Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry, Jerusalem, Israel

“I have chosen Jerusalem for My name to be there.” 2 Chr. 6:6

ISSUE 43 | IYAR 5781 | MAY 2021 Teaching from Zion

ISSUE 43 | IYAR 578 1 | MAY 2021 Published by Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry, Jerusalem, Israel

The articles printed in this issue of Teaching from Zion are the sole responsibility of their authors. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] or by mail at PO Box 8043, Jerusalem 91080, ISRAEL.

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About Netivyah Netivyah in Hebrew means "the Way of the Lord." "The Way" was one of the names by which the early community of believers was known in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament). Paul says, "I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that An Ephraimite in Jerusalem accords with the Torah and everything written in the By Glenn Miller...... 4 Prophets." (Acts 24:14 CJB). As followers of "the Way," we believe in the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, An Intoxicating Cup of Poison for the Nations Isaac, and Jacob. We try to be faithful to God's law (the By Keijo Lindeman...... 8 Torah) and to the rest of Scripture—the Prophets and the Writings. We believe that the Messiah promised in Jews/Israelis, Christians, and Muslims God's word is Yeshua (Jesus), the one who "saves His in the City of David people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). By Joseph Shulam...... 16 Jerusalem By Vadim Birman ...... 24 More Information: www.netivyah.org netivyahisrael netivyah The City of the Great King By David Friedman...... 28 The International Controversy over Jerusalem By Sonia Waters...... 32 The Lord our Righteousness By Hannah Kovner...... 36 News from Netivyah weekly Torah portionsinHebrew. Yehudacurrentlyand is English Joseph in throughSamuel going second of book the thefollowing is Joseph and Yehuda continue to produce multiple video teachings per week on Facebook and YouTube. year andhopethatyouare asblessedandenrichedbyreading itasweare bypublishingit. We“Teachingmagazine our publishing keep to able arebe to glad very from a times multiple Zion” obligated duetoreceiving aid. they know who we are and what we believe in. We do not want to create a situation thatwhere sure people feel make we time same the at but aid, receive to hereare they while families the with gospel Yeshuaof sharelight theto the Wenot see throughactions. policy to these a people it these make of the yearblessingsomanypeoplethrough thiscrisis.PleasepraythattheLord willopenthehearts know,throughoutyou “Hamotzi” As center distribution food our running keep to able been have we teaching from the scriptures. and bonding social of afternoon fun-filled a for here gather city the over all congregationsfrom 15 (post-Covid) Munchkin’sagain the once groupup youth start to Yehudadecided has anyone, sopleasekeepthismatterinprayer. on easy been not has year This normal. to back getting is it know we as life and people, fifty to up required outside, and businesses are open. Soon the congregation will be able to gather inside with The Covid19 restrictions are gradually being lifted: children are back in school, masks are no longer the samenomatterhowitisimplemented. stays it disagreements,but political “simple” than further much taken be can idea This times. many us, includingthosewithwhomwedisagree, whichmattersmuchmore. Yeshua taughtusthesameso hostility betweenallsides.Eachpersonisentitledtohisopinion,butithowwetreat thosearound of and animosity of flames the of lowering a for rather but outcome specific any for not pray to all you ask to like would I elections. the between much change not did vote results the as fifth a to way also politically. It has been a challenging two years with four elections, and it seems we are on our It isreally heating up in Israel,andnotjustthesummerthis desert climatewecallhome, but Greetings DearFriends, Daniel Stern Blessings, Thank you!Forstandingwithus. Israel, wewouldnotbeabletodotheworkGodhasput on ourhearts.We are vesselsforHim. Without yourprayersandsupportwithout youstandingwithus,Israel,andtheGodof . Kids ages 12- ages Kids ANBy Glenn Miller EPHRAIMITE IN JERUSALEM She told me that t was the year 1976, while living in my first encounter with Jewish men of I am a part of Sitka, Alaska that I started to wonder differing persuasions and, boy, did I get why the Palestinians and Jews were an earful of great insights. They both fighting over the Land of Israel. I read spent summers mining in Alaska but Israel, a Lost all that I could get my hands on to find had an apartment in Jerusalem where out why two nationalities were fighting they tried unsuccessfully to persuade Sheep of the over a small parcel of land in the me to visit them during the winter. I Middle East. The more I read, the more had no desire while in my twenties of House of Israel, I sided with the Jewish people, after leaving the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Elohim יהוה all, the Land of Israel is their ancient but eventually Adonai homeland. I believe the Creator of the intensified my love of the Jewish people an Ephraimite universe had a hand on me and directed and the Land of Israel, and I would my paths before I really acknowledged read, with interest, intense stories of from the Him or had a desire to walk the Land Holocaust survivors and kept abreast of of Israel. the 1982 Lebanese War and any and all northern tribes news I could find about Israel. It was in 1980 that I met a Jewish man who believed Yeshua to be the Messiah, In the 1990s, I had more encounters who were and we became instant friends. Phil with Israelis during my travels. One Schmitt was a grizzled Alaskan gold especially good encounter was in a tiny dispersed in 722 miner with very long hair and ZZ Top village in Turkey where I met a young style long beard. I ended up mining with Israeli couple, Ori and Sharona, who BCE. him for two seasons in the summers had just finished their Israeli Defense of 1981 and 1983. Phil spent many Force requirements and who were also next couple of Mediterranean villages evenings talking to our Orthodox traveling as is the Israeli custom after as we headed east. Ori had roots in Jewish friend, Rob about why finishing army duty. I ended up eating Tunisia but was born and raised in Yeshua is the Messiah. It was dinner with them and seeing them in the Rishon Letzion. Sharona was of Iraqi

4 Teaching from Zion AN EPHRAIMITE IN JERUSALEM

heritage, raised in the German Colony remember that my first day in Jerusalem It was on Shabbat, September 23, 2003 of Jerusalem. At that time, I did not yet on August 19, 2003 ended up having the that I was invited to meet a journalist get to travel to Israel, but eventually, worst bus bombing terrorist attack in friend whom I had never met in person. when I did, I saw them and have visited Israel’s history. I believe it was Adonai We only “knew” each other online. Elohim’s desire and plan for me to Stan Goodenough wanted to write יהוה them every time that I have been blessed with visiting Israel. enter His city during this critical time. a story about the reopening of the I walked everywhere alone and silently Temple Mount and to meet me there It was August 19, 2003 when I first prayed. Something else that happened and give me a tour. He said to meet arrived in Jerusalem. As I entered the as I entered Jerusalem was that the him at the Mughrabi Gate where there city of the Great King, the first thing Muslim Waqf decided to reopen the is a ramp that ascends up to the top. I I recognized was not an historic or Temple Mount to “infidels” or non- was supposed to meet him at 9:00 in ancient landmark, it was the Sbarro Muslims. It was on September 29, 2000 the morning. I usually get up early, so Pizzeria where a horrific terrorist attack that Ariel Sharon set foot on the Temple I had coffee and breakfast with my new had occurred while I was in Alaska on Mount and made some declarations Jewish Quarter friend whom I rented August 9, 2001. I saw many photos of Jewish heritage that were used by from, Avraham Moyal, and then walked of the Sbarro building, and they were Palestinians’ Chairman Yasser Arafat to down to the Kotel to pray and prepare permanently etched into my mind. spark the Second Intifada also known for the day. When it got close to 9:00, I as the Al Aqsa Intifada. So, the Temple walked over to the Mughrabi Gate and If you recall, 2003 was the worst year Mount had been closed to infidels for milled around, still praying silently, for terrorism and the worst year for nearly three years. I had no idea until while watching for Stan. When it got to tourism in Israel. That is, up until 2020 arriving in Jerusalem that I was going to be 9:15 or so, I started thinking, “maybe when the virus caused Israel to go into get to walk up onto the Temple Mount. he wanted to meet me on the top of the lockdown. In fact, not everyone will ramp.” So, I went through the security Elohim’s desire and plan יהוה I believe it was Adonai for me to enter His city during this critical time. I walked everywhere alone and silently prayed.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 5 check, including a metal detector, while I then pulled my little pocket Bible out bowing, kneeling or praying out loud. a policeman looked through my small of my left front pocket and opened it up backpack. I was allowed through and randomly to Zechariah 6:15 where it I did meet Stan later that day at his ascended the ramp, but saw no Stan, says, “Those who are far off will come home, where he had a view of the Then you Temple Mount. It turns out that his .יהוה so I just walked around slowly, while and build the Temple of praying silently. I walked away from the will know that YaHuVeH Tsevaot has reliable van would not start that Al Aqsa Mosque and toward the Dome sent me to you. And it will take place if morning. It did eventually start after I had my encounter with the King of the ״.your Elohim יהוה of the Rock. I circled the Dome three you completely obey times and then put my hands on it and Tears welled up as I contemplated those universe. That is what Stan told me. proclaimed, “This mountain is for Your words. Stan and his journalist colleague, Ryan people to worship You in spirit and in Jones, who now is the managing editor truth.” I then pivoted back toward the Now you know that I snuck my little at Israel Today, did go up on the Temple north and asked our Creator if there was pocket Bible up onto the Temple Mount and did write a story including anything that He wanted to reveal to me Mount and prayed continuously several photos. I even recognized some at this time. Now, if you do not know without being hassled or arrested as of the people in his photos and came to this already, it is illegal to pray or carry I have heard has been done to others the realization that we indeed were up a Bible on this Muslim controlled site. that might be more blatant about there at the same time.

6 Teaching from Zion It says in the Psalms that we enter His gates with thanksgiving. Praise and worship are our vehicle into God’s presence. Whenever we want to seek God, worship is a good place to star

I circled the

Dome three previous with her sister and toured with finally realize that Adonai Eloheinu a tour guide, Avi ben Mordecai. When really did want us to walk the land, times and I called the airlines to book a flight to north, south, east, and west. We made the Israel for our honeymoon, the day they decision and planned for the spring of had available seats just happen to be 2018 where we would start hiking from then put my three weeks after our Sukkot wedding. Kibbutz Dan near the Lebanese border I did not realize it at the time but soon and head southbound on the Israel hands on it and discovered that the Torah portion for the National Trail. We didn’t get as far as day we left the United States was Lech we hoped, but we did do much walking Elohim tells Avraham and had many fantastic meetings with יהוה proclaimed, L’cha where to leave the country of his fathers and many beautiful people along the way go to “a land that I will show you.” The and realized that meeting these people “This mountain day we entered Israel, the daily Torah from all walks of life and trail angels Elohim tells was the best part of the trek. We took יהוה portion was where is for Your Avraham to “arise and walk the land, breaks during Pesach and haMatsot in north, south, east and west, the length Jerusalem during this journey where people to and breadth of the land of Israel.” We we partook of the Ephraimite Gathering don’t believe in coincidences, but for in Independence Park that occurs some lame brained reason, I didn’t every Shabbat over both Passover and worship You realize that Adonai Eloheinu desired for Sukkot. What a family reunion it was! us to “arise and walk the land”—yet! There were people from all tribes and in spirit and in all nations meeting. The following year we returned on our truth.” first anniversary. For Amanda this was We returned again in December 2019 her third visit in three years! We were and journeyed on a seven-day Negev invited to Ori and Sharona’s family’s hike with a group that Aviel Schneider, Since that first visit in 2003, I returned Rosh HaShana family get together and the editor and publisher of Israel Today solo in 2005 during Yom Teruah/Rosh made to feel like a part of their family. magazine, put together. It was another Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, It was wonderful. We spent Yom Kippur wonderful experience. It was my sixth where I participated in the Jerusalem in Tsfat, when we also hiked up and trip to Israel, but my first during which I March. around Mount Meron where we first did not see Jerusalem. It was Amanda’s encountered the Israel National Trail. fifth trip and also her first without During Sukkot of 2008, I got married We were in Jerusalem during Sukkot visiting Jerusalem. to a like-minded bride, Amanda, who and got to, again, walk in the Jerusalem also had a love for Israel and a desire to March among many other walks around We had a Golan Trail hike planned for return. She is the one who told me that I the city and the country. October 2020, but COVID put a halt am a part of Israel, a Lost Sheep of the to our plans. We are now waiting and House of Israel, an Ephraimite from the After reading a book called, “Walk hoping for our next visit. Now, we lost northern tribes who were dispersed in the Land—A Journey on Foot through sheep from the House of Israel are also 722 BCE. She had visited just the year Israel” by Judith Galblum Pex, did we proclaiming, “Next Year in Jerusalem!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meekhael ben Yosef) on social media. He is what some) מיכאל בן יוסף Glenn Michael Miller, son of Joseph Miller, goes by consider a “gentile” but prefers to be called an Israelite. He is not Jewish, but he has a love for the Jewish people, the Land of Israel, and the Elohim of Avraham, Yitschak, and Yaakov. In 1998 while he was living in Alaska, God impressed a passage of scripture on him to “go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” that led to his multiple visits to Israel. He has been married to the love of his life, Amanda, since Sukkot of 2008, and they live in Southern Oregon.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 7 JERUSALEM AN INTOXICATING CUP OF POISON FOR THE NATIONS By Keijo Lindeman

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part” (1 Cor.13:9)

his is the word of the LORD all the nations. All who try to move it kings and officials, to make them a ruin concerning Israel. The LORD, will injure themselves” (Zechariah 12:1- and an object of horror and scorn and who stretches out the heavens, 3, NIV). cursing, as they are today… But if they who lays the foundations of the earth, and refuse to take the cup from your hand who forms the spirit of man within him, “This is what the LORD, the God of and drink, tell them: This is what the declares: I am going to make Jerusalem Israel, said to me: Take from my hand LORD Almighty says: You must drink a cup that sends all the surrounding this cup filled with the wine of my wrath it! See, I am beginning to bring disaster peoples reeling [Hebrew saf ra’al = a cup and make all the nations to whom I send on the city that bears my Name, and will of poison]. Judah will be besieged as well you drink it. When they drink it, they you indeed go unpunished? You will not as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the will stagger and go mad because of the go unpunished, for I am calling down nations of the earth are gathered against sword I will send among them. So I took a sword upon all who live on the earth, her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable the cup from the LORD’s hand and made declares the LORD Almighty. Now rock [Hebrew, ‘even ma’amasah = a all the nations to whom he sent me drink prophesy all these words against them heavy stone, a heavy burden-stone] for it: Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its and say to them: The LORD will roar

