Destiny Lost or Found?

Making your calling and election sure

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Call & Destiny• Many are called, but few are chosen: Matt 22:14

• These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Rev 17:14

• I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith... 2 Tim 4:7

• You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the Truth? Gal 5:7

Hebrews 11, 12 – passing the baton

• 11: 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

• 12: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Growth Indicators(Born Again to Grow Up Again)

1. Character: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love: 2 Peter 1:5-7; Gal 5:22-23

2. Meat and Milk – solid food for the mature, trained to distinguish good from evil: Heb 5:13-14; Is 5:20

3. Captive to Conqueror: lifestyle, mind.

soul: intellect, emotions, will.

Captive to Conqueror: the Soul

Revelation, wisdom, insight, vision

4. Vision, Wisdom, Insight: Wheat & Tares, discernment

• 1 Chronicles 12:32 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do

• 1 John 4:3-4 (Spirit of the Anti-Christ) Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Growth Indicators(Born Again to Grow Up Again)

5. Power: Great Commission, Ph.D.

6. Sonship and responsibility: co-heir with Christ: Ezek 22:30 (gap); 2 Cor 7:14 (turn to God)

7. Destiny realised & Fruitfulness: John 15, Eph 2:10; Mark 4:3-8

8. Holiness & Courage: Acts 4: 29

Broken Walls, Burnt Gates

1. What is the condition of your heart?– Hard? Tender?

2. Futile Thinking, Darkened heart: Romans 1:21

3. Evidence of Captivity

Project: Restoring You

Whole (English "hal") - all of the life of Christ into your life

1. spirit = revived2. soul - restored in mind and emotions, will3. body = discipline, restraint, holiness

» 1 Thess 5:23 May… the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

» Heb 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Evidence of Brokenness

Rubble of Past• Depression, guilt• Fear and Anger• Lust /Temptation• No self worth (Belial)• Bad habits• Spiritual Insensitivity• Loss of capacity to respond• Doubts, no faith• Impure thoughts• Inability to focus• Frivolity• Tormenting thoughts?

Born Again, Grow Up Again (no instant perfection in rebuilding

process)

• 2 Cor 5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature

• 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen

people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

• Romans 8:19-21: Glorious liberty of the children of God

Condemnation (no peace, no joy)

No purpose (no focus, going around in circles)

Help is on its way…John 15

• John 15: 26 (AMP) But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.

• Galatians 5:24-25 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

• John 15: 14 Remain in me, and I will remain with you

The Holy Spirit and You

• 1 Thess 5:19 – do not quench the Spirit• Eph 4 - 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come

out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Nehemiah + sevenfold principle

1. Reproach Ps 79:12

2. Recognition of sin3. Repentance4. Restoration5. Recovery6. Rededication7. Reward

1. Warfare2. Worship3. Witness

Kill Resurrection

Steal Restitution Prov 6:31

Destroy Restoration

The AdversarySanballat (picture of satan); Tobiah, Geshem: anti-semitic, anti-christ spiritNeh 2• 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about

this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

• 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

• 20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” – you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.

• Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

(3) Mt Zion (2) Mt Moriah (1) Mt Olives

Purchased from Ornan or Araunah the Jebusite for 600 shekels of gold by David : 2 Samuel 24 (Mt Moriah)

Acts 1:9-12

Zech 14:4

Conveyancing Title

• Mt Moriah (site of present day temple mount)

• Abraham and the binding of Isaac - Jehovah Jireh: Gen 22:2

• Purchased from Ornan or Araunah the Jebusite for 600 shekels of gold by David : 2 Sam 24

Aerial View of Jerusalem

Hinnom Valley: Gehenna (everlasting fiery torment) – dealing with your past Jer 7:31-32; Is 66:24

Neh 3 Counterclockwise Tour

Build & Fight/Defend

Sheep Gate

1. Gate: Faith / Doubt2. ‘blood of the Lamb’: Rev 12:113. High Priest: Heb 4:14, Heb 10:144. Living Sacrifice v Self-Aggrandizement

• Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep… I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:7-10)

• For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. (Heb 10:14)

Fish Gate

1. Depart and Follow: Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men: Mark 1:17

2. Public identification, consolidates belief

3. “word of the saints” - testimony - Rev 12:11

4. Fish and fruitfulness cf: indifference towards trusteeship with the Good News

                                                                              

  

Neh 3 Counterclockwise Tour – down….

