PRO:Who owns Jerusalem?  by Ulf Oldenburg

   God spoke to Abraham when he was west of the Dead Sea: "Lift up now
your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and
southward and eastward and westward; for all the land that you see will
I give to you, and to your seed for ever. - Arise, walk through the
land according to the length of it and according to the breadth of it;
for I will give it unto you." (Genesis 13:14-17). "On the same day the
Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto your seed I give this
land from the river Egypt (= Wadi el Arish) to the great river, the
river Euphrates." (Genesis 15:18). "And I will bless them that bless
you, and curse him that curses you; and in you shall all families of
the earth be blessed!" (Genesis 12:3).

   The same promise God gave to Isaac and Jacob: "The land that I gave
Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you
will I give the land." (Genesis 35:12; 26:3-4; etc.)

   One bright day God led Moses up on the top of mount Pisgah, east of
the river Jordan, opposite Jordan, and showed him the whole land from
Lebanon unto the desert Negeb and unto the Mediterranean Ocean and
said, "This is the land that I gave unto Abraham, Isaac, and unto
Jacob, saying unto your seed will I give it." (Deuteronomy 34:1-4).

   To Joshua, Moses' attendant, God spoke: "Moses my servant is dead;
and now, rise up, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into
this land which I give unto them, to the children of Israel. Every
place upon where the sole of your foot shall tread have I given unto
you, as I have said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon to
the great river, the river Euphrates, the whole land of the Hittites,
to the great sea, to the going down of the sun, shall be your border."
(Joshua 1:2-4). This land Israel conquered under Joshua and king David.
The king of Jerusalem, Adoni-zedek, gathered the kings of the Amorites
against Israel, but God cast down great hailstones from heaven upon
them and destroyed before Israel. (Read Joshua 10!). Afterwards the
sons of Judah took Jerusalem (Judges 1:8).

   When David became king (about 1000 b.c.) he first of all reconquered
Jerusalem with the stronghold Zion from the Jebusites and made
Jerusalem the capital of his Kingdom (II Samuel 5:6-9). There king
Solomon built the glorious temple of God on mount Moriah, where Abraham
had sacrificed his son Isaac to God. (But God spared Isaac and showed
Abraham the Lamb that was to be slaughtered in his stead!). When the
northern tribes of Israel separated from the kingdom of Judah,
Jerusalem remained the royal city of Judah, as God had promised David:
"...that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in
Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen for myself to put my name
there." (I Kings 11:36; 14:21). "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which
I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name
forever." (I Kings 9:3; II Kings 21:7; etc.).

   What God has given to the children of Israel, He has never taken
back, nor given to any other people on earth. Whoever wants to take
Jerusalem from Israel, fights against God Himself and will be judged by
Him.

   Every nation and every ruler who lifted up his heel against Israel,
has been overthrown. Everyone who did good to Israel, has been
abundantly blessed by the Almighty with peace and prosperity. This law
is dramatically illustrated by all examples in world history, with no
exception, for God has promised, "I will bless them that bless you, and
curse him that curses you!" (Genesis 12:3; 27:29; Exodus 23:22; Numbers
24:9).

   Jesus of Nazareth, the direct descendant from king David, and His
apostles, who were also Jews, verified every word in the Hebrew Bible
and taught the election of God's beloved people Israel. Their lives and
ministries were one entire declaration of the love of God to Israel.
The New Testament agrees perfectly with the Hebrew Bible and confirms
every promise of God to Israel.

   Much later the popal church of Rome took up a hostile attitude
toward the Jews in sharp contrast to the teachings of Jesus and His
first apostles. But with that church, which has also burnt innumerable
faithful witnesses of Jesus alive at the stake (Revelation 17:6;
18:24), we who follow Jesus will have nothing to do. The characteristic
of all true Christians is that they love Israel in infinite
thankfulness for the greatest of all Jews, Jesus of Nazareth, our only
Captain and King.

