Jerusalem, the focus of worldly destruction

 Jerusalem, the focus of worldly destruction

This reflection is in addition to previous articles regarding the unsettled situation the world finds itself confronted with.  It is a reminder we may not be as safe as everyone once believed.  You could call this as one more spoke on a wheel that relies on national alliance to sustain world peace.  

In 70 AD, as Jesus predicted, the temple was destroyed.  As Jesus said to his disciples, “You see all these things, do you not?  Amen I say to you, there will not be left here a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”  (Mt. 24: 2).  There occurred a severe battle until the siege of Roman soldiers finally took over the city eventually slaughtering all the Jews and destroying the temple.

From Matthews Gospel, in the eschatological discourse, Jesus lays out a very dark synopsis of the future for the church and all its inhabitants.  That was 2,000 years ago.  The only difference of the warning is time.    

As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be of your coming, and the end of the age?”  “Because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.”  (Mt. 24: 3; 12 - 14).  

History hasn’t changed and the predictions of Jesus were not just hyperbole.  The refusal of our country to support Israel appears to be headed in a devastating direction.  Today on the news a VA school student verbally put Jews down while Vice-President Harris was seen shaking her head in agreement.  Whether anyones’ opinion supports the words of a school student, the vice-president should not be one to openly agree on something like this indicating the Whitehouse is no longer on the side of Jerusalem.  Once an avid ally of America our current administration no longer supports this neighbor who may be on its own against too many adversaries in the region and beyond.  Many Arab nations have declared the destruction of Israel and have their eyes on America as well.  The devastation from 9/11 may not be the last reality for us and our closest ally. 

This is just one of many maturing facets of politics that is infiltrating our allies isolating us from the world powers.  Scripture predicts that northern nations will move upon Israel   

Referring back to Old Testament where God promised through Samuel, Ezekiel and others that he would protect Israel is not for that era only, but would last forever.  “For you are a people sacred to the Lord, your God, who has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people  peculiarly his own.”  (Dt. 14: 2).  “Though you may have been driven to the farthest corner of the world, even from there he will bring you back.  The Lord, your God, will then bring you into the land which your fathers once occupied, that you too may occupy it.”  (Dt, 30: 4 - 5a).  We are told that Jerusalem will be the center of the worldly attack and for those leaders of so many nations who have their heads buried in the sand, and do not believe in God, will shake in their unbelieving souls when they are confronted by Jesus Christ leading a vast army from heaven after the prediction of the gospel being preached to the ends of the earth.  All will not believe but they will hear it.  Then the end will come. 

Ralph B. Hathaway, Jerusalem 2021