8 Teaching from Zion Zechariah’s and Jeremiah’s Jerusalem is built like a city that is Israel, on the other hand, is happy closely compacted together. That is about President Trump’s decision and prophecies are where the tribes go up, the tribes of the considers Jerusalem as its undivided LORD, to praise the name of the LORD capital, whose history as the capital of a according to the statute given to Israel. Jewish state is as old as 3000 years, ever being fulfilled. There the thrones for judgment stand, the since the days of King David. According thrones of the house of David” (Psalm to Psalm 122, Jerusalem is “a closely Jerusalem is 122:3-5, NIV). compacted” (undivided) capital, where “the thrones for judgment stand, the Finland celebrated its 100 years of thrones of the House of David.” about to become independence on December 6, 2017. On that same day, U.S. President Zechariah’s and Jeremiah’s prophecies a bone of Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem are being fulfilled. Jerusalem is about as the capital of Israel and promised to become a bone of contention, an to transfer the U.S. embassy from Tel intoxicating cup of poison, a cup filled contention, an Aviv to Jerusalem, according to his with wine of wrath, and an immovable election promise. After this decision, a rock to the nations surrounding Israel intoxicating cup few other countries planned to transfer and even to all nations. The Temple their embassies to Jerusalem also. The Mount is a very sensitive area to the decision made by the U.S. has caused religious. All those who try to move that of poison, a cup much anger and protest in the Arab world Jerusalem rock will injure themselves that continues to demand cancellation of badly. There comes a time when God filled with wine that decision. will make the surrounding nations and eventually all nations drink that cup of President Trump’s decision has been God’s wrath. All nations have to drink it, of wrath, and an widely criticized in the Muslim world. even those who don’t want to. Jerusalem The situation is also very excited because is the place of God’s feet and the city immovable rock Israel is planning to take some areas of the great King, and when the nations under its contorol in Judea and Samaria rise to attack and divide her, they rise and the Jordan Valley, according to his against God, and they will be judged for to the nations peace plan. Palestinians insist on having it (Isa. 60:13; Matt. 5:34-35). Joel also their own state with eastern Jerusalem prophesies that trying to divide the land surrounding as its capital, and they are furious about of Israel brings judgment on the nations, President Trump’s decision because and the Lord will judge every nation according to them it debilitates their that tries to divide the land of Israel and Israel and even chances to reach their goal. The United touch Jerusalem with evil in their minds Nations is also doing its best to invalidate (Joel 3:1-3, or MT 4:1-3). to all nations. Trump’s decision. The Generals of Israel and the from on high; he will thunder from his The most fanatic radical Muslims Atomic War holy dwelling and roar mightily against (such as Hamas militants) do not even his land. He will shout like those who acknowledge the existence of the state of “On that day I will strike every horse tread the grapes, shout against all who Israel, and they are prepared for violence with panic and its rider with madness,” live on the earth. The tumult will resound and war to purge Israel and Jerusalem declares the LORD. “I will keep a to the ends of the earth, for the LORD from Zionist occupiers, as they put it. watchful eye over the house of Judah, but will bring charges against the nations; he The European Union also objects to I will blind all the horses of the nations. will bring judgment on all mankind and the U.S. President’s decision and is Then the leaders of Judah (Hebrew, put the wicked to the sword” (Jeremiah prepared to support the establishment of ‘alufei Jehudah= the princes or generals 25:15-18, 28-31, NIV). a Palestinian State on the Westbank area, of Judah) will say in their hearts, ‘The with eastern Jerusalem as its capital. people of Jerusalem are strong, because

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 9 the LORD Almighty is their God.’ On their teeth were like lions’ teeth. They silver and clothing. A similar plague will that day I will make the leaders of Judah had breastplates like breastplates of strike the horses and mules, the camels (Hebrew alufei Jehudah= generals of iron, and the sound of their wings was and donkeys, and all the animals in those Judah) like a brazier in a woodpile, like like the thundering of many horses and camps” (Zechariah 14:12-15, NIV). a flaming torch among sheaves. They will chariots rushing into battle” (Revelation consume right and left all the surrounding 9:7-9, NIV). The attacking forces will find themselves peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in a state of utter chaos and start fighting in her place. The LORD will save the In that war the technology of the enemy’s against each other. The atomic weapons dwellings of Judah first, so that the honour planes fails; their system goes blind of the generals of Judah will destroy of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s and confused, and the pilots will not be them. Zechariah’s description refers inhabitants may not be greater than that of able to control the planes anymore. The to the use of neutron bombs whose Judah. On that day the LORD will shield pilots themselves get mad. One may explosive power does not do much those who live in Jerusalem, so that the ask if Israel has such superior military damage to buildings or infrastructure, feeblest among them will be like David, technology that she can throw into but their neutron radiation kills/rots and the house of David will be like God, disorder the information technology of everything animate. Incidentally, the like the Angel of the LORD going before enemy planes in a way that makes their scientist who developed the neutron them. On that day I will set out to destroy system go wild, or is it God working His bomb was a Jew named Samuel Cohen. all the nations that attack Jerusalem” miracles, or both. (Zechariah 12: 4-9, NIV). Psalm 83 also speaks about this battle All will culminate in an atomic war. and names the attacking nations: This text speaks about the leaders of the The atomic fire sent by the generals of Edom, Moab and Ammon, i.e. Jordan, tribe of Judah. The original Hebrew text Judah will consume the attacking nations the Hagrites, i.e. Egypt (Hagar was uses the phrase ‘alufei Jehudah, which surrounding Israel, and the devastation will Abraham’s Egyptian concubine), Gebal in modern Hebrew has the meaning be huge. In chapter 14, Zechariah appears and Tyre, i.e. Lebanon, Assur, i.e. Syria, “generals of Judah” who will play a to speak about the use of atomic weapons. and Iraq, and Philistia, i.e. Palestinians. All will culminate in an atomic war. The atomic fire sent by the generals of Judah will consume the attacking nations surrounding Israel, and the devastation will be huge. decisive role in this war, consuming “This is the plague with which the Egypt and Jordan, in spite of their peace like a brazier and a flaming torch the LORD will strike all the nations that treaty with Israel, are on the enemy surrounding peoples who attack Israel. fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh lines. Those who attack Israel want to The horses of the nations will be struck will rot while they are still standing wipe out the name of Israel from the face with panic and the riders with madness. on their feet, their eyes will rot in their of the earth and take possession of the The Book of Revelation speaks about sockets, and their tongues will rot in dwellings of God, namely Jerusalem. flying war horses, i.e. fighter planes. their mouths. On that day men will be But the Psalm assures us that the enemies stricken by the LORD with great panic. of Israel will be destroyed. Fire will burn “The locusts like horses prepared Each man will seize the hand of another, the attacking forces, and the destruction for battle. On their heads they wore and they will attack each other. Judah and shame of the attacking nations will something like crowns of gold, and too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth be great. God gets the glory. their faces resembled human faces. of all the surrounding nations will be Their hair was like women’s hair, and collected – great quantities of gold and The Land Area of Israel will

10 Teaching from Zion Something will happen that Enlarge as a Result of the War scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. “The LORD will save the dwellings They and their children will survive, will cause a of Judah first, so that the honour of and they will return. I will bring them to the house of David and of Jerusalem’s Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not tremendous inhabitants may not be greater than that be room enough for them. They will pass of Judah” (Zechariah 12:7, NIV). through the sea of trouble: the surging wave of global sea will be subdued, and all the depths of “People from the Negev will occupy the Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will the mountains of Esau, the people from be brought down, and Egypt’s scepter antisemitism the foothills will possess the land of the will pass away. I will strengthen them Philistines. They will occupy the fields in the LORD, and in his name, they will and hatred of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin walk, declares the LORD” (Zechariah will possess Gilead. This company of 10:8-12, NIV). against Israel Israelite exiles who are in Canaan will possess the land, as far as Zarepath; The area occupied by Palestinians is the exiles from Jerusalem who are in called the Westbank, but in the Bible that will compel Sepharad (Hebrew sfarad = Spain) that area belongs to Judah and Samaria. will possess the towns of the Negev. According to Zechariah, the area of Jews to flee the Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to Judah will be delivered from enemy govern the mountains of Esau. And the occupation and returned to Israel. Along persecutions kingdom will be the LORD’s” (Obadiah with Samaria, also the areas of Esau in 19-21, NIV). southern Jordan will be connected to Israel, as Obadiah prophesies. Sefardic and come up “He will raise a banner for the nations Jews, descendants of so-called Anusim and gather the exiles of Israel; he will Jews of Spain, Portugal, Brazil among to the land of assemble the scattered people of Judah other South American countries, and from the four quarters of the earth. other nation, who were forced to convert, Israel, so that Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and will come and settle the “Sepharad,” the Judah’s enemies will be cut off; Ephraim Negev. will not be jealous of Judah nor Judah no Jew will be hostile toward Ephraim. They will The areas of Edom and Moab in southern swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to and central Jordan will be in Israel’s left among the the west; together they will plunder the possession. According to Zechariah, people to the east. They will lay hands Gilead, the area towards Syria and nations. on Edom and Moab, and Ammonites will northern Jordan from Golan as well be subject to them. The LORD will dry as Lebanon will be connected to Israel up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a for the Exodus of the End times. The up to the land of Israel, so that no Jew scorching wind he will sweep his hand peninsula of Sinai in the south will be will be left among the nations (Jeremiah over the Euphrates River. He will break Israeli area as far as the river of Egypt, 16:14-16; Zechariah 2:6-8; Ezekiel it up into seven streams so that men can probably even up to the Nile, as God had 39:28). cross over in sandals. There will be a promised Abraham. That is how God highway for the remnant of his people will enlarge, as the result of the storms Why does the Devil want to take that is left from Assyria, as there was for of war, the land of Israel for the return of Jerusalem and destroy Israel? Israel when they came up from Egypt” the End time Exodus Jews. (Isaiah 11:12-16, NIV). The devil knows that when Yeshua the Something will happen that will cause a Messiah returns to the Mount of Olives “I will signal for them and gather them tremendous wave of global antisemitism in Jerusalem the time of his judgment has in. Surely, I will redeem them; they will and hatred against Israel that will compel come. The devil is well aware that he and be as numerous as before. Though I Jews to flee the persecutions and come his troops will be thrown to the Abyss for

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 11 gold. They will call on my name and I occupied Jerusalem and destroyed the The Mount of will answer them; I will say, “They are Temple. Two thirds of Jews were killed my people,” and they will say, “The in those battles and one third was taken Olives will be LORD is our God” (Zechariah 13:8-9, captive to be sold on the slave market in NIV). Rome. Zechariah’s prophecy, however, relates to the end times, which, in my split in two from “However, the days are coming”, opinion, shows that this interpretation declares the LORD, “when men will has come true only in part in 70 AD. east to west no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD According to the third interpretation lives, who brought the Israelites up out two thirds of the Jews have already been to form a vast of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely destroyed in pogroms, persecutions and as the LORD lives, who brought the nazi Holocaust in Europe and in the Israelites up out of the land of the north whole world. The fourth explanation valley. People and out of all the countries where he had proposes that two thirds of the Jews in banished them.’ For I will restore them Israel or elsewhere in the world will will flee to this to the land I gave their forefathers. “But perish in the end times, and only one now I will send for many fishermen, third will survive and receive Yeshua as valley for shelter. “declares the LORD,” and they will catch their Messiah. them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down Which of these, if any, is the right a thousand years, after which he will be on every mountain and hill and from the interpretation? The original Hebrew released for a short time to raise a last crevices of the rocks. My eyes are on text gives us some indications in verse revolt against Jerusalem, but he will be all their ways; they are not hidden from eight. The term “two parts” comes from Pi shnaim. It is a ,פִּי־שְׁנַיִם overcome and thrown into the lake of me, nor is their sin concealed from my the Hebrew burning sulphur with his troops, as the eyes. I will repay them double for their mathematical term which means “twice, Revelation 20 tells us (cf. Matt. 25:41). wickedness and their sin, because they two times”. This somewhat difficult The devil has no power to resist the have defiled my land with the lifeless text could be translated as follows: Two Almighty God, but he tries to prevent the forms of their vile images and have filled times will there be in it destruction and judgment from falling on him by taking my inheritance with their detestable people starve and die, and the third time Jerusalem in his control and inciting the idols” (Jeremiah 16:14-18, NIV). will remain there, and I will bring the enemies of Israel against Jerusalem and third/on the third (time) into the fire and Israel. The devil tries to errect obstacles “Comfort, comfort my people, says your purify them. in the hopes of obliterating the people God, speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and of Israel in Jerusalem who would shout proclaim to her that her hard service has Jeremiah sheds more light on the matter “Blessed be He who comes in the Name been completed, that her sin has been in his prophecy. He prophesies that of the Lord!”, thereby preventing the paid for, that she has received from the before the great Exodus from the northern Messiah from returning to the Mount LORD’s hand double (Hebrew kiflaim: country and from other countries, when of Olives. The schemes of the devil will twice as much) for all her sins” (Isaiah fishermen coax and hunters (persecutors) fail, however, because the God of Israel 40:1-2, NIV). chase the Jews so as to make them return is all-knowing and almighty, and He to Israel, God will first revenge them two takes care of His people Israel. There are many interpretations of times for their iniquities and sins. Isaiah Zechariah’s text. One of them explains has a similar expression. Before the time Israel will be purified through that two thirds of mankind will perish of consolation for Israel and Jerusalem fire to be a people of priests in the end-time judgments and one in the end time, the Jewish people has third will be left. This interpretation can had twice (Hebrew, kiflaim) for her sins “In the whole land,” declares the LORD, hardly be right because the context of from the Lord’s hand. “two-thirds will be struck down and the text is clearly focused on the Jewish perish; yet one-third will be left in it. people and Israel. According to another This has come true two times: twice This third I will bring into the fire; I will interpretation this prophecy came true has the land of Israel and the Jerusalem refine them like silver and test them like in the year 70, when the Roman troops Temple been destroyed, twice has the

