“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” — Mission Forgotten

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We have a few brief hours to embrace an aspect of our mission that I think we’ve largely forgotten, namely, praying for the peace of Jerusalem. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Jerusalem will never have peace until they recognize the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Some we can reach now, in which case they become a member of the Church. Some will not believe until it’s the last hope in a very, very dark, and painful world after the rapture of the Church. Let’s make sure that we have uttered a prayer for that nation. They are surrounded by enemies. They are facing from a human point of view, certain annihilation. You know, Henry Kissinger said in ten years there will be no nation of Israel. That’s the best joke I’ve heard in a long, long time. They will never be driven out. So how can you know? I’m asked this question all the time. How can you know? How can you know that they won’t be driven out and scattered again and things that go on for a thousand years? Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is they’re there to stay. The bad news is you don’t have another thousand years. We’d like to think that we do. But we are are at the conclusion of our short paragraph in history.

Check out Isaiah 11:11. The prophet foresaw that there would be two dispersions and two returns, and “after the second time” God will re-gather them and then will return. And, folks, it has happened! And He’s coming. Israel is not going to be driven out, but it’s going to be painful in the extreme. A third of those who survive into that time are going to believe (Zechariah 13:8).

We have a mission mandate, and that mandate is to all the nations of the world. But I do believe that there is a specific focus of that mandate and that that aspect of the mandate is with special attention to the children of Israel. Israel is a burning passion in the heart of the impossible and should be to you and me. You remember that Paul in Colossians 1:24 that it was his pleasure “to suffer on their behalf because he was filling up that which was lacking in the sufferings of Christ.” Paul saw very clearly that it was his responsibility as a member of the Body of Christ to continue what His Lord had begun, what Christ came to do. That’s what Paul was here for, and what Christ died for. That was what Paul was willing to die for and therefore to carry on Christ’s ministry. And Paul, in Romans 10:1, we see how he makes this a little bit more specific. “ Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”

You know, my friends, the Bible commands us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” comes from Psalm 122. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? When you and I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, there will be no peace in Jerusalem until Jerusalem and Israel receives the prince of peace. And therefore, we pray for the opening of their eyes. Have you ever thought that a prayer that you utter today could impact the soul of someone who will live in the next dispensation? A thousand years before Christ, David prayed for us in the Psalm 102. This is similar to when Paul says, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” Don’t you think, Paul, being doctrinally accurate and having the mystery of a new creation revealed to him would just say, “Who cares about them?” And “we’re done with them.” “We’ve moved on to new ground.” A thousand years before Christ came, there was someone praying for you.

David, by the way, often praise as an expression of the trials of Messiah when He would come. I like the way Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it. He said, “When you read the prayers of David, you are reading the prayers of Messiah, because the prayers that David prayed, Messiah prayed when he was here.” Interesting thought, isn’t it? Psalm 102 is picturing the whole history of the nation of Israel, which is summarized in brief in Revelation Chapter 12, which tells us that “the woman will conceive and bear a child,” and because of that child that she brings, she “will be driven into the wilderness.” The hatred against the nation of Israel that existed in David’s day and the hatred that existed against Israel in the time of Nazi Germany, and that exists today comes from the same source. It’s satanic in origin because Satan still knows that God’s plan for those people is not done. And so Satan stalks to the woman who is in travail. Psalm 102 says in part, “But you all Lord shall endure forever, And the remembrance of your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion for the time to savor her. Yes, the time that was set has come.” What time is he talking about? Jesus Christ’s Second Advent, right? The Psalmist continues, “Your glory for the Lord shall build up Zion. He shall appear in His glory. He will regard the prayer of the afflicted. He will not despise their prayer.” Did you get the message that he just said this that is promised is going to happen? “He will not despise their prayer.”

Now, get this, because here is the kicker in Psalm 102:18, “This will be written for a generation to come. There are people yet to be created, may praise the Lord.” Do you see the church there? He’s not just talking about the next generation of Jews. He’s not just talking about another generation. He’s talking about a new people. Generation is often used for race that are race yet to come of people yet to be created. I believe that David here anticipated, and maybe because of something He saw in the writing of Moses, Moses knew there was more to be revealed, but he knew that it was not for the children of Israel, it was for someone else. David knew that the things he wrote would be an encouragement and a strength to a people who did not yet exist. He didn’t know who they were. He didn’t know what they would be called. The idea of church never entered his mind. The concept of being in Christ was beyond his ability to comprehend. Although I would say that of all the prophets of the Old Testament, no one came as close to church age truth as did David in the Psalms. The Psalms are timeless and express the prayers of Christ. I would even be willing to bet that the Lord Jesus Christ had the entire Psalms memorized and uttered each of them at their proper place throughout the time of his pilgrimage on this earth may be continues to pray them. Who knows? He intercedes in our behalf. If David had a concern for a people that would not yet be created, how much concern can you and I have for a people who preceded us?

