Quote: ""Settlements are illegal under international law and they are a major blockage to peace in the Middle East on the basis of a two-state solution," Miliband told parliament. "There are reports coming through of the Israeli Ministry of Defence yesterday granting permission for 50 new housing units at the Adam settlement which is something that we completely deplore," he said. "This is the worst possible time for new settlements to be initiated or for construction to be started," he said. "We are at an absolutely vital moment as the new American administration comes to a decision about how it will prosecute its commitment to a two-state solution."

Not only is the new American administration demanding that Israel cease all construction work in its own capital city, but they are now proposing to ask Israel to cede control of the Old City area of Jerusalem to a third party until an agreement regarding the division of the city is forthcoming. That's according to the Center for American Progress (CAP), an influential political organization in Washington, which claims to have spearheaded the Democratic election campaign in 2008. Former Canadian Ambassador to the Middle East Michael Bell has drafted a proposal which would see an international body being given permission to administer the Old City until the status of Jerusalem can be resolved. The proposal follows along the lines of a plan drafted by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last year, which would have seen Israel hand over control of the 'holy basin' area to an international authority.

Quote: "Bell explained that the plan calls for an administration or regime that would govern the Old City of Jerusalem for an interim period, without either Israel or the PA giving up their demands for sovereignty: "Frankly, I don’t think there’s going to be any agreement on sovereignty. I think that the two sides need not cede their demands for sovereignty; these claims can remain exactly as they are today. The sides would simply agree to delay the implementation or assertion of these claims until after an agreement is reached. Until then, a special administration would be set up, with the two sides agreeing to set this up, at least on an interim basis. And what this would do … would be to ensure dignity, human rights and equity for all living in the Old City, all visitors, and all pilgrims."

I have sent a letter to my MP regarding Miliband's statement. I think it is horrendous that the Foreign Secretary should describe the construction of houses in east Jerusalem as a "major obstacle" to the implementation of a two-state solution, as if this is somehow responsible for the repeated rejection of every peace agreement presented to the Palestinians since 1947. And describing news of settlement expansion at Adam as "deplorable" is a very poor choice of words, as if Israeli settlement construction deserves the same moral repugnance as Islamic terrorism. Unfortunately I am anticipating that I will get the standard response from the British Foreign Office. As you can see, what the Bible said would happen during the last days is now beginning to come to pass. Discussion on the status of Jerusalem is a clear sign that we are now living in the end times. Zechariah prophesied of a time when the status of Jerusalem would become such a contested issue, that it would be like a burdensome stone and a cup of trembling for the entire world (Zechariah 12:2-3). These are the times we are living in. The Bible predicts that in the not too distant future, the city of David will be re-divided, and half of the city shall go into captivity. For a three and a half year period, the eastern half of the city of Jerusalem will come under Gentile control (Revelation 11:2). Thus will begin the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), the days in which the Lord prophesied the nation would desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and would not (Luke 17:22). For just as the Lord dwelled among His people during His three and a half year ministry on this earth, so the Antichrist will persecute the Jewish people for three and a half years until the return of the Messiah (Revelation 19). But the Lord Jesus Christ will come back, and the nation of Israel will look upon the One whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10). That will be a day of revelations. But what about you? Have you looked to the One who was pierced for you? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins? If not, then what are you waiting for? The Lord says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest", Matthew 11:28. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

Source World Bulletin, Jerusalem Post, China View

"Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way." - Psalm 119 V37

"The lamp of the body is the eye. if therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light." - Matthew 6 V22

How good it is to see and witness the awesome creation of God with our eyes. But if we do not remain in the Word, Satan will deceive and tempt us, and we fall his prey and our eyes become part of our sin. Let us ask God to help us use our eyes for doing things for His glory. There are many worthless things that will catch the attention of our eyes, but when we seek wisdom from God, He gives it liberally to us (James 1 V5). Then we will be able discern the true worth of the things we see with our eyes.

"Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." " - Samuel 3 V10

"Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."...  " - Luke 1 V38

God speaks to our heart through His Holy Spirit and in our busy lives we seldom hear His voice. We cannot expect an angel of God to make an appearance every time God wants to speak to us, but the Holy Spirit of God speaks to us when we pray and meditate in the Word. Just like other great people mentioned in the Scripture, we should acknowledge His voice and hear silently when He speaks. When you pray today, let Him know that it be according to His Word. Let our hearts be receptive and minds alert for we do not want to miss the voice of God Almighty!

