Reign - Blessings from Above

Warm greetings from Jerusalem!

While Psalm 2 is being played out in New York (Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed.) here in Israel we are being blessed with a weekend of rain!  

It has rained only briefly one other time this summer, so this is the first real rain since spring.  It began yesterday with a cloud cover over the nation, and has rained off and on throughout northern and central Israel since.  There's nothing better than waking on Shabbat morning to a cool breeze and rain. The sun has peeked out a few times, but  Jerusalem is enjoying a beautiful late summer day: rain showers and in the mid 70's.  

In the short time we've been here (just over 9 months) we've noticed that many times when it does rain, it's on Shabbat (Sabbath).  Rain is considered a blessing from God.  Earlier this year we were at the Western Wall when Shabbat was just beginning (Friday at sundown).  As the young men came dancing and singing through the Old City streets and down to the Western Wall rejoicing over the gift God has given us in Shabbat, the skies opened up and it began to pour - now that is dancing in the rain!  What a blessing to behold - we were soaked, and it was wonderful!!

Today the clouds, rain, and cool temperatures continue, and are expected through tomorrow as well.  Next week, back to normal temperatures in the mid 80's. But as the majority of the nations at the General Assembly of the UN in New York are plotting against Israel (it's not really a political showdown, but a spiritual one against God) God's cloud cover and rain is over His nation Israel, the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8).

Have a blessed and restful weekend,

Shabbat Shalom,

Jim & Linda

Taken from our apartment window this morning :)

Picture from yesterday's Jerusalem Post about the uncommon rainfall.

SEPTEMBER

"The territory upon which the UN would establish a State of Palestine is that land where Abraham walked when God promised it to him and his descendants after him, forever. It is that land where Jacob lived and through which he travelled when God made it clear that His promise to Abraham was to his seed through the bloodline of Isaac and Jacob.

It is that land in which Israel’s founding fathers purchased property, and where they lie buried. It is that land conquered by the Israelites under Joshua and given as an inheritance to the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. It is that land where for nearly 400 years the Tabernacle stood in which Samuel served and where the people of Israel worshipped. It is that land where David was born, and from which and over which he reigned. It is that land that contains the Jerusalem of biblical times, in which Solomon and Zerubbabel and Herod built the Jewish temples, and where, in Solomon’s days, God’s glory was visibly revealed to the Israelites. It is that land where Jesus was born and in which He ministered; where He was crucified, buried, rose again, and from which He ascended into heaven. It is that land to which He will return. It is that land God specifically promised to restore the Jews to after they were dispersed among the nations.

It is THAT land the United Nations will vote this month on taking “legally” out of the hands of the Jewish people and placing into the hands of the Muslim Arabs – the vast majority of whom have been raised on a hate-rich diet of war mongering anti-Israel thoughts."  (Stan Goodenough - Jerusalem Watchman - 13 September 2011)



The events scheduled for September 2011 have been anticipated:


~ by many as an opportunity to bring about justice for an oppressed group of people
~ to serve as a reminder of hatred and delusion along with the grief that would be re-lived
~ by some as the beginning of the end


To start with, let's looks at the words of Israel's Declaration of Independence in May, 1948:

THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

WE APPEAL - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions.

to review complete Declaration of Independence:

 Israel Declaration of Independence - (MFA)    

The Palestinian Authority believes that Israel has oppressed and occupied a land that belongs to them and is asking the UN to recognize them as a State and bring about justice.  The obvious hypocrisy here is that the UN has already recognized Israel as the Jewish homeland in 1948, (agreeing with an earlier International decision - see video at the end) and ever since, Israel has had to defend itself from numerous acts of war and violence.  


The double standard is also quite evident as the following article from Israel Today dated 28 August, 2011 highlights...

"Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday delivered a fiery speech to Islamic clerics in Ramallah during which he warned the international community not to demand that he recognize Israel as the "Jewish state."

The international community "cannot force us to recognize the nature of the Israeli state," declared Abbas. "Do not force us to recognize a Jewish state. We will not accept it."

One of Israel's chief demands since the peace process started in 1993 has been that the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist as the national homeland of the Jewish people. Most Israelis would argue that only by doing so can they feel confident that the Arabs have relinquished their quest to destroy Israel.

