It was a glorious day in Jerusalem on May 14. We were at a sister in the Lord’s house, right across the hill from the site of the new US Embassy in Jerusalem. We prayed, worshiped and thanked the Lord while watching the ceremony on TV. All of Jerusalem rejoiced. Just the day before we celebrated Jerusalem Day commemorating 51 years of the unification of Jerusalem’s old and the new cities. Thousands of Israelis marched the streets of Jerusalem with Israeli flags.
For thousands of years Jews everywhere have kept the love for this holy city in their hearts and minds, with the hope and prayer: “Next year in Jerusalem” they recited every year on Passover. At Jewish weddings, in the midst of the joy and celebration, in memory of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, the bridegroom smashes a glass underfoot. Now it is a reality.

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed” (Psalm 126:1)
“Jerusalem stands built up,
a city that was joined together as one.” (Ps. 122:3)

          Now the hope of the Jewish people, that Jerusalem will be united as one forever is finally realized.
Unfortunately, while Jerusalem was celebrating, Palestinians in Gaza were storming the border fence with Israel by the thousands – men, women, and children. They were motivated by hate and fury against Israel and against the United States. Pushed by their Hamas leaders, brainwashed with the slogans, “We will take down the border and we will tear their (Israeli) hearts from their bodies.”
On Facebook, Hamas posted maps for their operatives showing the quickest routes from the border to the homes, schools, and day-care centers of Israelis near the border. Israel Defense Forces had precise intelligence that the violent riots were masking a plan of mass infiltration into Israel in order to carry out a massacre against Israeli civilians. Hamas advertised it to the world as a ‘peaceful protest. However, their ultimate goal is: “to liberate Jerusalem from the “Infidels.” [Read more about Hamas.] As we write this newsletter, Hamas has lunched an attack on border city of Sderot, we will update information of the events as they develop in a few days.

The Plans of God for Jerusalem

• Psalm 147: 2 The Lord built Jerusalem on the holy mountain.
• II Chronicles 6:6 But I (the Lord) have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel
• Ps. 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion (Jerusalem); He has desired it for His dwelling place”
• II Chronicles 33:4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my Name be forever.

          God cares about Jerusalem more than any other city on earth. He said in His word that He loves Jerusalem, Zion more than any other place in Israel. (Ps. 87: 2.)
The God of Israel, the creator of the universe, has chosen, out of all the places on earth, the city of Jerusalem for His dwelling place. This is the city of our God, He will come to rule and reign from Jerusalem in the End Time.
Once the Messiah comes, He will establish His Kingdom in Jerusalem, the place from where He has chosen to rule the earth.

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. ‘Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:1-4).

For that reason, Jerusalem is central to world events and politics. Jerusalem is holy to the Jews, Muslims, and Christians. But God chose one tribe, Judah (The name Jew comes from the name Judah) to rule from Jerusalem:

“I will give one tribe to your (King Solomon) son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”  (1Kings 11:13b)

God committed himself to a specific land and people (Israel), to establish the house of David forever, and to a temple (see 2 Samuel 7). Messiah, in fact, would come from the lineage of King David.
Salem means peace, Jerusalem – the city of peace. But up until today, there has been no peace in the city because nations and empires have continually tried to possess the city against the will and plan of God.

In fulfillment of many prophecies in the Bible, God has brought His people Israel, the Jewish people, back from the four corners of the world to the Land He had given to their forefathers, and the nation of Israel was established in 1948 (NOTE: There were always Jewish people who remained in the land even during the diaspora and under the different occupations.) Just one of the prophecies: in Isaiah 14:1: “The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob.

The Battle

The Arab Palestinians were not, and are not grateful to the Jews for the land they have already been given, and refuse to live in peace alongside the Jewish people. They intensify their hatred and continue to fight Israel, especially concerning Jerusalem.
Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader who formed the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) called for an Islamic holy war (Jihad) in order to liberate Jerusalem. In early 1996 Arafat said in response to Israel’s offer of a peace treaty, that the Israelis “have already promised us half of Jerusalem [but] we Palestinians will take over everything, including all of Jerusalem…. Within five years we will have 6 to 7 million Arabs living on the West Bank and in Jerusalem (referring to the plans of the Palestinians to bring into the country millions of “refugees” from around the world.) “We plan to eliminate the State of Israel and establish a Palestinian state.” “Our people will continue the Aksa (Muslim mosque on the Temple Mount) intifada until we raise the Palestinian flag in every mosque and church and on the walls of Jerusalem.”

[Read more in the article: The Muslim Claim to Jerusalem]

Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami pledged Iran’s full support of militant Palestinians against “The occupying regime of Israel,” and said that the Palestinian people  “will become more determined than ever to become united and stand up for liberation of Jerusalem and the land of Palestine.”
Maj. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Iranian Quds Force in Syria and Hezbollah leader in Lebanon called on militant Islamists in Lebanon and the region to unify to fight for Jerusalem. Also other Muslim leaders urge to fight to liberate Jerusalem.
There will be no peace in the Middle East as long as the Arabs incite to destroy the state of Israel and to create instead the state of Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital. That plan has not changed from the time of Arafat’s pronouncement.

THE BATTLE IS SPIRITUAL, IT’S between God and the enemy of God and his plan: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly^…I will make myself like the Most High.”  (Isaiah 14:14) He wants to be “like” The Most High El Elyon, The King of the Universe.  But…
God made an unconditional promise to David that the glorious future of Jerusalem will not end. The promise that was made to David and reconfirmed by the Prophet Jeremiah will be fulfilled. God will rule upon the throne of David forever, the throne of King Yeshua.

“Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

So we know the end, God wins and reigns forever.
Meanwhile, the battle is raging; Jerusalem is the battleground. The enemy wants the exact place that belongs to God and His people (Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua). He is spreading lies about Jerusalem so his followers will fight to claim the holy city of God.
Please join us in prayer for the “Peace of Jerusalem”. Stand with us in the spiritual battle claiming the victory of our Lord. Please pray also for protection for the people of Israel as they fight against the lies and attacks of the enemy physically. Pray as the Spirit leads, thank you.