My husband and I live on a “mountain around about Jerusalem. From our balcony we can look toward the Temple Mount and envision the Coming House of God that will be glorious and become a “…praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:7). Foreseeing this magnificent structure keeps our anticipation alive, for what God has promised, He will deliver.

“After the destruction of the Temple, two schools of faith survived: Rabbinical and Christian, both Jewish from the same family. For the first centuries, there had been one identity before two settled identities were formed. Now it is “we and them”. How will these two communities ever prepare for unity before the King of Israel? Some Rabbis assert that the healing of the breach between Christians and Jews must take place before Messiah comes.

Thank God that “healing” is in initial stages between certain branches of Orthodox Judaism and Evangelical Christians. Christian Friends of Israel is engaged in some of these heart-to-heart discussions and interchanges, as where there is no cultivation of friendship there is no healing of the breach. For Christians with no “boots on the ground” experience, working among Jewish people takes time. Four mistakes Christendom makes on their journey with Israel is resisting what God is doing in Israel, refusal to accept that the Jewish people are still God’s Chosen People, running with the flag when we should be sharing it and religiously confronting Israel in the wrong ways, such as compulsive pressure and damnation threats. We all long for the veil in regard to Yeshua, to be removed, but it cannot happen without unconditional love.

A cold splash of reality needs to awaken a sleepy Church to the reality that Israel is moving toward being a “light to the nations”. For that to roll ahead uninterrupted, we need to assist in lighting her torch.

The shackles that once chained the Jewish people to banishment, are broken. In the freedom of a re-gathered nation, comparable to the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island’s shores, Israel welcomes her Jewish immigrants yearning to breathe free (as Jews) to her own golden shores. Today’s Golden Door of opportunity for the Jewish people, is wide open at the edge of her Mediterranean shores. Communist Iron Curtains and chains of oppression no longer need hold, once “wandering Jews”. The way to “freedom” is through immigration to Israel, which has opened up for all of Hebrew origin.

An awakening, is sorely needed in the Church. It desperately needs an understanding, that Jerusalem was the place of Holy Worship for the Jewish people, and eventually will be again, for all nations. Pew warmers today need to “get on board” the Jewish train headed for Jerusalem. The early disciples of Jesus foresaw Jerusalem restored. As recorded in Acts 1:6. “…will you restore (will you give us back) the Kingdom now (in our day)?” Yeshua told them not to worry, nor lose sleep over it, but to get on with the work they had been given to do, to take the news of Messiah to the world. There is no doubt in my mind that we are living in the days when the Spirit is returning to Jerusalem. But we, as Christians, need to understand that He is not coming back to turn the Jewish nation into a “gentile Christian church”. The Holy Spirit will return the people to their own cultivated olive tree (Romans 11:24) after the revealing. The missing link in our faith (Israel) will be where the reuniting of the two “individual identities” takes place. For example, two new *FSU immigrants came to the CFI Distribution Center some years ago. They both arrived from different parts of the City. They were likely, on the same bus. Soon after their arrival, our staff heard a great eruption of emotion. While waiting to be served, these men had recognized each other. They were brothers and had been separated during the Holocaust. Reunion was instant. When Yeshua comes again, I believe the emotion of the moment will be both puzzling and sorrowful for Israel, but filled with elation. Israel will mourn deeply, but great joy will follow when they receive Him back home! With all due respect, Christians just need to allow the Spirit of God to work according to His Plan.

Our churches need to acknowledge Israel’s right to her God-given Land and to show appreciation for the great debt owed the Jewish people; however, to a great extent, Israel’s restoration just does not fit into much of Church theology. Many congregations are in a spiritual crisis and they wonder why. The lie of Replacement Theology, handed-down by our predecessors, is still being taught in many houses of worship and must be eradicated. Can you hear the voice of the old prophet Jeremiah thundering? “…the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, surely our fathers have inherited lies” (Jeremiah 16:19).

God loves Jerusalem and has stamped His Divine Monogram on its landscape. Israelis have learned that God put His Signature on the mountains around Jerusalem. The Hebrew letter shin (abbreviation for the name El Shaddai) appears over Jerusalem, as seen by satellite. Formed by the Kidron, Hinnom and Tyrepoeon valleys, it is as if the very gate of heaven is located here.

Prime Minister Netanyahu recently proclaimed: “Israel could not…negotiate over any aspect of Jerusalem, any more than Americans would negotiate over Washington, DC., Englishmen over London, or Frenchmen over Paris. Israel is prepared to offer the Arabs full and equal rights in Jerusalem, but no rights over Jerusalem.”It is the future location of “the throne of all ages”…and preparations appear to be well on the way to make it a reality.

