We all know that Jesus’ disciples asked Him about the time of the end and His return. <\/p>\n
Among the signs preceding His return Jesus mentioned a siege of Jerusalem and its destruction: "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near" (Luke 21:20).<\/p>\n
This particular prophecy is dual. It was fulfilled in 70 AD when the Roman general Titus conquered Jerusalem after a 3 year siege of the city. For the next 50 years, Jerusalem was quiet. But in 135 AD a second great Jewish rebellion led to another Roman conquest of Jerusalem. This time Jews were forbidden to reenter the city on pain of death, and a pagan temple was erected where the Herodian temple had once stood. In 637 AD Jerusalem was conquered by an Islamic army. Except for a short period during the Crusades, Jerusalem remained under Islamic rule until 1917 AD when Palestine become a British protectorate.<\/p>\n
During these many centuries Jerusalem had little geopolitical significance. In those centuries it would have hardly seemed possible for Jesus’ words to be fulfilled.<\/p>\n
But since 1917 – and especially since the founding of the state of Israel – Jerusalem’s importance on the world scene has changed dramatically. <\/p>\n
In recent weeks attention has been diverted from the Middle East peace process by events in Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya. The current unrest in the Middle East is only a precursor to the final fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy.<\/p>\n
The prophet Zechariah wrote: "It shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all the nations of the earth are gathered against it" (Zechariah 12:3).<\/p>\n
The modern geopolitical significance of Jerusalem is a remarkable forerunner to the final fulfillment of Jesus’ Olivet prophecy, offering proof of the Bible’s prophetic predictions. As Mr. Herbert Armstrong so often emphasized: "Watch the Middle East – watch Jerusalem!"<\/p>\n
With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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