"But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." - Psalm 37 V11

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." - Matthew 5 V5

Jesus Christ led a humble life and he chose meek men to be His disciples. We may think that it requires a lot to be a follower of Christ and infact all it requires is submissiveness and faith. The meek shall inherit the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and live in peace, rejoicing in the glory of God. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has concluded her latest trip to the Middle East, aimed at building a consensus between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams. Rice has been pushing for the drafting of an agreement that would consolidate progress made since the Annapolis peace conference last November, and pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state under the next Israeli government. The race is now on to conclude some sort of agreement before Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert steps down in September, and before the end of term for US President George Bush in January. According to one Palestinian negotiator, meetings are now being held on a daily basis and both sides are closer than ever to a final agreement. But the issue of the status of Jerusalem is still the main sticking point. The Israeli government is seeking to have negotiation on the division of Jerusalem postponed until a later date, but Palestinians are wanting all issues resolved by the end of the year. As a compromise, the US Secretary of State has suggested formulating an agreement that gives the Palestinians a state in Judea and Samaria, and forces the Israelis to divide the capital within a timeframe of one to five years.

Quote: "The Israeli team, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, has been negotiating the division of Jerusalem – despite claims to the contrary – but would rather conclude an agreement on paper by the end of the year that would give the Palestinians a state in the West Bank, Gaza and some Israeli territory, leaving conclusions on Jerusalem for a later date, the informed diplomatic sources told WND. The sources said the Palestinian team has been pushing to conclude a deal by January on all core issues, including Jerusalem, and has been petitioning the U.S. to pressure Israel into signing an agreement on paper that offers the Palestinians eastern Jerusalem. Rice, the sources said, has asked Israeli leaders to bend to what the U.S. refers to as a "compromise position," concluding an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of the year that guarantees sections of Jerusalem to the Palestinians. But Israel would not be required to withdraw from Jerusalem for a period of one to five years.

And this is the exact situation that Bible predicted would occur during the time of the end. Zechariah 12:2-3 states that in the last days, that God would make the city of Jerusalem "a burdensome stone for all people", and "all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it". Today there is no other city that is more hotly contested than the city of Jerusalem. And the Temple Mount, which is revered by both Jews and Arabs, lies at the very heart of this conflict. It seems that the Antichrist, the leader of the revived Roman Empire, will broker some sort of agreement between Israel and her enemies (Daniel 9:26-27). He will divide the land between Jew and Arab (Daniel 11:39). But it seems that Judea and east Jerusalem will not ceded to the Gentiles at this time. Half way through the seven year period the agreement is broken, and the Gentile armies take Judea and east Jerusalem by force (Zechariah 14:2). Thus begins the three and a half year period that is known as the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). The book of Daniel states that there has never been a time of trouble like it, even since there was a nation (Daniel 12:1). And the Lord Jesus Christ adds that there has never been a time of trouble like it since the world was created, nor shall there ever be again (Matthew 24:21). But those Jewish people who have believed on Yeshua for salvation will be saved out of it.

Although these prophecies pertain to the nation of Israel in particular, the Bible states that a time of trouble is coming upon the whole world (Isaiah 24:17, Luke 21:35). The Bible warns that this coming day of judgement will come like a "thief in the night", and that when people say "peace and safety!", sudden destruction shall come upon them as upon a women with child, and they shall not escape (1st Thessalonians 5:2-3). But there is a Way of escape for all those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. Jesus Christ is coming back (John 14:3). He is coming back for those who have believed on Him for salvation (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18). Is He coming for you? Turn away from your sins. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31)

Isaiah 26:19-21
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Source WorldNetDaily

"...But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24 V15

"For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever." - Micah 4 V5

There is a time coming during the tribulation when people will have to make their choice by force if to serve God or to serve Satan. Today, the grace of God is freely available and we are free to choose if we want to serve God or not. Like the great men of God who chose to serve God from everlasting to everlasting, let us proclaim with one voice that we will serve the Lord forever and ever. Amen.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in the Middle East on a visit aimed at bridging the gaps between the positions of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli government freed 198 Palestinian terrorists this morning to coincide with her visit, a gesture of 'goodwill' to President Abbas and the peace process. The US government has been pressuring both sides into formulating an agreement that would minimize damage to the peace process as a result of the upcoming Israeli elections. They were also hoping the document could be presented at the UN General Assembly in September as evidence of progress made since the Annapolis peace conference last year. But Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has been reluctant to draft such an agreement, fearing talk about a deal could hinder her own prospects of being elected as Prime Minister. 

Quote: "Speaking to reporters as she flew to Tel Aviv, Rice suggested there was little chance of getting some kind of agreement on paper in time for the U.N. General Assembly, which begins in September. "It's extremely important just to keep making forward progress rather than trying prematurely to come to some set of conclusions," she said. "We continue to have the same goal which is to reach agreement by the end of the year. (There is) a lot of work ahead to do that and obviously it's a complicated time, but it's always complicated out here," Rice said.