In a sense, Jerusalem appears to be getting itself ready for something unparalleled. BAR magazine (Biblical Archeological Review), recently released a story entitled: “Jerusalem Unveiling Herself”. The City is revealing its original character. After years of being veiled, its stones are crying out to be put on display. City excavators are restoring ancient ruins–one layer at a time–and the pieces of the puzzle of what Jerusalem looked like originally are being put into place, creating a picture of her past. She is taking off her old garments and putting on her new face. Her wardrobe will be splendid–her new look will be stunning. Perhaps you have gone into your child’s bedroom in the morning and shouted “Time to get up…no time for snoozing…you’ve got to catch the bus!” The Prophet Isaiah; likewise, shouted for the City to wake up as it lay snoozing in the dust bin of history. One day the old prophet shouted: “WAKE UP, WAKE UP! O Zion! Clothe yourself with strength. Put on your beautiful clothing.” (Isaiah 52:1). Former Mayor Teddy Kolleck sounded the Reveille bugle call by restoring the City in the 1980s and 1990s. He said “I’m doing it for the Coming of Messiah!”

A few years back, City architects brought us blue prints of plans for the City. We were asked what we thought about some of their ideas. How did we feel about a cable car giving rides to pilgrims near the Temple Mount? How about a fast train taking one close to a rebuilt Temple?

On the table, new plans are being developed for a Metropolitan Beltway for the fast moving Jerusalem train; an internal landing strip and international airport east of the City; an upgrading of the Jerusalem-Gush Dan road, and upgrades to the roads in the eastern part of Jerusalem. The Royal City is further developing tourism and pilgrimage as all paths leading to the Temple Mount will be repaired and reconstructed, for the “heart of the world”. Others are waiting for the Israeli flag to be flown permanently over the Temple Mount! A grandmother in Israel recently wrote: “I love the Land…with all of my heart…I believe with complete faith that the day will come when the entire world will see and recognize the God of our forefathers as the Only True God…may it be in our days”. We just need to convince some of our Pastors. One Pastor in the Bible Belt of America recently admitted to personally worshiping Allah as he feels he is the same God as the God of Israel. He is deceived. Allah took over a former Pentecostal church nearby and church leaders blessed their Muslim neighbors in the name forbidden before God Almighty.

Israel’s President, Reuven Rivlin, recently said “Christians are our brothers” and we in Israel will do all we can to protect your freedom of worship…” A Hand that can’t be seen appears to be guiding City planners and government officials. So, what is my point? God is delivering what He has promised.

Jewish scholars have been sensing the footsteps of Messiah for a few years now. We live in a milestone generation in which we have witnessed: the miracle of a nation born in a day; a people regathered from attempted annihilation; and a City given back to its rightful owners. Jerusalem, the place of Millennial worship is putting things in order. The spiritual change which has happened already to innumerable Jewish people who came from the graveyards of the nations, (former atheists, unbelievers, agnostics as well as Communist sympathizers), those who arrived on the shores of this Land with little spiritual interest have become different. Many are now believers in the One True God, attend synagogue, read the Scriptures, and some, the New Testament. As weird as it may sound, these people have responded to an “inner voice”. Who are we to question God’s ways?

Recently Israeli Commissioner of Police, Roni Alsheikh, announced to his Jerusalem City Police Unit: “When the Messiah comes, everyone will want to approach Him, so it will get very crowded…God Willing, we will need to start preparing now for the security operation necessary for the arrival of Messiah.” PM Netanyahu also said, “All Embassies should relocate to Jerusalem” the eternal capital of the Jewish people, and eventually the “capital of the world!” An interest in the Jewish Scriptures among youth demonstrates increasing spiritual tendencies. One thing that always puzzled me, was how in the world is God going to change this nation with all of its worldly ambitions, pursuits and sensual ways? However, God says, “I WILL cleanse you from all your filthiness” (Ezekiel 36:25). Even more stunning is that He is going to do it in ONE DAY! “…and I will remove the iniquity of that Land in one day.” (Zechariah 3:9). Moshe Feiglin, (Zehut International) recently hosted an international webinar, where discussions were held about “bringing back the strength and character (chazak) ….the soul…to the Holy City to cultivate spiritual development and ethical growth.”