   Six hundred years after Jesus Muhammed, the founder of Islam, lived,
who composed an entirely different Bible, the Koran. Although he - most
inaccurately - retells many accounts from the Hebrew Bible and
frequently refers to the Thora and the Gospel as former revelations
from God, he contradicts their most basical teachings. Thus he
falsifies numerous Biblical truths, e.g. he gives Ismael (ancestor of
Arabs) the preeminence over Isaac and recounts, that Abraham sacrificed
Ismael (not Isaac) to God (Koran, Sure 37:101-107) and that Abraham and
Ismael together founded the mosque at Mecca (Sure 2:119-123). Muhammed
ridicules that the Messiah is the Son of God (Psalm 2:7) and denies
that Jesus died on the cross and rose again. He says that the
Comforter, Parakletos, whom Jesus promised to send (John 16:7), is
Ahmad "more laudable, " who is Muhammed "laudable; praised." Because
the Jews rejected and hated his unbiblical doctrine, he began to hate
them, and he curses them in the Koran. With the edge of the sword his
followers spread his new doctrine, and soon they had conquered all of
Syria and Palestine. In the year 636 they stormed Jerusalem, which
surrendered after short siege. When the caliph Omar entered the city,
he went immediately to the holy place, where the temple of God had been
standing, and caused a mosque to be built there, and thus Jerusalem
became a holy city to the Muhammedans.

   Who can describe the love of the Jews to their own city Jerusalem?
"If I forget thee, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither! If I do not
remember thee, may my tongue cleave to my palate: if I do not prefer
Jerusalem to my chief joy!" (Psalm 137:5-6). During all the long time
of their pilgrimage among other nations they have kept praying to God
that He may bring them home their old country and Jerusalem. It is a
miracle from God that Jerusalem and the Country of their fathers have
been opened to the Jews in this century, and that Israel has become an
independent state. (The year 1948 is exactly "seven times" = 7*365 1/4
= 2557 after 610 B.C., when the kingdom of Judah lost its independence
at the death of king Josiah). Because of this the enemies of the Jews
are greatly enraged, and in the year 1967 they joined together and made
a lightning war against Israel in order to annihilate it. But He that
watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; God Himself fought for
His people, Israel prevailed and drove back all its enemies, - and
conquered their old city Jerusalem to their infinite joy. If the
enemies of Israel had not made this murderous assault, Jerusalem would
still be in their hands. Thousands of years before, Jesus of Nazareth
and Daniel prophesied, that in the year 1967 Jerusalem would come into
the possession of the Jews. Jesus spoke: "Jerusalem shall be trodden
down of the nations until the time of the nations be fulfilled." (Luke
21:24). He also turns our careful attention to the prophecies of Daniel
about the end time. And Daniel speaks about 1335 days from the time
that the abomination which causes desolation is set up until the
deliverance of Jerusalem (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 24:15). These 1335 days
have both a literal fulfillment in 3 1/2 years in soon future (see
Revelation 11:2) as well as a figurative meaning of 1335 years, for
from 636 to 1967 there are exactly 1335 - 3 1/2 years. The remaining 3
1/2 years (=Revelation 11:2) are the last half of the government of the
false Messiah, who will come as a wolf in sheep's clothing (Daniel
9:27; Revelation 13; the little horn in Daniel 7 and 8). Him the true
Messiah, the Son of David, will consume with the breath of His mouth at
His coming from heaven to save Israel.

   "Behold, He is comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him,
even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail
because of Him. Yea, amen!" (Revelation 1:7; and Zechariah 12:10; Psalm
22:16). He is Perez, the true Redeemer and Shepherd of Israel, who will
deliver Jerusalem (Micah 2:12-13). Great is the day of Israel!

   Messiah has already suffered as a Lamb in order to deliver us from
our sins (Isaiah 53), and He shall suffer no more. Now He comes as the
King to rule in Jerusalem over all the earth. What a joy and glory are
awaiting the world! Therefore kiss the Son! Psalm 2:12.

   This is what God has spoken concerning Jerusalem in this coming
time: "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of bewilderment unto all the
people round about, and also against Judah shall it be in the siege
against Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in that day that I will
make Jerusalem a burdensome stone unto all peoples: all that burden
themselves with it shall be sore wounded, and all the nations of the
earth shall be assembled together against it. - In that day will I make
all the leaders of Judah like a hearth of fire among wood, and like a
torch of fire in the sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round
about, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem shall dwell
again in her own place, in Jerusalem. - In that day will the Lord
defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that stumbles among them at
that day shall be as David; and the house of David as God, as the Angel
of the Lord before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I
will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I
will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem
the Spirit of Grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon Me
whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for
an only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one in bitterness
for his firstborn." (Zechariah 12).

