so almost right after I posted about how we will be spending Christmas just in Tel Aviv, we decided to go to Jerusalem for the last day of Hanukkah (Tuesday)! oh man, the Old City is absolutely beautiful.
starting with the Mount of Olives, we stood watching over the entire city with the view of the Dome of the Rock in plain sight. it was so fascinating to be standing on the ground where so much has already occurred & where so much will occur in the future.
"behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. for I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. on that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. and you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him."
zechariah 14:1-5
many people believe the words of the old prophets to be allegorical, fiction, not to be interpreted seriously. however, I truly believe that these events will come to pass. & it's amazing that I was able to stand on the ground which will be split in two in the days to come.
[an olive branch from the Mount, given to me by a boy named Oman]
then we went into the city, & visited the different quarters--Jewish, Armenian, Muslim & Christian--& visited the hotspots there. the Western Wall, Damascus Gate, the Holy Sepulchre, & the Garden Tomb.
lately, God has really been showing me His heart for this nation. it is crucial that Israel be saved & that their eyes be opened to accept Christ as their savior. & just seeing the Old City makes my heart yearn for the day when He will return.
must go back soon.
love you,
r.