In one day in 1967, there was an overwhelming desire among Israelis to embrace what they held in their hands, the Western Wall, a sign of the beginning of national redemption. In 1992, the Jewish people confirmed again their devotion to Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Covenant was presented to the Israeli government. Part of the Covenant reads: “….All the inhabitants of the world shall enter within the gates of Jerusalem. ‘And it shall come to pass at the end of days, the Mountain of the House of the Lord will be well established at the peak of the mountains and will tower above the hills, and all the nations shall stream toward it’ … out of Jerusalem, a message of peace went forth, and shall yet go forth AGAIN to all the inhabitants of the earth. From this place we again take this vow: ‘If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its strength, may my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember you…’”

One day the Torah will be the “law of the Land”, in fact, the law of the entire world. But, it will come from the lips of Messiah, who we believe is Jesus, the living Torah and everyone will hear from Him. It is He who continually said “It is Written”….” don’t you know what Torah says?” Haven’t you read?” His only Bible was the Jewish Scriptures! There was no New Testament at His Time on earth. Yeshua confirmed and upheld the Law; He just questioned the motivations of man’s hearts and challenged them to take a look at the inside instead of the outside of the cup! When the Church can grasp what Torah is, that will be when she begins to enter into her “fullness”. The Law of Moses was never for everyone. Within it were laws that applied to different groups of people such as Levites, Priests and High Priests–others only for men. As Christians, we remember that the ultimate temple is located in the person of Yeshua and in the lives of His followers. The word in Hebrew for nations is amim, which includes much more than the word for people (am); it means all people in all nations (amim) “all nations” will obey the Coming Messiah. How will God ever bring nations together when they are so hopelessly divided? We know it will be by His ultimate authority and the “rod of iron” by which He will rule.

Our prayers must be for those, in Christianity, who are listening to “ear-scratching sermons”. Bible prophecy is proving God’s Word is being fulfilled in Israel. Yes, it is a big concern knowing on which train much of the Church is travelling! We are living in a “time of darkness”. However, with the glory of the nations diminishing, one nation is arising and shining! Israel. Heads of State will come to Jerusalem as the degree of brightness will be extraordinary. Pilgrims will swell the full chorus of visitors. Messiah will be the Center. He will join both Jew and Gentile at the hip and a Kingdom “on earth” will be born “in one day”. (Zechariah 2:11).

Since the rebirth of Israel in 1948, prophecy has rapidly been fulfilled. Plans to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem are in place. Blueprints for its rebuilding have been drafted and approved. The Jewish Priesthood has been identified (through DNA testing) and other records. The selected Priests have not only been chosen, but are actively being trained for Temple service. Two obstacles stand in the way: the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque. Some of you will say why get excited about a Jewish Temple? Anti-Christ will sit in it for a time. This is true, but we see the Jewish people have the Temple on their minds and hearts. Knowing this, we should be preparing our own hearts. I believe the Jewish people will be speechless when Messiah comes. It will be for them, like seeing Joseph, their brother, for the first time, since He left, but they will welcome Him with “Baruch Ha Ba”. At the same time, I also believe that many redeemed from the nations, by the Blood of the Lamb, will be dumbfounded to see that He is a Jew!”

The mother of all battles has yet to be fought over the throne. Vying for Central Command of the World, (where Priests rule in the Name of the One True God) is a “competitor”–a counterfeit anti-Christ. Known as Lucifer, he knows the Torah and that “it is written” about the loss of the race he started—to gain all power, authority and control of the world.

One of the greatest miracles is that in 1869, Mark Twain, in his book, Innocents Abroad wrote what he saw on a visit to the Land. He said, “Of all the lands that have dismal scenery…this was the prince. The hills are barren…unpicturesque…the valleys unsightly deserts… with a feeble vegetation that has an expression of being sorrowful and despondent.” Fifty-nine years after Mark Twain’s visit, a pilgrim from the Jinks family–a well known family of American pioneers–visited this Land. Mary Esther Jinks purchased a small olive wood Bible for a Maud Doris Hill, for Christmas 1928. Inside are original photos of how the Land looked at that time of Mark Twain’s visit. The desolation was appalling. The little Bible was purchased along with other antique items and placed in a store I stumbled upon in Missouri, USA. That little Bible found its way back home: to Jerusalem and rests peacefully in our home.

Yes, as archeologists “shake off her dust”, precious items of history, like a tiny bell from the hem of the garment of one of the High Priests come to the surface. This City, from which the Torah of God and the Gospel of Messiah went forth to the ends of the earth, has returned to the center of world attention. It has stirred the voices of merciless hatred coming out of mosques from Gaza to Paris. Ironically, we see a special nation developing and prospering as well as slowly turning toward God, while the world is trying to destroy what is happening and the “clash between kingdoms” continues.

