Nice work this week!  You have hung in there, and we’re going to end this week’s study with a bang!  So, prepare to be blessed!

 

As we’ve seen, Daniel 9:24-27 is a key prophecy in understanding God’s plan for Israel.  We have already taken a deep dive into that passage, but today we’re going to search even deeper for a few remaining nuggets to stash away in our treasure box.

 

Once more we’ll turn to Pastor Mark Martin’s teaching to shed greater light on the Messiah’s entrance into Jerusalem, exactly as predicted.  There will be some review, but consider it confirmation of the teaching we’ve already studied, and let’s put our focus on the striking fulfillment of prophecy regarding the details of the arrival of the Anointed One.

 

So, let’s re-cap before we dive in.  Who issued the decree referenced in Daniel 9:24-27?  Ezra? Cyrus? Artaxerxes?   If you said Artaxerxes, I agree with you!   When was the decree issued?  If you said 445BC, I agree with you!  When was the Messiah “cut off?”  If you said Palm Sunday, I agree with you!

 

As we’ve seen, Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled exactly to the day.  Now, let’s focus on that day (Palm Sunday) and the Eastern Gate.  As Christians, we celebrate Palm Sunday as the day Jesus entered Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate, just as Daniel prophesied!  Mark 11:1-11 provides details of Jesus’ entry, and Dr Luke provides more insight into this event.  Luke 19:41-44 tells us that Jesus wept over Jerusalem.  Why did He weep?

 

Indeed, Jesus wept because He had an appointment with His people, yet they missed it!  Despite previously fulfilled prophecy, the Jews did not recognize their Messiah.  They were His people, but they have yet to make Him their God!

 

The setting and culture of the day are interesting bits of prophecy as well.  John the Baptist, in John 1:29, declared Jesus to be the “Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.”  The little town of Bethlehem lies only 6 ½ miles from the Temple.  Lambs for the sacrifice were raised in and around the fields of Bethlehem.  Where was Jesus born?

 

Yes, Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, entered the Temple as the sacrificial Lamb of God to take away your sin, my sin, and that of the entire world!  In that day, lambs were brought into the house 4 days before Passover.  Did you know that Jesus entered Jerusalem 4 days before Passover!  Coincidence?  I don’t think so!

 

The Bible is accurate in every single detail!  Need more evidence?  Okay, let’s take a quick look at the Eastern Gate.  Read Ezekiel 44:1-3.

 

Well, indeed, the gate was sealed shut after Jesus entered, and Scripture says it will remain sealed until the Messiah comes again!  Though attempts have been made to unseal it, none have been successful.

 

The Eastern Gate through which Jesus entered is not visible today.  It currently exists underground, beneath rubble from as early as 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the Temple.  The current Eastern Gate was likely built during Justinian’s 6^th century building program or in the 7^th century by the Byzantines.  Here is that gate today:

In 1517 the Turks conquered Jerusalem and re-built walls above where they previously existed.  Though the original Eastern Gate is buried underneath the ground, Suleiman even walled up the new gate because he heard the Messiah was coming and feared He would conquer Jerusalem!  Thinking they needed to be certain He would not enter, Muslims established a cemetery right in front of that gate that is still there today!  The thought was that the Messiah would not defile Himself by going through a Muslim cemetery in order to enter that gate.

 

News flash to Suleiman:  When Jesus’ foot touches down on the Mount of Olives an earthquake will split that gate wide open!  So much for the cemetery and the sealed gate!

 

Suleiman and his forces were not the only ones to mess with that gate!  In 1917, it is said that British General and devout Christian, Edmond Allenby, led British troops in an attempt to drive the Turks from Jerusalem in order to restore Israel to the Jews.  British tanks could not enter the Eastern Gate, however, as it was elevated above ground level at that time.  Thus, there was talk about taking the gate down.

 

But Allenby took Isaiah 31:5 to heart.

 

Allenby ordered planes to drop leaflets, written in Arabic, saying, “Surrender the city today, Allenby.”  Most Turks had never seen an airplane, much less an entire squadron dropping leaflets, undoubtedly causing some degree of fear.  Beyond that, when “Allenby” was translated into Arabic, it came out “Alla Bay,” meaning “Son of God” to Muslims.  Thus, thinking they had gotten a command from the Son of God, the Turks surrendered without a shot being fired, and without the Eastern Gate being taken down!  Did God send a “bird” to protect, deliver and rescue Jerusalem?  General Allenby would not be convinced otherwise!

 

Finally, in 1967, Jordan controlled Jerusalem and the king of Jordan wished to build a hotel at the Western Wall.  He planned to get there via the Eastern Gate by using cranes, jackhammers and other heavy equipment.  However, on June 5 the Six-Day War began, Israel gained control of Temple Mount, Jordanians fled and the gate remained closed, as it will be until Jesus returns!

 

So, dear friends, what golden nuggets have you collected today?  Jesus truly is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world!  Jesus entered Jerusalem on the day the sacrificial lambs were brought in for Passover because He is our sacrificial Lamb of God.  Lambs were brought from Bethlehem, the birthplace of our sacrificial Lamb!  Not only did Jesus fulfill prophecy, He did so within the parameters of Jewish law!  Only God could accomplish that!

 

In addition, the Eastern Gate was sealed after Jesus entered and, though many have tried, no one has been able to open that gate since.  Zechariah 14:4 says that on the day the Messiah returns once more and steps foot on the Mount of Olives, the Eastern Gate will be blown wide open and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will enter again and set up His kingdom!  Maranatha…Lord come quickly!

 

I hope you have found this week’s study enlightening.  God’s Word is full of “meat” for the hungry sojourner, and as we dig in we are filled!  Tomorrow we’ll begin to examine the most important prophecy of our time: the re-birth of Israel.  Don’t miss it!  We’re looking for the Blessed Hope!