Jerusalem Countdown 2018

This past week there was a significant event that took place in the history of the nation of Israel

And because of that I have entitled my message Jerusalem Countdown

On May 14, 2018, the U.S. officially opened its Embassy in Jerusalem

Why should we care? What does this have to do with anything?

Does is signify anything in biblical prophecy?

Let’s explore this together and see if there is anything we need to pay attention to.

Read Matt 24:30-25 & Zech 12:1-6 / Pray

Trans: As we begin, the first question we might answer is…

1. Why Does Jerusalem matter?

Jerusalem is prophetically significant and really it is the center of the prophetic world

The entire earth is fixated upon Jerusalem – and as time goes by, it will become the focal point for everything in the prophetic

Jer 3:17 “At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord.”

In Matt 24, at the beginning, Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives teaching his disciples – Mount of Olives is in Jerusalem just east of the Temple Mount

Why is that significant? Because it’s where the Lord ascended from and will return to upon His second coming

Zech 14:2 “I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it…”

Zech 14:4 “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west…”

Jerusalem will be attacked but God will protect her

Zech 12:2-3 states “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all surrounding peoples reeling…on that day, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”

Jerusalem is ground zero and the time clock for end times prophetic events

Trans: Let’s take a brief look at some of…

2. The History of the City of Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the city in which God chose for Himself to put His name there

2 Chron 6:6 “But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people”

Jerusalem became the capital city of David’s kingdom and reign

2 Kings 19:34 “For I will defend this city, to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake”

In 2 Kings 25, around, 586 BC, Jerusalem is captured by Babylon who was ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar

He destroyed the city by burning it all down to include the temple and nation of Israel held captive for 70 years – keep that number in mind

Around 446 BC Jerusalem is restored through Ezra and Nehemiah as the walls are rebuilt as well as the temple is rebuilt

Around 30 AD, Jesus rides into Jerusalem and looks upon the city and weeps in Luke 19 because he knows of the coming destruction in 40 years

70 AD, 40 years later, Romans, led by Titus, come in and destroy the city and the second Temple and approximately 1.5 million Jews were killed

Around 306 AD, When Roman Emperor Constantine the Great came to power, Christianity began to be the dominant religion of the Roman Empire

From 600 – 1099 AD, the prophet Muhammad brings the teaching of Islam and Caliph Omar captures Jerusalem

During this time the Dome of the Rock is built and power shifts to Muslim reign and the teaching of Islam – all churches are converted to mosques

Palestine and Jerusalem become part of the Ottoman Empire during the time of Napoleon – this period lasted 200 years from 1517 – 1917

WWI in 1917 began the British Mandate period and lasted until 1948 as Jerusalem fell into the hands of the British Empire

1917 the Balfour Declaration was made in which part read “His majesty’s government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for Jewish people”

WWII – Jews flee Jerusalem for their lives because of Hitler’s terror and reign

1947 was a significant year that led up to the UN resolution declaring an Israeli and Palestinian state in 1947 – Jerusalem divided by west bank

May 14, 1948 – historic as Israel was recognized by the U.S as a nation

1967 – Arab nations threaten to annihilate Jews – Jews strike first – 6 day war that led to capture of Jerusalem back to Jews – significant event

City reunified and back under Jewish control

2017 – Dec 6, 2017 – United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announces moving US Embassy there

May 14, 2018 – US Embassy formally opens in Jerusalem

Trans: I know that seems like a lot, but these years have significant meaning.