Quote: "Rabbi Riskin: “I once spoke before a very large ICEJ convention in Jerusalem, and I told them: 'I think I know your theology pretty well, and I think it is this: Right now, you're not out to proselytize Jews. Right now, you believe we should be good Jews, and come to Israel to live, and then there will be what you call Armageddon – a war of Jews and Christians versus the Moslems. The Jews and Christians will win, then there will be a resurrection of the dead, and then you believe that all the Jews will be converted to Christianity. I told them that of course I clearly can't accept this, but in any event, it will be a few hundred years before this all happens, and so in the meantime, since you're not out to convert us now, we need all the friends we can get.' They all applauded with great enthusiasm. "'However,' I continued, 'I want to emphasize this: Our sources say that Redemption will follow Repentance. Yes, there will be a Resurrection of the Dead, and Jesus may very well be among those who will be resurrected; he was basically a religious Jew. But when he wakes up, he'll look around and ask, 'What's this Sunday business – the Sabbath is on Saturday! And what's this Easter stuff – it should be a regular Passover seder! And why are you eating bacon and eggs, when the Torah forbids pig meat?' And so what will happen is that there will be conversion – but in the other direction.' This time, there was no applause – just silence." In conclusion, Rabbi Riskin said, “I will not cooperate with any Christian group or person that I learn is taking active steps to proselytize Jews. But I can say that in any event, what I'm seeing is the opposite; I don't see that the groups that I'm dealing with are converting Jews, but rather many of them are coming close to keeping more of the Torah. I truly think that when we look at the extent of that phenomenon, it seems that these truly are times of the Messiah."

The Rabbi's views of Christian theology are of course somewhat skewed. I believe it comes from their misconception, that during the tribulation period Christians are to invade the land of Israel and forcibly convert all the Jews to Christianity. This will not happen. Perhaps this belief stems from the verses in Revelation that talk of the 144,000 Jewish believers (Revelation 7, 14), and the idea of Jesus Christ coming back to reign in Jerusalem. Perhaps it stems from Paul's statement in Romans 11 that all Israel will be saved. The Bible declares that it will be the nation itself that will turn to Jesus Christ for salvation, when they look on the One whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10). To many Orthodox Jews, Christianity is a Gentile 'religion', and you can't be a Jew if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Unfortunately they don't understand their own Scriptures, which prophesied of the Messiah's coming (Isaiah 7:14, 9:16, Micah 5:2), of His sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Zechariah 9), and His Second Coming to this earth (Psalm 2, Zechariah 14). They don't understand that Jesus never came to start a new religion. He said in Matthew 5:17, "Think not that I am not come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil". As I have been reading of late, many Orthodox Jews don't even have their own Bible. They study commentaries such as the Talmud and Mishnah, but the Bible is simply recited every Shabbat at the synagogue. Many Jews don't even understand what they are reading. They talk of keeping the Torah, but ignore the one of whom it speaks (John 5:39). Like in Catholicism, the Rabbi is the only one authorized to give the proper interpretation of the Scriptures, and thus many ordinary Jews have not even studied the Bible for themselves. They are kept in darkness. If Christians are not out to 'proselytise' Jews, if they are not interested in making them aware of their own Messiah and their need for the forgiveness of sins, there is something seriously wrong. Paul said the Gospel is to the Jew first (Romans 1:16). There is no dual covenant. Despite Israel being judicially blinded to the identity of the Messiah so the Gospel could be preached to the Gentiles (Romans 11:25), individual Jews who do not trust in the Messiah for salvation will still perish. We Christians, who have the great privilege of knowing the Messiah, have a great responsibility towards the Jewish people. Many Jews remain in spiritual darkness simply because we Gentile believers have not had the courage to speak up. We think to ourselves, they have their own religion and its not up to us to interfere. That kind of thinking is from the devil. It's not about religion, it's about a living relationship with the Messiah (John 1:12). Do you know a Jewish man or woman who is still in spiritual darkness? They may be just waiting for someone to show them the way. Do you know of a Jewish man or woman who would like a Bible? The Society for the Distribution of the Hebrew Scriptures provides Hebrew Bibles free of charge for Jewish people. Do you have a personal relationship with the Messiah? If not then the Hebrew Scriptures declare that there is salvation for you in Christ Jesus. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Isaiah 49:6
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Source Arutz 7

"You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You." - Psalm 118 V28

"...Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" - Romans15 V11

Let us praise the name of the Lord. Let us exalt the Lord and make Him the focal point of our life. With our mouth let us sing praises to the Lord. Let us be thankful to all that the Lord has done. Praise the Lord!