ISRAEL UPDATEDecember 2, 2001 - The world hoped and anticipated the Camp David II gathering of Israeli, American and Palestinian leaders would offer more territory in one meeting than all previous ones.
Yassir Arafat balked at the idea, returned to Israel and the results were the “Asqa Intifadah", which in the past fourteen months has left scores of dead and wounded on both sides.
Further, it has all but paralyzed the tourism trade, having a devastating affect not only on the Jewish state, but also on the Palestinians who live within Israel.
Today at the crossroads, leaders are now faced with the cold, hard fact Israel is not just a bone in the throat of the Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world in general, but to the world as well. If it wasn't, the Vatican would not be calling for an "International Jerusalem" under Moslem control; and groups like the Anglican Church would not be calling for a divided Jerusalem, serving as capitals for the Israeli nation and the Palestinian state.
Rest assured that with all the bombing of Afghanistan and all the terrorism being exported around the world, the one basic, single issue is Jerusalem.
In the coming days, you can count on the fact that the City of Peace will become "the issue" at the negotiating table of world leaders. The prophet Zechariah's words ring true: Jerusalem has become a cup of trembling, of which we will discuss further.
December 2. 2001 - The prophet of one of the most eschatological books of the Bible, Zechariah, gives us a fantastic panorama of the coming Apocalypse.
One noted theologian once said that G-d gave apocalyptic vision when the times seemed out of control and without hope. Another great example of this would be the Book of Daniel, in regards to end times.
In Zech. 12:1-3 we read, “The burden of the word of the L-rd for Israel, saith the L-rd, which stretched the hearers, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people round about, when they shall lay siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."
Children throwing rocks, tanks rolling into local neighborhoods, snipers hiding in nursery rooms of houses and leaders inciting riots would make the world think that all hope is lost; that G-d created this mess, then left it. But the truth is, the apocalyptic vision of Zechariah clearly states these forces that are seeking to besiege Jerusalem and Judah will be cut to pieces.
However, the closing chapters of Zechariah also give us a clear vision of Jesus Christ returning to earth to reign; with the Jews finding spiritual and natural restoration. So don't despair, the Light is shining!
To be continued…