From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Chapter 10: Jerusalem: The city of the Great King (Part
1 of 3)
CHAPTER 10
JERUSALEM: THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING
from the book by Eddie Chumney
"RESTORING THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL"
Copies can be
purchased for individual or group study by
writing to me
(Eddie Chumney) at: (chumney@hebroots.org)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHAPTER 10
JERUSALEM: THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING
(Part 1 of 3)
There is no other city on the earth that
is closer to the heart
of the G-d of Israel than the city of Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim).
Combining both the TeNaKh (Old Testament) and the Brit Hadashah
(New
Testament), it is mentioned over 800 times. The heavenly
Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim) is the city of the G-d of Israel (Hebrews 12:22).
It
is the city of the great King (Psalm [Tehillim] 48:2, Matthew
[Mattityahu] 5:35). The throne of the G-d of Israel is located in
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (Ezekiel [Yechezekel] 43:7). It is from
the
heavenly Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) that He sits upon His throne as
King of the universe (Psalm [Tehillim] 47:2). The heavenly
Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim) is also the city of the Bride of the G-d of Israel
(Revelation 21:2, 9-10).
Both in ancient and in modern times,
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) has
always been the heartbeat of religious life for the nation of
Israel.
The special significance of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is
emphasized
throughout the Bible.
1)
The G-d of Israel placed His name in Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim) (II Kings [Melachim] 21:4) and His name
would be there forever (II Chronicles 6:6, 7:16, 33:4).
2)
Abraham (Avraham) offered his son Isaac (Yitzchak) on
mount Moriah in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) in the event known
by
the house of Judah (Judaism) as the Akeida (Genesis
[Bereishit] 22).
3)
Three times a year, males from the nation of Israel went
to
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) to celebrate the Biblical
Festivals. (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 16:16).
4)
The Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was built in Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim). (Psalm [Tehillim] 68:29).
5)
The Priests (Cohanim) and Levites (Levi'im) taught the
Torah and the Sanhedrin administered the G-d of Israel's
court of justice from Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).
(Deuteronomy [Devarim] 16:18, 17:8-11).
6)
The throne of David was in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (I
Chronicles 11:3-7).
7)
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus died as the
suffering Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben Yosef
(Joseph) on a tree in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). (Matthew
(Mattityahu) 16:21, 20:17-19).
8)
The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) indwelled and empowered
the
early Jewish believers in the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) (Acts 2).
9)
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) will become the center of
controversy and a cup of trembling to the nations of the
world and all nations will be gathered against her in the
end
of days (Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 34:8, Zechariah (Zecharyah)
12:2, 14:2).
10)
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is the apple of the G-d of
Israel's eye and He will fight against those nations who
fight against Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) with the plague of
nuclear war (Zechariah [Zecharyah] 2:1-2, 8, 14:3, 12).
11)
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will set His
feet
upon the mount of Olives in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)
as
the Kingly Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben David
at
His second coming (Zechariah [Zecharyah] 14:4).
12)
The Torah will be taught from Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)
by
the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus during the
Messianic age (Athid Lavo) (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 2:2-3) and
all
nations will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles
(Sukkot) (Zechariah [Zecharyah] 14:16).
JERUSALEM AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE
The city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is
constantly in the
remembrance of the Jewish people (house of Judah) as they live
their
lives. She is regarded as the "mother of Israel."
Prayers are said
daily for Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). She is remembered in the
prayers
of the Jewish people when they thank the G-d of Israel for their
food
and when they have their Sabbath (Shabbat) and holy-day
observances.
In fact, the Passover (Pesach) Seder and the Yom Kippur service
ends
by proclaiming, "Next Year in Jerusalem." When a Jew
says, "Next Year
in Jerusalem," it is actually a prayer for the coming of the
Messianic Age (Athid Lavo).
At the conclusion of every Jewish
wedding ceremony, it is a
tradition for the groom to break a glass (Orach Chaim 560:2,
Evven
HaEzer 65:3 in Hagah. See Tosafot, Berakhot 31a, s.v.
"Isi."). Among
Ashkenazic Jews, the custom is to shout Mazel Tov at this point.
However, Sefardic Jews recite the verse:
"If I forget thee O
Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its
cunning" (Psalm [Tehillim]
137:5).
The glass is broken so that even at the
happiest moment of their
lives, the bride and groom should recall the destruction of
Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim). This is in keeping with the next verse:
"Let my tongue stick to my
palate if I remember you not, if I
set not Jerusalem above my
greatest joy" (Psalm [Tehillim]
137:6).
