United States Officially Recognizes Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital And Opens American Embassy In Jerusalem

EZEKIEL 11:17 (NKJV):
Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’

2 CHRONICLES 6:6 (NKJV):
“I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.”

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital drew wide international criticism, with 128 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada voting in favor of a United Nations resolution condemning it.

The United States will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, recognizing and commemorating a 70-year generation time period from when Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948. Only a few small countries, Guatemala and Paraguay, have stated that they will follow America’s lead and move their embassies to Jerusalem, while Honduras and the Czech Republic are also making plans to do so.

Up until today, the United States and most countries with diplomatic relations with Israel have kept their embassies in Tel Aviv to appease Palestinians who do not recognize Israel and wish to divide Jerusalem.

Israel however, has been functioning and declaring Jerusalem as its capital since the Jewish nation was re-established in 1948. Its parliament, known as the Knesset, the Supreme Court, and most other government buildings are located in Jerusalem. The Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces are in the HaKirya section of Tel Aviv.

The United States plans to eventually build a new embassy in Jerusalem, but until it does, the U.S. will reassign the ambassador’s office and about 50 staff members, including consular officers, to an already existing U.S. facility building in Jerusalem. A new plaque will go up on the building wall, indicating that this building, formerly used for issuing U.S. and Israeli passports, is now the U.S. embassy building in Jerusalem.

Hundreds of guests and dignitaries are invited for the official opening. The embassy event will begin at 4 p.m. local time. Expected to be in attendance are U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka Trump. According to Israel’s Government Press Office, 65 journalists from the United States, 41 from the U.K., and more than 60 from the European Union are expected to arrive before the inaugural opening and cover the event.

Israel will also host festivities to commemorate and celebrate 70 years as an independent state.

Tensions between Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem – and around the world – are still very high.

Hamas in Gaza is promising an all-out riot on the Israeli border on May 14th to protest the U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem.

As it has been shown that Iran has used Syrian war-ravaged land as a base to make war with Israel, President Trump announced that he was pulling out of a disastrous Iranian nuclear deal made by the Obama administration. Trump announced on Tuesday (May 08) the withdrawal of the United States from the Iran nuclear deal, saying he will reinstate economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Barack Obama, the Muslim-loving, Israel-hating, former illegitimate president of the United States, before leaving office gave $150 billion dollars to the Iranian regime. Did anyone really believe that Iran, a nation that defines a terrorist state, was going to use that money to create social welfare programs for its citizens?

Shortly after announcing that the United States was pulling out of the disastrous Iranian nuclear deal, Israel began using military force to neutralize the ever-growing threat to its nation posed by Iran. Responding to rocket mortar attacks against Israel, Netanyahu ordered the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) to target strikes against numerous Iranian-held military installations in and around Damascus, Syria.

Israel struck 50 Iranian targets in Syria after 20 rockets were fired towards Israel’s front defensive line in the Golan Heights by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp’s Quds Force early Thursday morning [on May 10th], the Israeli Defense Force announced.

IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis said that the Israeli retaliation was “one of the greatest operations of the Israel Air Force in the past decade,” and noted that Russia was informed ahead of the strikes.

The 28 F-16 and F-15 jets participating in the operation were met with heavy anti-aircraft fire from the Syrian regime; in return, five Syrian air-defense batteries were destroyed by Israel.

“The Iranian attack on Israel tonight is yet another clear proof of the intention behind the Iranian forces’ entrenchment in Syria and the danger they pose to Israel and regional stability,” the IDF stated, adding that “the IDF will continue to act decisively against Iran’s entrenchment in Syria.”

The IDF stated that even though Iran is directly behind the attack, the Syrian regime is responsible for what happens in its territory and warned it against acting against the IDF.

“Tonight reflects what we are preparing for the future. The Quds Force chose to act against the State of Israel in the wrong place. We won’t accept an Iranian entrenchment in Syria and the Quds Force has paid a very heavy price,” Manelis said.

Seventy years is one of the time periods in the Scriptures linked to a generation or lifetime. Seventy years has also been especially critical and noted in the biblical history of Israel.

Some prophecy watchers are calling for a Pentecost pre-tribulation rapture on May 14, 2018.