12 Teaching from Zion people been sent into exile. The first will be refined by fire in order to make wives by themselves: the clan of the time it happened in two parts. First the them a holy people of priests in the house of David and their wives, the northern part of the divided Israel, the Messiah’s Millennial Kingdom of clan of the house of Nathan and their ten tribes or Efraim, i.e. Joseph, were Peace (Revelation 20; Isaiah 61:4-6). wives, the clan of the house of Levi deported to Assyria in 722 BC. Then The congregation of the Lord will also and their wives, the clan of Shimei and southern Judah was taken to exile into be purified and refined in fire, so that their wives, and all the rest of the clans Babylon in the days of Nebuchadnezzar it would be holy and blameless for the and their wives. On that day, a fountain in 586 BC, and Solomon’s Temple was Messiah’s coming and the taking up of will be opened to the house of David destroyed. The second time came in about the ekklesia (Ephesians 5:25-27). and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to 70 AD; the Romans destroyed Jerusalem cleanse them from sin and impurity. On and the Second Temple, and surviving that day, I will banish the names of the Jews were deported to Rome and sold I n idols from the land, and they will be as slaves among the nations, and remembered no more, declares the the land was deserted for two the last LORD Almighty, I will remove thousand years. both the prophets and the moments before the spirit of impurity from the Now, in the End time, it land” (Zechariah 12:10- will be the third time; 13:2, NIV). the people of Israel will Messiah’s coming, the have to undergo God’s The Spirit of grace purifying fire which people of Israel will be and prayer will be cleanses them from poured out on the their sins and turns refined by fire in order to Jewish people in those their hearts to receive days of distress. They Yeshua, their Messiah. will look upon their The prophet Malachi make them a holy people of Messiah Yeshua nailed speaks about this: to the Cross and they priests in the Messiah’s will receive Him. All “See, I will send my Israel will be saved, as Paul messenger, who will prepare Millennial Kingdom of writes to the Romans (Rom. the way before me. Then 11:25-29). The first to repent suddenly the Lord you are seeking will be the house of David, i.e. will come to his temple; the messenger Peace. political leaders of Israel; the house of of the covenant, whom you desire, will Nathan, i.e. prophets; the house of Levi, come, says the Lord Almighty. But who i.e. religious leaders, and the house of can endure the day of his coming? Who Israel will Repent in the Shimei, i.e. government officials. The can stand when he appears? For he will Synagogues whole nation will join in the repentance be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s with secular and religious leadership. soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier “And I will pour out on the house of of silver; he will purify the Levites and David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem Special mention is made to “their wives” refine them like gold and silver. Then a spirit of grace and supplication. They several times. This means synagogues the LORD will have men who will will look on me, the one they have which maintain the orthodox tradition bring offerings in righteousness and the pierced, and they will mourn for him of men and women sitting separately. offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will as one mourns for an only child and This is to say that when Israel repents, be acceptable to the LORD, as in days grieve bitterly for him as one grieves synagogues and worship that takes place gone by, as in former years” (Malachi for a firstborn son. On that day, the in them have an important role in Israel 3:1-4, NIV). weeping in Jerusalem will be great getting saved through faith in Yeshua like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon as their Messiah. Why synagogues? In the last moments before the in the plain of Megiddo. The land will Because God will not allow the people Messiah’s coming, the people of Israel mourn, each clan by itself, with their of Israel be led astray by unbiblical

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 13 The end of all valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will 16). The river, or the forces, sent by the will be that flee as you fled from the earthquake in enemy to overtake the wife Israel, will the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then perish when the earth swallows them the Messiah the LORD my God will come, and all the like it swallowed the rebellious Korah holy ones with him” (Zechariah 14:1-5, and his family in the days of Moses NIV). (Numbers 16). The Mount of Olives will establishes a close up and swallow the enemies. The Finally, all nations will gather against holy ones in their resurrected bodies will thousand-year Israel and Jerusalem. This has been come with the Messiah to fight against happening already in the UN, where Israel’s enemies, to save Israel from resolutions are piled one after another destruction, to judge the ungodly world kingdom where against Israel, and where all nations and to establish the Messiah’s Millenial want to divide the land that God has Kingdom on earth, as Jude also writes in the resurrected promised to Israel. Let us consider the (Jude 14-15). situation of the Kurds, for instance: there are about 30 million Kurds, but they The Messiah’s Millenial holy ones will are not allowed to have their own state, Kingdom and the Temple while resolutions are continually made rule with the to ensure the Palestinians will get their “On that day living water will flow out own state. Such is the double standard from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea of antisemitic nations, and it shows the and half to the western sea in summer Messiah. latent hatred that nations harbour against and in winter. The LORD will be king Israel and the God of Israel. This hatred over the whole earth. On that day there will culminate in the assault of Gentile will be one LORD, and his name the doctrines infiltrated into Christianity by nations on Jerusalem and Israel. only name. The whole land, from Geba the Roman Church. The Israeli people to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will of priests need to be rooted in biblical That is when the Messiah will fight become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem teaching and the model of the Early against them. He rose into heavens from will be raised up and remain in its place, Church to be the people of priests in the the Mount of Olives, and that is where from the Benjamin Gate to the site of Messiah’s Kingdom. He will return to, according to Acts the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and chapter one. The Mount of Olives will be from the Tower of Hananel to the royal All Nations will Gather against split in two from east to west to form a winepresses. It will be inhabited; never Israel and Jerusalem vast valley. People will flee to this valley again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem for shelter. will be secure… Then the survivors “A day of the LORD is coming when from all the nations that have attacked your plunder will be divided among Moshe Ben Meir, a late Messianic Jerusalem will go up year after year to you. I will gather all the nations to pioneer, had an interesting theory. worship the King, the LORD Almighty, Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will The word “you’ll flee” is “nastem” in and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. be captured, the houses ransacked, and Hebrew, but as there was no vocalization, If any of the peoples of the earth do not the women raped. Half of the city will the word could be read “nistam”, go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, go into exile, but the rest of the people which means “closes”. According to the LORD Almighty, they will have no will not be taken from the city. Then this interpretation the people of Israel rain. If the Egyptian people do not go the LORD will go out and fight against will flee (nastem) to the valley born up and take part, they will have no rain. those nations, as he fights in the day of through the split in two of the Mount The LORD will bring on them the plague battle. On that day his feet will stand on of Olives, the enemy will come after he inflicts on the nations that do not go the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, them, and then the Mount of Olives will up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. and the Mount of Olives will be split in close (nistam), and the enemy will be This will be the punishment of Egypt two from east to west, forming a great destroyed just like the Egyptians in the and the punishment of all the nations valley, with half of the mountain moving Sea of Reeds, when they were chasing that do not go up to celebrate the Feast north and half moving south. You will the Israelites. The Book of Revelation of Tabernacles. On that day “Holy to the flee (Hebrew, nastem) by my mountain suggests this possiblity, too (Rev. 12:15- Lord” will be inscribed on the bells of

14 Teaching from Zion Mount Zion will be the highest celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, and mountain on earth. Other mountains they will learn the Word of God, the Torah, taught by the believing people will collapse, and the earth will be of the priests of Israel. Mount Zion will be the highest mountain on earth. Other mountains will collapse, and the like plains of the Garden of Eden. earth will be like plains of the Garden of Eden (Rev. 6:16). the horses, and the cooking pots in the establishes a thousand-year kingdom LORD ‘s house will be like the sacred where in the resurrected holy ones will We are all invited to this wonderful bowls in front of the altar. Every pot rule with the Messiah as it is written Kingdom of the Messiah and, after that, in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to in Revelation chapter 20, for instance to the eternal Kingdom of God in a new the LORD Almighty, and all who come (see also the parable of the talents in heaven and a new earth, the ultimate to sacrifice will take some of the pots Luke 19:11-28). In Jerusalem, the third home of those whose names are in the and cook in them. And on that day, temple will be constructed, and the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21-22). I urge there will no longer be a Canaanite glory of the Messiah will dwell there everyone to receive in faith Yeshua in the house of the LORD Almighty” (Isa. 2:1-4; Ezek. 40-48). The survivors the Messiah as their Savior and King, (Zechariah 14:8-11, 16-21, NIV). of the nations that attacked Israel, and and thus have part in that final and all nations, will come up to Jerusalem wonderful future that awaits those who The end of all will be that the Messiah and worship the Lord Almighty and belong to the Lord.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Keijo Lindeman is a retired, 74-year-old Finnish electrical engineer and writer. He has been a believer and Bible teacher for more than 50 years, focusing especially on Israel, restoration, and prophecy. His organization, Israel-Apu Ry, has supported Netivyah for more than 30 years, and it has regularly hosted its founder, Joseph Shulam, to teach in Finland for its Israel-seminars and meetings.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 15 JERUSALEM JEWS/ISRAELIS, CHRISTIANS & MUSLIMS IN THE CITY OF DAVID By Joseph Shulam

he geography of Jerusalem is is called the King’s Highway. It also one of its most important assets came through Egypt crossing the Negev of one of the most ancient desert below the Dead Sea to the eastern cities in the world. The land of Israel, side of the Jordan river, continuing ancient Canaan, is situated between northward to Damascus, and from there the Mediterranean Sea on the west extending to Asia and Europe. Jerusalem and the Arabian desert to the east. The sat on the hills between these two major geographic advantage of Jerusalem highways. Jerusalem is located in the is that it is located between the most center of the country in the middle of the important ancient overland highways central mountain range that goes from that connected Africa, Asia, and Europe. Beersheba in the northern Negev Desert The two major highways of antiquity that to the lower Galilee and looks like the connected the continents passed right spine of the land of Israel. Jerusalem through Israel. The first is the Way of also connects the Way of the Sea (Via the Sea that connected Africa with Asia Maris) with Jericho and on across the and Europe by passing from Egypt along Jordan River to the King’s Highway. You can see on the map that Jerusalem the Sea Coast of the Mediterranean, This land bridge and by-pass option is located right in the heart of the land. It crossing through the Jezreel valley from one of these ancient highways was lies on the path from the Sea shore (Jaffa/ eastward before crossing the Jordan a relatively narrow bridge. Between the Tel-Aviv) through the mountain range River, turning north to Damascus, and Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, of Judea, to Jerusalem in the middle, to from there extending northward to Asia the widest part would be between 40 and Jericho on the Jordan River Valley, and and Europe. The second major highway 80 miles across. to Rabbat Amon.

16 Teaching from Zion This unique history connects the three major monotheistic religions of the world to this city. Jerusalem has a history that relates and connects these three religions in a bond that is both bloody and inseparable.

The Names of Jerusalem Tell with Islam, because the Dome of the Jerusalem is mentioned in the 19th the History of Jerusalem Rock is the place that, according to a century BCE Egyptian inscription of Muslim narrative, Muhammad sprang “Abdi-Heba” from Tel-El-Amarna letter Some of Jerusalem’s names are: Salem to heaven on the back of his horse, El EA 287 and 289. (Genesis 14), Jebus, Jerusalem, City Buraq. This unique history connects the of David, Zion, City of the Great three major monotheistic religions of the King, City of Peace, Ariel, Kingdom world to this city. Jerusalem has a history of Jerusalem, Aelia Capitoline, that relates and connects these three The Holy City – El Kudo’s, New religions in a bond that is both bloody Jerusalem (In the book of Isaiah and and inseparable. This is the way that the name of in John’s Revelation.) According Jerusalem was written in hieroglyphs to the Jewish Rabbinical Midrash, pronounced as URU ú-ru-sa-lim. “Jerusalem has 70 names”. Jerusalem is a spiritual center and a holy place for Jerusalem is considered holy by all Judaism because the Temple was built three Monotheistic religions: Judaism, in Jerusalem by King Solomon the son Christianity, and Islam. This is what of King David. It is the place where makes the History of Jerusalem and the Yeshua (Jesus) was dedicated in the City of Jerusalem so very interesting. Temple. Jerusalem also has connection All three religions have “holy shrines”

