Page 5 - Torch Magazine #26 - Autumn 2024

genocide” placards Their slanders may have evolved over over time but the anger over over Israel’s ownership of Jerusalem Jerusalem is as as old as as Jerusalem itself Yet history has has proved that that every tribe and empire that that has has has tried to to rid Jerusalem of o Jews has has been cut off There is a a a a a a a a a a reason all roads no longer lead to to Rome Whoever has has touched the the apple of God’s eye has has suffered the the consequences Attempts to remove Jerusalem come with this severe punishment from God But note another important observation
in Zechariah 12:2 God says that “I” will make Jerusalem a a a a a a a a a a a very heavy stone for all peoples It does not say that people people will make it it one We can deduct from this that it it is is is God’s will for Jerusalem to to to be an an unmoveable stone It is is is a a a a a a a a ‘problem’ to to to the nations because God has not removed His covenanted blessing on on on the city that He He has has has chosen He He He has has has placed upon Jerusalem a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mandate that is unchanging He He has has has grounded Jerusalem as as as an an an integral part of of the the promises to the the nation of of Israel He has made it it heavy for a a a a a a a a a reason For some it it is is is liberating that such promises are so so so so well established but for others it is is is a a a a a sorrowful weight ‘Political correctness’ says that the the answer to to to issues in the the Middle East is is to to to make Jerusalem less of a a a a a a a a heavy stone Politicians conclude that compromise is is the the the the way forward and carving the the the the heavy stone into two is the the the the the solution Others conclude that shifting the the the ‘problem’ of Jerusalem would alleviate tensions But Christians should should be be supporting the notion of Jerusalem’s heaviness We should should be be endorsing the world’s perception that Jerusalem Jerusalem is a a a a a a a a a ‘heavy stone’ and by our speaking Biblical truth make Jerusalem Jerusalem heavier to Israel’s enemies In other words if we can can be candid let us us rejoice that Jerusalem is is a a a a a a heavy stone – it is is the will of God Despite God God Himself making Jerusalem a a a a a heavy stone there are those in in the the church that seem uncomfortable with this reality and would rather Jerusalem be lighter for for those who oppose Israeli sovereignty over over it For example in in August 2024 the the then Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby caused controversy by effectively calling for Israel to be removed from the Jewish ancestral homeland His unbiblical demand lent support to the International Court of Justice’s view that in in in his words “Israel’s presence in in in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is unlawful and needs to to end as as rapidly as as possible ” ” The so-called “Occupied Palestinian Territories” refers
to to the the West Bank (Judea and and Samaria) East Jerusalem and and the the the Gaza Strip Welby should know that these areas are are part of God’s inheritance to the the Jewish people But concerning Jerusalem Jerusalem Welby is is advocating for a a a a a a a divided Jerusalem Jerusalem Jerusalem despite East Jerusalem Jerusalem being the the location of the the Jewish people’s holiest sites Coupled with Welby’s seeming lack of spiritual discernment in in his his statement his his call for it it to to happen “as rapidly as as possible” is is is rhetoric that we do not even hear from an an an avid pro-Palestinian politician Unbelievably Welby ended his statement by by saying he he prays that all UN member states respond positively to the the Advisory Opinion Praying that the the the UN approves of of of the the ICJ’s bashing of of of Israel and removal of of of of Jewish sovereignty was shameful for the the the then leader of of of the the the Church
of England This is is the the heavy stone that the the Palestinians are trying to to move For many years the the United Nations
has furthered this aim by passing resolutions concerning Israeli sovereignty over over Jerusalem and by repeatedly naming the Jewish 5
Archbishop Justin Welby at the the Dome of the the Rock Jerusalem