Old Gate

1. Old for New: deliberate exchange

2. Transformation, change

3. “did not love their lives unto the death” Rev 12:11

Old Gate

Old to New

Ego Centric To God-Centric Vision• Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have

already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

• Col 3:1-3 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Valley Gate

1. Brought low - humbling and trials (nothing grows on mountain tops)

2. Waters of the deep

Valley Gate

1. Dig a well - water in the lowlands - humility

2. Psalm 84 ‘Valley of Baka…place of springs’

3. Gen 26:19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water

4. Beyond surface level: going deep into discipleship: hear and obey Word, theory into practice - a long road

5. Psalm 23: Learn His presence and companionship; rod and staff: protect, discipline, comfort.

Dung Gate - down-wind.

Eph 5 - Dung or Perfume?

• 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

• 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Heart Surgery

1. Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

2. Isaiah 29:13 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour me with their lips but their heart is far from me; and in vain they worship Me…

3. Matt 15: 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

4. Malachi 2:17 Refiner’s Fire: = purity, undivided heart, holiness

God searches the heart - man judges by outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart: 1 Sam 16:7

• Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me,And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

• But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." (Jer 17:10)

• The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. (Proverbs 20:27)

Dung Gate

1. Taking hell out of the heart - waste removal e.g. in a crisis, is your first instinct to blame God? - Ps 73

– from their callous hearts comes iniquity - with impunity?– A grieved heart - brute beast, senseless and ignorant– My flesh and my heart may fail but….God is the strength

of my heart and my portion forever

2. Stinkiness for fragrance of Christ: 2 Cor 2:14-15

3. Purification Process

Jeremiah 15:19

• If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. (NIV)

• Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God's faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece. [But do not yield to them.] Let them return to you--not you to [the people]. AMP

Neh 3 Counterclockwise Tour…the road turns upward, unless you want to live at Dung

2 Tim 2:20-21

• 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.

• 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Psalm 24: Ascents

• 3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god

Psalm 24: Ascents

• 7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

• Sheep Inspection (Mikphad)

• Fish East

• Old Horse

• Valley Water

• Dung Fountain

Self HIM

Fountain Gate

1. Fountain: resource for life; living water v dead sea2. Near Pool of Siloam: John 7:93. Christ: the fountain of living waters - the giving of

the Holy Spirit: John 7:384. The Word of God and the Spirit of God - a pure

and holy life - Luke 4 - the Spirit drove Jesus to the wilderness where He defeated Temptation through the Word and returned in the power of the Spirit

– Devil misquoted Scripture:

Fountain Gate

4. The Word of God and the Spirit of God

– Word of God: sharper than a double-edged sword; judges thoughts and attitudes of the heart, divides soul and spirit: Hebrews 4:12

– Sword of the Spirit – Ephesians 6: 17

Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): John 7 – season of joy• 37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a

loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Significance to the Hebrew Mind:• Pouring of water Is a focus of joy the Torah commands for Sukkot – • Seasonal rains in Israel – coming of the Messiah: former (Passover) and

latter (Sukkot) rains• Rainlessness = sign of judgment; rain a sign of obedience• Rain is a type of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) poured on all flesh• Yeshua is the rain that comes down from Heaven and fountain of living

water

Fountain Gate

5. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit• Teaches, comforts instructs, guides, disciplines and

rebukes us• Empowers us to do the works of the kingdom:

preach the Gospel with power and signs attending: healing the sick, deliverance from demonic oppression etc…i.e. gifts of the Spirit

