"Jordan Renounces Its Religious Links to Areas; Not Jerusalem." So reads a current headline out of Jerusalem. This statement is intended to avoid more bickering with the P. L. O. Relations between Jordan and the Palestine National Authority have been strained since the signing of the Jordanian-Israeli declaration in which Israel acknowledged a special Jordanian role in Moslem sites in Jerusalem. This, of course, includes the temple site where the Mosque of Omar occupies the prominent place. So we see that the place the Jews would so much like to control is very much under the control and the desires of two or more Arab nations.
Jordan seems prepared to sign a peace treaty with Israel as soon as a few things are settled to the satisfaction of all. To us it seems that each of these treaties with neighboring nations comes with a loss to present-day Israel.
Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24) clearly states that "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Therefore we are not surprised that, instead of Israel's adding to the partial control they have there, they are losing more to the nations in the area.
In the last three verses of Matthew 23, Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem and then prophesies this: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." The Messiah was about to leave them and they should see Him no more, until repentance had turned their hearts unto Him whom they had rejected.
When the Jews look upon Him whom they had pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, then they shall be ready, through deep repentance, to receive the King.
The blessing of the 1000-year kingdom of the Lord Jesus will even include some of those nations which came against Jerusalem (there are many nations against her today). They shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles (Zech. 14:1616And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16)).
Many changes in that area of the world must take place before this comes to pass. Present-day, proud Israel will indeed have to be brought low and repent before it can have Jerusalem and peace. Changes that occur now should not surprise us. Meanwhile, we can do what it says in Psalm 122:66Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalm 122:6): "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." Ed.