Post by Keith on Nov 10, 2010 9:15:04 GMT -6
Is Jerusalem really the center of the world?
Nathan Jones: We are told in the book of Ezekiel in two places that Jerusalem is the center of the world. For example, in Ezekiel 5:5, Jeremiah quotes God as saying, "This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations." And again, in Ezekiel 38:12, the Jewish people are referred to as the people who live at the "center of the world." And actually, the literal Hebrew reads, "the navel of the world."
Dr. Reagan: In ancient times it was believed that the earth was the center of the universe. A Polish astronomer by the name of Nicolaus Copernicus challenged that concept in 1543 when he published a book arguing that the sun and not the earth was the center of the universe. His idea was picked up by another astronomer, Galileo Galilei, who was from Italy. Galileo became a champion of the theory of Copernicus, and in 1632 when he published a book defending the theories, he was subjected to the Inquisition. Galileo was found "vehemently suspect of heresy" and he was forced to recant. He spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
The claim that the earth was not the center of the universe proved to be true geographically, but not spiritually, right?
Nathan Jones: That's correct! The Bible clearly teaches that this earth is the center of the universe spiritually, for it is the focus of God's plan of redemption. It is on this planet and in the city of Jerusalem that God's Son, Jesus, died for our sins. And, it is that same city of Jerusalem that Jesus has promised to return and reign over all the world.
Dr. Reagan: In 1581 a German cartographer by the name of Heinrich Bunting made an interesting map. He knew the world was not shaped like this, but because he was also a professor of theology he drew it in a way to illustrate the biblical teaching that Jerusalem is the center of the earth spiritually.
Nathan Jones: The prophecy which tells us the Messiah will return to Jerusalem can be found in Zechariah 14. The passage says that when Jerusalem is about to fall to the Antichrist and his forces in the end times, the Messiah will return to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It says that when His feet touch the Mount, a great earthquake will split the mountain in half. Jesus will speak a supernatural word, and the Antichrist and his forces will be instantly killed. And, in verse 9, it says that on that day Jesus will begin to reign over all the earth from Jerusalem.
Dr. Reagan: Incidentally, that is the reason the Mount of Olives is covered with tens of thousands of graves. The Orthodox Jews may not believe in Jesus as their Messiah, but they do believe the prophecy of Zechariah 14 that their Messiah will come to earth on the Mount of Olives. Therefore, they desire to be buried on that Mount so that they will be the first to be resurrected.
Jerusalem: THE End Time Sign
Dr. Reagan: We are living on borrowed time because Jesus is about to return. One hundred years ago there were no tangible, measurable, definitive signs that pointed to the Lord's soon return. Today, they are everywhere.
Nathan Jones: The most important signs are those that relate to the nation of Israel, for Israel is the cornerstone of end time Bible prophecy. Four prophecies in particular clearly identify our day as the time of the season of the Lord's return. They are:
1) the worldwide regathering of the Jewish people to their homeland which started in the 1890's and continues to this day,
2) the re-establishment of the Jewish state which occurred on May 14th, 1948,
3) the re-occupation of Jerusalem which happened on June 7th, 1967, and
4) the prophecy being fulfilled right now that in the end times all the nations of the world will come together against Israel over the issue of who will control Jerusalem.
Dr. Reagan: And those are not the only end time prophecies being fulfilled in these days. Two others I would mention are:
1) the resurrection of the old Roman Empire in the form of the European Union, something the prophet Daniel predicted over 2,500 years ago, and
2) the rapidly growing apostasy in the Church which the Apostle Paul predicted would happen in the end times.
We hope this has helped to open your eyes to the marvels of Bible prophecy and serve to motivate you to study God's Prophetic Word.
www.lamblion.com
Nathan Jones: We are told in the book of Ezekiel in two places that Jerusalem is the center of the world. For example, in Ezekiel 5:5, Jeremiah quotes God as saying, "This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations." And again, in Ezekiel 38:12, the Jewish people are referred to as the people who live at the "center of the world." And actually, the literal Hebrew reads, "the navel of the world."
Dr. Reagan: In ancient times it was believed that the earth was the center of the universe. A Polish astronomer by the name of Nicolaus Copernicus challenged that concept in 1543 when he published a book arguing that the sun and not the earth was the center of the universe. His idea was picked up by another astronomer, Galileo Galilei, who was from Italy. Galileo became a champion of the theory of Copernicus, and in 1632 when he published a book defending the theories, he was subjected to the Inquisition. Galileo was found "vehemently suspect of heresy" and he was forced to recant. He spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
The claim that the earth was not the center of the universe proved to be true geographically, but not spiritually, right?
Nathan Jones: That's correct! The Bible clearly teaches that this earth is the center of the universe spiritually, for it is the focus of God's plan of redemption. It is on this planet and in the city of Jerusalem that God's Son, Jesus, died for our sins. And, it is that same city of Jerusalem that Jesus has promised to return and reign over all the world.
Dr. Reagan: In 1581 a German cartographer by the name of Heinrich Bunting made an interesting map. He knew the world was not shaped like this, but because he was also a professor of theology he drew it in a way to illustrate the biblical teaching that Jerusalem is the center of the earth spiritually.
Nathan Jones: The prophecy which tells us the Messiah will return to Jerusalem can be found in Zechariah 14. The passage says that when Jerusalem is about to fall to the Antichrist and his forces in the end times, the Messiah will return to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It says that when His feet touch the Mount, a great earthquake will split the mountain in half. Jesus will speak a supernatural word, and the Antichrist and his forces will be instantly killed. And, in verse 9, it says that on that day Jesus will begin to reign over all the earth from Jerusalem.
Dr. Reagan: Incidentally, that is the reason the Mount of Olives is covered with tens of thousands of graves. The Orthodox Jews may not believe in Jesus as their Messiah, but they do believe the prophecy of Zechariah 14 that their Messiah will come to earth on the Mount of Olives. Therefore, they desire to be buried on that Mount so that they will be the first to be resurrected.
Jerusalem: THE End Time Sign
Dr. Reagan: We are living on borrowed time because Jesus is about to return. One hundred years ago there were no tangible, measurable, definitive signs that pointed to the Lord's soon return. Today, they are everywhere.
Nathan Jones: The most important signs are those that relate to the nation of Israel, for Israel is the cornerstone of end time Bible prophecy. Four prophecies in particular clearly identify our day as the time of the season of the Lord's return. They are:
1) the worldwide regathering of the Jewish people to their homeland which started in the 1890's and continues to this day,
2) the re-establishment of the Jewish state which occurred on May 14th, 1948,
3) the re-occupation of Jerusalem which happened on June 7th, 1967, and
4) the prophecy being fulfilled right now that in the end times all the nations of the world will come together against Israel over the issue of who will control Jerusalem.
Dr. Reagan: And those are not the only end time prophecies being fulfilled in these days. Two others I would mention are:
1) the resurrection of the old Roman Empire in the form of the European Union, something the prophet Daniel predicted over 2,500 years ago, and
2) the rapidly growing apostasy in the Church which the Apostle Paul predicted would happen in the end times.
We hope this has helped to open your eyes to the marvels of Bible prophecy and serve to motivate you to study God's Prophetic Word.
www.lamblion.com
