Keeping an Eye on Israel: Look into the Temple Mount Cam

The Western Wailing Wall in Jerusalem
Courtesy Morguefile.com 

For Christians and for Bible prophecy geeks, keeping an eye on what is happening in and to Israel is important. And the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is of special importance. But today's post takes keeping an eye on Israel to a whole new level. (Tweet that!) Did you know you can watch what is happening near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem live, any time you want to? (Tweet that!)

There is a live camera that overlooks the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. It is called the "Kotel Cam." (Tweet that!)  Kotel is the Hebrew word for the "Wailing" or "Western Wall" in Jerusalem, which is a part or all of the western wall of the ancient Jewish temple that was destroyed by the Roman, Titus, in 70 AD. (Tweet that!)

The "Live Kotel Cam" broadcasts 24/7/365 what is happening at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. You can also view other areas around the Temple Mount, such as Wilson's Arch, live.

You can tune in anytime and watch what is happening through the Kotel Cam here: http://english.thekotel.org/cameras.asp 

It is especially interesting to tune in on and around Jewish holidays. For example, last year I enjoyed seeing the giant Menorah during Hanukkah.

In the previous post, The Biggest Prophetic Sign Ever: Israel is Back in the Land, we talked about how Israel becoming a nation was a huge prophetic sign unique to our generation.  Another unique aspect of our generation is technology. (Tweet that!)

There are prophecies in the Bible that speak of all the world seeing certain things happen.  Current technology could make "all the world" seeing these things possible, unlike any previous generation. (Tweet that!)

Here are two examples of prophecies that might show world-wide visual communications are needed for End Times prophecy to be fulfilled. Both are found in Revelation.

Revelation 11:7-10: 

"And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth... 

"Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth." 

Revelation 17:8: 

"The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come."

These events might be shown on the evening news or carried as "live" breaking news. Or we might be able to watch them live through streaming on the internet like the Kotel Cam at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. If this is indeed how "the world" sees these events, then the technology that has only come about in our generation that helps us keep an eye on Israel could play a part in fulfilling Bible prophecy.

Related Articles:

Here are two articles I wrote on similar topics for other sites:

"Signs of the End Times? Mass and Vast Communications" by Dianne E. Butts on The Christian Pulse 

"Finding God in Prophecy about Israel" by Dianne E. Butts on Finding God Daily.com

The Biggest Prophetic Sign Ever! Israel is Back in the Land

Front Page of The Jerusalem Post May 16, 1948
Wikimedia Foundation. Fair use.

I often say if we're not in the End Times, you can see them from here.

I often get responses from people, including from pastors, that show their skepticism. They respond with comments like, "We can't know that." One told me, "We have at least another 30 years." Another said, "We have at least another 100 years."

I wish I would have been quick-thinking enough to ask them, "Based on what?"

God gave us information about the End Times for a reason: so we would know. (Tweet that!) (For more on why God gave us prophecies, see Related Articles below.)

Jesus talked about the signs of the end and the signs of his coming in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. He told us what would be happening in our world so we would watch for the signs, understand what was happening, and know it was near. (Tweet that!)

So for all the skeptics out there, in recent history we have witnessed one prophetic sign that has never occurred before in human history. (Tweet that!) One sign that is unique to our generation. One sign that changes everything. It is the biggest sign ever. Like a flashing neon billboard. (Tweet that!)

What is it? Israel is once again a nation.

In Jesus' time, Israel was an occupied country, occupied by the Romans. Israel had not been a free nation since long before the birth of Jesus.

God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel about "The Valley of Dry Bones" in Ezekiel 37. God showed Ezekiel a vision of a vast valley of dry bones. Then God asked Ezekiel in 37:3:

"Son of man, can these bones live?"

I love Ezekiel's response because he spoke with wisdom I never would have thought of:

"O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

God then put flesh on the bones and they became alive. And God explained to Ezekiel that this was the rebirth of Israel in her own land once again:

¹¹ Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.' ¹² Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴ And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord." (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

The Jewish people waited a very long time for this prophecy to be fulfilled, but it has happened. In our generation. Israel became a nation again on May 14, 1948. So tomorrow, Israel turns 66 years old – that is the "new," re-established nation of Israel and the prophetic re-birth of the nation. This week we will honor Israel by learning more about this nation and how we can stay in touch with what's happening there. (Tweet that!)

