and said, “All the land that you see, I will give to you in your offspring, forever” [ Genesis 13:15 ]. This is clearly a promise for the land. Here, God is promising Abram and his descendants the land of Israel. It is upon this promise that the Jewish people have based their ownership of the land for thousands of years. Secondly, in this promise, we see that only the Jewish people have a claim to Israel.

[ Note: Years later, after Abraham died, God confirmed His Covenant directly with Isaac (Genesis 26:2-5) and then with Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15), and changes his name to “Israel.” He has 12 sons, who become the 12 tribes of Israel. ]

ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO BECOME A ‘STATE’?
For the time being, I think it is enough to say that Israel has the ‘legal’ right to the land within its borders, however, many of its neighbors and much of the international community disagree. This dispute over the land in Israel, and their right to exist as a Jewish state are at the heart of this ongoing conflict.

Throughout the early to mid-1940s, Jewish immigrants from all over the world were arriving in Israel, both to escape oppression and discrimination in their home countries during World War II and to establish a significant enough Jewish population to eventually form a viable Jewish autonomous state that the Jewish people had been working toward since the end of the first world war. Many of these new immigrants contributed to the incredible economic growth and industrialization experience in the region during that time. Recognizing this growth, surrounding Arab governments were disturbed at the idea of a permanent Jewish sovereign state in the region, and they immediately sought to destroy this fledgling nation before it could attain statehood—via a “boycott.”
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What’s happening within the current BDS movement is not just legal maneuvering and manipulating the court of public opinion, it is a full-scale assault against the existence of the Jewish state.

UNQUESTIONED ‘RIGHT’ TO THE LAND
I think I have proven that the Jewish people have a clear and unquestioned right to the land today, known as Israel. God gave this right to His “chosen people,” the Jews. This is confirmed not only in the Bible but also in the Qu’ran. This was not a temporary gift, the Bible clearly shows that God gave them the land forever, in a one-sided, God-initiated, God-owned eternal Covenant.

I think I have also proven that the Jewish people have always inhabited the land going back for millennia—in biblical history, in classic and modern history, in archaeology, in linguistics, and in ancient ‘secular’ letters. The Jews were present in the land during the time of Abraham, and have had an unbroken presence since then. They are spending multiple empires, conquest, and rulers up to the Ottoman Empire, and into the modern era of the Jewish state. Despite periods of exile, the great diaspora after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, in 70 AD, and even the Holocaust of World War II, the land known as Israel has never been without a Jewish presence! While countless nations and empires have risen and fallen around them for thousands of years, the Jewish people continue to exist as a ‘recognizable’ people.

The Jews also have the right to the land under international law. Legal title to the land vests in the sovereign state of Israel. The United Nations itself has recognized Israel as a sovereign state. So, while Israel’s boundaries are the subject of many debates, Israel’s legal title to the land goes back to the Mandate for Palestine in 1948, and their lawful acquisition of territories by defeating Arab aggressors in defensive battles.

THE ‘BIBLICAL’ EVIDENCE
As mentioned, the Bible explicitly outlines the territory that God gave the Jewish people. God Himself set the land apart for his people. He initiated an everlasting covenant relationship with Abraham, taking full responsibility for carrying out that Covenant. That Covenant was then passed down to Isaac, to Jacob, and ultimately to the entire nation under Moses at Mount Sinai. The Old Testament is a record of his faithfulness to the Jewish people, and keeping his promises despite their rebelliousness. This is an incredible gift that God gave to Israel and no one else!
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THE ‘HISTORICAL’ AND ‘ARCHAEOLOGICAL’ EVIDENCE
Even for those who do not give any credence to the religious significance of the Bible, the biblical claims are largely supported by extra-biblical historical accounts, archaeological, evidence, and post-biblical history of the last 2,000 years. Like it, or not, whether or not, you find it, religiously significant or not, the Jewish people have unquestionably been in the land of Israel for thousands of years. The way I see it, against all odds, God has not only enabled the Jewish people to endure as a people group, without a recognized, homeland for thousands of years, but He has also brought them back to the Land He promised them so long ago. Regardless of whether you agree on a religious level, what is indisputable is that the Jewish people—a tiny nation among ‘giants’ and superpowers—have endured as the only rightful heir to the Holy Land.

Always ‘In’ The Land
Throughout the long history of the Jewish people, we have seen that a remnant has always remained in the Holy Land. There is archaeological proof that conclusively establishes that, despite when their numbers were small, the Jews always had a ‘presence’ in the land—including in Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”). There is archaeological evidence from as early as 1300 BC that mentions the Jews as a people in the “Lower Levant,” supporting the premise that the Jews have been in the Land since ancient times.
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THE ‘LEGAL’ EVIDENCE
The renowned constitutional attorney and international expert on religious liberty Jay Sekulow, (and the Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, ACLJ), litigated the very existence and legitimacy of the Jewish State of Israel, by appearing before the General Assembly of the United Nations on May 31, 2016.

Decidedly an expert on the “legal evidence” for Isreal’s legal ‘right’ to the Land under international law, I will present my condensed version of his three ‘key’ legal arguments:

– “Uni Possidetis Juris”
– The Mandate for Palestine
– The Self-defense Capture of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
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‘PROVING’ JERUSALEM IS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL
Throughout Israel, archaeological digs have turned up artifacts, showing the ‘connections’ between the land and the Jewish people. Recently, Israel discovered the seal of the prophet Isaiah in Jerusalem, right near the Temple Mount. It was Isaiah who prophesied that the Jewish people would one day regain sovereignty over that very mountain and that the nations of the world would bear witness. To say the Temple Mount and its Western Wall have no historical significance to the Jews (a claim that has been repeated endlessly by Israel’s detractors) is simply absurd, and it is way past the time that the world should have ceased using these absurdities.

For Modern Israelites, there is no question that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is a fact of life for them. But, if others need further convincing, just look at the objective facts:
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JERUSALEM ‘IS’ ISRAEL’S ETERNAL CAPITAL
The city of Jerusalem has been a target for those seeking to delegitimize and destroy the modern Jewish State of Israel. Jerusalem is the legally declared ‘capital’ of Israel, and it has been that way on and off since King David captured the city from the Jebusites some 3,000 years ago. Today, as a sovereign state, Israel has an absolute ‘right’ to choose the location of its capital city. Yet, the international community has largely rejected Jerusalem as Israel’s capital—something that has never happened to any other sovereign state in modern times.
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‘RETURNING’ TO ISRAEL
A special term from the Hebrew Bible is used to describe the process of returning to the Land—Aliyah, which means, to “ascend.” It was used in ancient times in reference to Jewish ‘pilgrims’ ascending to Jerusalem for the three great biblical Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Thus, the process of making Aliyah today is seen as having spiritual meaning beyond the physical act of return.
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‘JUDGING’ ISRAEL
Now, God has been ‘dealing’ with His “chosen people”—that He chose for Himself, by election, to be the subject of His focus, His Covenants, and His eternal redemptive purposes on the earth—since they have not done what He had instructed them to do.

God’s Law given through Moses promised judgment upon Israel and its king when it turned against God. He said that, if Israel would not keep the commandments, “[I] will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone. You will become a thing of horror, a byword, and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you.”

God warned of this punishment beforehand and then sent prophets to remind the kings when they did wrong. Only after a king and his people clearly rejected God’s ways did judgment come upon them.
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“STEALING” ARAB LAND?
Another type of ‘iniquity’ is that of the Muslim’s assertion that the Israelis are “stealing” the land from them.

Well, over 100 years ago, Theodor Herzl, Zionism’s leading progenitor, proposed the creation of a “Jewish Company” in the Jewish State to gain titile to the Land which, as he said, “Must, of course, be privately acquired.” Herzl’s proposal came to fruition—in a modified form—when the Fifth Zionist Congress founded the “Jewish National Fund” in 1901. The JNF then purchased its first tract of land in 1904, and has purchased 2.6 million dunams (a quarter acre) ever since.

Then, a British investigation in 1929 found that, far from “stealing” land, the Jews and Palestine “paid high prices for the land, and in addition they paid a certain of the occupants of those lands a considerable amount of money which they were not legally bound to pay.”

Ever since then, the Arab community has decried the transfer of property into Jewish hands saying, “You are selling the property of your fathers and grandfathers for a pittance to people who will have no pity on you… This is a crime… a black stain and disgrace that your descendants will bear.”
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A LONG HISTORY OF “NO”
Frustratingly, the consistent approach adopted by almost every Arab leader since the 1930s has been to say “No” to most Israeli offers for peace:

– The “Partition” in 1937
– The “Partition” in 1947
– “Peace” in 1948
– “Peace” in 1956
– “Peace” after the Six-Day War in 1967
– “Oslo Accords” in 1993
– “Camp David Summit” in 2000

Israeli historian Benny Morris sees the long saga of Jewish-Arab relations as one of a consistent Arab refusal to accept Israel’s existence as a nation. He calls the 1948 war a “jihad” (an Islamic holy war) and says that Arab leaders want “all of Palestine” and no “two state” solution will work. Expulsion, elimination, and annihilation is the ONLY thing that will work for them!

CURRENT ‘SITUATION’
Today, Israel lives in what is easily the most toxic ‘neighborhood’ on earth. Her next-door neighbors in the Gaza Strip and the “West Bank” (Judea and Samaria) are ruled by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, both committed to Israel’s destruction. Both are unwilling to make peace with Israel. These militants use suicide bombs, rocket barrages, and terrorist attacks—along with Intifadas (uprisings) and international pressure—to wage war against Israel.

In Lebanon, the ruling party is Hezbollah and they have over 100,000 ‘trained’ fighters and an estimated stockpile of over 150,000 rockets (2020). Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah charges that “Israel is a cancer” and says their “Ultimate goal should be to remove it.”

Then, on Israel’s southern border, they face a growing danger from ISIS in the Sinai. A menacing message from Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed: “We are getting closer to you day by day. Do not think that we have forgotten about you.”

To the northwest, Iran is on its way to building a nuclear arsenal and achieving its aim, as the rogue nation’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei put it: “To erase Israel from the map.”

So, clearly, Israel is ‘SPECIAL’ to the Muslim world, just not in the way that Jesus or even most of history’s ‘moral teachers’ would agree with!

JERUSALEM ‘IS’ SPECIAL!
So, to answer the question I posed at the beginning of this post, YES, JERUSALEM IS ’SPECIAL’—in MANY ways!

Jerusalem is a city with no ‘equal’ on earth. History has shown that Jerusalem has the uncanny ability to adapt and persevere regardless of the obstacle at hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCIpbI7VR8o&t=10s

[ VIDEO: “Why Is Jerusalem So Important?” ]

Jewish life, governance, and faith are intimately tied to and inextricably intertwined with the city of Jerusalem, a historical and spiritual bond that cannot be broken. Any casual observer of history can see that. So, why then can’t the international community come to this obvious conclusion? Well, IT’S GOT TO BE ’SPIRITUAL’!

SATAN ‘ATTACKS’ ISRAEL
The conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent (Satan) becomes focused upon Israel since the Messiah will come forth from God’s ‘elect’ nation. Therefore, if Satan can obstruct God’s plan at any point and prevent it from unfolding in history, then he believes that he will have obstructed God’s plan and will have proven his initial claim that the Lord does not deserve to be God, the Most High One because He would have lied.

Revelation 12 is an entire chapter that explains why Satan attacks Israel in the middle of the Tribulation and attempts to wipe her out. It is because the Devil knows that he only has a short time to finally obstruct God’s plan, and now his only hope is to prevent the Second Coming of Jesus.
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‘PROMISES’ BEING FULFILLED
Now, I do not claim to understand all of the ‘intricacies’ of all the issues fully, and I do not mean to insinuate that Israel does everything ‘right’ all of the time and that we should refrain from criticizing them when it does do wrong. However, for me, it is ‘uncanny’ that they have been around for 4,000+ years, conquered and reconquered many times over, occupied by foreign powers, have had many masters, have been ‘dispersed’ all over the world, have had rockets shot at them frequently, have had many terrorist attacks, have gone to war multiple times, have been overly restricted about how they can worship on their Temple Mount, and all the countries of the world think they can ‘boss’ them around all the time.

HOWEVER, even after all that—and more—they continue to be one of the world leaders in high-tech developments and medical advancements, and still send help, aid, and relief around the world when there is a disaster—even to their ‘enemies’! (They saved lives and send aid to Turkey and Syria in the wake of the recent earthquake.)

With all that ‘oppression’ all the time from so many people and nations worldwide, I’ve got to believe that it is the God of the Bible—Who promised that He would bring them back into the Land and bless them—that has their ‘back’ and is going to fulfill His promises to them:
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JERUSALEM ‘COUNTDOWN’
We live in a unique time in history. The prophecies of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Isaiah—as well as other prophets—are literally coming to pass, before our eyes, in our day. This is something that believers even 100 years ago would not have been able to easily see—as it is now! Palestine was a desolate ‘bog’.

Only 150 years ago (in 1867), Mark Twain wrote about the currently fertile Jezreel Valley this way:

“There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent-not for thirty miles in either direction. There are two or three small clusters of Bedouin tents, but not a single permanent habitation. One may ride ten miles hereabouts and not see ten human beings… Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes… desolate and unlovely.”

However, two millennia ago, the Apostle Paul declared that—being ‘inspired’ by the Holy Spirit—there will be a time in the future when “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26) and that God has a continuing purpose for His people, “who He foreknew.” Citing the prophet Isaiah, Paul looks forward to a day when “The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My Covenant with them when I take away their sins” [ Romans 11:26-27 ].

The ‘Deliverer’ Paul was talking about was Jesus. He said, previously to Paul’s writings, that He will return to His “own homeland” and to “His own people,” after the Great Tribulation. Then, at that time, they WILL ‘RECEIVE’ HIM, welcoming Him as their Messiah and proclaiming “Baruch haba b’shem Adonai” (“Blessed is He who comes in the name of Lord”).

Even further back, God set His love ‘on’ Israel more than 4,000 years ago when He told Abraham to “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you” [ Genesis 12:1 ]. Then, God gave him an extraordinary promise:

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”
[ Genesis 12:2-3 ].

So, to protect and prosper God’s purpose for Abraham in the world, He promised to bless or curse the friends and enemies of Israel. That categorical commitment is still in force and has been witnessed across time from the ‘Prime Minister’ in Ahasuerus’ court, Haman, in the 4th century BC (the Book of Esther) to the 20th century’s Adolph Hitler—and many in between!

The thing is, God has placed NO ‘CONDITIONS’ on His promise to Abraham and His descendants. The land was an “everlasting possession” given in perpetuity to God’s people because, as the psalmist said:

“He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit’”
[ Psalm 105:8-11 ].

Now, even though Israel has ‘disobeyed’ many times—and was punished for those times—God will never ‘fully’ reject them (Leviticus 26:44-45). In short, God will never abandon His chosen people no matter what they do—but it’s going to be ‘costly’ for them. [ That’s what the “Great Tribulation” is all about, which will be discussed in more detail in the next month’s post. ]

So, the last ‘chapter’ of this long and turbulent ‘romance’ has yet to be written. This is why Israel is VERY ‘SPECIAL’ to God and why He is “very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion” [ Zechariah 1:14; 8:2a ]. Zechariah continues by saying that God “will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt” [ Zechariah 1:16b ].

So, do YOU ‘NOW’ think Jerusalem is ‘SPECIAL’? If not, why not?

[ One suggestion from me would be to consider reading last month’s post, “‘Home’ At Last!!!”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/home-at-last-v290/ ].

Well, I presented, in the past two month’s posts, that Jerusalem WILL BE a believer’s final ‘Home’ for ETERNITY. The question is, are ‘YOU’ SURE that you are going to Heaven after you die, and live in a place the Bible calls the “New Jerusalem”?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksu-zTG9HHg&t=6129s

[ VIDEO: “The Pilgrim’s Progress” movie – Arriving at New Jerusalem’s Gate ]

If YOU ARE NOT ‘SURE’, I strongly encourage you to MAKE ‘SURE’… NOW!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbHf1Q7_tro

[ VIDEO: “How Can I Know FOR SURE That I Will Go To Heaven” ]

<<< END OF SUMMARY >>>

<<< ALL THE DETAILS >>>

The following is a comprehensive presentation of the topic that follows the ‘headings’ laid out in the Summary.

Now, no doubt, as a result of all this media focus and all the stories, people have very strong feelings about the subject. But, that does not mean those feelings are based on… well, facts—on an actual understanding of the situation, and of what got them to this point. Indeed, powerful loyalties, allegiances, and convictions are often based on something else: on a received, subjective history, a tribal narrative that reinforces whichever side of the conflict a given person ‘identifies’ with. However, as U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, “You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”

Once narratives are ‘set’ in people’s minds, good luck in trying to convince them that their understanding of something is wrong—especially with ‘this’ conflict. In fact, entire public relations industries are devoted to reinforcing highly partisan narratives of the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

So, is there any way to truly understand what often seems to be the world’s most complicated, intractable, and ancient conflict? Well, I will give it a try in this post.

Then there is the Hebrew language. It is the only ‘tongue’ on earth that was considered a “dead language” which then was revived for unifying speech. (Mankind was not able to do that for either Latin, Aramaic, or any other ancient language in history.)

The existence of Israel has improved the lives of Jews in the Diaspora. Before Israel existed Jews, in most places around the world, were persecuted or treated as second-class citizens. Even in America, in the past, Jews were not able to join country clubs, go to many colleges, work in certain jobs, or own land in some areas around the country.

For over 4,000 years, over and over, the Israelites have fought to defend it and consider it the ‘homeland’ of the Jewish people. Let’s take a look at how Israelies have helped to make the world—and its people—a better place to live in.

Perhaps what is more amazing is that the following achievements are from Israel’s FIRST 67 YEARS of ‘existence’! [ Israel is now 75 years old in 2023 ]:

[ Source: “F.I.R.M.” (Fellowship Of Israel Related Ministries) – 2015 ]

GENERAL FACTS
– Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East
– It takes second place in the largest number of new books per capita
– The country has more museums per citizen than any other country
– Twenty-four percent of Israel’s workforce hold university degrees. That ranks her third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland (12 percent hold advanced degrees).
– Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce (with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U.S., 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany)
– Israel has the highest percentage of the population with computers at home
– It has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world, with the highest rate among women and people over 55 years of age
– Israel is ranked #2 in the world for funding start-ups, right behind the USA
– Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity
– Israel has the highest average living standard in the Middle East, and the average income exceeds that of the UK
– An Israeli company donated thousands of its OdorScreen olfactory gel products. This was to counter the crippling odors faced by on-scene Tsunami disaster workers
– Golda Meir became the world’s second elected female leader in modern times
– Israel exports 1.5 billion flowers and vegetables to Europe and the USA annually. Most of them are grown in the desert. Vineyards are being replanted in Samaria and are winning international awards.
– Due to new Israeli desert farming technology, formerly dry lands are now green with orchards, greenhouses, and small farms. The desert is blooming.

TECHNOLOGY
– The Israeli branch of Motorola developed the very first cell phone
– Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology was pioneered in Israel
– Voice mail technology was developed in Israel
– Microsoft-Israel developed most of the Windows NT operating system
– The first PC anti-virus software was developed in Israel
– The Pentium MMX chip technology was designed at Intel in Israel
– Israelis developed the technology for AOL Instant Messenger
– Research scientists created the algorithm for the transmission of video pictures (Video transmissions from Mars, by the NASA explorer “Spirit,”, have been made possible thanks to their unique algorithm)
– Developed a revolutionary electro-optic processor. (It operates one thousand times faster than any known Digital Signal Processor)
– Developed the largest communications router in the world, launched by Cisco
– An Israeli company is providing the technology behind an American all-electric bus for urban use
– Tel Aviv has become the #1 tech start-up location in the world and is one of the top locations for technology and R&D in the world
– An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully functional electricity generating plant in southern California’s Mojave desert

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
– Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin—109 per 10,000 people—one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed
– The largest number of start-up companies in the world
– Designed a watermelon-picking robot endowed with an artificial vision to do the job of harvesting
– Scientists have used strands of DNA to create tiny transistors that can build themselves
– On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech start-ups

MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS
– A portable electrocardiograph machine was developed that can transmit highly detailed data on heart activity to physicians by mobile phone
– Developed an innovative hearing aid that clips easily inside the mouth, and, using the teeth and jawbone, it transmits sound to the brain
– Discovered the molecular trigger that causes psoriasis
– Created a beating heart tissue from human embryonic stem cells
– Developed a blood test that, via the telephone, diagnoses heart attacks
– Created a biological pacemaker that corrects faulty heart rhythms when injected into the failing hearts of pigs
– Developed a device that helps nurses locate those hard-to-find veins
– Developed a simple blood test that distinguishes between mild and more severe cases of MS
– Developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill
– Have shown that lycopene—the red pigment found in tomatoes—lowers blood pressure
– Has invented a “bone glue” that will reduce the need for bone transplants

DISEASE RESEARCH
– Developed a shunt that provides relief for glaucoma sufferers
– Found that the combination of electrical stimulation and chemotherapy makes cancerous metastases disappear
– Developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.
– Won the 2004 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their groundbreaking work in cancer research
– Created a DNA nano-computer that not only detects cancer but also releases drugs to treat the disease
– The Weizmann Institute of Science is the best university in the world for life scientists to conduct research

MEDICINES AND VACCINES
– Developed the first passive vaccine against the mosquito-borne West Nile virus
– Developed an anti-smallpox first-aid treatment kit
– Developed a nose drop that will provide a five-year flu vaccine
– Developed a device that could enable millions of American diabetics to painlessly inject themselves with insulin
– Developed a device that can painlessly administer medications through microscopic pores in the skin
– Developed a vaccine against cervical cancer
– Successfully use magnets to treat post-traumatic stress disorder

[ Update: One of the amazing technologies Israel has developed—and the only country to do so—is to create drinking water from the air!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foYjh8Hbc_c

[ VIDEO: Watergen Creating Drinking Water Out of Air ]

Now, let’s look into one of the big reasons why they need to do some of these things—especially the military things.

In just the past few hundred years, the conflict has become MORE ‘INTENSE’, and is now referred to as the “Israeli-Palestinian” conflict.

The Arab revolt of 1936-1939 in Palestine, motivated by opposition to mass Jewish immigration. Most of the Arab groups were defeated by the British and much of the Arab leadership were forced out.

The renewed violence, which had sporadically lasted until the beginning of World War II, ended with the eruption of World War II. The situation in Mandatory Palestine calmed down.

Through the 1950s, Jordan and Egypt supported Palestinian cross-border attacks into Israel, while Israel carried out reprisal operations in the host countries. The 1956 Suez Crisis resulted in a short-term Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and exile of the All-Palestine Government, which was later restored with Israeli withdrawal.

The 1967 Six-Day War exerted a significant effect on Palestinian nationalism, as Israel gained military control of the West Bank from Jordan and the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

Even though the Camp David Accords (1978) improved relations between Israel and its neighbors, the question of Palestinian self-determination and self-governance remained unresolved. In 1987, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip rose up against the Israeli government in what is known as the First Intifada. They lasted until 1993.

Progress was made towards a two-state solution with the Oslo Accords of 1993-1995. Issues included the status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, borders, security, water rights, as well as Palestinian freedom of movement and the Palestinian right of return. However, public support for a two-state solution has dwindled in recent years.

In 2000, sparked in part by Palestinian grievances over Israel’s control over the West Bank, a stagnating peace process, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to the al-Aqsa mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—in September 2000, Palestinians launched the Second Intifada, which would last until 2005. In response, the Israeli government approved the construction of a barrier wall around the West Bank in 2002.

In the summer of 2014, clashes in the Palestinian territories precipitated a military confrontation between the Israeli military and Hamas in which Hamas fired nearly three thousand rockets at Israel, and Israel retaliated with a major offensive in Gaza. The skirmish ended in late August 2014 with a cease-fire deal brokered by Egypt.

After a wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians in 2015, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that Palestinians would no longer be bound by the territorial divisions created by the Oslo Accords. The final protest coincided with the 70th anniversary of the “Nakba,” the Palestinian exodus that accompanied Israeli independence.

In January 2020, the Trump administration released its long-awaited “Peace to Prosperity” plan, which was rejected by Palestinians due to its support for future Israeli annexation of settlements in the West Bank and control over an “undivided” Jerusalem.

In August and September 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and then Bahrain agreed to normalize relations with Israel, named the “Abraham Accords.” Since then, Sudan, Morocco, Oman, and Jordan also signed ‘accords’ with Israel. (Israel is currently in talks with Indonesia, Niger, Mauritania, and Somalia.)

Within Israeli and Palestinian society, the conflict generates a wide variety of views and opinions. Since its inception, the conflict’s casualties have not been restricted to combatants, with a large number of civilian fatalities on both sides. Israel considers the “complete and united Jerusalem” as its capital, while Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Continued fighting between the two sides tends to manifest in the form of popular Palestinian uprisings known as Intifadas, the launching of rockets and machine gun fire, retaliatory airstrikes and artillery fire, and even armed operations.

The connections to this place felt by Jews, and Palestinians are just too deep to disappear. After all, Jews spent millennia in exile, praying for a return to the land their ancestors lost, and Palestinians have spent most of the last century, carrying, figuratively, and sometimes literally, the keys to the homes, from which their ancestors fled and were driven out.

The conflict and possible resolutions to it remain highly divisive issues both within Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and among the international community.

One should also be apprised of these little-known facts:

– The wall has caused suffering for Palestinians. As I just mentioned, Israel did take parcels of land from Arabs, reducing some to poverty. However, Arabs cut off 1,200 acres near Jerusalem, taking it away from the Jews who bought it before 1948.

– We often hear about thousands of Palestinians living in refugee camps created after the 1948 war. The thing is, what we don’t hear is that the refugee camps would not have been needed if neighboring Arab countries had taken in their fellow Arab refugees, just as Israel took in 800,000 Jews who had been driven out of the Arab countries in 1948. These Arab neighbors found it more useful, for propaganda purposes, to keep refugee camps operating as a way to remind the world of Israel’s “alleged” injustice.

– Muslim theology has had a role to play in this conflict. The Qur’an predicts that Jews will be poor and miserable as they are scattered across the world. This prediction is contradicted by the prosperous state of Israel amid the neighboring Muslim countries, some of which are not very prosperous. Surprisingly, the Qur’an pick also says that God gave the land of Israel to the Jews: “Pharaoh sought to scare the [the Israelites] out of the land [of Israel]: but We [Allah] drowned him [Pharaoh] together with all who were with him. The We [Allah] said to the Israelites: “Dwell in this land [the land of Israel]. When the promise of the hereafter [end of days] comes to be fulfilled, We [Allah] shall assemble you [the Israelites] all together [in the land of Israel].” (Qur’an 17:103-4). In addition to this, at least one Muslim leader openly agrees: “The Qur’an recognizes the Land of Israel as the heritage of the Jews and it explains that, before the Last Judgment, Jews will return to dwell there. This prophecy has already been fulfilled.”

– Israel has compromised on several occasions in the past, giving up land in the hope for peace. The government gave back 90% of what they had in the 1967 war as a result of the Camp David Accords of 1978-79, and they surrendered the mineral-rich Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt. Then, in 2005, Israel gave up all of Gaza to Palestinian control, hoping that this would create new incentives for lasting peace. Instead, Hamas was soon elected as the government of Gaza and started shooting missiles at Israeli citizens.

[ MAP: State of Israel ]

So, the saga continues to determine the ‘rightful’ owner of the land. Well, maybe a look at Israel’s history—way back—might help to try to determine this.

So, Israel has maintained ‘continuity’ with its ancient forebearers in ways that no other modern nation has ever done.

B.C. TIMELINE
[ Note: Dates are from the “Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps & Time Lines.” (More details about the book are in the “Resources” section below.) ]

– 2100 BC: Time of Abraham
God begins a new history of blessing with Abraham—says that He will make a great nation of his descendants. Makes a Covenant with Abraham that gives him a “Promised Land.”

– 1900 BC: Joseph Becomes an Official in Egypt
Joseph is sold into slavery. Interprets the Pharaoh’s dreams and becomes second in command. He saves Egypt from a drought.

God reaffirms His Covenant with Jacob and changes his name to Israel. He has 12 sons, who become the 12 Tribes of Israel.

– 1860-1450 BC: Israelite Slavery in Egypt
Jacob’s descendants remain in Egyptian for 430 years, part of that time in slavery (about 200 years).

– 1446 BC: Moses Leads Exodus From Egypt
Pharaoh refuses to release the Israelites and God sends 10 plagues (The last plague was the death of every firstborn child but God said He would “pass over” the Israelites if they painted their door frames with the blood of a lamb.)

After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years constantly setting up a tent for their Tabernacle.

The Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

– 1405 BC: Joshua Leads Israelites Into Canaan
The Israelites defeat the walled city of Jericho. Joshua divides the Land among the 12 tribes.

– 1350-1050 BC: Era of the Judges
The Israelites go through a circular ‘cycle’ a few times. Israel Disobeys > Israel is Oppressed > Israel Cries Out to God > God Raises Up a Deliverer > Israel is Delivered > Isreal is at Peace > Israel Disobeys…

– 1227 BC: Non-biblical Mention of Israelites
Pharaoh Merneptah’s victory “stele” mentions Israel for the first time in a non-biblical source.

– 1010-970 BC: Reign of King David
Before David’s reign, he defeats Goliath. Sadly, David commits adultery with Bathsheba and then murders her husband Uriah.

King David conquers Jerusalem and makes it the capital of Israel.

– 960 BC: King Solomon Builds the First Temple

– 931 BC: The Israeli Kingdom splits. The Southern tribes become the Kingdom of Judah, and the Northern tribes become the Kingdom of Israel.

– 722 BC: Israel (Northern Kingdom) Falls to the Assyrians

– 586 BC: Judah (Southern Kingdom) Falls to Babylon and Temple is Destroyed
Israelis are exiled to Babylon. In exile, distinctions between the tribes become less important, and the people become known as Jews.

– 538 BC: King Cyrus’ Edict Allows Jews to Return to the Land
Persia conquers Babylonia and allows the Jews to return to the Land and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

– 536-516 BC: Temple Rebuilt

– 330-200 BC: Jews Out of the Land
Ptolemaic Egypt controlled Palestine.

– 165-65 BC: Jewish Self-Rule (Hasmonean Dynasty)
Judas Maccabaeus overthrows Seleucids and the Temple is rededicated in 164 BC.

– 63 BC: Pompey Conquers Jerusalem for Rome

– 37 BC: Herod the Great Appointed King of Judah

– 20 BC: King Herod Begins Refurbishing/Expanding the Temple

A.D. TIMELINE

– 30 AD: Jesus is Baptized/His Ministry Begins
Jesus begins His public ministry at the age of 30. He preaches, does miracles, and says He is God’s “Son” (the reason why He was crucified).

– 33 AD: Jesus Crucified/Ascends Into Heaven
Jesus appears to more than 500 disciples at one time after His resurrection, and gives His followers the “Great Commission.” He ascends into Heaven 40 days after His resurrection.

– 66-70 AD: Jewish Revolt
Emperor Titus destroys the Temple in Jerusalem, and Jews and Christians flee to all parts of the empire.

– 70 AD: Destruction of the Temple
Just as Jesus had predicted decades earlier, the Romans destroyed the Jewish temple. The events of 70 AD, however, were preceded by other battles. A Jewish revolt in 66 AD prompted a response from Rome. The first attempt to quiet the Jewish rebellion failed, so Emperor Nero sent Vespasian, a Roman general, who successfully attacked Galilee, the Transjordan, and Idumea, killing thousands of Jewish people along the way period

However, before Vespesian would lay siege to Jerusalem, Nero died, and Vespesian returned to Rome to lay claim to the throne. After doing so, Vespesian appointed his son, Titus, in charge of the Roman army. It was Titus who ended up besieging the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD. After several months, the city finally fell, and the Roman troops destroyed the Temple. Sources differ on how many Jewish people died, but some estimates range from 500,000 to 1,000,000 people!

– 135 AD: The Bar Kochba Rebellion
Following Emperor Hadrian’s announcement that he was going to build a pagan temple on the site of the Jewish Temple ruins and restrict the practice of the Jewish religion, another Jewish rebellion arose in Jerusalem—this one led by Simon bar Kochba. Approximately 500,000 people were killed during the fighting and the revolt failed, resulting in the near total expulsion of Jews from their agent homeland.

– 135-638 AD: Roman And Byzantine Periods
Under the direction of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, a new city called Aelia Capitolina was built over the ruins of Jerusalem. Jews were forbidden to set foot inside the new city under penalty of death. A pagan temple was also constructed and the name of the providence of Judah was changed to Syria Palestina, from which the name Palestine was later derived.

In 312 AD: The Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and in the decades that followed, the Roman Empire eventually became Christianized. Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa during the era known as the Byzantine Period (324-638 AD). In 300 AD, the capital was moved from Rome to Byzantium, which then was renamed Constantinople.

– 638-1090 AD: The Muslim Period
During the Muslim conquest of the seventh century, the middle east came under Muslim rule. Not long after Muhammad’s death, his followers conquered Palestine, and contact with the West was virtually ended. During this period, the Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock) and the al-Aqsa Mosque were built on the Temple Mount, where they have now stood for nearly 1,300 years as symbols of Muslim domination and influence. To this very day, the controversy regarding control of the Temple Mount has prevented Jews from rebuilding their own Temple on this holy site.

– 1099-1291 AD: The Crusader Period
During the Crusader Period, European Catholic warriors invaded the Holy Land in an attempt to take it back from the Muslims, who had desecrated some of the ancient Christian sites, including the tomb of the Holy Sepulcher. Both Muslims and Jews were slaughtered when the overzealous Crusaders took Jerusalem and established it as the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church. Many people today forget that the city was Christianized for about 100 years, and other parts of Palestine remained under European control for nearly 200 years.

– 1187-1517 AD: The Saladin and Mamluk Periods
The Syrian Muslim scholar Ali ibn Tahir al-Sulami revived the idea of calling for “jihad” (“holy war”) to recapture the Holy City from the Crusaders. Jerusalem surrendered to Saladin after a two-week siege. In the aftermath, the Muslims made a determined effort to re-Isamize Jerusalem. The golden cross of the Crusaders was removed from the al-Aqsa Mosque, in the Catholic altar was removed from the Dome of the Rock.

