“And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people …”
– Zechariah 12:3
It had never happened before – at least not until last Friday.
Never had Israel stood alone among all the nations in the world, without support – a pariah, the focus of “evil,” a “burdensome stone for all people,” symbolically if not literally.
That was the day the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful body within the world body, voted 14-0, with one permanent member abstaining, to condemn Israel for an “offense” for which no nation in the history of the world had previously been condemned, thus clearly revealing the “burdensome stone” of Zechariah 12:3.
What was that “offense”?
Had Israel attacked its neighbors without provocation or cause?
Had the Jewish state precipitously expelled non-Jews from within its borders?
What great offense did this “rogue nation” perpetrate to prompt such a united action against it – including a turning of the back by the United States in the form of an abstention?
Amazingly, when you consider all of the evil being committed in the world today and all of the atrocities committed in the modern world since the formation of the United Nations, what Israel did, has done and will continue to do in the future is to build and repair houses for Jews in its capital of Jerusalem and elsewhere within the borders of Israel.
I’m not joking.
That’s it.
Israel is a growing, thriving, peaceful, civilized and free nation in the seething, violent, hate-filled cauldron of the Middle East. It is surrounded by nations and territories that:
- have systematically ethnically cleansed themselves of Jews;
- are ceaselessly building missiles aimed at Israel;
- are endlessly preaching hate against Jews and Israel;
- embroiled in fratricidal, internecine wars;
- flooding much of the rest of the world with “refugees” who are spreading the bloodshed, terror and brutality of the Middle East around the world like a virus;
But Israel is building houses – lovely, peaceful communities – for its growing population of Jewish refugees from around the world, survivors of families who had been gassed, burned, shot, hanged and methodically murdered and persecuted.
This is what was condemned Friday at the United Nations when U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power decided, in their ultimate act of treachery, to abandon Israel to the wolves of the Jew-hating, Israel-isolating world.
It was a barbarous betrayal that was presaged in the prophetic passages of the Bible – clearly identifying the perpetrators as enemies of the One True God, the Creator of the universe.
Do I exaggerate?
Be careful.
The way you answer that question could well define where you stand in relationship with the God who plucked the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from obscurity to use them as a light to all nations, recipients of the oracles of His truth, a beacon of His Word, His commandments, His rules for life.
No one is without excuse that Word further tells us in Romans 1:19-21: “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
It requires vain imaginations and foolish hearts to condemn one peaceful, if imperfect, nation above all others for acting in its own self-interest, to build houses and communities for its people, within its own borders, even in its own capital city.
It was to be expected that Russia and China and France and the United Kingdom would vote with the other non-permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – Angola, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela – all desperately and shamefully trying to curry favor with the oil powers of the Middle East and their asymmetrical terrorist allies.
What was disappointing, if not shocking, was that Israel’s until-now one true, reliable friend and ally in the region, the United States, would stab the Jewish state in the back in an act of arrogance and petty vengeance for its own failures in the waning days of the Obama administration.
Barack Obama has just made the worst decision of his entire presidency. On Friday, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2334, and this never would have happened without the support and approval of Barack Obama. Since the United States has veto power on the Security Council, no resolution can ever pass unless the United States allows it to pass.
For decades, it has been the policy of the U.S. government to veto all anti-Israel resolutions at the Security Council, and the Israeli government had been expecting that Barack Obama would not suddenly change that policy at the very end of his second term. Most of the news headlines about resolution 2334 refer to “Israeli settlements”, but the reality of the matter is that this resolution is about much more than that. The truth is that this resolution has established legally binding parameters for a “two-state solution” that Israel will never accept, and this includes giving every inch of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians.
If you have not read it yet, you can find the full text of resolution 2334 right here. It is one of the most important documents of our time, so you need to take a few minutes to read it.
In the excerpt below, you will see that this resolution clearly states that East Jerusalem is in “Palestinian territory” and that the Security Council says that it will recognize no changes to the pre-1967 borders except “those agreed by the parties through negotiations”…
Reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace;
Reiterates its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard;
Underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations;
As I have explained before, UN Security Council resolutions are considered to be legally binding on the parties. Now that the Palestinians have been granted full legal ownership over East Jerusalem, does anyone actually believe that they will ever willingly relinquish that?