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 17 The archaeological What is the Source of that period. The Hebrews entered into Judaism’s Hold and the picture and took Jerusalem sometime evidence in Relationship to Jerusalem? during the 12th century BCE. For those who believe that the Bible is Jerusalem’s History before the Israelite Jerusalem the authoritative and inspired Word of invasion was not an integral part of God, the whole land of Canaan was given any other nation, but it changed hands suggests that to Abraham and to his seed forever: “The between empires and outside invaders LORD said to Abram, after Lot had like the Egyptians, Jebusites, Hittites, Canaanites, or to separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and others. In the 10th century BCE, and look from the place where you are, Canaanite/Jebusite Jerusalem was be more specific northward and southward and eastward conquered by King David, and since and westward, for all the land that you see that time around the year 1000 BCE, the Jebusites, I will give to you and to your offspring Jerusalem has been the royal capital of forever” (Genesis 13:14–15 ESVi). For the nation of Israel. In fact, it has never built massive those who do not believe the Bible as the been the capital city of any other nation. authoritative and inspired Word of God, Although both Christianity and Islam fortification walls the hold of the Jewish nation on the city claim to have at least a spiritual hold on of Jerusalem comes from the conquest of the city of Jerusalem, both trace their on the eastern Jerusalem by King David from around relationship to Jerusalem through King 1000 BCE. The Jebusites do not exist, David, the King of Israel, or through side of the city and the other nations (the Canaanites, Yeshua the Messiah the son of David. Girgashites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, and an intricate and Amorites) that were around during For the last several decades, the settlement of Canaan in the end of the archaeologists have had a feast digging water system second millennium BCE., do not exist up the past of this ancient city of on the map of history for at least during Jerusalem. The finds and the discoveries the last 2000 years. The archaeological have been phenomenal. Clay seals have in the city of evidence in Jerusalem suggests that been found that served as the personal Canaanites, or to be more specific the seal/signatures of kings like Hezekiah, Jerusalem. Jebusites, built massive fortification of prophets like Isaiah, of Jeremiah’s scribe (with his name, Barachiau son or “holy places” in this relatively small of Neriah/Baruch ben Neriah on it), city. However, what makes Jerusalem so and other seals that belonged to very special is actually the claim of Judaism, obscure characters who are mentioned Christianity, and Islam to the holiness only once in the Bible were also found. and pertinence of Jerusalem to the very Some of the archaeologists claim that essence of their faith and history. The King David’s palace was found. Streets city of Jerusalem has direct relevance were unearthed which connected the to both the past and the future of these pool of Siloam—for the crowds to three religions. The nationalism, the The Canaanites bathe in and be ritually cleansed—to the theology, and hopes of the future of these walls on the eastern side of the city and Temple. Homes of the wealthy and of the three religious and to some degree ethnic an intricate water system in the city of ruling class of Jerusalem during Biblical groups are intimately connected with the Jerusalem. There is evidence that in periods were unearthed, and they are past and the future of Jerusalem. This is the 15th-12th centuries BCE, Egypt’s now open for visitors to see both the the very reason why Jerusalem is and was New Kingdom ruled Jerusalem, and the splendor and the destruction that took a city of controversy and strife, a city of king or ruler of Jerusalem during that place during the Roman invasion and great love and also great enmity. In this time had the title of Abdi-Heba, which destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Even article I would like to discuss the roots of in Egyptian means “Head Men.” This five heavy volumes of books would not these characteristics of Jerusalem. Abdi-Heba is a vassal of Egypt during be enough space to describe everything

18 Teaching from Zion Givati Parking Lot excavations

that archaeologists have discovered in from there to Heaven. The Dome of For the last Jerusalem in the last 40 years. However, the Rock Mosque is one of Jerusalem’s one that is of interest to me for this most prominent landmarks, and it has several decades, paper is the place and relationship of the a golden roof that shines bright and is Christians and Muslims to this great city. visible from most of the high vantage archaeologists points in Jerusalem. Muslims first came Visiting Jerusalem, even casually, to Jerusalem in the 7th century CE. have had a immediately will bring to your attention that Jerusalem has both a significant Christianity started in the land of Israel, feast digging Christian and Muslim presence. For and Jerusalem from the very beginning the Muslims of the world, Jerusalem is played a major part in the formation up the past of the third most holy place after Mecca and development of the birth of the and Medina. According to Islam, Christian faith. Jerusalem is the location this ancient city Muhammad visited Jerusalem and of the Messiah’s dedication as a baby, ascended to Heaven riding his steed, El His death, burial, and resurrection, and Buraq, right from on top of the rock that his promised return. After 70 CE, the of Jerusalem. most probably was a part of the altar of Jewish population moved to the Galilee, sacrifice of the Jerusalem Temple which and the Galilee became the center of The finds and was originally built by Solomon the son Judaism. From there, the center of of David and rebuilt by Herod the great Jewish life moved to Babylon and stayed the discoveries in the first century BCE. In fact, when there well into the 6th century CE, the one visits the Dome of the Rock on the end of the Byzantian Roman Empire, have been Temple Mount, the Muslims will show and the rise of Islam. The spread of you the horseshoe shape stamped on Christianity through the Greco-Roman phenomenal. the rock from El Buraq’s push upward Empire was mainly in Asia Minor and

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 19 The Latin For the sake of reminder and review, The Muslim Interest in Kingdom of although the birth of Christianity was Jerusalem is a Totally Different among Jews only for several decades and Issue Jerusalem was the city of Jerusalem was the center of the Jewish disciples of the Messiah only The Qur’an does not mention the name a Crusader until the beginning of the second century “Jerusalem”, but the hadith asserts CE, by the middle of the second century that it was from Jerusalem state established CE, the “Western Church” abandoned that Muhammad ascended to heaven in all interest in Jerusalem and in the land the Night Journey to Heaven. According by Godfrey of of Israel, and it moved its attention and to the Arab historians, Umar ibn al- center to Rome. The number of Jewish Khattab personally went to Jerusalem Bouillon in 1099 disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) in the land in 638 CE to receive the document of of Israel declined, and the number of surrender of the city Jerusalem. He was CE after the first non-Jewish Christians increased in the first to force the Christian bishops the Roman Empire. By the end of the to clean the Temple Mount. After the Crusade. second century CE, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount was cleaned Umar ibn land of the Bible, Israel, were no longer al-Khattab was the first Muslim to pray in the interest of Christianity. New on the Temple Mount. Sixty years later, Europe. By the middle of the second interest in the land of Israel and in the the Muslims built the Dome of the Rock century CE, Christianity lost interest in “holy sites” started with the beginning Mosque on the Temple Mount. The Jerusalem and transferred its center to of the Crusades in the 11th century of octagonal dome was to commemorate Rome and Constantinople, as the song the common era. This new interest in the ascension of Muhammad from the says, “Istanbul is Constantinople.” The Jerusalem and the Holy Land was all top of the rock that is enshrined in the Emperor Constantine, in the early 300s for the wrong reasons, and it happened dome. The Al-Aqsa Mosque which CE, sent his mother Helena to visit only after Islam conquered the Land of is south of the Dome of the Rock was Jerusalem, and with her inspiration, he Israel and took interest in Jerusalem. sanctified by Islam much later. rebuilt Jerusalem as a Christian center of The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem was worship building the Church of the Holy a Crusader state established by Godfrey The interesting thing is that the same Sepulchre in 335. Jerusalem had received of Bouillon in 1099 CE after the first Umar Al-Khattab was the one that special recognition in Canon VII of Crusade. A religious fever for Jerusalem allowed and in fact invited the Jews the First Council of Nicaea in 325. and the “holy land” started in Europe to return to Jerusalem. During the However, Jews were banned from the because of the decline of the economy Byzantine period, Jews were not allowed city throughout the remainder of its time and the collapse of the political structure in the city of Jerusalem. In the subsequent as a Roman province, except during a in Western Europe, and it was fanned years, especially under the Umayyad brief period of Persian rule from 614 to by the fires and religious zeal looking to and Abbasid periods (650-969 CE), 629. what the French called “cause célèbre.” Jerusalem prospered, and the city grew This interest was an excuse to harvest in and expanded. Muslims ruled Jerusalem, Christianity essentially lost interest fields that they did not plant. The action and even though the different Muslim in the historical Jesus and Biblical and horror that the crusades brought to dynasties exchanged who exactly narrative, and it concentrated on other Europe and to the Levant on their way to would rule and control Jerusalem, issues that were more pertinent for the Israel can be called many things, but it the Abbasid’s or the Fatimid or the Roman Empire. This continued until the cannot be called moral, ethical, or even Seljuk or the Umayyad or the Mamluk 12th century, when Europe was in deep Christian. The crusades were not a quest Sultanate, the Jews were always a very decline, and for political and financial for spirituality or faith in God or even small minority in Jerusalem. There were reasons, the so called “Christian” Europe in Jesus. They were mainly a political periods in which they were needed, were focused on the “Holy Land” and on war and financial quest motivated by false treated more fairly, and sometime even against the infidels (the Muslims) who Christian sentiments, fear from a Muslim respected. had conquered Jerusalem and the Land incursion to Europe, and political of Israel and desecrated the so called aspirations disguised as spiritual and There are some interesting episodes in “Christian Holy Places.” noble causes. the relationship of the Jewish population

20 Teaching from Zion in Jerusalem during the Muslim walls). Of course, to declare that room including the construction of the rule. In 1267, the Jewish Rabbi from on Mt. Zion as the room where Jesus walls that you see today surrounding Spain, Nahmanides (Ramban), came and his disciples ate the Lord’s Supper, the old city of Jerusalem. Suleiman the to Jerusalem, lived in the old city of the Catholic Church had to have the Magnificent actually defined the outline Jerusalem, and built one of the oldest Pope’s approval. The local Catholics in of what we today call the Old City of synagogues in Jerusalem. Jerusalem received the Papal approval Jerusalem. The rule of Suleiman and in November 1342, signed by Pope subsequent Ottoman Sultans brought There was limited Christian presence Clement VI and coming from Avignon, an age of “relaxed religious attitudes”. in Jerusalem, but in the 14th to France, since there were wars between Jews, Christians, and Muslims enjoyed 15th century, limited freedom was given Popes, and Pope Clement VI was not in freedom of religion, and it was possible to Christians to come to Jerusalem. In Rome. Those Christian wars spread also to find a synagogue, a church, and a about the year 1333, the French Catholic to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and mosque on the same street. The city priest Roger Guerin was able to buy in fact they continued and still continue remained open to all religions. Like in the Cenacle on Mount Zion, the room even to this very day. other parts of the Ottoman Empire, the in which according to Catholic tradition heritage of Suleiman the Magnificent is the Last Supper was eaten by Jesus and In 1516, Jerusalem was taken over by appreciated in Jerusalem to this day for his disciples (even though that room the Ottoman Empire, and Jerusalem his architectural accomplishments. was built by the French Crusaders, and enjoyed a period of renewal and peace their emblems are still visible on the under Suleiman the Magnificent After Suleiman the Magnificent, the city The Muslims built the Dome of the Rock Mosque on the Temple Mount. The octagonal dome was to commemorate the ascension of Muhammad from the top of the rock that is enshrined in the dome. The Al- Aqsa Mosque which is south of the Dome of the Rock was sanctified by Islam much later.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 21 Jerusalem has grown from end to end and has become the biggest city in Israel, both in area and in population. for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews (now called Church’s Ministry It is a city with full freedoms and civil Among Jewish People or CMJ). James Finn let a small and very poor community rights for all religious communities of ultra-Orthodox Jews settle on the land north of the Old City of Jerusalem that and even for communities that are he purchased. called an abomination in the Torah. By the 1860s, the old city was overcrowded. The Russian Orthodox fell into a difficult situation because the Christian wars about the control and Church started building outside of the economy was bankrupt in Jerusalem the turf of the Church of the Holy Old City and put a church and monastery and in the Ottoman Empire. After the Sepulchre and who is going to control outside the city walls, a location which rule of Sultan Suleiman, the Catholic the space in the church, and in the end, is called even today “The Russian Monks were expelled by the Turks, and the Turkish governor had to give the key Compound.” The Catholic Church also in 1551, the Cenacle was taken from the of the church to a Muslim family. Until built churches and Monasteries outside Christians and turned into a Mosque. The today, the opening and the closing of the the Old City of Jerusalem. The first Jewish presence was so minor that they Church of the Holy Sepulchre is done by residential settlement outside the walls were not disturbed in any significant the same Muslim family. of Jerusalem was undertaken by Jews way, but like before, their freedoms were with the help of Sir Moses Montefiore, limited by law and by harsh taxation. After World War I, the British Mandate an English Jew who was very wealthy, started (1917-1948). In 1916, the and financed the building of a settlement In 1700, Judah HeHasid led the largest British and the French had the Sykes- called Mishkenot Sha’ananim. This organized group of Jewish immigrants Picot Agreement which was formed community was built very close to the to the Land of Israel in centuries. His in order to divide the territories that walls of the Old City of Jerusalem for disciples built the Hurva Synagogue, the Ottoman Empire controlled in the protection, near Mt. Zion. which served as the main synagogue in Middle East. They divided the whole Jerusalem from the 18th century until middle east between themselves. The In 1882, around 150 Jewish families 1948 when it was destroyed by the Arab English took South Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, arrived to Jerusalem from Yemen. Legion. The synagogue was rebuilt in and Israel (what they called Palestine), Initially, they were not accepted by the 2010. and the French took what they wanted, Jews of Jerusalem, and so they lived in Syria and Lebanon. very poor conditions and were supported In the mid-19th century, with the decline by the Christians of the Swedish- of the Ottoman Empire, Jerusalem was Towards the end of the 19th century, the American colony. In 1884, the Yemenites a backwater city with a population that small Jewish population in Jerusalem moved into Silwan just to the east of the did not exceed 8,000. Even with the was concentrated in two areas: in the walls of the Old City on the slopes of limited opportunities to make a living Old City of Jerusalem and in Abraham’s the Mount of Olives. Today, Silwan is a in Jerusalem during that period, the city Vineyard. Abraham’s Vineyard was totally Arab village that is not friendly to still had a Jewish, Christian, and Muslim a significant piece of land north of the Jews and Israelis. population. Old City. Today, this area of Jerusalem is called “Mea-Shearim.” This land General Sir Edmund Allenby, The Old City of Jerusalem was was purchased by James Finn (1806– commander-in-chief of the British Army populated mainly within the city walls. 1872) who was the British Consul in in the Middle East, dismounted his horse The Old City was divided into four Jerusalem. He came to Jerusalem in and commanded all the British officers parts, the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, 1845. He was married to a Jewish lady to do the same at the first sight of the and Armenian quarters. The Christians who was also a disciple of Yeshua Old City of Jerusalem. They entered were also divided between the Greek (who today are called Messianic Jews). Jerusalem on foot out of respect for Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, James and Elizabeth Anne Finn were the Holy City on 11 December 1917. and Ethiopian churches. There were involved in creating the London Society (Today, behind the central bus station