For today, let's remember that it was after Adolf Hitler and his Nazis tried to annihilate the Jews that the result was Israel emerged as a nation once again after 2,000 years. That is an amazing turnaround, a miracle—something only God could do. (Tweet that!)

And that is a miraculous sign that is unique to our generation.

Many of the other prophecies of the End Times refer to the nation of Israel. Therefore, they cannot come to pass unless Israel is a nation. Now, as of 1948, Israel is once again a nation. (Tweet that!)

According to Psalm 90:10 in the Bible, a "generation" is about 70 years: 

The years of our life are seventy,

    or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

    they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Israel was born again on May 14, 1948. That means Israel will turn 70 years old in 2018. (Tweet that!)

The re-birth of Israel is the biggest prophetic sign ever. This sign is unique to the times we are living in right now. (Tweet that!)  It is a unique, one-of-a-kind sign that tells us if we're not in the End Times, we can see them from here.

Related Articles: 

• Why Did God Give Us Prophecies - Part 1
• Why Did God Give Us Prophecies - Part 2

Does what's going on with Russia and Ukraine have anything to do with Bible prophecy? - Part 3

 Brown: Russia. Green: Ukraine. Black: Crimean Peninsula
ImageUploader12345 Creative Commons
Found on Wikipedia

In the previous two posts we looked in depth into what is happening in Russia and Ukraine and how it might relate to Bible prophecy. In Part 2, the previous post, I promised to give information on other names listed in Ezekiel 38:1-9, specifically verses 5-6 and what those countries are called today. (Tweet that!)

This is what Ezekiel 38:5-6 says: 

⁵ Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; ⁶ Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.

At this point in my study, this is my understanding of who these nations are today. (Tweet that!) I also understand, however, that not everyone may agree.

• Perisa - Iran
• Cush - Ethiopia
• Put - Libya
• Gomer - Ukraine
• Beth Togarmah – eastern Turkey

Also in Parts 1 and 2 earlier this week, we saw video interviews about what is happening in Ukraine from a Biblical perspective. I hope you have enjoyed these. Here is one more, Part 3 of the interview of Avi Lipkin by Gary Stearman of Prophecy in the News, which aired March 6, 2014. This one runs about 13 minutes.

Gary Stearman of Prophecy in the News interviews Avi Lipkin about Russia and Ukraine. 

Part 3 aired March 6, 2014.

Related articles:

Does what's going on with Russia and Ukraine have anything to do with Bible prophecy? - Part 1

Does what's going on with Russia and Ukraine have anything to do with Bible prophecy? - Part 2

Does what's going on with Russia and Ukraine have anything to do with Bible prophecy? - Part 2

Brown: Russia. Green: Ukraine. Black: Crimean Peninsula
ImageUploader12345 Creative Commons
Found on Wikipedia

On Tuesday, in Part 1, we briefly reviewed the beginnings of this conflict occurring with Russia in Ukraine.

You might remember on April 17, 2014, news reached the US of a leaflet handed to Jews leaving their synagogue in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk telling them they had to register with the government and list their property. An eerie echo of Nazi regimes from the past, the leaflet was immediately condemned by national leaders. While the leaflet claimed a connection to Denis Pushilin, a man who was identified as the chairman of "Donetsk's temporary government," he claimed he had nothing to do with it.

You can find more information in this article on USA Today: "Leaflet tells Jews to register in East Ukraine." 

While we watch what is going on in Ukraine, many Bible prophecy geeks think of the prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled which tells us Israel will be attacked by nations to her north. Bible prophecy geeks like me also believe this prophecy will be fulfilled as part of the "End Times," or the times leading up to the last seven years of the Tribulation.

This prophecy is found in Ezekiel 38. (Tweet that!) Here is part of that prophecy. God is speaking (through His prophet Ezekiel):

The word of the Lord came to me: ^{2 "}Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him ³ and say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. ⁴ I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. ⁵ Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, ⁶ also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you. 

^{7 "'}Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. ⁸ After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. ⁹ You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.'"  (Ezekiel 38:1-9)

My favorite Bible that I own is The NIV Study Bible from 1985. The notes in this Bible have taught me so much, I just love them. So I often share what I learn from them.

