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The Gate to Prophecy :: Dr. David R. Reagan

Published on: by RR2

Why is the Eastern Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem closed, and what does it have to do with Bible prophecy?

The Eastern Gate in the old walled city of Jerusalem has a very special place in my heart, for it was that gate which God used to open my eyes to His Prophetic Word.

The year was 1967. The occasion was the Six Day War. As the fate of the new state of Israel hung in the balance, I searched the newspapers daily for any information I could find about the war. The turning point came on June 7 when the Israeli army broke through the Lion’s Gate and returned control of the ancient city of Jerusalem to the Jewish people for the first time in 1,897 years.

A Mysterious Remark

The next day I read a fascinating news account about one of the Jewish commando groups that had been involved in the assault on the city. The article stated that some members of the group had suggested catching the Jordanian defenders of the city off guard by blowing open the sealed Eastern Gate. But the leader of the group, an Orthodox Jew, had vehemently protested the idea, stating that “the Eastern Gate can be opened only when the Messiah comes.”

That statement caught my eye. I wondered what the fellow was talking about. I knew nothing about the Eastern Gate except that it was the only gate of the city that led directly onto the Temple Mount. I was not aware that it was sealed, nor did I know that its opening was in any way biblically linked to the return of the Messiah.

A Remarkable Prophecy

I decided to do some research on the matter, and that decision initiated my study of Bible prophecy. I had been attending church for 30 years, but like most Christians, I knew nothing about Bible prophecy. The topic was generally ignored by the preachers in the church I grew up in.

My concordance quickly directed me to the passage that the Orthodox Jew had alluded to. I found it in Ezekiel 44. The context is a supernatural tour the Lord is giving Ezekiel of the future Millennial Temple (40:1-3).

In chapter 43 the Lord gives Ezekiel a vision of God’s glory entering the Millennial Temple from the east, through the Eastern Gate. The Lord then says to Ezekiel: “Son of Man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of my feet where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever” (43:7).

The Lord then reveals to Ezekiel that the Eastern Gate will be closed and will not be reopened until the Messiah returns in glory (44:1-3).

A Momentous Decision

This prophecy was partially fulfilled more than 400 years ago in 1517 when the Turks conquered Jerusalem under the leadership of Suleiman the Magnificent. He commanded that the city’s ancient walls be rebuilt, and in the midst of this rebuilding project, for some unknown reason, he ordered that the Eastern Gate be sealed up with stones.

Legends abound as to why Suleiman closed the Gate. The most believable one is that while the walls were being rebuilt, a rumor swept Jerusalem that the Messiah was coming. Suleiman called together some Jewish rabbis and asked them to tell him about the Messiah. They described the Messiah as a great military leader who would be sent by God from the east. He would enter the Eastern Gate and liberate the city from foreign control.

Suleiman then decided to put an end to Jewish hopes by ordering the Eastern Gate sealed. He also put a Muslim cemetery in front of the Gate, believing that no Jewish holy man would defile himself by walking through a Muslim cemetery.

A Prophetic Symbol

The Gate has remained sealed since that time. The Muslim cemetery still blocks the entrance. The old walled city has eight gates, and the Eastern Gate, and it alone, is sealed — just as prophesied in Ezekiel 44. The world would call that an “amazing coincidence.” I call it a “God-incidence.”

The Eastern Gate is proof positive that the Bible is the Word of God. Its sealing is clear evidence that we are living in the end times. The Gate awaits the return of the Messiah. Then and only then, will it be opened.

An Exciting Vision

I have a vision of what that glorious day will be like. It is related to the Lord’s First Coming. I believe Jesus is going to replay His triumphal entry into Jerusalem when He returns.

When He came the first time, Jesus rode a donkey from the Mount of Olives down into the Kidron Valley and up to the Eastern Gate where He entered the Temple Mount for His last days of teaching. As He made that ride, the Valley of Kidron was filled with thousands of admirers who had heard about the resurrection of Lazarus. They waved palm branches and chanted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Within a few days that same fickle crowd was shouting, “Crucify Him!”

We are told in Revelation 19 that when Jesus returns He will come as a victorious military conqueror, riding through the air on a supernatural white horse. In Isaiah 61 we are told that He will come from the east, and in Zechariah 14 we are told that he will touch ground on the Mount of Olives.

Revelation 19:14 says that all the Redeemed will come with the Lord. Think of it! You and I will be there to witness the Lord’s return. Zechariah 14 says He will speak a word that will supernaturally destroy the Anti-Christ and his forces.