22 Teaching from Zion even for communities that are called an word “until” – a time word. The second abomination in the Torah (Scriptures). phrase that is of importance to clarify the meaning of this text is the phrase that In 1967, after nearly two thousand years, appears only twice in the New Testament, Jerusalem (including the Old City and here in Luke and in Romans 11:25-26. the Temple Mount) is in Jewish hands, The phrase is “until the times of the in the hands of the State of Israel. This Gentiles are fulfilled.” The implications event of restoring Jerusalem into the of this prophecy state that while the hands of Jews in the Six-day war in Gentiles are ruling, trampling Jerusalem June of 1967 is a fulfillment of major underfoot, the times of the Gentiles will prophetic promises. These prophetic not be fulfilled. Meaning that when the promises relate to the salvation of Israel, Gentiles no longer rule and trample all of Israel. Jerusalem under foot, all of Israel will be saved. The liberation of Jerusalem Here are the texts that I am referring from Christian and Muslim rule and the to: Luke 21:20-24, “But when you see restoration of Jerusalem to control by the Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then Jewish State of Israel is a marked turning know that its desolation is near. Then point for the Jewish people as a nation to let those who are in Judea flee to the receive the salvation that was prepared of Jerusalem, there is a monument mountains, let those who are in the midst for Israel by the promises of God to the commemorating this event.) I am of her depart, and let not those who are prophets of Israel and proclaimed by the sad to say that the years of the British in the country enter her. For these are the Apostle Paul in the letter to the Romans: mandate in Israel were not as gracious or days of vengeance, that all things which considerate as General Edmund Allenby are written may be fulfilled. But woe to Rom. 11:25-27, “For I do not desire, was upon his entrance to Jerusalem. those who are pregnant and to those who brethren, that you should be ignorant of are nursing babies in those days! For there this mystery, lest you should be wise in With the establishment of the State of will be great distress in the land and wrath your own opinion, that blindness in part Israel in 1948 and the expulsion of the upon this people. And they will fall by the has happened to Israel until the fullness British Mandate over the land of Israel, edge of the sword and be led away captive of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Jerusalem has received the right respect into all nations. And Jerusalem will be Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The as the capital of the Jewish nation, not trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He only within the Jewish State of Israel. Gentiles are fulfilled.” will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; Nation after nation recognizes that For this is My covenant with them, When Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Verse 20 describes the events of the fall I take away their sins.’” Israel. of Jerusalem in 70 CE. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and In conclusion, Jerusalem is the eternal Jerusalem has grown from end to end expelled the Jews that survived out of the capital of the Jewish people. Neither the and has become the biggest city in city. Verse 24 puts a limit to the period Christian Church nor the Muslim Mosque Israel, both in area and in population. of Jerusalem’s disrepute, the period that have an inheritance or a foothold in this It is a city with full freedoms and civil Jerusalem is being ruled by Gentiles. city of the Great King because when He rights for all religious communities and The operative word in verse 24 is the returns, He will return to Jerusalem.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joseph Shulam was born in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 24, 1946 to a Sephardic Jewish Family. In 1948, his family immigrated to Israel just before the establishment of the State. While in high school, he was introduced to the New Testament and immediately identified with the person of Yeshua. In 1981, Joseph and the small fellowship that was started in his house established one of the first official non-profit organizations of Jewish Disciples of Yeshua in Israel – Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry. Joseph has lectured extensively and has assisted in encouraging disciples around the world. He and his wife Marcia have two children and two grandchildren.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 23 JerusalemBy Vadim Birman What then made Jerusalem so mong all geographical locations Bible in Joshua 10 in connection with mentioned in the Bible, none its king at the time, Adoni Zedek, who comes close to both the number was one of the Amorite kings opposing special? It seems of references and overall significance the Israelite conquest of the land. This as Jerusalem. So great is Jerusalem’s king was the leader of the first Canaanite that the Akeida, importance that it is the only city that alliance of the five kings who were transcends the physical and translates defeated by Israel with the help of what the binding of into the spiritual realm, a double city appears to be a meteor shower, and God being located both above and below—a heeding Joshua’s prayer for the sun and Isaac, played a place of the first visitation and the future the moon to stand still extending the return of the Messiah, having day of the battle. After such a celestial pivotal role in a central presence even in intervention, the five kings quite the world to come. Why understandably hid in the cave, but were the selection of was Jerusalem chosen to found, hung on stakes, and afterwards the exclusion of all other buried in the cave with huge stones places? What made it so rolled to its opening. the city to be at important? Jerusalem as a the crossroads The name Jerusalem locale, however, first appears in appears in the of humanity’s the Bible before this experience.

24 Teaching from Zion extraordinary battle. The appellation place HaShem Yireh (Gen 22:14), the the house of prayer for all nations.” And “Zedek” used by the king of the ill- ubiquitous “Jehovah Jairah.” And so, it by passing the test on Mount Moriah, fated alliance was already used before appears that from the two words yireh and which later became the Temple Mount, by another and much loftier king. I am, shalem, came the name Yerushalayim— Abraham was able to take and pass the of course, referring to Malki Zedek, Jerusalem, the fact that has not escaped test of the first man in the Garden of the king of Shalem, to whom Abraham the attention of the Rabbis who have Eden, which can be even seen by the brought a tenth of the spoils after traced the name of the city to these two words that the Torah uses in talking defeating an alliance of the four kings components. about both events, including God’s and freeing his nephew Lot. It is very question to the man: “where are you?” likely that Shalem is one and the same What then made Jerusalem so special? – ayecha; and Isaac’s question to his as Jerusalem, as we read in Psalm 76:3, It seems that the Akeida, the binding father: aye - “where is the lamb?” In speaking of the Temple: “In Shalem is of Isaac, played a pivotal role in addition, the word Abraham uses for the His sukkah and His dwelling place in the selection of the city to be at the knife, “machelet”, and the trees that God Zion.” What made Jerusalem important crossroads of humanity’s experience. placed in the garden that were “good and special, of course, was the Temple. What had Abraham accomplished when for food,” l’meachel. The firewood, What remains to be understood is why he obeyed the Lord and was willing “eytzim,” literally “trees,” that Isaac this particular city was chosen to be the to offer his son—his only son, the was carrying possibly corresponding to location for the House of God. one whom he loved, Isaac—to be the the two trees, eytizm, the Tree of Life sacrificial lamb? Abraham was willing and the Tree of Knowledge of Good From 2 Chronicles 3:1, we know that to give up everything he had. He did not and Evil. All of these textual parallels king Solomon built the Temple on the consider his son as belonging to him and suggest connection. However, even threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan) the acknowledged that God is the Master more strikingly, the implications of both Jebusite from whom David purchased of all and is entitled to all that Abraham stories—paradise lost by appropriating the place where he saw the plague being possessed regardless of how it felt in something that was not Adam’s and stopped by the angel of the Lord. That the moment. That readiness to give the path to paradise regained by giving same verse in Chronicles adds another up one’s rights and possessions stood up something, or someone, that was identifier to the Temple location—it calls in stark contrast with all generations, seemingly Abraham’s but nevertheless it Mount Moriah. That, of course, is the twenty to be exact, that came before belonged to God, Abraham’s son— most famous place in the entire Torah, Abraham, starting with the sin of the makes Jerusalem the place where the the place of the binding of Isaac who Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil way back to the Garden was again was designated by God to be the burnt and concluding with the debacle of revealed to all humanity. It is only fitting offering in a grand test of faith which the Tower of Babel. God used this that the Temple which was designed Abraham passed. While on the way to test to reestablish His covenant with to be a reminder and a sign of Eden’s Mount Moriah, Abraham responded humanity, this time through the people, experience would be built in the place to his son’s question about who was to the kingdom of priests that God had where the way back to Eden was be the burnt offering by saying that the raised from Abraham, Isaac, and once again revealed. “Lord will see to it” (Elokim yireh, Gen. Jacob, the people who would 22:8), the saying that was reiterated by have custody of the future This is why there are the Torah at the conclusion of Temple for the benefit of all two Jerusalems—one the test when Abraham nations. As Isaiah 56:7 says, below and one above. named the “this house will be called That is why Jerusalem

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 25 It is only fitting and his future return to Jerusalem As we know, the earthly Jerusalem is underscore the point that through enslaved with her children (Gal. 4:25), that the Temple Abraham’s faithfulness, the place that but what is the dream of any slave otherwise would be an ordinary mountain except to be set free? For some reason which was became Zion, a place of excellence in Galatians 4, Paul compares earthly (metzuyan), a point of contact between Jerusalem to Hagar and to mount Sinai the Divine and the human. It is a place in Arabia. Arabia and Hagar are related, designed to be a of waiting for the return of the Master. since Hagar is the mother of the Arab nation; but beyond that, comparing them reminder and a But aren’t we supposed to worship the to Jerusalem sounds strange. That is, Lord in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24) until we see in the lives of Hagar and sign of Eden’s without respect to where the place of Ishmael parallels with Abraham and such worship is? This does not negate the Isaac. Just like Abraham was about to experience would fact that Jerusalem is still the designated sacrifice Isaac when God saw to it that place of arrival. If one knows that her there was a substitution, so it was with be built in the most beloved is coming to a specific Hagar when she was about to lose her train station, wouldn’t she literally camp son. God saw her and provided the well place where the out there, eager to greet her beloved, if which she named be’er l’chai roi—the she knew the time was near, even if the well of the one who sees me. Yireh of way back to Eden exact schedule was never published? Jerusalem and roi of Hagar’s well are By looking around, I cannot help but related in that both received the salvation was once again conclude that the time of arrival is near. for their beloved children. It is also easy There are, however, other conditions of to conclude that Hagar’s well became a revealed. Messiah’s return, one of which is that holy place for Ishmael (although paling Jerusalem must say, “blessed is He that in comparison with Mecca), the place transcends the physical creation; comes in the name of the Lord” (Mat of his salvation, the place of revelation, because it is the place where eternity 23:39, Ps 118:26) in order to invite his Temple in the desert. And it is in this once again would invade the temporary back her long-awaited king. And how place that Isaac settled (Gen. 24:62) and reveal what the communion can Jerusalem say this if there is no one just before meeting Rebecca. Why did of God and man there proclaiming it into the ears of its Isaac settle there? It was most probably would look inhabitants beforehand? to reconcile with his brother, which is like. Messiah’s evident in that both of them together departure from buried their father Abraham, and Isaac again settled near Ishmael after the death

1. Baseless hatred – sinat chinam an “official” traditional reason for the destruction of the 2ndTemple, cf. Psa. 69:5.

26 Teaching from Zion of Abraham (Gen. 25:11). Isaac did not other than the words of the Torah? For how shall they trust in the One of whom settle in Jerusalem, the place where he to the Jews were entrusted the oracles of they have not heard? And how shall they was a sacrifice on the altar, but first went God. hear without someone proclaiming? And to reconcile with his brother who had how shall they proclaim unless they are something against him (cf. Mat. 5:23- As it was in the beginning, so it will sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful 24). be in the end. The disciples, under the are the feet of those who proclaim good leadership of Peter and later of Jacob news of good things!’ who announces If these images for us are shadows of (“James”) the brother of the Lord, salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God future events, we understand today an were gathered in Jerusalem; and it was reigns!’” (Rom. 10:14-15, Isa. 52:7) enmity may exist between the Jewish there that the first and only recorded people and their brother whom they Apostolic decree of Acts 15 was issued. It is therefore imperative that the seat handed over to be hung on the tree, The leadership of the body of the of Jacob, the presence of the Jewish but tomorrow they may be reconciled; Messiah was located in Jerusalem in disciples, the Jewish arm of the Ecclesia, those who are now slaves tomorrow the beginning. It was an enslaved and be restored in Jerusalem so that the “voice can be free men; today they can be oppressed Jerusalem, populated by a of Jacob” is again heard in the land, so in exile but tomorrow in the rebuilt wicked generation marked by baseless that the children of Israel/Jacob would Jerusalem. All the Jewish people need hatred culminating in the killing of the be willing to receive their king back in is a coherent, Scripturally accurate Messiah. This generation received their Jerusalem, the place where heaven meets testimony. Testimony like that of Isaac due when the Temple and the city were the earth, where righteousness and peace who was almost dead but brought back destroyed. Nevertheless, the message kiss each other, where lovingkindness to life (Heb. 11:19), the testimony of the of the word of the Lord, the Good and truth meet together (Psa. 85:11-12); risen one, the testimony of the Messiah’s News, emanated from Jerusalem in the so that the faith of the Jewish people will Jewish disciples situated squarely in the beginning, and so will it be in the end. precede the return of our King; so that city so that once more the Torah would There has to be a restoration of the “See we are not ashamed when he returns to go forth from Zion and the word of the of James”—the seat of Jacob the brother rule the nations with the rod of iron. It is Lord from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:3). of the Lord—before the coming of the in Zion that we are to wait for him, like a Day of the Lord, great and terrible; hopeful lover at the train station, waiting When Isaac blessed Jacob without because there has to be a proclamation, a for her beloved to return. She does not knowing who was in front of him, he blowing of the trumpet (Ezek. 33) in the know the day or the hour, but she knows said prophetically, “the voice, the voice ears of the inhabitants of Jerusalem for that the station is the right location and of Jacob; the hands, the hands of Esau.” them to open their eyes, emerge from the the time is near. Isaac was testifying that the person who desert of slavery, and enter into the rest was in front of him was the one destined of their Lord and King by proclaiming, to receive the blessing. This was the one “blessed is He Who comes in the name new man with the voice of the Jew and of the Lord.” How then shall they the hands of the Gentile; and what else call on the One in whom they have would the voice of the Jew be saying not trusted? And

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vadim Birman, or Dima, is originally from Odessa, Ukraine. He immigrated to the US in 1995 and became a follower of Yeshua in 1997. He graduated from CSU Northridge with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and then from the Golden Gate University with a Master of Science in Taxation. Dima is currently enrolled in the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute with the possibility of ordination in the future. He is currently residing in Guadalajara, Mexico with his wife and three children leading a Spanish-speaking home group with the purpose of reaching out to the local Jewish community.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 27 THE CITY OF THE GREAT

KINGBy David Friedman ecently someone once asked me just a bunch of boulders and rocks.” I Jerusalem, in her for my take on the most beautiful suppose beauty is indeed “in the eye of city in the world. When we think the beholder.” of that question, some of us may think history, has been of places like canal and art-laden Venice, The key is that Jerusalem’s beauty is or historic and artistic St. Petersburg, or not merely a physical one. Yet her hills, the city of miracles, possibly Thira, Santorini, especially at teeming life, and golden sunsets do hold night. Others would say Rome, Florence, much beauty. “Ten measures of beauty that is, acts and Paris, and Kyoto rate right at the top. were given to the world. Nine were taken Everyone has their favorite beautiful by Jerusalem, and one was distributed all events that defy spots. But I answered my questioning over earth” (b. Kiddushin 49b). friend with no hesitation, “Jerusalem, Israel.” My professor of archaeology in But like many modern cities, today she explanation and fly university once stated in class that, “I is crowded, polluted, full of traffic jams, can’t understand why everyone fights and expensive for the consumer. And in the face of all over Israel, why there’s so much tension yet, she has a beauty that is unequaled about Jerusalem. If you look at it, it’s in the world because of the spiritual and expectation.

