Weekly update: “Jerusalem will be an immovable rock for the nations” (Zech 12:2)
This weekly update is being written in Singapore, where I am speaking and ministering about Jerusalem. I have been speaking about the recent report issued by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague – the international legal capital of the world – saying she probably considers that Israeli policy allowing Jews to live in Samaria, Judea and the Old City of Jerusalem are war crimes under international law.
In the eyes of the world, Jews have no place in the land to which God is calling them. I believe this is a sign of the times we are living in. We are witnessing the gradual fulfilment of the prophecies of Zechariah – that Jerusalem will become an “immovable rock” for the nations.
The restoration of Jerusalem is one of the miracles of our age. Another is the spreading of the gospel into the nations. I have been many times in this part of the world, but each time I am amazed how the Lord is raising up a body of Christians who are vitally aware of the times we are living in, and dedicating their lives to living out their faith in the soon coming of Jesus Christ. This too is a sign of the end times – when the gospel of the kingdom will go into the nations prior to the coming of Messiah (Luke 19 and Matthew 24).
May we be encouraged by these signs of the times, and look up to heaven because our redemption is nigh.
Maranatha.
Third elections in Israel in less than a year
Israel will go to the polls again on March 2 2020 – the third elections in less than one year. David Horovitz writes at Times for Israel: “maybe we’ll finally manage to make up our collective mind”.
Read more..
Turkey, Iran and Iraq
Amir Tsafarti reports that Turkey has signed an agreement with the United Nations-recognized government in Libya. “Make no mistake, the true purpose of this agreement is to block the waters of the Mediterranean, not allowing Israel, Cyprus, or Egypt to have direct access to Greece or Italy. Due to this, it is only becoming more obvious that gas and oil are the motives for the next regional war. The Palestinian issue is off the table completely, and now the masks are off. They all want what Israel has. These miserable countries around us simply envy the young, vibrant, and prosperous democracy called Israel.”
Tsafarti also reports: “While hundreds of Muslims are executed by Iranian militias in Iran and Iraq, Europe is once again the scene of brutal antisemitic attacks from Muslim migrants towards Jewish people. Europe is afraid to deal with this demon. Who would imagine that 75 years after the holocaust, France & Germany would once again be this dangerous for Jews.”
View update..
International Criminal Court considers prosecuting Israeli leaders for war crimes
On 5th December 2019 the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its annual Report on Preliminary Examination Activities 2019. In this report, the Prosecutor, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, gave a summary of the status of the twelve “situations” under examination by her office.
The OTP has indicated strongly that it intends to move forward soon to officially investigate Israeli leaders for war crimes and possibly also crimes against humanity relating to the “situation in Palestine”.
According to The Hague Initiative for International Cooperation, “the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC is making a grave mistake in moving towards prosecution of Israeli leaders for war crimes in relation to alleged settlement activities”.
Read the Prosecutor’s report here.
Dutch decision to stop Palestinian financing is unfortunately an exception in Europe
Alain Destexhe reports at Gatestone Institute: “The European Union has, over the years, become increasingly hostile towards Israel. That attitude was confirmed in early November when the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that food products made in the so-called settlements of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Golan Heights must be labeled as such and may not carry the generic label “Made in Israel.””
On the bright side, the Dutch parliament passed a motion on November 19, objecting to providing funding to the Palestinian Authority when some of its budget is earmarked for Palestinian terrorists imprisoned by Israel. By doing so, it not only saved some of Europe’s honor, it also sets an example for other European countries.
Read more..
“Focus on the future” – Video teachings by Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer
Rev. Willem Glashouwer helps us understand God’s prophetic word, and how prophecy is being fulfilled in our generation.
Volume 2 episode 6: In this video Rev Willem Glashouwer is speaking about Matthew 24, when His disciples ask Jesus: “how do we know that you will come again in glory?” The disciples already understand that this first coming of Jesus to planet earth will not lead to His beautiful Kingdom in Glory. That beautiful age on planet earth, when the wolf and the lamb will be together and when people will die, they will have the age of trees. “Tell us”, they said, “when will this happen?”
“In the footsteps of Abraham” – Video teachings by Johannes Gerloff
Watch this series of teachings by Israeli-based Bible teacher and journalist Johannes Gerloff:
Episode 6: In a unique manner God calls Abram to “get up and go”. Or did He call him to come? Sometimes the Hebrew language provides riddles. If we start to dig around them, we discover riches, however.
View Amir Tsafarti’s latest update:
Shabbat shalom,
Andrew Tucker
Editor-in-Chief – Israel & Christians Today
Scripture for the week: Isaiah 62:1-7
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
2 The nations will see your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land Beulah;
for the Lord will take delight in you,
and your land will be married.
5 As a young man marries a young woman,
so will your Builder marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.
The goal of Israel & Christians Today is to help Christians to take God’s Word seriously, and study current events in the world in the context of the Bible.
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