Then, I believe we will witness a replay of the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. With angels hovering above and millions of the Redeemed filling the Kidron Valley, Jesus will ride up to the Eastern Gate on His white horse, and as He approaches the Gate, it will blow open. He will then enter the City of David, and to the triumphant shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David,” He will be crowned the Kings of kings and the Lord of lords.

I believe that’s what Psalm 24 is all about when it says:

Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle . . . The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.

Why Should I? :: by Grant Phillips

Published on: by RR2

We have developed a mindset in today’s society which says we need to adjust our thinking and lifestyle to fit what is commonly accepted. In doing so, we have those who wish to change the Constitution; the foundation of this country, to fit what we think it should say, instead of what it plainly says and does not say. No less is also attributed to God’s Word, the Bible.

When an apostate, Christian in name only, society applies this liberal thinking to the Holy Scriptures, religious chaos raises its ugly head and reigns supreme. Churches become watered down social gatherings with no real power from God. I am convinced that more and more true Christians are seeing this and becoming alarmed at what is happening to most of the local churches that were once bastions of Truth. From what I hear from others, and from my own experience, it is becoming nigh to impossible to find a Bible believing, Bible teaching local church, and expository Bible teaching is all but extinct.

The local churches of America, despite their differences of opinion on non-critical issues, should be light houses for their respective communities. For an example, there was once a time when the Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians were in sync with the doctrine of salvation. (Now I’m not saying that no one else got it right on the doctrine of salvation. I’m just using these three as an example.) Now all three of these denominations are having problems in some areas that aren’t just a disagreement among themselves on minor issues, but is an attack on God by dishonoring His Word. Of these three denominations, and others who claim the name of Jesus Christ, some have strayed further than others. This ought not so to be.

Expanding this thought to all churches who claim Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, there may be a difference of opinion on lesser issues, for example, but there should be no disagreement on issues such as; support of Israel, the virgin birth, salvation through Jesus only, Christ death burial and resurrection, homosexuality, same sex marriage, pedophilia, sex before marriage, living together apart from marriage, prosperity preaching, and probably a hundred other matters of great importance. What has happened?

Over time the true Gospel has been so watered down by self-serving people, society has developed an attitude of “Why should I concern myself with religious matters? If there is a God, he is supposed to be a God of love. So everything will work out fine.” Think so?

“Why should I listen to preachers? That’s their opinion, and they just want my money anyway.” They’re not all that way.

“Why should I go to church? They’re all hypocrites.” Not all of them.

“Church people don’t know how to have fun.” What kind of “fun” are you talking about?

“Church people are so depressing.” Only a few.

“Why should I read the Bible? It’s just an outdated old book.” Have you ever read it? I didn’t think so.

“Church people are too judgmental.” Feeling guilty are you? What are you doing?

Let’s just hit one issue: Why should I read the Bible? It is common knowledge from the Scriptures, at least among those who actually study the Scriptures, that if you are not a child of God, the Scriptures are not going to make much sense to you.

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” (1 Corinthians 1:23)

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

So why read the Bible? I’ll give you two reasons.

(1) You have listened to what everyone else has to say; from your family, friends, teachers, celebrities, politicians, TV shows, movies, etc. Hundreds of people have influenced your thinking about God.

 

(2) Have you ever actually listened to what God has to say? You mean to say that you will condemn God and all He says based on what other people say, but never listen to what He has to say? That’s amazing!

How would you like it if everyone formed their opinion about you based on what everyone else said instead of what you have to say?

Is it not true, that the best place to obtain the facts is at the source and from those who are acquainted with the source? I know it’s true. In my secular occupation, I have spent many years having to obtain the facts, and that’s the only way to get them.

If I did not know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, I would at least want to know what HE has to say about my eternal destiny.

Others say there is no eternity. You die. That’s it. Just nothingness. Is that true? Since the subject of eternity after death has been brought up, wouldn’t it be logical to want to know who is correct on this most important issue? Why would I just listen to one side and not the other? That makes no sense!

Many people in our society say; it’s okay to live together and not be married, abortion is a woman’s right, homosexuality is all about love. Okay, you have listened to what society says. Have you actually listened to what God has to say about it? It doesn’t matter what someone TOLD you was in the Bible, the question is; have YOU read it for yourself? If you have read it, do you just “pick and choose?” Have you actually read it all?

I truly believe that if anyone will go before God with a sincere attitude of wanting to know the truth, He will reveal it.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

But if you go before Him with your mind made up, or with an attitude of proving Him wrong, you will miss the mark. He will reveal nothing to you. You will die in your sin, and then face Him in judgment.

Why don’t we just toss aside the “Why should I” remarks, and replace it with, “Why not?”

Grant Phillips