28 Teaching from Zion Jerusalem, as historic sides to the city. She also will David, to the remains of Second Temple Israel’s capital have a unique future that no other place Jerusalem, to the city walls in the days in the world will have. of King Hezekiah and Isaiah, to the city, and her historic Mount of Olives, she is a city She is described in Torah as “His (G-d’s) that resounds with her special history. people have holy mountain”, “His city” (Psalm 48), “the faithful city” (Zech. 8:3), and the And when we consider the future of been cast in a “throne of G-d” (Jer. 3:17). The city is the city, then her uniqueness among mentioned in Torah some 669 times. the cities of the world stands out even negative light in When the ancient Jewish people thought more. It is written that Jerusalem will about Jerusalem, they beheld such a be the future site of the return of the the international rich, meaningful city that it is written Messiah! Zechariah in 14:4 foresaw his in the Bible that pilgrims to her should appearance in Jerusalem, as it is written, media and in the “walk around Zion, go around her, count her towers, think about her ramparts, “Then His feet will stand on that day halls of politics, look at her military quarters, and tell on the Mount of Olives that is facing the generation all about them” (my Jerusalem from the east. And the Mount but G-d will heal paraphrase of Psalm 48:11-13). of Olives will be split in two, with half of it moving east, and (half of it moving) the city! Every generation of the Jewish people west—(forming) a very great valley. was to hear about and experience her Then half of the mountain will go north, a water source will be opened up for the meaning through the description of the and the other half towards the Negev” House of David and for the residents of city’s nature, followed by seeing it for (author’s translation). Jerusalem, for violations of the Torah themselves. In the book of Devarim and ritual impurities. ‘So, when that day (Deuteronomy) 16:16 in the Torah, This verse has not yet seen a fulfillment comes,’ declares Adonai of the Heavenly we learn that there would be a place in history. As part of a magnificent Armies, ‘I will cut off the names of the where G-d Himself would choose to be spiritual renewal that will take place in deities from the Land, and they won’t honored and worshipped. “Three times Israel, Jerusalem will be the scene of a be remembered any longer. In addition, a year all your men must appear before large “t’shuva” (Hebrew for an act of I will also remove the prophets and the Adonai your God at the place he will “turning to G-d”). “Then I will pour on unclean spirit from the Land. Then it choose: at the Festival of Unleavened the House of David and on the residents will be that if anyone gives prophecies Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and of anymore, his own father and mother who Festival of Tabernacles. No one should comforting mercy. So they will look on bore him will say to him, “You won’t appear before Adonai empty-handed” me, the one whom they stabbed through, live, because you spoke a lie in Adonai’s (NIV). and mourn for him, according to the name,” so that his own father and mother mourning rites for individuals, with who bore him will stab him.’ It will Since the Almighty G-d of the Universe, bitterness concerning him like bitterness happen that in that day, every ‘prophet’ Creator of all, picked a specific city over a first born” (Zechariah 12:10, will be thoroughly ashamed of his vision where He wants to be served, this author’s translation). and his prophecy; and they will no longer confers a specialness shared by no other put on a prophet’s hairy garment in order place in the world. As history unfolded, Rabbi Dosa and Rashi both considered to deceive” (author’s translation). this chosen city mentioned in Devarim Zech. 12:10 as describing the Messiah’s 16:16 ended up being Jerusalem. arrival in Jerusalem. So, we wait in These events also have not occurred expectant hope with the city that her yet in history. This healing, redemptive I am in awe when I walk through and redemption will come soon. water immersion, and ridding of examine the City of David archaeological false religious practices will occur in park, which is over 3,000 years old and The city will also host a continuation Jerusalem. Her future is one of being parts of it are even 3,800 years old. The of this amazing spiritual renewal, as a center for powerful spiritual renewal Bible in so many ways comes alive in described by the prophet Zechariah in which will have positive consequences the modern city today. From the City of chapter 13:1-4 of his book. “On that day, worldwide.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 29 Yohanan envisioned a Nations are depicted as sending devastated; they will renew the ruined future Jerusalem, representatives to Jerusalem to honor cities that have been devastated for and worship the One True G-d. The generations” (Isaiah 61:4, NIV). a perfect city, city will be the spiritual renewal center of the world for all peoples with the Renowned American author Mark where G-d Jewish people playing host to this state Twain described Jerusalem in 1867 with of affairs. “Then whoever remains from the words, “So small! Why, it was no Himself and all the nations invading Jerusalem will larger than an American village of four come up from year to year to fall down thousand inhabitants” (https://blog.nli. Messiah live. The before the King, Adonai of the Heavenly org.il/en/mark-twain-in-palestine/). Yet Armies, and to observe the festive time of look at her today! city is dedicated Sukkot. It will be that (whoever) will not come up from the nations of the world to The city’s protection and survival during to being a place Jerusalem to fall down before the King, our War of Independence (1947-1948) Adonai of the Heavenly Armies, they defies rational explanation. A handful of healing, life, will have no rainfall” (Zech. 16:16-17). of high school students and just a few Micah the prophet also foresaw the time IDF members beat the mighty, British and holiness for wherein Jerusalem will function as an trained and manned Jordanian Legion international center for G-d’s kingdom. to save the Jewish residents of the city all of humanity. “And many nations shall go, and they then. Nineteen years afterwards, the shall say, ‘Come, let us go up to the divided city was reunited when the IDF shorter Black woman, with black hair, Lrd’s mount and to the house of the Gd once again beat the Jordanian military whose family were immigrants in recent of Jacob, and let Him teach us of His in fierce fighting that took incredible days from Ethiopia. Isaiah wrote, “Do ways, and we will go in His paths,’ for courage on behalf of the victors. The not fear, for I am with you; I will bring out of Zion shall the Torah come forth, once-divided city was one city again, as your descendants from the east, and the word of the Lrd from Jerusalem” artist Naomi Shemer’s song “Jerusalem (Micah 4:2). of Gold” captured the hearts of our and gather you from the west; I will say nation in 1967. Just 2,133 years before to the north, ‘Give them up,’ and to the Jerusalem is also a city of miracles. From then, a small militia of Jewish priests south, ‘Do not keep them back, Bring a sleepy town of 60,000 inhabitants and Torah loving Jews beat the mighty My sons from afar, and My daughters in 1920, Jerusalem has grown into a Seleucid army to free Jerusalem from from the ends of the earth’” (Isaiah 43:5- modern city of 900,000 people, replete the grips of pro-Hellenists, who sought 6). with an inner-city train line, two malls, to destroy the Torah and the Jewish way incredible museums, numerous hotels, of life. Some 500 years before then, the Here I was, driving in Jerusalem, an an array of busy restaurants, with many mighty Assyrian army was destroyed as immigrant “from the west” watching an languages spoken in her streets on a she sat at the city walls of Jerusalem, immigrant “from the north” (USSR) and daily basis. With no trouble, one can waiting to overrun her. The Torah makes another “from the south” (Ethiopia). If hear Hebrew, Arabic, French, Russian, no bones about the fact that this was a you take a straight edge and draw a line English, Romanian, Spanish, and G-d-induced miracle. Jerusalem, in her upwards from Jerusalem, you arrive in Amharic spoken by her citizens. Three history, has been the city of miracles, that Moscow. If you do the same and draw and a half million tourists have annually is, acts and events that defy explanation a line downwards from Jerusalem, you visited her, on the average, over the past and fly in the face of all expectation. arrive in Ethiopia. Flip that straight edge few years with 2019 setting a record going west, and you land in the USA of four and a half million visitors. Her One day while driving in downtown from which I immigrated. Isaiah’s words growth from a Middle Eastern town Jerusalem, I saw two policewomen about Israel’s immigration were literally into a modern metropolis is nothing directing traffic at a specific corner. being fulfilled as I drove in Jerusalem that short of miraculous. The prophet Isaiah One of them was quite tall, very day. That day, I experienced Jerusalem foresaw such a miraculous development blonde, clearly her family had recently as the city where the predictive prophetic when he noted, “They will rebuild the immigrated from the former Soviet words of Isaiah came to life. She indeed ancient ruins and restore the places long Union to Israel. Her partner was a is a city of miracles.

30 Teaching from Zion Yet today, Jerusalem is a city that takes ‘because they called you an outcast, Yohanan envisioned a future Jerusalem, her brunt of abuse from the nations, Zion, with no one who cares about her’” a perfect city, where G-d Himself and those nations who scorn the State of (Jer. 30.17, CJB). Messiah live. The city is dedicated Israel and the Jewish people, those who to being a place of healing, life, and adapt anti-Zionist political platforms. Finally, we who believe that our holy holiness for all of humanity. It is the “Why do the nations conspire and the King Yeshua will rule from this very fullness of all that the city of Jerusalem peoples plot in vain? The kings of city look at Jerusalem as a city which was created to be. What other city has the earth rise up, and the rulers band holds the source of all hope: hope for such a future? What other city holds together against the Lord and against humankind, for redemption, for G-d’s such promise, such a future filled with his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their purposes, and for healing of the entire redemption? chain and throw off their shackles.’ The world. When things are in their final One enthroned in heaven laughs; the state of being, a Heavenly Jerusalem I live in the environs of today’s Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them will appear and is described as, “... Jerusalem, and this makes me very in his anger and terrifies them in his the holy Jerusalem, descending out of fulfilled as a Jew and as a Jewish wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my king Heaven from G-d, having G-d’s glory. believer in Messiah. I have seen her on Zion, my holy mountain’” (Ps. 83, Her light was like a most precious grow over the past 40 years from when I NIV). tone...and also she had a great and high was a student at the Hebrew University wall with 12 gates...and names written and touched the history of the city Jerusalem, as Israel’s capital city, and on them, which are the names of the 12 intimately every day that I lived there. her people have been cast in a negative tribes of the sons of Israel...the city had That started a love story with Jerusalem light in the international media and in no need of the sun or moon to shine in that has never waned. “If I forget you, the halls of politics, but G-d will heal it, as the glory of G-d illuminates it. The O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget the city! Lamb is its light...In its street...was the its skill. Let my tongue stick to the roof tree of life, which bore 12 fruits, and the of my mouth, if I don’t remember you, “’For I will restore your health, I will leaves of the tree were for the healing of if I don’t place Jerusalem above my heal you of your wounds,’ says Adonai, the nations” (Yohanan’s Vision 21-22). greatest joy” (Ps. 137:5-6).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Friedman is the rabbi at Congregation Darchei Noam and Director of Bet Midrash Lev Zion, both located in Israel. He holds a PhD in Jewish Studies and an MA in Arabic. He was born in Germany after WWII, lived in the USA, and made aliyah to Israel 4 decades ago. He served as the Academic Dean at ICOB in the 1990s, authored 10 books all focusing on Biblical books or Shoah-era subjects, and belongs to three different Jewish-Arab reconciliation groups. He also participates as a lecturer each year at the former Auschwitz death camp at a reconciliation conference.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 31 THE INTERNATIONAL CONTROVERSY OVER JERUSALEM By Sonia Waters When Jordan was here is no other city in the world Jews and Jordanian Arabs fought for that is contested today like the control of the City. When Israel declared in control of the capital of the State of Israel, its independence in 1948, the only part Jerusalem—historically, politically, and of Jerusalem they had was the western West Bank, which religiously. It is the most important city section. The east side was in the hands in the world in the prophetic calendar of Jordan, including the Old City. Israel includes part of of God with more than 800 mentions in managed to liberate the city from the scripture, the place where all the final Jordanians during the Six-Day War Jerusalem, they events of this world will take place and in 1967. Sadly, it was not before the where Yeshua will eventually come to Jordanians’ systematic destruction of the did not respect reign for 1000 years. The UN, in 1947, holy sites of other religions. declared it to be an International City and hates the fact that it is in the hands Jordan was in control of the West Bank other religions of the Jews. This city has caused endless from 1948–1967 which included not controversy at the deliberations of the UN only Judea and Samaria, but also the and destroyed and resolutions passed against Israel’s east part of Jerusalem. During this time, hold of it. Eventually this organization’s they wreaked havoc within mainland many of the holy animosity against Israel will cause their Israel. According to Raphael Israeli, 58 attack on this city described in Scripture, synagogues in the Old City of Jerusalem sites, including both in the books of Zechariah and were desecrated or demolished by the Revelation. This hatred of Israel and its Jordanian forces, resulting in the de- synagogues and attack on Jerusalem will determine when Judaization of Jerusalem. Moreover, the Yeshua arrives back on this earth. He is Western Wall, one of the holiest sites churches alike. returning to this City to defend it. Still, of Judaism, was transformed into an the Jewish people consider Jerusalem exclusively Muslim holy site associated Regardless, when Jordan was in control to be their “Eternal Capital”, where with al-Buraq—the winged horse of the West Bank, which includes part their Temples once stood and the centre that tradition says flew Mohamad to of Jerusalem, they did not respect other of their faith. This article will look at Jerusalem. Furthermore, 38,000 Jewish religions and destroyed many of the holy world history, religion, and politics to graves in the ancient Jewish cemetery on sites, including synagogues and churches determine to whom does this city really the Mount of Olives were systematically alike. belong. destroyed, and Jews were not allowed to be buried there. Furthermore, other parts of mainland In modern history, at the UN Partition Israel also suffered terribly from having of the Land of 1947, Jerusalem was These events were a direct violation of the Jordanians next door. This is because going to be an International City— the Israel-Jordan Armistice Agreement of rapes, murders, and vicious mutilation that is, belonging to all monotheistic in 1949 which stipulates in Article of bodies on the border. Terrorists were religions: Judaism, Christianity, and VIII-2 “...free access to the Holy Places infiltrating into mainland Israel to carry Islam. They envisioned an international and cultural institutions and use of the out their crimes with the hope that force looking after it. However, in 1948, cemetery on the Mount of Olives…” Israel would leave. Constant, every-

1 Jerusalem must be the capital of both Israel and Palestine, the Ban says. UN News Centre (28 October 2009). 2 J. D. Van der Vyver; John Witte (1996). Religious human rights in global perspective: legal perspectives, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, p. 380.

