President Trump boldly announced the United States will move its embassy fromTel Aviv to Jerusalem.
That embassy houses the official United States ambassador to the nation of Israel.
Consider these points regarding a nation's relationship with Israel.
1. God promised a blessing upon those who bless Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. A nation will be blessed for taking care of the Jews.
And I will bless them that bless thee [Abraham], and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) [Abram's name was changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:5).]
2. God promised a blessing upon those who bless the nation Israel. People will receive a blessing for demonstrating strong support of Israel.
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! ... Blessed is he that blesseth thee [Israel], and cursed is he that curseth thee. (Numbers 24:5,9) [Jacob is called Israel (Genesis 32:28).)
3. God will rescue Israel from those who divide Israel's land into parts. This includes dividing Jerusalem. A wise country should not join those who desire to divide the land of Israel.
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:1-2) [The two-state solution parts Israel's land.]
4. God will make it a terrible burden for those who meddle with Jerusalem. It is prudent to let the Jews decide what to do with their own capital city.
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:1-3)
5. God himself will fight against all the nations who go against Jerusalem. Exercising restraint and not going against Jerusalem will be a good practice.
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:1-3)
6. Opposing God's plan for Jerusalem means tampering with something that the Lord cherishes. It is good to hold in high esteem the same things that the Lord does.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you [Zion]: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. (Zechariah 2:8) [Jerusalem is also called Zion (1 Kings 8:1).]
7. The Day of the Lord will begin with people crying “Peace and safety”. Destruction will fall upon Israel and the world when the loudest cry for peace in the Middle East comes.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) [Watch for the words "peace and safety" to be used of Israel.]
8. Jerusalem will partly be controlled by other nations until the Messiah comes. Jerusalem, the City of Peace, will not be fully in Jewish control until Christ returns.
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) [The Jews will again be scattered during the Tribulation.]
9. Those who lovingly pray for the peace of Jerusalem will prosper.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalms 122:6) [May we be among those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem.]
10. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. When Christ returns he will make peace in the Middle East. When Christ comes to set up his time of peace, will he let you in? Why not place your full trust in the one who loves you and shed his blood on the cross for you?
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)
JamesUtter
12/2017