Who will protect Jerusalem?

By Anne T. Garcia
From the Hidden

The Syrian Army is stationed on Israel's northern border, poised to attack.
Land mines have been removed in preparation.

Hassan Nasrallah, head of Hizbollah warned that Israeli soldiers who enter Lebanon "will be destroyed in our mountains, valleys, homes and cities along with your state, which usurped our holy land." Hamas has been handed the Gaza Strip, actually part of Israel, based on the misguided mythical belief that giving up Israeli land will magically bring peace. "Moderate" Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced last week, "there will be no peace without the release of all Palestinians imprisoned in Israel."

Despite such bellicosity, American Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice ordered new boundaries to be drawn up, giving away more of Israel's land. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acquiesced. These so-called "shelf documents" are to be at the ready. They will be taken off the shelf when the United States deems it is the proper time. The Prime Minister also allegedly made a deal with Syria, under the tutelage of Ms. Rice, to give the Golan Heights back to Syria. Before the bloody deed was done he became mired in corruption charges, and will now step down. Once again, Israel has dodged a bullet.

The question is, who is going to protect Jerusalem and all of Israel in these dangerous times? She needs someone to watch over her who neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is the Lord of Hosts. He's done it before, and He'll do it again. In ancient times Alexander the Great was on the move. He would ultimately conquer the entire civilized world. As he moved eastward, he set his sites on the supposedly impregnable city of Tyre. Although Nebuchadnezzar had been unable to take down Tyre two centuries earlier, Alexander succeeded. He plundered and burned the city, enslaving its population.

Gaza was next, and was taken with ease. Alexander then set out for Jerusalem. His army expected him to wreak vengeance, since the Jewish high priest had insulted Alexander, the supposed son of the Greek god Zeus. Jaddua, the Jewish high priest, had refused to pay tribute to Alexander. He had sworn an oath of fidelity to Darius the Persian and would not break his word. When news came that Alexander had vanquished Gaza and was marching toward Jerusalem, Jaddua was filled with terror. He prayed to the God of Israel for help. The answer came in a dream. He was to don his priestly garments, decorate the city and open the gates. All the citizens were to be with him, to warmly welcome Alexander. The drama builds, as Josephus recounts in his "Antiquities."

The Phoenicians and the Chaldeans that followed him [Alexander] thought they should have liberty to plunder the city [Jerusalem] and torment the high priest to death. The very reverse of it happened; for Alexander, when he saw . . . the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing-having the golden plate on which the name of God was engraved, he approached by himself, and adored that name, and first saluted the high priest.

"The kings of Syria and the rest were surprised at what Alexander had done, and supposed him disordered in his mind."

Alexander then explained he had seen the high priest in a dream years earlier. In the dream he had been told he would defeat the Persians and rule the world. Alexander proceeded to the Jewish Temple to worship. The Jews then showed him where his exploits had been prerecorded in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 8:5-8).

The point is this. The same God who preserved Israel in the 3rd century BC is still on the throne.

Some scholars believe Jerusalem will be divided for a short season, based on Ezekiel 35:10. If this is true, then read the next five verses. Those who divide Israel will rue the day they touched the apple of God's eye.

If you have a prayer request, please email us at: contact@fromthehidden.com
Copyright © 2007. All Rights Reserved