32 Teaching from Zion day criminal atrocities were carried out not just their own. According to the Israeli to change the status of Jerusalem and which created incredible suffering for the constitution, people of all religions have considers it invalid. Moreover, the UN Israeli people. In 1967, Israel expelled the the right to follow their beliefs, and their rejects Israel’s declaration of the city Jordanians during the Six-Day War. holy sites should be protected by law. as its capital. This is why most of the The UN should be praising the Jews for world’s embassies are in Tel Aviv—apart As soon as Israel unified Jerusalem under how this city has prospered under Israel. from the United States and Guatemala, Israeli rule in 1967, the City began to However, the UN rejected the unification countries which moved their embassies to flourish, mainly due to the fact that Israel of Jerusalem with Resolution 2253 in Jerusalem in 2018. The rest of the world protected the holy sites for all religions, which it condemns Israel’s measures is listening to the UN.

Jerusalem History:

1947 – UN Partition of the Land – Intended Jerusalem to be an International City

1948 – War of Independence – Jordanians take the east part of Jerusalem/Jews have the west side

1949 – Israel declares Jerusalem to be its capital

1948-1967 – Jordanian systematic destruction of Holy Sites in East Jerusalem

1967 – Six-Day War – Israel expels Jordan from Jerusalem and unifies the City

1967 – UN Resolution 2253 against the unification of Jerusalem

1980 – UN Security Council Resolution 478 rejects the unification again and the fact that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital

Moreover, Palestinians want Jerusalem countries have tried to remove Israel from the historical connection of the Jewish to be their capital. This move is fully the Promised Land since its creation in people to the City. For example, supported by the Organisation of 1948. Moreover, even though Israel has UNESCO, a branch of the UN, has Islamic Cooperation (OIC) consisting tried no less than 8 times to come to an recently declared that the Temple Mount, of 57 Muslim countries who in 2017 agreement with the Palestinians to form where the first and second Jewish announced East Jerusalem as the State their state, they never accepted it, and Temples stood, has nothing to do with of Palestine’s capital and requested therefore, never has the Palestinian State the Jewish people. They have done so “all countries to recognise the State existed. This declaration by the Muslim by refusing to call it the Temple Mount, of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its countries regarding East Jerusalem to and referring to it by Al-Haram al-Sharif occupied capital”. This is an incredible be the capital of the Palestinian State is (the Muslim name) instead. Moreover, declaration considering Muslims have nothing short of a delusion. the Palestinians have recently declared never considered Jerusalem important that the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall) enough to make it their capital, and the The UN fully supports the Islamization is not a Jewish holy site, but a Muslim State of Palestine does not exist. Muslim of Jerusalem and the undermining of one. This is actually one of the holiest

3 https://jcpa.org/the-status-of-jerusalem-in-international-and-israeli-law/ 4 Compilation of UNCHR resolutions Archived 2009-09-07 at the Wayback Machine from Eye on the UN https://fanack.com/israel/history-past-to-present/the-blind-ally/jerusalem; https://jcpa.org/the-status-of-jerusalem-in-international-and-israeli-law/ 5 Moshe Hirsch, Deborah Housen-Couriel, Ruth Lapidoth. Whither Jerusalem?: Proposals and Positions Concerning the future of Jerusalem, 1995. www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 33 Jewish sites in the whole world, where history at the different Muslim Empires their capital. Palestinian and UN desire Jews come to pray to the God of Israel. that controlled Jerusalem, none of them to undermine the historical importance There is an attempt by the Palestinians ever made it their capital. The City was of Jerusalem to the Jewish people is and the world to delegitimize Israel not important enough for the Muslim beyond belief! Please see the historical and its hold on Jerusalem by ignoring world to even consider it. Moreover, timeline of Jerusalem below. Have the all historical connection between Israel Palestinians never had their own rule Arab Muslims ever made Jerusalem and Jerusalem. and therefore, never made Jerusalem their capital?

The UN and the Muslim world are very wrong. The Jewish connection to this city goes back at least 4,000 years to the time of Abraham. He nearly sacrificed his son Isaac on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2) which later came to be known as the Temple Mount. Jerusalem is the ancient capital of the Jewish people. It was first mentioned in the Bible when Melchizedek was King of Salem 3,800 years ago whom Abraham met after rescuing Lot (Genesis 14). Later, it became part of the territory of Judah (Judges 1:8). This city passed to the Jebusites (who were Canaanite descendants of the Amorites and Hittites, Joshua 15:63), until King David conquered it 3,000 years ago in the 10th century BC (2 Samuel 5). Since then, Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish kingdom. This City has been passed from hand to hand throughout the centuries as different empires have come and gone. However, the Jewish people have never forgotten their “Eternal Capital” where the two Jewish Temples once stood, the centre of their faith.

If we take into account all the periods of time when there was Jewish/Israelite rule—from the moment the Israelites entered the Land in the 12th century BC after the exodus, to the period of the Judges, to the Israelite Period, to the Maccabees, including the State of Israel—we come up with more than 900 years. Jerusalem was the capital for 770 of those years. When we look throughout

6 See Did UNESCO Deny that the Temple Mt had Jewish Temples? At https://www.livecience.com 7 See Palestinian Authority tells Palestinians: The Western Wall belongs only to Muslims at https://m.jpost.com 8 Address by PM Netanyahu at the Opening Ceremony of the 19th Maccabiah Games at https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/speechmaccab180713

34 Teaching from Zion The worldwide Jerusalem is the controversy most important will be in the hands of the Jews in the over it between end times (Revelation 11). Therefore, city on the face what is happening now is in line with the nations and the will of God. Jerusalem is the most of the earth. It important city on the face of the earth. It Israel will lead is mentioned in Scripture more than 800 is mentioned times, more than any other city around to the coming of the globe. The worldwide controversy in Scripture over it between the nations and Israel Christ. The UN will lead to the coming of Christ. The UN more than 800 and Palestinian opposition to the Jewish and Palestinian control of Jerusalem will cause all the times, more nations of the world to come and attack opposition to the it. And Yeshua will come to defend it as it says in Zechariah 14:2-5: than any other Jewish control “For I will gather all the nations against city around the of Jerusalem Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken … Then the Lord will go forth and globe. fight against those nations as when he will cause all the fights on a day of battle. On that day, his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, nations of the which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split world to come in two from east to west by a very wide valley; … Then the Lord my God will and attack it. And come, and all the holy ones with him” Yeshua will come (NRSV). This scripture demonstrates that when to defend it as it the nations of the world come to attack the city, the time will be very near to says in Zecharia. the return of Christ. We do not know the hour of the day that it will happen, but Biblically speaking, God planned for decided long before Palestinian Muslims we will have the signs. In my opinion, Jerusalem to be the Holy City belonging even existed. The New Testament, even this will be the beginning of Yeshua’s to the Jewish people as part of the though it was written two thousand 1,000-year reign when he comes with all inheritance given to Israel. This was years ago, predicts that Jerusalem the saints.

This article contains excerpts from the author’s book, “Contested Ownership of Israel”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sonia Waters, MA PGCE LITG, is an Israeli citizen, a messianic Jewess, an historian who graduated from Cambridge University in England, a professional teacher, an international speaker, and a tour guide in Israel. She has a desire to see the truth about Israel spread around the world and all deceit from the enemy to be destroyed. Her message to Christians all over the world is that the return of Christ goes hand-in-hand with the homecoming of the Jews to the Promised Land. It is God’s inheritance to them, and these are indeed the “Latter Years”. You must see “the truth and the truth will set you free.” Sonia has a self-titled YouTube channel and a Facebook group called “The Bible and Israel”.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 35 The LORD our

RighteousnessBy Hannah Kovner

Introduction spring sometime in the early Bronze era. A spring fortress and a city wall made The city is first mentioned in Egyptian out of massive rocks were discovered in Jerusalem, who has not heard of it? Even execration texts as Rusalimum in the 1993. Another evidence from the past in the far away Alaska, the Amazon second millennium BC. Its name, is found in the Amarna letters where jungles, or islands of the South Pacific, pronounced as Salem, Shalem, or the ruler of Urusalim named Abdi Hepa the name of Jerusalem is well known. Shalom, can mean peace or completion, sent six letters to the Egyptian Pharaoh What is so special about it? and it was also the name of an ancient Amenhotep III complaining about local Canaanite deity of dusk. Sometime attacks and asking for reinforcement Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities of around 1700 BC, around Abraham’s from Egypt. the world. Its first people came and time, major fortifications were built in settled on a narrow hill near Gihon Jerusalem to protect its water supplies. The geographic location of Jerusalem is

36 Teaching from Zion Jerusalem Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is The root ṣdq is common to many Semitic has a special the name by which she will be called: languages and is used in Akkadian, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Amorite, Old Arabic, Ugaritic and relationship with (Jeremiah 33:15-16 NKJV) others, always within the range of meanings like right, true, legitimate, “Behold, the days are coming,” says just, proper, fulfilled obligation, and righteousness, the LORD, “That I will raise to David even loyal. Words derived from this a Branch of righteousness; A King shall root occur in the OT 523 times (tsedek but it is not her reign and prosper, and He shall execute 119, tsedaka 157) and 79 times in the judgment and righteousness in the earth. Delitzsch NT translation under a broad own character, In His days Judah will be saved, and variety of circumstances and meanings. Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His While some scholars chose to distinguish name by which He will be called: THE between tsedek and tsedaka, referring to rather it is LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” one as an action toward the right order (Jeremiah 23:5-6 NKJV) and the other as connected to the will of He who fills God (Schmid and Jepsen), others do not It is common to find similar texts and see it possible to make such a distinction. His city with prophesies in the Bible, but in spite of “I would like to point out that it is not the similarity, there is a major difference always advisable to draw theological it these passages. While in one text, conclusions on the basis of a particular the righteous the city of Jerusalem is called “The word, differentiating between tsedeq and righteousness of God,” yet in the other, tsedaqa both basically meaning ‘justice’. character. the same title is given to Messiah. In They can have different connotations this article, I would like to look at the but there are texts (e.g., Ps. 72:3) where also incredibly important as it is situated connection between Jerusalem and the choice has been dictated by poetic in the center of historical Canaan – a character of righteousness (justice) and convention” (Watson, 1980). bridge of the ancient world. It is built on the Messiah’s role in its fulfillment. top of the mountain ridge, at an important One of the famous passages about historical crossroad between the local tsedek (translated as “justice” in this road (from Negev and Hebron towards context) speaks of it as a condition of Shechem and northwards) and the east- Tsedek (ṣ-d-q) our presence in the land. “Justice, and west route which linked two of major only justice, you shall follow, that you international roads: the Kings Highway The Hebrew world Tsedek or Tsedaka may live and inherit the land that the (Num. 20:17) and Way of the Sea (Isa. can be translated with a variety of words: LORD your God is giving you” (Deut. 9:1). Overlooking surroundings from righteousness, justice, justification, 16:20, ESV). These words are written a height of 800 m (2400 ft), Jerusalem integrity, charity and more. The word at the entrance of Israeli Supreme Court enabled its rulers to control the lower Tsadik, which derives from the same in Jerusalem with the hope that the areas to the east and to the west. root, means the righteous-one. According human representatives of our justice to the Anchor Bible dictionary, “the system can follow the high road of this Much can be said and written about this meaning of the words that derive almost impossible calling. Theologians great city, the spiritual capital of the from the root ṣdq (tsedek) cannot be and scholars were intrigued with the world. But what caught my attention was determined a priori. There is no basic repetition of the word tsedek twice in two nearly identical passages from the ṣ-d-q notion that must always be present the same sentence. When the Bible book of Jeremiah, in chapters 23 and 33. with the three radicals ṣ-d-q. The OT repeats the same word twice, it is done texts must not be read through the eyes as a tool of amplification to emphasize “In those days and at that time I will of the Reformation controversies…and the importance of this particular word or cause to grow up to David a Branch theological associations which must be phrase or the continuity of the process. of righteousness; He shall execute laid aside when dealing with the Hebrew According to Nachmanides, there is judgment and righteousness in the earth. terms tsedeq, tsedaqa.” more in this repetition then meets the eye, In those days Judah will be saved, and for if the first “justice” is the earthly one

