O' Jerusalem
Dave Hunt
Israel is the major topic of the Bible, occupying most of its pages. The
many prophecies concerning its past, present, and future are vital in
understanding God's Word. Sadly, they are ignored, explained away, or simply
rejected by the vast majority of professing Christians, a growing number of
whom insist that Israel has been replaced by the church.
Yet Jeremiah declares that Israel will never "cease from being a nation"
(Jer 31:35-37); in just one sermon Paul refers to Israel as an ongoing
entity three times (Acts 13:17, 23, 24); and on the twelve gates of heavenly
Jerusalem are written the names of "the twelve tribes of the children of
Israel" (Rv 21:12)-so ten tribes were not lost after all!-along with the
names of "the twelve apostles of the Lamb" in the foundations (21:14).
Unaware that "replacement theology" is one of several Roman Catholic
doctrines that clung to Luther, Calvin, and other leading reformers, it is
accepted by many as Reformation theology.
Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of all who believe on Him, is, of
course, the most important subject in Scripture-yet without Israel, there
would be no Savior. Jesus is a Jew, descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
through King David, giving Him the right to rule Israel and the world. He
was born in Israel, lived there all of His days on earth, and (with few
exceptions) ministered solely to Jews: "I am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of Israel" (Mt 15:24). He commanded His disciples, "Go
not into the way of the Gentiles... but go rather to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel" (Mt 10:5,6). After the Cross and Resurrection, however, He
commanded them to take the gospel "into all the world" (Mt 28:19; Mk
16:15)-but the gospel remains "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom
1:16).
Last month we saw that the incredible vastness of space makes it impossible
for mankind to penetrate even the fringes of the cosmos either by vehicle or
radio. How staggering, then, that the Creator has selected this tiny planet
and one small city on it to be eternally the center of the universe.
Bypassing thousands of larger cities with greater beauty and natural
resources, God chose Jerusalem, saying, "I will put my name [there] for
ever" (2 Ki 21:7; 2 Chr 33:7).
God declared that in the last days He would cause Jerusalem to be "a
burdensome stone for all people" (Zec 12:3). For that to become true, there
had to be a worldwide organization. The United Nations was formed in 1945 in
time to vote Israel back into existence after 1,800 years of destruction and
dispersion. And Jerusalem has become such a burden that the UN has spent
one-third of its time debating and condemning Israel, a miniscule nation
that represents merely one one-thousandth of earth's population. Finally,
World War III will be fought over Jerusalem as Antichrist's armies seek to
frustrate God's plans for her and to accomplish at last Hitler's "final
solution to the Jewish problem" with the destruction of Israel and all Jews
worldwide.
Twice in the Bible Jerusalem is called "the city of our God" (Ps 48:1, 8),
twice the "city of God" (Ps 46:4; 87:3), eight times "the holy city" (Neh
11:1; Is 48:2; 52:1; Mt 4:5, etc.), and once "the city of the Lord of hosts"
(Ps 48:8). God has decreed that never will there be a city to rival
Jerusalem! It is mentioned 811 times in the Bible but not once in the
Qur'an, showing the lie that it ever was sacred to Muslims. Only after
Israel's rebirth was this bogus claim invented to justify Muslim attacks
against Israel as an "occupying power." The USA, UN, EU, et al., accept this
lie as the basis of a "peace" they intend to force upon Israel with Muslim
neighbors determined to destroy her.
Jerusalem's entire history, including its destruction and ultimate
restoration in the "last days," was pronounced by ancient Hebrew prophets
and by Jesus Christ ("There shall not be left here one stone upon another,
that shall not be thrown down"-Mt 24:2; "the city shall be built...it shall
not be...thrown down any more for ever"-Jer 31:38-40). Still in process, in
the face of fierce opposition from the world and Satan, the ongoing
fulfillment of these prophecies (none of which could possibly apply to the
church) is the greatest proof God gives of His existence and that the Bible
is His infallible Word-a vital proof that replacement theology rejects.
That Christians would deny God's purposes for Israel is beyond
comprehension. Equally incredible, throughout history Israel herself has
rejected God and the blessings He would impart. This rebellion has persisted
in spite of spectacular displays of God's power and protection: the parting
of the Red Sea, guidance by a pillar of fire by night and of cloud by day,
water from a rock, fresh manna daily, hearing God speak with an audible
voice, seeing the walls of Jericho come down, and the miraculous defeat of
armies far superior to its own, etc.
