PO/Box 1367, KUILS RIVER 7579 SOUTH-AFRICA Tel:+27(0)21 903 1901 Fax:+27(0)21 906 2637
E-mail: info@kerugma.org.za Web: www.kerugma.org.za

JERUSALEM - THE PRAISE OF THE EARTH

- Ignatius A le Roux

I see him through the viewfinder of the camera - with the full moon behind him he stands on the wall of the Old City. This heavily armed guard can only but remind one of the above passage. It was a very special occasion. That morning the Jerusalem Post had reported that the largest contingent of police in the history of Jerusalem would gather there that day. During the two previous weeks large advertisements had been displayed throughout Israel inviting all to gather at the Jaffa Gate of the Old City in order to take an oath promising that Jerusalem should never be divided. This event would take place on 8 January 2001, two days before our departure back to South Africa.

Read more below about this exceptionable event. Previously we had reported that our plan to visit Israel had unfortunately been postponed. However a couple who had previously worked for a year abroad advised us that they would be in Israel for a ten day period with a rented vehicle and would be happy to provide transport for us. Not only that, but they were prepared to help with the carrying and setting up of our equipment. Following this, things happened very quickly. Initially we had not even considered going, because we had neither the means to get there nor place to stay. However, the Lord undertook. Firstly a generous donor provided the means for the airfare. Then the person who, as a result of excessive cost overruns of having his vehicle repaired, had been left in a position unable to help finance our expedition, miraculously acquired so much additional work that he too was able to join us. Because of the war situation and the resulting empty flights to Israel, we were able to obtain our tickets at almost half the normal price. On top of this the airline generously arranged that our camera and all the equipment could be taken along as hand luggage - therefore at no extra cost. A special place was also provided on board where we could store this equipment. To cut a long story short - Dr Randall D Smith, a minister from America with a doctorate in archeology, had last year erected a full-scale replica of the tabernacle in the desert near Jericho. The purpose of this was to attract tourists to Israel for guided tours. After some negotiating, he showed us through the tabernacle and explained everything that he had done. We plan to release a video on this project towards the end of April.

What is particularly interesting is that the copper and gold for the altar of burnt-offerings, the candle-holder, the table for the shew bread, the incense altar and the ark with the cherubim on as well as the walls of the tabernacle, all come from South Africa. Another video that we are anxious to produce, is one recording a presentation by Elfie Gill at the garden of Biblical Resources at Ein Karem in Jerusalem. Items like a threshing-floor, a millstone, a winepress, a watch-tower, an altar, an olive-press, as well as many other things are depicted. She also demonstrated to us many of the customs of the day. A special blessing was her description of the Last Supper. A lot of editing needs to be done. As soon as it is ready, we will make an announcement in the Bulletin. Both of the above-mentioned videos are destined to be distributed in Israel whilst Kérugma will have the honour of distributing them in South Africa. Many other things that we photographed will be used in other videos. Of special interest was the cornerstone of the planned third temple which is currently situated on a traffic circle in Jerusalem. The first temple was built by Solomon and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. The second, built by Herod was totally demolished by the Roman emperor Titus in 70 AD. The third one, according to them, is the one prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel. Besides the cornerstone, all the instruments needed for the temple are ready to be placed in this temple.

The Jewish movement responsible for this, claims that this is exactly in accordance with the instructions prophesied in Ezekiel 40 - 48. The architectural drawings and paintings of this new temple are breath-taking. Unfortunately we could not photograph everything on this occasion as the person responsible for granting the required permission was not available. What did strike one though, was their readiness to build the temple. They explained that they were waiting in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah.

