Watchmen for Jerusalem
“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”
Isaiah 62:6-7
As I have told you so many times previously in this watchmen series, I passionately desire for you and me to be women who know how to look at current events from God’s viewpoint. Prophecy after prophecy is being fulfilled in our lifetime. We must understand what is going on in our world from God’s viewpoint on His throne. Today we focus again on Jerusalem in our series because God keeps focusing me on His city.
One of the main signs that Jesus’ return is very near is Jerusalem. When Jesus was telling of the signs of the end and His return, He said of Jerusalem in Luke 21:24, “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Jesus told us of both the fall of Jerusalem and that one day the Jews would take back Jerusalem.
In the first century, Rome ruled the known world. The Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem. They closed all exits from Jerusalem including the tunnels under the wall. The siege continued for months. All hope for escape withered and vanished away. Tens of thousands of Jews were trapped behind the walls. The people in the city starved. In this military slaughter, Titus killed over one million people in Jerusalem, and 97,000 were taken as prisoners to Rome. Some were fed to the lions as entertainment for the Roman citizens in their coliseum. The strong became gladiators who fought to the death. Some were burned alive…Men and women…Young and old…Many of the Jews did not heed Jesus’ warning in His prophecy in Matthew 24:17-18 to flee so quickly that they didn’t go from the roof into the house to take anything or the one in the field to not return to get his cloak. The majority of the other Jews fled or were driven out of the land. This time is known in Israel as the Diaspora. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were scattered to the ends of the earth. They did not return to their homeland as a nation until 1948.
Jerusalem means “dwelling of peace.” No other city on earth holds God’s heart like Jerusalem does. On the day of the triumphal entry, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem because He knew what was going to happen to the people. The Greek word for wept is the strongest word to express one’s grief. Jesus lamented, wailed, shed tears, and had every external expression of grief. He cried because they did not know what would bring them peace. Our God loves Jerusalem, and He did not reject the Jewish people. The city of peace rejected the Prince of Peace.
In the Six Day war in 1967, the Jewish people took control of Jerusalem for the first time since 70 A.D. The sign that Jerusalem is no longer under Gentile control has been fulfilled. The reoccupation of Jerusalem has come true in our time. However, the kingdom of the air longs to strip away pieces of land to thwart God’s plan and stop the countdown to His Son’s return.
In every generation, God has posted a watchman to pray for Jerusalem. They are to call on the Lord until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. We are not to be silent. When you and I pray and call out to God for Jerusalem, we are fulfilling God’s Word. If God is so passionate about Jerusalem, then we should be relentless in our prayers to our Father about Jerusalem. May the Lord Almighty give us His heart for Jerusalem!
Pray with me: Lord of Hosts, Jehovah Sabaoth, You are all powerful and worthy of all praise. Praise You that the Gentiles no longer control Jerusalem. You have fulfilled Your Word and continue to prove that You are God alone. May all plans to take away any part of Jerusalem from the Jewish people be thwarted. Raise up leaders who understand Your heart and will not relinquish the land.
Someday the King of Glory will come to Jerusalem. We long for that day. When Jerusalem is secure (Zechariah 14:11), then there will be peace on earth. Lord, You put Your Name on Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 6:6) and said You would dwell there forever (Psalm 68:16). You love this city and its people. Give us a heart for Jerusalem. Strip the veils so we can see how much it means to You. Establish Jerusalem and make her the praise of the earth. We long for the day when there are no more moms crying because of what has happened to their children. We cry out for peace – true peace, everlasting peace. It is in the Name of the Prince of Peace that we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name. Amen.
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Showing posts with label Jerusalem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerusalem. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Nothing or Everything
Nothing or Everything?