This inexcusable unbelief continues today on the part of most Jews
worldwide, as well as in the church. The vast majority of Jews persist in
rejecting Christ as their Messiah in spite of His fulfillment of hundreds of
prophecies that prove His identity beyond dispute. As their own Hebrew
prophets foretold, the Messiah has come and has been rejected by His people
and the world. Moreover, they even join heretical replacement theologians in
refusing to acknowledge God's hand in preserving the Jews as an identifiable
ethnic people and bringing them back into their land after 2,500 years of
dispersion.
Nothing so exemplifies God's passionate desire to bless Israel, and her
determined rejection of Him and the blessings He wants to bestow, as does
Christ's anguished lament over Jerusalem. Viewing the city of God from the
Mount of Olives, He wept over her: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest
the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I
have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under
her wings, and ye would not!" (Lk 13:34).
The New Testament records only one instance of Christ weeping over
Jerusalem. How, then, could He claim to have wept over her countless times?
Clearly, He was claiming to be the God of Israel, who sent His prophets
repeatedly: "And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets,
rising early and sending them...yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the
Lord" (Jer 25:3-7).
As for replacement theology, yes, there are many similarities between Israel
and the church: both are called God's "elect" (Is 45:4; Mt 24:31; 1 Pt 1:2);
both are called to be a "peculiar people" separated from the world (Lv
20:24-26; Dt 14:2; Ti 2:14; 1 Pt 2:9); both were to be hated and persecuted
(even to the death) by the world (Ps 119:161; Ps 143:3; Mt 24:9; Jn 15:20;
17:14); and both are called to holiness (Lv 20:7; 1 Pt 1:15).
However, there are many distinctions: Israel is promised a country and a
city on this earth, the church a home in heaven. Israel will be ruled by
Christ; the church will rule Israel and the world with Him. Two-thirds of
all Jews on earth will be killed under Antichrist (Zec 13:8-9); but the
church will not be on earth at that time, having been married to Christ in
heaven (Rv 19:7,8). Israel will recognize Christ for the first time at His
Second Coming; the church will arrive with Him from heaven in triumph (Zec
14:4,5; Jude 14) as His bride, never to leave His side.
Israel has always been in almost total unbelief, even in the days of Moses
(Ps 81:8-13), but the church was faithful at the beginning and only goes
into apostasy in the "last days" (Acts 20:29,30; 2 Thes 2:3). In spite of
the complaint that the Israelis don't deserve to be there because of their
rebellion and rejection of Christ, their unbelief is no worse now than when
God first brought them into the land under Joshua. Israel constantly
rebelled and worshiped idols even under Moses on the way to the Promised
Land.
Israel will come out of apostasy in a total transformation and restoration
on this earth (Ezk 36,37); but the church sinks ever deeper into apostasy
until the Rapture (Acts 20:29-31; 2 Thes 2:3; Jude 3,4, etc.) and will only
be perfected in heaven. Israel had already fallen away from the very
beginning: the church began well but is in the process of falling away as
the apostasy worsens in the last days. At my recent meetings in many places
throughout England, a large percentage of those attending had fled apostate
churches.
As Israel went into idolatry, adopting the gods of the nations around her,
so the church, through the growing ecumenical movement, embraces false
doctrine. Englishmen, whose forebears stood firmly against Rome's grievous
heresies in spite of flame and sword, now boast of their unity with the
***** of Babylon. While there I thought repeatedly of Hugh Latimer and
Nicolas Ridley, in 1555, bound to the same stake at Oxford for refusing to
accept the alleged "transubstantiation" of a wafer into the literal body of
Christ. As the flames mounted, Latimer exclaimed, "Be of good comfort,
Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day by God's grace light such
a candle in England as I trust shall never be put out." Tragically, that
flame is barely visible. The 16th-century Reformation that transformed
England and Europe is now repudiated by the vast majority of Christians and
church leaders.
Billy Graham says his beliefs are basically the same as those of orthodox
Roman Catholics. He claims that the Mass is "straight and true to the
gospel" and boasts that the RCC has welcomed him everywhere. Chuck Colson,
an architect of ECT, advocates joining Rome and attends Mass with his Roman
Catholic wife. Rick Warren, James Dobson, et al., surely know better, yet
work with Catholics and their Church and give no warning that Catholicism is
the road to hell. I'd like to see these men visit Lourdes, France (as Ruth
and I have just done) without being grieved in their spirits and smitten in
their consciences.
