Like it or not, the Temple Mount is key to Israeli-Palestinian peace

Posted by on 11 October 2009 | 0 Comments

In the News...

Opinion.JPost.com.  By Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper.  October 7, 2009

Here we go again. As Jews celebrate in their tens of thousands the festival of Booths, Succot, religious extremists like Sheikh Raed Salah incite Palestinian masses to recapture Jerusalem with "blood and fire." Not to be outdone, the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah rushed in to pour fuel on the fire as it protests a "plan by Jews to perform religious rituals" on the Temple Mount,' and called on the international community to "force Israel to put off its attempts to take over Jerusalem."  

Simply put: There can be no peace in the Holy Land without the Arab and Muslim world acknowledging what their Holy Book and ancestors recognized as the historic link of the Jewish people to its land and its Holy sites. Unless and until that happens, there will be no peace in our time. Read More

Donnie's Remarks...

What a week it has been!  I am going to throw a lot at you today, because what's prophetically important isn't being reported in the American newspapers.  I think these stories are significant because of their timing in relation to the Jewish feast of Tabernacles.  Our focus should be on the Middle East, specifically on Jerusalem, and even more specifically on the Temple Mount. Allow me to summarize the recent headlines: 

The factor behind the Temple Mount riots.  This article helps explain the basis of unrest and current state of affairs concerning the Temple Mount. 

Fears of third intifada as tension grows in Israel.  Is a third Muslim uprising concerning the Temple Mount in Jerusalem about to take place? 

Temple Mount Tensions Rise; Fatah, Hamas Call Muslims to Act.  How is it that the Temple Mount is the epicenter of Middle East peace?  Could it be the tribulation of Israel imminent?  If it is, you can be sure this story will continue to escalate. 

And what about this?  Upon winning Nobel, Obama stresses need for Mideast peace.  Honestly, I am not sure where this fits, but I think it is significant.  Could President Obama 'rise to the occasion' and try to 'earn' his Nobel peace prize by striking a long term peace agreement for Israel? 

Iran threatens to 'blow up heart' of Israel if attacked.  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's End Times theology continues to drive Iranian foreign and military policy. 

Europe has passed the Lisbon Treaty which will pave the way for the 'First President of Europe'.   Is this the revived Roman empire that is prophesied to be raised up in the last days? 

And if all this wasn't enough, Javier Solana is back in the news.  It makes one wonder if the 70th week countdown has begun?  I haven't read about a seven year covenant covenant being signed this week, but who knows what's going on behind all these headlines.  Unfortunately, the signing of this covenant may not be as conspicuous as we would like.

So, why does it matter?  I believe the end-time church is destined to face a great crisis, much like the first century church.  If we are prepared, know the prophecies, and what to expect (in the midst of the most horrible time in the history of the world - the second holocaust if you will) we will take heart and be excited because we will know our Redeemer draws near.  Let me be even more specific;  Jesus, Daniel and Paul all taught that we should be looking for a very specific event to alert the church to the fact the Great Tribulation has begun. That would be the Abomination of Desolation.  Once we witness that unmistakable event, we will know Christ's return will be within a time period of 3 ½ years.  No one will know or be able to calculate the exact day or hour, but we will definitely understand it is the season of His return.  I am not exactly sure when the rapture occurs, though I think post-trib has its merits, as does pre-wrath.  So your guess is as good as mine.  (But I know it's not pre-trib.)   

Christians need to know the prophecies (and not too many do) because the church will be on the earth during the reign of the Antichrist and it could happen in our lifetime.  Which is why I teach with grace, 'hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.'

See Prophecy Sign #6