Abbas also stated once again that he will not accept absorbing millions of so-called "Palestinian refugees" into a new Palestinian state. Despite being labeled a "moderate," Abbas has been a champion of the hard-line position that Israel must open its borders to these millions of Arabs, thus demographically destroying the Jewish state." 

And their true attitude expressed in the following article from Israel Today dated 15 September, 2011...

The Palestinine Liberation Organization (PLO) ambassador to the US, Maen Areikat, told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that the Palestinian state his regime is trying to gain recognition for at the UN next week should be free of Jews.

"I think it would be in the best interest of the two people to be separated," said Areikat. Of course, any talk by Israeli politicians of removing Arabs from the Jewish state is immediately branded as racism and aggressively dismissed by the international community.

Israel is not only participating in God's plan for them, but also within the confines of UN recognition as the Jewish homeland.  Obviously, as we live in Israel and are exposed to the daily reports of security measures and what-if's and day-after scenarios, we always line up these reports with what God says is the Truth and remind the people of God's promises to them. 

Next, September 11 will always serve as a reminder of what evil is capable of and what true oppression can lead to.  The grief associated with those events is still evident and personal for so many, but the lessons must be learned or history will repeat itself.  Well it actually has - many times over in lots of different ways.  We are a bit surprised as to how much the terrorists acts of 9/11 impacted the world.  We are surrounded by a group of international friends and they all were very aware of the events and history of the day.  We all had a "you knew exactly where you were and what you were dong on 9/11" discussion.  


Lastly, all of the planned events in, and speculation regarding September have caused some to think this will trigger the end-times events mentioned in the Bible.  This very well may be true but serves primarily as an opportunity to understand what in fact the Word of the Lord has to say about dividing the Land of Israel and to whom owns the Title Deed to the Land of Israel.


Genesis 12:1-3, 6-8; 13:14-17; 15:7, 17-20;17:7-8; 24:7; 26:2-4; 28:12-15; 35:10-12; 39:9-15. Exodus 6:2-4; 6-8;32:13; 33:1-2. Leviticus 20:23-24; Numbers 33:50-54; 34:1-2; Deuteronomy 1:6-8; 11:11-12; Joshua 21:43-45; 1 Chronicles 16:14-19; 2 Samuel 7:10;Isaiah 14:1; Jeremiah 23:8; Ezekiel 28:25-26; 34:13-14; 36:24; 37:14, 21;Amos 9:14-15.


Genesis 12:1-3 and Amos 9:14-15 are perfect bookends for this list of scriptures as they give us instructions as to what to believe and the consequences for unbelief, as well as the promises of God for His people.  I know a lot of the readers of this blog think that Israel is just "our thing", but let me encourage you to consider Israel as being every believers "thing".


A few prayer points...

• Intercede on behalf of Israel's Prime Minister that he will make Biblical, right and brave decisions for the future of the nation and for the good of the People.  
• Ask the Lord to deal with the enemies of Israel according to His own heart, those who destroy or lift a finger against God's plans or to damage the nation God has planted.
• Instill in church prayer meetings the importance of praying for Israel as we are commanded.
• Pray for our church leaders to be real spiritual leaders and not to compromise the truth in regard to Israel.

A few interesting links....... 


UN Bias against Israel


Israel & International Law


And a few misc photos...remember to click on photo to enlarge, then the back button to return to blog.

The Sea of Galilee from an observation platform on Mount Arbel

Ma'ale Adumim in the distance - on their Land east of Jerusalem.
Settlements are for people who are settled!

Young Arab men catching a bus after a long day building homes in Kfar Adumim - a Jewish Settlement.

The first cloud of the summer - not exactly the shape of a Hand,
 but we'll take it knowing rain is just a few months away! :)

Not sure this was the intention when it said Jerusalem would be a walled city...
This is northern Jerusalem - a security wall around a "West Bank" Arab neighborhood.

We can only assume is says 'Swimming Prohibited' in Hebrew also...

Linda says hello

A pomegranate tree outside of our apartment

Shalom from Jerusalem - the city of Peace!!

