Is Prophecy Being Fulfilled Now? #7
The ancient holy sites in Israel will be found and rebuilt in the end times. What constitutes a holy site? The holy sites are very specific places that were protected by Israel and recognized and protected by the Early Church. Israel kept these holy sites alive and functioning as long as they were able. They knew the value of them because they not only verified the Bible; they were living evidence of the stories of the Old Testament and object lessons of God’s messages to His people.
Let’s be more specific. What constitutes a holy site? A holy site is one that:
1. Involves Biblical narratives. These are the places where the major stories of the Old Testament took place. The stories of the Old Testament were used as lessons from God to teach His people about Him. An example is Rachel’s tomb. Rachel’s tomb has been vital to Israel because Rachel’s life modeled the character of God. Her sacrificial love for her family reflects God’s love for us. All of us should have the heart of Rachel. We should be willing to sacrifice our hopes and dreams so others can be blessed and so others will live righteously.
2. Involves Godly people of the Bible. Holy sites recount the stories of men and women whom God used to lead His people. The account of Ruth and Boaz teaches us about God’s loving plan of redemption.
3. Verifies the Biblical accounts. Some holy sites may not appear to be significant to many people but are actually very significant to verifying the details of Biblical accounts. An example is Kathisma. The Early Church considered it a holy site. This is where Mary rested on a very large rock according to historical accounts. This is very significant because this is also the same place known in the Old Testament as Zelzach. This is where Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. According to historical accounts, this is also the place where Joseph and Mary stopped with the baby Jesus while fleeing to Egypt. It serves as a land marker in the cross-roads leading to many holy sites
The Early Church recognized these holy sites and marked them by building a church on the site or near by the site. They understood the importance of keeping the holy sites alive. These holy sites were living portrayals of the Bible. They not only taught believers about God, they also strengthened their faith. The reason the faith of the early believers was so strong is they saw the Bible lived in front of them every day through the holy sites.
Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places (the ancient ruins); thou shat raise up the foundations of many generations (the patriarchs); and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.
God says the ancient holy sites of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Bible will be rebuilt and made alive again. These will be used to repair the breach. What breach? I believe this refers to the breach among God’s people. There is a mammoth size chasm between the Jews and the Christians. Romans 11:17 says Gentile believers are grafted into Israel. That means we are one with believing Jews. The book of Romans also says there is no difference among those that believe. There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. Then why is there so much animosity between Christians and Jews?
One of the events that will happen in the end times is all of God’s people will come together. Jews who believe in the God of the Bible and Christians who believe in the God of the Bible will join forces and come together in unison to do God’s work. How will this happen?
God will use the rebuilding of the ancient holy sites to bring all of His people together. The ancient holy sites tell the stories of the Bible. Which stories do they tell? Do they tell the stories of Jews of the Old Testament or do they tell the stories of Jesus and redemption through Him? The answer is yes. These are the same story.
Let me give you an example. The ancient village of Bethlehem Ephrata portrays the story of sacrificial love through Rachel. She gave her life for her children. The village also portrays the story of redemption. Ruth could not be part of God’s people because she was a Moabitess. She carried the Moabite curse. No one could lift that curse except God. God did lift that curse so she could be part of God’s family. God can lift the curse of our sin so any one of us can be part of His family. David was born in Bethlehem Ephrata. He was the most rejected and hated man in his family. He was thought to be an illegitimate child. God took him from the lowest parts of the earth and raised him up to be the greatest. This is God’s love for us. He takes us from the pits of sin and shame and will lift us up to be royalty in His kingdom. The village of Bethlehem Ephrata also depicts of the story of Jesus and His redeeming love for us. Jesus was born in the place where the sacrificial lambs were born and raised. Jesus is God’s ultimate sacrifice for us. It is impossible to separate these stories as Jewish or Christian. They are all one story of God’s redeeming love.
Ephesians 4:5 (There is) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all who is above all, and through all and in you all.
It is time God’s people stop isolating themselves in small theological cliques and come together in unison. I understand we separate in the name of theological correctness but I have yet to find a group that has a theology that is 100% correct. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. It is not our place to judge others. Each one of us answers to God alone. Our responsibility is simply to love each other and worship God together. Of course it is our responsibility to obey God but He has commanded us to love each other and love Him.