Everything is made of pure silver and gold and the quality of the musical instruments in particular are breath-taking: only the finest wood-carvings are used. When standing at the wailing wall and particularly when looking at the section where the women pray, you cannot help but beseech the Lord to reveal Himself to these people. Particularly when you see through the lens of the camera a mother praying in anguish with tears running down her cheeks. One song that particularly struck me was one sung by the crowds of young Israelis at the above- mentioned meeting. They sang earnestly calling on the Messiah to please come soon. This event, which was called "Jerusalem, we pledge", was made possible with the help of substantial donations from Christian organisations in America, Europe and Israel itself. Whilst a chain of torches was formed around the walls of the Old City, more than 400,000 Jews gathered in the streets in front of the Jaffa Gate. Scenes from Israel's wars which could be seen from afar were projected against the walls of the Old City.

Musical performances as well as speeches and a great deal of community singing kept the crowds entertained there for hours. The main speaker was the mayor of Jerusalem, Mr Ehud Olmert. His message, on the eve of president Clinton's retirement, was as follows: "Dear Mr. President, For the last eight years, president Clinton, you have manifested your friendship to the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and we are grateful to you. Now on behalf of the city of Jerusalem, on behalf of the 400 000 people that are gathered here tonight in the largest rally in the history of this city and the state of Israel, I want to ask you, please Mr. President, don't let yourself be the first president in the history of our country who will officially be registered as the person who propose the division of the historical, ancient, eternal capitol of the Jewish people. We are an old people. We never forget our friends, but we never ever forget those who dare to raise their hands on the most precious treasures of our lives. Please Mr. President, think about this again".

We know that the Lord states clearly in Genesis 12:3 that whoever blesses his people, will be blessed by Him, but do we know that the opposite is equally true? What is our attitude towards this chosen nation? It is the nation that the Lord called into being in order to reveal Himself through them to the whole world. This nation that today is spiritually veiled, but which will be unveiled when they believe in the Lord Jesus as their Messiah (2 Cor 3:14-16). Before the start of the meeting Mr Olmert explained to the press that this was not a political meeting. But how does one differentiate between politics and that which lives in the hearts of the religious Jews? We know that there are many prophecies in the Bible concerning Jerusalem that are yet to be fulfilled. Many of the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled by the Lord Jesus with his first coming. Exactly when He will fulfill the rest, we do not know (Acts 1:7). That He will however fulfill these prophesies when He comes again, is certain. In the meantime, it is our privilege to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). It was however striking to see the great number of young people, especially teenagers who filled the streets at the Jaffa Gate to become one great, living, jubilant mass. By the grace of God I can tell you that Kérugma obtained the prime position in the press gallery.

Four hours before the start of the meeting we presented ourselves to apply for press approval. We were advised to position our camera next to the BBC, only to discover later that the side on which we were standing was clearly the best position. Although the world media filmed everything and transmitted it directly via satellite, nothing was televised outside of Israel. As the Lord leads, we plan to produce a video about this event for whoever may be interested. The visit to Israel was a great blessing to us. We trust that we have gathered visual material that will be a blessing to many. One thing is for certain: the One who ordains the destinies of nations, is concerning Himself with the people to whom He promised the entire land as is explained in Genesis 15:18-21. The silhouette of the guard on the walls of Jerusalem against the twilight, mentioned at the beginning, reminded me that the Lord longs to re- establish Jerusalem and make her "a praise in the earth" (Is. 62:7). Are we aware of the promises that the Lord made for this land? There are promises that the Lord makes to Zion in Isaiah 62:1-5 (the old city of David of which some of the ruins are still visible today) and to Jerusalem ( as it was built by Solomon). From the text which appears at the beginning of this article, we read that the Lord promised that He would not keep quiet until the "righteousness" of Jerusalem as well as that of Zion "goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning" (Is. 62:1). He repeated these promises to Jerusalem in Isaiah 62:2-5