– 1517-1917 AD: Ottoman Turkish Period
In 1517, the Mamluks were replaced by the Turks. Under the leadership of Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566), Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Turkish Muslim city. During this time, the Islamic influence on the culture of Palestine continued to grow. The rebuilding of Jerusalem walls was completed in 1566, and these walls still stand today, enclosing the Old City. Despite numerous local conflicts, the Turkish Period provided general protection from foreign invasions and ultimately opened contact with the West during the 19th century. However, the plight of Israel changed dramatically during World War I, when the Turks allied themselves with Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. Germany lost the war and the Turks lost control of Palestine to the British, who set up a mandate over the region from 1917-1948.

– 1917-1947 AD: The British Period
Arthur Balfour, foreign secretary of Great Britain, issued the following statement, known as the “Balfour Declaration,” in an attempt to gain the support of influential Jews for the war against Germany:

Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917

Dear Lord Rothschild,

I have much pleasure in conveying to you. on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet.

His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur James Balfour

The British had grown increasingly impatient in their attempts to mediate the ever increasing hostilities between the Arabs and the Jews, who were under their supervision. Nevertheless, it was the United Kingdom’s disciplined presence in that tumultuous region that ultimately kept the Arabs from driving the Jews into the Mediterranean Sea at a time when they were defenseless and outnumbered.

By 1939, with constant unrest in Palestine, Great Britain began to go back on the Balfour Declaration and instead favor Arab independence and control of the area. Still, Jewish immigration continued, and accelerated during the intense persecution of the Jewish people in Europe under the Nazi regime. By the time the British relinquished control of the region in 1947, approximately 670,000 Jews lived in the land, and they were now more capable of defending themselves.

– 1948 AD: The Re-establishment Of Modern Israel
For centuries, Christians and Jews have been anticipating a miracle—the reestablishment of the nation of Israel and their ancestral homeland. This miracle occurred on May 14, 1948, when the declaration of the establishment of the state of Israel was proclaimed.

[ This has been to MOST ‘IMPORTANT’ EVENT in Israel’s history up to now (and I will share with you why I, and MANY others feel this way a bit later). ]

Palestine of the Middle Bronze Age (circa 2200-1570 BC) is described in some detail by a group of Egyptian texts, referred to as the “Execration Texts.” These texts include references to Jerusalem, Ashkelon, Beth Shan, Rehob, and Byblos, which all still exist in Israel and modern-day Lebanon. One “Mari” tablet mentions “Canaan” as a geographic area.

An inscription commemorating Pharaoh Merneptah’s victory over the Libyans (1213-1204 BC) also mentions Israel, which is historically significant—which ‘lines up’ with other archaeological evidence that indicates where the Israelites settled during the Late Bronze Age (1570-1200 BC). This also indicates a relationship with the later kingdom in the Iron Age (1200-500 BC).

Israel’s conquest and subsequent captivity at the hands of Babylon in the sixth century BC—is recounted in the Old Testament books of Nehemiah and Ezra—and is a ‘key point’ in Jewish history. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals important traits about the history of Israel and the Jewish people during this time.

While removed from their land, during the nearly six decades of captivity in Babylon, it is important to note that the Jewish exiles maintained their national and religious identity. This is evidenced by a series of clay cuneiform tablets that were found in modern-day Iraq, dating from 572 BC. The inscriptions describe life in three Jewish settlements in Babylonia.

The thing is, even during one of Israel’s greatest tragedies and exiles, the Holy Land was never entirely without a Jewish population.

Then, starting around the time of Nehemiah and thereafter (515-445 BC), there is a sudden increase in archaeological and historical references to Judah as a political entity.

With the rise of Alexander the Great, the control of the region can be compared to a game of “hot potato,” with rules changing hands every few generations. The works of the famed, first-century Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus provide a full accounting of Alexander the Great in Palestine. Alexander’s conquest ended Persian control of Palestine in 332 BC.

After conquering Tyre, Alexander was going to march on Jerusalem. However, when Alexander arrived, he held his army back since he said he had a dream not to do so. Instead, according to Jewish custom, Alexander went with the priests and offered a sacrifice to God.

When Alexander, the Great died in 323 BC, his kingdom was divided among his generals. Two of Alexander’s generals were Ptolemy and Seleucid, who eventually shared control of Palestine, during which time the Jews enjoyed a level of self-governance in autonomy.

However, in 168 BC, Hellenistic King Antiochus IV of the Seleucid Dynasty invaded Egypt, and on his return, plundered Jerusalem. After looting the Temple, he forbade the Jews from sacrificing according to their custom. But, the priest Mattathias refused and many villagers fled into the desert to live in caves. The Greek military found them and burned many of them in the caves.

The survivors were emboldened, made Mattathias their ruler, and the Jews recaptured Jerusalem. Upon doing so, they purified the Temple and relit the Menorah—a rededication that is celebrated as the festival of Hanukkah.

Then, for the next 100 years, there were many power struggles until 63 BC, when Pompey took Jerusalem on behalf of Rome, ushering in the period of Roman rule.

For the first half of the first century AD, the Jews ‘dealt with’ King Herod, who did some substantial construction projects within the city of Jerusalem. However, in 66 AD, when the Roman government interfered with the Jewish sacrifices, the Jews rebelled.

A few years later, with their patience at an end, Titus sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple in 70 AD. This crushing defeat marked the end of the Jewish State until modern times.

For the next almost 1,900 years, even though the Jews were dispersed worldwide (called the “Diaspora”), the Jewish population in Jerusalem was small, but the city was a major center for worship.

As such, the UN, by the terms of its charter, was—and still is—obligated to continue to protect the rights of Jews to settle throughout Palestine, so they set forth “Article 6” of the still-applicable “Mandate for Palestine” (which remains fully intact as of today).

However, tensions in the region continued to increase, so the British accelerated their previously announced departure from late November to mid-May. Knowing that the Arab Palestinians were conspiring with neighboring Arab states to attack and destroy Israel as the British were no longer going to protect them, Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, the night before the British forces departed Palestine.

Just as the Israeli leadership thought, the very next day, the neighboring Arab armies invaded Israel, wanting to place all of Palestine under Arab control.

The fighting continued into 1949 when a series of armistice agreements were signed. The thing is, during the fighting, Israel gained control of more territory than it would otherwise have been allocated had the UN plan been implemented (about 75% of the territory of the Mandate for Palestine). International legitimacy of the State of Israel was confirmed when, on May 11, 1949, Israel was admitted as a full member of the United Nations.

Relations in the Middle East remained tense for the next few decades, and in early 1967, Egypt and Syria escalated tensions by renewing calls for the destruction of the state of Israel. Arab forces moved into positions in the Sinai and Golan Heights. Facing an imminent attack, Israel struck preemptively on June 5, 1967, destroying Arab air forces on the ground and catching the forces totally by surprise. In the next six days, Israel utterly routed the Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian militaries.

As a result, the so-called “Six-Day War,” Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the “West Bank” (Judea and Samaria), and the Golan Heights.

Many believe that the Bible is a key piece of evidence for two main reasons:

– To demonstrate why the Jewish people feel such a connection to the ownership of this land

– To show that there has been an enduring presence of Jews in Israel for the past 4,000 years

God’s Covenant Promise To Abraham
It is surprising to many that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all agree that God (or Allah) promised to give the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. Yes, they all ‘agree’ about this!

The Bible and the Koran, both call the Holy Land, the “Promised Land“ because God promised to give it to the children of Israel. God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (later renamed Israel), and the children of Israel that he would give the land of Canaan to them and their descendants.

When Abram arrived in Canaan, the Lord appeared to him, just west of the Jordan River, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land” [ Genesis 12:7 ]. Remarkably, almost 4,000 years later, this land is the modern-day State of Israel. After hearing, God’s ‘voice’, Abram built an altar there.

Later, Abram and Lot separated because the land could not provide for both of their families. When Lot departed, God again said to Abram in much clearer terms:

“Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you”
[ Genesis 13:14-17 ].

There are two key promises that I want to point out. Firstly, God made Abram look all around in all directions, and said, “All the land that you see, I will give to you in your offspring, forever” [ Genesis 13:15 ]. This is clearly a promise for the land. Here, God is promising Abram and his descendants the land of Israel. It is upon this promise in the coming Covenant that the Jewish people have based their ownership of the land for thousands of years.

Ten years after God had promised to make Abram, the ‘father’ of many, he and his wife took matters into their own hands. Sarai convinced Abraham to take her maidservant Hager as another wife, hoping she could bear Abram a son, as the means to fulfill God’s promise. As soon as Hagar conceived, Sarai regretted it and sent Hagar into the wilderness with her son, Ishmael—who became the ‘father’ of the Arab people. A little more than a year later, Sarah did miraculously have a son, Issac, when she was 90 years old!

Years later, after Abraham died, God confirmed His Covenant directly with Isaac (Genesis 26:2-5) ]. God then blessed Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, with twin sons, Esau and Jacob—which would become two nations (Genesis 25:21-25). However, a bit different than the typical—of the older son inheriting the most—God told Rebekah that the younger (by just a few minutes) Jacob, would inherit the Covenant. (Genesis 35:12). [ This is said to have taken place on what is now known as the Temple Mount. ]

Twenty years later, Jacob wrestled with an “angel” (a Christophany?) throughout the night, and just before the sun began to rise, the angel said that Jacob’s name would now be Israel. From that time on, not only did Jacob have a new name, but God’s people had a new name as well—remaining so until today.

After settling in Canaan, Jacob had 12 sons who later became the “twelve tribes of Israel” (with Joseph being the most recognizable). After Joseph’s death, the new Pharaoh enslaved and persecuted the Israelites. Four hundred years later, God raised up Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and back to the outside ‘edge’ of the Promised Land. Moses’ ‘assistant’, Joshua, was the one who actually took the Israelites ‘into’ the Land.

The Line Of Ishmael And The Arab ‘World’
Now, remembering His promise to Abraham, God also made Ishmael’s descendants into a great nation, beginning with his 12 sons (Genesis 21:12-13). But, as God had warned Hagar, Ishmael’s descendants have always had a contentious relationship with the children of Israel.

In modern times, the Arabs—the descendants of Ishmael—claim that the Holy Land belongs to them because the Jews—the descendants of Isaac—no longer have a right to it. Despite this modern conflict, many non-Muslims, and perhaps some Muslims themselves may be surprised to learn that the Qu’ran, the Muslim holy book, actually affirms the fact that Allah made a covenant with the children of Israel to make them a vehicle of his message to mankind. The Qu’ran also records Allah’s promise to give the Holy Land to the people of Israel (Qu’ran 2:40; Qu’ran 2:122, 2:47; Qu’ran 2:63, Qu’ran 2:124; Qu’ran 5:12; Qu’ran 5:20-21).

Now, amid the recent decades of conflict between the Jews and Palestinians, some Palestinian leaders have claimed that Jerusalem was never a Jewish city, or that the Jewish temple never existed on the Temple Mount. The thing is, these leaders are not only denying historical archaeological facts but their own holy text, the Qu’ran. Interestingly, the land of Canaan is called the “Promised Land“ in the Qu’ran because of Allah’s promise to Israel. The Qu’ran calls it the “Holy Land“ long before there was any Islamic influence over the land, or any Islamic monument, such as the al-Aqsa mosque was even a ‘vision’. In other words, even according to the Qu’ran, the land is holy because of its connection to the Jews, not the Muslims!

The Reign Of The Kings
So, during the reigns of the Israel kings (1025 BC-587 BC), no matter what was happening, politically or militarily, the Israelites never lost their ownership of the land. As I mentioned, God gave them the Land, and no one else will ever gain title to it. Despite the greatest tragedies, the Jewish people have always had some ‘presence’ in the land.

It’s ‘Miraculous’
The fact that the Jewish people exist at all in the modern age after so many powerful kingdoms have risen and fallen over that same period of time is, some would argue, ‘MIRACULOUS’!

An ‘Everlasting’ Covenant
The Bible tells us that God‘s Covenant with the Israelites was not for a finite term. Rather, it was an everlasting and eternal Covenant—an unending relationship between God, and His ‘chosen’ people, the Jews (Genesis 13:15).

Israel’s ‘Responsibility’
Although God clearly gave the land to Abraham’s descendants as an eternal covenant, God gave them the land for a specific purpose: to make Israel a “holy nation,” setting it apart from all others, and to be a ‘blessing’ to other nations through it.

‘RETURN’ TO LIFE
In the book of Ezekiel, we read about a time when the nation of Israel would one day return to life:

Then, in Ezekiel chapter 37, we come to the famous prediction regarding the valley of the dry bones: “The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones” [ Ezekiel 37:1 ]. The bones symbolize the nation and people of Israel, which appeared to be dead and are scattered throughout the world. “He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry” [ Ezekiel 37:2 ]. In other words, they had been there for a long time. “He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know’” [ Ezekiel 37:3 ]. Then, what was the answer? “Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!’” [ Ezekiel 37:4 ].

Ezekiel went on to say that as he preached to the bones, there was a “rattling sound,” and the bones began to come together. The old spiritual, “Dry Bones,” which speaks of bones being joined together, comes from this very passage of Scripture, in which the bones of the skeletons suddenly begin to assemble right in front of the eyes of the prophet. Ezekiel noted that when the bones came together, flesh and sinews formed on them, but there was no breath in them—no spiritual life (Ezekiel 37:7-8). Then we read this:

“Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army”
[ Ezekiel 37:9-10 ].

While Ezekiel was preaching to dry bones in a desert valley, they came together and stood up. But, there was no life in them—not until the ‘breath’ of God entered them. At that point, they suddenly became alive not only physically, but also spiritually.

This was followed by Iran (which had voted against the UN partition plan), Guatemala, Iceland, Nicaragua, Romania, and Uruguay. The Soviet Union was the first nation to fully recognize Israel de jure on 17 May 1948, followed by Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Ireland, and South Africa.

[ Note: The United States extended official recognition after the first Israeli election, as Truman had promised on 31 January 1949. By virtue of the General Assembly Resolution 273 (III), Israel was admitted to membership in the United Nations on 11 May 1949. ]

The thing is, the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah both said this was going to happen MANY ‘CENTURIES’ before this!:

“I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains [Mount Moriah, Jerusalem] of Israel” [ Ezekiel 37:22 ], and “Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?”… “Will I bring the moment of birth, and not give delivery?” [ Isaiah 66:8c, 9a]. God made BOTH of these happen on May 14, 1948, just as He had prophesied!

For the believer, it is a privilege that was denied to previous millions who have lived and died before them, that this prophecy is indeed finally coming to pass! This means that the believer can know that, once again, God’s promises to Israel still stand, which in turn, encourages them that God’s promises to them will also be fulfilled!

God promised to regather the exiles from the four corners of the earth and He promised to reestablish Israel. It just took an awfully long time and people gave up and got ‘frustrated’ during the wait. However, what a great reminder this is for a believer to hold on to God’s promises and not give up! Though it may have lingered… wait for it… it will CERTAINLY ‘COME’! [ Referring to the soon-coming Rapture of the Church. ]

While the overwhelming 850+ references in the Bible clearly demonstrates the city’s religious centrality, those mentions only begin to tell the story of Jerusalem’s spiritual significance.

‘LEGAL’ BASIS FOR JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL’S CAPITAL
On December 5, 1949, David Ben-Gurion said the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd9PCaqWQaI&t=11s

[ VIDEO: “The 50th Anniversary of Reunification” ]

Although this was a perfectly legal action and Israel’s legal claim to Jerusalem—dated all the way back to the mandate, and certainly to its founding in 1948—sadly, the international community has spent the last 50 years refuting, rebelling, denying, and protesting Israel’s right to Jerusalem.

Israel’s enemies, the United Nations, and much of the entire international community have rejected Israel’s claim to a unified Jerusalem ever since its founding. The issue has appeared in what feels like an endless stream of U.N. resolutions, debates about international embassy locations, and even in U.S. presidential election campaigns.

The thing is, Jerusalem is the ‘ONLY’ example in the world that many other nations refuse to recognize a sovereign nation’s capital! Jerusalem has always been—and still remains—a hot topic on the world stage.

THE ‘CRADLE’ OF CIVILIZATION
Jerusalem is a city steeped in importance for many reasons for many people from many backgrounds. It has been called the “center of the world” with an importance so great that people have been fighting over this city for thousands of years. As mentioned, the city is the focus of the struggle between the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—a ‘battlefield’ of clashing civilizations.

[ MAP: Heinrich Bunting Map of the World (With Jerusalem in the Center) ]

Another analogy of Jerusalem is as the “navel of the earth.” Why? Well, according to the Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 10 says:

“Just as the navel is found at the center of a human being, so the land of Israel is found at the center of the world… and it is the foundation of the world. Jerusalem is at the center of the land of Israel, the Temple is at the center of Jerusalem, the Holy of Holies is at the center of the temple, the ark is at the center of the Holy of Holies, and the Foundation Stone is in front of the ark, which spot is the foundation of the world.

Temples are associated with the center of the universe, the place where heaven, earth and the underworld meet, the umbilical cord, the navel of the earth, the pillar or sacred pole supporting the earth.”

Jerusalem’s history can be summed up in one word: TROUBLED! Positioned as it is between the rival empires of Egypt to the south and Syria to the north—both striving for dominance in the region—Israel was constantly being trampled by opposing armies. It has also been conquered at various times by the Canaanites, Jebusites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British.

Jerusalem is first mentioned in the Bible in Joshua 10:1. We read there that Adoni-Bezek was the king of Jerusalem and fought unsuccessfully against Joshua. The Israelites first occupied Jerusalem during the days of the Judges (Judges 1:21), but did not completely inhabit and control the city until 1049 BC when David wrested it from the Jebusites and declared it the capital city of the Jewish people.

Teddy Kollek (Mayor of Jerusalem) and Moshe Pearlman wrote:

“The spiritual attachment of the Jews to Jerusalem has remained unbroken; it is a unique attachment. Should one doubt that statement, he would have to look long and hard to find another relationship in history where a people, even in captivity, remained so passionately attached to a city for 3,000 years.”

When the Jews were driven from their land at various times, wherever they found themselves in exile, they always faced Jerusalem when they prayed. Jewish synagogues faced Jerusalem. When a Jew built a house, part of a wall was left unfinished to symbolize that it was only a temporary dwelling—until he could return to his permanent home, Jerusalem. Even the traditional smashing of a glass during a wedding ceremony has its roots in the Temple in Jerusalem. This act of remembering the loss of the center of Jewish festivities during the marriage feast calls “Jerusalem my highest joy” (Psalm 137:6).

As previously mentioned, when compared with the great cities of the world, Jerusalem is REALLY ‘SMALL’. It stands alongside no great river as do London, Paris, and Rome. It boasts no port, no major industries, no mineral wealth, or even an adequate water supply. The city also is not positioned on a major thoroughfare connected to the rest of the world. So then, why is Jerusalem the ‘navel’ of the earth, and the ‘shaft’ that propels the world ever forward?

Well, again, it is because of its spiritual significance—the ‘home’ of two of the world’s monotheistic faiths, Judaism and Christianity, and claimed by a third, Islam.

Jerusalem is the only city God claims as His own, and it will FOREVER be the ‘CENTER’ of the world.

[ Note: Last month’s post mentioned this, and I will broaden the scope of what the Scriptures say about Jerusalem’s ‘near-future’ in next month’s post. ]

Then, Roman emperor Constantine—who had been a follower of Apollo—began to favor Christianity beginning in 312 AD. At that time, the pagan world’s ‘center’ was Delphi, the seat of Apollo, and had been considered the “omphalos” (or “navel”) of the world by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Constantine had been told by an Apollonian oracle that Christians were interfering with the oracle’s ability to foretell the future. Constantine interpreted this to signify that Christianity had replaced Delphi and its famed oracle. He decided that his new religion, now the official religion of the state, should establish a new ‘center’—and that center would be Jerusalem. This amounted to the building of the New Jerusalem, constructing the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and becoming a city of churches.

This New Jerusalem, the new ‘center’ of the earth, was to be distinct from everything that Jerusalem had been before. Constantine envisioned Christianity as a universal religion that would supplant both paganism and Judaism. The new basilica was, therefore, to be built on the site of a pagan temple that had been erected on the orders of Hadrian but that was now to be purged of its past. All the soil and accumulations of two centuries were to be removed from the site and the underlying bedrock used as the foundation of the new building, the location of which the emperor declared to be Golgotha, the site of Christ’s crucifixion, based on his mother’s assertion to that effect. Constantine’s aim in Jerusalem was to create a new concept of sacred places.

One result of this new approach to Jerusalem was that Roman Christianity now felt a sense of power over Jews, which they exercised by continuing the earlier pagan ban on Jews entering Jerusalem. However, Christianity still owed something to its Jewish antecedents. After all, the Church itself had arisen ‘FROM’ among the Jewish people. In addition, the New Testament spoke of a ‘heavenly’ temple, the description of which had formed the basis of the temple destroyed some 250 years earlier.

What was more, the location of the pagan temple was such that it would be possible to establish a direct line of sight from inside the new basilica across the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives, the point of Jesus’ departure and of His prophesied return. In this way, the thinking went, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher could emulate the past relationship between the Holy Place in the Temple and the Mount of Olives. As Constantine saw it, the priesthood in this new building would take the place of the high priest in the Jewish Temple and they would now be the “priesthood of God.”

By the end of the fourth century, the Roman Empire was divided, with the East retaining Constantinople as its capital and the West looking once again to Rome. Both recognized the Pope as the religious head, but increasingly, differences of opinion sprang up.

One such controversy centered on Jerusalem. Rome’s fall to the forces of Alaric I in 410, led to Augustine’s celebrated work, “The City of God,” which changed the opinions once again about the necessity of the “New Jerusalem” on earth. The Western empire, where Augustine was influential, downplayed Jerusalem’s importance as a physical place, but the city continued to be venerated in the East. Successive emperors of Byzantium, therefore, ensured that Jerusalem became a thoroughly Christian city in the Byzantine tradition. Religious edifices dominated the city, and monks and clerics became the principal inhabitants.

Then, with the rise of Islam in the seventh century, Jerusalem was engulfed in yet another religious movement that shook the world. Exhausted by its wars with Persia, the Byzantine Empire allowed a political ‘vacuum’ to develop in the Holy Land, which Islam quickly filled. Driven by the claims of Muhammad’s “night visit” to Jerusalem, the forces of the caliph Omar, a successor to Muhammad, encircled and took the city in 637/38 AD.

Now, the Muslim view of Jerusalem was very different from the Christian view. Like that of Judaism, it focused on the Temple Mount—the site of temples built by Solomon and Herod—though for reasons of its own, created the first of many animosities between Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem.

Toward the end of the seventh century, plans were underway to build what we now know as the “Dome of the Rock,” an Islamic edifice to challenge the beauty of Christian buildings in Jerusalem. The rock over which the Dome was built quickly acquired the same status as the tomb known as the Holy Sepulcher. With Muslims in control of the city, this Islamic shrine was now to be viewed as the ‘center’ of the earth.

During the next four centuries, an uneasy relationship existed between the two religious entities in Jerusalem. Disputes arose over the size of domes on religious buildings: Christian buildings were not to be larger or more elaborate than those of the Muslims. At one point the Muslims actually demolished the entire Church of the Holy Sepulcher, destroying the rock outcrop and cave that had been known as Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus.

Jerusalem reflected the situation in the empire as a whole, with Muslim control encroaching even into Anatolia (present-day Turkey). In desperation, the emperor appealed to the Pope for help to keep the Muslim “infidels” away from Constantinople.

Rome responded, but not in the way the emperor had hoped. Pope Urban’s concern was for Jerusalem rather than Constantinople, possibly as a means of reuniting the church following the schism in the church in 1054. Muslim control of Jerusalem and the perceived influence they had over Christian holy places were too great for Europe to ignore. Summoning the nobles of Europe, the Pope called for the first of several crusades to free the holy places—even though, in reality, the holy places were seldom challenged by the Muslim presence.

The Crusades led to the fall of Jerusalem to European forces and the eradication of Muslim life there. A period of almost 100 years of European control of the city followed. However, rather than focusing on the site of the Holy Sepulcher and other traditional Christian holy sites, the Crusaders focused on the Temple Mount turning the Dome of the Rock into a Christian shrine, mistakenly assuming it to be a remnant of Herod’s Temple.

Eventually, the Crusaders did rebuild the previously destroyed Church of the Holy Sepulcher. But its religious zeal could not compensate for the power and energy of the Muslim empire and the Crusaders were driven back from their New Jerusalem.

The control of Jerusalem by the Muslim Ottoman empire over the next few centuries coincided with the Renaissance in Europe, which created an entirely new view of the world—shaped by rationalism rather than spirituality. Western Europe once again lost interest in Jerusalem as a spiritual ‘center’ and it became only a ‘curiosity’ to Europeans, a place replete with antiquities with which to furnish museums and satisfy an interest in natural history and the growing field of anthropology.

Then, the 19th century brought the Middle East to Europe’s attention once more, this time from a geopolitical perspective—in tandem with that interest developed a renewed religious interest in Jerusalem being the center of the world once again.

This prophetic scenario also foresaw a role in the Holy Land for the exiled Jewish people. As lord protector of the republican Commonwealth, Oliver Cromwell believed that the “lost” tribes of Israel were destined to return to their promised land. Thus the stage was set for the return of Jews to Israel as a means of fulfilling prophecy so that the world could be made ready for the return of Jesus.

Twenty years after Napoleon’s retreat from the eastern Mediterranean, the Egyptian Mamluks wrested control of Palestine and Syria from their Ottoman Turk relatives. In an attempt to gain support, they invited European diplomats and missionaries to Damascus and Jerusalem. Diplomatic and church missions were established hand in hand. The British government—which was to play a central role in the Middle East—was the first to establish a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem (in 1838). Lord Palmerston, as prime minister of Great Britain, was supportive of Jews throughout Europe in returning to Palestine. (His observation predated the efforts of Theodor Herzl and the Zionist movement by several decades.)

Increasingly, the land of Israel became to be seen in prophetic terms in a way that it had not been in a long time. It became an important focus not only of churches but of governments now.

Religious interest in the Holy Land was growing quickly. Protestant groups saw not only the return of the Jews but also the rebuilding of the Temple as a necessary precursor of the return of Jesus. The Protestants envisaged a “WORLD CENTER” in Jerusalem emphasizing the Temple Mount.

After the British freed Jerusalem from Ottoman rule at the end of World War I—on December 9, 1917—the victorious General Edmund Allenby took as his title “Viscount Allenby of Megiddo” (or Armageddon). Since this is the location named in the Book of Revelation as the gathering place for the final battle between Jesus and the forces of this world—led by the Antichrist—Allenby’s chosen title is a further indication that he/the British saw their role in terms of Bible prophecy.

Jerusalem is considered the “Holy City,” yet it has always been the desire and prize of empires yet of no real ‘strategic’ value. It has been the ‘home’ of many religions each of which believed the city belongs to them alone and tries to exclude any other. All three Abrahamic religions were ’born’ in Jerusalem and all believe everything will end there on the Day of Judgement. Again, Jerusalem is considered the ‘spine’ of world history.

The term “Holy City” is constantly used to describe the reverence for the three Abrahamic religions, which essentially means that it is the place on earth for communications between God and man.

As the considered ‘meeting-place’ of God and man, Jerusalem is where many say the questions related to the End of Days, and the Apocalypse—the battle between Jesus and the Antichrist—will be settled. All three Abrahamic religions believe in the Apocalypse but the details vary by faith and sect. These days, it seems that the Apocalypse is becoming more of a dynamic force in the world’s feverish politics.

In addition to this, the Bible indicates that a third Temple will be built on or near the site of Solomon’s Temple (Daniel 9:27). This would seem to present a problem given the political obstacles that stand in the way: the religious activities on the Temple Mount are currently controlled by the Supreme Muslim Council (the Waqf). Yet nothing can put a ‘wrinkle’ in God’s sovereign plans. Thus, Muslim control of this area simply fulfills the prophecy that “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” [ Luke 21:24 ].

‘RELIGIOUS’ SIGNIFICANCE OF JERUSALEM
The city of Jerusalem is given special status in Jewish religious law. In particular, Jews outside Jerusalem pray facing its direction.

[ MAP: Israel – Zoomed Into Jerusalem and Tel Aviv ]

[ PHOTO: Aerial view of Jerusalem ]

The first mention of Jerusalem in the Bible is when Abraham meets with the King of Salem in Genesis 14:18. Then, in chapter 22, Abraham traveled to the region of “Moriyya,” or “Mount Moriah.”

The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem until they were driven out by King David. At the time, it was referred to as Jebus. It was renamed “the City of David”. The City of David, ancient Jerusalem, would have been not where the Old City is today but has been located below the city just above the Kidron Valley. The area has been a prolific and exciting archeological area for 150 years.

The Old City, as it is referred to today, is the highlight for many on their trip to Israel. While it actually is a very small part of the city, the Old City and its walls and gates are what people think of when they think of Jerusalem. What many don’t realize though is that those walls and gates are mostly very young in relation to the rest of the city being built in the 1500s by the Ottomans.

The First and Second ‘Temples’
King David’s son, King Solomon built the first Jewish Temple in the “First Temple Period” (descriptive of the years 1000-587 BC.) The Temple replaced Tabernacle worship and was completed in 960 BC. It was a marvel of design and beauty and held the Ark of the Covenant.

The Second Temple was rebuilt between 536 and 516 BC, and was destroyed by King Nebecaddnezer II in 587 BC. It stood until the Romans destroyed it in 70 AD.

The Temple Mount is of paramount importance to Judaism. This is ‘hallowed ground’ for the Jews, believed to have been a holy site long before the existence of the Temple. In fact, Jewish tradition teaches that this site was the starting point for the creation of the world. Sitting atop the Temple Mount today—where the Jewish temple once stood—are several important Islamic holy sites, including the Dome of the Rock—a Muslim shrine built 1,300 years ago—and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

A ‘Battle Ground’
Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and changed power 44 times. It has been under the control of the Canaanites, the Assyrians, the Persians, the Macedonians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Muslims, the Crusaders, the Ottomans, the British, and of course, the Jews. Wow, quite a history!

Stones
Jerusalem’s ‘battle scars’ can be seen all around the city. Jesus prophesied that one stone would not stand upon the other and you can still see piles of stones from the Temple that the Romans threw down. You can also see the scars from a conflict nearly 2,000 years later 1967 war) in the form of bullet holes in the walls of the Old City.

Modern Jerusalem
Today, Jerusalem is a city of ancient roots and modern branches. It holds deep importance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. It holds the Temple Mount, The Western Wall, and the Via Dolorosa. The city has grown far beyond the reaches of the hill that ancient Israel knew. Its population is rapidly approaching one million. Today it is known for its tourism as a holy pilgrimage place for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. There is also a large number of technology jobs in the city with companies such as IBM, Cisco, and Johnson and Johnson having large offices there.

There is so much more to say and learn about this city that has captured the attention of all who know of it since its beginnings. Today, it still gets the attention of the entire world as all eyes are always on Jerusalem. Have you visited this amazing city? What are you waiting for? Contact our Tour Operators for details about how you can make this city a piece of your story as well!

A City With No ‘Equal’
So, of all the places in the world, why is Jerusalem so SIGNIFICANT? It was remote from the major trade route of the Mediterranean coast, it didn’t have good water sources, it baked in the summer sun, was chilled by winter winds, and its jagged rocks made it inhospitable.

More wars have been fought at her gates than any other city in the world, even though her name means “City of Peace.” So, why such hostility toward Jerusalem? Well, because she HAS played a key role in God’s plan in the past, IS playing a key role in the present, and WILL play a key role in God’s ‘FINAL’ PLAN for earth’s future:

[ Note: I will discuss, in detail, what the Bible says about Jerusalem’s future in next month’s post. ]

Then, since God is perfect and ‘untouchable’, Satan goes after God’s ‘children’, and especially His “chosen people”:

“For you [Israelites] are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth”
[ Deuteronomy 7:6 ].

God continues by saying:

“It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers”
[ Deuteronomy 7:7-8a ].

The fact that the Jews are God’s chosen people means that they have been held to a higher ‘standard’: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” [ Luke 12:48b ], and as God said through the prophet Amos, “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins” [ Amos 3:2 ].

Israel’s responsibilities have included keeping and preserving the Law (Joshua 22:5); being “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6), and bringing “renown and praise and honor” to God (Jeremiah 13:11). Their high calling is straight from the God who chose them out of all the nations of the earth.

Now, the ‘ultimate’ goal of God’s choice of the Jews as His chosen people was to produce the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would be the Savior of the world—and THAT is what Satan HATES!

– Abraham had Ishmael with Hagar, bypassing Sarah (Genesis 16:1-4)

– Ishmael ridiculed Isaac, attempting to usurp Isaac’s position (Genesis 16:5-16)

– Pharaoh ordered all male Hebrew infants to be murdered (Exodus 2)

– Israel decided to stay in the wilderness rather than go into Canaan (Numbers 13-14)

– Moab tried to destroy Israel and stop them from entering Canaan (Numbers 22)

– The Canaanites amassed all their armies to destroy the invading Israelites (Joshua 11)

– The surrounding nations tried to destroy Israel during the time of the Judges (Judges 16)

– The Assyrian army destroyed Israel and much of Judah (2 Kings 17)

– The Babylonian army destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 38)

– Haman attempted to destroy all the Jews throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 3)

– Greco-Syrian forces tried to Hellenize Judea under Antiochus Epiphanes (Daniel 8)

—King Herod killed thousands of Jewish children in an attempt to prevent a new “King” (the Messiah) from coming (Matthew 2:16).

– The Roman army destroyed Judea and Jerusalem twice (70 AD and 135 AD) (Luke 21)

– The Jewish people were scattered and persecuted throughout the world for 2,000 years (Luke 21:24)

– Hitler organized the Holocaust and destroyed over six million Jews.

– Israel was invaded in 1967 and 1973 by its surrounding neighbors.

– Hamas hurled thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel in 2014 (and continues to do so on, at least, every few years ever since).

So, for over 4,000 years, the Jewish people have faced relentless persecution, opposition, and attempts to annihilate and destroy them, and today the struggle continues.