   Israel shall not fear the threat of the nations, but only look up to
its eternal King and seek His pleasure alone! For "he that touches you
touches the apple of His eye." (Zechariah 2:8). Whenever Israel humbled
itself before its God, miraculously delivered from all its enemies,
"not by forces, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of
Hosts." (Zechariah 4:6).

   Even if Russia with all its allies arises and rushes at Israel like
a storm, Israel shall not fear at all. For God is about to settle
accounts with Communism. If only Israel prays to God exactly as
described in Joel 1:13- and 2:15-, the Almighty will drive the army
"that comes from the north" far off from them (Joel 2:20) and do with
it exactly as it intended to do with Israel. (See Ezekiel 38 and 39!).
Thus is the destiny of all the enemies of Israel!

   Israel shall neither seek the favor of its enemies, nor fear its
enemies, but fear God only and humble itself before Him. The only
victorious strategy against all its enemies is Joel 1:13- and 2:15-.

   "Like as the lion, even the young lion, growling over its prey, when
a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, is not afraid of
their voice, nor gives way before the multitude of them; so will the
Lord of Hosts come down to war upon mount Zion, and on the hill
thereof. As birds with outstretched wings, so will the Lord of Hosts
cover Jerusalem; covering, He will also deliver, passing over, He will
rescue it." (Isaiah 31:4-5).

   Already before the end of this century Joel 3 and these other
glorious promises of God will be fulfilled:

   "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great
jealously, and I am jealous for her with great fury. Thus says the
Lord: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of
Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called THE CITY OF TRUTH; and the
mountain of the Lord of Hosts THE HOLY MOUNTAIN. - Thus says the Lord
of Hosts: Behold I will save my people from the land of the sun-rising
and from the land of the sun-setting; and I will bring them, and they
shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and
I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness." (Zechariah 8).

   "It shall come to pass that day that living waters shall go out of
Jerusalem; half of them towards the eastern sea, and half of them
toward the hinder (Mediterranean) sea: and in summer and in winter
shall it be. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day
there shall be one Lord and His name one. - And it shall come to pass,
that all that are left of the nations which came against Jerusalem
shall go up year to year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to
celebrate the feast of tabernacles." (Zechariah 14).

   "At that time they shall call Jerusalem THE THRONE OF THE LORD; and
all the nations shall be gathered unto it to the Name of the Lord, to
Jerusalem. - In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of
righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgement and
righteousness upon the earth. In those days shall Jerusalem be saved,
and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety. And this is the name wherein she
shall be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jeremiah 3:17;
33:15-16). "And the name of the city from that day on will be THE LORD
IS THERE." (Ezekiel 48:35).

   "Exult, O daughter of Zion; shout. O Israel; rejoice and be glad
with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem: The Lord has taken away
all your judgements, He has cast out your enemy; the King of Israel,
the Lord, is in the midst of you; you shall not see evil anymore. In
that day is shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; Zion, let not your
hands be slack. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one that
will save; He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love;
He will exult over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:14-17).

   "For Zions sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's I will
not be still, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her
salvation as a torch that burns. And the nations shall see your
righteousness, and all the kings you glory; and you shall be called by
a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. And you shall be a
crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand
of your God. - And with the joy of the bridegroom over the bride, shall
your God rejoice over you.

   "I have set watchmen upon your walls, Jerusalem; all the day and all
the night they shall never shall hold their peace: you that put the
Lord in remembrance, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He
establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise an the earth!" (Isaiah
62).

   "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! They shall be in restful security
that love you!" (Psalm 122:6).

   The Lord bless you, Jerusalem, THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING, the Zion
of THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL!

   Everyone who accepts the Holy Bible as the Word of God, now knows,
that Jerusalem belongs to Israel forever.

   Ulf Oldenburg (c) 1990 BETH SHAMEA RESEARCH ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

   Beth Shamea Research

   RD 1 Box 50

   Stoneboro, PA. 16153