Mount Moriah

Going up to Zion....Mount Moriah.....The Temple Mount

In July we decided to visit the Temple Mount.  Ramadan (Islam's time of prayer and fasting) is the entire month of August, and the Palestinian Authority will be asking the UN on September 20th to acknowledge Palestine as its own new nation with Eastern Jerusalem as its capital.  Knowing things are heating up about this specific plot of Land we wanted to take the opportunity to walk there and pray (privately, open prayer is prohibited).  The Temple Mount is only open to visitors (non-Muslims) a few hours each day:  Sunday through Thursday from 7:30 - 11:30 am & 1:30 - 2:30 pm.

(reminder: click on each picture to view it larger,
then click the back button to return to the post)

The Temple Mount is much larger than one might imagine - 35 acres.

There are several organizations in Israel preparing for a third temple to someday be built on Mount Moriah where the first two Houses of God resided.  This is a golden menorah that has been made for the third temple.  It has been said that they have recreated all the items needed to function a third temple.  Many of these items can be viewed at the Temple Institute in the Old City.

As we ascend the wooden ramp leading to the entrance allowed to the public (all other entrances are for Muslims only) we view the Western Wall plaza below.  

The City has tried to replace this wooden ramp recently which has been temporary since the permanent structure seen below collapsed.  There has been much dispute (enough to postpone construction) on building a permanent ramp to the Temple Mount from the Western Wall Plaza due to the Palestinian's plans to build an Arab residential area here if they were to gain statehood.

Looking down to the HaKotel (Western Wall).

IDF soldiers always have a presence on the Mount if needed as there are sometimes riots.  There were Arab men near the entrance calling to people as they entered, you must have pants that go below the knee and shoulders covered.  It's good we knew this before we came and were prepared.  There was  another couple with us.  The wife was wearing a small star of David necklace, which one of the men was yelling at her that she needed to take off - no religious symbols other than Islam are allowed either.  

Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Women outside Al-Aqsa Mosque.

This woman approached Jim to ask for money.  

The only thing showing on her whole body was her eyes.

There is much debate as to where exactly the Holy Temple of the God of Israel once stood.  Some say that inside this building is the rock on which Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac.  The Dome of the Rock used to be open to tourists many years ago, but today you need to be Muslim to enter both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. 

Here's a short video of the Temple Mount Plaza.

View of the Old City from Mount Moriah.

There have been several excavations on the Temple Mount.  

One can only imagine the treasures of history in this pile.

One of the most important reasons for this trip was going to the Eastern Gate (Golden Gate).  You can see it here in the center with the Mount of Olives in the background.

This view is from standing on the Old City wall next to the Eastern Gate.  Notice the abundance of olive trees.  We kept a small branch with olives growing on it - there are many things that the olive tree represents, and one from this Holy site has such a special significance.  

We'd been to the Temple Mount before, but didn't realize you could walk on the walls at this section of the City!  That is until a man yelling in Arabic at us made us get down....But we were able to first take this picture looking out at the Mount of Olives where Messiah will return and then enter through this Gate where we are now standing.

Looking at the Eastern Gate from the Mount of Olives.  

The picture above was taken just to the left of the Gate looking out.

Looking at the Gate from the inside.

Two doves on the Eastern Gate.

Next on our itinerary that day for the four of us was to search out to see if a sign we were told about really existed.  This would take us into the Muslem Quarter of the Old City where we have visited many times.  We were told it was on what is known as the Via Delarosa near one of the "Stations of the Cross".  As we began walking in that direction, we continued to see and hear the firecrackers that were going off all over the Arab neighborhoods that day.  The smoke in the picture below next the Minaret is from firecrackers.  We later found out it was celebrations of the last day of school for the Arab children.

Well, I can honestly say we were all shocked to find the sign we were told about.  

We saw it now with our own eyes (and took this picture).  

It is hanging next to the public bathrooms.

Across from the 3rd Station of the Cross. 

This sign was inside the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate building.  

 If you haven't heard of Chrislam, keep your eyes and ears open.  Around the world a tolerance is being formulated to incorporate Christianity and Islam.  In Australia the buses have posters saying that Jesus is a prophet of Islam.  Just this past June, the Quran was read in several Church pulpits all over America.

It is very important in these days to know Who exactly our God is.  

He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  

The God of Israel.  

"I am the LORD, and there is no other;
      There is no God besides Me." Isaiah 45:5