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“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the people around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. And it will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” –Zechariah 12:2-3
Today I watched with amazement President Trump’s press conference where he declared that the United States formally recognizes Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital, and will move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It truly is a historic moment.
It is also a relevant moment in terms of Bible prophecy.
Now, I am not saying that this move by the President specifically fulfills Zechariah 12. In fact, it does not. Zechariah 12 is referring to a time immediately preceding the return of Jesus – this is the context of the passage. It is talking about a time when all the surrounding nations and more will attack Jerusalem to destroy it. You must continue reading the chapter through the next 2 chapters.
Zechariah 12:3 says all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it and God himself will save Israel (vs. 12:7-9). Then Israel will ‘look upon Him who they have pierced and they will mourn’ (12:10).
Who will they mourn?
It is Jesus who has returned to earth to save the remnant. (see my posts “The Gog-Magog War IS Armageddon” and “Every Eye Will See Him“)
They will see Him and mourn over him as He is coming in the clouds. They will mourn because they realize He is the Messiah whom they crucified.
But many will also cry out ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’, as Jesus prophesied when He told Israel they would not seem Him again until they recognize Him (Matthew 23:39).
Zechariah 14 elaborates on this event.
God will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured. But Jesus will ‘go forth’ and fight against those nations as His feet set down on the Mount of Olives and He will be victorious. Thus He will begin the 1000 year reign of the Millennial Kingdom.
So this is the context of Jerusalem being a ‘cup that causes reeling’ to the whole world. What we are witnessing is not the precise fulfillment of Zechariah 12. What we are witnessing is a foreshadowing of what is coming.
“The whole world is against it.” …Turkish Prime Minister
This quote from the Turkish Prime Minister referring to President Trump’s declaration may be a bit of an overstatement, but it illustrates the level of consternation in the world as a result of the President’s move. No doubt there will be uprising and increased violence in the region as a result. It is also safe to say that the world in general holds a great deal of animosity towards Israel and that it is going to increase as we draw closer to the Day of the Lord.
The President’s move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and re-locate the embassy is good and right. It should have been done a long time ago. But God has ordained it to take place now, or at least declare it now.
God continues to signal that time is growing short. Israel will continue to be the focal point. Maranatha.
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