• Develops the character – fruits of the Spirit• Emboldens us with courage

Be strong and of good courage – you’ll need it for your earthly sojourn

2 Tim 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

• 2 Tim 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Deut 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.“

Mark 13:11 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:29 (Peter and John before the High Priests after healing the lame

man and were threatened to keep quiet about Jesus)

• v13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say

• 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

• 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Heart, Courage, Great Exploitations

• The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9 )

• Daniel 11:32 but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

• John 14: 11-12 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father

Great Exploitations – Luke 4 (Jesus in Synagogue in Capernaum)

Isaiah 61 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Mark 16 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Courage and the Coward

Water Gate

1. Source vs Outlet (original not derivative)2. Cleansing by His Word of God: Eph 5:263. Holy Spirit makes the Word of God alive – rhema

and revelation 4. The anointing remains in you: 1 John 2:27

– But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Prophecy

• For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev 19:10)

• Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Thess 5:19-21)

• And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:28-32)

• Fivefold Ministry: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastor, Teachers: (Eph 4:11)

• “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gifts of prophecy.” (1 Cor 14:1)

Horse Gate

1. Warfare (D Day and V Day)

2. Rev 19:11 ‘I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness does He judge and make war.

Malachi 4:1-3 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the LORD Almighty.

East Gate

1. Very close to Horse Gate

2. Return of the King – Zech 14:4; Ezekiel 44:1-3; Rev 19

3. East sees the sun / Son first

4. Specific crown for those awaiting the appearing of the Lord, the righteous Judge: 2 Tim 4:8

View of Jerusalem from Mt OlivesTemple Mount on Mt Moriah

East Gate or Golden Gate, sealed awaiting Messiah’s return

Golden Gate (East Gate) = sealed until…

From Gethsemane, base of Mt of Olives looking up

East: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun

Judah

1. 4th son of Leah: This time I will praise God. Gen 29:35

2. Blessings of Judah- Genesis 49:8-10– Hand on neck of enemy– Pre-eminent– Lion’s cub, returns from the prey– Sceptre and ruler’s staff “the obedience of the nations is

his” – the Lion of Judah (Rev 5:5)

3. Sent first into battle - Judges 1:1-2 “Judah shall go up, behold, I have given the land into his hand.”

Issachar

1. 5th Son of Leah

2. Learned men; humble burden-bearer (Gen 49:14-15) Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: (2)and he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; (3) and bowed his shoulder to bear, (4) and became a servant unto tribute” (Genesis 49:14-15).

3. Shoulder: bearing burden, responsibility and authority; operated from a place of rest in God

4. Supported by Zebulun (sea-farers): symbiotic

5. “understood the times, and knew what Israel ought to do” 1 Chrn 12:32

The Interim: situating the 21st Century

Cult of the Way (first called Christians in Antioch): Acts 11:26 Persecution until 313 AD: Edict of MilanRoman Empire’s Religion – Holy Roman EmpireBirth of Modern Nation State – 1648 Treaty of WestphaliaEnlightenment / Endarkenment – 18th Century Europe ‘Age of Reason’Modernity & development (progress)

Object of Derision 2011 A.D.Object of Hatred: ’Christophobia’ anti religion

‘gay pride’; lifestyle liberationism culture of death: euthanasia,

abortion B.C.

1. Relativism: No Truth / postmodernism2. New Absolutism: Secular Humanism & Individual Autonomy TOWER OF

BABEL3. i.e. Prideful Rebellion against God EDEN

Independence from God, Disobedience, Sin, Death

Inspection Gate

1. Miphkad: Census; call the troops for inspection e.g. Judges 5:18: Zebulun and Naphthali distinguished, but not Gilead, Dan or Asher

2. Personal Judgment

3. Judgment of Nations: Matt 25:31-46 – sheep and goat nations

?