Ultimately, the survival of Israel results in the eternal perdition of Satan. How can this be? Well, after the seven-year Tribulation—when Israel finally ‘receives’ Jesus and trusts Him as their Savior—all that surviving generation of Israel will be saved. This transformation will usher in the events that will spell the doom of Satan… forever!

After the Tribulation, Jesus will return to the Earth, establish His Kingdom over Israel and the world for 1,000 years, and then cast the still-rebellious Satan into the Lake of Fire forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

Thus, Satan has strived mightily to destroy Israel through the centuries up until this present time so that there would be no Israel to invite Jesus to return to the Earth and prove God was a liar since He said that the Jews would never be eliminated from the earth (Jeremiah 31:36).

Jeremiah continues to explain what God says it would take to destroy Israel: One would have to first destroy the sun, moon, and stars. Once that had been accomplished, then, and only then, could someone be able to destroy Israel. The last time I looked, the sun, moon, and stars were still functioning, so that must mean that Israel has not ceased being a nation—and WILL NOT NEVER CEASE being a nation!

This promise was also repeated to Abraham’s son, Isaac, and to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (Genesis 17:21; 26:24; 28:1-4, 13).

Then, God chose Israel for this nation to be a ‘servant’ to Him: “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend” [ Isaiah 41:8 ]. God wanted Israel to be a group of people through whom other peoples could learn vitally important lessons. God wanted Israel to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Other nations would see that when the Israelites obeyed God, they were blessed, and when they disobeyed God, they would be punished (Deuteronomy 28).

Additional reasons why God ‘chose’ Jerusalem were for ‘POLITICAL’ and, most importantly, ‘SPIRITUAL’ reasons. God was ‘leading’ King David to do so, even though, strategically, there were much better sites that he could have chosen.

The first city David could have chosen was Hebron (Tel Rumeidah). In fact, this was the first city from which David ruled when he came to the throne. David was selected by God to be king and anointed by Samuel in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1-13). After his flight from Saul, God instructed David to go to the city of Hebron and there the men of Judah “anointed David king over the house of Judah” (2 Samuel 2:1-4), and he reigned over Judah from there for seven-and-one-half years (2 Samuel 5:5).

The reason Hebron was David’s first “capital” was because he was from the tribe of Judah and Hebron was in the tribal territory of Judah. The city also had a Patriarchal connection: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with some of their wives, are buried in the Cave of Machpelah near Hebron (Genesis 23:9, 17; 25:7-11; 49:29-32). Hebron also overlooks the Patriarchal Highway that runs through the Hill Country of Judah down to Beersheva.

David’s second choice of a capital could have been Gibeah of Saul (Tel el-Ful). Gibeah was King Saul’s capital (I Sam. 15:34). This city had a commanding view of the Central Benjamin Plateau from its position on the Patriarchal Highway (Judges 19:13).

A third possibility might have been Bethel (el-Birah). This city was situated on the Patriarchal Highway (Judges 21:19) and had Patriarchal connections. This was the second place Abraham built an altar after he entered the Promised Land (Genesis 12:8-9). Jacob had his hallmark “ladder dream” at Bethel, and it was at that event that God reconfirmed the Abrahamic covenant to him (Genesis 28:11-22; cf. John 1:51).

A fourth possibility is Gibeon (el-Jib) because “this great city, like one of the royal cities” (Josuua 10:2) was strategically located on the Central Benjamin Plateau and controlled the road leading to the Beth Horon Ridge Route. This road goes from the Central Benjamin Plateau to the International Coastal Highway and the port city of Jaffa.

The last city David could have chosen was Shechem (Tel Balatah). It too was located on the Patriarchal Highway (Judges 21:19) at a strategic junction where the road splits. One could go west between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, or go northeast down to Tirzah and the Wadi Farah. Shechem, like some of the other cities, had Patriarchal connections as well. This was the first place Abraham built an altar after he came into the Promised Land (Genesis 12:6, 7) and Joseph is buried there (Joshua 24:32). Interestingly, Shechem was made the first capital of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) by Jeroboam I following the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 12:23).

These five cities may have geographically, militarily, and strategically made better capitals for the Kingdom of Israel, yet Jebus (“threshing floor”) was chosen.

Why Jerusalem Should Not Have Been Chosen
The ancient city of Jebus (before it was Jerusalem) was situated on the ridge above the Gihon Spring. Jebus covered a small area of approximately 10 acres. It was not located on the Patriarchal Highway and, in fact, one had to turn off the ridge route (the Patriarchal Highway) in order to get to the city (Judges 19:10-12). The city is also isolated by steep valleys (Psalm 125:1-2). The Kidron Valley is on the east and the Tyropean Valley (Central Valley) is on the west (Nehemiah 2:13). The city is isolated and in a bowl because it is surrounded by hills (Psalm 125:1-2). Strategically and geographically, Jebus should not have been chosen as the capital of Israel, YET it was.

[ MAP: The Canaanite City of Jebus (Before It Was Jerusalem) – Rose Bible Maps ]

[ CONCEPT: The City Of David (After Conquering Jebus) – Leen Ritmeyer ]

[ CONCEPT: The City Of David (At the Time of Solomon’s Temple) – Leen Ritmeyer ]

God does not reveal the identity of this place until nearly 400 years later when Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon prayed: “O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which your servant is praying before You today: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ and You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place” (1 Kings 8:28, 29; 8:44, 48; cf. 2 Chronicles 6:20, 33, 34, 38; Psalm 78:67-69; 132:13, 14). God affirmed Solomon’s prayer when He said: “I have heard your prayer and supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually” (1 Kings 9:3; cf. 2 Chronicles 7:12, 16).

God chose to place His name on Jerusalem because of the two events that transpired in the city that are recorded in the book of Genesis. Both events foreshadow the Person and work of His Son, Jesus.

In the first event, Abram delivers his nephew Lot from the Mesopotamian kings in the city of Laish (Dan). On his way back to the Negev he stops at the Valley of Shaveh (cf. 2 Samuel 18:18) and meets Melchizedek (“My King Is Righteousness”). Melchizedek was the king of Salem and also the priest of the Most High God (El ‘Elyon). The King/Priest blessed Abram and Abram, in turn, gave a tithe to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20; cf. Heb. 7:1-4).

The Book of Hebrews also gives a divine commentary on this passage, as well as Psalm 110 where David stated, “The LORD (Yahweh) has sworn and will not relent, ‘You (David’s Lord) are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’” [ Psalm 110:4 ]. In Hebrews (5:5-6), God said to David, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You” (from Psalm 2:7), and also “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (from Psalm 110:4). [ Note: Later, Jesus is identified as the Son who is the “High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:20). ]

So, the first reason God chose Jerusalem as the capital is because one day, His Son, Jesus, will return again to the Mount of Olives with His saints and SIT UPON THE ‘THRONE’ of David and ESTABLISH HIS ‘KINGDOM’ over all the earth in Jerusalem as a King/Priest (Zechariah 14; cf. Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:5-8; Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 19:11-19).

In the second event, Abraham offered up Isaac on a mountain in the Land of Moriah (Genesis 22:1-19), called in Jewish tradition “Akedah,” for the “binding” of Isaac (2 Chronicles 3:1).

In this account, God tested Abraham by commanding him to “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the Land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” [ Genesis 22:2 ]. In the Septuagint—the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible—it says, “Take thy son, the beloved one, whom thou hast loved—Isaac.” The Greek word for “beloved one” is the same word used by Jesus at His baptism and transfiguration. The voice from Heaven—God the Father—said at His baptism: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” [ Matthew 3:17 ]. The, again, at the transfiguration He said: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” [ Matthew 17:5 ].

Abraham, by faith, “when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it is said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense” [ Genesis 11:17-19 ]. Abraham FULLY ‘BELIEVED’ that God would ‘allow’ him to kill Isaac, God would ‘RAISE’ Isaac from the dead.

Later, it was on Mount Moriah that Solomon built the first Temple (and later the Second Temple stood) where people could bring sacrifices that could only ‘atone’ for, or ‘COVER’ their sins. However, sacrifices could never TOTALLY ‘TAKE AWAY’ their sins. This leads to the second reason.

God ‘chose’ the Jews as “his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 14:2). He focused His redeeming work on them for over 2,000 years. Then, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law” [ Galatians 4:4 ]—that is, born a Jew.

Once, when Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, He wept as He entered it. He cried:

“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you”
[ Luke 19:42-44 ].

Jesus was weeping over the tragedy of a LOST ‘OPPORTUNITY’. The Israelites that assembled in Jerusalem for the Passover missed the opportunity to be saved from both earthly and eternal destruction. He was weeping because He is not willing that any should perish:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”
[ 2 Peter 3:9 ].

The people of the Holy City missed the opportunity to be saved because of the foolish and wicked decisions they had made. Their Savior came to their City, but they would not have Him. Instead of ‘receiving’ Him, they killed Him!

Knowing the ‘price’ His people would pay for rejecting Him as Messiah, Jesus said this with a tender anguish at what was to come for them:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate”
[ Matthew 23:37-38 ].

[ Jesus then continued—in the next verse—to tell them that they would not see [Him] again until [they] say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” which will be after the horrendous seven-year Tribulation (which I will discuss in more detail in next month’s post). ]

A willing heart makes the difference between “peace” (Luke 19:42) and destruction (Luke 19:43-44). It was true for those in Jerusalem back then, and it is true for everyone in the world today!

Of the first-century Israelites, the Apostle Paul said:

“Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes… For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
[ Romans 10:3-4; 10-13 ].

The thing is, this applies to everyone today just as much as it did back in the first-century Jerusalem. A decision of the heart will secure one’s own eternal salvation, and THAT’S why ‘Jerusalem’ should be ‘SPECIAL’ to believers, too!

“Salvation is from the Jews” not just because Jesus was Jewish, but because He saves Gentiles by making them full ‘partners’ of the Jewish inheritance. Through Christ’s blood, “we both [Jew and Gentile] have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you [Gentiles] are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:18-19). The Gentile “strangers” are made full citizens of the true, saved Jewish household. “You [Jew and Gentile] are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29).

Jesus died most appropriately in Jerusalem because Jerusalem was God’s chosen place for the offering of sacrifices to Himself—and these figurative sacrifices foreshadowed Jesus’ ‘passion’.

[ FYI: For more details about the “Doomsday Clock,” visit this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/ ].

HOWEVER, the city of JERUSALEM is mentioned ‘PROMINENTLY’ in the Bible, starting way back 4,000+ years ago!

Another possible reason why Israel is never far from the news headlines is that, in some mysterious way (as the Bible suggests), all the nations are being judged by the way they have ’treated’ Israel. In other words, all the nations on earth are ‘connected’ to Israel whether they know it or not (or even ‘like’ it).

God promised Abraham, the ‘father’ of Israel, that He would bless all those who blessed his nation, and curse all those who cursed Abraham’s “nation”:

Then, a bit later after Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem, He said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” [ Genesis 12:7b ].

It is surprising to many that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all agree that God (or Allah) promised to give the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. Yes, they all ‘agree’ about this!

The Bible and the Koran, both call the Holy Land, the “Promised Land” because God promised to give it to the children of Israel. God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the children of Israel that he would give the land of Canaan to them and their descendants. Remarkably, almost 4,000 years later, this land IS the modern-day State of Israel!

God then made Abram look all around in all directions, and said, “All the land that you see, I will give to you in your offspring, forever” [ Genesis 13:15 ]. This is clearly a promise for the land. Here, God is promising Abram and his descendants the land of Israel. It is upon this promise that the Jewish people have based their ownership of the land for thousands of years. Secondly, in this promise, we see that only the Jewish people have a claim to Israel.

Now, even before a ‘formal’ boycott was ever issued, informal, anti-Jewish, boycotts in Palestine began to appear. Arab Palestinians were often physically attacked for conducting business with their Jewish neighbors. Then, on December 2, 1945, the Arab League—at the time comprising Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Transjordan, and North Yemen—issued a declaration that stated: “Products of Palestinian Jews, are to be considered undesirable in Arab countries. They should be prohibited and refused as long as their production in Palestine might lead to the realization of Zionist, political aims.”

This showed that the Arab League boycott—largely a model in philosophy that the “modern-day” BDS (“Boycott; Divest; Sanction”) movement is built upon—was originally based on inherently, anti-sematic philosophies that sought to cleanse the region of any Jewish, religious or ethnic presence in what was then called Palestine. [ The notion of boycotting Israel in its modern form was invigorated in the early 2000s, at this time with the disappointing facilitation and support of the United Nations. ]

What’s happening within the current BDS movement is not just legal maneuvering and manipulating the court of public opinion, it is a full-scale assault against the existence of the Jewish state.

The ‘Nature’ Of The Covenant
The Bible presents passage after passage showing that God’s Covenant with Abraham and the Israelites was an ‘EVERLASTING’ COVENANT. No timetable was included and there were no conditions or clauses that, if triggered, would end the Covenant.

“Forever” and “eternal” convey that this was not an ordinary agreement with ordinary terms, conditions, and time constraints, because God Himself took the sole responsibility for this Covenant, and neither party could break it. That means that there is absolutely no way for the covenant—or the Jews’ exclusive right to ownership of the holy land—to ever cease. The Jews retain this exclusive and eternal, right to this day, and into eternity!

The miraculous history of the Jews further demonstrates the everlasting nature of God’s Covenant with them. While other nations, people, groups, and civilizations have risen, fallen, and in some cases totally disappeared, the Jewish people have persisted, not only in their existence but, more importantly, in their distinct identity as God’s “chosen people.” The Jews can trace their existence back almost 4,000 years. No other group currently living in, or claiming of right to, the Holy Land even comes close to this. The ability of the Jews to defy the seemingly inevitable pattern of civilizations eventually dying out and disappearing speaks to the continuance of God’s covenant with the Jews!

The Biblical ‘Basis’ For Isreal’s Right To The Land
There is a substantial amount of Scripture that provides ‘proof’ that Isreal has a right to the Land. The following are the most ‘substantial’ verses:

– Genesis 12:1-3
– Genesis 12:7
– Genesis 15:18
– Genesis 17:7-8
– Psalm 105:6-11
– Isaiah 60:21
– Jeremiah 24:4-6
– Jeremiah 32:37-41
– Ezekiel 28:25-26
– Ezekiel 36:24-28
– Ezekiel 37:14
– Ezekiel 37:21-24
– Ezekiel 37:25-28
– Joel 2:17-18
– Joel 3:1-2
– Amos 9:14-15
– Obadiah 20-21
– Zechariah 8:7
– Romans 9:3-4
– Romans 11:1-2a
– Romans 11:11-12
– Romans 11:28-29

Always ‘In’ The Land
Throughout the long history of the Jewish people, we have seen that a remnant has always remained in the Holy Land. There is archaeological proof that conclusively establishes that, despite when their numbers were small, the Jews always had a ‘presence’ in the land—including in Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”). There is archaeological evidence from as early as 1300 BC that mentions the Jews as a people in the “Lower Levant,” supporting the premise that the Jews have been in the Land since ancient times.

‘Linguistic’ Evidence
Before Palestine, there was Judea. In fact, the word “Palestine“ did not even exist until after the Roman occupation. After the failed Jewish rebellions against Rome, the Romans renamed the land—called Judea up to that point—to “Palestine.” This began an effort by Rome to rewrite history and erase Jewish ties to the land. However, ancient inscriptions, carved in stone cannot be so easily erased. The stones, with inscriptions in both Aramaic and Hebrew (the languages of the Jews), clearly called the land of Judea.

‘Population’ Evidence
The Jewish population has ebbed in the Holy Land throughout history—usually against their will—but it has never been completely absent.

Those who fight against the legitimacy and existence of the Jewish state would have us believe that Jews are recent newcomers to Palestine. But the stones, inscriptions, coins, and letters do not lie. The Holy Land ‘belongs’ to the Jewish people by all rights, its artifacts bear witness to a continuous Jewish presence extending back 4,000 years.

So, in light of the historical and archaeological evidence, no one can reasonably doubt the Jewish people’s continued presence in and ties to the land of Israel throughout history.

Decidedly an expert on the “legal evidence” for Isreal’s legal ‘right’ to the Land under international law, I will present my condensed version of his three ‘key’ legal arguments:

– “Uni Possidetis Juris”
– The Mandate for Palestine
– The Self-defense Capture of the West Bank and Gaza Strip

“Uni Possidetis Juris”
Because one of the key purposes of this legal principle is to prevent the existence of a territory without a ‘sovereign’, the doctrine of “Uni Possidetis Juris” requires that all territory passes to the new sovereign state at its ‘birth’. Hence, the external borders of the mandate at the time of the British withdrawal on May 15, 1948, became the borders of the state that emerged, that is, the State of Israel.

The Mandate for Palestine
It is important to note that the legality of the mandate issue is certainly not unique to Israel. In fact, other states—namely Syria and Lebanon—also emerged from the same group of mandates that created Israel. Yet, no one disputes their sovereignty or the legitimacy of their borders.

Moreover, when Jordan achieve its independence in May 1946, its national borders were determined by Uti Possidetis Juris. So, there is no principled reason why the same law that applied to Jordan in 1946 would not have applied to Israel in 1948.

The Self-defense Capture of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
A justification for Israeli control of the West Bank (including east Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip is the fact that those territories were ‘captured’ from belligerent foreign occupiers—for 18 years since the 1967 Six-Day War when Israel regained control of these territories (as well as the Sinai Peninsula from Eqypt)—pursuant to a defensive war.

Although aggressive war is outlawed by international law, all states have the right to engage in individual and collective self-defense—including the right to capture territory held by aggressors in order to ensure the victim state’s security and to dissuade future aggression.

Neither Egypt nor Jordan have any lawful claim to the land under international law, and there was no recognized sovereign with a better claim to the title to the territory than Israel itself.

‘Recognized’ By The United Nations
Further strengthening Israel’s claim to the land is the fact that the United Nations recognizes Israel as a sovereign state and has admitted Israel as a full member of the United Nations. Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, and was admitted into full membership in the United Nations one year later. Accordingly, Israel has the internationally recognized the right to sovereignty over its own territory.

Moreover, because the West Bank (including east Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip were illegally occupied by foreign Arab armies between 1949 and 1967, no nation has a greater claim to sovereignty over those territories than Israel. This claim is bolstered by both “Uni Possidetis Juris” and the continuing effect of the terms of the Mandate for Palestine over the areas illegally occupied by Egypt and Jordan. The U.S. Congress has also recognized these valid claims.

For Modern Israelites, there is no question that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is a fact of life for them. But, if others need further convincing, just look at the objective facts:

– Legally, Jerusalem is home to the Supreme Court of Israel, its Parliament (the Knesset), and the office of the Prime Minister

Culturally, Israel’s National Museum, and Yad Vashem (The World Holocaust Remembrance Center), are both in Jerusalem

– From a ‘census’ perspective, the bulk of Israel’s population resides in Jerusalem. The combined populations of the next two largest cities—Tel Aviv and Haifa—amount to only one-half of Jerusalem’s 1.2 million residents.

– Economically, Jerusalem is the ‘economic’ capital of Israel. The population of Jerusalem swells every workday, as people travel from their homes in Tel Aviv to their jobs in Jerusalem. The government has invested $2 billion (USD) into a high-speed rail system, just to reduce traffic and decrease the travel time for these commuters.

– As a ‘destination’ city, Jerusalem represents a huge source of tourism from around the world. In 2013 alone, 75% of Israel’s tourists visited Jerusalem.

– As far as ‘industry’ goes, an entire industrial park devoted to international technology companies now sits in Har Hotzvim, providing further industrial power to an ever-growing, Israeli technology sector. Jerusalem is currently transitioning into an even larger metropolis, with plans to build skyscrapers throughout the city, while still protecting its historical roots.

– Then, ‘educationally’, Jerusalem is home to domestic universities and to extension campuses of other overseas universities

Jerusalem is and will always be the eternal capital of the Jewish state and the Jewish people

No sovereign nation needs another nation’s permission to establish its capital anywhere within its legal borders. Israel has the historical, biblical, and legal authority to place. it’s capital wherever it wants.

Despite periods of exile and the Great Diaspora, Jerusalem has remained central to the Jewish people, who have always esteemed the city above all others in the world. However, when the Holy Land was conquered and occupied by foreign powers, the invaders always considered and treated Jerusalem as a ‘minor’ city of no special political value. In fact, no Muslim conqueror ever chose Jerusalem as his capital. Besides the Jews, only the Crusaders and the British selected Jerusalem as their capital city. Yet, Palestinian Arabs today claimed that Jerusalem should be the capital city of a future state of Palestine, and many in the world community have bought into this argument. Nonetheless, as has been proven, Jerusalem is part of the sovereign territory of the Jewish state of Israel.

Jerusalem has special meaning to the Jewish people. Jewish life has historically centered around Jerusalem, especially in light of the historical importance of the temple, rituals in Judaism, and the fact that the temple must be located on the Temple Mount.

Again, regardless of what the Jews had faced over the past four millennia, historical records, archaeological evidence, and biblical texts PROVE the continued, unbroken existence of a Jewish community in Palestine from the time of Abraham until today!

Two Returns
Isaiah 11:11 indicates there would be a day when God would raise his hand “a second time” to gather the children of Israel to their homeland. The first return was predicted by the prophet Jeremiah to take place after Israel had been in captivity for 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10), and according to Ezra 1:1 happened precisely as foretold. After 500 years of intermittent and partial sovereignty in the Land, the Jewish people were once again dispersed under the Roman Empire in AD 70.

After 2,000 years, they have now returned and reestablished sovereignty. No other people group has managed to survive two exiles—much less one that was 2,000 years long—and then return to reestablish national sovereignty.

The second return was to be from every nation where they had been dispersed (Jeremiah 16:14-15; 23:3, 7–8; 29:14; 31:7–8), not just Babylon. Over the past 120 years or so, more than 3.5 million Jews have immigrated to the Land of Israel from all over the world—from the north, south, east, and west—in literal fulfillment of God’s promises (Isaiah 43:5-6).

The miracles of God’s promises to Israel continue to unfold; the good, the bad, and the ugly. In very many places, the Scriptures prepare us for the fact that God was planning to bring His people back to His land by hook or by crook. With anti-Semitism spiraling out of all control around the world, many Jewish people are now deciding that they would be safer in war-torn Israel under the protection of the IDF than they are in Europe, and are escaping while they still can.

They are being hunted and hounded back to the land given to their fathers, just as the Bible said:

“For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers. “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks”
[ Jeremiah 16:15-16 ].

The regathering of God’s people to their land is one of the most frequently predicted prophecies in the Bible. There have been Jewish people living there long before 1948, buying property and working the land, and the waves of immigration continue to pour in.

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said recently: “We are telling our Jewish brothers and sisters that Israel is your home… We are bracing ourselves and calling for a mass immigration from Europe.” Via social media, he broadcasted: “I would like to say to all of Europe’s Jews, and Jews everywhere, Israel is the home of every Jew.”

The thing is, these were not just words. A while ago the Israeli Cabinet approved a $46 million (USD) plan to finance the absorption costs of thousands of potential new immigrants, following the numerous anti-Semitic attacks and political and economic troubles in Ukraine, France, and Belgium.

The ingathering of the Jewish people in modern times holds great promise for Israel and the world. While it is a physical return with many logistical and practical aspects, the Bible says that it is preparation for the last ‘judgment’ of Jews, the Great Tribulation.

God is faithful to all His promises and to His Covenant people Israel. As we watch, with sadness, the events shaking the world, we know that the sovereign God of the Bible is still in control. He continues to work out His plans and purposes, drawing all things to Himself.

The thing is, there will be a time—just as Jesus predicted—when the Jewish people will finally call out from the land of Israel to welcome their Messiah, “Baruch haba b’shem Adonai!” (“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”)

[ Note: I will discuss, in detail, Israel’s/Jerusalem’s future in next month’s post. ]

God warned of this punishment beforehand and then sent prophets to remind the kings when they did wrong. Only after a king and his people clearly rejected God’s ways did judgment come upon them.

One of those prophets was Amos. He announced that “Because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes” [ Amos 2:4 ], God will judge Judah and Israel. Amos cited specific violations of Israel’s law (Amos 2:6-8, 12). Amos then noted that, despite of the history of God’s actions on the people’s behalf (Amos 2:9-11), the people have turned from God and will be judged. [ Other prophets that issued warnings were Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zachariah, and Malachi. ]

Now, the kings of Judah and Israel had the ability to encourage or stop idol worship and other sinful actions among the people they led. When the kings encouraged sin, they brought judgment upon their people. Further, when the king lived in sin, the people had a responsibility to oppose him. However, in the biblical cases of judgment against Israel’s evil kings, the people were involved in disobedience as well.

In short, the king’s actions were not the only determining factor in God’s decision to judge the nation; it is more accurate to say that God’s judgment came because of the evil actions of the nation—actions promoted by the king.

God’s judgment was intended to cause His people to return to Him and call out in repentance. This led to many Jewish “diasporas,” dispersing Israelites/Jews out of their ancient ancestral homeland (the Land of Israel) and their subsequent settlement in other countries. ‘Major’ diasporas were in 733 BC, 587 BC, 63 BC, 70 AD, 132 AD, 1290 AD, 1492 AD, and 1948-1973 AD.

The establishment of Israel as a Jewish state in 1948 meant that henceforth, living in the Diaspora became a matter of choice rather than of necessity for many Jews. However, until the fall of Communism, Jews living in the former Soviet bloc were often forbidden to immigrate, while others faced economic obstacles.

Now, God’s judgment has never been permanent. He has always ‘allowed’/‘encouraged’ the return of the Israelites to Israel/Jerusalem, offering yet another example of His faithfulness to His promises.

[ Note: While a large proportion of Holocaust survivors became citizens of Israel after World War II, many Jews continued living where they had settled. Populations remain significant in the United States, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Many diasporan Jews also continue to live in Russia and other former Soviet countries as well as in North Africa, Iran, South America, India, and even China. ]

The Mystery Of ‘Iniquity’
So, why has there been a recurring ferocious hatred of the Jews throughout history? From the Persian Haman and the Greek Antiochus Epiphanes to Rome’s brutal suppression of the Jews after the first to Jewish results in 66 AD and 135 AD, the ancient world ebbed and flowed with hatred for the Jews.

In the middle ages, Christians were responsible for blood libels, expulsions, forced conversions, and the killing of Jews. In the modern era, the deists helped inaugurate a new era of anti-Semitism. Voltaire, influenced by the English deists, wrote that a Jew is someone you should have “Fit to be hanged” inscribed on his or her forehead.

Modern anti-Semitism culminated in the Holocaust, during which the Nazis exterminated more than 6 million Jews, two-thirds of the Jewish population of Europe at the time. Scholars have shown that it was not just the Nazis who killed Jews, ordinary citizens of Europe often volunteered to also kill Jews.

Today, anti-Semitism is on the rise, with the “BDS” (Boycott; Divest; Sanction) movement and with Jews being openly attacked and killed in Europe. Israel’s ‘crime’? They are Jews!

Now, there is no way for me to explain this mystery of iniquity that has reoccurred throughout history. However, the Bible tells us something about the ‘structure’ of evil behind the scenes. The Apostle Paul tells us that human evil is driven by Satan: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” [ Ephesians 6:12 ].

Satan hates what is good and the ‘Source’ of good—the God of the Bible. So, what better way to destroy his nemesis, the God of Israel, than to attack the people that God chose to be a ‘light’ to the world? What better way to attack them than to persuade non-Jews over the world—throughout history—to hate the Jews and try to exterminate them? Right? Because, if Satan can get rid of every Jew on earth, then God lied since He said that the Jews would never cease existing on the earth (Genesis 8:22 ).

These are evil days, and Israel helps us understand this evil. However, good days are coming. The same God who raised up Israel as a light to the nations, and Israel’s Messiah as the ‘Light’ of the world, is on His way back to renew this world. It will be glorious indeed, with Israel being at the center again, as a blessing to all nations and peoples of that renewed world.

[ FYI: For more details about Jesus’ “Second Coming,” view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/how-to-prepare-to-meet-someone-important-v276/ ].

“STEALING” ARAB LAND?
Another type of ‘iniquity’ is that of the Muslim’s assertion that the Israelis are “stealing” the land from them.

Israel’s critics also alleged that land sales have led to the eviction of poor Arab tenants, robbing them and their families of their livelihood and sending them into deep poverty. However, only a few thousand people we’re displays related to the land sales between 1880 in late 1930s (and possible less). [ Utlimately just 600 Arabs were determined to be landless and only 100 accepted offers of land by Israel. ]

Moreover, David Ben-Gurion called on the Jews in 1920 not to buy land from fellahs (native peasants). The Labor Zionist leader insisted that “Under no circumstances must we touch land belonging to fellahs or worked by them. Only if a fellah leaves his place of settlement should we offer to buy his land, at an appropriate price.”

Nor did the Jews “cherry-pick” the best land. Much of the land that was bought was sand dunes or swamps, and uncultivated when it was purchased. The Jews founded Tel Aviv in 1909 on sand hills purchased “piecemeal, from Europeans, Turkish, and principally Arab landlords, mostly at extremely high prices.”

The thing is, Muslims view the land of Israel itself as their proper possession. Under Islam, any land once subjugated by the Islam must remain so—even if the occupants are predominantly non-Muslims. That is why Muslim countries, with the notable exception of Egypt and Jordan, refuse to make peace with Israel. Despite painful confessions on the part of Israel, Muslim rulers reject the Jewish state existence and refuse to live in peace with them—because that is what Islam “requires.”

A LONG HISTORY OF “NO”
Frustratingly, the consistent approach adopted by almost every Arab leader since the 1930s has been to say “No” to most Israeli offers for peace:

To the northwest, Iran is on its way to building a nuclear arsenal and achieving its aim, as the rogue nation’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei put it: “To erase Israel from the map.”

So, clearly, Israel is ‘SPECIAL’ to the Muslim world, just not in the way that Jesus or even most of history’s ‘moral teachers’ would agree with!

JERUSALEM ‘IS’ SPECIAL!
So, to answer the question I posed at the beginning of this post, YES, JERUSALEM IS ’SPECIAL’—in MANY ways!

Jerusalem is a city with no ‘equal’ on earth. History has shown that Jerusalem has the uncanny ability to adapt and persevere regardless of the obstacle at hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCIpbI7VR8o&t=10s

[ VIDEO: “Why Is Jerusalem So Important?” ]

So, how can he even do that? Well, He believes he can accomplish that by destroying the Jews, since the Second Coming will occur when Israel is converted to Jesus as their Messiah and then calls upon Him to come and rescue them at Armageddon. Thus, Revelation 12 provides insight into this age-long conflict that has been going on from the beginning of history, throughout history, and will be an important issue at the climax of history.

Revelation 12 also tells us that one-third of the angels fell from Heaven following Satan in his original revolt. We learn this when we realize that the stars in this passage are symbolic of angels (Revelation 9:1; 12:7, 9). This is a war in Heaven that resulted in the casting of Satan and his angels to earth before the birth of the woman’s child, so it belongs to the past. A second war (in Revelation 12:7-9 ) is Satan’s final attempt to storm Heaven, bringing about the child’s overthrow after his birth.

There is then a reference to Satan (the dragon) who stood before the woman (Israel) in anticipation of the birth of Jesus the Messiah, who is the “child” that the woman gave birth to in the past. Satan did not know the exact moment of the birth of Messiah and so he waited expectantly for the “seed of the woman” to come forth. His attempt to ‘devour’ the woman’s child is seen as Satan inspires King Herod to develop a plot to find and kill Jesus (Matthew 2). Because the historical events surrounding the birth of Jesus were part of the angelic conflict, the Lord warns the Magi from the east in a dream to avoid Herod, and “they departed for their own country by another way” (Matthew 2:12). Since Satan was about to inspire Herod to kill all male babies in the Bethlehem area who were in the age-range of Jesus, “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying ‘Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him’” (Matthew 2:13). God is always at least one step ahead of Satan!

God is zealous for Jerusalem and considers it as THE ‘KEY’ to His end-time plans—and Satan knows he doesn’t have a lot of time before his ‘end’. So, knowing he can’t ‘affect’ God, he is going to go after the ‘apple of God’s eye’, Israel—and especially Jerusalem—because he knows that is where Jesus will have His Second Coming. (Satan will be ‘bound’ in the Abyss for 1,000 years during Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom rule on earth.)

[ FYI: For more details about Jesus’ “Second Coming,” view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/how-to-prepare-to-meet-someone-important-v276/ ].

[ FYI: For more details about the 1,000-year Millennium Kingdom, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/mankinds-destiny-v247/ ].

With all that ‘oppression’ all the time from so many people and nations worldwide, I’ve got to believe that it is the God of the Bible—Who promised that He would bring them back into the Land and bless them—that has their ‘back’ and is going to fulfill His promises to them:

“I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land… You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God”
[ Ezekiel 36:24, 28 ].

Now, that FINAL ‘BLESSING’—which is going to be PHENOMENAL—isn’t going to come without some angst. Israel is going to have to go through the soon-coming seven-year Tribulation to get that blessing—and it’s NOT going to be ‘pretty’!

[ FYI: For more details on the final seven-year Tribulation, view this previous “Life;s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/ ].

Only 150 years ago (in 1867), Mark Twain wrote about the currently fertile Jezreel Valley this way:

However, two millennia ago, the Apostle Paul declared that—being ‘inspired’ by the Holy Spirit—there will be a time in the future where “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26) and that God has a continuing purpose for His people, “who He foreknew.” Citing the prophet Isaiah, Paul looks forward to a day when “The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My Covenant with them when I take away their sins” [ Romans 11:26-27 ].

The ‘Deliverer’ Paul was talking about was Jesus. HHe said, previously to Paul’s writings, that He will return to His “own homeland” and to “His own people,” after the Great Tribulation. Then, at that time, they WILL ‘RECEIVE’ HIM, welcoming Him as their Messiah and proclaiming “Baruch haba b’shem Adonai” (“Blessed is He who comes in the name of Lord”).

So, do YOU ‘NOW’ think Jerusalem is ‘SPECIAL’? If not, why not?

