Trump makes waves as he moves to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

[TylerR]

Guy at church: What prophetic significance do you think President Trump’s actions have?

Me: None.

Guy: Shocked silence.

I think it depends on one’s view of Isaiah 66:8 and the events of 1948

https://samuelwhitefield.com/1773/the-promised-son-and-promised-nation-…

https://www.facebook.com/david.rozelle/posts/10154980872741674

My good friend Rob Heijermans wrote the following.

This is a momentous day.

But the big story today is President Trump’s upcoming announcement that the USA will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and begin the process of moving its embassy there. The global implications of this decision are enormous, as any thinking person understands.

Today’s event makes me realize once again, as I listen to MESSIAH many times during this Advent season, that one of the things that distinguishes the Bible from the sacred religious writings of the world is prophecy. Religious texts do not contain prophecy—certainly not fulfilled prophecy. MESSIAH sets to glorious music some of the key prophetic texts of the Old Testament, as well as their astonishingly accurate fulfillment by Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament.

The fact that there is a modern state of Israel today is, in itself, an astounding fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. Despite Israel’s failures and sins, God has kept the unilateral, unconditional covenant He made with Abraham in Genesis 12.1-3 and reiterated in Genesis 15. As He said he would in the last part of Deuteronomy, He scattered His people throughout the world. But He brought them back to their ancestral homeland just as He promised through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other Old Testament prophets—not because they are bigger or better than anyone else, but because He is God, and He keeps His promises. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ—Israel’s Messiah—but they rejected Him and convinced the Romans to crucify Him. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him [and still don’t.] But to all who did [and do] receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1.11-13)

Isaiah asks, “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such a thing? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in a moment?” (Isaiah 66.8) Just last week we were reminded that the answer to Isaiah’s question is, “Yes!” On November 28, 1947, Israel did not exist. On November 29, it did. Overwhelmingly, the General Assembly of the United Nations, which has become one of the most corrupt, inept, anti-Semitic bodies known to man, resolved to allow the Jews to establish a Jewish state in their ancient homeland. The creation of a nation in this way is unprecedented in human history. But God said it would happen, and it did.

God has brought Israel back to the Land so He can bring her back to Himself. One day, the prophets assure us, Jerusalem will be the capital not only of Israel itself, but of the entire world. Jesus will rule from this ancient city as the promised Successor of Israel’s second king. By then, everything will have changed—even the topography of the city will have been drastically altered to accommodate the fourth temple. (Ezekiel 40-45)

If this sounds surreal and bizarre—the rantings of a lunatic—just listen to the news today. The reason President Trump can make the announcement he will make is because one day, long ago, the Most High God made a covenant with an Iraqi named Abraham. He kept it. Over 2000 years ago there was born, “in [Bethlehem] the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2.11) Then, in 1947, “a nation was brought forth in a moment.” One day, that Savior will re-establish the reign of King David in that very city that has become the focal point of much of what is taking place in our world today. Biblical prophecy yet unfulfilled is simply history that hasn’t happened yet. It is as sure as the existence of the modern state of Israel.

“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” (Matthew 2.6)