Today, more than half a million Israelis live in East Jerusalem and the 137 settlements that are scattered throughout the West Bank.
Where are they all supposed to go?
This UN Security Council resolution never should have happened. President-elect Donald Trump made it abundantly clear that he would have vetoed this resolution, but instead of deferring to the next administration Barack Obama decided to viciously stab Israel in the back. This is the greatest betrayal of Israel in American history, and according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the Obama administration has been plotting this for quite a while…
“From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed,”Netanyahu said in a statement. “This is, of course, in complete contradiction of the traditional American policy that was committed to not trying to dictate terms for a permanent agreement, like any issue related to them in the Security Council, and, of course, the explicit commitment of President Obama himself, in 2011, to refrain from such steps.”
During an interview with with CNN on Sunday, an official spokesperson for Netanyahu said essentially the same thing…
Netanyahu spokesman David Keyes told CNN on Sunday, “We have iron-clad information, frankly, that the Obama administration really helped push this resolution and helped craft it, from sources internationally and sources in the Arab world.”
Unfortunately, Obama’s actions are going to have very serious implications for all of us.
As I just explained in an article on The Most Important News, those that bless Israel will be blessed, and those that curse Israel will be cursed.
And this is especially true when it comes to Jerusalem. In Zechariah 2:8 we are told that those that touch Jerusalem touch the apple of God’s eye, and in Zechariah 12 we are told that the city of Jerusalem will play a significant role in the last days. The following is what Zechariah 12:3 says in the Modern English Version…
“And it will be on that day that I will set Jerusalem as a weighty stone to all the peoples. All who carry it will surely gash themselves, and all the nations of the land will be gathered against it.”
By defiantly attempting to divide the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem during the waning days of his presidency, Barack Obama has cursed America.
You may not believe in blessings and curses, but the Word of God says that those that curse Israel will be cursed, and without a doubt we will most assuredly be cursed as a result of what Barack Obama has done.
And of course the entire Middle East is going to suffer as well. Instead of bringing peace, this resolution just sets the stage for more conflict. According to the Times of Israel, the Netanyahu government is already promising not to adhere to the terms of the resolution…
“Israel categorically rejects the despicable anti-Israeli resolution at the UN, and will not adhere to it,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a seething statement after the council voted in favor of the motion 14-0.
The UN Security Council has given them legal rights to a nation with borders based on the pre-1967 lines. They have been given every inch of East Jerusalem, and every Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem and the West Bank has officially been declared illegal.
If Israel refuses to budge, the Palestinians could very easily come to the conclusion that they have exhausted all legal channels for resolving the conflict and that the only way they are going to get what legally belongs to them is to take it by force.
A great war is coming to the Middle East, and it will be a life or death struggle between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Nothing else that Barack Obama has done during his entire time in the White House even comes close to this. He has greatly cursed America, he has set the stage for the bloodiest war the Middle East has ever seen, and he has defiantly shaken his fist at the one true God that created all things.
May God have mercy on us all.
I think it is the remaining part of this verse that makes it so meaningful for us today. Namely....
ReplyDelete"...shall be cut in pieces, though ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH BE GATHERED AGAINST IT..."
So, we have a vote of 14 - 0 against Israel, and not another nation standing up and crying foul.
And on the 25th day from today, that changes.
The implication is obvious....does that impose a 25 day window for major events to come to pass????
Exciting times to be alive....Give us strength, wisdom, discernment, and strength please O'LORD.
I was hoping we would be out in 2016 But it's looking like maybe not now. So I'm gonna predict something. Not setting a date, just updating things according to what I'm seeing visually, the earth changes, the nwo big push, etc. 2017 is going to be quite interesting indeed. So here we go. We are going to see monster big quakes in 2017 (maybe bigger than we have ever seen in our lifetimes) and monster big tsunamis. We are going to see things in the sky that are going to be phenomenal signs. (This could be anything from ufos to rogue planets BUT the celestial coupling that is occurring in Virgo that is specifically mentioned in the Bible, that's a sure deal!) Expecting the ill n naughty boys have a few nasty surprises planned but if the Christians pray hard enough even most of those should be avoidable. Hopefully expectant to be out of here by Christmas of 2017. :) Hey I haven't totally given up on 2016. What better birthday present could I get than to go home????