[ One suggestion from me would be to consider reading last month’s post, “‘Home’ At Last!!!”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/home-at-last-v290/ ].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksu-zTG9HHg&t=6129s

[ VIDEO: “Welcome To The Celestial City” – “The Pilgrim’s Progress” movie (by RevelationMedia) ]

If YOU ARE NOT ‘SURE’, I strongly encourage you to MAKE ‘SURE’… NOW!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbHf1Q7_tro

[ VIDEO: “How Can I Know FOR SURE That I Will Go To Heaven” ]

[ Excerpts by: Doug Hershey; Michael Ireland; Greg Laurie; Jonathan van Bilsen; Jacques Keilo; Peter Nathan; Simon Sebag Montefiore; Jay Sekulow; James R. Harrigan; Wikipedia; Dr. Rick Flanders; Charles Pope; Dr. Thomas S. McCall; Rev. Fred Klett; Dr. Thomas S. McCall; David Treybig; Estera Wieja; Rebecca J. Brimmer; Nate; Jack Wellman; Gordon Franz; John Piper; Mitch Glaser; Darrell Bock; Thomas D. Ice; Mathew D. Staver ]

RELATED POSTS:

“‘Home’ At Last!”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/home-at-last-v290/

“‘Heaven’ On Earth?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/heaven-on-earth-v289/

“There’s No Place Like ‘Home’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/theres-no-place-like-home-v288/

“Greatest ‘Fear’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/greatest-fear-v287/

“Preparing For The ‘Future’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/preparing-for-the-future-v286/

“‘HOW’ To Prepare To Meet Someone Important”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/how-to-prepare-to-meet-someone-important-v276/

“‘WHEN’ Will Something Important Happen”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/when-will-something-important-happen-v274/

“‘WHERE You Return To”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/where-you-return-to-v273/

“A Sense Of ‘Urgency’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/a-sense-of-urgency-v269/

“Mankind’s ‘Destiny’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/mankinds-destiny-v247/

“‘Final’ Tribulation”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/

“A ‘Place’ To Retire”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/a-place-to-retire-v221/

‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).

If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus. [ See Psalm 51 ].

There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.

Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].

[ FYI: This is a great sermon on the “Call to Repentance” by John MacArthur from his book “The Gospel According to Jesus”: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-22/the-call-to-repentance (Transcript: http://www.spiritedesign.com/TheCallToRepentance-JohnMacArthur(Jul-27-2019).pdf) ].

[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].

<<< RESOURCES >>>

“Israel Matters: Why Christians Must Think Differently about the People and the Land”
By: Gerald R. McDermott

Widely respected theologian Gerald McDermott has spent two decades investigating the meaning of Israel and Judaism. What he has learned has required him to rethink many of his previous assumptions.

Israel Matters addresses the perennially important issue of the relationship between Christianity and the people and land of Israel, offering a unique and compelling “third way” between typical approaches and correcting common misunderstandings along the way. This book challenges the widespread Christian assumption that since Jesus came to earth, Jews are no longer special to God as a people, and the land of Israel is no longer theologically significant. It traces the author’s journey from thinking those things to discovering that the New Testament authors believed the opposite of both. It also shows that contrary to what many Christians believe, the church is not the new Israel, and both the people and the land of Israel are important to God and the future of redemption.

McDermott offers an accessible but robust defense of a “New Christian Zionism” for pastors and laypeople interested in Israel and Christian-Jewish relations. His approach will also spark a conversation among theologians and biblical scholars.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Matters-Christians-Differently-People/dp/1587433958/

“Israel Matters: Putting the Jewish People Back at the Center of God’s Plan”
By: Jacob Fronczak

Christian theology of Israel has changed more in the past hundred years than at any other time in the past eighteen hundred. The rise of dispensationalism, the establishment of the State of Israel, and the renewal of Jewish-Christian dialogue in the post-Holocaust era have all informed a modern movement of Christians who are supportive of the Jewish people and the Jewish state. This movement is not without opposition. The United States in particular is witnessing a renewal of classical Reformed theology, sometimes called Neo-Calvinism. This growing movement, epitomized by popular teachers like John Piper, Tim Keller, and Mark Driscoll, has no place for the Jewish people or the State of Israel in its theology. In the Reformed paradigm, God has truly promised nothing to the Jewish people; Gods promises throughout the Old Testament are appropriated for the elect, a category that now exists within the Christian church. Where Dispensationalists and many Messianic Jews see the State of Israel as the first fruits of a coming fulfillment of Gods promise to end the Jewish exile, Reformed theologians see Israel as nothing more than a political entity, an entity whose very legitimacy these theologians freely, regularly, and publicly attack.

In Israel Matters, the author of Yeshua Matters takes a theology centered on Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth one step further. Once we realize we are following a practitioner of Judaism, the King of Israel, and the promised Savior of the Jewish people, what happens to our theology of Israel? What part do Jesus people, the Jewish people, playnot just in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, but in Gods continuing work of salvation and redemption? Not only thathow should the church define itself in the light of Israels unique role and calling?

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Matters-Putting-Jewish-People/dp/189212498X/

“Jerusalem: A Biblical and Historical Case for the Jewish Capital”
By: Jay Sekulow

Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
In his new book, New York Times bestselling author Jay Sekulow presents a political and historical rationale for the existence of Israel as a sovereign nation.

The State of Israel and its very right to exist is a lynchpin issue not only in the Middle-East, but is a critical issue to the world at large. Whether it is the blatant and stated desire of ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran to wipe Israel from the face of the earth, or the more subtle but equally insidious aim to delegitimize Israel’s existence through efforts at UNESCO, the goal is the same-to get rid of Israel.

Here is the book that defends, Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign nation. As Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, Jay Sekulow has fought with Israel hand-in-hand in some of Israel’s most strategic, international battles. Now, he has pulled together the definitive and comprehensive look at Israel-one of the world’s most controversial nations- and its importance to us as Americans and as a key focal point to the future of the world.

He looks at the legal case for its prominence, as well as the historical and political rationale for its existence as a sovereign nation and homeland for Jews today, and encourages readers to stand with him against the hatred, lies, and efforts to delegitimize one of the world’s oldest nations.

https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Biblical-Historical-Jewish-Capital/dp/1640880771/

“Jerusalem: The Biography”
By: Simon Sebag Montefiore

The epic history of three thousand years of faith, fanaticism, bloodshed, and coexistence, from King David to the 21st century, from the birth of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to the Israel-Palestine conflict, from thebestselling author of The Romanovs • “Impossible to put down…. Vastly enjoyable.” —The New York Times Book Review

How did this small, remote town become the Holy City, the “center of the world” and now the key to peace in the Middle East? In a gripping narrative, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals this ever-changing city in its many incarnations, bringing every epoch and character blazingly to life. Jerusalem’s biography is told through the wars, love affairs, and revelations of the men and women who created, destroyed, chronicled and believed in Jerusalem. As well as the many ordinary Jerusalemites who have left their mark on the city, its cast varies from Solomon, Saladin and Suleiman the Magnificent to Cleopatra, Caligula and Churchill; from Abraham to Jesus and Muhammad; from the ancient world of Jezebel, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and Nero to the modern times of the Kaiser, Disraeli, Mark Twain, Lincoln, Rasputin, Lawrence of Arabia and Moshe Dayan.

In this masterful narrative, Simon Sebag Montefiore brings the holy city to life and draws on the latest scholarship, his own family history, and a lifetime of study to show that the story of Jerusalem is truly the story of the world.

https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Biography-Simon-Sebag-Montefiore/dp/0307280500/

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem: How the Ancient City Ignited Our Modern World”
By: James Carroll

Enjoy a great reading experience when you borrow the Kindle edition of this book with your Kindle Unlimited membership. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Constantine’s Sword comes a richly layered history of Jerusalem, the ancient city at the epicenter of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim experience.

Jerusalem: the ancient City on a Hill, a place central to three major religions, a transcendent fantasy that ignites religious fervor unlike anywhere else on earth. James Carroll’s urgent, masterly Jerusalem, Jerusalem uncovers the history of the city and explores how it came to define culture in both the Middle East and America. Carroll shows how the New World was shaped by obsessions with Jerusalem, from Christopher Columbus’s search for a westward route to the city, to the fascination felt by American presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Ronald Reagan.

Heavenly Jerusalem defines the American imagination―and always the earthly city smolders. Jerusalem fever, inextricably tied to Christian fervor, is the deadly, unnamed, third party to the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. Understanding this fever is the key that unlocks world history, and the diagnosis that gives us our best chance to reimagine peace.

“Provocative . . . the book brims with splendid insights.” ― Los Angeles Times

“I dare you to read this book and see Jerusalem, or yourself, the same way. ―Bernard Avishai, author of The Hebrew Republic

“So provocative and illuminating that it should not be overlooked by anyone who cares about the future of Jerusalem.”―Jewish Journal

https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Ancient-Ignited-Modern-World/dp/0547747624/

“O Jerusalem!”
By: Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre

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Now a major motion picture, this remarkable classic recounts, moment by moment, the spellbinding process that gave birth to the state of Israel.

Collins and Lapierre weave a brilliant tapestry of shattered hopes, fierce pride, and breathtaking valor as the Arabs, Jews, and British collide in their fight for control of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem! meticulously re-creates this historic struggle. Collins and Lapierre penetrate the battle from the inside, exploring each party’s interests, intentions, and concessions as the city of all of their dreams teeters on the brink of destruction. From the Jewish fighters and their heroic commanders to the charismatic Arab chieftain whose death in battle doomed his cause but inspired a generation of Palestinians, O Jerusalem! tells the three-dimensional story of this high-stakes, emotional conflict. Now with a new introduction by Dominique Lapierre, O Jerusalem! remains, as ever, a towering testament to the fiery dawn of Israel and an unforgettable tale of faith and violence, of betrayal and indomitable courage.

https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Larry-Collins/dp/0671662414/

“My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel”
By: Ari Shavit

Winner of the Natan Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award

An authoritative and deeply personal narrative history of the State of Israel, by one of the most influential journalists writing about the Middle East today

Not since Thomas L. Friedman’s groundbreaking From Beirut to Jerusalem has a book captured the essence and the beating heart of the Middle East as keenly and dynamically as My Promised Land. Facing unprecedented internal and external pressures, Israel today is at a moment of existential crisis. Ari Shavit draws on interviews, historical documents, private diaries, and letters, as well as his own family’s story, illuminating the pivotal moments of the Zionist century to tell a riveting narrative that is larger than the sum of its parts: both personal and national, both deeply human and of profound historical dimension.

We meet Shavit’s great-grandfather, a British Zionist who in 1897 visited the Holy Land on a Thomas Cook tour and understood that it was the way of the future for his people; the idealist young farmer who bought land from his Arab neighbor in the 1920s to grow the Jaffa oranges that would create Palestine’s booming economy; the visionary youth group leader who, in the 1940s, transformed Masada from the neglected ruins of an extremist sect into a powerful symbol for Zionism; the Palestinian who as a young man in 1948 was driven with his family from his home during the expulsion from Lydda; the immigrant orphans of Europe’s Holocaust, who took on menial work and focused on raising their children to become the leaders of the new state; the pragmatic engineer who was instrumental in developing Israel’s nuclear program in the 1960s, in the only interview he ever gave; the zealous religious Zionists who started the settler movement in the 1970s; the dot-com entrepreneurs and young men and women behind Tel-Aviv’s booming club scene; and today’s architects of Israel’s foreign policy with Iran, whose nuclear threat looms ominously over the tiny country.

As it examines the complexities and contradictions of the Israeli condition, My Promised Land asks difficult but important questions: Why did Israel come to be? How did it come to be? Can Israel survive? Culminating with an analysis of the issues and threats that Israel is currently facing, My Promised Land uses the defining events of the past to shed new light on the present. The result is a landmark portrait of a small, vibrant country living on the edge, whose identity and presence play a crucial role in today’s global political landscape.

Praise for My Promised Land

“This book will sweep you up in its narrative force and not let go of you until it is done. [Shavit’s] accomplishment is so unlikely, so total . . . that it makes you believe anything is possible, even, God help us, peace in the Middle East.”—Simon Schama, Financial Times

“[A] must-read book.”—Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times

“Important and powerful . . . the least tendentious book about Israel I have ever read.”—Leon Wieseltier, The New York Times Book Review

“Spellbinding . . . Shavit’s prophetic voice carries lessons that all sides need to hear.”—The Economist

“One of the most nuanced and challenging books written on Israel in years.”—The Wall Street Journal

https://www.amazon.com/My-Promised-Land-Triumph-Tragedy/dp/0385521707/

“Can We Talk About Israel?: A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted”
By: Daniel Sokatch

From the expert who understands both sides of one of the world’s most complex, controversial topics, a modern-day Guide for the Perplexed-a primer on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Can’t you just explain the Israel situation to me? In, like, 10 minutes or less?” This is the question Daniel Sokatch is used to answering on an almost daily basis as the head of the New Israel Fund, an organization dedicated to equality and democracy for all Israelis, not just Jews, Sokatch is supremely well-versed on the Israeli conflict.

Can We Talk About Israel? is the story of that conflict, and of why so many people feel so strongly about it without actually understanding it very well at all. It is an attempt to grapple with a century-long struggle between two peoples that both perceive themselves as (and indeed are) victims. And it’s an attempt to explain why Israel (and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) inspires such extreme feelings-why it seems like Israel is the answer to “what is wrong with the world” for half the people in it, and “what is right with the world” for the other half. As Sokatch asks, is there any other topic about which so many intelligent, educated and sophisticated people express such strongly and passionately held convictions, and about which they actually know so little?

Complete with engaging illustrations by Christopher Noxon, Can We Talk About Israel? is an easy-to-read yet penetrating and original look at the history and basic contours of one of the most complicated conflicts in the world.

https://www.amazon.com/Can-Talk-About-Israel-Conflicted/dp/1639730486/

“Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths”
By: Karen Armstrong

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https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Three-Faiths-Armstrong-1997-04-29/dp/0345391683

“Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict”
By: Oren Kessler

“Kessler’s history is key to understanding the current situation between Israelis and Palestinians.” —Booklist, Starred Review

“[Kessler] has done an exceptional job and opened new vistas on troubles past and present.” — Wall Street Journal

A gripping, profoundly human, yet even-handed narrative of the origins of the Middle East conflict, with enduring resonance and relevance for our time.

In spring 1936, the Holy Land erupted in a rebellion that targeted both the local Jewish community and the British Mandate authorities that for two decades had midwifed the Zionist project. The Great Arab Revolt would last three years, cost thousands of lives—Jewish, British, and Arab—and cast the trajectory for the Middle East conflict ever since. Yet incredibly, no history of this seminal, formative first “Intifada” has ever been published for a general audience.

The 1936–1939 revolt was the crucible in which Palestinian identity coalesced, uniting rival families, city and country, rich and poor in a single struggle for independence. Yet the rebellion would ultimately turn on itself, shredding the social fabric, sidelining pragmatists in favor of extremists, and propelling waves of refugees from their homes. British forces’ aggressive counterinsurgency took care of the rest, finally quashing the uprising on the eve of World War II. The revolt to end Zionism had instead crushed the Arabs themselves, leaving them crippled in facing the Jews’ own drive for statehood a decade later.

To the Jews, the insurgency would leave a very different legacy. It was then that Zionist leaders began to abandon illusions over Arab acquiescence, to face the unnerving prospect that fulfilling their dream of sovereignty might mean forever clinging to the sword. The revolt saw thousands of Jews trained and armed by Britain—the world’s supreme military power—turning their ramshackle guard units into the seed of a formidable Jewish army. And it was then, amid carnage in Palestine and the Hitler menace in Europe, that portentous words like “partition” and “Jewish state” first appeared on the international diplomatic agenda.

This is the story of two national movements and the first sustained confrontation between them. The rebellion was Arab, but the Zionist counter-rebellion—the Jews’ military, economic, and psychological transformation—is a vital, overlooked element in the chronicle of how Palestine became Israel.

Today, eight decades on, the revolt’s legacy endures. Hamas’s armed wing and rockets carry the name of the fighter-preacher whose death sparked the 1936 rebellion. When Israel builds security barriers, sets up checkpoints, or razes homes, it is evoking laws and methods inherited from its British predecessor. And when Washington promotes a “two-state solution,” it is invoking a plan with roots in this same pivotal period.

Based on extensive archival research on three continents and in three languages, Palestine 1936 is the origin story of the world’s most intractable conflict, but it is also more than that. In Oren Kessler’s engaging, journalistic voice, it reveals world-changing events through extraordinary individuals on all sides: their loves and their hatreds, their deepest fears and profoundest hopes.

https://www.amazon.com/Palestine-1936-Revolt-Middle-Conflict/dp/1538148803/

“Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth”
By: Noa Tishby

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A “fascinating and very moving” (Aaron Sorkin, award-winning screenwriter of The West Wing and The Social Network) chronological timeline spanning from Biblical times to today that explores one of the most interesting countries in the world—Israel.

Israel. The small strip of arid land is 5,700 miles away but remains a hot-button issue and a thorny topic of debate. But while everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Israel, how many people actually know the facts?

Here to fill in the information gap is Israeli American Noa Tishby. But “this is not your Bubbie’s history book” (Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher). Instead, offering a fresh, 360-degree view, Tishby brings her “passion, humor, and deep intimacy” (Yossi Klein Halevi, New York Times bestselling author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor) to the subject, creating an accessible and dynamic portrait of a tiny country of outsized relevance. Through bite-sized chunks of history and deeply personal stories, Tishby chronicles her homeland’s evolution, beginning in Biblical times and moving forward to cover everything from WWI to Israel’s creation to the disputes dividing the country today. Tackling popular misconceptions with an abundance of facts, Tishby provides critical context around headline-generating controversies and offers a clear, intimate account of the richly cultured country of Israel.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Simple-Guide-Misunderstood-Country/dp/1982144947/

“Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn”
By: Daniel Gordis

The first comprehensive yet accessible history of the state of Israel from its inception to present day, from Daniel Gordis, “one of the most respected Israel analysts” (The Forward) living and writing in Jerusalem.

Israel is a tiny state, and yet it has captured the world’s attention, aroused its imagination, and lately, been the object of its opprobrium. Why does such a small country speak to so many global concerns? More pressingly: Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future?

We cannot answer these questions until we understand Israel’s people and the questions and conflicts, the hopes and desires, that have animated their conversations and actions. Though Israel’s history is rife with conflict, these conflicts do not fully communicate the spirit of Israel and its people: they give short shrift to the dream that gave birth to the state, and to the vision for the Jewish people that was at its core. Guiding us through the milestones of Israeli history, Gordis relays the drama of the Jewish people’s story and the creation of the state. Clear-eyed and erudite, he illustrates how Israel became a cultural, economic and military powerhouse—but also explains where Israel made grave mistakes and traces the long history of Israel’s deepening isolation.

With Israel, public intellectual Daniel Gordis offers us a brief but thorough account of the cultural, economic, and political history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, levelheaded, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on the Israel’s past so we can understand its future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people, and a nation, reborn.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Concise-History-Nation-Reborn/dp/0062368753/

“Conquering Jerusalem”
By: Stephen Dando-Collins

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN STEPHEN DANDO-COLLINS PROVIDES UNPARALLELED NEW INSIGHT INTO THE FIRST JEWISH REVOLT

Dando-Collins details the conflict from both sides of the 7-year campaign. His examination of the revolt draws upon numerous archaeological and forensic discoveries made in recent years to illuminate the people and events as never before.

Neither side emerges from the conflict unscathed. Both were at times equally heroic and barbaric. In the end, the Jewish freedom fighters lost the war and lost Jerusalem, their holy city– the focus of the campaign by both sides. Yet today, Jerusalem is once more the heart of the Jewish faith, while, thanks to Christianity–an offshoot of Judaism–the Roman Empire and its gods are long gone.

Conquering Jerusalem illustrates that faith can have its rewards, and the tables can be turned, if you wait long enough.

https://www.amazon.com/Conquering-Jerusalem-Stephen-Dando-Collins/dp/1684425476/

“The Israel-Palestine Conflict”
By: James L. Gelvin

Now in its fourth edition, James L. Gelvin’s award-winning account of the conflict between Israel and Palestine offers a compelling, accessible and current introduction for students and general readers. The book traces the struggle from the emergence of nationalism among the Jews of Europe and the Arab inhabitants of Ottoman Palestine through to the present, exploring the external pressures and internal logic that have propelled it. Placing events in Palestine within the framework of global history, The Israel-Palestine Conflict: A History skilfully interweaves biographical sketches, eyewitness accounts, poetry, fiction, and official documentation into its narrative. This updated edition features new material on the fate of the two-state solution during the Trump/Netanyahu era, alongside an expanded glossary and suggestions for further reading.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Palestine-Conflict-James-L-Gelvin/dp/110873863X/

“Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A History with Documents”
By: Charles D. Smith

Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict provides a comprehensive, balanced, and accessible narrative of a complex historical topic. The narrative is supported by more than 40 primary documents that highlight perspectives from all sides of the struggle. Throughout the book, the author examines how underlying issues, group motives, religious and cross-cultural clashes, diplomacy and imperialism, and the arrival of the modern era shaped this volatile region. Maps, photographs, chronologies, public opinion polls, and discussion questions help facilitate student understanding. A fully updated final chapter makes this the most current history of the topic.

https://www.amazon.com/Palestine-Arab-Israeli-Conflict-History-Documents/dp/1319115748/

“Israel/Palestine”
By: Alan Dowty

What explains the peculiar intensity and evident intractability of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Of all the “”hot spots”” in the world today, the apparently endless clash between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East seems unique in its longevity and resistance to resolution. Is this conflict really different from other ethnic and nationalist confrontations, and if so, in what way?

In this fully revised and expanded fifth edition of his highly respected introductory text, Alan Dowty demystifies the conflict by putting it in broad historical perspective, identifying its roots, and tracing its evolution up to the current impasse. His account offers a clear analytic framework for understanding transformations over time, and in doing so, punctures the myths of an “”age-old”” conflict with an unbridgeable gap between the two sides. Rather than simply reciting historical detail, this book presents a clear overview that serves as a road map through the thicket of conflicting claims. Updated to include recent developments, such as the recent Israeli elections and the debate over the two-state solution, the new edition presents in full the opposed perspectives of the two sides, leaving readers to make their own evaluations of the issues. The book thus expresses fairly and objectively the concerns, hopes, fears, and passions of both sides, making it clear why this conflict is waged with such vehemence – and how, for all that, the gap between the two sides has narrowed over time.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Palestine-Alan-Dowty/dp/1509554823/

“Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine”
By: Sami Adwan (Editor), Dan Bar-On (Editor), Eyal Naveh (Editor), PPeace Research Institute in the Middle East (Editor)

A groundbreaking “dual narrative” history of Israel and Palestine which offers a new paradigm for the teaching of history in conflict and post-conflict situations

“The battle lines of the Israel-Palestinian conflict extend to the classroom, where the two sides’ versions of their shared history diverge sharply. Now, two university professors aim to change the way the conflict is taught by exposing Palestinian students to Israeli history lessons and Israeli students to the Palestinian version of history.” —USA Today

More than twenty years ago, in the midst of widespread violence in Israel and Palestine, a group of Israeli and Palestinian teachers gathered to address what, to many people, seemed an unbridgeable gulf between the two societies. Struck by how different the standard Israeli and Palestinian textbook histories of the same events were from one another—whether of the Balfour Declaration or the 1967 War—they began to explore how a new understanding of history itself might open up different kinds of dialogue in an increasingly hostile climate. Their express goal was to “disarm” the teaching of Middle East history in Israeli and Palestinian classrooms.

The result is a riveting and unprecedented “dual narrative” of Israeli and Palestinian history. Side by Side comprises the history of two peoples, in separate narratives set literally side by side, so that readers can track each against the other, noting both where they differ as well as where they correspond. This unique and fascinating format, translated into English from Arabic and Hebrew, reveals surprising juxtapositions and allows readers to consider and process the very different viewpoints and logic of each side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

An eye-opening—and inspiring—new approach to thinking about one of the world’s most deeply entrenched conflicts, Side by Side is a now classic book that offers to its readers a way to discuss and perhaps help find a bridge to peace in the Middle East.

https://www.amazon.com/Side-Parallel-Histories-Israel-Palestine/dp/1595586830/

“Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East”
By: Michael B. Oren

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The first comprehensive account of the epoch-making Six-Day War, from the author of Ally—now featuring a fiftieth-anniversary retrospective

Though it lasted for only six tense days in June, the 1967 Arab-Israeli war never really ended. Every crisis that has ripped through this region in the ensuing decades, from the Yom Kippur War of 1973 to the ongoing intifada, is a direct consequence of those six days of fighting.

Writing with a novelist’s command of narrative and a historian’s grasp of fact and motive, Michael B. Oren reconstructs both the lightning-fast action on the battlefields and the political shocks that electrified the world. Extraordinary personalities—Moshe Dayan and Gamal Abdul Nasser, Lyndon Johnson and Alexei Kosygin—rose and toppled from power as a result of this war; borders were redrawn; daring strategies brilliantly succeeded or disastrously failed in a matter of hours. And the balance of power changed—in the Middle East and in the world. A towering work of history and an enthralling human narrative, Six Days of War is the most important book on the Middle East conflict to appear in a generation.

Praise for Six Days of War

“Powerful . . . A highly readable, even gripping account of the 1967 conflict . . . [Oren] has woven a seamless narrative out of a staggering variety of diplomatic and military strands.”—The New York Times

“With a remarkably assured style, Oren elucidates nearly every aspect of the conflict. . . . Oren’s [book] will remain the authoritative chronicle of the war. His achievement as a writer and a historian is awesome.”—The Atlantic Monthly

“This is not only the best book so far written on the six-day war, it is likely to remain the best.”—The Washington Post Book World

“Phenomenal . . . breathtaking history . . . a profoundly talented writer. . . .
This book is not only one of the best books on this critical episode in Middle East history; it’s one of the best-written books I’ve read this year, in any genre.”—The Jerusalem Post

“[In] Michael Oren’s richly detailed and lucid account, the familiar story is thrilling once again. . . . What makes this book important is the breadth and depth of the research.”—The New York Times Book Review

“A first-rate new account of the conflict.”—The Washington Post

“The definitive history of the Six-Day War . . . [Oren’s] narrative is precise but written with great literary flair. In no one else’s study is there more understanding or more surprise.”—Martin Peretz, Publisher, The New Republic

“Compelling, perhaps even vital, reading.”—San Jose Mercury News

https://www.amazon.com/Six-Days-War-Making-Modern/dp/0345461924/

“Speaking for Israel: A Speechwriter Battles Anti-Israel Opinions at the United Nations”
By: Aviva Klompas

The exclusive—and explosive—account of the politics of one of the most controversial nations in the world.

According to Aviva Klompas, representing Israel at the United Nations is like volunteering to sell Red Sox paraphernalia outside Yankee Stadium. During her time as the director of speechwriting for Israel’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Klompas crafted highly acclaimed speeches that advanced Israel’s policies and informed public opinion.

In Speaking for Israel, Klompas gives readers a glance behind the curtain of international politics and all the drama, intrigue, and conflict that simmer under the surface. During her tenure as Israel’s UN speechwriter, Klompas saw the collapse of four Middle Eastern states, faltering Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, waves of Palestinian terrorism, stop-and-go nuclear negotiations (culminating in the Iran Deal), an attempt to push Palestinian statehood through the UN Security Council, the Palestinians’ bid to join the International Criminal Court, the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, and fifty days of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Constantly in the thick of things, Klompas’s experience with the Israeli UN delegation is full to bursting with juicy insider stories and a day-to-day look at what it’s like in the top diplomatic echelon. With humor and bite, Speaking for Israel tells her story, one that is both universal and uniquely singular.

https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Israel-Nations-Speechwriter-Policies/dp/151074391X/

“Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After Its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders’ Dreams?”
By: Daniel Gordis

On Israel’s seventy-fifth anniversary comes a nuanced examination of the country’s past, present, and future, from the two-time National Jewish Book Award–winning author of Israel.

In 1948, Israel’s founders had much more in mind than the creation of a state. They sought not mere sovereignty but also a “national home for the Jewish people,” where Jewish life would be transformed. Did they succeed? The state they made, says Daniel Gordis, is a place of extraordinary success and maddening disappointment, a story of both unprecedented human triumph and great suffering.

Now, as the country marks its seventy-fifth anniversary, Gordis asks: Has Israel fulfilled the dreams of its founders? Using Israel’s Declaration of Independence as his measure, Gordis provides a thorough, balanced perspective on how the Israel of today exceeds the country’s original aspirations and how it has fallen short. He discusses the often-overlooked reasons for the establishment of the State of Israel; the flourishing of Jewish and Israeli culture; the nation’s economy and its transformative tech sector; the Israeli-Arab conflict; the distinct form of Judaism that has emerged in the Jewish state; the nation’s complex relationship with the Diaspora; and much more.

Offering new angles of thinking about Israel, Gordis brings moderation and clarity to the prevailing discourse. And through weighing Israel’s successes, critiquing its failures, and acknowledging its inherent contradictions, he ultimately suggests that the Jewish state is a success far beyond anything its founders could have imagined.

https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Takes-Longer-Creation-Fulfilled/dp/0063239442

“The Israel Test: Why the World’s Most Besieged State is a Beacon of Freedom and Hope for the World Economy”
By: George Gilder

In this book, George Gilder asserts that widespread antagonism toward the current state of Israel springs from, like anti-Semitism everywhere, envy of superior accomplishment. Israel’s sudden rise as a world capitalist and technological power, he argues, stems in part from the Jewish “culture of mind” and in part from Judaism itself, which, “perhaps more than any other religion, favors capitalist activity and provides a rigorous moral framework for it.” Critics of Israel—in the U.S., in the surrounding countries of the Middle East and in Western European nations that are facing socialist decline—have failed the “Israel Test” because they seek to tear down this country’s success rather than emulate it. America’s ability and desire to defend Israel will define our future survival as a nation: “If Israel is destroyed,” he says, “capitalist Europe will likely die as well, and America, as the epitome of productive and creative capitalism spurred by Jews, will be in jeopardy.”

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Test-Besieged-Freedom-Economy/dp/1594036128/

“The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War”
By: James L. Gelvin

Now entering its third edition, James L. Gelvin’s award-winning account of the conflict between Israelis and their forebears, on the one hand, and Palestinians and theirs, on the other, offers a compelling, accessible, and current introduction for students and general readers. Newly updated to take into account the effects of the 2010–11 Arab uprisings on the conflict and the recognition of Palestinian statehood by the United Nations, the book traces the struggle from the emergence of nationalism among the Jews of Europe and the Arab inhabitants of Ottoman Palestine through the present, exploring the external pressures and internal logic that have propelled it. Placing events in Palestine within the framework of global history, The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War skillfully interweaves biographical sketches, eyewitness accounts, poetry, fiction, and official documentation into its narrative.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Palestine-Conflict-One-Hundred-Years/dp/110761354X/

“The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What Everyone Needs to Know”
By: Dov Waxman

No conflict in the world has lasted as long, generated as many news headlines, or incited as much controversy as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet, despite, or perhaps because of, the degree of international attention it receives, the conflict is still widely misunderstood. While Israelis and Palestinians and their respective supporters trade accusations, many outside observers remain confused by the conflict’s complexity and perplexed by the passion it arouses.

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What Everyone Needs to Know® offers an even-handed and judicious guide to the world’s most intractable dispute. Writing in an engaging, jargon-free Q&A format, Dov Waxman provides clear and concise answers to common questions, from the most basic to the most contentious. Covering the conflict from its nineteenth-century origins to the latest developments of the twenty-first century, this book explains the key events, examines the core issues, and presents the competing claims and narratives of both sides. Readers will learn what the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is all about, how it has evolved over time, and why it continues to defy diplomatic efforts at a resolution.

https://www.amazon.com/Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict-Everyone-Needs-Know%C2%AE/dp/0190625333/

“Israel Always: Experiencing God’s Pursuit of You Through His Chosen People”
By: Christopher J. Katulka

Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
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“A succinct and compelling survey of everything Israel!”
—J. Randall Price, author, professor, archaeologist

God’s faithfulness to Israel is an incredible affirmation of His unconditional goodness, and as we discover His heart for His chosen people, we better understand His heart for us. Israel’s story begins with God’s promise to make Abraham a great nation, and to this day, His hand continues to guide and protect the Jewish people.

Israel Always is a sweeping journey through Israel’s prolific history, its modern-day influence, and its promised future, highlighting the continuous throughline of God’s provision for His people. Bible scholar and Israel expert Christopher Katulka draws on relevant scriptures, careful research, and firsthand experience to illuminate why
Israel plays such a central role in the Bible’s narrative, as well as in Bible prophecy
understanding Jewish culture and tradition enriches our understanding of Christianity
the Jewish people continue to be a wrongly yet widely persecuted group
lasting peace continues to be a challenge for the Middle East
Insightful and informative, Israel Always will enrich your understanding of the Bible, enhance your appreciation for Israel, and elevate your awareness of God’s steadfast love for all His people—including you—today.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736983120/

“Bound for the Promised Land”

Just as the Old Testament book of Genesis begins with creation, where humans live in the presence of their Lord, so the New Testament book of Revelation ends with an even more glorious new creation where all of the redeemed dwell with the Lord and his Christ. The historical development between the beginning and the end is crucial, for the journey from Eden to the new Jerusalem proceeds through the land promised to Abraham. The Promised Land is the place where God’s people will once again live under his lordship and experience his blessed presence. In this stimulating study from the New Studies in Biblical Theology series, Oren Martin demonstrates how, within the redemptive-historical framework of God’s unfolding plan, the land promise advances the place of the kingdom that was lost in Eden. This promise also serves as a type throughout Israel’s history that anticipates the even greater land, prepared for all of God’s people, that will result from the person and work of Christ and that will be enjoyed in the new creation for eternity. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Promised-Studies-Biblical-Theology/dp/0830826351

“A Dream of Zion: American Jews Reflect on Why Israel Matters to Them”
By: Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin (Editor)

Discover what Jewish people in America have to say about Israel―their voices have never mattered more than they do now.

As anti-Israel sentiment spreads around the world―from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to former President Jimmy Carter―it has never been more important for American Jews to share their feelings and thoughts about Israel, and foster a connection to Israel in the next generation of Jewish and Christian adults.