Our hearts broke for these poor deceived people arriving at Lourdes in a
continual stream by the thousands each day, many in wheel chairs or on
pallets. As the long line moves slowly through the grotto, where "Mary"
appeared to Bernadette in 1858, hands reach out to caress its walls, hoping
to receive a healing or blessing. Some are whispering under their breath the
"Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes: 'O immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy,
you are the refuge of sinners, the health of the sick, and the comfort of
the afflicted....By your appearance at the Grotto of Lourdes you made it a
privileged sanctuary where your favors are given to people streaming to it
from the whole world....Therefore I come to you with limitless
confidence....Obtain, O loving Mother...my requests...I will endeavor to
imitate Your virtues, that I may one day share in your glory.'" Mother of
Mercy...refuge of sinners...your glory? What blasphemy!
This Catholic "Mary" is the dominant figure everywhere one turns. Jesus
appears only as a babe in her arms (even in heaven!), hanging on the Cross,
or lifeless on her lap at the foot of the Cross. In the main cathedral,
behind the altar hovers a huge "Mary," with the words, Par Marie à Jésus
["Through Mary to Jesus"]. Yes, Jesus is the acknowledged mediator with God,
but Mary is the only way to Jesus. Any exaltation of Jesus is conspicuously
absent. On hundreds of the stones with which the cathedral has been built
are inscribed praises of and prayers to "Mary."
Throngs of deluded souls, bearing candles of many sizes (purchased nearby at
varying prices), walk the 100 yards or so past the grotto to two rows of
adjoining metal stalls, where candles are put into position and lit with the
flame of another to add to the continual conflagration. Thousands of these
candles burn simultaneously, day and night, the melting wax dripping down
through the grill into metal boxes that are replaced with empty ones and
wheeled back to the factory to be recycled into more candles to make more
money for the Church. Above and behind the candles in each section are
written the words in several languages: in French-Cette lumière prolonge ma
prière ["this light extends my prayer"].
The devout followers of "Mary" can also purchase Masses to be said for one's
"intention" somewhere in the world. Outside the fenced grounds, the town
streets are lined with shops whose cash registers are ringing up sales of
indulgences, crucifixes, and all manner of holy hardware that the Church has
devised for passing on blessings from the "Virgin"-at a price. Among the
biggest sellers are varying sizes of plastic bottles shaped like the "Virgin
Mary" to be filled with water from the sacred spring.
Israel's apostasy, including idol worship, is no worse than what Rome
practices and with which evangelicals have joined in ecumenical partnership.
The world is in rebellion against God, but so is the church. Proof of that
rebellion is everywhere.
In one Normandy cemetery, I stumbled heartbroken through hundreds of the
more than 9,000 stark white marble crosses marking, in perfect rows, the
graves of men who died in the June 1944 invasion that freed Europe. Each
marker bears the name, rank, outfit, and date of death. Unable to fathom
such horror, I sobbed uncontrollably, my chest heaving, crying out, "Lord,
why did you make man? You knew all the evil and suffering that would result.
What is the point of these crosses? How many of these men believed in the
Christ who died for their sins?"
Here and there was a white marble Star of David. A surprising number of
these monuments had no names but only the caption, "Here rests in honored
glory a comrade in arms known but to God." I thought of the many who were
not resting but were in agony in the flames of hell. And once more, with
heaving chest and irrepressible sobs, I gasped again and again, "Why, Lord?
Why?"
I knew that God had created man to bestow His love and blessing upon him.
This present evil world is not what God made and He cannot be blamed for it.
This is the world man has made in defiance of God, by trying to act as his
own God.
My sobs were only an echo of the cry of God's own heart-which should touch
ours. The Father grieves over this world, whether for the centuries-long
rejection of His love by His chosen ones, the Jews, or for the apostasy of
today's "Christian" church, or for the lost who thumb their noses at His
offer of forgiveness for their sins and eternal life in His presence.
Let us pray that true repentance will yet come to the church and to the
world to gladden the Father's heart and that Christ will see of the travail
of His soul and be satisfied.
We hear the lament O Jerusalem! echoing through the centuries undiminished,
though Jew and Gentile crucified Him there. Now He weeps for the entire
world. May we as envoys of His compassion do all we can to rescue as many as possible before it is forever too late.