I found helpful information in the notes section of The NIV Study Bible, which says,

"Gog" is "apparently a leader or king whose name appears only here and in Rev. 20:8… Possibly the name is purposely vague, standing for a mysterious, as yet undisclosed, enemy of God's people."*

The phrase "of the land of Magog" takes us back to the times of Noah. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Before the great flood that covered the earth, eight people entered the ark: Noah and his wife, and their three sons and their wives (Genesis 7:13). (By the way, this was depicted much differently in the recent movie Noah, so don't be confused by that. In the true story, each of Noah's three sons had wives and they all entered the ark.) (Tweet that!)

Because everyone else in the world died in the flood, all the nations of today's world descended from these three sons of Noah (Genesis 9:18-19).

Noah's son Japheth had seven sons. They are listed in Genesis 10:2. Compare these names to the names in the Ezekiel 38 passage above:

The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (Genesis 10:2)

Here is more information on "Gog" and "Magog" from the The NIV Study Bible. (Tweet that!) Please note the reference to the "future coalition" which means the prophecy of what is to happen in our future:

 …since the Hebrew prefix ma- can mean "place of," Magog may here simply mean "land of Gog." Israel had long experienced the hostility of the Hamites and other Semitic peoples; the future coalition here envisioned will include—and in fact be led by—peoples descended from Japheth.*

Regarding "chief prince," the The NIV Study Bible note gives this information:

Military commander-in-chief. The NIV text note gives the possible translation "prince of Rosh," and if it is correct, Rosh is probably the name of an unknown people or place. Identification with Russia is unlikely, and in any case cannot be proven.*

I've heard many times that "Rosh" may indeed be Russia. The previous note says that is "unlikely," but gives no reason for that statement.

Regarding "Meshech and Tubal," the The NIV Study Bible note says this:

These sons of Japheth…are probably located in eastern Asia Minor… They are peoples and territories to the north of Israel… As in the days of the Assyrians and Babylonians, the major attack will come from the north.*

So if you have ever heard that Bible prophecy predicts Israel will be attacked from the north in the End Times, this is where that prophecy comes from. (Tweet that!)

For my next post I'm preparing information about the other names listed in Ezekiel 38:5-6 shown above and what those nations are called today.

In the last post we watched an interview of Avi Lipkin by Gary Stearman. There is much more to that interview. Here is part 2, which aired March 5, 2014. It runs about 13 minutes.

Gary Stearman of Prophecy in the News interviews Avi Lipkin about Russia and Ukraine. 

Part 2 aired March 5, 2014.

Related article: 

• Does what's going on with Russia and Ukraine have anything to do with Bible prophecy? - Part 1

*NIV Study Bible (Zondervan Bible Publishers, Grand Rapids, MI, 1985), 1280. Notes on Ezekiel 38:2.

Does what's going on with Russia and Ukraine have anything to do with Bible prophecy? - Part 1

Brown: Russia. Green: Ukraine. Black: Crimean Peninsula
ImageUploader12345 Creative Commons
Found on Wikipedia

I'm sure you, like me, are watching the situation involving Russia and Ukraine and you're wondering what really is going on and if it has something to do with Bible prophecy. (Tweet that!)

Many of us see the conflict, but don't have any background information or understanding to know what it all means. I can't say I have any more understanding than the average American or Christians elsewhere. But I have tried to find information that might give us insight into what's happening in light of Bible prophecy. This week I'll share what I've found. I hope you'll find it as interesting and helpful as I have.

Briefly remembering what has happened, the conflict started in late February just after the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

According to the Wikipedia article, "2014 Crimean crisis," the conflict started "in the aftermath of the Ukrainian Revolution, which resulted in President Viktor Yanukovych's deposition by the Ukrainian parliament after his flight from the capital....

"Beginning on February 26, pro-Russian forces began to gradually take control of the Crimean peninsula. Many of them were widely believed to be Russian military personnel without insignia..."

I found the following video interview very interesting and insightful. Here, Gary Stearman, of Prophecy in the News, talks with Avi Lipkin, who has studied this area of the world most his life and shares wonderful information to teach us. This Part 1 video runs under 12 minutes. (Tweet that!)

In the next post, I'm preparing information about a prophecy in the Bible that has yet to be fulfilled which says Israel will be attacked by nations to its north. So please stop back by on Thursday.

Gary Stearman of Prophecy in the News interviews Avi Lipkin about Russia and Ukraine. 

Part 1 aired March 4, 2014.