Sheep Gate (Omega)

• Christ our defence• Alpha and Omega• Author and Perfector2 Cor 5:10• For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

• 30 / 60 / 100: Mark 4:3-8

• Gold, Silver, Wood, Hay 1 Cor 3:10-15

The New Jerusalem –Rev 21

• One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The New Jerusalem –Rev 21

• 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

And, Jerusalem?

• They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24)

Israel under Empire: 586 B.C. – 1948 A.D.

7 Aug 586 BC: Israel ceases to exist as self-governing nation; start of 70 years of Babylonian captivity

Christian (Byzantine)• Constantine Emperor of Roman Empire; Christian

churches built: 324 A.D.Muslim• Arab Period: 638-1073 A.D.• Crusader Period: 1099-1187 AD (Saladin)• Mamluk/Ottoman Turkish Period: 1516-1917Christian• British Rule and Mandate: 1917-1948

suleiman

Israel in the 20th Century

World War 1: 1914-1918 – League of Nations• 1914 Balfour Declaration• 1917 Battle of Jerusalem (Britain v Ottoman Empire)• 1922 Palestine Mandate under British

World War 2 & Holocaust: 1938-1945 United Nations• 24 Nov 1947: UN Partition Plan: 2 states, Jerusalem as corpus separatum• 14 May 1948: Declaration of Independence, West Jerusalem under Israeli

Control• 15 May 1948: 1st Arab-Israeli War of Independence (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon,

Iraq)• 11 May 1949: Israel became UN member by majority vote• 7 June 1967: East Jerusalem brought under Israeli control• 1980 Basic Law, Jerusalem: capital of Israel

11 September 1922

1. 2 Nov 1914 Balfour Declaration: Statement of British support for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”

2. Battle of Jerusalem, Nov-Dec 1917; British defeat Ottoman forces

3. Death of Ottoman Empire (1516-1917) & British General Allenby, a master of calvary warfare humbly entered Jaffa Gate on foot: (first time Jerusalem under control of a Christian since…crusades!)

4. PM David Lloyd George (UK) “a Christmas present for the British people”

British mandate(1922-1948)

1. Palestine Mandate (July 24 1922): recognition has thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country

Israel in 1948 (West Jerusalem under Jewish hands)

Jerusalem + 2 pivotal events: 20thC

• 14 May 1948 - Rebirth of Jewish State

• 7 June 1967 - Reunification of West and East Jerusalem as a Jewish City: Six Day War (Temple Mount, Western Wall) – in Jewish hands for 1st time in 2000 years

Western (Wailing) Wall at foot of Temple Mount

UN S.C. Res 242

• Affirms that the fulfillment of Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application of both the following principles:

• Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;

• Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force;

Jerusalem

• They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24)

• For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. (Zech 14:2) – 520-518 BCE

• 1980 Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel (Israel’s eternal capital) Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel

Israel in 20th-21st Century: Continuous plans to divide Jerusalem and remove it from Israeli control

• UN Security Council Resolution 478 (1980), 14 votes, USA abstained – called for Basic Law to be rescinded, contrary to int’l law

• PLO Constitution (1968): Art 7 declares Jerusalem as seat of PLO

• UDI of 1988: State of Palestine

• PLO and UN Intrigue – resolutions to declare future Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital, return to pre 1967 borders

• June 1, 2011: PM Benjamin Netanyahu: "Jerusalem will never be divided. There's nothing more holy to us than Jerusalem, we'll protect Jerusalem, it's unity and we'll build and develop it."

Zech 12:2-3

• Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves.

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May those who love this city prosper

3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:3)

As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head….But on Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance and there shall be holiness – (Obadiah 1:15, 17)

So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7)

2015 – Singapore’s Jubilee?

Singapore – Antioch of Asia?

1. Defend Righteousness within – Proverbs 14: 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people

2. Outreach to the nations with the Good News