SUPPORT FOR A SPRING 2018 PENTECOST RAPTURE
I’m seeing strong evidence build for a Pentecost rapture. The evidence is mounting. This page will document where our research has evolved to this point and will continue to be updated as time allows. We have included a projected timeline in this article as well for our readers to download and explore further. We welcome your feedback. – HEAVENLY SIGN 2017 BLESSED HOPE 2018

There will be no Pentecost pre-tribulation rapture on May 14, 2018, 70 years after Israel became a nation. The timing for a rapture is not here yet. However, it is this writer’s opinion that the first rapture, of many raptures, will be the pre-tribulation rapture of 144,000 Messianic Jews of Israel, Jews who believe in Yeshua (Jesus), and they will be raptured as the firstfruits among people brought before God, 70 years after the 1967 Six-Day War in 2037 or shortly thereafter (Daniel 9:24; Revelation 14:4).

2 THESSALONIANS 2:3-4 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [OF THE WORLD RAPTURE] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin [THE ANTIMESSIAH / ANTICHRIST] is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the [REBUILT] temple of God [IN JERUSALEM], showing himself that he is God.

There will NOT be a Pentecost rapture on or around May 14, 2018. The world rapture will occur AFTER the man of sin is revealed, the Antimessiah (Antichrist), estimated year 2050-51.

There are many people who believe in praying for the peace of Jerusalem, based on the following verse:

PSALM 122:6 (NKJV):
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

There is nothing wrong with praying for peace, but that Psalm verse was concerning a different time and a different Jerusalem, not the Jerusalem of the end times. Scripture prophecy declares that Jerusalem will not know peace and will be a cup of trembling for Israel and its surrounding nations.

ZECHARIAH 12:1-3 (NKJV):
The burden of the word of YHWH (the Lord) against Israel. Thus says YHWH (the Lord), who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation and forms the spirit of man within him:
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”

To pray for the peace of Jerusalem may be well-intentioned, but it’s a prayer against Scripture. We have an example of this in the exchange between Peter and Yeshua (Jesus).

MATTHEW 16:22-23; MARK 8:32-33 (NKJV):
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this [YOU BEING KILLED] shall not happen to You!”
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for
you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

The events of Scripture prophecy must unfold and play out. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying against Scripture prophecy.

EZEKIEL 13:16 (NKJV):
The prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’” says YHWH (the Lord) GOD.

Prayer will not bring peace and safety to Jerusalem, only one thing will: the return of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ). While prayers cannot stop Scripture prophecy from playing out, something more practical can be done for the Jewish people of Israel…

If you really want to do something for Jews, besides repetitive vain prayers for the peace of Jerusalem which will not be answered, and take part in fulfillment of Scripture prophecy, donate money, non-perishable food, and supplies to Israel aid organizations*, such as ASSAF, The Joseph Project, and other Israeli aid organizations. These organizations are located high in the mountainous terrain of Jerusalem and will serve as places of refuge when the Jews flee their homeland in the future to the wilderness – Revelation 12:6.

*This writer is not a spokesman for, nor associated with any Israeli aid organization.

Yeshua (Jesus) said this to His disciples about the fig tree, a metaphor symbol of Israel:

MATTHEW 24:32 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRTATION]:
“When its branch [NATION] has already become tender [CIVILIZED / CULTIVATED] and puts forth leaves [EXPANDS ITS TERRITORY AND PROSPERS], you know that summer is near [SUMMER = HOT WEATHER, FOLLOWS ARAB SPRINGS, WHICH BRINGS FORTH RISING TENSIONS]. So you also, when you see all these things [END TIMES PROPHECIES UNFOLDING], know that it [THE GREAT TRIBULATION] is near-at the doors!”

The fig tree, Israel, has blossomed into Israel’s beautiful homeland, but it will not remain that way.

Israel is prophesied to be trampled by the Gentiles and then the Jews of Israel will call on Yeshua (Jesus) to save them from annihilation in their darkest hour. Yeshua (Jesus) will return to Earth to save the Jews, and bring peace to Jerusalem and the rest of the world, as He establishes His Millennium Kingdom. Yeshua (Jesus) will not return before the nation of Israel calls for Him to save them. That is what He stated…

LUKE 13:34-35 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house [ISRAEL] is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you [JEWS OF ISRAEL], you [JEWS] shall not see Me until the time [OF THE END] comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He [YESHUA MESSIAH (JESUS CHRIST)] who comes in the name of YHWH (the Lord)!’”

Today, March 14, 2018, is not the time of the end. Happy 70^th anniversary Israel!

E-Mail George Lujack: georgelujack@gmail.com