Dave Hunt
Israel is the major topic of the Bible, occupying most of its pages. The
many prophecies concerning its past, present, and future are vital in
understanding God's Word. Sadly, they are ignored, explained away, or simply
rejected by the vast majority of professing Christians, a growing number of
whom insist that Israel has been replaced by the church.
Yet Jeremiah declares that Israel will never "cease from being a nation"
(Jer 31:35-37); in just one sermon Paul refers to Israel as an ongoing
entity three times (Acts 13:17, 23, 24); and on the twelve gates of heavenly
Jerusalem are written the names of "the twelve tribes of the children of
Israel" (Rv 21:12)-so ten tribes were not lost after all!-along with the
names of "the twelve apostles of the Lamb" in the foundations (21:14).
Unaware that "replacement theology" is one of several Roman Catholic
doctrines that clung to Luther, Calvin, and other leading reformers, it is
accepted by many as Reformation theology.
Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of all who believe on Him, is, of
course, the most important subject in Scripture-yet without Israel, there
would be no Savior. Jesus is a Jew, descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
through King David, giving Him the right to rule Israel and the world. He
was born in Israel, lived there all of His days on earth, and (with few
exceptions) ministered solely to Jews: "I am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of Israel" (Mt 15:24). He commanded His disciples, "Go
not into the way of the Gentiles... but go rather to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel" (Mt 10:5,6). After the Cross and Resurrection, however, He
commanded them to take the gospel "into all the world" (Mt 28:19; Mk
16:15)-but the gospel remains "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom
1:16).
Last month we saw that the incredible vastness of space makes it impossible
for mankind to penetrate even the fringes of the cosmos either by vehicle or
radio. How staggering, then, that the Creator has selected this tiny planet
and one small city on it to be eternally the center of the universe.
Bypassing thousands of larger cities with greater beauty and natural
resources, God chose Jerusalem, saying, "I will put my name [there] for
ever" (2 Ki 21:7; 2 Chr 33:7).
God declared that in the last days He would cause Jerusalem to be "a
burdensome stone for all people" (Zec 12:3). For that to become true, there
had to be a worldwide organization. The United Nations was formed in 1945 in
time to vote Israel back into existence after 1,800 years of destruction and
dispersion. And Jerusalem has become such a burden that the UN has spent
one-third of its time debating and condemning Israel, a miniscule nation
that represents merely one one-thousandth of earth's population. Finally,
World War III will be fought over Jerusalem as Antichrist's armies seek to
frustrate God's plans for her and to accomplish at last Hitler's "final
solution to the Jewish problem" with the destruction of Israel and all Jews
worldwide.
Twice in the Bible Jerusalem is called "the city of our God" (Ps 48:1, 8),
twice the "city of God" (Ps 46:4; 87:3), eight times "the holy city" (Neh
11:1; Is 48:2; 52:1; Mt 4:5, etc.), and once "the city of the Lord of hosts"
(Ps 48:8). God has decreed that never will there be a city to rival
Jerusalem! It is mentioned 811 times in the Bible but not once in the
Qur'an, showing the lie that it ever was sacred to Muslims. Only after
Israel's rebirth was this bogus claim invented to justify Muslim attacks
against Israel as an "occupying power." The USA, UN, EU, et al., accept this
lie as the basis of a "peace" they intend to force upon Israel with Muslim
neighbors determined to destroy her.
Jerusalem's entire history, including its destruction and ultimate
restoration in the "last days," was pronounced by ancient Hebrew prophets
and by Jesus Christ ("There shall not be left here one stone upon another,
that shall not be thrown down"-Mt 24:2; "the city shall be built...it shall
not be...thrown down any more for ever"-Jer 31:38-40). Still in process, in
the face of fierce opposition from the world and Satan, the ongoing
fulfillment of these prophecies (none of which could possibly apply to the
church) is the greatest proof God gives of His existence and that the Bible
is His infallible Word-a vital proof that replacement theology rejects.
That Christians would deny God's purposes for Israel is beyond
comprehension. Equally incredible, throughout history Israel herself has
rejected God and the blessings He would impart. This rebellion has persisted
in spite of spectacular displays of God's power and protection: the parting
of the Red Sea, guidance by a pillar of fire by night and of cloud by day,
water from a rock, fresh manna daily, hearing God speak with an audible
voice, seeing the walls of Jericho come down, and the miraculous defeat of
armies far superior to its own, etc.