Why Should We Study Prophecy? – Part 2

Morguefile.com

In Thursday's post, "Why Should We Study Prophecy? - Part 1, we looked at two reasons why we should study prophecies in the Bible:

• To strengthen our faith for today.
• To strengthen our faith for the future.

Both of these reasons to study prophecy are for those who already believe in the One True God and the Bible as His only true Word to us.But there are also reasons to study prophecy for the sake of non-believers. Or as I like to call them, "not-yet believers." That is because the study of prophecies in the Bible – looking at both what was prophesied and then what actually came to pass – can be quite convincing for the not-yet believer. (Tweet that!)

And that brings us to another two reasons to study Bible prophecy:

• To show and convince others. 
• To warn them.

Even when we show others prophecies given and fulfilled, they might not believe Jesus is God. (Tweet that!)

Even when we show them convincing arguments based on prophecies that have come true, not everyone will believe. (Tweet that!)

That is heartbreaking for the Christian believer, but it must not stop us from continuing to try. Remember that many people heard Jesus himself talk and they did not believe. (Tweet that!) Even Jesus couldn't convince them!

Jesus said:

"But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day" John 6:36-40.

Many people heard him predict what would happen and they did not believe it. Then many of those same people watched it happen right before their very eyes and never put two and two together to make four. If Jesus couldn't convince everyone, certainly we can't. But it is the Christian's duty to continue to share convincing truths from the Bible.

Why? Because some will believe. And that is why, as Christians, we share our faith. We do it for the ones who will believe. (Tweet that!)

We should also study prophecy and share it for those who will not believe. So they will receive due warning. (Tweet that!)

"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life" 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.

Why Should We Study Prophecy? – Part 1

Morguefile.com 

I'm constantly amazed by how many people, especially among Christians, don't see any importance in studying Bible prophecy. (Tweet that!)

I'm especially perplexed by the Christian churches. In my little corner of the world, I don't see many churches even talking about prophecy let alone looking at prophecy and comparing it to what's going on in the world today. (Tweet that!)

I do know there are churches out there that are doing just that. I have people write me and tell me their church and/or pastor is talking about prophecy. That is awesome! I also see some churches that are televised talking about prophecy. I just wish more churches would.

I think it might be denominational – at least partly. Some Christian church denominations are more focused on prophecy while others are not.

In the churches that are not already willing to talk about prophecy, it feels like the topic is taboo. We can't even talk about it. Bring it up and you hear people gasp. (Tweet that!)

It's as if they think if we all ignore it, it will go away.

If we all just cooperate in believing nothing is happening, nothing is going on, then nothing bad will happen. Right?

My fear is that these church-goers are oblivious to what's going on in the world and how it links into the prophecies written in the Bible hundreds or thousands of years ago. I also fear the pastors and/or leadership of these churches are neglecting a major duty they have been entrusted with: preparing their congregations for what is to come.

Things are happening in our world, things that are different than before. Many people see it. Many people feel it. Though some don't understand what they are seeing or feeling. But I assure you, anyone who wants to know what's going on can know. (Tweet that!) God promises that anyone who asks will be given answers. He promises that all who seek, find. And for all who knock, it will be opened for them.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).

I'm frustrated by the lack of conversation about prophecy, including—or perhaps especially—in the church. (Tweet that!)

I started this blog for that very reason: Because I believe many people are seeing and feeling that something big, something important, is happening but they are not getting the information or they don't know where to look.

Which brings us back to the question of the day: Why should we study prophecy?

I can think of at least four reasons. Here are two. (Tweet that!) We'll look at two more reasons in Saturday's post:

• To strengthen our faith for today.
• To strengthen our faith for the future.

What is prophecy? We'll look at answers to that more completely at another time, but for this discussion:

Prophecy is God telling us what He is going to do before He does it.

So when we look in the Bible at the prophecies God has given, and then we look further and see where those very prophecies have come true in every detail, that strengthens our faith.

It strengthens our faith because we begin to see God's personality:

• that He is absolutely trustworthy. 
• that He is powerful enough to have everything under control. 
• that He knows the end from the beginning. 
• that He is merciful to warn us about what will happen before it does.

All of this strengthens our faith in Him. Strengthened faith means that we have power because we have confidence in God and so we can step out in faith and live boldly and confidently no matter what we face. And no matter what comes.

That is how studying prophecy strengthens our faith for today…and for the future. (Tweet that!)