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 37 When the

Bible repeats high; He has filled Zion with justice and God by forsaking justice and committing righteousness.” (Isa. 33:5 NKJV) evil, Jerusalem would be destroyed, and the same word its people sent into Babylonian Exile. Zion (tzion) is another name for Jerusalem. For the first time, it is From these texts, we learn that twice, it is done mentioned in the Bible as a name of a righteousness belongs to the Lord, and fortress that David built after conquering He is filling Jerusalem with it. When we as a tool of the Jebusite controlled Jerusalem. When choose to abandon it, we lose our peace, his son Solomon constructed the Holy our stability, and even our right to exist. amplification Temple on Mount Moriah, the mountain Lack of righteousness is followed by identified as Zion “moved” from the destruction, but it is not forever. After lower eastern hill which is the earliest punishment will come restoration – to emphasize populated site of the city, to the much both physical and spiritual. “And I will higher Temple Mount and to the city of restore your judges as at the first, and the importance Jerusalem as a whole. It is in Zion that your counselors as at the beginning. the gates of righteousness should be Afterward you shall be called the city of this opened for God’s glory. of righteousness, the faithful city” (Isa. 1:26 ESV). Speaking of God’s anger against the particular city, Isaiah says, “See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once word. was full of justice; righteousness used Behold, a King will Reign in to dwell in her-- but now murderers!” Righteousness which enables us to possess the land of (Isa. 1:21 NIV). If righteousness can Israel our physical inheritance, then the dwell somewhere, it means that it can For the first time, Jerusalem appears repetition of the world tsedek (meaning be in one place and not in another. in the Bible in Genesis 14 by the name righteousness or justice) applies to the When righteousness stopped dwelling in Salem. After saving his nephew Lot, Glory of God, his great light, and His Jerusalem, the city became unfaithful and Abraham meets Melchizedek, a king of presence. “In your courts you shall brought God’s wrath upon itself. If there Salem. The name Melchizedek means pursue justice, look for justice now, so is no justice and no righteousness in the “my king – righteousness,” a very unique that you will receive it in the world to city, it has no right to exist. According name given to the priest of the Most come. And the second justice is the to Jeremiah (3:11), even unfaithful Israel Hight God. Abraham gave him a tenth eternal justice (eternal righteousness) -- whose people were taken into Assyrian of his possessions, and Melchizedek the Great Light preserved for the future Exile a century earlier was more blessed Abraham by the “God Most of the righteous, it is the Glory of God. righteous than Judea and Jerusalem. High, possessor of heaven and earth.” And you possess the land through the When king Zedekiah inquired of the fate first justice, which is the Land of Israel”. of Jerusalem, Jeremiah answered that A later king of Jerusalem, Adonizedek (Nachmanides on Deuteronomy 16:20 – God’s wrath will not pass, and there will (my lord is righteousness or the Lord translation mine, HK) be no mercy to the unfaithful city. Since of Righteousness), will be leading the the royal house broke its covenant with coalition of five Canaanite rulers into

Righteousness Used to Dwell in Her The last independent king of

The promised land and its capital, Jerusalem, have a special relationship Jerusalem before the Babylonian with righteousness, but it is not her own character, rather it is He who fills destruction of the city in 586 His city with the righteous character, “The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on BC was called Zedekiah, which means the righteousness of God. 38 Teaching from Zion The king of Jerusalem must be a righteous and just ruler, one who the case? Not at all! If Melchizedek was sincerely serving God, we cannot is merciful to his people and cares say the same about the latter king of Jerusalem, Adonizedek. The result of his unrighteous war against Israel was about God and His will. Was it complete devastation and defeat of the Canaanite armies in battle. God Himself always the case? Not at all! fought on the side of Joshua bombarding Adonizedek’s army with huge hailstones. battle against Joshua in chapter 10 of BC was called Zedekiah, which means For the first time in history, the cosmic the book. Both names, Adonizedek and the righteousness of God. order was changed by the Creator when Melchizedek, are rare and only found sun stood still over Gibeon and the moon in the Bible in connection to ancient “Behold, a king will reign in over Ayalon. kings of Jerusalem. It seems like it was righteousness, and princes will rule a unique custom for Jerusalem kings to with justice,” says the prophet Isaiah The last king of Jerusalem, Zedekiah, attribute to themselves special relations (32:1 ESV). The king of Jerusalem was not particularly righteous either, and with righteousness and justice. The last must be a righteous and just ruler, one his fate, as well as the fate of Jerusalem independent king of Jerusalem before who is merciful to his people and cares under his rule, was tragic. Jerusalem Babylonian destruction of the city in 586 about God and His will. Was it always was destroyed, the Temple and palaces

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 39 We all know that in the days of Jesus, high priests in Jerusalem were anything but righteous. They were more than willing to sacrifice God’s truth for their position and wealth. were burned with fire, and the people is too hard for you to judge, between was destroyed, and not a stone was left were exiled to Babylon. Zedekiah was degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between on another stone of all the incredible caught by Babylonians and blinded after one judgment or another, or between Herodian buildings. A city without witnessing the execution of his sons. one punishment or another, matters of righteousness does not have a right to According to ancient legend, he lived controversy within your gates, then you exist. his last days in a large cave that is still shall arise and go up to the place which seen at the northern side of the Old city the Lord your God chooses. And you of Jerusalem. To this day, it is called shall come to the priests, the Levites, Zedekiah’s cave. and to the judge there in those days, and You are a Priest Forever, in the inquire of them; they shall pronounce Order of Melchizedek upon you the sentence of judgment. You shall do according to the sentence which Melchizedek was not only the king of Let Your Priests be Clothed with they pronounce upon you in that place Jerusalem, but he was also a priest of the Righteousness (Ps. 132:9 NKJV) which the Lord chooses. And you shall Most Hight God. Psalm 110 and the later be careful to do according to all that they The focal point of Jerusalem was and still order you” (Deut. 17:8-10 NKJV). is Mount Moriah – the Temple Mount. It was a dwelling place of God, where his In the Second Temple Period, the presence—Shechinah—was visible to Sanhedrin – the Supreme Jewish Court— all. Here, absolute righteousness must be was only allowed to judge difficult present. “By Your favor, do good to Zion; cases resulting in capital punishment in Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You their formal courthouse, a Chamber of will delight in righteous sacrifices, in Hewn Stone called “Lishkat haGazit,” burnt offering…on Your altar” (Ps. 51:19 in the Temple. All 71 members of the NASB). Aaron and his descendants were Sanhedrin had to agree to a capital chosen by God to become his inheritance, punishment for the accused. Only there to represent people before the Almighty under the cover of God’s presence and God, and be his representatives among His righteousness could such a decision Israel. They were separated from the be made. We all know that in the days rest of the people and had to abide by of Jesus, high priests in Jerusalem were the strict rules of purity, integrity, and anything but righteous. They were more righteousness. than willing to sacrifice God’s truth for their position and wealth. Since Jesus’ In addition to performing religious illegal trial happened secretly at night ceremonies, priests in the Bible also in the private home of Joseph Caiaphas, Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek – by Dieric Bouts the Elder carried the responsibility of being judges, they were not allowed to pass capital priests inquire of God who passed his punishment, and Jesus’ fate would pass book of Hebrews call Messiah “a priest judgment to the people. Difficult cases into the hands of the oppressive Roman according to the order of Melchizedek” should be decided not only by the right regime. Unrighteous priests would cause who is to rule in Zion. person but also in the place of God’s Jerusalem to suffer yet again. Only one choosing. “If a matter arises which generation after the crucifixion, the city “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my

40 Teaching from Zion right hand until I make your enemies a And He Believed the LORD and He Abraham is footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will Counted it to Him as Righteousness extend your mighty scepter from (Gen. 15:6 ESV) known as Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’… The Lord has sworn and Abraham is known as the father of faith the father will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest and righteousness. He achieved it by forever, in the order of Melchizedek’” trusting and believing in God’s promise (Ps. 110:1-4 NIV). The book of Hebrews even when it seemed impossible. This of faith and (7:26-27 NIV) continues, saying, “Such great faith that made Abraham a father a high priest truly meets our need—one of all believers was tested once again righteousness. who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart on Mount Moriah when God asked from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Abraham to sacrifice everything – his He achieved Unlike the other high priests, he does not son, his faith, and his future. It was need to offer sacrifices day after day, first his faith in God’s promise of Isaac’s for his own sins, and then for the sins of birth that was counted to Abraham as it by trusting the people. He sacrificed for their sins righteousness, and now this faith stood once for all when he offered himself.” before an impossible request. On the and believing The book of Hebrews tells us that way to the place chosen by God, Isaac whereas human priests from the order of asked his father, “‘Look, the fire and the in God’s Aaron were unable to reach perfection wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt and had to repeat sacrifices over and over offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, again, first for their own sins, then for the God will provide for Himself the lamb promise even sins of the people, the eternal priest is to for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them serve in God’s sanctuary as the priest and went together. Then they came to the when it seemed king of righteousness. place of which God had told him” (Gen. 22:7-9 NKJV). impossible. Abraham believed that nothing is Only one impossible for God; his actions on the David” (2 Chr. 3:1 NIV). God’s most mountain in the land of Moriah showed important promises connect us to Mount generation after great faith. Writing to the first church, the Moriah in Jerusalem as a focal point of brother of Jesus, Jacob who is known to divine righteousness. On Mount Moriah, the crucifixion, English readers as James, says, “Was not Abraham’s faith and righteousness were our father Abraham considered righteous fulfilled though his actions. for what he did when he offered his son the city was Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, destroyed, and and his faith was made complete by what To Fulfill All Righteousness he did. And the scripture was fulfilled not a stone was that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and When Jesus came to get baptized in the it was credited to him as righteousness,’ Jordan river, John was hesitant saying, and he was called God’s friend” (James “‘I need to be baptized by you and do left on another 2:21-23 NIV). you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this stone of all Mount Moriah is mentioned in the Bible to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John one more time during the construction consented” (Mt. 3:14-15 NIV). Seeing the incredible of the Holy Temple. “Then Solomon Jesus for the first time, John called him began to build the temple of the Lord in “the Lamb of God, who takes away the Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NIV). He is Herodian the Lord had appeared to his father the Lamb chosen by God to replace Isaac, buildings.

www.netivyah.org Teaching from Zion 41 in accordance to the prophetic words of of the world, so the way to God will be don’t you know that all of us who were Abraham, “My son, God will provide for open to many. baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” into his death? We were therefore Jesus is baptized in Jordan river, to fulfill According to Paul, baptism symbolizes buried with him through baptism into all righteousness and to take away the sin death and resurrection to a new life. “Or death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new In the days to come, Jerusalem life” (Rom. 6:3-4 NIV). Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, God’s righteousness, will be the seat of the eternal when he became an ultimate sacrifice for the sins and transgressions of humanity. He was the lamb of God King—the seat of the Lamb and who was to be sacrificed in Jerusalem to fulfill all righteousness. “When the the place of justice, prosperity, days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk. and peace. 9:51 ESV) to fulfill everything that the

42 Teaching from Zion The city and Messiah are one and cannot be separated. Through Jesus, the ultimate Lamb of God, the righteous order of the universe is to be restored, starting from Jerusalem, and extending to the four corners of the world.

prophets had written about the Son of subdue his enemies under his feet. identical prophesies calling both Messiah Man (Lk. 18:31). Messiah will come back to Jerusalem in and Jerusalem by the same name, “The might, power, and glory to restore the Lord our Righteousness,” he is revealing It was absolutely essential that the righteousness of God. to us one of the greatest mysteries hidden crucifixion, the ascension to heaven, and between the old stones of this Eternal Jesus’ glorious future return take place in When Jeremiah gives us two almost City: that only through God’s Righteous Jerusalem in the land of Moriah. It had Son the righteousness of Jerusalem can to be in the same place, where almost be fulfilled. The city and Messiah are one two millennia earlier, the father of all and cannot be separated. Through Jesus, believers was willing to not spare his the ultimate Lamb of God, the righteous only beloved son. order of the universe is to be restored, starting from Jerusalem, and extending to the four corners of the world.

Until Her Righteousness Shines Earthly Jerusalem is here and now holding Like a Bright Light within itself past and future. It is filled with everyday struggles and challenges, Through his sacrifice, Messiah defeated annoying to some and loved by many. It sin and death and is to restore the right is so familiar and so unique, my beloved order of the universe. In the days to home and a shadow of the great things come, Jerusalem will be the seat of the to come. It is waiting and longing for the eternal King—the seat of the Lamb day about which Isaiah prophesied, “For and the place of justice, prosperity, and Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and peace. “Then I looked, and behold, on for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with still, until her righteousness shines like him 144,000 who had his name and his a bright light, her salvation like a Father’s name written on their foreheads” blazing torch. Nations will see your (Rev. 14:1 ESV). This time the King will righteousness, and all kings your glory. not come as a suffering servant who You will be called by a new name that takes upon himself our transgressions the mouth of the LORD will bestow” and sins, and not as a sacrificial Lamb (Isa. 62:1-2 BSB).

of God, but as a mighty ruler who will The New Jerusalem (by Athina Alexopoulou Pappa)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hannah Kovner is an Israeli tour-guide, who specializes in teaching and guiding Messianic and Christian visitors to the Holy Land. Before switching to full-time guiding, Hannah worked at Netivyah for many years and had a chance to learn and research the Bible and the Jewish Roots of the New Testament. She has an extensive knowledge of the Land of Israel, its history, and the Bible which she is able to present in its original cultural and spiritual perspective. Hannah was born and raised in Moscow, Russia and moved to Israel after finishing her degree in communications. Hannah lives in Jerusalem and feels deeply connected and in love with this Eternal City.

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