The joy of marriage is associated
with the city of Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim). In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 33:10-11 it is written:
"Thus saith the Lord; Again
there shall be heard in this place .
even in the cities of Judah, and
in the streets of Jerusalem .
the voice of joy, and the voice of
gladness, the voice of the
bridegroom, and the voice of the
bride."
The heavenly Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is
the city of the Bride of
the G-d of Israel. In Revelation 21:2, 9-10 it is written:
"And I John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband .
and there came unto me one of the
seven angels . saying, Come
hither, I will show thee the
bride, the Lamb's wife. And he
carried me away in the spirit to a
great and high mountain, and
showed me that great city, the
holy Jerusalem, descending out of
heaven from God."
Every synagogue in the world is built
with the ark on the side
toward Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). Therefore, whenever
a Jew prays,
he faces the Holy city of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). Whenever King
Solomon (Shlomo) dedicated the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) to the G-d
of
Israel, it was established that all prayer to the G-d of Israel
should be directed toward Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In I Kings
(Melachim) 8:1, 3, 22-23, 28-30 it is written:
"Then Solomon assembled the
elders of Israel, and all the heads
of the tribes, the chief of the
fathers of the children of
Israel, unto king Solomon in
Jerusalem, that they might bring up
the ark of the covenant of the
Lord out of the city of David,
which is Zion . and all the elders
of Israel came, and the
priests took up the ark . and
Solomon stood before the altar of
the Lord in the presence of all
the congregation of Israel, and
spread forth his hands toward
heaven: And he said, Lord God of
Israel . yet have thou respect
unto the prayer of thy servant,
and to his supplication, O Lord my
God, to hearken unto the cry
and to the prayer, which thy
servant prayeth before thee today:
that mine eyes may be open toward
this house night and day, even
toward the place of which thou
hast said, My name shall be
there: that thou mayest hearken
unto the prayer which thy
servant shall make toward this
place. And hearken thou to the
supplication of thy servant, and
of thy people Israel, when they
shall pray toward this
place."
To the Jewish people, Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim) is known as the
"gate of heaven." So much is Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) a
focal point
of Jewish heart and life and the joy of the whole earth that it
is
written in the Talmud:
"Ten measures of beauty
descended to this world. Nine were given
to Jerusalem and one to the rest
of the world."
To the Jewish people, the remembrance of
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)
radiates in every aspect of their lives. In truth, it is more
than
just a city. It is the heart and soul of the Jewish people and
the
entire nation of Israel.
JERUSALEM: THE CITY OF PEACE
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is first
mentioned in the book of
Genesis (Bereishit) 14:18 by the name of Salem. Salem was an
early
name for Jerusalem (Josephus, Antiquity of the Jews, Book 1,
Chapter
10:2). In Genesis (Bereishit) 14:18-20 it is written:
"And Melchizedek king of
Salem brought forth bread and wine: and
he was the priest of the most high
God. And he blessed him, and
said, Blessed be Abram of the most
high God, possessor of heaven
and earth: And blessed be the most
high God, which hath
delivered thine enemies into thy
hand. And he gave him tithes of
all."
The word Salem is the Strong's word
(8004) in the Hebrew
dictionary. Shalom is the Strong's word (7965) in the
Hebrew
dictionary. Shalom in Hebrew means "peace, wholeness or to
be
complete." Both Salem (8004) and Shalom (7965) come from the
Hebrew
word Shalam, which is the Strong's word (7999).
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is the Strong's
word 3389. It is also
related to the Hebrew word shalam which is the Strong's word
(7999)
and the Hebrew word shalom (7965). These are the Hebrew words for
"peace, wholeness or completeness." Therefore, the
Hebrew name for
Jerusalem is associated with shalom or peace.
In Genesis (Bereishit) 14:18,
Melchizedek is mentioned as being
the king of Salem. Melchizedek is the Strong's word (4442) in the
Hebrew dictionary. Melchizedek comes from two Hebrew words,
Melech,
and tzedek. Melech is the Strong's word (4428) which means,
"king."
Tzedek is the Strong's word (6664) which means,
"righteous."
Therefore, the king of Salem (peace) was Melchizedek (the king of
righteousness).
THE JEWISH MESSIAH
IS
THE KING OF PEACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus is the King of peace
and the King of righteousness. He is the High Priest of the G-d
of
Israel after the order of Melchizedek. In Hebrews 3:1, 6:20,
7:1-2 it
is written:
"Wherefore, holy brethren,
partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle [Shaliach]
and High Priest [Cohen HaGadol]
of our profession Christ Jesus .
made a high priest forever
after the order of Melchisedec.