The paradox is, that the more Israel’s enemies try to destroy her God-given Destiny, the more she continues to rise. The pale and bent, feeble and frightened Jew of the Diaspora, has now become a brave warrior. The fallow and barren fields that lay in the dust of generations are now well-watered crops and lush gardens. Malarial swamps, long gone are now fertile fish farms. The once withered vines now bear luscious clusters of fruit. The fig tree blossoms and the desert blooms with joy and praise of God’s blessing.

On June 7, 1967, Mordechai Gur proclaimed: “The Temple Mount is in our Hands!” as Jerusalem had, until 1967, been occupied by Jordan. In 1985-1986 , my husband and I sat with Jordanians in their Old City flat, around a meager table, eating together and speaking about our lives. It was the early days of CFI and we visited home after home, Jordanian, Armenian, Israeli Arab, Palestinian, institutions for blind Christian Arabs and Muslims. We met Egyptian friends, Lebanese, Jewish and Christian ex-pats. Merla Watson’s well known song, “Awake O Israel” was prophetically timed. At the same time we were singing her songs, came the awakening of Christian hearts worldwide. Many heard the old prophet’s shout “Wake Up, Wake Up”. It was a mighty move of God and there was no stopping it. There are many Christian ministries for Israel in the world today for which we thank God; however, only a limited few were granted Israeli government legal approval to have their Headquarters in the Holy City. CFI is one of those few.

Along with new archeological discoveries in ancient Jerusalem, there are those concerned with the spiritual development of Israeli society. About six months ago, Israeli leaders put out a call to “create a society that protects itself from things for which we pay a heavy price”. Hana Levi Julian, writer and reporter, disclosed the following: “This process of development in Israel, I believe, is God preparing His Chosen People to ‘lead the way’ for the nations of the world in the future – in not only technology, medicine and science, etc., but in morality which means we have to set principles into place concerning the distinction between right and wrong, good and bad behavior”. The term “morality” includes ethics, morals, honesty, integrity, and justice, standards of behavior in principles of conduct, necessary to be a “light to the nations”. Without a change of heart, of course, no nation can come or return to God; however, what other nation in the world do you know that is enacting legislation like this? Israel is in the lead.

When we arrived in 1985, no one wanted to speak about Jesus, because He represented persecution. Not long ago, the Israel Museum hosted an art exhibition entitled “Behold the Man” (displays by Jewish artists who had painted Jesus). The increasingly open attitude toward Yeshua is encouraging. One writer, Haim Be’er, said “When we came home, He too was brought back”…In Europe, it was difficult to engage with Jesus because of the pogroms and the Church’s incitements, but once here, we decided to bring back the Prodigal Son. For us, He is taken down now from the cross and wrapped in a tallit.” He also pointed out, “There is hardly any important Hebrew-language writer into whose worldview Jesus has not entered. “ I recently met a Jewish Orthodox rabbi who is proposing to hold a rabbinical acquittal, a public retrial of Yeshua, in the presence of 10 of the important rabbis in Israel. He wants to see the rift healed so that Israel can “welcome Him back”. As part of the raising of moral and ethical standards, the Knesset has been in the process of passing bills to outlaw gambling casinos and curtailing Internet pornography. Our task should not be to convert the Jews to another religion, but to provoke to a jealousy that reflects Christ. Remember, the Bible says, “The abundance of the sea is converted to Israel” (Isaiah 60:5). We, non-Jews, have been grafted into Israel, not Israel into us. (Romans 11:17). We have become a part of the Commonwealth of Israel, through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:12). We are never to separate from Israel, but to cling to her (Isaiah 56:3). We need to be her greatest witnesses by walking in holiness and righteousness which the Jewish people have seen little of from us. And so, when we look at Jerusalem, we must envision it as it will be, as we do from our Jerusalem balcony.

Be encouraged, things are not falling apart – they are falling into place. We need to: rise up, wake up and look up! We also need to keep building the bridge between the Jewish world and our own. Some of us crossed over the bridge years ago, but are calling for more of our brothers and sisters to join us. Won’t you help bring the “missing link” into our faith again and be a part of the ushering in of the fullness of the Church? All is going to happen “by the Spirit”. (Zechariah 4:6.) We just need to cooperate with God to bring the two Olive Trees together, that Zechariah saw, in order for the two “settled Identities” of the two surviving faiths, to be able to be as One. Just remember: what God has promised He will deliver!

-Sharon Sanders-