In 586 B.C. the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian army, and most of its residents were either killed or carried into exile that would last seventy years.
Then an amazing thing happened. In fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 44:28), God stirred up the spirit of a Persian king named Cyrus who issued this proclamation, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of His people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them” (2 Chron. 36:19). Immediately, thousands of Jews returned; and over the course of time, Jerusalem and the temple were rebuilt.
In similar fashion, God stirred up the spirit of President Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. This recognition was made official by the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Israel’s 70th anniversary, May 14, 2018. Because of this presidential proclamation, some are referring to Donald Trump as a modern day Cyrus.
Of course, this move has sparked outrage among the enemies of Israel. Most of all, it has caused fury among the denizens of hell. Make no mistake, the hatred of Israel has nothing to do with politics. It has nothing to do with treaties and land deals. The motivation of this insatiable hatred of Israel is spiritual in nature, spawned by the devil himself who was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).
So why does Satan hate Israel? Consider God’s message sent to the Egyptian Pharaoh, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go…” (Exodus 4:22-23).
Through God’s son Israel He gave us His Word. Through God’s firstborn He established the covenants. Furthermore, it was of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David, of the city of Bethlehem that the Savior of the world came. Consequently, Jesus said, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). And to Israel Jesus Christ will return at the Second Coming to establish His millennial throne in Jerusalem.
Satan hates God and everything related to God. He hates Israel, and he hates the Church. But what do we see today? We see Israel, a nation reborn and flourishing in its ancient homeland. And we see the Church triumphant, against which the gates of hell cannot and will not prevail.
The events of recent days reminds us that God has not broken His promises to Israel, nor will He ever! Though cast off for a season, God is fulfilling His promise to, “Assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12). With the 70th anniversary celebration and recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, we see evidence of the faithfulness of God’s Word, “But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations” (Joel 3:20).
The God who keeps His promises to national Israel, will keep His promises to His Church. And the God who keeps His promises to Israel and the Church will keep His promises to you. So be encouraged by these things, “For He who promised is faithful…who also will do it” (Hebrews 10:23;
1 Thess. 5:24).
Pastor Todd Weston
Then an amazing thing happened. In fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 44:28), God stirred up the spirit of a Persian king named Cyrus who issued this proclamation, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of His people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them” (2 Chron. 36:19). Immediately, thousands of Jews returned; and over the course of time, Jerusalem and the temple were rebuilt.
In similar fashion, God stirred up the spirit of President Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. This recognition was made official by the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Israel’s 70th anniversary, May 14, 2018. Because of this presidential proclamation, some are referring to Donald Trump as a modern day Cyrus.
Of course, this move has sparked outrage among the enemies of Israel. Most of all, it has caused fury among the denizens of hell. Make no mistake, the hatred of Israel has nothing to do with politics. It has nothing to do with treaties and land deals. The motivation of this insatiable hatred of Israel is spiritual in nature, spawned by the devil himself who was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).
So why does Satan hate Israel? Consider God’s message sent to the Egyptian Pharaoh, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go…” (Exodus 4:22-23).
Through God’s son Israel He gave us His Word. Through God’s firstborn He established the covenants. Furthermore, it was of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David, of the city of Bethlehem that the Savior of the world came. Consequently, Jesus said, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). And to Israel Jesus Christ will return at the Second Coming to establish His millennial throne in Jerusalem.
Satan hates God and everything related to God. He hates Israel, and he hates the Church. But what do we see today? We see Israel, a nation reborn and flourishing in its ancient homeland. And we see the Church triumphant, against which the gates of hell cannot and will not prevail.
The events of recent days reminds us that God has not broken His promises to Israel, nor will He ever! Though cast off for a season, God is fulfilling His promise to, “Assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12). With the 70th anniversary celebration and recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, we see evidence of the faithfulness of God’s Word, “But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations” (Joel 3:20).
The God who keeps His promises to national Israel, will keep His promises to His Church. And the God who keeps His promises to Israel and the Church will keep His promises to you. So be encouraged by these things, “For He who promised is faithful…who also will do it” (Hebrews 10:23;
1 Thess. 5:24).
Pastor Todd Weston