To date the Lord has not yet fulfilled this promise. The prophet Zechariah prophesied that at the coming again of the Messiah the mountain upon which Jerusalem has been situated from of old will be raised up above the other mountains (Zech. 14:4,10). It is then that the promise of the Lord to establish Jerusalem and make her a praise to the nations will be fulfilled. According to Zechariah 14: 4 the Mount of Olives will be split in two at the time of the coming again of the Lord. The mountain (or hill) upon which the Old City is built, will be lifted up above the mountains or hills surrounding it. In this manner Jerusalem will be lifted up above the mountains and all will see her glory. There are presently guards upon the walls of the holy city. Not like the one I photographed who was one of many maintaining security for the crowds gathered there. No, the guards about whom the Lord is speaking here, have a totally different purpose. In Luke 21:24 the Lord Jesus teaches us that we now live at "the time of the Gentiles". It is the time during which Jerusalem will be trampled by those who are not Jewish.

From the time that the Israelites were taken away by Nebuchadnezzar because of their sin, until the Messiah comes to reign as King at Jerusalem, the gentile nations will reign over the holy city. It cannot be illustrated anywhere more clearly than at the wailing wall where the Jews stand and pray at the base facing the direction where the Holiest of Holies should be in the temple. There where the notorious golden Dome of the Rock, the mosque of the Muslims, dominates. From a distance the whole picture looks so pathetic: the helplessness of those whose eyes are veiled. They stand against the massive wall, praying, directing those prayers towards their enemy's "temple" - the Dome of the Rock. During this time that those who are not Jews reign over the Temple Mount, the Lord has set guards upon the walls of the city. They are there to constantly remind the Lord about his promises to establish Jerusalem and make her a praise to the nations. Are we engaged in doing this? Do we live our lives eagerly expecting the Lord Jesus to come down and reign as King? To fulfill His promises concerning His city, His people and the blessing that this holds for the whole world? Psalm 122: 6 teaches that we must pray "for the peace of Jerusalem". This is not a prayer that peace will reign in Jerusalem today. To pray thus is to pray against the Word of God. In Zechariah 12:2-3 the Lord teaches us that the last place on earth that there will be peace, is in Jerusalem. When we remind Him of His promises, we pray that He will come to make Jerusalem what its name means, namely Fountain (or City) of Salem / SHALOM - peace. The Lord Jesus, when He was at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane, made peace with the knowledge that He would have to empty the full cup so as to redeem us with His blood. With that peace He calmly gave Himself to be crucified. Today He sits on the throne at the right hand of the Father.

From there, through His Holy Spirit, He gives peace to His followers as they suffer injustices in the world. He is the only One who shall come as the Prince of Peace to bring true peace to the inhabitants of cities such as Jerusalem. There will come a day when He will stand on the Mount of Olives and will grant His peace to the inhabitants of this city. There will also come a day when the new city Jerusalem will come down from Heaven (Rev. 21:2). Are you looking forward to this? Do you live eagerly expecting that all of this will happen? Is your daily prayer that the Lord will come and fulfill what is His heart's desire? Are you truly a watchman on the walls who day and night reminds the Lord of his promises?

To me it was extremely touching when we stood in the Garden of the Tomb where it is almost certain that the Lord Jesus was buried, and the guide explained to us that there is only one true Via Dolorosa; that there was one true way of sorrows, and that is the way of the cross, namely: "and Jesus was led out of the city". Lord willing, there will soon also be a video on the Garden Tomb. As on so many other occasions, this opportunity did not just happen by chance. Only after much negotiation were we able to obtain the required authority for filming. However we trust that every person who sees the video, will be inspired all the more to pray for the thousands of Jewish teenagers who sang the praises of the Messiah at the Old City. Let us pray that in these times He would lift the veil from their eyes so that they could see Him as He is and would accept His offering on the cross, made for their sins. This so they can get to know Him as the Prince of Peace. He is the only One who can give them that which they truly desire.

Copyright © 1999 Kérugma^® Productions. All rights reserved.
PO/Box 1367, KUILS RIVER, 7579 SOUTH-AFRICA Tel: +27 (0)21 903-1901 Fax: +27 (0)21 906-2637
E-mail: info@kerugma.org.za; http://www.kerugma.org.za/