“They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Luke 21:24
The 2005 movie Kingdom of Heaven tells loosely the story of the Christian Crusades’ defeat to the Arabs and the surrender of Jerusalem to the Islamic hands in the 12th century. It’s a bloody movie and twists things to paint Christianity unfavorably while favoring the Arabs so I’m not recommending it. The main character is Balian. He is a knight and the leader of the Christian Crusades to protect Jerusalem, and Saladin is the leader of the Arabs. Balian has struggled the whole movie with religion and knowing his standing before God. The Christian leaders in the movie failed to teach him the truth. They were cowering and weak examples for the Gospel.
Near the end of the movie, Balian and his army have been trapped inside the walls of Jerusalem by the conquering Saladin. Balian and his men have battled for days to hold Jerusalem and to not let Saladin in. However, he decides to save the lives of the people who have survived the siege. He comes out to negotiate and to surrender Jerusalem to Saladin so he can save as many of the people’s lives as he can. After they agree to terms, Balian has to ask Saladin one burning question. You see, he struggled through the entire battle to hold Jerusalem. He never understood the passion of the Crusaders. He only fought because he was a warrior and a leader who protected people. He asked him, “What is Jerusalem worth?” Saladin very plainly says, “Nothing.” He turns his back and walks away.
The camera shows Balian’s face again. In just a couple of seconds, his face communicates his thoughts so well. His expressions made me think that his thoughts must be something like, “So this was just another land for Saladin to conquer. This is no special treasure. Why did so many people have to die for this land? Why, we can find land somewhere else.” Then, Saladin stops walking and turns to Balian. He says with a passion and a fire in his eyes, “Everything!”
While this is just a movie loosely based on some real people, I realize how well this hits the mark. You see, beloved, to the common eye, to someone who does not understand the Word of God, Jerusalem doesn’t seem like it’s worth all of this fighting. However, with spiritual eyes, God put His name on the city (2 Chronicles 6:6) and said He would dwell there forever (Psalm 68:16). When He did that, He placed a target on top of Jerusalem. The evil one hates Jerusalem. He has sought to control, oppress, and destroy it through the ages. It represents God’s name and peace on earth.
Luke 21:24 tells us that one of the signs of the Lord’s return is that Jerusalem will no longer be under Gentile control. In the Six Day war in 1967, the Jewish people took control of Jerusalem for the first time since 70 A.D. The reoccupation of Jerusalem has come true in our time. There has been more bloodshed over Jerusalem than any other city on earth. There is a sinister force that longs to destroy the ancient city. Terrorism never ends there. In the past 3,000 years, 26 empires have conquered her. However, today, my friend, Jerusalem is no longer trodden under foot by the Gentiles. Today, the Jewish people have control over Jerusalem. This means that our Lord’s return is very soon. Oh, beloved, do you see the signs of the times in which we live? Are you ready for our Jesus to return for His bride, to assert His power, and to avenge His people? Are you willing to stand against any leader who tries to return parts of Jerusalem to Gentile control? Are you committed to praying for Jerusalem because it bears the Name of the God whom you love? Oh, let’s be relentless about this, precious one, and let’s be watchwomen for Jerusalem!
Pray with me: Almighty God, we praise You for the fulfillment of Your prophecy. Your precious Jerusalem that bears Your Name has been trodden upon through the centuries. The kingdom of darkness seeks to defile anything that You love and Your Name. I cry out for the many people who have died there. I cry out for the peace of Jerusalem. When there is peace in Jerusalem, there will be peace on earth.
The evil one knows that his time is short since the Gentiles no longer have control of the city. He will do anything to undo the inevitable. Soon, precious Jesus, You will come soon for Your bride. You will assert Your power and avenge Your people. The first time You came to earth You laid down Your power, took on the nature of a servant, and were obedient even unto death on the cross. The second time You will assert Your power to cleanse the world of sin and rebellion against God. You will be invincible. You are the warrior of warriors! It is in Your Name, Yeshua’s Name, that we pray, Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study,
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
“They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Luke 21:24
The 2005 movie Kingdom of Heaven tells loosely the story of the Christian Crusades’ defeat to the Arabs and the surrender of Jerusalem to the Islamic hands in the 12th century. It’s a bloody movie and twists things to paint Christianity unfavorably while favoring the Arabs so I’m not recommending it. The main character is Balian. He is a knight and the leader of the Christian Crusades to protect Jerusalem, and Saladin is the leader of the Arabs. Balian has struggled the whole movie with religion and knowing his standing before God. The Christian leaders in the movie failed to teach him the truth. They were cowering and weak examples for the Gospel.