This inexcusable unbelief continues today on the part of most Jews
worldwide, as well as in the church. The vast majority of Jews persist in
rejecting Christ as their Messiah in spite of His fulfillment of hundreds of
prophecies that prove His identity beyond dispute. As their own Hebrew
prophets foretold, the Messiah has come and has been rejected by His people
and the world. Moreover, they even join heretical replacement theologians in
refusing to acknowledge God's hand in preserving the Jews as an identifiable
ethnic people and bringing them back into their land after 2,500 years of
dispersion.
Nothing so exemplifies God's passionate desire to bless Israel, and her
determined rejection of Him and the blessings He wants to bestow, as does
Christ's anguished lament over Jerusalem. Viewing the city of God from the
Mount of Olives, He wept over her: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest
the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I
have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under
her wings, and ye would not!" (Lk 13:34).
The New Testament records only one instance of Christ weeping over
Jerusalem. How, then, could He claim to have wept over her countless times?
Clearly, He was claiming to be the God of Israel, who sent His prophets
repeatedly: "And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets,
rising early and sending them...yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the
Lord" (Jer 25:3-7).
As for replacement theology, yes, there are many similarities between Israel
and the church: both are called God's "elect" (Is 45:4; Mt 24:31; 1 Pt 1:2);
both are called to be a "peculiar people" separated from the world (Lv
20:24-26; Dt 14:2; Ti 2:14; 1 Pt 2:9); both were to be hated and persecuted
(even to the death) by the world (Ps 119:161; Ps 143:3; Mt 24:9; Jn 15:20;
17:14); and both are called to holiness (Lv 20:7; 1 Pt 1:15).
However, there are many distinctions: Israel is promised a country and a
city on this earth, the church a home in heaven. Israel will be ruled by
Christ; the church will rule Israel and the world with Him. Two-thirds of
all Jews on earth will be killed under Antichrist (Zec 13:8-9); but the
church will not be on earth at that time, having been married to Christ in
heaven (Rv 19:7,8). Israel will recognize Christ for the first time at His
Second Coming; the church will arrive with Him from heaven in triumph (Zec
14:4,5; Jude 14) as His bride, never to leave His side.
Israel has always been in almost total unbelief, even in the days of Moses
(Ps 81:8-13), but the church was faithful at the beginning and only goes
into apostasy in the "last days" (Acts 20:29,30; 2 Thes 2:3). In spite of
the complaint that the Israelis don't deserve to be there because of their
rebellion and rejection of Christ, their unbelief is no worse now than when
God first brought them into the land under Joshua. Israel constantly
rebelled and worshiped idols even under Moses on the way to the Promised
Land.
Israel will come out of apostasy in a total transformation and restoration
on this earth (Ezk 36,37); but the church sinks ever deeper into apostasy
until the Rapture (Acts 20:29-31; 2 Thes 2:3; Jude 3,4, etc.) and will only
be perfected in heaven. Israel had already fallen away from the very
beginning: the church began well but is in the process of falling away as
the apostasy worsens in the last days. At my recent meetings in many places
throughout England, a large percentage of those attending had fled apostate
churches.
As Israel went into idolatry, adopting the gods of the nations around her,
so the church, through the growing ecumenical movement, embraces false
doctrine. Englishmen, whose forebears stood firmly against Rome's grievous
heresies in spite of flame and sword, now boast of their unity with the
***** of Babylon. While there I thought repeatedly of Hugh Latimer and
Nicolas Ridley, in 1555, bound to the same stake at Oxford for refusing to
accept the alleged "transubstantiation" of a wafer into the literal body of
Christ. As the flames mounted, Latimer exclaimed, "Be of good comfort,
Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day by God's grace light such
a candle in England as I trust shall never be put out." Tragically, that
flame is barely visible. The 16th-century Reformation that transformed
England and Europe is now repudiated by the vast majority of Christians and
church leaders.
Billy Graham says his beliefs are basically the same as those of orthodox
Roman Catholics. He claims that the Mass is "straight and true to the
gospel" and boasts that the RCC has welcomed him everywhere. Chuck Colson,
an architect of ECT, advocates joining Rome and attends Mass with his Roman
Catholic wife. Rick Warren, James Dobson, et al., surely know better, yet
work with Catholics and their Church and give no warning that Catholicism is
the road to hell. I'd like to see these men visit Lourdes, France (as Ruth
and I have just done) without being grieved in their spirits and smitten in
their consciences.