This inspirational book features the insights of top scholars, business leaders, professionals, politicians, authors, artists and community and religious leaders covering the entire denominational spectrum of Jewish life in America today―and offers an exciting glimpse into the history of Zionism in America with statements from Jews who saw the movement come to life. Presenting a diversity of views, it will encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to think about what Israel means to them and, in particular, help young adults jump start their own lasting, personal relationship with Israel.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1580234151/

“The Jewish State: The Historic Essay that Led to the Creation of the State of Israel”
By: Theodor Herzl

Originally published in 1896 as Der Judenstaat, The Jewish State has taken its place among the likes of The Communist Manifesto and Common Sense as polemic writings which have changed modern history. Theodor Herzl’s advocacy for a separate, independent Jewish state as a remedy for centuries of hostility and persecution served as the basis for modern Zionism. And though his vision would not be realized in his lifetime, it did set the course for the creation of the Israel we know today.

This edition, based on the original translation to English by Sylvie D’Avigdor, includes a foreword by Alan Dershowitz, who is among Israel’s most prominent and most vocal scholars defenders. The Harvard law professor, who has been calledIsrael’s lead lawyer in the court of public opinion, discusses The Jewish State’s place in history and its impact today.

https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-State-Historic-Creation-Israel/dp/1510755314/

“The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Very Short Introduction”
By: Martin Bunton

The conflict between Palestine and Israel is one of the most highly publicized and bitter struggles of modern times, a dangerous tinderbox always poised to set the Middle East aflame–and to draw the United States into the fire. In this accessible and stimulating Very Short Introduction, Martin Bunton illuminates the history of the problem, reducing it to its very essence. Adopting a fresh and original approach, Bunton explores the Palestinian-Israeli dispute in twenty-year segments, to highlight the historical complexity of the conflict throughout successive decades. Each chapter starts with an examination of the relationships among people and events that marked particular years as historical stepping stones in the evolution of the conflict, including the 1897 Basle Congress, the 1917 Balfour Declaration and British occupation of Palestine, and the 1947 UN Partition Plan and the war for Palestine.

Providing a clear and fair exploration of the main issues, Bunton explores not only the historical basis of the conflict, but also looks at how and why partition has been so difficult and how efforts to restore peace continue today.

About the Series:

Oxford’s Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects–from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative–yet always balanced and complete–discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.

https://www.amazon.com/Palestinian-Israeli-Conflict-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/0199603936/

“The Roads and Highways of Ancient Israel”
By: David A. Dorsey

Drawing on literary and archaeological evidence, David A. Dorsey examines the road system in Israel during the Iron Age (ca. 1200-586 B.C.). He offers a comprehensive investigation of the nature and physical characteristics of roads in ancient Israel and reconstructs Israel’s road network as it existed during the Old Testament period.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1532660898/

“The Wars of the Jews”
By: Flavius Josephus

In 66 CE, unrest and disquiet among Jewish peoples in Roman-occupied Jerusalem boiled over, first into open rebellion and then into all-out war. The following seven years would see bloodshed on a massive scale, as the Roman Empire sought to re-establish control over Judea. This would culminate in the Siege of Masada, in which a corps of several hundred defenders, alongside non-combatants, held out against the might of a Roman legion — to this day, a symbol of heroism, resilience, and resistance among the Jewish people.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1774266903/

“Whose Holy Land?: The Roots of the Conflict Between Jews and Arabs”
By: Michael Wolffsohn

This book explains the historical roots of the conflict between Jews and Arabs, which has lost none of its explosiveness to the present day, in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner.
The question of who owns the Holy Land is more relevant today than ever. The debates on this topic are often characterized by ignorance and strong emotions, while partiality and power interests still obscure the view on the political situation in the Middle East.
Shaking up old myths and prejudices, this book presents an overall historical as well as political analysis of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim structures, actors, and actions from the very beginning to this very day, as well as a topical analysis. It combines history with theology and political science.
Thus, the book is a must-read for scholars and students of political science, history, and international relations, as well as policy-makers, interested in a better understanding of the historical background and current political situation in the Middle East.

https://www.amazon.com/Whose-Holy-Land-Conflict-Between/dp/3030742857/

“Why Israel?: A Biblical Look into the Nation’s Past and Future”
By: Keavin Hayden

“The idea of Israel as a nation is an emotionally charged topic. The mere mention of its name can easily set off demonstrations, sometimes resulting in violence and even all-out war. But Why Israel? What is it about this tiniest of countries sitting in the midst of massive Middle Eastern nations that constantly seems to keep the world sitting on the edge of its seat? How did it get there, and for what purpose does it exist? These are age-old questions this book seeks to answer. It is not an attempt to solve any current political, religious, or social perplexities, nor a desire to advocate on behalf of Jews, Palestinians, or Christians living in the region. No, what you are about to read is simply an honest attempt to explain from the Bible how, and why, Israel appears continually in world affairs and conflicts.”

“Though never mentioned specifically in the Bible, the Star of David is recognized universally as the insignia for modern Judaism. Today it is a symbol of great pride among the Hebrew people, but during War World II Adolf Hitler forced Jews to wear it as a “badge of shame” designed to racially profile their identities. The First Zionist Congress in 1897 chose the star as the central emblem for the flag of the future State of Israel. Just 51 years later the new nation of Israel was born on May 14, 1948, thus establishing the first Jewish state in nearly 2,000 years. But where did Israel come from? And what is the significance of their reappearance on the world’s political and religious stage? In his book WHY ISRAEL? author Keavin Hayden takes his readers on a spiritual journey through time, uncovering the history of this ancient people, and demonstrating how the existence of Israel will affect the future of everyone living on our planet.”

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Israel-Biblical-Nations-Future/dp/1949809846/

“Target Israel: Caught in the Crosshairs of the End Times”
By: Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson

As the conflicts in the Middle East grow in intensity, we cannot help but wonder what lies ahead for the nation of Israel and whether any of it means we are drawing closer to the last days.

In their exciting new book Target Israel, prophecy experts Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson explain why Israel is at the center of God’s prophetic plan for the future. As you carefully review the Scriptures with them, you’ll learn about…

the miracle of Israel’s modern-day existence
Israel’s unique purpose in the world
the ways in which Israel serves as a super sign of the end times
the coming alliance of nations that will attempt to annihilate Israel
Christ’s return to Jerusalem to rule the world
You’ll be inspired as you see how God will bring all His prophetic promises to pass, and be encouraged to share your faith with greater urgency in light of Christ’s second coming.

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?linkCode=kpd&ref_=k4w_oembed_Eg3i3ypzoFfRi2&asin=0736964495

“Jerusalem. The Capital of The Land of The Messiah”
By: Marcos Enrique Ruiz Rivero II (Aviel) (Author)

The journey continues through the land of the Messiah in vol 2. Jerusalem is the most fascinating city on the planet and the center of three world religions, Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike consider her holy and unique. As you browse and read, you will wish you were there. The pictures will bring out its majestic uniqueness and beauty, like no other city on the planet.

With more than 40 sites and over 350 pictures of places like:

The Old City
Mount of Olives
City of David
Israel Museum
Yad Vashem
and much more…

Don’t wait for someone to tell you about her. Get your own copy today as you begin to learn more about her history and, if you were here before, relive the experience through its pages and learn about new places you may have missed on your last visit.

https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Capital-Messiah-Marcos-Enrique/dp/9657747252/

“History of Judaism” (5 Books)

– “The Kings of Israel and Judah: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Jewish Kingdom of David and Solomon, the Divided Monarchy, and the Assyrian and … of Samaria and Jerusalem”

– “History of the Jews: A Captivating Guide to Jewish History, Starting from the Ancient Israelites through Roman Rule to World War 2 “

– “The Bar Kokhba Revolt: A Captivating Guide to the Third Jewish–Roman War and Its Impact on Ancient Rome and Jewish History”

– “The Kitos War: A Captivating Guide to One of the Jewish–Roman Wars”

– “The Jewish War: A Captivating Guide to the First Jewish-Roman War and How the Great Revolt of Judea Impacted Ancient Rome and Jewish History”

“Israel: Beauty, Light, and Luxury (A Vibrant, Full-Color Coffee Table Book with 350 Photos of the Holy Land’s Features, Flora, & People”
By: Tara-Leigh Cobble

Come discover the land of Jesus. It will transform the way you read your Bible.

Israel abounds with beauty. It is vibrant and thriving, stacked with delicacies and flooded with light. The desert is blooming and people are flourishing–just as Scripture promised. To the surprise of many, Israel is far more than deserts and ruins.

Pairing 31 rich devotionals with 350 gorgeous photos of Israel today, Tara-Leigh Cobble, creator of The Bible Recap, takes you on an unforgettable journey through the Holy Land. Since 2014, she has led boutique teaching tours of the country, learning its landscapes and stories. Glimpse Israel’s features, flora, and people, all while making deeper connections with its biblical stories and truth.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/076424034X/

“Eitan Bar’s Coffee Table Photo Books” (2 Books)
By: Eitan Bar

– “The Israel Coffee Table Photobook: Most exceptional photography of Israel’s famous sceneries”

– “The Jerusalem Coffee Table Photobook: Extraordinary monochromatic photography of Jerusalem joined with Bible verses”

“Why Israel Matters: Past – Present – Forever”
By: Matthew D. Staver, Esq. (With John P. Aman)

Picture book

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Israel-Matters-Present-Forever/dp/0983176736/

“Jerusalem” (DVD)
By: National Geographic

Discover the Heart of the World

JERUSALEM takes audiences on an inspiring and eye-opening tour of one of the world’s oldest and most enigmatic cities. Destroyed and rebuilt countless times over 5,000 years, Jerusalem’s enduring appeal remains a mystery. What made it so important to so many different cultures? How did it become the center of the world for three major religions? Why does it still matter to us? JERUSALEM attempts to answer these questions by following three young Jerusalemites and their families – Jewish, Christian and Muslim. Through their eyes, audiences will learn what it means to call Jerusalem home and experience celebrations and events that mark the high points of a year in the life of the city. JERUSALEM will also follow noted archaeologist, Dr. Jodi Magness, as she explores some of the most extraordinary historical sites in the region in order to better understand how this region became a true crossroads of civilization. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock,” “12 Years a Slave”), JERUSALEM gives audiences a completely unique perspective of a part of the world that still captivates the imagination of billions of people.

“Jerusalem: Center of the World” (DVD)
By: PBS – Andrew Goldberg (Director)

Jerusalem: Center of the World tells the epic story of the world’s most incredible city capturing the rich mosaic of the city’s Christian Jewish and Muslim communities. Covering a sweeping history of over 4000 years the film explores the founding of the city; the birth and convergence of the world’s three major monotheistic religions; and the key events in Jerusalem’s history as described in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles the Talmud the Hagaddah the Koran and the Hadith. Highlights include: Mount Moriah the site of the First and Second Temples; the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; the Dome of the Rock; and the Western Wall. Directed by Andrew Goldberg and hosted by Ray Suarez (The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer) the film includes interviews with locals top scholars and clergy.

“Visions of Israel” (DVD)
By: PBS

Take an aerial pilgrimage to Israel, the world’s only Jewish state and Holy Land to three major religions. Stunning footage showcases Israel in all it’s diverse glory. Witness the magnificence of the country’s many holy sites, including the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, alongside exotic seaside resorts and the austere beauty of the Judean desert.

“Jerusalem & The Lost Temple of Jews” (DVD)
Hosted By: Ken Klein (Actor), Ken Klein (Director)

In honor of God, Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem without the sound of a hammer or any tool at the building site. The stones were quarried many miles away and when they were brought to the temple area, they fit perfectly. God promised the people that His eternal presence would never leave the temple as long as they followed Gods law. However, this first temple was eventually destroyed by the Babylonians; a second temple built by King Herod was also dismantled, this time by the Romans in A.D. 70. Yet, the Bible predicts that another temple will be built in Jerusalem before the final return of Jesus Christ. Paul, the Apostle, predicted that in the end time antichrist would enter into Jerusalem and set himself up in Gods temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (II Thessalonians 2:4). This compelling DVD challenges centuries of tradition when discussing the intriguing question of the exact location of these two ancient temples, which in turn identifies where a third and final temple will be built before the Messiahs return. Join us as we pinpoint where past history will meet future prophecy.

“The 8 Gates of Jerusalem” (DVD)
By: Rick Ray (Director), Phil Cooke (Director)

All three of the world’s major religions share a bond in holding the city of Jerusalem close to their hearts. Learn the background stories behind each of the eight gates of Jerusalem, including a comprehensive history of the Holy City itself. Many believe the spiritual gateways that surround Jerusalem will eventually play a vital role in the future of the world.

“Israel: The Royal Tour” (DVD)
By: PBS

Directed by John Feist. Starring Peter Greenberg.

“The Gates of Jerusalem : A History of the Holy City” (DVD)
Narrated By Richard Kiley (Actor), Rick Ray (Director), Phil Cooke (Director)

Jerusalem is the city where Christian history began and where many believe it will end. This program insights to events that are to take place in Jerusalem. Of the eight gates surrounding the Old City, the Golden Gate is being faithfully watched continuously by Christians, Muslims and the Jews. Millions around the world believe it holds the key to the future of history. For the Jewish faithful the Golden Gate symbolizes the entry for their Messiah and the beginning of a Messianic age. For Christians, this gate promises the second coming of their Savior, Jesus Christ. For Muslims, the Golden Gate will someday be part of the last judgment of man at the end of history. These spiritual gateways will play a vital role in Israel’s past, present, and perhaps future. Narrated by award-winning actor Richard Kiley.

“Whose Land Is It?: Jewish and Arab Claims to Israel” (DVD)
By: CBN

It’s the oldest land dispute in history: for centuries both Jews and Arabs have claimed to be the rightful owners of the land of Israel.

Whose Land Is It?

In this two-part special, Gordon Robertson examines the facts behind both the Jewish and Arab claims. Get the answers to the following questions:

*Who are the Palestinians?

*What are the so-called “1967 borders” of Israel?

*Is the West Band really “occupied territory”?

*Do the Jews hold the legal right to the land of Israel?

Whose Land Is it? Features expert commentary from former Israeli Ambassador Danny Ayalon.

DVD Bonus Feature: “The Refugees of 1948” looks at the origin of the Palestinian refugee problem and why it remains unsolved almost 70 years later.

“Made in Israel” (DVD)
By: CBN

The State of Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey, and yet it has the largest number of start-up companies per capita in the world. Israel also has more companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange than all of Europe.

WHAT’S THE SECRET BEHIND ISRAEL’S SUCCESS?

In Made in Israel, Gordon Robertson explores the roots of Israeli innovation in areas such as agriculture, medicine and technology.

FIND OUT HOW ISRAELIS ARE…

*Growing more food with less water

*Creating the technology behind devices like the iPad, Kindle and Xbox

*Developing new ways to treat cancer, diabetes, and even blindness

“To Life: How Israeli Volunteers are Changing the World” (DVD)
By: CBN

Israeli volunteers helping change the world.

“In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem” (DVD)
By: CBN

In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem tells the story if Israel’s 55th Paratrooper Brigade who liberated the Old City of Jerusalem and reunified that ancient city, during the Six-Day War. It was filmed in the summer of 2016 in Israel, after intensive research through diaries, radio broadcasts, interviews with experts (such as Member of Knesset and historian Michael Oren) and, of course, with the veterans themselves. It is important that this story is told by those who lived it. Thus, In Our Hands, reveals the hearts and minds of scholars, soldiers and politicians, both religious and secular. Seeing their vivid memories portrayed in historical reenactments brings the Six-Day War to life in a new and unique way.

Shot in Jerusalem on the actual battle sites, more than 100 actors (the film’s extras are real paratroopers) reenact the deadly fighting at Ammunition Hill and the Old City. These pivotal scenes and events have been recreated with intense accuracy.

For a new generation of Jews and Christians, In Our Hands is a must-see in understanding the significance of this historic moment in history.

“The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel” (DVD)
By: CBN

“At Basel, I founded the Jewish State… perhaps in five years, and certainly fifty, everyone will know it.”

Theodor Herzl wrote these words in his diary on September 3, 1897. Fifty years and nine months later, Herzl’s dream became a reality when David Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.

The Hope is the story of the half-century before Israel’s rebirth, told through the eyes of the nation’s founders.

“I Am Israel” (DVD)
By: David Kern

I AM ISRAEL will take you on a soaring journey through the Land of the Bible and introduce you to Jewish men and women whose very lives are a testimony to the promises of God.

I AM ISRAEL has screened in over 10,000 congregations, sold over 60,000 copies and been seen in 143 countries on tv and streaming. It was invited to screen in the Jerusalem Knesset, the first film produced by Christian filmmakers to achieve this honor.

https://iamisraelfilm.com/collections/dvd-bluray

“Israel Rising: The Land of Israel Reawakens”
By: Doug Hershey

Documented Proof of the Prophetic Promises of God Revealed
Thousands of years ago, the prophet Ezekiel foretold a future time in which the arid land of Israel would come alive for its people. Now this breathtaking book documents the fulfillment of that vision―from the hills of Shiloh where shepherds once roamed, to the booming city of Tel Aviv, founded on sand dunes, to the stellar beaches of Caesarea, transformed from a small village into one of Israel’s most stunning coastal cities and finally to Jerusalem, the Eternal City of Peace, where in ancient times the power of worship resounded from the Temple. Here, rarely seen photographs taken between the 1880s and the 1940s juxtaposed with contemporary images of the same locations illustrate the region’s biblical history as a place of monumental battle, celebration, worship, and awesome resilience.

Whether by helicopter or on foot, on their own or with the aid of locals, author Doug Hershey and photographer Elise Monique Theriault negotiate the terrain to access the vantage points required to match the original photos―from the rooftop of Israel’s National Museum of Science, Technology and Space in Haifa, to Jaffa Port’s breakwater, and much more. Their quest creates a collection that will inspire and captivate as it illuminates Israel’s foretold awakening in a new and unforgettable way.

https://www.amazon.com/Israel-Rising-Reawakens-Ancient-Prophecy/dp/1496457749

“Jerusalem Rising: The City of Peace Reawakens”
By: Doug Hershey

Documented Proof of the Prophetic Promises of God Revealed

Thousands of years ago, the prophet Zechariah foretold that the once-revered city of Jerusalem would again shake off its dust and be revived in peace and security. He predicted it would not only become a center of thriving life and seat of international influence but also the place where God himself will return to dwell.

This stunning new photo-comparison book and follow-up to Israel Rising documents the long-awaited and ongoing restoration of a city “set in the center of the nations” (Ezekiel 5:5). From its famed walls and gates to the beloved Old City and the new city rising up around it, view some of the oldest photos of Jerusalem ever taken (starting in the 1840s) and see them re-created from the same perspective today―some for the first time ever.

Author Doug Hershey and adventure-travel photographer Edden Ram gained exclusive access to storied vantage points to reshoot the exact angles of these stunning and seldom-seen historical photos. The result is an awe-inspiring and groundbreaking collection that will captivate hearts and reveal the accuracy of the prophet’s words. The book also features fascinating insights into Jerusalem’s first photographers and firsthand accounts from pilgrims, locals, and would-be conquerors that capture the longing and desire for this treasured city, spanning almost 2,000 years.

Indeed, the reawakening of the City of Peace is at hand.

https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Rising-Reawakens-Ancient-Prophecy/dp/1496453905

“Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines”
By: Rose Publishing

10th Anniversary Edition of Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines features over 200 Bible Charts, Maps, and Timelines―and includes MORE pages, 6 EXTRA topics, updated information, and a bonus 24” fold-out on Jesus’ Family Tree.

The #1 Bible reference book celebrates its 10th anniversary with an updated 230-page edition that features more Bible maps, charts, and illustrations than the original! This stunning, easy-to-understand reference book still provides the same full-color, REPRODUCIBLE Bible charts and overviews that made the original a favorite, but in an easier-to-use, updated format!

Plus! It includes over 37 ADDED pages of ALL NEW content on popular Bible topics, including Psalm 23, Lord’s Prayer, the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and more!

Over 200 REPRODUCIBLE Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines:

– 2 Bible Foldout Posters: Bible Time Line and Jesus’ Genealogy
– Overviews on Popular Old and New Testament Topics
– Overviews of Jesus’ Life and Teachings
– Bible Overview: Books of the Bible and Key Bible Stories
– Christian History and Apologetics
– Overviews on Bible Prophecy, Revelation, and the End Times
– Bible Maps: Then and Now [Then and Now Bible Maps have been updated to show today’s cities and countries in red outline.]
– Bible Illustrations and Diagrams

Every church library and every home should have a copy of Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines This book contains thousands of facts that will enrich your understanding and study of the Bible and will be a great resource as you teach others about the Word of God.

https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Book-Bible-Charts-Lines/dp/1596360224

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SPECIAL ‘GENERAL’ RESOURCE

“ApologetiX Songbook”
(An interactive PDF)

It features the lyrics to every song on every CD and every “download” from 1993-2020

Special features:

indexed by title, original song, original artist, subject, and Bible verse
each song’s page has icons showing what albums it appears on
each song’s page has a commentary from lyricist J. Jackson
each album’s page includes liner notes and track listing
print any pages you like or use for slides in church
photos from ApologetiX’s debut concert in 1992
discography of out-of-print cassettes
downloadable in PDF format

New features in this edition:

all song commentaries from J. Jackson updated and expanded
also indexed by year when original song spoofed was a hit
J.’s original handwritten rough lyrics to 40 ApX classics
scads of photos from ApX 25th-anniversary concerts
list of 40 ApX parodies most likely to be redone
over 200 new parodies and journal entries
list of the first ApX concerts in each state
six new full-length feature articles
DVD discography and synopses
never-before-seen rare photos
lyrics for over 700 parodies
over 1000 pages!

Interactive features:

click on any page number in indexes or TOC to go to that page
click on any album icon to go to its liner notes and track listings
click on any song title on an album page to go to that song

Note: This e-book is a download-only and doesn’t include sheet music.

The songbook is available for a donation of $50 or more. After we receive your donation, we’ll send you a follow-up email with the link.

Get the Songbook for a donation:
http://www.apologetix.com/store/store.php#songbook

Songbook Demo Video: https://rumble.com/vfazhl-apologetix-songbook-2020-demo.html

“THE SEARCH FOR MEANING” WEBSITE

This site presents discussions on the 12 most commonly asked questions about the Christian faith.

The 12 discussions are accessed by the “tabs” at the bottom of the page. The tabs are numbered 1-12. Roll your mouse over them and you will see the question displayed at the right. Click on the number to select that question.

Within each question (i.e. tabs 1-12), there are subtopics (or dialogues) to select that appear as smaller tabs underneath the numbered tabs. Roll your mouse over them and the title of these topics is also displayed to the right. Click on the open rectangle to select that dialogue.

For each question (1-12), a link to related resources and an optional flowchart is provided. To access this material, click on the respective words, “Related Resources” or “Options Flowchart.”

To play a more detailed discussion of the subject, between two people, select the desired dialogue and click on “Play Audio Dialogue.”

In the upper right-hand corner of the page, there is an icon that looks like binoculars looking at a question mark. Click on this icon to return to the homepage.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Related Resources” page, there is an icon that looks like some books. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the resources for all of the questions. There also are additional “appendices” for most of the questions.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Flowchart” page, there is an icon that looks like an Org chart. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the flowcharts.

http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q1_d1_1of10.html

[ Content by: Bill Kraftson and Lamar Smith; Website by Mark Besh ]

“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEBSITE
(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)

CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/

FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/

[ Mark Besh ]

[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further about what is required to ‘qualify’ for Heaven, visit the following link:
http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q9_d1_1of10.html ].

<<< ARTICLES >>>

“Next Year in Jerusalem: Why Is This City So Important? | Zionism Revisited | Unpacked”

Cindy Seni, star of the new series on Netflix, “Jewish Matchmaking,” shows the importance of the city Jerusalem to major religions around the world, and stresses why the “holy city” is so holy to the Jewish People.

Jerusalem has, is, and will continue to be, a central location of religious significance to Jews, Muslims and Christians. Through a deeper dive of Judaism’s four nicknames for the city, the multifaceted characteristics of the city are explained and explored.
Whether walking on cobblestone or pavement, Jerusalem’s complex and centuries long history can be felt through the entirety of this ever-developing modern city.

[ Unpacked ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFTchkaFtkA

“TBN documentary seeks to explain ‘Why Israel Matters’”

The internationally known Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) has begun airing an important new documentary series entitled Why Israel Matters. The show is sponsored by Liberty Counsel, a Christian non-profit organization that advocates standing with Israel.

Produced and hosted by Mati Shoshani, TBN Israel’s director of operations, the first of 13 episodes of the series can also be viewed online at the network’s website.

Why Israel Matters provides an honest and in-depth look at the country, demonstrating glorious things God has done in restoring the land and the Jewish people to it. The series does not idealize Israel, but also squarely faces the Arab-Israeli conflict, describing the suffering it has caused to Palestinians as well as to Israelis.

“We want to present stories, not specific narratives,” Shoshani told KNI. “As a creator of content for the program, I aim to show the complexities and details of the lives of a range of people in Israel. I have been greatly impacted by listening to the experiences of people I interviewed.”

Each episode runs for just under half an hour and presents three stories related to a particular theme. Thus, for example, one powerfully moving episode is called “Neighbors.”

Central to this episode are the experiences of Robi Damelin, a Jewish mother, and Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian father. Damelin and Aramin each lost a child to the conflict.

Damelin talks about her son David, an officer with the IDF, who was called to serve in the West Bank and was killed on duty. Damelin explains that her son “did not want to serve in the occupied territories,” but was concerned about “what would happen to his soldiers if he did not go.”

Before leaving to serve, David told his mother: “And if I do go, then I will treat people with dignity — and so will all my soldiers.”

The Palestinian father, Bassam Aramin, relates that he lost his 10-year-old daughter, Abir when she was shot in the back of the head by Israeli border police outside her school in Jerusalem.

The viewer is left to contemplate this father’s pain and loss as Shoshani, an Israeli Jew, does not seek to justify or explain how something like this could happen.

“It is the most painful thing that could happen to anyone. You discover there is no revenge,” Aramin says.

Indeed, rather than seek revenge, both Damelin and Aramin joined a grass roots reconciliation organization for bereaved Israelis and Palestinians called The Parents Circle Families Forum.

Shoshani reflects that working on this subject “awakened in me a compassion for the Palestinian people. There are human beings on the ‘other side.’”

The episode “Homecoming” focuses on the miracle of the God’s bringing the Jews back to the Land of Israel from all over the world.

“For much of our history the Jewish people have lived as exiles and refugees. But home is a universal longing,” Shoshani narrates in this episode. “The word aliyah means ‘to ascend’ and it represents a standing to the Jewish people around the world to return to the land of their ancestors. Ever since the scattering of the Jewish people thousands of years ago they have longed to travel back to Israel.”

Among the stories we are told is that of Jin Jin, a young woman who came to Israel from China. She relates how her father had taught her that she is Jewish and that it had been his dream for her to make aliyah and move to Israel. Jin Jin, however, had not understood this and had considered China her home.

In time, however, God moved upon Jin Jin’s heart and she did make Israel her home. As many do upon immigrating to Israel, she chose a Hebrew name for herself. And, while most women choose well known Biblical names like Sarah and Rachel, Jin Jin chose the name Yecholiya.

Yecholiya explains that her name means “God is able.”

“I am here because God is able to bring me here. I am here because God is able to bring my heart here,” she says on the show.

Another remarkable episode, “Heroes,” tells the stories of people in Israel who are doing works of kindness and trying to help those who have perhaps been forgotten by society.

“I wanted to show that, in spite of the serious difficulties we have, the land of Israel is being restored,” Shoshani said. “I want to show some of the many good people there are here, and the good things they are doing.”

In an inspiring section of this episode, Shoshani introduces human rights attorney Gavriel Mairone.

Mairone’s law firm represents victims of national and international terrorism. Among these are families of teenagers massacred in the 2001 bombing of the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv and Iraqi victims of the chemical weapons attacks unleashed by Saddam Hussein. The firm operates a contingency arrangement so that victims of terrorism don’t pay legal fees unless they win their lawsuit.

“My mission is to help create the law to help victims exercise, implement and enforce their rights,” Mairone attests in the episode. “In 1988, in Iraq, 5,000 people were killed and 10,000 to 15,000 injured by chemical attacks that lasted almost 20 hours. The world has been silent about it.”

“I have 4,000 clients, 3,000 are dead and the 1,000 that are living, every month someone’s dying and they’re suffering,” Mairone continues. “There’s not been funds given to them for the medical treatment they even need. Nothing was ever done for those people.”

These accounts are a small sample of the variety and depth of the stories told in Why Israel Matters.

“Through this program I wanted to encounter people and walk a mile in their shoes — to be able to identify with them,” Shoshani summarized. “Doing this is very powerful and can greatly impact our lives for the better.”

[ Karen Faulkner ]

“Why Israel Matters”

This exclusive 13-part original series, Why Israel Matters, is designed to powerfully demonstrate the crucial importance of this Jewish state to Christians, to America, and to the world. Produced in partnership with four organizations.

[ TBN Israel ]

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RvcvGHJhSE

“Why Israel Matters TV Series”

Features incredible stories of “Aliyah,” the sometimes extremely difficult journey made by Jews from around the world as make their way toward their homeland – Israel.

SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxATFVCvzDI&list=PLv2flUwNHtCfLhE8x5GiBwqg9-NMgtR-H

“Now, More Than Ever: Why Israel Matters”

There is an assumption that every Jew should ultimately feel a strong connection to his or her people and the State of Israel; that there is something within every Jewish soul that pulls them to the Promised Land.

The emotional, historical, and spiritual ties that bound us to Israel in the past are slowly and steadily becoming unraveled in the present.

During the first few decades of Israeli independence, the vast majority of American and World Jewry saw the embattled Jewish State as a symbol of pride, national and spiritual identity. Zionism, and its message of self-sufficiency in a Jewish homeland, was a central component of Jewish identification. This, coupled with the recent memory of the Shoah and its horrors, caused us to see Israel as an extension of our Jewish selves.

We defended Israel’s right to exist – holding our collective breaths during times of crisis and rejoicing in her miraculous victories. We demonstrated our support with our political clout and our pocketbooks, by making Aliyah, traveling on organized tours and sending our Children to study and experience the “Miracle on the Mediterranean.” [ more…]

[ Rabbi Joseph R. Black ]

ARTICLE: https://israelforever.org/israel/celebrating/why_israel_matters_on_rosh_hashanah/

“The Middle East Report – Why Jerusalem Matters?”

In this week’s edition of The Middle East Report, Simon Barrett interviews Pastor Jeff Cuozzo the UK Director of Behold Israel Ministries on how we are living in biblical times as we see the fulfilment of prophecy unfold before our very eyes.

We talk about how the war in the Ukraine is fulfilling Bible prophecy, and how we are living between Ezekiel Chapters 37 and 38 on God’s prophetic time clock. We discuss the significance of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has increased Jewish Aliyah from Eastern Europe.

We also discuss the new US – Iranian nuclear deal that does not diplomatically resolve the regimes ambitions to acquire nuclear weapons and gives the Mullahs in Tehran over $90 billion in sanctions relief. What is worse is that all sanctions on Iran’s corrupt and evil leadership will be lifted to enable them to continue to support their terror war against Israel.

As Christians we need to understand that we are living in biblical times and as such we need to prepare ourselves for the turbulent times we are living in as the birth pains that are intensifying as Yeshua talked about in the Olivet Discourse.

[ Revelation TV ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5pETeujXlE

“WHY IS JERUSALEM SO IMPORTANT TO GOD”

Four thousand and one hundred years ago, yes 41 centuries ago God made a promise called a covenant with a man we know named Abraham. God did not only speak this promise, it was dramatically displayed by a ceremony called “cutting a covenant”. In the style we know was known to Abraham from his culture God took the slaying, dividing and laying out of sacrificial animals on the ground as a setting for His Promise made to Himself and for Abraham that could never be broken. We call this Promise the Abrahamic Covenant.

In Genesis 12:1-3 God declares that His primary focus will be on His promises to Abraham. Genesis is written in the first 11 chapters with all the world in focus, but starting in Genesis 12 God turns His attention toward one small nation, Israel, through whom He promised to progressively accomplish His redemptive plan. God planned for Israel”s mission to be “a light to the Gentiles” (Is. 42:6). In Genesis 12 God promised three elements:

A land, multiplied descendants (seed), and His Special Blessing.
This 3-fold promise became, in turn, the basis of the covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15:1–20). All the rest of Scripture bears out the fulfillment of these promises.

God has planned[1] the centrality of Israel, not only in the ancient past, but in modern history — now. The modern state of Israel did not just happen; it is not an accident of history; it is the result of the creative power of the Almighty. Just as in ancient times, when the Lord used human agencies and nations such as Egypt, Babylonia, Persia, and Rome to accomplish His will concerning Israel, so He has done in our time. During the last couple of lifetimes, He has used Zionism, Britain, the U.S., Europe, and the United Nations to bring about a revived Israel. And just as Satan used Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Titus to attempt to thwart God’s ancient plan for Israel, so he has been occupied in using world leaders to try to disrupt the modern divine plan for Israel.

Israel as the Center of Divine History in the distant and recent past prepares the way for Israel as the Center of Divine Prophecy in the future. We who love Christ the Messiah and believe His Word should be fully aware of the significance of these developments. It should spur us on all the more to proclaim the blessings of His Gospel to a lost world, as the days draw close to His return. Because of their sin and unbelief, God judged and dispersed His people Israel. The Diaspora, however, is coming to a close. In our time, even during the Church Age, the restoration of Israel is beginning to happen before our very eyes. It is something the world never expected or even dreamed would happen. The Church, even though it has possessed the Bible for all these centuries, has done much to suppress the oft-repeated biblical concept that Israel has a future in the plan and purpose of God. It’s almost as though the Church has been jealous of Israel, and afraid that if it re

[ John Barnett ]

TEACHING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2IA44YQohA

“Why Israel Matters for the Promises of God”

In this episode, Darrell Bock and Mitch Glaser discuss the important role that Israel plays in God’s redemptive plan to bless the world.

[ Mitch Glaser ]

PRESENTATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEbSBPr85lc

“Why Is Jerusalem So Important Today?”

Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, which is currently occupied by the Dome of the Rock (golden dome) and the al-Aqsa Mosque (grey dome on the left).
“For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. ‘This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.’” (Psalm 132:13–14)

From ancient times until the present, Jerusalem has been one of the most sought after cities in the world.

It continues to be so. Today, perhaps more than any other time in history, people, groups, and nations dispute whom Jerusalem should belong to. It seems that internationally speaking, all eyes are on Jerusalem.

Why is this city so important? [ more…]

[ The Messianic Jewish Bible Society ]

ARTICLE: https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/why-is-jerusalem-so-important-today/

“Why Israel Matters – ROMANS 9-11”

God devotes three chapters in Romans to describe His special relationship to Israel and the Jewish people. Despite many Jews’ refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Messiah, God is not finished with them and He declares,”All Israel will be saved.” Join Pastor Gary Hamrick today as he teaches from Romans 9-11 about why Israel matters.

[ Gary Hamrick ]

SERMON: https://cornerstonechapel.net/teaching/20090906/

“Creating Peace in the Middle East: Why Israel Matters”

Why Israel Matters, is designed to powerfully demonstrate the crucial importance of this Jewish state to Christians, to America, and to the world.

In this episode of Why Israel Matters, host Mati Shoshani examines the concept of seeking peace in the Middle East with Avi Zimmerman, Executive Director of The Arial Foundation.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPzSlhWljOg

“Why Jerusalem is Important – Faith Foundations”

Hosted by Dr. Todd Baker, Faith Foundations answers questions about Biblical faith and doctrine. #53 of an ongoing series.

“Our Jewish Roots” brings you Bible teaching with an emphasis on Israel, prophecy and the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

[ Dr. Todd Baker ]

TEACHING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJzNDeleJGo

“Why Jerusalem Matters” May 27th, 2018″

Recorded Worship @ The Carpenter’s Christian Church

SERMON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2H9TL2iu00

“Why Jerusalem Matters”

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
The BBC’s Yolande Knell explains why the city is so important.

[ BBC News ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMeyRzKZnO8

“Why Are Israel and Palestine Fighting?”

Hundreds of cables line the ocean floor and carry 99% of international communications. So what would happen if Russia cut these cables?

[ Now This Originals ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7nobq2Nl5k

“Why Israel Matters”

One of the most mysterious and misunderstood subjects for the student of God’s Word has to do with is the significance of Israel. Watch this sermon from Pastor Lee and discover why Israel matters today.

[ Lee Cummings ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-3xXrOz3ZA&t=2s

“Examining the Significance of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital”

My wife and I were graduate students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem when our daughter was born at nearby Hadassah Hospital. We were so proud, and we felt our kinship to the Land of Israel was nearly complete — until we went to the American Consulate in Jerusalem to get our daughter’s first U.S. Passport. The line designated for “country of birth” read “Jerusalem,” not “Israel.” When I inquired of a consulate official, I was told bluntly, “the U.S. does not recognize Jerusalem as part of Israel.”

It has now taken 70 years for the U.S. to officially change that policy and finally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. For many who are not apprised of the facts but have only heard political propaganda through the mainstream media, this act of recognition may seem troublesome. Some media have even explained it as President Trump’s attempt to reward pro-Israel evangelicals whom he credited with his election victory. So, let’s review the facts from historical, religious, and political perspectives.

Historically, Jerusalem became the capital of Israel by decree of King David 3,000 years ago, based on his understanding of God’s own choice. It has remained Israel’s capital ever since, and though other nations conquered and settled in the Land of Israel, none ever declared Jerusalem as their capital. Over the past 2,000 years, even during times of occupation and persecution, a Jewish community resided there and maintained it as their “eternal capital.”

In 1948, when the U.N. voted to partition Israel into Arab and Jewish states, Israel immediately reaffirmed Jerusalem as its capital and enshrined it in its national anthem, “Hatikvah” (“the Hope”): “As long as within our hearts the Jewish soul sings, as long as forward to the east to Zion looks the eye — our hope is not yet lost. It is two thousand years old, to be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.”

However, during the 1948 War of Independence, Jordanian forces conquered and occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem containing the historic Jewish Quarter, the Temple Mount and Western Wall, Hebrew University, and Hadassah Hospital. In 1967, the Six-Day War restored this part of the city to Israel and Jerusalem was reunified. Every Israeli prime minister since has declared the city “the eternal and undivided capital of the Jewish State.” Sir Winston Churchill, recognizing the historical reality that no other people could restore Jerusalem to its former glory, remarked to British diplomat Evelyn Shuckburgh, “You ought to let the Jews have Jerusalem; it was they who made it famous.”

From a religious perspective, the Bible, which mentions Jerusalem more than any other place (about 800 times), states, “the Lord has chosen Jerusalem and will dwell there forever” (Psalm 132:13-14) and expressly calls upon God’s people to never forget Jerusalem and to “exalt it above their chief joy” (Psalm 137:5-6). There, Israel’s kings ruled and the Temples stood. Jerusalem was, and is, at the center of the prophets’ predictions of worldwide peace and blessing at the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 2:2-4). For this reason, it was called “the City of the Great King” (Psalm 48:2), and Israel, uniquely, has guaranteed religious freedom and access to all religions in Jerusalem since it regained sovereignty in 1967.

Politically, the United States has continually acknowledged Jerusalem — despite its international status as a disputed city — as the capital of Israel. In 1992, President Bill Clinton said, “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and must remain an undivided city.” The next year, he said he supported “the principle of moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.” In 1995, the U.S. Congress passed the “Jerusalem Embassy Act,” calling Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel and requiring the embassy to be moved to Jerusalem by 1999. It was for this reason that George W. Bush, while still a candidate, said “as soon as I take office, I will move the U.S. Embassy to the city Israel has chosen as its capital.”

While this did not happen under the Bush administration, in 2008, President Barack Obama declared, “I have said Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and will remain so.” And, just six months ago, the U.S. Senate marked 50 years of Jerusalem’s reunification with a vote of 90-0 that the U.S. Embassy should be moved to Jerusalem and that it should remain the undivided capital of Israel. After all, Jerusalem is where the prime minister of Israel lives, where all of the government agencies are housed, where the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) sits, and where the Supreme Court presides.

Recognition of these facts by President Trump was nothing more than following through on the historical reality of the city, the religious precedent going back to biblical times, and the political intentions of the U.S. government and past presidents.

What will be the outcome? There has been, and will be, political protests by those who have sought to undermine these facts with their own revisionist view based on a religious agenda of supersessionism. There will continue to be condemnation from the politically biased United Nations General Assembly. However, the U.S. act of recognition serves the interest of renewing the peace process in the Middle East.

Israel has always demonstrated its willingness to reconcile political disputes with the Palestinians through direct negotiations. In recent years, the Palestinian Authority abandoned this process and sought to have its demands met through the United Nations. Formerly, the U.S., while promoting direct negotiations, abstained from recognizing Jerusalem — the major issue in this dispute — which emboldened the Palestinians to independent action. The U.S. move of its embassy to Jerusalem now strengthens the call to return to negotiations with Israel and to deal with historical and political facts.

As for my daughter, it now means she will get a new passport with a long-awaited change affirming that being born in Jerusalem means being born in Israel!

Dr. Randall Price teaches courses on biblical and Judaic studies as a distinguished research professor in the Rawlings School of Divinity. He has also had an extensive career as an archaeologist, serving as the director of excavations on the Qumran Plateau in Israel (site of the Dead Sea Scrolls community) since 2002. Price is the author or co-author of 30 books and has produced five films in Israel. He also leads annual tours to the Holy Land and is curator of the Liberty Biblical Museum, which houses many of the biblical artifacts he has collected throughout his career.

Early last year, Dr. Randall Price and Liberty students and faculty helped to uncover evidence in a cave in Qumran, Israel, making Christianity Today’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2017 for Biblical Archaeology. The discovery of broken storage jars, scroll wrappings, string, and a piece of worked leather, as well as pickaxe heads from looters in the 1950s, proves the Dead Sea Scrolls were once stored there. It was the first major discovery related to the Dead Sea Scrolls in 60 years.

SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
On Oct. 18, Liberty honored the culture, heritage, and accomplishments of past and present Jews during a Judeo-focused Convocation. Israeli worship band Miqedem led the crowd in a worship set sung entirely in Hebrew. Wayne Hilsden, founder and president of Fellowship Israel Related Ministries, delivered the message. Hilsden is co-founder of the King of Kings Community in Jerusalem, a Messiah-centered congregation that seeks to unify the faith-based community in Israel.

Liberty has continued to nurture a relationship with Israel. In February 2016, the university hosted Ron Dermer, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States. That spring, Liberty announced a financial investment in leading-edge development projects in the technology, medical, and defense industries in Israel.

[ Dr. Randall Price ]

“What are the blessings God promised Israel for obedience?”

God promised many blessings to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy if they would obey His commands. Many important blessings are listed together in Deuteronomy 28:1–14. They include the following:

Prominence above other nations: “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1).
Successful cities and farming: “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country” (Deuteronomy 28:3).
Blessings of children, food, and livestock: “The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks” (Deuteronomy 28:4).
Protection and power against enemies: “The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven” (Deuteronomy 28:7).
Bountiful harvest of food: “The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you” (Deuteronomy 28:8).
Set apart as God’s holy people: “The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him” (Deuteronomy 28:9).
Feared by other nations: “Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you” (Deuteronomy 28:10).
Prosperity regarding family, food, and farm livestock: “The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you” (Deuteronomy 28:11).
Appropriate rain and favorable blessing upon their work, including freedom from debt: “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none” (Deuteronomy 28:12).
Leadership among other people and nations: “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom” (Deuteronomy 28:13).

In the original Hebrew of this passage, the blessings are arranged in a chiastic pattern with many of the themes repeating. The concepts of prosperity, success, and God’s favor predominate as themes of God’s people living in the Promised Land. These blessings were conditional, as are the curses in the next set of verses.

[ Got Questions ]

“What does it mean that the Jews are God’s chosen people?”

God’s Word affirms that the Jews are God’s chosen people: “You are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6). From eternity past God knew that He would need to be born into the human race in order to save us from the spiritually dead condition that we were in (Ephesians 1—2; Genesis 3). God had planned from the beginning to be born into a very small nation or race of people called the Jews. The Old Testament tells the story of how God set about creating, distinguishing, and preserving that race.

The ultimate goal of God’s choice of the Jews as His chosen people was to produce the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would be the Savior of the world. Jesus had to come from some nation or people, and God chose Israel. God first promised the Savior/Messiah after Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3). Later, God specified that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12). Later still, He narrowed the Messiah’s ancestry to the line of David (2 Samuel 7). Throughout their history, the people of Israel were aware of their “chosen” status before God (see 1 Kings 3:8; 8:53; Psalm 105:43; Isaiah 43:4; 65:9; and Amos 3:2). The fact that God has an eternal future for Israel is evident in that five sixths of the Bible bears directly or indirectly upon them—Jesus being the central figure who brought the Jews and Gentiles together (Ephesians 2:14).

The fact that the Jews are God’s chosen people means that they have been held to a high standard. From those who are given much, much is required (Luke 12:48), or as God said through one prophet, “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins” (Amos 3:2).

Israel’s responsibilities have included keeping and preserving the Law (Joshua 22:5); being “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6); and bringing “renown and praise and honor” to the Lord (Jeremiah 13:11). Their high calling is straight from the God who chose them out of all the nations of the earth.

[ Got Questions ]

“Why did God choose Israel to be His chosen people?”

Speaking of the nation of Israel, Deuteronomy 7:7-9 tells us, “The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.”

God chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Jesus Christ would be born—the Savior from sin and death (John 3:16). God first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Genesis chapter 3). God later confirmed that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason why God chose Israel to be His special people. God did not need to have a chosen people, but He decided to do it that way. Jesus had to come from some nation of people, and God chose Israel.

However, God’s reason for choosing the nation of Israel was not solely for the purpose of producing the Messiah. God’s desire for Israel was that they would go and teach others about Him. Israel was to be a nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world. God’s intent was for Israel to be a distinct people, a nation who pointed others towards God and His promised provision of a Redeemer, Messiah, and Savior. For the most part, Israel failed in this task. However, God’s ultimate purpose for Israel—that of bringing the Messiah into the world—was fulfilled perfectly in the Person of Jesus Christ.

[ Got Quesstions ]

“Ezekiel’s Dry Bone’s Vision- The Restoration Of Israel”

[ Brandon Holthaus ]

SERMON: https://rumble.com/v2ntoqa-sunday-sermon-51423-ezekiels-dry-bones-vision-the-restoration-of-israel.html

“The #1 Individual Sign of the Second Coming”

Overall, the #1 sign of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the convergence of all the signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for. Today, we see many of those signs.

But among them, what is the most important sign? What’s the #1 individual sign of the Second Coming? I believe it’s a 20th Century event that’s arguably the most important event in world history since the early days of the church, and today is a perfect day to talk about it. That’s why today’s video is all about this one particular sign.

[ Answer: The re-establishment of the State of Israel ]

[ Britt Gillette ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcqyIreUYuE

“Israel on Board – Declaration of Independence”

This whiteboard video explores Israel’s Declaration of Independence which was issued by David Ben-Gurion in Tel-Aviv on May 14, 1948. The video highlights the similarities and differences between the Israeli and American declarations of independence and outlines the Israeli Declaration’s contents including the state’s intention towards its citizens.

[ Center For Israel Education ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-kqtEzhLk

“Israel Standing Strong in the Face of Enemies”

The UN hosts an anti-Israel event as the world remembers Israel’s rebirth. Plus, we examine the differences between Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and their ties with Iran. And two men create art to inspire the Iranian people.

[ Jerusalem Dateline ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBU_HF-T1gk

THE MIRACLE NATION: 75 reasons I love Israel as she turns 75″

Come see Israel for yourself this fall with The Joshua Fund and me

Joel C. Rosenberg | May 14, 2023

Joel Rosenberg in Israel (Photo: ALL ISRAEL NEWS)
(Jerusalem, Israel) — Never a dull moment.

That’s what it’s like to live and work in Israel.

Over the past week, terrorists in Gaza have fired more than 1,200 rockets at us. But they didn’t win.

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Sderot, Israel, May 13, 2023 (Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
Last year at this time, terrorists in Gaza fired more than 4,500 rockets at Israel. But they didn’t win.

The month that we moved to Israel – in August 2014 – terrorists in Gaza fired more than 4,000 rockets at the Jewish state. But they didn’t win.

And it’s not just attacks from the outside, and the grave and growing Iran nuclear threat, and Hezbollah’s 150,000 missiles pointed at us that make life challenging here.

It’s the severe and growing internal crisis, the bitter debates over judicial reform and the mass protests that have exposed deep and troubling rifts within Israeli society.

And the fact that so few of our fellow Israelis personally know the Messiah whom God sent to save us, bless us, redeem us, and transform us some 2,000 years ago.

That said, I love living here.

I love being an actual citizen of the State of Israel.

And today, 75 years after our first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, declared our independence, I want to share with you 75 reasons why I love this country.

May you find them interesting and encouraging – please share them with family and friends on social media. [ more…]

[ Joel Rosenberg ]

ARTICLE: https://allisrael.com/the-miracle-nation-75-reasons-i-love-israel-as-she-turns-75

“The Spielberg Jewish Film Archive – Israel Reborn”

Abstract: As soon as the State of Israel is declared, the Arab nations wage war and Israel is forced to fight for its survival.

[ Hebrew University of Jerusalem ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jQcGXYK8Hw

“The Spielberg Jewish Film Archive – Miracle of Survival: Against All Odds”

History of the Jewish People during the twentieth century, including the birth of Zionism, the Holocaust, displaced persons, the establishment of the State of Israel, mass immigration to Israel, Israel’s Wars, ends with the aftermath of the Six Day War.

The 500 films, selected for the virtual cinema, reflect the vast scope of documentary material collected in the Spielberg Archive. The films range from 1911 to the present and include home movies, short films and full length features.

[ Hebrew University of Jerusalem ]

PART 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkhnwNhlnV0

PART 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAfBx0fWhI4

“Israel’s Founding BLASTED as “Catastrophe” at UN Anti-Israel Event”

On today’s Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down the UN’s first-ever Nakba Day event, held today and featuring an anti-Israel tirade by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who suggested that Israel should be expelled from the UN. The event blasted Israel’s founding 75 years ago as a “catastrophe.” Erick is joined by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan for an exclusive interview to discuss how Erdan is fighting back against this anti-Israel hostility every day.

[ Erick Stakelbeck ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFoxubfN1Ns

“7.5 things to know about Israel’s 75th Independence Day”

What is Israel’s Independence Day called?
Israel’s Independence Day is called Yom Ha’atzmaut in Hebrew. It is celebrated annually on the 5th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in April or May in the Gregorian calendar. Yom Ha’atzmaut commemorates the Israeli Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, which established the modern State of Israel.

How old will Israel be in 2023?
Israel was established as an independent state on May 14, 1948. This year, the Jewish Homeland turns 75 years old.

In which year did Israel celebrate its 50th Israel anniversary?
1998 was the year Google was founded, France won the World Cup, and yes, the year Israel celebrated its 50th anniversary. The anniversary was marked on Yom Ha’atzmaut, which, as we know, is Israel’s Independence Day.

Why is Israel called Israel?
The name “Israel” has its roots in the Bible, specifically in the book of Genesis. According to the Bible, the patriarch Jacob was renamed “Israel” by G-d after wrestling with an angel.

The name “Israel” means “one who struggles with G-d.” The renaming of Jacob to Israel symbolized his spiritual transformation and his new identity as the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The name also reflects the deep connection of the Jewish people to their biblical and historical roots and their continuity as a people and a nation.

What is the story of Yom Ha’atzmaut? (Israel Independence Day)?
The story of Yom Ha’atzmaut begins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Jews began to return to their ancient homeland in the region known as Ottoman-controlled Palestine. Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 by Theodor Herzl, and with the coins dropped into Blue Boxes by Jews the world over, land in Israel was repurchased. The movement for Jewish self-determination in Palestine, known as Zionism, grew in strength and intensity as Jews sought a safe haven from persecution and discrimination in Europe.

In 1917, the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, which declared its support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” This was a significant milestone for the Zionist movement and helped pave the way for the establishment of the State of Israel decades later.

After World War II and the Holocaust, the need for a Jewish state became even more urgent. In November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition Mandatory Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Jews accepted the plan, but the Arab countries rejected it and declared war on the newly established state of Israel when it declared its independence on May 14, 1948.

Despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the fledgling Israeli army was able to defeat the Arab armies and establish the State of Israel. This was a remarkable achievement and a moment of great joy and celebration for the Jewish people.

Today, Yom Ha’atzmaut is celebrated throughout Israel and by Jewish communities around the world as a day of pride, joy, and gratitude for the establishment of the State of Israel and the renewal of Jewish sovereignty in their ancestral homeland.

What do Israelis do on Yom Ha’atzmaut?
In one word – barbeque. On Israel’s Independence Day, it’s impossible to escape the enticing aroma of grilled foods as Israelis come together to celebrate the rebirth of their ancestral land. People also hold parties and take part in traditional Israeli folk dancing.

What takes place before Yom Ha’atzmaut?
Israel’s Memorial Day, known as Yom Ha’Zikaron, takes place the day before Yom Ha’atzmaut. This is a day of somber reflection as the names of every Israeli who has perished in war or due to a terrorist attack are shown on Israeli TV. Commemoration ceremonies are held across the country, and in the middle of the day, a siren sounds, and all traffic and people come to a standstill for one minute.

[ Jewish National Fund ]

“Israel celebrates 75 years of independence”

The struggle for unity and social cohesion has been ongoing since its modern founding. But the country remains a light unto all nations.

Israelis are celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary and mourning the loss of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. From grief to joy, the Jewish state uniquely pairs Memorial Day and Independence Day together. Many Israeli customs memorializing fallen heroes and celebrating independence are similar to American traditions on these revered holidays.

Israel celebrates Memorial Day and Independence Day together because the two events are closely linked in the country’s history and national identity. Memorial Day commemorates the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians who died defending Israel, while Independence Day celebrates the establishment of the State of Israel and its sovereignty after 2,000 years of Jewish statelessness.

The decision to hold the holidays back-to-back was made in 1951 to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for independence, as well as to emphasize the connection between their sacrifice and the country’s founding. Israel acknowledges the deep sense of loss and grief that accompanies the celebration of independence.

The joint observance reflects the unity and solidarity of the Israeli people, as they remember the fallen, honor their sacrifices and celebrate the country’s achievements while looking to the future. Celebrating Memorial Day immediately before Independence Day underscores the idea that freedom and national sovereignty come at a price. [ more…]

[ Jewish News Syndicate ]

ARTICLE: https://www.jns.org/wire/israel-celebrates-75-years-of-independence/

“Jerusalem’s D-Day: When Heaven Altered the Course of History”

A short video produced by World Mizrachi especially for Yom Yerushalayim highlighting the totally unexpected political and military twists and turns guiding the epic and historic return to the Holy City for the first time in almost two millennia.

[ World Mizrachi ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wlPw3NUeb0

“50th Jerusalem Day greeted with joyful color and ceremony”

The capital city gets dressed up in festive finery for the jubilee celebration of its reunification in 1967.

Jerusalem Day, celebrated this year on May 24 (corresponding to the 28th day of the Jewish month of Iyar) marks 50 years since the reunification of the capital city.

Dozens of shows, tours, concerts, parades, ceremonies and exhibitions are taking place this week throughout the city.

Jerusalem Celebrates 50, an audiovisual projection on the Old City walls at night, is accompanied by performances by iconic Israeli singers such as David D’Or, Eviatar Banai, Sarit Hadad and Shuli Natan (who recorded “Jerusalem of Gold” in 1967). The 20-projector laser light show, designed by Epson and S.A. Systems, is ongoing through mid-July. [ more…]

[ Abigail Klein Leichman ]

ARTICLE: https://www.israel21c.org/50th-jerusalem-day-greeted-with-joyful-color-and-ceremony/

“Israel celebrates Jerusalem’s 50th anniversary of its reunification”

On the 50th anniversary of its reunification, Jerusalem – a unique combination of secular and holy, Left and Rght, modern and ancient – is a flourishing, thriving city in education, hi-tech, culture, business and all areas of life.
icon_zoom.png
Fireworks display over the Old City of Jerusalem in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the city’s reunification Fireworks display over the Old City of Jerusalem in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the city’s reunification
Copyright: MFA

Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat: “On the 50th anniversary of its reunification, Jerusalem is a flourishing, thriving city – in the fields of education, hi-tech and culture, in business and all areas of life.

On this day, as we celebrate Jerusalem, let us all ‘exalt Jerusalem above our utmost joy,’ and build her for future generations. I wish all of us a successful year in Jerusalem.”

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Israel’s capital city, Jerusalem shows exciting trends in education, hi-tech, housing and construction, tourism, culture, and the arts.

The Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research reports: in the last two years there has been a 28% increase in hi-tech employees in Jerusalem.
78% of the tourists who arrived in Israel in 2016 visited Jerusalem, and 51% of the tourists who arrived in Israel stayed overnight in the city.
In 2016, construction permits were granted for 2534 new housing units in the city, compared to 2262 in 2015.
In the last two years, 140 new playgrounds have been upgraded in the city, and in 2017, 50 additional playgrounds will be upgraded.
In 2016, 3118 new immigrants made aliyah [immigrated] to Jerusalem. Since 2011, 18,577 new immigrants have made aliyah to Jerusalem.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 92% of Jerusalem residents are satisfied with their lives (93% of the Jewish population, and 89% of the Arab population), which is slightly higher than the rate in the general population (88%). [ more…]

[ About Israel ]

ARTICLE: https://embassies.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/Pages/Israel-celebrates-Jerusalem%E2%80%99s-50th-anniversary-24-May-2017.aspx

“Jerusalem”

Jerusalem is a city located in modern-day Israel and is considered by many to be one of the holiest places in the world. Jerusalem is a site of major significance for the three largest monotheistic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and both Israel and Palestine have claimed Jerusalem as a capital city. Because of these strong, age-old associations, bloody conflicts to control the city and sites within it have been waged for thousands of years. [ more…]

[ A&E Televison Networks – History Channel ]

ARTICLE: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/history-of-jerusalem

“Israel”

Israel (/ˈɪzri.əl, -reɪ-/; Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל Yīsrāʾēl [jisʁaˈʔel]; Arabic: إِسْرَائِيل ʾIsrāʾīl), officially the State of Israel (מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl [mediˈnat jisʁaˈʔel]; دَوْلَة إِسْرَائِيل Dawlat Isrāʾīl), is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, by Syria to the northeast, by Jordan to the east, by the Red Sea to the south, by Egypt to the southwest, by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and by the Palestinian territories – the West Bank along the east and the Gaza Strip along the southwest. Tel Aviv is the economic and technological center of the country, while its seat of government is in its proclaimed capital of Jerusalem, although Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem is unrecognized internationally.[18][fn 5]

Israel is located in the Southern Levant, a region known historically as Canaan, the Land of Israel, Palestine and the Holy Land. In the early first millennium BCE, the Israelite kingdoms of Israel and Judah emerged, before falling to the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian empires, respectively.[19][20] During the classical era, the region was ruled by the Achaemenid, Macedonian, Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires. In the 2nd century BCE, an independent Hasmonean kingdom emerged, before Rome conquered the area a century later. In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of the Levant established caliphal rule. The First Crusade of the 11th century brought the founding of Crusader states, the last ending in the 13th century at the hands of the Mamluks, who lost the area to the Ottoman Empire at the onset of the 16th century. In the late 19th century, Jews began immigrating to the area as part of the Zionist movement. After World War I, the allied powers assigned the Mandate for Palestine to Britain, which during the war made a declaration of support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Following World War II and the Holocaust, the newly formed United Nations adopted the Partition Plan for Palestine, recommending the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states, and placing Jerusalem under international control. In the final months of the British Mandate, a civil war broke out between the Palestinian Arabs and the Yishuv, beginning the first stage of the 1948 Palestine war. The British terminated the Mandate on 14 May 1948, and Israel declared independence that day.

Upon its independence, Israel became almost immediately embroiled in conflict with its five neighboring Arab states, whose armies began entering the area of the former Mandatory Palestine on 15 May, starting the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Early the next year, the 1949 Armistice Agreements left Israel in control of over one-third more territory than the partition plan had called for, with no independent Arab state created. During both stages of the 1948 Palestine war, over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs were expelled from or fled Israeli territory to the West Bank, Gaza, and the neighboring Arab countries, with fewer than 150,000 Palestinian Arabs remaining within Israel. During and immediately after the war, around 260,000 Jews emigrated or fled from the Arab world to Israel.[21][fn 6] The 1967 Six-Day War resulted in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, along with the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and the Syrian Golan Heights. Israel has since effectively annexed both East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and has established settlements across the Israeli-occupied territories, actions the international community has rejected as illegal under international law. Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt, returning the Sinai Peninsula, and with Jordan, and more recently normalized relations with several Arab countries, though efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have not succeeded. Israel’s practices in its occupation of the Palestinian territories have drawn international condemnation for violating the human rights of the Palestinians.[22]

The country has a parliamentary system, proportional representation, and universal suffrage. The prime minister serves as head of government, and is elected by the Knesset, Israel’s unicameral legislature.[23] Israel is a developed country and an OECD member,[24] with a population of over 9 million people as of 2021.[25] It has the world’s 28th-largest economy by nominal GDP,[15] and ranks twenty-second in the Human Development Index.[15][26] [ more…]

[ Wikipedia ]

ARTICLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel

“Geography of Israel”

The geography of Israel is very diverse, with desert conditions in the south, and snow-capped mountains in the north. Israel is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in Western Asia.[1] It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, the northeast by Syria, the east by Jordan and the West Bank, and to the southwest by Egypt.[1] To the west of Israel is the Mediterranean Sea, which makes up the majority of Israel’s 273 km (170 mi) coastline,[3] and the Gaza Strip. Israel has a small coastline on the Red Sea in the south.

Israel’s area is approximately 20,770 km2 (8,019 sq mi), which includes 445 km2 (172 sq mi) of inland water.[1][2][3] Israel stretches 424 km (263 mi) from north to south, and its width ranges from 114 km (71 mi) at its widest point to 10 km (6.2 mi) at its narrowest point.[3] It has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 26,352 km2 (10,175 sq mi).

The Israeli-occupied territories include the West Bank, 5,879 km2 (2,270 sq mi), East Jerusalem, 70 km2 (27 sq mi) and the Golan Heights, 1,150 km2 (444 sq mi).[2] Geographical features in these territories will be noted as such. Of these areas, Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, an act not recognized by the international community.

Southern Israel is dominated by the Negev desert, covering some 16,000 square kilometres (6,178 sq mi), more than half of the country’s total land area. The north of the Negev contains the Judean Desert, which, at its border with Jordan, contains the Dead Sea which, at −417 m (−1,368 ft) is the lowest point on Earth. The inland area of central Israel is dominated by the Judean Hills of the West Bank, whilst the central and northern coastline consists of the flat and fertile Israeli coastal plain. Inland, the northern region contains the Mount Carmel mountain range, which is followed inland by the fertile Jezreel Valley, and then the hilly Galilee region. The Sea of Galilee is located beyond this region and is bordered to the east by the Golan Heights, a plateau bordered to the north by the Israeli-occupied part of the Mount Hermon massif, which includes the highest point under Israel’s control, a peak of 2,224 meters (7,297 ft). The highest point in territory internationally recognized as Israeli is Mount Meron at 1,208 meters (3,963 ft).[1] [ more…]

[ Wikipedia ]

ARTICLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Israel

“History of Israel”

The history of Israel covers an area of the Southern Levant also known as Canaan, Palestine or the Holy Land, which is the geographical location of the modern states of Israel and Palestine. From a prehistory as part of the critical Levantine corridor, which witnessed waves of early humans out of Africa, to the emergence of Natufian culture c. 10th millennium BCE, the region entered the Bronze Age c. 2,000 BCE with the development of Canaanite civilization, before being vassalized by Egypt in the Late Bronze Age. In the Iron Age, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were established, entities that were central to the origins of the Jewish and Samaritan peoples as well as the Abrahamic faith tradition.[1][2][3][4][5][6] This has given rise to Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, Druzism, Baha’ism, and a variety of other religious movements. Throughout the course of human history, the Land of Israel has come under the sway or control of various polities, and as a result, it has historically hosted a wide variety of ethnic groups.

In the following centuries, the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian Empires conquered the region. The Ptolemies and the Seleucids vied for control over the region during the Hellenistic period. However, with the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty, the local Jewish population maintained independence for a century before being incorporated into the Roman Republic.[7] As a result of the Jewish-Roman Wars in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, many Jews were killed, displaced or sold into slavery.[8][9][10][11] Following the advent of Christianity, which was adopted by the Greco-Roman world under the influence of the Roman Empire, the region’s demographics shifted towards newfound Christians, who replaced Jews as the majority of the population by the 4th century. However, shortly after Islam was consolidated across the Arabian Peninsula under Muhammad, Byzantine Christian rule over the Land of Israel was superseded by the Arab conquest of the Levant in the 7th century. From the 11th century to the 13th century, the Land of Israel became the centre for intermittent religious wars between Christian and Muslim armies as part of the Crusades. In the 13th century, the Land of Israel became subject to the Mongol invasions and conquests, though these were locally routed by the Mamluk Sultanate, under whose rule it remained until the 16th century. The Mamluks were eventually defeated by the Ottoman Empire, and the region became an Ottoman province until the 20th century.

The late 19th century saw the widespread consolidation of a Jewish nationalist movement known as Zionism, as part of which aliyah (Jewish return to the Land of Israel from the diaspora) increased. During World War I, the Sinai and Palestine campaign of the Allies led to the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. Britain was granted control of the region by League of Nations mandate, in what became known as Mandatory Palestine. The British government publicly committed itself to the creation of a Jewish homeland. Arab nationalism opposed this design, asserting Arab rights over the former Ottoman territories and seeking to prevent Jewish migration. As a result, Arab–Jewish tensions grew in the succeeding decades of British administration.

In 1948, the Israeli Declaration of Independence sparked the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which resulted in the 1948 Palestinian exodus and subsequently led to waves of Jewish emigration from other parts of the Middle East. Today, approximately 43 percent of the global Jewish population resides in Israel. In 1979, the Egypt–Israel peace treaty was signed, based on the Camp David Accords. In 1993, Israel signed the Oslo I Accord with the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was followed by the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority. In 1994, the Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed. Despite efforts to finalize the peace agreement, the conflict continues to play a major role in Israeli and international political, social, and economic life. [ more…]

[ Wikipedia ]

ARTICLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel

“Jewish Land Purchase in Palestine”

Map showing Jewish-owned land as of 31 December 1944, including land owned in full, shared in undivided land and State Lands under concession. This constituted 6% of the total land area, of which more than half was held by the JNF and PICA[1]

Jewish land purchase in Palestine was the acquisition of land in Ottoman and Mandatory Palestine by Jews from the 1880s until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. By far the largest such arrangement was known as the Sursock Purchase. As of April 1st, 1945, Jews had acquired 5.67% of the land in Palestine.[2][3][4]

Background

Palestine agricultural land ownership by sub-district (1945)
Towards the end of the 19th-century, the creation of the Zionist movement resulted in many European Jews immigrating to Palestine. Most land purchases between the late 1880s and the 1930s were located in the coastal plain area, including “Acre to the North and Rehovoth to the South, the Esdraelon (Jezreel) and Jordan Valleys and to the lesser extent in Galilee”.[5] The migration affected Palestine in many ways, including economically, socially, and politically.

The Talmud mentions the religious duty of settling the Land of Israel.[6] It also allows for the lifting of certain religious restrictions of Sabbath observance to further its acquisition and settlement.[7] [ more…]

[ Wikipedia ]

ARTICLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_land_purchase_in_Palestine

“Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)”

The United Monarchy is a political entity described in the deuteronomistic history of the Hebrew Bible as, under the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon, encompassing the territories of both the later Kingdom of Judah and Samarian Kingdom of Israel.[7][8][9] Whether the United Monarchy actually existed is a matter of ongoing academic debate,[10][11][12] and scholars remain divided between those who support the historicity of the biblical narrative, those who doubt or dismiss it, and those who support the kingdom’s theoretical existence while maintaining that the biblical narrative is exaggerated.[13] Proponents of the kingdom’s existence traditionally date it to between c. 1047 BCE and c. 930 BCE.

