Jewish attempted sacrifices, arrests, and Palestinian clashes on the ‘Temple Mount’: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Watching the concerning developments at #TempleMount some people clearly didn’t come to pray, they came to fight. Desecration of the holy site and the disrespect to those that want to worship #المسجد_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/9knrtofp7N

— LTC (R) Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) April 15, 2022

COGwriter

A few days ago, a group offered money to any who would attempt to sacrifice a lamb on the area called the Temple Mount (see I365: Cash rewards being offered for sacrificing Pascal lamb on Temple Mount). Some have tried to do that and have been arrested for it according to the Jerusalem Post:

Passover: Two arrested for trying to sacrifice lamb on Temple Mount

April 15, 2022

Two more Israeli activists were arrested Friday for trying to sacrifice a Pascal lamb on the Temple Mount in honor of Passover.

The activists are part of the “Hozrim Lahar” (“Returning to the Mountain”) organization, which defines itself as a “movement for the redemption of the Temple Mount” and aims to “act on the Temple Mount issue so that it does not fall into foreign hands.”

This follows four other West Bank residents and members of Hozrim Lahar that were arrested for trying to sacrifice a Pascal lamb on the Temple Mount on Wednesday. On Friday, they were released from custody under restrictive conditions. …

Each activist was required to give a deposit of NIS 500 and were not allowed to use social media regarding the attempted sacrifice. …

Two other activists were arrested Thursday afternoon in similar circumstances … https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-704286

The group that offered cash rewards for this, offered financial compensation of NIS 400 ($124) for getting arrested. And if arrested with a lamb or kid, they were offered NIS 800 ($248)–so these payment may cover the imposed fines. Sacrificing a Pascal Lamb is not a crime, but the Israeli police have detained/arrested those trying to make the sacrifice in the past–and have again done so today.

NBC posted the following about other types of arrests on the Temple Mount:

Palestinians clash with Israeli police at major holy site

April 15, 2022

JERUSALEM — Palestinians clashed with Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Friday as thousands gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Medics said more than 150 Palestinians were wounded in the most serious violence at the site in nearly a year.

The holy site, which is sacred to Jews and Muslims, has often been the epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian unrest, and tensions were already heightened amid a recent wave of violence. Clashes at the site last year helped spark an 11-day war with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

The clashes come at a particularly sensitive time. Ramadan this year coincides with Passover, a major weeklong Jewish holiday beginning Friday at sundown, and Christian holy week, which culminates on Easter Sunday.

The holidays are expected to bring tens of thousands of faithful into Jerusalem’s Old City, home to major sites sacred to all three religions.

Hours after the clashes began, the police said they had put an end to the violence and arrested “hundreds” of suspects. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/clashes-break-jerusalem-holy-site-59-palestinians-hurt-rcna24517

Related to that particular clash with Hamas last year, in CCOG’s Letter to the Brethren: May 20, 2021, I wrote:

Do not forget that the Bible says to, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalms 122:6)

Later that day a ceasefire was announced that went into effect early the next day (see Israel-Hamas enter cease-fire deal, but great damage will later come to Jerusalem).

We should pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

This can result in temporary cessation of hostilities.

Yet, in this age, we will not see permanent peace in Jerusalem.

Now, in the same Letter to the Brethren: May 20, 2021 last year, I also had the following related to Jerusalem:

the Bible … also warns that it will experience “great damage” (cf. Isaiah 22:6-9). Such “great damage” may be a precursor for the coming ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27.

Specifically, here is the biblical warning that God inspired Isaiah to record:

6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots,And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. (Isaiah 22:6-9)

Elam is a reference to at least some in Iran. Kir is a reference to at least some in Syria as well as perhaps some who refer to themselves as Palestinian. The Bible tells that after Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took over Damascus, he moved Syrians to Kir. While this does not mean that Kir must (or must only) be a reference to Syria, the fact that Syria is an ally of Iran is interesting. Some believe Kir is an area in the south of Iran, while others suggest closer to the Black Sea. The Bible tells of a time when Kir will be destroyed (Isaiah 15:1b) and also says that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). This destruction might happen around the time Jerusalem experiences massive damage.

In Isaiah 22: 8, “Judah” is a reference to those in the land commonly called Israel–God will allow Israel to be attacked! In Isaiah 22:9, consider that “the damage to the city of David” is a reference to at least part of Jerusalem (cf. 2 Kings 9:28)–and notice that the damage will be great.

Israel’s famed ‘Iron Dome’ and military prowess will NOT stop the coming great damage that will hit Jerusalem, despite Israeli confidence.

That being said, an age will come where there will be lasting peace in Jerusalem.

Notice something published over 50 years ago by the old Worldwide Church of God:

Jerusalem the Capital City …

Jerusalem will be the showcase city of the whole world. In the World Tomorrow it will be the world capital and the model city from which all other cities will get their example. It will be fabulous beyond description.

Jesus Christ, as Chief Ruler, will make His dwelling there. With Him will be many other high-ranking Spirit Rulers and assistants who will help Him administer God’s World Government.

Here are a few highlights of what Jerusalem will be like then:

“Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion [a part of Jerusalem], on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge” (Psalm 48:2-3).

“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined” (Psalm 50:2).

“Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited” (Zech. 14:11).

“Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls [without the need of armed defense) for the multitude of men and cattle therein” (Zech. 2:4).

The gates of Jerusalem will be open day and night (Isa. 60:11) so that the various peoples and nations can bring gold, silver and valuable materials into it. They will be richly blessed for doing this, and those who refuse will be “utterly wasted” (verse 12).

All kinds of rare woods will be brought “to beautify the place of my [God’s) sanctuary, and I [God) will make the place of my feet glorious” (verse 13).

Jerusalem will be called “The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel” and it will be made “an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations” (verses 14-15).

“For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” (verses 17-18).

“Thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city” (Isa. 1:26).

Truly, “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God” (Psalm 87:3)!

Delegations from all nations will go up to Jerusalem to worship, to offer praise and thanksgiving, to be spiritually uplifted and inspired, and to receive instruction from God and His servants.

“Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together [skyscrapers]: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces” (Psalm 122:3-7).

“It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord” (Zech. 8:20-22).

This is what Jerusalem will be like … (Walter EM. An Exciting Preview of TOMORROW’S CITIES. Tomorrows World, March-April 1970)