JERUSALEM JUBILEE
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Mark 13: 28-31
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I awoke this morning with a strong sense of the presence of the LORD and opened my Bible only to discover that my reading today was Mark 13. As I read this well-known passage, which speaks of the second coming of our Lord, Yeshua (Jesus), this sense of the Presence increased. I wondered what it could mean. I have a feeling that we are standing at the brink of some very important and earth-shaking events - the fulfillment of things which have been prophesied from of old.
This coming week will be a tense and busy week here in Jerusalem. Between Sunday and Thursday some 40 or so separate events will take place, each involving thousands of people. This will cause a great deal of disruption to our lives because of street closures and security measures. In addition, on Friday the Muslim month of Ramadan, the annual fast period, will begin. There is often an upsurge of tension, rioting and terror attacks during Ramadan.
This Wednesday is the 50th Anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, when Israeli forces captured the Temple Mount and East Jerusalem from the occupying Jordanian forces in 1967. We are therefore entering the Jubilee Year of the Reunification Jerusalem, the time when the Temple Mount and all of Jerusalem came under Israeli control after nearly 2000 years, during which it was 'trampled by the gentiles'. Yeshua, prior to his crucifixion and resurrection, prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and said that,
"... Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled".
Luke 21:24
According to the Luke passage the ending of the times of the Gentile rule over Jerusalem is closely linked with the time of the second coming of Yeshua.
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
Luke 21:28
Luke 21:28
The LORD commanded Israel to keep the 50th year, after 7 cycles of the 7 years of Shmita*, as a consecrated year of Jubilee. This word 'Jubilee' comes from the Hebrew word 'yovel' which literally means a ram's horn. On the Day of Atonement falling in this year, a trumpet blast on a ram's horn was to be sounded, proclaiming liberty to all the inhabitants of the Land. On this day, all debts would be pardoned, all land returned to its original owners, and all slaves would be set free.
‘And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. 10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants.
Leviticus 25: 8-10
This year also marks the 100th year since the British General Allenby's forces liberated Jerusalem from Turkish rule in 1917. It would appear, that even though the Jubilee cycle has not been observed by most Jews for centuries, there is still a Jubilee cycle operating over Jerusalem (for more on this see the article below (1)). If this is so, then perhaps we can expect another major landmark in the redemption of Jerusalem, this year.
I wonder what will be the significance of US President Trump's visit to Jerusalem which will take place during the two days preceding Jerusalem Day. He will arrive with an entourage of around 1000 people on Monday evening, and will leave the following evening. Needless to say this necessitates massive security measures and a great deal of disruption to traffic and other activities in the city.
This Thursday some 25- 30 (accounts vary) US transport planes arrived at Ben Gurion Airport carrying a large amount of logistical support for Trump's visit - including Black Hawk helicopters, armored vehicles and security vehicles. Among this is Trump's personal transport, a limousine with steel doors nicknamed, interestingly enough, 'The Beast'. This car "forms a seal that keeps the passengers safe in the event of a biological or chemical attack, it is impenetrable to bullets, and the doors are made of plated steel" (2). Trump and his entourage will be staying at the King David Hotel. His suite is specially designed to withstand a bomb blast, has separate air conditioning system to protect against biological and chemical warfare, the windows are strengthened to protect from an RPG attack and even if the whole hotel were to collapse the room is designed to maintain its integrity. Some 10,000 Israeli police and security personnel will be involved in Trump's protection.
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| The View of the Old City, the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives from the Presidential Suite http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4964436,00.html |
So what is all this about? What is Trump hoping to accomplish on this visit? In addition to his visit with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem he will also be talking with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem. Rumors have it that Trump is hoping to broker the 'ultimate peace deal' that will bring peace between the Palestinians and Israel (3). Others think he will announce the movement of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Only time will tell, but I am sure that God has His plans and whatever happens I suspect it is going to be a significant milestone along the way of God's ultimate plan for the redemption of the world. God is setting the stage for the ultimate fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy:
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness (literally: reeling) to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. 3 And 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 nations of the earth are gathered against it....
“The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. 8 In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. 9 It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn....
Zechariah 12: 1-10
* Smita= the agricultural cycle by which the land would be left fallow every seventh year
