It was on this day in the year 68 A.D. that the Roman commander, and soon to be Emperor Vespasian, occupied the city of Gedara on his march though the Galilee. This is recorded by the historian Flavius Josephus who said: “Vespasian marched to the city of Gadara, and took it upon the first onset, […]
It was on this day in 1949 that the first permanent government of the State of Israel assumed office. Ironically or not, this was also the same day that the security council recommended Israel’s admission into the United Nations.
Though it was, indeed, the first official government of the new Israeli state, to say that this was a permanent government is not quite accurate. According to the Bible, the nation of Israel is destined to witness an altogether different and most definitely permanent form of government; one that has yet to come into the fullness of its power. The prophet Isaiah shed some light on this coming government and administration, when he wrote in Isaiah 9:6-7:
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called ‘Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
According to this prophecy, this government and its head will indeed be permanent. But unlike the governments of men, it will be a government of justice and peace. To the dismay of those who believe in the will of the people determining the law, this government will not be democratic or republican. It will not be autocratic, communist, socialist or any other form of man-contrived government. This will be a theocratic monarchy, meaning that God, Himself, will be our King, as the Messiah rules and reigns from Jerusalem. In the end, all kingdoms will bow to His Kingdom, as it is written in the book of Revelation:
“And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15)
That means every kingdom, every government, every President, Congress, Parliament and even Knesset will have to submit to His eternal authority. At that time, no more will men make laws that oppress, enslave and manipulate those being governed. But all men will be bound to keep His righteous and just laws, the laws of the One and only God. Isaiah prophesied:
“For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and rebuke many people.” (Isaiah 2:3-4)
That this Kingdom is coming means that all of us will have to adjust our thinking, our way of doing things and our will in order to conform to His way. Nevertheless, we say collectively, “Maranatha.” Even so, come Lord Jesus, and sit upon Your Holy Throne and establish Your Kingdom – the one that was ordained from the beginning.
It was on this day in the year 553 A.D. that Emperor Justinian of the Byzantine Empire issued an order that provided for the public reading of the Greek translation of the biblical portion, or the Torah portion, that was being read in Jewish synagogues each Sabbath. This decision acknowledged the benefit of everyone that […]
Jewish tradition believes that it was on this day that the the ninth plague, the plague of darkness, descended upon Egypt. It’s recorded in Exodus 10:21-23. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.’ So […]
This week I want to share with you a song that has become my prayer these past few weeks. God’s presence has and will always be the most important thing in my life. For I know without Him who I would be. We can’t do anything and don’t want to do anything without Him. […]
It was on this day in the year 41 A.D. that a decree by Caius Caligula allowed graven images to be placed in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This decree was eventually nullified by his assassination. So in ancient Judea, this day was celebrated as a holiday – not necessarily because of Caligula’s death but […]
In Hebrew, the sacred name of the Creator is spelled, Yud, Hei, Vav, Hei. Regarding His sacred name, what seems to get the most attention is how to pronounce it. Some people think it’s “Yahweh,” others think it’s “Yahveh”; some believe it’s “Yehovah.” Frankly, there are several pronunciations advanced by different camps, each one believing […]
It was on this day in 1965 that Spanish officials met with Jewish representatives to discuss the legal status of the Jewish community in Spain. It was the first such meeting between Jews and the head of the Spanish government since the expulsion of Jews in the year 1492. That expulsion occurred simultaneously with Columbus’s […]
Messiah made it very clear that if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven, then we must do so with the heart of little children. This is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to […]
Today, the 15th day of Shevat is also called Tu B’shvat. , which is simply translated as the 15th of Shevat – the “tu” being the pronunciation of the Hebrew letters, tet and vav, that together have the value fifteen. Tu b’shvat is regarded as the new year for trees and is commemorated with the […]