In the 1990s, Israeli archaeologist Israel Finkelstein contested that existing archaeological evidence for the United Monarchy in the 10th century BCE should actually be dated to the 9th century BCE.[14][15]: 59–61 This model placed the biblical kingdom in Iron Age I, suggesting that it was not functioning as a country under centralized governance but rather as tribal chiefdom over a small polity in Judah, disconnected from the north’s Israelite tribes.[16][6][17][18] The rival chronology of Israeli archaeologist Amihai Mazar places the relevant period beginning in the early 10th century BCE and ending in the mid-9th century BCE, addressing the problems of the traditional chronology while still aligning pertinent findings with the time of Saul, David, and Solomon. Both Mazar’s chronology and the traditional one have received fairly wide acceptance,[19] though there is no current consensus on the topic.[20] Recent archaeological discoveries by Israeli archaeologists Eilat Mazar and Yosef Garfinkel in Jerusalem and Khirbet Qeiyafa, respectively, seem to support the existence of the United Monarchy, but the dating and identifications are not universally accepted.[15][21]

According to the biblical account, on the succession of Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the United Monarchy would have split into two separate kingdoms: the Kingdom of Israel in the north, containing the cities of Shechem and Samaria; and the Kingdom of Judah in the south, containing the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. [ more…]

[ Wikipedia ]

ARTICLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Israel_(united_monarchy)

“People & Stories in United Jerusalem”

“Jerusalem is a combination of secular and holy, left and right, people of every religion and opinion. If you look from far away sometimes it can look very separated, but if you dive in you can see how amazingly everything is actually connected.” Come and join us on the story of united Jerusalem – a meeting place for people of all faiths, backgrounds, and cultures – as seen through the eyes of people who live there. It’s much more than you expect.

[ Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GghsdiwAlFc

“History of Israel-Palestine Conflict”

This video presents the History of Israel-Palestine conflict that rooted a few thousand years ago.

[ History On Maps ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m19F4IHTVGc

“Israel: A Journey Through Time”

Israel: A Journey Through Time is a 6 part documentary series, that looks at the nation of Israel, from the time of Abraham to the prophecies of Armageddon.

[ C4i ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgJkQDcBv-4

“The Root of the Israeli-Arab Conflict”

[ Brandon Holthaus ]

VIDEO: https://rumble.com/v2qoreg-sunday-sermon-52823-the-root-of-the-israeli-arab-conflict.html
[ Note: Start at 34:27 ]

“How Israel Created a Water Surplus that Changed the Nation”

On this episode of Insights Israel & the Middle East, host Mati Shoshani sits down with some of the key people who made Israel’s current water surplus possible. Get an inside look at Jerusalem’s new water system that solved a chronic water shortage nationwide, and how it could be the future catalyst to supply water to neighboring nations as well.

[ TBN Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYhZwcwtN4k

“Israel’s Cyber Security: The Invisible War”

On this episode of Insights Israel & the Middle East, host Mati Shoshani speaks with three key players in Israel’s cyberwar and security. You will hear from:

Dr. David Primor, the former Executive Director of Israel’s National Cyber Security Directorate. Have you ever wondered who holds your digital data and what your information is used for? Listen in as Dr. David Primor explains some of the fundamentals of Cybersecurity and what it means to be a cyber warrior.

Shalev Hulio founder and CEO of NSO Group. Take a look at how they can block unwanted drones using an electronic dome and gain insights on NSO’s flagship product, “Pegasus.” Spyware that can access phone calls, text messages, and other private data on mobile devices. Pegasus is used by law enforcement agencies across the globe to stop terrorist attacks, human trafficking, and to carry out defense and safety procedures.

Roy Eliyahu, CEO of Salt Security and featured in 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30. Listen in to hear how his cybersecurity story began at 9 years old and is now a profitable and impactful business for internet security.

[ TBN Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t-wIXhh72Y&list=PL2gRfOcqelFUvxxgNmCorUHULyNAoFtF_

“Israel’s Negev Desert Technology Will Change Our World”

On this episode of Insights: Israel & the Middle East, host Mati Shoshani discovers the miraculous story of turning Israel’s desert into a world of innovation and technology.

[ TBN Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mka9VzDsNcc

“History of Jerusalem in the Bible”

Jerusalem holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It is mentioned 667 times in the Old Testament and 139 times in the New. Although today the city boasts a population of over 770,000 people, its origins were humble.

In this video from Encountering the Holy Land: A Video Introduction to the History and Geography of the Bible, Carl G. Rasmussen gives a biblical history of the city of Jerusalem.

[ Zondervan ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4pEmQZOy8g

“Jerusalem”

Rebecca Denova

Jerusalem is a major holy city for the three Western traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It sits on spurs of bedrock between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea area. To the north and west, it tapers off to the Jezreel Valley and the hills of the Galilee, while to the south lies the Judean desert. The city is surrounded by three steep ravines (to the east, south, and west). On the other side of the eastern ravine, across the Kidron valley, is the Mount of Olives.

Historically, Jerusalem was an urban center for approximately 5,000 years. Scholars debate the original meaning of the name (Sumerian “foundation” or Semitic “to found” or to “lay a cornerstone”). It could also derive from the name of the Canaanite god of dusk, Shalem, where the main consonants of s-l-m also denote the Hebrew (salam or shalom), which means “peace.” Ironically, the city has known very little peace over the centuries.

Today, Jerusalem consists of the modern, western section, built up after the institution of the state of Israel in 1948 CE, and the medieval section, known as the Old City, which is surrounded by walls and gates built during the reign of Suleiman I (1494-1566 CE) when the province was part of the Ottoman Empire. The Old City is divided into four quarters: the Jewish Quarter; the Christian Quarter; the Muslim Quarter; and the Armenian Quarter. [ more…]

[ World History Encyclopedia ]

ARTICLE: https://www.worldhistory.org/jerusalem/

“A History of Jerusalem from the Ancient World”
By: Matthew A. McIntosh

Introduction
Jerusalem is an ancient Middle Eastern city of key importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Perhaps no city on earth binds the hearts of believers in so complete a way. Today Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and the home of its legislature, the Kenesset, although that designation is disputed in international circles. Jerusalem is a city of diverse neighborhoods, from the ancient walled Old City to the modern districts of West Jerusalem, and from the Arab sections of East Jerusalem to the Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods of Mea She’arim. It is also a stunningly beautiful city, where by law all buildings are faced with white limestone that sets off the golden Dome of the Rock that is thought to stand on the site of the ancient Jerusalem Temple.

From 1948 until the Six-Day War of 1967, Jerusalem was a divided city, with Jordan controlling East Jerusalem and the Old City while Israel governed West Jerusalem. Skirmishes were frequent across the Green Line, and Jews were not permitted access to the Western Wall, their most important holy site. The Six-Day War resulted in a unified city under Israeli rule. The Jerusalem city government has tried to balance the needs of these various constituencies in the unified city, and also maintain each community’s security and access to their respective holy places. Today the future of a unified Jerusalem faces challenges—tensions arising from the wall of separation that now severs some Palestinian neighborhoods from the city, and from the construction of substantial Jewish suburbs such as the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim within the disputed West Bank.

Nevertheless, in the hearts of believers all over the world, Jerusalem remains the city of peace. They regard its holy places as the center of the most far-reaching participation of the divine in human affairs. Poetry abounds for the city, as though for a lover, one poet writes in voice of God:

Only be it known it’s you I have married
Come back to Me, come back to Me
My Bride – Jerusalem!

The history of the city, and the on-going passion of believers, continues to make the city central in human affairs today. [ more…]

ARTICLE: https://brewminate.com/a-history-of-jerusalem-from-the-ancient-world/

“History of Old City Jerusalem: Its Walls, Gates, & Key Sites: Historical Tour of All Periods, Israel”

See the History of Old City Jerusalem and all its gates, walls, and key sites. Take a tour around the Old City and see each gate and key place along the walls.

[Holy Land Site ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxzfFA-DU5g

“How Did Jerusalem Become A Holy City To Three Different Religions?”

On the eve of the millennium, Oscar-winning screenwriter and author of ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ Frederic Raphael embarks on four remarkable pilgrimages, seeking to answer the fundamental questions concerning God, religion, dogma and the modern world. He begins his search in time-honoured detective-show style: by visiting God’s last known address. From Jerusalem he seeks out Buddhism and Islam in Asia, Catholicism in Spain and finally Puritanism and fundamentalist extremes in the USA.

[ Parable ]

DOCUMENTARY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmNGjjnqS5U

“Jewish Virtual Library”

Jerusalem

[ American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise ]

WEBSITE: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jerusalem

“How Jerusalem Became the “City of David”

Jerusalem is an ancient city and has been politically and strategically important for millennia. Even today, Jerusalem is the subject of hot debate. When President Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem it drew hard criticism from not only Arab nations, but other world powers as well. They were afraid it would destabilize the region.

My intention here is to not provide an exhaustive look into the current political and religious debates but it does beg the question. Why does a relatively small city like Jerusalem spur so much consternation? The simple answer? It is considered a holy city to the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. The importance of Jerusalem cannot be divorced from its spiritual significance. And so we begin by looking at how Jerusalem came to fall into the hands of the Israelites, was dubbed “The City of David,” and the ingenious military strategy that made it all possible. [ more…]

[ Biblical Warfare ]

ARTICLE: https://www.biblicalwarfare.com/how-jerusalem-became-the-city-of-david/

“How Jerusalem’s Temple Mount Has Led To Centuries Of Conflict & Controversy”

Discover the history of Jerusalem, and learn how the political and religious status of the Temple Mount has impacted the city for centuries. Plus, learn the backstory behind the United State’s historic decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018.

[ TBN ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siI5jyOgGRs

“Why Jerusalem Matters To Palestine & Israel”

Dating back to 1787, almost all U.S. presidents have been Christian. So could a non-religious president win the race for the White House?

[ Now This Originals ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOfdE7ZfY3c

“Why Jerusalem?”

In this next episode of the Joshua and Caleb Report, you will hear from a man that has lived and breathed Jerusalem for many years. What does Jerusalem mean for the Jewish people? Should our house be built when God’s House lies in ruins? Do the nations have a place to worship in the restored Temple?

These questions and more will be answered by Ari Abramowitz as you walk through the streets of Jerusalem with him, finishing on a rooftop overlooking the Temple Mount as he issues a call for the nations.
[ Ari Abramowitz ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uae0sXIjsvw

“Jerusalem before King David – Jebus”

What’s the story of this ancient hill fortress?
What did ancient Jerusalem look like? Picture an outcrop of rock dropping away steeply on three sides. Sitting on top is a citadel, perched like a hawk above a walled keep and a lookout tower.

This was ancient Jerusalem, or as it was called then, ‘Jebus’. The picture at right is not, of course, a photograph of Jebus or the ridge that was attacked by David. But it shows the sort of rock formation on which the fortress of Jebus stood – a small spur of land jutting out from a flat rock plateau to its north, seemingly inaccessible.

There had been people living there for many centuries – perhaps as early as 3,500 BC. These ancient men and women used

– the fortress for protection
– the surrounding land for growing crops
– and the great rock slab for threshing.

Massive gates on its northern side blocked the path of an enemy.With its fortified position and a permanent water supply, it was virtually impregnable.

To its north was a great flat slab of rock. This was the threshing floor where people from surrounding villages brought their grain at harvest time.

Jerusalem before David: An ancient threshing floor in the Middle East
An ancient threshing floor

See an example of a threshing floor at right, with the solid rock base on which grain was processed. Farmers beat the grain and thumped it until each grain was separated from the husk.

When the threshing was finished, the people held a riotous harvest festival to give thanks to Nature. Jebus/Jerusalem was a place of hard work – peasants mostly, living their lives as best they could. [ more…]

[ Elizabeth Fletcher ]

ARTICLE: https://womeninthebible.net/bible-archaeology/jebus-jerusalem/

“Holy Land Site”

Bringing the Bible to Life by Seeing Where It Took Place

Jerusalem ~ God’s Chosen City

[ Holy Land Site Ministries ]

WEBSITE: https://www.holylandsite.com/jerusalem-overview

“Carlson Report: Is Jerusalem the Center of the World?”

In the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, the city of Jerusalem is central to what God is doing. Today Jerusalem is holy to three faiths, Jews, Christians and Muslims, and even today, Jerusalem remains central to what God is doing.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrDvJmgmVhM

“Jerusalem – Eye of the Universe”

A passionate music video takes you on tour of the most stunning views of the most beautiful city. Breathtaking videography brings out the power of the lyrics and music of singer/songwriter, David Green’s, unexplainable feelings for Jerusalem. The song is from Dovid’s album, “Journey to the Real You” available on CD and MP3 from http://www.dovidmusic.com, iTunes, amazon and many other online stores. The music features many of Israel’s most talented musicians as they perform a refreshing new sound in spiritual music. Scenes include the old city, Mahane Yehuda, Mamila, Jafa gate, Jewish quarter, motel (western wall) mount of olives, Mir Yeshiva, Aish Hatorah, musicians performing, Har Menuchos, city of David, aerial views and more.

[ David Green ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJbW1aV6vKU

“Jerusalem – The Center of the World”

Tour Guide Shalom Pollack talks about Jerusalem, its history and its importance. From his latest DVD available at http://www.shalompollacktours.co.il

[ Shalom Pollack Tours ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0IfdGLLvH4

“Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D”

After a year of research and preparation, the giant screen film JERUSALEM advanced into production with an unprecedented aerial shoot throughout Israel and the West Bank. Scheduled for worldwide release in 2013, the film will take audiences on a spectacular tour of the Holy Land and the city once believed to lie at the centre of the world.

[ Jerusalem, The Movie ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkKytHCHCYI

“Jerusalem | National Geographic”

Jerusalem takes audiences on an inspiring and breathtaking tour of one of the world’s oldest and most enigmatic cities. Destroyed and rebuilt countless times over 5,000 years, Jerusalem’s enduring appeal remains a mystery. What made it so important to so many different cultures? How did it become the center of the world for three major religions? Why does it still matter to us?

[ National Geographic ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYa9VPVAJI8

“Jerusalem | TBN Israel (Special)”

Jerusalem, the timeless city, is changing and developing in new and innovative ways, and this short documentary shares the story of the ever-evolving character of the holy city.

[ TBN Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNzeZsEAjhI

“Against All Odds – Israel Survives”

How does Israel survive against all odds? Modern-day Israel is truly a divine wonder of the current age. How has it triumphed through four major wars and survived relentless terrorist attacks? Meet the actual people who lived through what can only be described as miracles of Biblical proportions, and share their remarkable stories.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsN5bqVzX34

“Israel’s History”

On this episode of Insights: Israel & the Middle East, host Mati Shoshani speaks with Jonathan Spyer, Analyst, Writer, and Journalist of Middle Eastern affairs. Listen in as they discuss the social and political climate of Israel’s future in light of its past. Is change in the air?

Join us, as we journey through Israel unpacking the oldest questions with modern insights, and the stories of the people behind it all.

[ TBN ]

SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzJaHmzzxsM&list=PL2gRfOcqelFUv5tVFYholgP5jR1l-18sx

“The Land”

On this episode of Insights Israel, host Mati Shoshani gets an inside look at Jerusalem’s new water system that solved a chronic water shortage nationwide, and how it could be the future catalyst to supply water to neighboring nations as well.

Join us, as we journey through Israel unpacking the oldest questions with modern insights, and the stories of the people behind it all.

[ TBN ]

SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P42h_9T4LI&list=PL2gRfOcqelFWjMdGIxeEb13VFDAxxoLCp

“Rick Steves’ The Holy Land: Israelis and Palestinians Today”

This hour-long special weaves together both the Israeli and the Palestinian narratives. In Israel, we go from the venerable ramparts of Jerusalem to the vibrant modern skyline of Tel Aviv. In Palestine, we harvest olives near Hebron, visit a home in Bethlehem, and pop into a university in Ramallah. We also learn about security walls, disputed settlements, and the persistent challenges facing the region.

[ Rick Steves ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg1unr6eNpQ

“The Jewish People | TBN Israel”

On this episode of Insights: Israel & the Middle East, host Mati Shoshani speaks with multiple experts on antisemitism in Israel. Hear from Dr. Robert Rozett, Senior Historian in the International Institute for Holocaust Research, and Sara Granitza, Deputy Director International Relations Division. You’ll also hear in-depth stories from Yigal Palmor, Head of International Relations, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman at The Jewish Agency for Israel.

Join us, as we journey through Israel unpacking the oldest questions with modern insights, and the stories of the people behind it all.

[ TBN ]

SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o87fd5DfKSo&list=PL2gRfOcqelFWbI2t0nDbvt6IP7AkcozB1

“Keren Hayesod – For the People of Israel”

It began with a dream…

[ Keren Hayesod ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NWsS4DDNns

“Keren Hayesod Friends of Israel – What We Do?”

Keren Hayesod-UIA’s Friends of Israel Division is a network of Christians around the world who believes in the strategic importance of the State of Israel as the beginning of the fulfillment of the Divine prophecies.
Based on our common Biblical heritage, we work hand-in-hand with our Jewish brothers and sisters, along with friends of Israel throughout the world, to support the efforts of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal to help bring the Chosen People back to the Promised Land, and ensure its safety and security.

[ Keren Hayesod ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xcNfdSA954

“Happy 75th Birthday to Israel”

Joel is a Research Fellow in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for economic policy studies at The Heritage Foundation.

Thousands of Israelis stand on the street holding the Israeli flag during Israel’s independence day on April 25, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Amir Levy / Getty Images
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Israel celebrates 75 years of independence this week.

Inseparable from the Zionist idea is the geographic location of the land of Israel.

This eternal inheritance nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River cannot be exchanged for an ephemeral peace.

Israel celebrates 75 years of independence this week.

The reemergence of an independent Jewish state came nearly 1,900 years after the Romans’ obliteration of the political autonomy of the Jewish nation.

Following the Romans’ destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., Jews ultimately scattered across the globe—forced to disperse not only by the Romans, but also by other hostile powers, such as the Spanish Inquisition 1,400 years later.

Even where permitted to live, restrictions on economic opportunities and religious practice were commonplace. Then, the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s attempted to annihilate not only the Jewish identity, but also the very physical presence of the Jewish people from the face of the earth through the genocide of the Holocaust.

Yet, throughout those calamities, the Jewish people continued to hold legitimate title to Eretz (the land) Israel—and to cling to the hope embodied in Israel’s national anthem:

As long as within our hearts the Jewish soul sings, as long as forward to the East to Zion looks the eye, our hope is not yet lost. It is 2,000 years old, to be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.
Inseparable from the Zionist idea is the geographic location of the land of Israel. The land that Abraham’s cattle grazed upon 4,000 years ago after he forged a new life separated from his family in Ur is the same land that his descendants cultivated following their escape from slavery in Egypt.

In fact, the very plot of land in Hebron purchased by Abraham to bury the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Jewish people is visited by his descendants each and every day. More than 3,400 years since the Exodus, and more than 3,000 years after the reign of King David, modern Zionism remains inseparable from Eretz Israel. Zion specifically referred to a particular mountain just outside Jerusalem conquered by King David.

The evils of the past two millennia failed to extinguish this Jewish spirit. When Theodore Hetzl, the father of modern political Zionism, began his life’s work in the 1800s of securing a homeland for the Jewish people, he soon discovered that only the promise of reestablishing a nation in the “Promised Land” itself—the Land of Israel—could fully ignite this aspiration in the hearts of Jews dispersed across the globe to once again have an independent nation of their own.

In 1948, the state of Israel emerged more than 2,000 years after its people were banished from their homeland. This eternal inheritance nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River cannot be exchanged for an ephemeral peace. To that end, the eternal capital of Jerusalem must always remain undivided, the communities in Judea and Samaria must be enabled to thrive, and strong defense capabilities maintained.

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eloquently expressed it:

The days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies, those days are over. We are no longer scattered among the nations, powerless to defend ourselves. We restored our sovereignty in our ancient home … . For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish people, can defend ourselves.
The history of Israel is a living history. One of the most poignant memories of my first visit is of Masada—an ancient Roman fortress situated above the desert plain overlooking the Dead Sea. My brother and I paused on our tour of the ruins to hear the story of the Jewish patriots who chose to forfeit their lives at the top of that rock rather than surrender their heritage and freedom to the advancing Roman army.

A young Israel Defense Forces soldier, rifle by his side and reading a prayer book after applying the tefillin used in prayer, bore homage to this storied past and to the promise of God to Abraham (recorded in Genesis 12):

Now God said to Avram, ‘Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’

[ Joel Griffith ]

“CAN A NATION BE BORN IN A DAY? CELEBRATING ISRAEL’S INDEPENDENCE DAY”

There are two very significant days for Israel that come right after each other – a day of mourning followed by a day of rejoicing. First there is the annual Memorial Day for all those who have died in Israel’s struggle to exist, either in the armed forces or as a result of terrorism. It is a day of solemn recognition that there have been many casualties in the birth and continued existence of the State of Israel. As it often seems to be in the Jewish way of life, the bitter and the sweet are juxtaposed – almost without time to catch a breath. The following day is Israel’s Independence Day, when the nation breaks out into a huge party to celebrate its reestablishment after a 2000 year exile.

THE SOUND OF SIRENS
The Jewish day starts the evening of the day before… so Memorial Day officially begins in the evening at 20:00, with a siren that lasts for one minute, and a ceremony at the Western Wall. The next morning at 11:00, a siren will wail throughout the land for two minutes, and everybody will stop what they are doing and stand in silence. Even people driving on highways will get pull over and get out of their car in memory of all those who have perished. 24,068 have been killed in the line of duty1 leaving many thousands of families bereaved, and 4,216 civilians have died as a result of terror attacks since 1948. There are services to commemorate those who have fallen and to honour their memory. Then later that very evening, the mood shifts 180 degrees, and celebration erupts on the streets for Independence day.

MIRACLE BIRTH
The British began to remove their troops towards the end of April 1948. On May 14 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, announced the formation of the new state of Israel. He said,

“The Nazi Holocaust, which engulfed millions of Jews in Europe, proved anew the urgency of the reestablishment of the Jewish State, which would solve the problem of Jewish homelessness by opening the gates to all Jews and lifting the Jewish people to equality in the family of nations.”2

Ben Gurion saw the horrors of the Holocaust as paving the way to the birth of a Jewish State, and he was not alone in making such a suggestion. Would the miracle of the recreation of Israel ever have happened without such an atrocity on a scale that we can still barely comprehend? These questions are impossible for earth-bound humanity to answer, but again, we see the closely bound bitter and sweet, almost too close for comfort.

And what was a day of astonishing joy for the Jewish people was also a day of sorrow and anguish for the Arabs who suddenly no longer owned the land they had been living in for generations. Again, joy and pain uncomfortably closely together. While we can rejoice in God’s fulfilled promises and a new start for Israel, we also know that this day is not an easy one for all of her inhabitants. God still cares deeply for all the peoples of this area and seeks to give them their blessing, hope and salvation. Many Arab Christians will struggle with celebrating this day, but there are numbers of Arab believers who truly rejoice in God’s physical restoration of Israel, and seek her spiritual restoration promised in the scripture. This too, is a miracle, and the handiwork of an awesome God.
For God had determined that he would regather his people and plant them back in the land he had chosen for them. And he promised that it would happen in one day flat:

“Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day, or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God. “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.” (Isaiah 66:8-10)

The Amplified Bible notes about this verse give this comment:

“Never in the history of the world had such a thing happened before–but God keeps His word. As definitely foretold here and in Ezekiel 37:21, 22, Israel became a recognized nation, actually “born in one day.”

After being away from their homeland for almost 2,000 years, the Jews were given a national homeland in Palestine by the Balfour Declaration in November, 1917. In 1922, the League of Nations gave Great Britain the mandate over Palestine. On May 14, 1948, Great Britain withdrew her mandate, and immediately Israel was declared a sovereign state, and her growth and importance among nations became astonishing.”

WORTH THE WAIT
“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3

The church fathers struggled to know how to interpret the numerous references to Israel after hundreds of years had gone by, and the nation of Israel was apparently no more. After the destruction of the temple, the Jewish people were scattered far and wide, and with every passing century it seemed less and less likely that the situation would, or could, ever change. How to make sense of those promises for this nation that seemed to have disappeared for good? The solution they landed upon was to claim all the references and promises should be transferred to the church. Israel had rejected the Messiah, so God had rejected them, and now the church must surely be the true Israel.

“I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!”

Paul strongly rejects this way of thinking in Romans 11, but it’s easy to see why it did look like a forlorn situation. You and I have the privilege denied to millions of believers who have lived and died before us – we know that this prophecy has indeed finally come to pass. We can know that God’s promises to Israel still stand.
God promised to regather the exiles from the four corners of the earth and he promised to reestablish Israel. It just took an awfully long time. People gave up and got confused during the wait. What a great reminder this is for us to hold on to God’s promises and not give up! Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come.

[1] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[2] The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

[ One For Israel ]

“Is Israel important to Christians? Take part in one of the most exciting revivals in history!”

What difference does Israel make to you? Why should we care about this tiny state?

This state was the Birthplace of our faith, the place where the holy scriptures were written, preserved, and from here spread to the ends of the earth.

Our faith today is tied with this people and this tiny nation, God’s promises made through the generations and those yet to be fulfilled.
God is doing amazing things in Israel today and you have a part to play!

If you love this country, like and share this film with your friends and join us and become One for Israel!

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-B3j8Oocsg

“Mount Moriah Jerusalem Watch Video JerusalemPedia”

Visit Travel Mount Moriah Jerusalem – Moriah (Hebrew: מוֹרִיָּה‎, Modern Moriyya, Tiberian Môriyyā; “ordained/considered by the LORD”, Arabic: ﻣﺮﻭﻩ‎, translit. Marwah) is the name given to a mountainous region by the Book of Genesis, in which context it is the location of the sacrifice of Isaac. The Vulgate renders the location specified by God for the sacrifice as terram Visionis, traditionally rendered “land of Vision” in Catholic translations. Through association with the biblical Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount), Mount Moriah has traditionally been interpreted as the name of the specific mountain at which this occurred, although this identification is typically rejected by scholarship.

Muslims believe the historical mount is Marwah in Arabic, as mentioned in the Qur’an, located close to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. There has been an historical account of rams’ horns preserved in the Kaaba until the year 683, which are believed to be the remains of the sacrifice of Ishmael.

[ Franka Group ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eTnpxu0qiE

“What is the significance of Mount Moriah in the Bible?”

Mount Moriah in Old City Jerusalem is the site of numerous biblical acts of faith. It is also one of the most valuable pieces of real estate and one of the most hotly contested pieces of real estate on earth. This is a profoundly sacred area to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Sitting atop Mount Moriah today is the Temple Mount, a 37-acre tract of land where the Jewish temple once stood. Several important Islamic holy sites are there now, including the Dome of the Rock – a Muslim shrine built thirteen hundred years ago – and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Mount Moriah’s history begins in Genesis. In the twenty-second chapter, God commands Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you” (Genesis 22:2). The place God led Abraham was Mount Moriah. Abraham didn’t fully understand what God was asking him to do in light of God’s previous promise to establish an everlasting covenant with Isaac (Genesis 17:19); nonetheless, he trusted God and by faith offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Of course, God intervened and spared Isaac’s life by providing a ram instead. Abraham thereafter called this place “The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided’” (Genesis 22:14). Because of Abraham’s obedience on Mount Moriah, God told Abraham that his “descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me” (vv. 17, 18).

About a thousand years later at this very location, King David bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and built an altar to the Lord so that a “plague may be held back from the people” (2 Samuel 24:18, 21). After David’s death, his son King Solomon built a glorious temple on the same site. Solomon’s temple lasted for over four hundred years until it was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar’s armies in 587/586 B.C.

Seventy years later the temple was rebuilt on the same site by the Jews who returned to Jerusalem following their Babylon captivity. Around the first century, King Herod made a significant addition to this structure, which then became known as Herod’s Temple. It was this temple that Jesus cleansed (John 2:15).

However, in A.D. 70, the Roman armies led by Titus, son of the Emperor Vespasian, once again destroyed the temple. All that remains of the Temple Mount of that era is a portion of a retaining wall known as the “Western Wall” or the “Wailing Wall.” It has been a destination for pilgrims and a site of prayer for Jews for many centuries.

The God who first called Abraham to Mount Moriah still has plans for that place. The Bible indicates that a third temple will be built on or near the site of Solomon’s temple (Daniel 9:27). This would seem to present a problem given the political obstacles that stand in the way: the religious activities on the Temple Mount are currently controlled by the Supreme Muslim Council (the Waqf). Yet nothing can put a wrinkle in God’s sovereign plans. Thus, Muslim control of this area simply fulfills the prophecy of Luke 21:24 that “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

[ Got Questions ]

“10. Abraham Offers Isaac on Mt. Moriah (Genesis 22:1-19)”

The more I meditate on Abraham offering his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah, the more amazing it seems. Abraham has come to the point in his spiritual journey of radical and immediate obedience to the word of God. He is an exemplar and inspiration to disciples of all ages.

God Requires Abraham’s Only and Beloved Son (22:1-2)
Abraham is living near a well at Beer-sheba on the edge of the Negev desert at the southern extremity of Canaan (20:33-34; 22:19). Here in Beer-sheba he had “called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God” (21:33) and here in Beer-sheba God speaks to him a fearful word. [ more…]

[ Dr. Ralph F. Wilson ]

ARTICLE: https://www.jesuswalk.com/abraham/10_sacrifice.htm

“The Holy City: Temple Mount & Jerusalem’s Political History | Insights: Israel & the Middle East”

On this episode of Insights: Israel & the Middle East, host Mati Shoshani speaks with Dr. Shmuel Berkovits, an expert on Jerusalem, and Dr. Jurgen Buhler, President of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. They discuss why Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount) is surrounded by conflict, and what Israel’s history can tell us about the current social climate in the Holy City.

[ TBN Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_m-gnvrNIk

“Fight over Jerusalem’s Temple Mount holy site: Why is it so important to Jews, Muslims and Christians?”

The United Nations Security Council is expected to meet over the visit later this week

By Benjamin Weinthal | Fox News

JERUSALEM – Israel’s new right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir managed to upset the U.S., France, the Palestinians and Sunni Arab countries on Tuesday due to his 15-minute visit to the holiest site for Jews, called the Temple Mount. It is now reported that the U.N. Security Council will meet later this week in New York to discuss the visit.

The area is also the third most important site in Islam, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is also located on the Temple Mount—the Jewish name for the compound—in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Temple Mount is where both temples stood in Jerusalem before they were destroyed by invading armies.

Israel’s new right-of-center coalition government entered office last week. Since Israel captured the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israeli governments have permitted the Jordanian religious institution, the Waqf, to manage the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jews and Christians are largely not permitted to pray on the Temple Mount, and there are severe restrictions for non-Muslim visitors to enter the compound. [ more…]

ARTICLE: https://www.foxnews.com/world/fight-over-jerusalems-temple-mount-holy-site-why-is-it-important-jews-muslims-and-christians

“Behind the Headlines: Jerusalem’s Temple Mount”

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where the two Jewish Temples were located, is the holiest site in Judaism. Called Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) by Muslims, the site contains the al-Aqsa Mosque, which is considered to be the third holiest site in Islam, the iconic Dome of the Rock (which is not a mosque) and many other small structures. The al-Aqsa Mosque is situated at the southern edge of the Temple Mount and covers a relatively small part of its surface. Most evidence places the historical Jewish Temples on a different part of the Temple Mount than that now occupied by the mosque.

Freedom of worship and the status quo:
Israel’s official policy, first laid down in its Declaration of Independence, protects freedom of religion and worship for all faiths. Israel places the utmost importance on facilitating worship by Muslims and Christians in their respective holy sites, including in Jerusalem. Moreover, Jewish holy sites (among them the Western Wall), are open to visitors of all faiths, as are the Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Freedom to worship has not always been respected throughout Jerusalem’s history. For example, in the modern era, Jews were denied the right to worship in their holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem between 1948 and1967.

After Jerusalem’s reunification in 1967, Israel’s leadership chose to uphold the existing status quo on the Temple Mount. Out of respect for Muslim sensibilities, it allowed the Islamic Waqf to continue to administer the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.

Non-Muslims (Israelis and tourists) are allowed to visit the Temple Mount at fixed times, but do not enter the al-Aqsa Mosque itself: they visit other parts of the site and usually walk around the large open spaces. In addition, Jews and other non-Muslims are not permitted to pray on the Temple Mount.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly declared that the Government of Israel is committed to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount and will oppose any proposal to change it. The PM has instructed all government ministers to act responsibly with regards to this issue.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed, in his talks with King Abdullah as well as in his public statements, Israel’s commitment to preserving the status quo on the Temple Mount and Jordan’s special role regarding the holy sites of Islam in Jerusalem, as written in the Israel-Jordan peace treaty, article 9. [ more…]

[ Consulate General of Israel in Houston ]

ARTICLE: https://embassies.gov.il/MFA/Hasbara/Pages/Behind-the-Headlines-Jerusalem-Temple-Mount.aspx

“Israel’s Religiously Divided Society”

Deep gulfs among Jews, as well as between Jews and Arabs, over political values and religion’s role in public life

Nearly 70 years after the establishment of the modern State of Israel, its Jewish population remains united behind the idea that Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people and a necessary refuge from rising anti-Semitism around the globe. But alongside these sources of unity, a major new survey by Pew Research Center also finds deep divisions in Israeli society – not only between Israeli Jews and the country’s Arab minority, but also among the religious subgroups that make up Israeli Jewry.

Nearly all Israeli Jews identify with one of four categories: Haredi (commonly translated as “ultra-Orthodox”), Dati (“religious”), Masorti (“traditional”) or Hiloni (“secular”).

Although they live in the same small country and share many traditions, highly religious and secular Jews inhabit largely separate social worlds, with relatively few close friends and little intermarriage outside their own groups. In fact, the survey finds that secular Jews in Israel are more uncomfortable with the notion that a child of theirs might someday marry an ultra-Orthodox Jew than they are with the prospect of their child marrying a Christian. (See Chapter 11 for more information.)