ReplyDeleteLove you guys! Have safe and beautiful holiday my friends. MARANATHA!
Good comments...Interesting take Caver - I hadn't considered that window in which that applies. Of course after the 25th the gathering up would accomplish the same thing...Ally - absolutely - as long as we are here the birth pains will continue to increase in frequency and severity
ReplyDeleteThe Lord knows how to bless the righteous and curse the wicked at the exact same time. So many Americans are blessing Israel and stand with her consistently - these are blessed - Woe to those who curse her - including potus - let all believers strive toward the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. The time is nearer now than when we first believed let's keep on encouraging each other as we see the Day approach. Remember that the lawless one can not be revealed until their be the departure first.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord know how to bless anyone who blesses Israel, while dealing with those who curse her ~ including potus ~ we need to continue to strive toward the upward call in Christ Jesus ~ we are nearer now than when we first believed ~ let's be encouraged as we await our blessed Savior who will change us in a moment to be with Him and to be like Him ~ this knowledge is just so awesome ~ we all groan in this flesh ~ I'm so ready to be done with this vile body of death ... when death will be swallowed up in victory. Brothers & Sisters, be of good cheer and be encouraged - He loves us and He will come for us | Blessings
ReplyDeleteBill
Yea, it is interesting. We've all considered what or when or how when God says something will happen if you do this and then someone does it you can take God's promise to the bank.
ReplyDeleteBut this is unique....
1. At least for the US, this was more by a person and his team...and not by the country. It isn't supported by the country.
2. This leadership attitude has a limited shelf-life, 24 days.
3. After 24 days, the country's official position reverts back to support of God's people and country. Even to the point of trying to get this action reversed in the UN.
Just amazing times to be alive......
Yes indeed William - good points!
ReplyDeleteHope you are right Caver - but he does judge nations - perhaps this ones different - for the reasons stated.I sure hope so.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching closely to see if this transfer of the presidency will occur ~ it feels like the unseen powers of light & darkness are growing exponentially and drastic measures are possible from the adversary.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, I fully trust God's will and am looking up!
I am asking Him to empower us all to be use like never before to share the free gift of salvation that comes in Christ alone!
Fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith ~
Bill
Yep.....you're so right. Good old J Vernon McGee observed many time through history, when God judged a nation, He judged the entire nation.
ReplyDeleteAgree William, love the attitude brother.
J. VERNON MCGEE!!!! The sound of his voice is so comforting to me. My grandmother and I listened to him together so many years ago.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to him being a great pastor - he can also say some of the funniest things I have ever heard a pastor say - in his illustrations - I love hearing him.
ReplyDeleteHumble & brilliant Bible teacher
ReplyDeleteHello everyone. It's JD from Tennessee. Haven't been able to comment in awhile as my family and I moved to Hawaii. Got to say it's definitely Paradise but won't even come close to the Paradise with our Lord and Savior.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that what a couple of weeks it's been for the world. For the first time we are witnessing what it must be like for Israel to feel all alone.In my life I've had a good friend betray me and I recall it was one of the loneliest times of my life.
How about our Father in Heaven! His word never fails so we all need to be ready for what is coming. If the church is not out of here before the inauguration then I don't think we will be gone soon. I hope we are but the day that Trump takes office Israel will have more support than she has ever had. That being said it makes more sense that it should happen sooner rather than later.
Scott I just want to thank you and tell you that my heart is full of love for you brother. Can't wait to meet you in Heaven! It's a good thing we'll be like Christ cause the hug I'm gonna give you would kill a normal man! LOL
Thank you for all you have done my friend!
JD N Hawaii
haha JD! - so nice to hear from you, its been forever!!!! Hawaii huh? so its JD from Hawaii now! Yep we'll be celebrating soon brother - its in the water now, no turning back! stay in touch!
ReplyDelete