For this Melchisedec, king of
Salem, priest of the most high
God, who met Abraham returning
from the slaughter of the kings,
and blessed him; To whom also
Abraham gave a tenth part of all;
first being by interpretation
King of righteousness, and after
that also King of Salem, which
is, King of peace."
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus is not only a High
Priest (Cohen HaGadol) forever after the order of Melchizedek
(Psalm
[Tehillim] 110:4) and the King of righteousness but He is also
the
King of peace. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 9:6 it is written about the
Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus:
"For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The
mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace [Sar
Shalom]."
THE AKEIDAH: ABRAHAM BINDS ISAAC
ON MOUNT MORIAH
Genesis (Bereishit) 22 is one of the
most important Torah
readings to the house of Judah (Judaism). In some Jewish
communities, it is read every day of the week except for the
Sabbath
(Shabbat). It is the primary Torah reading for Rosh HaShanah
(Feast
of Trumpets). The major event of the chapter is Abraham's
obedience
to the G-d of Israel to offer his son Isaac (Yitzchak) as a burnt
offering (olah) and bind him upon an altar. This event is known
to
the house of Judah (Judaism) as the Akeidah.
What is also important in this chapter
is that the G-d of Israel
provided for Abraham (Avraham) a lamb for a burnt offering (olah)
as
a substitute for Isaac (Yitzchak). When He did, Abraham (Avraham)
called the name of that place "Jehovah-Jireh" which
means "the Lord
will see." In Genesis (Bereishit) 22:1-2, 4, 6-8, 13-14 it
is written:
"And it came to pass after
these things, that God did tempt
Abraham, and said unto him,
Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I
am. And he said, Take now thy son,
thy only son Isaac, whom thou
lovest, and get thee into the land
of Moriah; and offer him
there for a burnt offering upon
one of the mountains which I
will tell thee of . Then on the
third day Abraham lifted up his
eyes, and saw the place afar off .
And Abraham took the wood of
the burnt offering, and laid it
upon Isaac his son; and he took
the fire in his hand, and a knife;
and they went both of them
together. And Isaac spake unto
Abraham his father, and said, My
father: and he said, Here am I, my
son. And he said, Behold the
fire and the wood: but where is
the lamb for a burnt offering?
And Abraham said, My son, God will
provide himself a lamb for a
burnt offering: so they went both
of them together . And Abraham
lifted up his eyes, and looked and
behold behind him a ram
caught in a thicket by his horns:
and Abraham went and took the
ram, and offered him up for a
burnt offering in the stead of his
son. And Abraham called the name
of that place Jehovah-jireh: as
it is said to this day, In the
mount of the Lord it shall be
seen."
Mount Moriah is located in
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In II
Chronicles 3:1, it is written:
"Then Solomon began to build
the house of the Lord at Jerusalem
in mount Moriah."
THE LAMB OF G-D IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus referred to the
binding of Isaac upon the altar as a prophetic foreshadowing of
Himself. In John (Yochanan) 8:56-58, it is written:
"Your father Abraham rejoiced
to see my day: and he saw it, and
was glad. Then said the Jews unto
him, Thou art not yet fifty
years old, and hast thou seen
Abraham? Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I AM."
Spiritually, (sod/deeper meaning),
Abraham (Avraham) is a type of
the G-d of Israel. Isaac (Yitzchak) is a type of the Jewish
Messiah
(Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In a Orthodox Rabbinical commentary of
Genesis (Bereishit) 22, the "thicket" represents the
sins of the
children of Israel. When the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus
died upon the tree (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 21:22-23, Galatians
3:13, I
Peter [Kefa] 2:24) as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben
Yosef (Joseph), He did so as the spiritual Lamb of the G-d of
Israel
whom the G-d of Israel willingly gave as a burnt offering (olah)
when
He allowed Him to be bound to the tree to take away the sin of
the
entire world. In John (Yochanan) 1:29, it is written:
"The next day John seeth,
Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world."
A burnt offering (olah) is an offering
that is totally consumed.
It is freely given and done freely, willingly, and joyfully by
both
parties involved. The Bible tells us that the G-d of Israel
freely
offered the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus who is also
the
only Son of the G-d of Israel (Proverbs [Mishlei] 30:4) freely
and
the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was willing and
obedient
to His death upon the tree. In Philippians 2:8-11 it is written:
"And being found in fashion
as a man, he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross [tree].
Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name: That at
the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things
under the earth; And that every
tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father."
Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 53 is written about
the suffering Messiah
(Mashiach) known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph). In Isaiah
(Yeshayahu) 53:1, 4-5, 10, it tells us that G-d the Father
offered up
the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus willingly as a burnt
offering (olah) for the sins of His people as it is written:
"Who hath believed our
report? and to whom is the arm [zeroa] of
the Lord revealed? . Surely he
hath borne our griefs, and
carried our sorrows: yet we did
esteem him stricken, smitten of
God, and afflicted. But he was
wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes
we are healed . Yet it
pleased the Lord to bruise him; he
hath put him to grief: when
thou shalt make his soul an
offering for sin."
Therefore, the binding of Isaac
(Yitzchak) to the altar by
Abraham (Avraham) has great significance to both the house
of Judah
(Judaism) and the house of Israel (Christianity).
THE G-D OF ISRAEL CHOSE JERUSALEM
TO PUT HIS NAME THERE
The G-d of Israel chose Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim) as His holy city
and has chosen to put His name there. In II Chronicles 6:6 it is
written:
"But I have chosen Jerusalem,
that my name might be there."
The G-d of Israel's name will be in
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)
forever. In II Chronicles 7:11-12, 16 it is written:
"Thus Solomon finished the
house of the Lord . And the Lord
appeared to Solomon by night, and
said unto him . For now have I
chosen and sanctified this house,
that my name may be there
forever: and mine eyes and mine
heart shall be there
perpetually."
THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES MINISTERED
FROM JERUSALEM
It was the duty of the Priests (Cohanim)
and the Levites
(Levi'im) to teach the Torah from Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)
to the
children of Israel. In Deuteronomy (Devarim) 17:8-11 it is
written:
"If there arise a matter too
hard for thee in judgment, between
blood and blood, between plea and
plea, and between stroke and
stroke, being matters of
controversy within thy gates: then
shalt thou arise, and get thee up
into the place which the Lord
thy God shall choose; And thou
shalt come unto the priests the
Levites, and unto the judge that
shall be in those days, and
inquire; and they shall show thee
the sentence of judgment: And
thou shalt do according to the
sentence, which they of that
place which the Lord shall choose
shall show thee: and thou
shalt observe to do according to
all that they inform thee;
According to the sentence of the
law [Torah] which they shall
teach thee, and according to the
judgment which they shall tell
thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt
not decline from the sentence
which they shall show thee, to the
right hand, nor to the left."
THE COURT OF JUSTICE IS IN JERUSALEM
The G-d of Israel established that a
court of justice be set up
to judge the children of Israel with righteous judgments.
In
Deuteronomy (Devarim) 16:18 it is written:
"Judges and officers shalt
thou make thee in all thy gates,
which the Lord thy God giveth
thee, throughout thy tribes: and
they shall judge the people with
just judgment."
This commandment was carried out by the
Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin
consisted of 71 members. Their commissioning is derived from
Numbers
(Bamidbar) 11:16 as it is written:
"And the Lord said unto
Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the
elders of Israel . and bring them
unto the tabernacle of the
congregation, that they may stand
there with thee."
It was believed that Moses (Moshe) was
the head of the original
seventy elders. Therefore, they consisted of 71 members. During
the
days of the Temple (Beit HaMikdash), the Sanhedrin met in the
outer
north wall of the Temple in a room known as the Chamber of Cut
Stone.
As long as the Sanhedrin convened, it functioned as both the
supreme
court and the central legislative body for all Israel. The
Sanhedrin
ceased to exist after the destruction of the Temple (Beit
HaMikdash)
by the Romans.
THE FESTIVALS ARE TO BE CELEBRATED
IN JERUSALEM
Three times a year, the G-d of Israel
instructed the males from
the nation of Israel to keep the Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus
[Vayikra] 23) in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In Deuteronomy
(Devarim)
16:16 it is written:
"Three times in a year shall
all thy males appear before the
Lord thy God in the place which he
shall choose; in the feast of
unleavened bread, and in the feast
of weeks, and in the feast of
tabernacles."
THE JEWISH MESSIAH CELEBRATED THE
FESTIVALS
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus celebrated the
Festivals of the G-d of Israel. In Luke 2:41-42, He celebrated
Passover (Pesach) as it is written:
"Now his parents went to
Jerusalem every year at the feast of
the passover. And when he was
twelve years old, they went up to
Jerusalem after the custom of the
feast."
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus celebrated the Feast
of Tabernacles (Sukkot). In John (Yochanan) 7:2, 37-38 it is
written:
"Now the Jews feast of
tabernacles was at hand .In the last day,
that great day of the feast, Jesus
stood and cried, saying, If
any man thirst, let him come unto
me, and drink. He that
believeth on me, as the Scripture
hath said, out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living
water."
SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS
ARE GIVEN IN JERUSALEM
The G-d of Israel commanded that various
kinds of sacrifices and
offerings be given in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In Deuteronomy
(Devarim) 12:11, 14:22-23, it is written:
"Then there shall be a place
which the Lord your God shall
choose to cause his name to dwell
there; thither shall ye bring
all that I command you; your burnt
offerings, and your
sacrifices, your tithes, and the
heave offering of your hand,
and all your choice vows which ye
vow unto the Lord . Thou shalt
truly tithe all the increase of
thy seed, that the field
bringeth forth year by year. And
thou shalt eat before the Lord
thy God, in the place which he
shall choose to place his name
there, the tithe of thy corn, of
thy wine and of thine oil, and
the firstlings of thy herds and of
thy flocks; that thou mayest
learn to fear the Lord thy God
always.
THE TEMPLE WAS BUILT IN JERUSALEM
The Temple (Beit HaMikdash) was built in
Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim). In Psalm (Tehillim) 68:29 it is written:
"Because of thy temple at
Jerusalem shall kings bring presents
unto thee."
THE THRONE OF DAVID WAS IN JERUSALEM
The throne of David was in
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In I
Chronicles 11:3-5 it is written:
"Therefore came all the
elders of Israel . and they anointed
David king over Israel . and David
and all Israel went to
Jerusalem . David took the castle
of Zion, which is the city of
David."
THE JEWISH MESSIAH WILL SIT
ON THE THRONE OF DAVID
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus was born to sit on the
throne of David and rule over the house of Jacob which consists
of
the house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel
(Christianity)
forever. In Luke 1:30-33 it is written:
"And the angel said unto her,
Fear not, Mary [Miryam]: for thou
hast found favor with God. And,
behold, thou shalt conceive in
thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name Jesus
[Yeshua]. He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the
Highest: and the Lord God shall
give unto him the throne of his
father David: And he shall reign
over the house of Jacob
forever; and of his kingdom there
shall be no end."
THE JEWISH MESSIAH DIED AND
WAS RESURRECTED IN JERUSALEM
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus died as the suffering
Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) on a tree
in
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In Matthew (Mattityahu) 16:21, it is
written:
"From that time forth began
Jesus [Yeshua] to show unto his
disciples [talmidim], how that he
must go unto Jerusalem, and
suffer many things of the elders
and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised again
the third day."
THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED JEWISH BELIEVERS OF
YESHUA IN JERUSALEM
The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh)
empowered the Jewish (house of
Judah) believers in Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
to
be His witnesses on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost). In Luke
24:44-49
it is written:
"And he said unto them, These
are the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled
which were written in the law
[Torah] of Moses, and in the
prophets [Nevi'im] and in the
Psalms [Ketuvim], concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding
that they might understand
the Scriptures, And said unto
them, Thus it is written, and thus
it behooved Christ [Mashiach] to
suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day: And that
repentance [Teshuvah] and remission
of sins should be preached in his
name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are
witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise of
my Father upon you: but tarry
ye in the city of Jerusalem, until
ye be endued with power from
on high."
This was fulfilled in Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim) on the day of
Pentecost (Shavuot). In Acts 2:1-5 it is written:
"And when the day of
Pentecost was fully come, they were all
with one accord in one place. And
suddenly there came a sound
from heaven as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them
cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost [Ruach HaKodesh],
and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance. And there were dwelling
at Jerusalem Jews, devout
men, out of every nation under
heaven."
THE ANCIENT BATTLE FOR JERUSALEM
The prophets of Israel wrote that the
final battle of the age
before the coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) will be a
battle
of the nations over Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In truth, this
battle
over Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is an ancient battle between the
kingdom of darkness (HaSatan) and the kingdom of light (the
kingdom
of the G-d of Israel).
The modern battle over Jerusalem
(Yerushalayim) is being played
out among the actors on the world's stage who are participating
in
this ancient battle. For those who have rejected the G-d of
Israel as
King of the Universe, their plans, ideas, beliefs and ideology
are
being influenced by the kingdom of darkness (HaSatan). They
desire to
divide the Promised Land of the G-d of Israel and desire to make
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) an international city. For those who put
their faith, trust and confidence (emunah) in the G-d of Israel
and
His promises to His people and follow after the kingdom of light,
they oppose dividing the land which the G-d of Israel promised to
Abraham (Avraham) and his descendents forever through Isaac
(Yitzchak) and Jacob (Ya'acov) and want Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)
to
be the eternal undivided capital of the nation of Israel.
(End Part 1 of 3)
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