On the Sidelines or in the Game?

Looks like Israel will be celebrating its Independence Day twice this year!  Israel actually celebrates its independence each year based on the Hebrew calendar beginning at sundown on the 4th of Iyyar until sundown of the 5th of Iyyar - or the eve of April 18th to the eve of April 19th.  On the Gregorian Calendar (which is used by most of the Gentile world) the original day of independence 70 years ago was May 14, 1948.  Therefore, this is the day that the United States government has chosen to move their embassy to Jerusalem.  Thus - we are quite certain, that in Israel this year, we will celebrate Independence Day twice! Or quite possibly all year long.... :)

Many of you are probably already aware of the announcement by the United States government that they will be officially moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018.  An observation to the above statement is that every guess by news reporters as to when/how the embassy would be moved is in part true:

1 - Just moving the ambassador and close staff the the existing consulate (a15 minute walk from our home) - this can be done at any time

2 - Build an annex on the existing consulate building to house the embassy - may take until 2019

3 - Find a new location in Jerusalem for the embassy - longer term plan, will obviously take more time

We look forward to the move this coming spring with anticipation ~ with both excitement, and bracing ourselves with what this monumental move may bring - protests, riots, and acts terrorism, not only in Jerusalem & Israel, but worldwide.  While moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem looks political, it has both spiritual significance and consequences that we will see played out before our eyes.  Acknowledging Jerusalem as Israel's capital is one step closer in a direction that God's enemies don't want to go.

Everything we see with our eyes happening in Israel looks political or social, etc. - but what we are seeing is the spiritual and Biblical manifestations of prophesy being fulfilled in our days.  One example is the transportation infrastructure being built leading to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.  Throughout Scripture it is prophesied that not only will God bring His people Israel back to their Land, but the Nations too will come to Jerusalem to worship their God. 

Jerusalem announced construction plans to make it easier for people to arrive to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount.  This includes a cable car and an elevator - both eliminating the long walk of many steps.  Israel has also nearly completed construction of a new high speed train that will only take 20 minutes from Ben Gurion International Airport to central Jerusalem - and they announced that this train will eventually continue to the Western Wall.  In addition to this, Israel has completed a major construction project of the main highway leading into Jerusalem from the airport - Highway 1.  They have widened the road and taken out a dangerous curve - making the way straighter on the highway to Zion.  All in the short 7 years that we have lived here.  Preparing the way - literally - to a House of Prayer for All Nations.

Several times we have mentioned the new relationship God has begun amongst Christians and Jews in Israel since we have been here, and a Bible study that we attend in Jerusalem - both Christians and Jews coming together to study God's Word.  One of the teachers of the Bible study is Rabbi Pesach Wolicki.  Our close friends, Martin and Nathalie Blackham have a tv program in which they invited Rabbi Wolicki to share what is on his heart concerning Christians and prophesy being fulfilled in the end times.

Just in the past few years we have come to a point in time where we are invited to join the Jewish people in giving thanks and praise together.  It is our desire to worship our God with the Jewish people.  Rabbi Pesach mentions Psalms 113-118 known as "The Hallel".  Even as Yeshua and His disciples sang these Psalms at the last supper (which was a Passover Seder), the Jewish people still do today at all their holy days. "After singing the Hallel, they went out to the Mount of Olives." Matthew 26:30 

Are you are a Bible believing Christian wanting to not only sit on the sidelines and cheer Israel on, but be a player in the end of days prophesy that is being played out in our time? Then we highly recommend that you watch this short 28 minute tv show.  Hear a Jewish perspective from a Rabbi (that we know personally) concerning what God is doing in joining Jews and Christians as "one shoulder" in these days.  And then, if your'e not already a player in the game, choose to stand up from the sidelines, put on your "helmet" and "protective gear" and join the team as a participant.  Praise God together in unity with the Jewish people.  And if you can....come to Jerusalem.  As Rabbi Pesach explains from Scripture, you can participate in literally fulfilling Biblical prophesy yourself.

"So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. 

On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God’s people 

and members of God’s family. 

You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries 

and the prophets, with the cornerstone 

being Yeshua the Messiah himself. 

In union with him the whole building is held together, 

and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. 

Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God!"

Ephesians 2:19-22