If the last are going to be first, how great will they be? Paul asked the question in Romans 11 If their casting off is the salvation of the world, what will their reception be but a resurrection from the dead? It’s going to be something amazing. Pray for the opening of their eyes. Our nation is no longer a friend to Israel as we have been. But somewhere there has to be a people that will not only pray for that nation and speak out for that nation, but if necessary, shelter that nation. Those Christians who fought in the resistance for the sake of the Jewish people, they did what the church is supposed to do. And through their dedication and devotion, many, many people of the Jewish nation have come to Christ. Many people will yet come to Christ. How many will come to Christ because you played your part?

Let’s pray that you and I can play the part through our prayers. Stand up for them, be their advocate, be their defender, and above all, be their intercessor. It will make a difference. The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. See the previous video “I will bless those who bless you – Mission Forgotten” for more detail.

Gene Cunningham - August 9, 2022

Has the Tribulation Started?

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What is an abomination? It's something profane and unholy. But when Antichrist comes on the scene, when he starts finding ways to torment and torture and persecute people on this earth, it will be the most horrible time in history. Desolation is that which essentially destroys. 2nd Thessalonians Chapter Two wraps up the abomination of desolation from a church age perspective. Why is this important? I hope it will comfort you because that's why Paul wrote it. 2nd Thessalonians 2:1 says, “Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…” What do you think he's talking about? It can only be one thing. There's only one time when Jesus is coming for us and only one time when He's going to gather us to Himself. It's the rapture of the church! We know that Paul is comforting us, and he's comforting us on the basis of the rapture of the church. And he says the reason for this is “…so that we will not be soon shaken in mind or troubled either by spirit or by word or by letter.” This tells us that there were many deceivers in Paul's day, and there were preachers who lied, “I'm sent from Paul.” There were letters that were sent that were signed with the signature, deceiving as if this is from the Apostle Paul or whatever “…as though the Day of Christ has come.” Now, we have a little bit of a textual problem here because some translations say “Day of Christ”; Some translations say “The Day of the Lord.” What is the difference? They're not the same. “The Day of the Lord” is the Old Testament designation for the Tribulation period. In the Old Testament, the the “Day of the Lord” refers to the Tribulation and the Kingdom Age that follows. The “Day of Christ” is a reference to the rapture of the Church. Some New Testament Greek manuscripts have the “the Day of the Lord”. The point is, in either case, the idea the Apostle Paul is conveying is that “we missed it and we're here.” Have you ever heard someone teach that we're in the Tribulation now? They're teaching it all over the place. Paul says, “Let me comfort you; if they tell you this, they're wrong. Why? Because your comfort is the coming of the Lord and our gathering together with Him. And if the Lord hasn't come and we haven't been gathered to Him, it's not here yet.” 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 says, “Let no one deceive you. That day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…” Now the phrase “the falling away” is a term that's used 15 times in the New Testament. Ten of those occurrences are translated “departure.” I think “falling away” in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 should be “departure.” “That Day will not come unless the departure comes first.” This word has a definite article. The articular use here is pointing to what Paul has already spoken of, which is “the coming of the Lord and our gathering together to Him.” So don't be worried because “that Day,” the day you've been told you're already in, “will not come unless the departure comes first.” And I believe “the departure” here is referring to the rapture of the church, not “the falling away of the church” which is declared in other passages. I don't think that's the point here. If we look at it this way, Paul is saying “that Day will not come unless the departure comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of predation.” The point is the rapture takes place first, and after that, the man of sin is revealed. I don't think you and I will ever know who the Antichrist is. He may be on the scene, but we don't know who he is. All of that's preliminary because what I want to really get us to is what follows. 2nd Thessalonians 2:4 says, “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that He sits as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that He is God.” Does that line up with what Daniel told us about the “abomination of desolation?” Absolutely. 2nd Thessalonians 2:5 says, “Do you not remember that when I was with you, I told you these things. Now you know what is restraining him.” May I suggest to you that if you translate verse three as “falling away” and not “departure,” you don't know “what is restraining him [the Antichrist].” Paul's whole point to these Thessalonian believers is that there are reasons that they should not be deceived into ever thinking they're in the tribulation period.