The UN, Israel, Christ and You

A Special Public PresentationTansley Woods Community Centre

Monday, November 18, 2013

Welcome to

Explore The Future According to the Bible Series

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A special book

Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen.Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them,that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods;

Isaiah 41:21-23 ESV

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A contrast of two worldviewsWorldview #1 Worldview # 2

There is a Supreme Being in control of the world’s destiny

The world is on the move to an unknown and uncertain future

The world will come to the destiny He has appointed at the time He has set.

What will happen tomorrow is anyone’s guess…because it is entirely random

Therefore, live for Him.

Therefore, live for today.

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Two great themes of Bible prophecy

Creation

Abraham Christ

2000 B.C.4000 B.C. GB.C.

A.D. 1 A.D. 2013

A special man sent by God to deliver the world from sin and death

The Bible reveals a divine plan for the future of the world

# 1

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The prophetic method

• And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe (John 14:29)

• For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ (Acts 18:28)

Predictions put on record in writing in advance can be compared with well documented and well known facts of history

This method was used for prophecies about Messiah to show how they were met in the details of the life of Jesus of Nazareth

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Two great themes of Bible prophecy

Creation

Abraham Christ

2000 B.C.4000 B.C. GB.C.

A.D. 1 A.D. 2013

A people chosen as God’s witnesses and custodians of His message

A special man sent by God to deliver the world from sin and death

# 1

# 2

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How Bible Prophecy is like a Jigsaw puzzle

1. From the picture on the box, we understand what the finished puzzle will look like

2. Doing the puzzle frame is a good place to start

3. The puzzle becomes easier to complete as more pieces get filled in

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The last century had two great warsThe impact of the wars on

Land and people of Israel The cause of world peace

World War 1

1914-1918

Palestine, including Jerusalem, was liberated by the British Army from the Ottoman Turk and viewed with favour as a national home for the Jews

The League of Nations was formed to be an international body to prevent wars through collective security and disarmament, and settle disputes through negotiation.

World War 2

1939-1945

The Jewish race in Europe was decimated by the Nazi regime; in the aftermath of the holocaust, the UN voted in favour of partitioning Palestine and creating a Jewish state

The United Nations was formed to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind…”

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The words of the prophet Isaiah are written on the Peace Plaza across the street from UN headquarters, dedicated in 1948, as well as on the foundation of a sculpture in the UN peace garden donated by the former Soviet Union in 1959

Isaiah and the UN

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The big picture - A world at peaceThe word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isaiah 2:1-5, King James Version

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Who is he that will judge the world?

Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

Psalm 72:1-4

Because God hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Acts 17:31

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Conclusion #1

1. The Bible identifies the Christ as the office of the man ordained by God to bring peace to the world.

2. This peace will be enforced by his righteous rule throughout the earth.

3. All people of the earth will stream to Jerusalem, the centre of his rule, to benefit from his reign as king.

4. The Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, was raised from the dead as God’s assurance to all men of his future role.

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Israel’s return to the land is God’s doing

Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD,“when the plowman shall overtake the reaperand the treader of grapes him who sows the seed;the mountains shall drip sweet wine,and all the hills shall flow with it.I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.I will plant them on their land,and they shall never again be uprootedout of the land that I have given them,”says the LORD your God.

Amos 9:13-15 ESV

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Conclusion # 2

1. Israel’s return to the land is not man’s doing, although human agents were involved, but God’s.

2. Israel is planted in the land never again to be uprooted.

3. This assurance is given by the authority, not of the Prime Minister of Israel before the UN, but the Most High God.

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The UN Versus Israel

1. Although Israel was brought in existence as a result of the UN’s acceptance of the Palestine partition plan in 1947, the relationship between Israel and the UN has been uneasy;

2. Israel has been singled out for condemnation more than any other nation on earth, not only by the General Assembly, but also by many agencies of the UN, including UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council.

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Example # 1 – UN Human Rights Council

First, the [UN Human Rights] council has a standing agenda item against Israel, the only country specifically targeted at every meeting. Not even major abusers like China, Sudan or Syria are subjected to such treatment. Mr. Ban voiced his disapproval after the item’s adoption in 2007, but has stayed silent ever since.Second, the council adopts more resolutions condemning Israel than it does on the rest of the world combined.In its March session, there were six one-sided resolutions against Israel – and only four on all other countries. The vast majority of the world’s victims of gross and systematic violations – from China to Saudi Arabia, Cuba to Zimbabwe – failed to merit a single resolution.Third, Israel is the object of more emergency sessions than any other country in the world, even as the council turns a blind eye to mass killings in Iran, Egypt and elsewhere, a clear denial of international due process…

Hon. Irwin Cotler, Israel and the United Nations,The Jerusalem Post, August 15, 2013

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Example #2 – The General AssemblyBy the terms of the draft on Jerusalem (document A/53/L.52), the Assembly would deplore the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980) and their refusal to comply with the provisions of that resolution. It would call, once more, on those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. The Assembly would also determine that the decision of Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem is illegal and, therefore, null and void and has no validity whatsoever. 22 76th Meeting (AM) 2

December 1998 General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9522 76th Meeting (AM) 2 December 1998 ANNEX I Vote on Jerusalem The resolution on Jerusalem (Document A/53/L.52) was adopted by a recorded vote of 149 in favour to 1 against, with 7 abstentions…

Source: UN website

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“Israel in the latter days”For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations…

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

Numbers 23:9; 24:17-19

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Conclusion #3

1. Israel’s position among the nations of the world will be isolated in the latter days.

2. Israel will be a military force to be reckoned with, known for its valiant actions towards its enemies.

3. This successful conquest of its enemies will be accomplished by the one who holds the Sceptre that comes out of Israel.

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The heart of the conflict

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Zechariah 12:2-3

Now many nations are assembled against you,saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan…

Micah 4:11-12

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The expectation of Messiah

• “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”

Luke 1:68-75

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Conclusion # 4

1. As Jesus did not deliver his people at his first coming from their Roman overlords, Zacharias’ prophecy must relate to his second coming.

2. At the time of his second coming, Israel must exist as a nation in its own land and be in a position in which it is hated and from which it needs to be saved.

3. That opposition will come about by the actions of the nations of the world, in which the UN appears destined to play a significant role, and will concern Israel’s policies with respect to the mountains of Israel, Jerusalem and Temple Mount.

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Summary1. The UN: destined to play a role in God’s plan to

express the nations’ opposition to Israel2. Israel: hated by all nations and in danger from their

designs, Israel will be saved 3. Christ: will return to the earth to deliver Israel and

establish lasting peace on earth4. You and I: need to decide if these things are true and to act in response to our faith

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7