"Jerusalem is on the move, It leaps from hill to hill, And as it makes its way — It also makes its will."

From the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem as He looked across to the temple mount Jesus commissioned His followers, “Go into the whole world and proclaim this good news to every creature! These signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” From Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, to the uttermost parts of the earth, the holy city is still the starting point of God’s movement and announcement on the earth. No wonder Jerusalem sits as the center of desire for so many people. The ancient Jewish sages wrote that Jerusalem is “the eye of the world” a city set on a hill whose light cannot be hidden-no matter how darkness increases around it. No wonder Mohammedans marked it as the third of their holiest shrines. No wonder Christians in past ages launched campaigns to recover it for themselves. It makes perfect sense that Jews around the world pray at every festival “Next year in Jerusalem.” But whose city is it? Does Jerusalem belong to the world? Yes and no. The God of Abraham has said that He has put His name there therefore all who worship other gods have no claim to her.

From Jerusalem the shekinah went into exile in Babylon. When shall it return? From Jerusalem Christ sent forth his disciples to proclaim the gospel. When shall they see Him returning to stand on the mount in Jerusalem? On the morning immediately following the election of the present prime minister of Israel, a legal advisor to the campaign told us the plan for Jerusalem was to create a second “Vatican” city with separate passports for its citizens all under control of the UN. Believing that nothing good can come out of the UN for the good of Israel or Jerusalem, they figure that chaos would reign there causing the world to beg Israel to take her back in order to return her to peace. The blindness of their eyes is the fulfillment of Zechariah’s pledge against any who wrongly possess the city of the Great King. None the less, Jerusalem calls to the earth. There is something intangible within her that tells the soul of the traveler it has come home once one enters her gates. King David built his city on her southern boundary under the brow of the hill where his son would build God’s house. Beneath the house where God himself would settle in to live, David arose at midnight to worship and acknowledge there is only one true King of Jerusalem.

In his prayer David said, “for the sake of my brethren and my companions I will seek the good of Jerusalem.” But for all those who would divide or destroy her God has ordained Jerusalem be the stone too heavy to lift: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. In that day,” says the LORD, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.” Zechariah 12:2-4. While she remains an intoxication of varying degrees, Jerusalem is home to the whole earth. She is home for generations whose families flow down from Jews who survived the sword in the beginning of Jerusalem’s travails in the days after Christ during the temple destruction. She is home of Gentiles who claim ancestral lineage from the time of emperors and caliphates. She is home for those returning to the land at the sound of the shofar of Zionism. She is home for those whose fathers fled Muslim purges. She is home for those who came trembling out of the ashes out of Europe’s holocaust. She is home for those who clung to the barren waste and dwelt in tents following their flocks through many ages. She is home for those who have found faith and turned from the world to God.

From Jerusalem the world looks for hope. From Jerusalem the earth sings for joy. From Jerusalem peace runs forth as an emissary of unfulfilled promise. From Jerusalem renewal drops down like rain. And so we pray — and then we must work — for shalom in Jerusalem. Therefore, it still behooves all those who follow Christ today whether they are from India or Singapore or Australia or Sweden or Mexico or Brazil or America or Rome to be vigilant and to align themselves and their national interest with the good of Jerusalem for the world’s sake. No one can claim Jerusalem for their own except they first acknowledge it is the residence which God has chosen for Himself. When He sits as King the whole earth will return to rest. Therefore “Lift up your heads O ye gates and be lifted up you ever lasting doors that the King of Glory may come in! Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty…the Lord mighty in battle, He is the King of Glory!”

It has been our privilege to lead the Watchman Tour 2008 to and from Jerusalem and Israel again this year. Many of those who came along with us have already shared their testimonies, which you may read by clicking here. From the Galilee where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, healed Peter’s mother-in-law and walked on the Sea of Galilee in the midst of storms, down to the Jordan to be baptized then to float in the Dead Sea and up to view the distant hills from atop Masada, the encounters both personal and corporate left us in awe and joy! Day to day as we walked around the streets of Israel’s capitol, Jerusalem presented us all with many gifts. Our bodies were touched and renewed in miracles during the services in the holy city. Our eyes were opened to God’s wonders and work as we watched and prayed on the steps of the ancient temple mount. Our hearts were filled with new song as we entered Sabbath shalom and ate the fruits of the glorious land. We saw with our own eyes how God is pouring out his Spirit in these days in Jerusalem and in Israel as never witnessed before. Many are turning to the Lord. If Jerusalem’s casting away in times past has been salvation for the world what shall be her recovery be but life from the dead? Surely Jerusalem’s restoration shall be healing for the nations. Therefore we pray: “Welcome King of the earth. Come in King of the universe! Sit down upon your throne and reign from on high! From your throne on Zion’s summit rule the whole earth. And with the sons of Abraham we say, “Next year in Jerusalem.”

Click Here to read testimonies from this year's Watchman Tour.