Forty-eight years ago (per the Hebrew calendar), Israel re-captured all of Jerusalem and, for the first time since 70 AD when Jerusalem was totally annihilated by the Romans, Jerusalem was reunited and Jews had access to Temple Mount.  (See details about The Six-Day War in yesterday’s post entitled “Against All Odds, Israel Stands!“)

On that day in 1967, Israelis rejoiced as paratroopers stormed Temple Mount, and Jews approached their most holy site with awe.  To this day, Israel continues to hold that day in high reverence as they celebrate Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day).  The celebration includes a joyous march through the Old City in commemoration of that great day in Jewish history.

Yesterday, as Israelis celebrated, violence broke out when Palestinians began throwing stones, bottles and trash at IDF and border police as they guarded the route.  Each year the violence seems to increase, and the protests are larger.

Interestingly, Palestinians also mark that infamous day and they call it “Nakba Day”…Day of the Catastrophe.  Catastrophic because Israel was re-born and back in their land.  You see, from the very moment of Israel’s independence in 1948, Arabs and Palestinians have fought for the total annihilation of Israel.   They have staged war after war, yet are unsuccessful in “driving the Jews into the sea.”

The Bible tells us that, in the last days, Jerusalem will be a burden:

“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”
~Zechariah 2:2-3

Indeed, Jerusalem is a burden to many.  And, indeed, we are watching nations gather against her.  Ultimately, Zechariah tells  us that “all the nations of the earth” will turn on her.  One reason is that many (including the US) want to divide Jerusalem…the very reason for the violence today!  The prophet Joel warns strongly against that:

“For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will gather all the nations
And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
Then I will enter into judgment with them there
On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
And they have divided up My land.”
~Joel 3:1-2

Woe to our great nation when we find ourselves on the wrong side of that equation.  May our generation NOT be the one which slides to that depth of depravity.  If you haven’t already, I urge you to join Anne Graham Lotz in “A Distress Call to Prayer.”  We must pray, dear friends.