Even as US Vice President Joe Biden was visiting in Israel to help in the Middle East peace process, the Israeli government announced that they would build 1600 new housing units in the Eastern section of Jerusalem, an announcement that irritated not only the vice president but the US as well.
The Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Yuli Edelstein, said that those who say we frustrated Vice President Biden by announcing building in Jerusalem do not understand that Jerusalem belongs to Israel and we plan to continue to build in the capital of the Jewish state.
Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News
The ill timed announcement of the construction of 1600 new housing units in Jerusalem may have caused frustration, but it speaks to the issue of the prophetic future for the Jewish city of Jerusalem.
PM Netanyahu did reprimand the Israeli official who announced the coming construction of 1600 new housing units to be built in Jerusalem while the vice president of the US was in Israel, however the PM never denied that this construction would take place and possibly even more housing units will be approved for Jerusalem. The Israeli PM has taken a stand that Jerusalem is the undivided, eternal capital of the Jewish people and the modern day state of Israel. This declaration by PM Netanyahu has frustrated the US administration and has irritated the Arab League and the Palestinian leadership.
However, this statement is in lockstep with Bible prophecy for the future of the city of Jerusalem. Psalm 132:13-14 states that the Lord has chosen Jerusalem to dwell among the Jewish people forever and ever. The ancient Jewish prophet Zechariah reveals that Jesus Christ is aggressively possessive of Jerusalem, He is sore displeased with those who try to change His plan for the city, and that He will return one day to Jerusalem to build His Temple there. Zechariah also told us in his prophecy that until Jesus Christ does come back to Jerusalem, the city will be the center of controversy, Zechariah 12:2-3.
As I mentioned, the Israeli announcement of new construction in Jerusalem during the visit by the US vice president may not have been wise politically, but prophetically it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
