Tag Archives: Isaiah

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Netanyahu to Iran: “Don’t Threaten Israel!”

Iran, bolstered by the Iranian Nuclear Deal, continues to press the envelop when it comes to violating agreements, both within that deal and within other UN resolutions regarding their development and use of missiles.

On Sunday, Iran fire 7 missiles aimed at Syria (three of which fell in Iraq), supposedly targeting ISIS positions.  Though none hit their mark, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed success and reported that 300 terrorists were killed.  Israeli surveillance indicated otherwise.  Only one rocket landed close to an ISIS base, and there are no known casualties.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hussein al-Islam, boldly proclaimed that Saudis and Americans are “the main recipients of this message.”  Those actions and comments drew a response from Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.  During a visit to Kazakhstan, he was asked by President Nursultan Nazarbayev if he had a message for the Iranian president who is to visit Kazakhstan next week.  Netanyahu stated that if Iran would change their policies, Israel will change theirs.  He went on to say:

“This activity is also about Iranian attempts to settle in Syria and, of course, transfer advanced weaponry to the Lebanese Hezbollah. I have a message to Iran: Do not threaten Israel.”

According to the Jerusalem Post, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei repeated on Wednesday a statement made previously:  “Israel will not exist 25 years from now.”

The actions and rhetoric coming out of radical Islamic regions is once again simmering to a boil.  As watchmen, we must be diligent in prayer for Israel (Isaiah 62).  As followers of Jesus Christ, we must be ready for the return of our Lord (Matthew 25:1-13).  The two go hand-in-hand, so let’s be found faithful (Matthew 25:21).

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Behold Israel Releases New Teachings in English and Spanish

Many of you follow this blog from Guatemala, Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries and I have good news for you!  Amir Tsarfati, founder of Behold Israel, has recently released several messages he has delivered while teaching in Mexico.  These timely messages are in English, but translated to Spanish, and they are powerful!

Here is a list of messages available from the current tour of Mexico:

Amir continues his teaching tour in Mexico until June 21, and you can find out more here.  If you are near anywhere he is teaching, I strongly encourage you to attend one or more of these opportunities to hear one of the world’s foremost experts and Bible teachers regarding Israel and God’s plan for her.  You will be greatly blessed!

Amir’s next stop is the US, where he will teach at First Euless Church (Euless TX) on June 25.  You will find information about that engagement here.

Enjoy…and have a blessed day!

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Jerusalem Rising!

Awake, awake,
    put on your strength, O Zion;
put on your beautiful garments,
    O Jerusalem, the holy city;
for there shall no more come into you
    the uncircumcised and the unclean.
Shake yourself from the dust and arise;
    be seated, O Jerusalem;
loose the bonds from your neck,
    O captive daughter of Zion.
~Isaiah 52:1-2

Welcome back…so glad you’re here!  Yesterday we laid the groundwork for today’s exciting finish.  If you missed yesterday’s post, go back and pick it up before proceeding today.  Take your time through today’s post!

We have established the fact that the City of David (Zion) was the ancient site of Jerusalem.  The Old City within today’s walls is NOT the Jerusalem of David’s day!

In 1867, a British archeologist discovered the City of David, which was buried under succeeding layers of civilization.  The City of David is now being excavated, and it has a story to tell!  It is a story of what the Bible tells us will occur before the Second Coming of Jesus.  Jerusalem will rise…and we have a part to play!  I want you to hear about what is happening at the City of David, but before we do that, please pause to read Isaiah 52:1-2 (above).  Take time to review Isaiah 62 as well!  Enjoy!

(Note: this video is 4 minutes long and contains an opportunity to support the work of Jerusalem Watch.  My point is not so much that you support them [though I believe it is a worthy cause], but that you hear the significance of this discovery.  So, please watch the entire video.)

Shabbat shalom!

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Where is Jerusalem?

Awake, awake,
    put on your strength, O Zion;
put on your beautiful garments,
    O Jerusalem, the holy city;
for there shall no more come into you
    the uncircumcised and the unclean.
Shake yourself from the dust and arise;
    be seated, O Jerusalem;
loose the bonds from your neck,
    O captive daughter of Zion.
~Isaiah 52:1-2

Welcome back friends!  I am really excited today as I’ve spent the past few days studying about the City of David, and what Scripture tells us about that city in the last days.  (I’ve also found some cool resources!)  Isaiah 52:1-2 (above) serves as a foundation today, and will come alive tomorrow in part 2 of this mini-series!

Ok Bible students, are you ready for some action?  Pull out your Bibles (or just use the links I provide).  Be sure to look up the verses or you won’t be able to follow along well!

According to 2 Samuel 5:7 or 1 Chronicles 11:5, what is another name for Zion?

You remember David, right?  The Psalmist, the man after God’s own heart, Israel’s most beloved king.  Where did he rule from? (Hint: read Psalm 132.  David ruled from the place the Lord chose to dwell.)

Now it gets interesting!  Look up 2 Samuel 20:3.  Where did David live?  But wait…I thought he lived and ruled from the City of David.  What’s going on here?  (We will get there.  Stick with me!)

Scripture teaches us that David wanted to build the Lord a Temple, but he was not allowed.  Find out why, and who ultimately did build the Temple, in 1 Chronicles 22:7-8.

After completion of the Temple, what happened, according to 1 Kings 8:1 and 2 Chronicles 5:2?  Now, notice two key words in both of those verses:  “bring up.”

You see, the Israelites brought the ark of the covenant UP from Zion (City of David) to the Temple!  We know that the Temple is in what is known today as the Old City of Jerusalem.  In fact, here is a model city of Jerusalem during Jesus’ time (well after David’s time):

Model City, looking north

Keep your focus within the fenced in part of the picture above.  (This model city is at the Israel Museum, so the actual building you see in the background is the entrance to this exhibit.)  Temple Mount is the large structure to the right side of the picture.

Temple Mount, and the Temple Solomon built, were on a hill, and the ark of the covenant was indeed moved UP from the City of David (Zion).  Remember, this model city is from Jesus’ day, so back in David’s day, it did not extend very far to the west (left, in this picture).  So, can you guess where the City of David was?  If you said in the lower right-hand quadrant of the picture, you are correct!

But here is where we solve the mystery.  Today’s walls of the Old City are up the hill.  In fact, this picture is looking north toward Temple Mount and the southern wall of Temple Mount today is the southern wall of the Old City, and it extends to the west (left).  But in David’s day, the lower City of David WAS Jerusalem!  No city existed on the hill when Solomon built the Temple.  Jerusalem (also known as Zion and the City of David) were all the same place, yet today we think of Jerusalem as the Old City, up the hill, within the current walls.

What’s the point of today’s study?  Ahhhh….so glad you asked!  I am setting you up for tomorrow!  You see, there is tremendous significance to the discovery of the City of David in 1867…but you’ll have to come back tomorrow for that!

Meanwhile, consider Isaiah 52:1-2 (above).  When it speaks of Jerusalem, now you know to where the prophet Isaiah is referring!  Tomorrow you will understand the significance!

See you then!