Rice is also expected to discuss recent developments in Russia with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Tensions increased between the two nations this month over Israel's armament of the Georgian army. Jordan and Syria are also presently seeking to boost their economic and military ties with Russia at this time. And now a Russian fleet has been stationed at the Syrian port of Tartus for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union. The flotilla is led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, along with the Russian Navy's biggest missile cruiser Moskva, and at least four nuclear missile submarines. Syrian President Bashar Assad has also offered to place advanced Russian missiles on Syrian soil to act as a counterbalance to US missiles in stationed in Poland. Russia is still planning to host a follow-up gathering to the Annapolis peace conference in November, by which time it was hoped a Palestinian state could be established. But these latest developments will have everybody asking the question, is Russia really seeking to further peace between Israel and the Palestinians, or are they simply seeking to increase their own dominance in the Middle East? And if they cannot do this through peaceful means, will they resort to war like in Georgia?

The Bible seems to indicate that Russia will be involved in a future conflict in the Middle East. The prophet Ezekiel states that during a time of peace, the surrounding Arab nations will mount a surprise attack on the nation of Israel. The Russian army will move into the Middle East, at first to act as a protectorate to these Arab armies (Ezekiel 38:7). But the temptation will be too great. Russia will then move in an act of war against Israel, with the goal of taking a spoil for itself (Ezekiel 38:10-12). As you can see the Bible has accurately predicted not only the political and military alliances of dozens of countries several thousand years in advance, but also the wars they would wage, the reasons behind the wars and the outcome of them. I know of no other book that makes such predictions, let alone with such startling accuracy. But then why should we be surprised? The Bible is the written Word of an all-seeing and all-knowing God. It is the Word of a God Who is holy and just, Who is merciful and kind, Who desires to have a relationship with the people He has created. He loves us so much He came to earth to show us what He is like, and to provide a way whereby  we could come into relationship with Him again. Do you know Him? His name is Jesus Christ. He died for you so your sins might be forgiven. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

1st John 4:14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Source Reuters, Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post, China View, Telegraph, News Release Wire

The Temple Institute have announced the completion of the keter, or 'ornamental crown', which is to sit on top of the copper laver following its construction. The pieces of the keter were delivered and assembled at the factory in Acco, where the latest laver is presently being manufactured. The Temple Institute have already created a copper laver which was patterned after a Second Temple design by Ben Kattin. But when an anonymous donor offered to give a gift to the nation of Israel in the form of a vessel that could be used in the administration of the Third Temple, the Temple Institute decided it would be best to recreate the copper laver using the latest production technology. 

Quote: "THE BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED KETER IS THE WORK OF CHAIM ODEM, renowned Israeli metalsmith. Chaim has taken part in the design and manufacture of many of the metal vessels produced by the Temple Institute, most notably the golden menorah. For months Chaim has been busy at work on the keter, a process which began with his own artistic rendition of a crowning ornament worthy of adorning the Holy Temple-bound copper laver. Once having achieved a suitable design, Chaim then had to create moulds and templates, only after which did he begin the painstaking task of hammering by hand the design into the copper sheet.

In Old Testament times, when you first approached the Tabernacle, you had to come in through the gate. There was only one gate through which you could enter. This one gate is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture", John 10:9. And in reference to there being only one door, Jesus said, "He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber", John 10:1. There is only one way to get into heaven, and that is through the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who try to enter in some other way, either by good works or prayers or church attendance, will be found to be thieves and robbers and will not be able to enter heaven. The next thing you would see when entering the Tabernacle would be the altar of sacrifice. It was here that the children of Israel would bring their sin offerings. The life of an innocent animal would be sacrificed in the place of the guilty (Leviticus 17:11). The Apostle John declared that Jesus Christ is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world", John 1:29. The Bible says of Jesus Christ, that "God made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him", 2nd Corinthians 5:21. It is only through faith in Christ's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary that we can have access into the presence of God (Hebrews 10:12). While the altar of sacrifice speaks to us of our salvation through the blood of Christ, the laver, which is located between the altar and the Holy Place, speaks to us of daily sanctification. Before the Old Testament priests could go into the Holy Place or before they could approach the altar to administer in the sacrifices, they were required to wash their hands and their feet at the laver (Exodus 30:17-21). When it comes to the laver, it is not a case of having to have our sins forgiven, they already have been forgiven at the altar of sacrifice. It is a case of cleansing ourselves, not from sin, but from the defilement of sin. Whenever Jesus Christ stooped to wash His disciples feet, Peter said he didn't want the Lord to be washing his feet (John 13). The Lord said if He didn't wash him, then Peter could have no part with Him. Peter then asked the Lord to not only wash his feet, but his hands and his head also. But the Lord replied, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean everywhere", John 13:10. As Christians, we have already been washed from our sins in Christ's precious blood the time we trusted in Him for salvation. If our sins have already been forgiven, like the priests, we need only wash our feet to cleanse us from the defilement of the way. The washing of our feet speaks of the cleansing of our walk, or our manner of life in this world. This cleansing is not done through blood this time, but through water. The water speaks of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26). We cleanse ourselves by taking heed according to God's Word (Psalm 119:9). The washing of our hands would speak of cleansing our work, or our business in this world. Like the priests administering the Temple, this cleansing should be done on a daily basis (2nd Corinthians 4:16). Praise God that He has given us such a wonderful picture of our salvation and sanctification through the sacrifice of His beloved Son. If you haven't yet come to know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, why not trust in Him for salvation today?

Hebrews 9:11-12
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Source Temple Institute, Temple Institute