Matthew 22:37-9 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016
Let’s be more specific. What constitutes a holy site? A holy site is one that:
1. Involves Biblical narratives. These are the places where the major stories of the Old Testament took place. The stories of the Old Testament were used as lessons from God to teach His people about Him. An example is Rachel’s tomb. Rachel’s tomb has been vital to Israel because Rachel’s life modeled the character of God. Her sacrificial love for her family reflects God’s love for us. All of us should have the heart of Rachel. We should be willing to sacrifice our hopes and dreams so others can be blessed and so others will live righteously.
2. Involves Godly people of the Bible. Holy sites recount the stories of men and women whom God used to lead His people. The account of Ruth and Boaz teaches us about God’s loving plan of redemption.
3. Verifies the Biblical accounts. Some holy sites may not appear to be significant to many people but are actually very significant to verifying the details of Biblical accounts. An example is Kathisma. The Early Church considered it a holy site. This is where Mary rested on a very large rock according to historical accounts. This is very significant because this is also the same place known in the Old Testament as Zelzach. This is where Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. According to historical accounts, this is also the place where Joseph and Mary stopped with the baby Jesus while fleeing to Egypt. It serves as a land marker in the cross-roads leading to many holy sites
The Early Church recognized these holy sites and marked them by building a church on the site or near by the site. They understood the importance of keeping the holy sites alive. These holy sites were living portrayals of the Bible. They not only taught believers about God, they also strengthened their faith. The reason the faith of the early believers was so strong is they saw the Bible lived in front of them every day through the holy sites.
Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places (the ancient ruins); thou shat raise up the foundations of many generations (the patriarchs); and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.
God says the ancient holy sites of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Bible will be rebuilt and made alive again. These will be used to repair the breach. What breach? I believe this refers to the breach among God’s people. There is a mammoth size chasm between the Jews and the Christians. Romans 11:17 says Gentile believers are grafted into Israel. That means we are one with believing Jews. The book of Romans also says there is no difference among those that believe. There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. Then why is there so much animosity between Christians and Jews?
One of the events that will happen in the end times is all of God’s people will come together. Jews who believe in the God of the Bible and Christians who believe in the God of the Bible will join forces and come together in unison to do God’s work. How will this happen?
God will use the rebuilding of the ancient holy sites to bring all of His people together. The ancient holy sites tell the stories of the Bible. Which stories do they tell? Do they tell the stories of Jews of the Old Testament or do they tell the stories of Jesus and redemption through Him? The answer is yes. These are the same story.
Let me give you an example. The ancient village of Bethlehem Ephrata portrays the story of sacrificial love through Rachel. She gave her life for her children. The village also portrays the story of redemption. Ruth could not be part of God’s people because she was a Moabitess. She carried the Moabite curse. No one could lift that curse except God. God did lift that curse so she could be part of God’s family. God can lift the curse of our sin so any one of us can be part of His family. David was born in Bethlehem Ephrata. He was the most rejected and hated man in his family. He was thought to be an illegitimate child. God took him from the lowest parts of the earth and raised him up to be the greatest. This is God’s love for us. He takes us from the pits of sin and shame and will lift us up to be royalty in His kingdom. The village of Bethlehem Ephrata also depicts of the story of Jesus and His redeeming love for us. Jesus was born in the place where the sacrificial lambs were born and raised. Jesus is God’s ultimate sacrifice for us. It is impossible to separate these stories as Jewish or Christian. They are all one story of God’s redeeming love.
Ephesians 4:5 (There is) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all who is above all, and through all and in you all.
It is time God’s people stop isolating themselves in small theological cliques and come together in unison. I understand we separate in the name of theological correctness but I have yet to find a group that has a theology that is 100% correct. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. It is not our place to judge others. Each one of us answers to God alone. Our responsibility is simply to love each other and worship God together. Of course it is our responsibility to obey God but He has commanded us to love each other and love Him.
Matthew 22:37-9 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016