Dec 06, 2017

Today President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli state, and he ordered the US embassy to be moved to Jerusalem.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/world/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-israel-capital.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/world/middleeast/trump-israel-speech-transcript.html

This comes near the 70^th anniversary of the Palestinian Resolution on November 29, 1947.

This comes near the 100^th anniversary of when General Allenby took Jerusalem on December 9, 1917, the 24^th day of the 9^th month (Haggai 2:18, 20). There are two prophecies associated with this particular day. Haggai 2:19 says, “from this day on I will bless you.” Haggai 2:21 says also, “I am going to shake the heavens and the earth” and “overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms and of the nations.”

December 6, 2017 falls between the two anniversaries (November 29 and December 9).

Blessing and Shaking

No doubt many Evangelical Christians will rejoice over this recognition of Jerusalem, not realizing its real significance. I do believe that this is a very important act and a very important prophetic date in history. It will indeed be a day of blessing for those who recognize the heavenly Jerusalem (“Sarah”) as their spiritual mother. Those who recognize the earthly Jerusalem (“Hagar”) as their spiritual mother will find themselves among the kingdoms on earth that will be shaken, as Hebrews 12:22, 26-28 tells us.

The Homeland and the Jewish State

Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem marks the end of a long progression of events that began a century ago. We must view his actions in that light. In November 1917 the Balfour Declaration set forth the British Government’s intention to set aside Palestine as a Jewish “homeland” (not a Jewish state). In 1947 the United Nations fulfilled this intention by voting to create a homeland for Jews who wished to move there to live alongside non-Jews.

In 1967 the Israelis forcibly took Jerusalem and annexed it as part of their state, ignoring the fact that they were supposed to be a homeland, not a Jewish state. The Israeli state has thus been in violation of the original UN mandate, and this is why the nations of the world seem to be against them. Evangelicals do not understand that the United Nations don’t like the fact that the Israelis have violated their original mandate by which the nation was created in the first place.

But what about prophecy? How does God view it?

Leaves and Fruit

First, we must understand that the fig tree that Jesus cursed in Matthew 21:19 immediately withered up, but later, in Matthew 24:32, Jesus prophesied that it would bear more leaves at the end of the age. This prophecy came to pass in 1947-1948, because the fig tree was the nation of Judah (or “Jews”).

So it was certainly prophesied that the Jewish state would be re-established near the time of the end. I do not dispute that. My dispute is with those who think that this “fig tree” will bear fruit. Jesus said it will never again bear fruit (Matthew 21:19). Jesus said that when we saw it bring forth more leaves, then we would know that we were near the end (Matthew 24:32).

Leaves are not fruit. Fleshly people cover themselves with fig leaves as a substitute for fruit. The true chosen people bear fruit. Because the tree bore only leaves in Jesus’ day, it was cursed. That situation has repeated itself in our time. The Israeli state has again covered itself with fig leaves in the tradition of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7), giving the appearance of health and strength, but in reality only covering their sin without appropriating the blood of Christ to their hearts. The choice is either fruit (of the Spirit) or leaves (self-justification). This is something that most Evangelicals do not seem to comprehend.

The Two Jerusalems

The other big factor is seen in Galatians 4:25, where Paul tells us explicitly that the earthly Jerusalem is not Sarah, but Hagar. Those who adhere to Old Covenant religion are children of Hagar, not children of Sarah. Paul says that they are NOT inheritors of the Kingdom and that they will eventually be “cast out” (Galatians 4:30).

By his recognition of the earthly Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli state, Donald Trump has now provided the final identifying link between the Old Covenant Israelis and Hagar-Jerusalem. Because of the extraordinary timing of this recognition, it is clear (to me) that this sets into motion the prophecies of Haggai regarding the great shaking of the nations. All fleshly nations will be shaken, including the fleshly Israeli state itself.

Two Types of Ishmaelite

As of today, Donald Trump has recognized legally that the Israeli citizens are the children of Hagar—that is, they are the true Ishmaelites, prophetically speaking. The Arabs, of course, claim to be Ishmaelites on the grounds of their genealogical connection to Ishmael himself. But from the standpoint of prophecy, all Old Covenant Jews, regardless of genealogy, are the children of Hagar, “born according to the flesh” (Galatians 4:29).

The modern conflict between Arabs and Jews has been a dispute over who is the real inheritor of Ishmael’s estate, birthright, and prophetic promises. In this dispute, it appears that the Jews have prevailed, for their claim to Mother Jerusalem is now being recognized by Donald Trump. No doubt they—and Evangelical Christians—will rejoice over this, not realizing that whoever succeeds in claiming Jerusalem will be destroyed with it.

Jerusalem will be cast out, along with her children, Paul says in Galatians 4:30. The Arabs do not understand the prophecy either, so they strongly object to Jerusalem being claimed by the Israelis. If they knew the prophecy, they would see that God was being merciful to them, for by losing Jerusalem as their spiritual mother, they will avoid the judgment that is soon to come when Jeremiah 19:10, 11 is fulfilled.

Personally, I believe that blind eyes will remain closed until the destruction of the city, for if the people could see, they might have opportunity to stop this coming judgment. Only when the city is destroyed and Hagar is cast out will Jews, Muslims, and Christians be able to recognize that the New Jerusalem is the one through whom the promises of God must come. Only then will the children of promise be seen to be the real chosen people. “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise” (Galatians 4:28).

Those chosen ones according to man are the children of Hagar. The chosen ones according to God are the children of Sarah. No one can be an overcomer who has Hagar/Jerusalem as their mother. Those who support Hagar’s claim to the birthright show that they are not among the children of promise.

The Great Shaking

God has revealed to us for many years that we were about to enter into the great time of shaking, where everything that is not of the Kingdom will fall to the ground (Hebrews 12:27). But until now, we only saw relatively minor shakings. It seems to me that Donald Trump’s recognition is probably the final signal to begin this final shaking.

Will we also see a physical shaking in the earth, as in an earthquake? Perhaps. As I wrote months ago, I have had a foreboding inside that we would see a great quake shortly. But will it include a physical quake? That is the question.

There is precedent for this with the Los Angeles earthquake on January 17, 1994, followed by the Kobe, Japan earthquake a year later on January 17, 1995. Will there be a third quake on the same date in 2018? I do not know, but it is certainly a watch date.

Over and beyond any physical earthquakes that may occur, we should consider that the great quake in Haggai and Hebrews is now on a prophetic countdown toward the final fulfillment of Jeremiah 19:10, 11. The prophecy says that the city will be destroyed so completely that it will never again be repaired (rebuilt). It was destroyed many times in the past, but it was always rebuilt. This time, however, I believe it will be the final destruction, simply because we are at the end of the age. The fig tree has brought forth its leaves for 70 years. The Israelis have controlled Jerusalem for 50 years since 1967. Their control is now being recognized by Donald Trump.

As for timing, I think we ought to watch next year’s feast days, particularly Trumpets, September 10, 2018.