Our hearts broke for these poor deceived people arriving at Lourdes in a
continual stream by the thousands each day, many in wheel chairs or on
pallets. As the long line moves slowly through the grotto, where "Mary"
appeared to Bernadette in 1858, hands reach out to caress its walls, hoping
to receive a healing or blessing. Some are whispering under their breath the
"Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes: 'O immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy,
you are the refuge of sinners, the health of the sick, and the comfort of
the afflicted....By your appearance at the Grotto of Lourdes you made it a
privileged sanctuary where your favors are given to people streaming to it
from the whole world....Therefore I come to you with limitless
confidence....Obtain, O loving Mother...my requests...I will endeavor to
imitate Your virtues, that I may one day share in your glory.'" Mother of
Mercy...refuge of sinners...your glory? What blasphemy!
This Catholic "Mary" is the dominant figure everywhere one turns. Jesus
appears only as a babe in her arms (even in heaven!), hanging on the Cross,
or lifeless on her lap at the foot of the Cross. In the main cathedral,
behind the altar hovers a huge "Mary," with the words, Par Marie à Jésus
["Through Mary to Jesus"]. Yes, Jesus is the acknowledged mediator with God,
but Mary is the only way to Jesus. Any exaltation of Jesus is conspicuously
absent. On hundreds of the stones with which the cathedral has been built
are inscribed praises of and prayers to "Mary."
Throngs of deluded souls, bearing candles of many sizes (purchased nearby at
varying prices), walk the 100 yards or so past the grotto to two rows of
adjoining metal stalls, where candles are put into position and lit with the
flame of another to add to the continual conflagration. Thousands of these
candles burn simultaneously, day and night, the melting wax dripping down
through the grill into metal boxes that are replaced with empty ones and
wheeled back to the factory to be recycled into more candles to make more
money for the Church. Above and behind the candles in each section are
written the words in several languages: in French-Cette lumière prolonge ma
prière ["this light extends my prayer"].
The devout followers of "Mary" can also purchase Masses to be said for one's
"intention" somewhere in the world. Outside the fenced grounds, the town
streets are lined with shops whose cash registers are ringing up sales of
indulgences, crucifixes, and all manner of holy hardware that the Church has
devised for passing on blessings from the "Virgin"-at a price. Among the
biggest sellers are varying sizes of plastic bottles shaped like the "Virgin
Mary" to be filled with water from the sacred spring.
Israel's apostasy, including idol worship, is no worse than what Rome
practices and with which evangelicals have joined in ecumenical partnership.
The world is in rebellion against God, but so is the church. Proof of that
rebellion is everywhere.
In one Normandy cemetery, I stumbled heartbroken through hundreds of the
more than 9,000 stark white marble crosses marking, in perfect rows, the
graves of men who died in the June 1944 invasion that freed Europe. Each
marker bears the name, rank, outfit, and date of death. Unable to fathom
such horror, I sobbed uncontrollably, my chest heaving, crying out, "Lord,
why did you make man? You knew all the evil and suffering that would result.
What is the point of these crosses? How many of these men believed in the
Christ who died for their sins?"
Here and there was a white marble Star of David. A surprising number of
these monuments had no names but only the caption, "Here rests in honored
glory a comrade in arms known but to God." I thought of the many who were
not resting but were in agony in the flames of hell. And once more, with
heaving chest and irrepressible sobs, I gasped again and again, "Why, Lord?
Why?"
I knew that God had created man to bestow His love and blessing upon him.
This present evil world is not what God made and He cannot be blamed for it.
This is the world man has made in defiance of God, by trying to act as his
own God.
My sobs were only an echo of the cry of God's own heart-which should touch
ours. The Father grieves over this world, whether for the centuries-long
rejection of His love by His chosen ones, the Jews, or for the apostasy of
today's "Christian" church, or for the lost who thumb their noses at His
offer of forgiveness for their sins and eternal life in His presence.
Let us pray that true repentance will yet come to the church and to the
world to gladden the Father's heart and that Christ will see of the travail
of His soul and be satisfied.
We hear the lament O Jerusalem! echoing through the centuries undiminished,
though Jew and Gentile crucified Him there. Now He weeps for the entire
world. May we as envoys of His compassion do all we can to rescue as many as possible before it is forever too late.
