Jesus gave us many signs that we can watch out for. An open mind, a prayerful heart, a simple reading of the Scriptures and the ability to see what is happening in the world are all what is needed to interpret these signs. Of these signs the most important is Jerusalem. What happens there reaches our homes instantly and therefore easy to monitor.

Why Jerusalem?

Jerusalem is God's chosen place for Himself. It is where His dwelling was and where His throne will be in the future (Jeremiah 3:17). It is the city of God, the great King (Matthew 5:35). God has set Jerusalem in the center of the nations with countries around her (Ezekiel 5:5). That much about the importance of Jerusalem.

1. Jerusalem's strategic importance in God's end time plans
   

   The Bible asks us to ``Pray for the peace of Jerusalem'' and also declares: ``For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity'' (Psalm 122:6a, 9 NIV). Yes, Jerusalem is important to God.

   And Jesus, in the context of describing the signs of the end times, said: ``When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near'' (Luke 21:20). This statement calls attention to the fact that Jerusalem and its fortunes play a very important role in end-time events. Therefore, know that the rest of world history is going to be scripted on the fortunes of this one single city in the world.

   Jesus, the Son of God, was rejected, humiliated and crucified there. But He will reign there one day!

   Then: ``And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son'' (Zechariah 12:10 NIV).

   Finally, Jerusalem will own Jesus whom they rejected and crucified. They will accept Him as their Messiah, their Savior, Deliverer, Redeemer and King, the Son of David; the Lion of the tribe of Judah!

2. Jerusalem as the KEY to World Peace
   

   If you switch on the TV, almost everyday you'll find Jerusalem in the news. For some reason or the other it will be featured in the news.

   Have you ever wondered why it is so? The answer is found in the Bible. God said long ago, ``On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves'' (Zechariah 12:3 NIV).

   This is the simple reason why the world is divided on Jerusalemthe bone of contention. Peace processes will stumble on this one rock because God in His wisdom has kept Jerusalem as a cause of division in the world. More importantly, Jerusalem is God's reminder to the world that it cannot have peace without acknowledging God and His plans!

   And lasting peace will come to this city only when Jesus, the Prince of Peace; King of Kings and Lord of Lords, shall reign there in righteousness. At that time what the Bible predicted centuries ago will come to pass: ``And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE'' (Ezekiel 48:35b NIV).

   God's Final Marvel

   ``I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband'' (Revelation 21:2 NIV).

3. Jerusalem and Mount of Olives
   

   There is a second phase to Jesus' second coming. The first phase occurs when Jesus appears in the clouds and takes His children back to heaven.

   The second phase happens after a brief period of time (7 years)^*.

   At the end of that time of 7 years Jesus will come and stand on Mt. Olives. And Mt. Olives is near the city of Jerusalem. Both the Old Testament and New Testament testify to this.

   ``Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem ...'' (Zechariah 13:3,4a NIV).

   As Jesus was taken up to heaven the disciples kept looking intently into the sky. Then heavenly messengers asked them: `` `Men of Galilee'', they said, ``why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.' Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city' '' (Acts 1: 11,12 NIV).

   The Mount of Olives, being so near Jerusalem, is of strategic importance in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Hence, Jerusalem will continue to be the focus of attention in the days to come.

1. During that period between the first phase (also known as the Rapture) and the second phase when Jesus comes and stands on the earth, there will be a 3 ½ period of great peace and prosperity on earth under the rule of the Antichrist. This rule will probably be accepted by the world through some kind of peace treaty he will be able to make with Israel. We need to remember that a real peace treaty that the Anitchrist might have been able to make with the land of Israel at the beginning of his rule would exalt him as a great person in the eyes of the world. Also, when he is healed of a fatal wound, ``The whole world was astonished and followed the beast'' says Revelation 13:3 b NIV.

After 3 ½ years the Antichrist would show to the world that he has been empowered by Satan himself. Then will occur a reign of terror and lawlessness for the next 3 ½ years. The Bible describes the Antichrist as a man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:812). The Jewish people will suffer much during this period.

The prophet also declares: ``He (the Antichrist) will speak against the Most High and oppress saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time [that means, for a year, two years and half a year totalling 3 ½ years]'' (Daniel 7:25 NIV).

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