. . . And where will he return? Certainly not the World Capitals of London, Paris, New York or Washington. A clue is given in Acts, Chapter 1. The scene is the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem on the east side. Jesus is with his disciples for one last time, then, suddenly, a cloud hid him from their sight and he is taken back into heaven. His last words to them are in verse 11, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." He is going to return in the same way that he went - down from heaven, on the Mount of Olives. If you complain that I'm reading into the text, then let's return to Zechariah. In Chapter 14 we read another account of that final battle over Jerusalem. More detail, depressing details, are given but again we are told that it is God Himself, or specifically, Jesus who will fight against these armies of the Nations. In fact it's the first thing he does when he returns. Verse 4 tells us, "On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving north and half moving south." It is going to be a truly awesome sight and the very geography of the region is going to be altered as a result. The Mount of Olives will be split in two and we read of a great river forming, flowing from east to west.

Jesus will return as Messiah King. No longer the suffering servant, the Son of Joseph of his first coming. This time he will come to reign among his people, as the Son of David. He will come to live out those Old Testament scriptures that were not fulfilled by his first coming. For example, Isaiah 2:3-4, "Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." Did any of this happen in his first coming? Of course not!

Among the many other similar prophecies, we read another in Daniel 7:13-14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." Again, this is a picture of the Messiah that was not fulfilled when Jesus came 2000 years ago.

If we continue with our look at Zechariah 14 we fill in some of the details. In verse 9 we read that Jesus will now be king over all of the earth, a physical ruling king. And where will he rule from? Verse 16 onwards tells us. "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain".

One day, the Lord Jesus is going to rule from Jerusalem, his city. This is the importance of Jerusalem, of Israel. This is also the importance of the Jewish people today living in the land promised to Abraham, 4000 years ago. Without Jews in the Land, in Israel, the Word of God, in Zechariah and in many other places, just couldn't come to pass. The Bible would become a lie, which could never be allowed to happen. When God was cutting that sacred covenant with Abraham, He knew that, despite everything that was to happen, history would come to pass as He had planned, despite the pain and difficulties that He was to share with His people. The current battle over the Holy Land is a spiritual one, an important one. A battle is going to be fought over Jerusalem and don't be fooled into believing that this is a local event, just an Arab-Israeli dispute. It is the God of Israel against all who oppose Him. It is no less than the climax of history, as unbelievable as it seems. We are indeed living in incredible times. Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the salvation of the Jews and the Lord will surely bless you.