Near the end of the movie, Balian and his army have been trapped inside the walls of Jerusalem by the conquering Saladin. Balian and his men have battled for days to hold Jerusalem and to not let Saladin in. However, he decides to save the lives of the people who have survived the siege. He comes out to negotiate and to surrender Jerusalem to Saladin so he can save as many of the people’s lives as he can. After they agree to terms, Balian has to ask Saladin one burning question. You see, he struggled through the entire battle to hold Jerusalem. He never understood the passion of the Crusaders. He only fought because he was a warrior and a leader who protected people. He asked him, “What is Jerusalem worth?” Saladin very plainly says, “Nothing.” He turns his back and walks away.
The camera shows Balian’s face again. In just a couple of seconds, his face communicates his thoughts so well. His expressions made me think that his thoughts must be something like, “So this was just another land for Saladin to conquer. This is no special treasure. Why did so many people have to die for this land? Why, we can find land somewhere else.” Then, Saladin stops walking and turns to Balian. He says with a passion and a fire in his eyes, “Everything!”
While this is just a movie loosely based on some real people, I realize how well this hits the mark. You see, beloved, to the common eye, to someone who does not understand the Word of God, Jerusalem doesn’t seem like it’s worth all of this fighting. However, with spiritual eyes, God put His name on the city (2 Chronicles 6:6) and said He would dwell there forever (Psalm 68:16). When He did that, He placed a target on top of Jerusalem. The evil one hates Jerusalem. He has sought to control, oppress, and destroy it through the ages. It represents God’s name and peace on earth.
Luke 21:24 tells us that one of the signs of the Lord’s return is that Jerusalem will no longer be under Gentile control. In the Six Day war in 1967, the Jewish people took control of Jerusalem for the first time since 70 A.D. The reoccupation of Jerusalem has come true in our time. There has been more bloodshed over Jerusalem than any other city on earth. There is a sinister force that longs to destroy the ancient city. Terrorism never ends there. In the past 3,000 years, 26 empires have conquered her. However, today, my friend, Jerusalem is no longer trodden under foot by the Gentiles. Today, the Jewish people have control over Jerusalem. This means that our Lord’s return is very soon. Oh, beloved, do you see the signs of the times in which we live? Are you ready for our Jesus to return for His bride, to assert His power, and to avenge His people? Are you willing to stand against any leader who tries to return parts of Jerusalem to Gentile control? Are you committed to praying for Jerusalem because it bears the Name of the God whom you love? Oh, let’s be relentless about this, precious one, and let’s be watchwomen for Jerusalem!
Pray with me: Almighty God, we praise You for the fulfillment of Your prophecy. Your precious Jerusalem that bears Your Name has been trodden upon through the centuries. The kingdom of darkness seeks to defile anything that You love and Your Name. I cry out for the many people who have died there. I cry out for the peace of Jerusalem. When there is peace in Jerusalem, there will be peace on earth.
The evil one knows that his time is short since the Gentiles no longer have control of the city. He will do anything to undo the inevitable. Soon, precious Jesus, You will come soon for Your bride. You will assert Your power and avenge Your people. The first time You came to earth You laid down Your power, took on the nature of a servant, and were obedient even unto death on the cross. The second time You will assert Your power to cleanse the world of sin and rebellion against God. You will be invincible. You are the warrior of warriors! It is in Your Name, Yeshua’s Name, that we pray, Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study,
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
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