Moreover, these divisions are reflected in starkly contrasting positions on many public policy questions, including marriage, divorce, religious conversion, military conscription, gender segregation and public transportation. Overwhelmingly, Haredi and Dati Jews (both generally considered Orthodox) express the view that Israel’s government should promote religious beliefs and values, while secular Jews strongly favor separation of religion from government policy. [ more…]

[ Pew Research ]

ARTICLE: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/03/08/israels-religiously-divided-society/

“A Pictorial History of Jerusalem”
A city called Rušalim in the Execration texts of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (19th century BCE) is identified as Jerusalem. Jerusalem was then called Urušalim in the Amarna letters of Abdi-Heba (1330s BCE). The name “Jerusalem” is variously etymologized to mean “foundation of the god Shalem“, the original tutelary deity of the city. [ more…]

[ Zaidan Gallery ]

ARTICLE: https://zaidanca.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/a-pictorial-history-of-jerusalem/

“INSIGHTS”

Host: Mati Shoshan

Join us, as we journey through Israel unpacking the oldest questions with modern insights, and the stories of the people behind it all.

[ TBN Israel ]

SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t-wIXhh72Y&list=PL2gRfOcqelFUvxxgNmCorUHULyNAoFtF_&index=1

“Israel’s Ancient Archaeological Discoveries”:
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHGgiHak9tw

“Peace Matters: Ep. 3 – Jerusalem Eye of the Coming Storm? – Daniel Seidemann”

Webinar Series by Canadian Friends of Peace Now

[ Canadian Friends of Peace Now ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40EWku-T1x0

“The Battle for Jerusalem”

Israel’s 1967 battles to rescue Jerusalem from Jordanian assault, and the ensuing reunification of Jerusalem.

[ Jewish Learning Institute ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qunVQoSNMsY

“Why Is Jerusalem Important To Christians?”

The ancient city of Jerusalem holds huge historic and religious significance for Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The religious stories that bind these 3 religions to this sacred place are thousands of years old. This documentary explains why Jerusalem is so important to followers of Christianity.

[ Parable ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5wR8enWEcw

“Israel’s Geographic Challenge”

RANE explains Israel’s primary geographic challenge rooted in its dearth of natural resources and lack of strategic depth.

[ RANE ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93onRmj9guc

“City of David – Jerusalem”

The original inhabitants of Jerusalem lived not on the site of today’s Old City, but on a narrow ridge descending south from the present Temple Mount.

City of David
City of David in Model of Ancient Jerusalem at Israel Museum, with Pool of Siloam at left (Seetheholyland.net)

This is where King David captured the fortress of a Canaanite tribe, the Jebusites, 1000 years before Christ. On this slender spur — about 5 hectares (12 acres) in area — David established his capital and pitched a tent to house the Ark of the Covenant. [ more…]

[ See The Holy Land ]

ARTICLE: https://www.seetheholyland.net/city-of-david/

“JERUSALEM: CENTER OF THE WORLD”

Full 1hr documentary

[ PBS ]

DOCUMENTARY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO2ZCTHcg3k

“WHY IS JERUSALEM THE NERVE CENTER OF THE WORLD TO GOD?”

JERUSALEM: A LESSON IN GOD’S KINGSHIP: When you are chosen by God there is no limit to what all He can do with you! When God picked Jerusalem it was unknown and would have ended up like any other of the vanished cities whose ruins dot the globe. But no, He said I put My name there forever! And what has happened? JERUSALEM has become:

– The NERVE center of the world GEOGRAPHICALLY Ezekiel 5:5
– The SALVATION center of the world SPIRITUALLY John 4:22
– The STORM center of the world PROPHETICALLY Zechariah 14:1-8
– The GLORY center of the world ULTIMATELY ISAIAH 2:1-5

[ John Barnett ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2wJtuscyKQ

“Jerusalem

[ Voice of America ]

Part 1: Why It Matters to Jews:
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPRuY2xPnPQ

Part 2, Why Jerusalem Matters to Muslims:
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm4iGx9nY2Q

Part 3, Why It Matters to Christians:
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huZ1dWUI1M8

“JERUSALEM THE THEOLOGICAL CENTER OF THE WORLD!”

I invite you to the series of episodes on the history of Jerusalem. This is an introduction to this project.

[ Israel My channel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sAtSFqxZzU

“Jerusalem in History and Prophecy”

A Background Study

Jerusalem

On September 25th of 1995, a very special Jewish new year began. It was the year designated by the government of Israel as the 3,000th anniversary of the conquest of the city of Jerusalem by King David.

The City’s Significance
There is no other city on the face of the earth as important as the city of Jerusalem. All the other great cities of the earth — New York, London, Moscow, Paris, and even Rome — pale by comparison. What other city can claim to be “the city of God” or “the city of the Great King”? (Psalm 48).

God loves Jerusalem, and He intends to dwell in it eternally. Psalm 68:16 says that God has desired the mountain of Zion “for His abode” and that He intends to “dwell there forever.” Psalm 132:13-14 contains a similar promise: “The Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. ‘This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.’”

When you read these kinds of statements, you can understand why Jerusalem is identified in Ezekiel 5:5 as “the center of the nations” and in Ezekiel 38:12 as “the center of the world.”

Jerusalem is where the Son of God shed His precious blood. It is where Jesus ascended into Heaven. It is where Jesus will return to be crowned King of Kings. It is the city from which Jesus will reign over all the nations of the world.

And Jerusalem will be the scene of history’s last battle when Satan rallies the nations at the end of the Millennium and leads them in revolt against the Lord. Finally, Jerusalem is where God Himself will come to reside eternally with the Redeemed.

It is no wonder that Jerusalem has always been an important topic of Bible prophecy.

Aerial view of the Temple Mount
Aerial view of the Temple Mount within the Old City of Jerusalem.
(https://www.bibleplaces.com) [ more…]

[ Lamb and Lion Ministries ]

ARTICLE: https://christinprophecy.org/articles/jerusalem-3000/

“Jerusalem Explained”

Archaeology grad student Nir Ortal explains the brief 3000 year old history of The Temple Mount, one of the most important religious sites in the world.

[ Piled Highed and Deeper ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lTT908uY0

“Jerusalem Explained: The roots of Judaism, Christianity and Islam”

Join Eli Ilan, one of the Tower of David Museum’s favorite guides, as he guides the spectacular views for the Old City of Jerusalem the top of one of the Tower of David Museum’s towers. The roots of the three largest monotheistic religions are found in this one-square kilometer of real estate. Join Eli on the top of a tower that was built by King Herod 2000 years ago during the 2nd Temple time period as he takes us on a journey of thousands of years explaining Jerusalem’s relevance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

[ Tower of David Museum ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgzx-gwcy4

 ”Jerusalem: 4000 Years in 5 Minutes”

Jerusalem, a mosaic of different peoples, faiths, and nationalities. Nevertheless, despite this diversity, under the sovereignty of Israel, Jerusalem is a city that works. But has it always been this way?

[ The Jerusalem Center ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mR2W43t6tI

“Jerusalem: A City Chosen By God | Biblical Context Explained”

Special feature from “The Holy Land: Connecting The Land With Its Stories”, hosted by Dr. Jack Beck.

Watch Episode One – “King David’s Jerusalem” – for more adventures : http://bit.ly/theholyland_episode1

The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories is a eight-episode series hosted by Dr. John (Jack) Beck that takes you to regions throughout Israel to experience the land, the culture, and the customs that surround the sacred stories of the Bible.

[Our Daily Bread ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boMYn54eXQA

“Jerusalem Travel Documentary – Ten Beautiful Places to Visit”

Jerusalem is one of the world’s oldest cities and a fascinating travel destination. It’s holy to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, and has been at the crossroads of cultures and religions for millennia. While it continues as a spiritual and historic center, it is also a dynamic city, where traditional lifestyles blend with cosmopolitan ideas.

In this video, I will show you 10 beautiful places in Jerusalem that I visited, as part of a longer journey through the Holy Land, an area that is known today as Israel and Palestine.

From the historic center of Jerusalem with its narrow alleyways and religious landmarks, to the bustling modern city around Jaffa street. From intriguing neighborhoods like Nahlaot and Mea Shearim, to the mountain village of Ein Karem. And from the moving Yad Vashem memorial to the vibrant Mahane Yehuda market.

Jerusalem is a complicated city, in many ways, and is also at the center of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. However, this video should be seen as a traveler’s perspective of the city, focusing on positive stories and things to do. For those interested in the modern political history of the region, I recommend to read, watch, and listen to as many different sources as you can.

This is my first long trip after the pandemic started, and I’m grateful for the chance to travel again. It’s also my second visit to the region, and therefore I use both new and older footage for this video.

[ Stef Hoffer ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF_m6lYV4d0

“Jerusalem: Holy for Jews, Muslims, and Christians”

[ Rick Steves ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ePdHWFPNLk

“Jerusalem: The Spiritual Center of the World”

Dr. Mitch Glaser, President of Chosen People Ministries in New York City, NY, talks about evangelism to Jewish people and the future capital of God’s kingdom in the city of Jerusalem.

[ Mitch Glaser ]

PRESENTATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA5yTkVc284

“Jerusalem: Why the land is so controversial”

President Trump named Jerusalem the capital of Israel, but not every other country is on board. We look at why this city is so controversial.

[ Scripts News – Newsy ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAFd0JeyC4c

“Jerusalem, Israel: Temple Mount and The Dome of the Rock”

Jerusalem is alive with religious tradition and passion — Christian, Muslim, and Jewish. Within a 10-minute walk you can see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — so sacred to Christians, the Dome of the Rock — treasured by Muslims, and at Temple Mount, the holiest place in Judaism: the Western Wall.

[ Rick Steves ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9zujnEd–g

“The True Location of the Temple”

In an interview on Speaker’s Corner Derek Walker discusses the recent theory of Dr Ernest Martin and Robert Cornuke concerning the true location of the Temple. Is there any basis for their claim that it was in the City of David, and not on the Temple Mount? Will the Jews rebuild their Temple and where?

[ Derek Walker ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU5ozcdN1zU

“Old City Market: Jerusalem”

Tips on the non-touristy places when in the Old City Market of Jerusalem.

[ TBN Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAXkSr5Bad4

“What does Jerusalem mean to you?”

Jerusalem is central to the Jewish people. For Yom Yerushalayim we asked young people from around the world to tell us what Jerusalem means to them. Their answers are sincerely inspiring.

[ World Jewish Congress ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MJ-33sk8O0

“Following Jesus in Jerusalem”

Introducing my new series – Following Jesus in Jerusalem !

This video is part of a new vlogging series from the Holy Land, focusing on biblical archeology, history, tour sites, cultural events and more.

[ Danny The Digger ]

SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycOTPPMDWBE&list=PLAXliHOs-vnetAZJg145ZxXvDMri1vQUi

“The Temple Institute”

The Temple Institute is dedicated to making the Holy Temple a reality in our day, and toward this end, the Temple Institute has, for 36 years, been building and planning and researching and teaching and sharing with you our reconstructed sacred vessels and priestly garments, our books and paintings, our red heifer candidates, our teachings and insights and our love for HaShem and the Holy Temple!

It is only through the generosity of your hearts that we are able to continue our important work. Only together can we build for HaShem a sanctuary and “a house of prayer for all nations!”

[ The Temple Institute ]

WEBSITE: https://templeinstitute.org/

“Why Israel: How Your Christian Faith is Rooted in Jesus and the Jewish People”

Why Israel? As a Christian, could it be that you have a vital part to play in the rest of the story of God’s Chosen People?

As a follower of Yeshua (Jesus), the Jewish Messiah, you have been adopted into this grand narrative. The core of your faith is rooted in the promises God made to Israel. We have seen the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel begin, but there is so much more to come.

Zechariah 8:22 tells us that in these days, people from all languages and nations will rally around their Jewish brothers and sisters and say “Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”

Discover how the story of the Jewish people connects to you. The next chapter of the story of Israel includes you.

Will you step into your role in the story of Israel and the Jewish people?

[ FIRM Israel ]

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQqiZWhkbRw

“Yom Yerushalayim – Are the Times of the Gentiles Fulfilled?”

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” (Isaiah 62:1)

Tonight starts Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), the 56th anniversary of the historic 1967 liberation and reunification of Jerusalem.

Jom_JeruschalajimOn Jerusalem Day, Israelis will parade through the streets of Jerusalem to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.
This public holiday in Israel, which is marked on the 28th day of Iyar, is the most recent addition to the Hebrew calendar.

So although Jerusalem was reunified on June 7, 1967, because of differences between the Gregorian and Hebrew calendars, Jerusalem Day falls on May 19th in 2023.

On this day, during the Six Day War, the whole of Jerusalem once again came under Jewish sovereignty for the first time in 2000 years!

As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were about to take back the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordanian control on June 7, 1967, Colonel Motta Gur spoke these electrifying words:

“All company commanders: we are sitting right now on the ridge and we’re seeing the Old City. Shortly we’re going to go in to the Old City of Jerusalem that all generations have dreamed about.”

Indeed, Jerusalem has long been the heart of the Jewish People. [ more…]

[ The Messianic Jewish Bible Society ]

ARTICLE: https://free.messianicbible.com/holiday/yom-yerushalayim-are-the-times-of-the-gentiles-fulfilled/

“How Israel is Fulfilling End-Time Bible Prophecy EXPLAINED with Amir Tsarfati!”

Do you want to know what role Israel will play in end-time prophecy? What signs are going on in the world right now that are fulfilling end-time prophecy concerning the nation of Israel? Will there be a third temple built soon? Tune in for these and other questions surrounding Israel and end-time Bible prophecy!

INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UqUDj_sm1Q

“Prophecy Update | May 2023 | The Road to Armageddon”

As the epicenter of Bible prophecy, knowing Israel’s past, present, and future is key to understanding what will happen in the Last Days. In our May 2023 Prophecy Update, we examine the historical timeline and already-fulfilled prophecy of how this nation came to be, what the narrative and current events are today, and how everything is leading to a climactic final war called Armageddon that will usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

[ Brett Meador ]

PRESENTATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMT8TY5m4Ds

<<< SONGS >>>

“Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” (“Jerusalem of Gold”)

[ Ofra Haza ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8gtdDA5x0&t=9s

“Jerusalem of Gold Song Using the Hebrew Phonetic System”

[ Naomi Shemer / Shuli Natan ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6nK_oOe3bM

“Bashana Haba’a Be Yerushalaim” (Next year in Jerusalem)

[ The Soul of Jewish Music ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Q-WDBhYlM

“Yerushalaim Shel Zahav”

[ Ofra Haza – ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Co7IzOyhw

“Jerusalem”

[ Don McLean ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEEG2_TC0wc

“Come To The Table”

[ Elihana Elia ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVt-pgYiTS4

“HATIKVAH” (ISRAEL’S National Anthem)

[ Gsel Ay-ad ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_9N1ldPtQ8

“Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim (If I Forget You Jerusalem)”

[ Dudu Fisher ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GBVaUPTTSw

“The Hope”

[ Shilo Ben Hod ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDMDNNDuWu4

“Psalm 121”

[ Joshua Aaron ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRSOhT45C5M

“Dancing in Jerusalem”

[ Sam Glaser ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6hdVknDqTI

“How Great is our God” / Gadol Elohai

[ Joshua Aaron ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWSKtoURGAg

“HA BRACHA” (“The Blessing”)

[ Joshua Aaron ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzqrWae5lK4

<<< APOLOGETIX SONGS >>>

“Holy Land”
(Parody of “Hold My Hand” by Hootie & the Blowfish)

When the Lord above — planned some land for this
He walked us through the water — around the wilderness
With a little piece — of some ground for me
We’ll take the land together –- we’ll take the Promised Land

‘Cause God’s got a land for you — ahhh
A land that He promised you

Yes, today — choose who you plan to serve
The land is full of idols here — they’re gonna make you swerve
So get rid of — them can’t you see they’re vile
We’ll take ’em all together — drop ’em on a pile, ’cause

God’s got a land for you — God’s got a land for you
A land that He promised you — it’s a land He promised you and
Holy land — goin’ to a whole new land
Holy land — I’ll take you to a place where you can be
Holy land — after Deuteronomy, because
God’s gonna give you the best of — the best of the land

See, it was waiting — and we were wasting time
Till we — walked across the Jordan — and fought the Canaanties
And there’s still more — and you must clean it out
We don’t wanna deal with compromises
Don’t wanna give an inch of ground, ’cause

God’s got a land for you — God’s got a land for you
A land that He promised you – ah, it’s a land He promised you– ohhh
Holy land — goin’ to a holy land
Holy land — I’ll take you to the Promised Land
Holy land — pledge allegiance to the Lord ’cause
God’s gonna give you the best of — the best of the land

LEAD Yeah-eah
Awwwww

Everyone, won’t you listen, listen, listen
Holy land — goin’ to a whole new land
Holy land — I’ll take you to a place for you and me
Holy land – it’s a place you’ll wanna be, because
I-I-I oh-oh-oh know, know – know, know, know

Holy land — goin’ to a holy land
Holy land — I’ll take you to the Promised Land
Holy land – maybe we can’t escape the world, but
God’s gonna give you the best of, the best of the land
Ah-ah — the best of the la-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-and

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond
the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as
for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

[ ApoogetiX – “Only a Glorified Cover Band” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FJO3YnWtc

“Genny 22”
(Parody of “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone)

Genesis twenty-two’s where I turn to
To get the story of Isaac no one knew
I know you think Ike’s life was prob’ly a bore
Because his famous father loved the Lord
When he was lots more younger Isaac was saved in time
When the Lord told His father
Abraham sacrifice Me your child
Take sticks sacrifice Me your child
Abraham sacrifice Me your child
Isaac sacrificed, me oh my
Daddy, daddy – that’s a grill for meat
And you won’t tell me why today we don’t have sheep
I tried to tell you before – but I lost my nerve
I tried to find another way son – but I trust His Word
Daddy, I’m on the lumber – why did you take your knife
There is an angel up there
Abraham, I’m satisfied, free your child
Your faith has satisfied me all right
Abraham, I’m satisfied, free your child
Your faith has satisfied me all right
Hey, Daddy! Hey, Daddy!
We’ve got a lamb there after all
Hey, Daddy! Hey, Daddy!
When you get time – let’s have a good long talk!
LEAD
When your begotten son’s there
How can you take his life?
Yet we know God the Father
Made this sacrifice with Jesus Christ
Genny 22’s where I turn to
God saved Isaac in time and we all must learn the truth
(To make it to Heaven find Jesus Christ)
Find Jesus Christ! Find Jesus Christ!

[ ApologetiX – “Spoofernatural” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqWG39PhZTc

“Change Your Tone”
(Parody of “Danger Zone” performed by Kenny Loggins)

Have I never mentioned
There’s intruders down the road
Now that I have your attention
Beggin’ you to trust and go

Tribe of Judah, change your tone
Pride messed you up — change your tone

Every sin you try to hide
Jeremiah brings to light
He’s got a yoke upon his neck
But within you know he’s right

Tribe of Judah, change your tone
I beg you, Tribe of Judah, change your tone

He’ll never say “well done” to you
And you can’t stand him now, but Jeremiah knows the ropes
You know he showed what you can do
In 27:12 — he tried, but you said no
Oh oh-oh yeah

Babylon invasion — all this here will burn, you see
Surrender or begin — the odyssey to their city

Tribe of Judah, change your tone
God’ll take you right into the strangers’ home
Time is soon up — change your tone
I beg you — to change your tone

Tribe of Judah, change your tone
Chapter 39 will soon come — change your tone
Tribe of Judah, change your tone
I beg you — to change your tone

Tribe of Judah, change your tone
Gonna take your pride and chew it up — change your tone
I ain’t foolin’ ya, change your tone
I beg you — to change your tone

Tribe of Judah, change your tone
God’ll save your lives if you just

[ ApologetiX – “Get Rich Quick” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA4kuYP8RB8

“Rebuild this City”
(Parody of “We Built This City” performed by Starship)

Rebuild this city
Rebuild this city — our God said so
Build this city — rebuild this city our God said so – hohhh!

Hey, you don’t know me — or recognize my race
Prayin’ our prayers to God — in that Bible place
We people of Judah — ancient Israelites
You went and hauled away –Gee, that wasn’t nice

Our holy place was conquered
Let’s assume you maybe know
Told to surrender
Rebuild this city — rebuild this city our God said so

Rebuild this city
Rebuild this city — our God said so
Build this city — rebuild this city our God said so

‘Cause we’re always straying — foreign nations reigned
Who cares? The Lord is breaking foreign nations’ chains
Things just got intense here — someone stronger came
The one Isaiah prophesied — Cyrus was his name

Our holy place was conquered
It’s Jerusalem, you know
Forced to surrender
Rebuild this city — rebuild this city our God said so

Rebuild this city
Rebuild this city — our God said so
Build this city — rebuild this city our God said so

It’s been a month of Sundays
And the time is complete
But we forgot the old scrolls oh oh-oh oh oh oh
Decreed this was to be

Who counts the countries — underneath the stars?
Who writes the rise and fall — of dudes from afar?
God helped us in Egypt — ’cause we’re His precious jewel
Look at words of Jeremiah — comin’ true — it’s cool

Jeremiah 29:10 – This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.

Don’t you remember? (Remember, ‘member)

Isaiah 45:13 – I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free …

Our holy place was conquered
Listen to Isaiah, though
Don’t you remember?
Rebuild this city — rebuild this city our God said so

Rebuild this city
Rebuild this city — our God said so
Build this city — rebuild this city our God said so
Build this city
Rebuild this city — our God said so
Build this city — rebuild this city our God said so – hohhh

Rebuild, rebuild this city, yeah (Build this city)
Rebuild, rebuild this cit-ay
Rebuild, rebuild this city, yeah (Build this city)
Rebuild, rebuild this cit-ay
Rebuild, rebuild this city, yeah (Build this city)
Rebuild, rebuild this cit-ay (Build this city)

[ ApologetiX – “Kinda Stuffy” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2AhH7bwP0I

“Ezra”
(Parody of “Pressure” performed and written by Billy Joel)

You have returned, so brace yourself
Ezra!
To instruct everybody else
Ezra!
Your Holy Land was once so far — go look
For you have come to the place
With the only things you need
Our Lord is strong and you’re brave
And you’ll have to lead them
Ezra!

You used to dwell in Babylon
Ezra!
But Media-Persia came along
Ezra!
They turned the tide and ended your cruel fate
Now here you are in your place
With your people and it’s nice
You have God’s laws
And your faith and a pair of sandals
Ezra!

All rolled up in those ancient scrolls
Right, wrong, life’s rules — much truth you know
All your life is channeled toward these
Ezra, please read
What does it mean?

You’ll tell ’em what it means … Ezra!
Ezra!

You asked for help from God alone
Ezra
To have safe passage to your home
Ezra
I’m sure you have been called irrational
But here you are — in the right
To them now you seem real strong
Go with the Book — God inscribed
And they’ll all respond to Ezra
Mmmm … Ezra!

All your writings — I’m glad to see
I read them through
God blesses me

Ezra!

I’m sure you have some laws this crowd should know
But here they are in one place
With your leaders and Levites
You have God’s laws
And no case that you cannot handle
Ezra!
Mmmm … Ezra!
Mm … Ezra!
1-2-3-4 Ezra!

[ ApologetiX – “Eclectic” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7ZWmugrG2Y

“Lamentations Song”
(Parody of “Ramble On” performed by Led Zeppelin)

I see the wall has fallen down — time I was on my way
And still, they might decide — to let some peasants stay
But now it’s time for me to go — their orders we must obey
The Babylonians came — and we’re their slaves
And we’re heading that way
Ah, the town I love’s on fire
But I know I’ve got one place I’ve got to move

Babylon
Now’s their time, we’re down and out
Their kingdom’s strong
They’re gonna rule the world, they got their flags unfurled
On my way
We’ve been displaced — sin leads to disgrace
Babylon
The prophecies are all complete

It’s not the time to sign a truce
The time has come to be gone
And for our selfish ways and countless crimes
We’re bound for Babylon

Babylon
And now our crimes have found us out
Their kingdom’s strong
They’re gonna rule the world, they got their flags unfurled
On my way
We’ve been displaced — sin leads to disgrace
We’re goin’ to Babylon
Because the prophecies are all complete

I can tell you know why

Jeremiah detailed that on fancy scrolls
But freedom died slow here
‘Cause years ago Isaiah foretold and Habakkuk did declare
Plus in the darkest depths of Moses, I’ve read it also there
But Solomon and his evil wives
Messed up the blissful way we were, were, were, yeah
There ain’t nothing I can do now
I guess I’ll be gone

Babylon
And what a shame
Sing my song
I’ve got a lamentation
I’m goin’ to Babylon
Because of things done wrong
I’m gonna work all day
They’re gonna rule the world
(Babylon) Baby, baby, yeah
Do do do do do (baby) my baby (Babylon baby)
Uh-do do do do do — do-de do-de do-de do-de do-de do-oo
I can’t stop to breathe and it’s so hard
But there’s no time to think about complaining I really must depart
I gotta keep searchin’ for my family
(Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby)
I gotta keep a-searchin’ for my family
(Mmm my my my my my my my family )
Yayy yeah-eh
(My my my my my my baby)
Uh yeah-eh-yeah, uh yeah-eh-yeah
Yay-a-yay, yay-a-yay, yay-a-yay, yay-a-yay, yay-a-yay
Ooooh my my my my — my my — my my
I can’t fight those troopers
I guess I’m gonna do what they say, but I
I guess that’s my future
(Keep travelin’, baby)
Uh — uh — yeah!
(A-keep travelin’, baby)
Keep — keep — keep

[ ApologetiX – “Braggadocious” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyauHU3uJI

“Haggai Led the Way”
(Parody of “Baby, I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton)

He shattered Jerusalem before their eyes
And removed them across the way
In 70 years they returned to their lives
For to raise up their city
But don’t hesitate
‘Cause your Lord won’t wait
Hey ay ay yeah

Ooh, Haggai led the way every day
When the temple it was delayed — and he’d say:
Gotta deal with this right away — ay yay ay ay heh

Two appeared in time to guide those guys
With the help of some diatribes
Brother Haggai would prophesy four times
Never needed wonders and signs
Said don’t hesitate
‘Cause your Lord won’t wait
Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey-ey-ey-yeah

Ooh, Haggai led the way every day
When the temple was underway — ooh ooh ooh
‘Cause he preached to them night and day — ooh yeah eh eh heh

But don’t hesitate
‘Cause your Lord won’t wait

I can see the prophet Zechariah
Around the page — they’re unified
How they tag-teamed I read in Ezra
In chapter 5:1 — yeah, they teamed up
Said don’t hesitate
‘Cause your Lord won’t wait
Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey-ey-ey-yeah

Ooh, Haggai led the way, Ezra said
When the temple it was remade — ooh ooh ooh ooh
But he’d need Zechariah’s aid
Ooh, Haggai led the way every day
In the temple-construction stage — ooh ooh ooh ooh
Go and read his two-chapter page — yeah eh eh heh

[ ApologetiX – “Minor League” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-g6lNUworQ

“It’s Tough”
(Parody of “This Love” by Maroon 5)

(Song About Nehemiah)
Our wall’s so high you would not recognize
But fire burned and minimized the way it sat for all my life
Kissed Persia goodbye, you see I brought a plan
To get Jerusalem strong again
The wall was where I’d start — Oh!

It’s a tough task making this wall complete
We said goodbye to dinnertime and sports
There are kids making some fun of me
And I hope those boys, Sanballat and Tobias, get bored

They tried their best to keep us occupied
Said they’d come in with their knives
It’s hard but we work side by side
Oh, kept saying stuff ‘bout me that’s just insane
Pretending I built this thing
To turn around and be the king — whatever

This wall has taken us seven weeks
Three days till I can finish up the doors
Wal-Mart did make a good wall for cheap
But I had no choice ‘cause I don’t live nearby any stores — no oh oh

I fixed this broken thing — repaired these openings
I ain’t your average Pink Floyd guy (Nehemiah, me oh my)
I can’t sing all their hits, but I know “Another Brick”
Let me sing for you ‘cause I’m Nehemiah how do you do?

Ezra has taken the scroll to read
We said goodbye to sins we tried before
Four hundred and forty-four B.C. and I have no Floyd
And I can’t play guitar like Gilmore

It’s rough just making this song funny
We had to try and then we tried some more
I‘d like to break the monotony
We say Maroon 5 should end it at the chorus

Guess what? I’m making this all up here
Read Nehemiah and Ezra right before
Work hard and pray with a fervency
But I have no voice so I will fade this right here for sure

[ ApologetiX – “Hits: The Road” album ]

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUo8kUbraOc

“Good News/Bad News”

This is a Gospel presentation and personal testimony of J. Jackson, lead vocalist of ApologetiX from their 20th-anniversary concert. It is available on 20:20 Vision.

VIDEO (audio only): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q21Jnaq-EL8

<<< DEEP THOUGHTS >>>

“The view of Jerusalem is the world; it is more; it is the history of heaven and earth.”
[ Benjamin Disraeli ]

“The city has been destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed and rebuilt again. Jerusalem is an old nymphomaniac who squeezes lover afer lover to death, before shrugging him off her with a yawn, a black widow who devours her mates while they are still penetrating her”
[ Amos Oz ]

“The Land of Israel is the centre of the world; Jerusalem is the centre of the Land; the Holy Temple is the centre of Jerusalem; the Holy of Holies is the centre of the Holy Temple; the Holy Ark is the centre of the Holy of Holies and the Foundation Stone from which the world was established is before the Holy Ark.”
[ Midrash Tanhuma ]

“Jerusalem is the most illustrious of cities. Still Jerusalem has some disadvantages. Thus it is reported “Jerusalem is a golden goblet full of scorpions.”
[ Muqaddasi ]

“My native city is Jerusalem, in which is situated the sacred shrine of the most high God. The holy city is the mother city not of one country, Judaea, but of most of the other neighbouring lands, as well as lands far away, most of Asia, [and] similarly Europe, to say nothing of the countries beyond the Euphrates.”
[ Herod Agrippa I ]

“Ten measures of beauty descended upon the world, nine were given to Jerusalem and one to the rest of the world.”
[ Midrash Tanhuma ]

“If a land can have a soul, Jerusalem is the soul of the land of Israel.”
[ David Ben-Gurion ]

“No two cities have counted more with mankind than Athens and Jerusalem.”
[ Winston Churchill ]

“The Jewish people were building in Jerusalem 3,000 years ago and the Jewish people are building in Jerusalem today. Jerusalem’s not a settlement. It is our capital.”
[ Benjamin Netanyahu ]

“Once again the centre of internatioanl storms. Neither Athens nor Rome aroused so many passions. When a Jew visits Jerusalem for the first time, it’s not the first time, it’s a homecoming.”
[ Elle Wiesel ]

“Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of is nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his righteousness, and was in great reputation in Jerusalem, the greatest city we have.”
[ Flavius Josephus ]

“A great city, whose image dwells in the memory of man, is the type of some great idea. Rome represents conquest; Faith hovers over the towers of Jerusalem; and Athens embodies the pre-eminent quality of the antique world, art.”
[ Benjamin Disraeli ]

“Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Take that off the table. Tell both sides to come together and say, ‘Okay, you decide how you want to split up Jerusalem. You decide if you’re going to create boundaries or borders there.’ And let them decide.”
[ Nikki Haley ]

“The view of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is the history of earth and of heaven.”
[ Benjamin Disraeli ]

“Jerusalem is the holiest place for the Jewish people.”
[ Ariel Sharon ]

“Life is eternity’s sunrise.”
[ Mark Besh ]

RELATED SCRIPTURE VERSES:

Why Jerusalem?:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/why_jerusalem

Jerusalem Conflicts:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/jerusalem_conflicts

Jerusalem Matters:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/jerusalem_matters

Jerusalem’s Significance:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/jerusalems_significance

Cradle Of Civilization:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/cradle_of_civilization

Satan Hates Israel:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/satan_hates_israel

Eternal Capital:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/eternal_capital

Judgment On Israel and Judah:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/judgment_on_israel_and_judah

Jerusalem Is Special:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/jerusalem_is_special

“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:
JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and receive ETERNAL LIFE.”
[ Mark Besh ]

Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ’pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing. I would like to give credit where credit is due!

<<< FOCUS VERSES >>>

“When he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it is said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”
[ Genesis 11:17-19 ]

“Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
[ Genesis 12:1 ]

“To your offspring I will give this land.”
[ Genesis 12:7 ]

“Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the Land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
[ Genesis 22:2 ]

“For you [Israelites] are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
[ Deuteronomy 7:6 ]

“But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to inherit… then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD.”
[ Deuteronomy 12:10-11 ]

“The LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son, ‘In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever.’”
[ 2 Kings 21:7 ]

“The LORD (Yahweh) has sworn and will not relent, ‘You (David’s Lord) are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’”
[ Psalm 110:4 ]

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend.”
[ Isaiah 41:8 ]

“Will I bring the moment of birth, and not give delivery?”
[ Isaiah 66:8c, 9a]

“Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it.”
[ Ezekiel 36:36 ]

“The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.”
[ Ezekiel 37:1 ]

“He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.”
[ Ezekiel 37:2 ]

“He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know.’”
[ Ezekiel 37:3 ]

“Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!’”
[ Ezekiel 37:4 ]

“Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel.”
[ Ezekiel 37:11b ]

“I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains [Mount Moriah, Jerusalem] of Israel.”
[ Ezekiel 37:22 ]

“We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.”
[ Daniel 3:38 ]

“Because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes.”
[ Amos 2:4 ]

“You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
[ Amos 3:2 ]

“Will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt.”
[ Zechariah 1:16b ]

“Very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.”
[ Zechariah 1:14; 8:2a ]

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
[ Matthew 3:17 ]

“This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
[ Matthew 17:5 ]

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”
[ Luke 12:48b ]

“Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
[ Luke 21:24 ]

“Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.”
[ Romans 3:1-2 ]

“The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My Covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
[ Romans 11:26-27 ]

“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.”
[ Galatians 4:4 ]

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
[ Ephesians 6:12 ]

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
[ 2 Peter 3:9 ]

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
[ Revelation 20:10 ]

If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net

Disclaimer: All the above jokes and inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright is used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

Mark

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LIFE'S DEEP THOUGHTS