Anvil: An iron or steel block on which objects are hammered into shape."And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" (Zechariah 12:3).
The rebirth of the nation of Israel has been a very slow process. The process started in the 1880s and has continued right up to the present time. At times, this process seems to stop and then suddenly a world shaking event takes place that accelerates it. Jews leaving Russia and trickling back to Israel did not seem significant at first. There was just a small steady stream of them from Russia. Then came 1914 World War I and in 1917 the Balfour Declaration. Like an explosion, World War I prepared the land for the return.
The period between world wars was one of tension and terrorism. There was no apparent move of God toward fulfilling the covenant, but then came World War II and the Nazi holocaust. These events set the stage for hundreds of thousands of Jews to flee back to Israel. Almost like an explosion, there were huge numbers of Jews back in Israel. World War II certainly had prepared the people for the land.
Then came the rebirth of the nation on May 14, 1948, and the immediate war that followed. The war ended with Israeli independence, but Jerusalem a divided city. Once again there was a period of tension and terrorism. For 20 years, there seemed no end to the shelling and terrorists attacks. Next came the Six Day War in 1967, and like a bolt of lightning, Jerusalem was the united capital. Since 1967, there has been a major war, plus fighting in Lebanon , continuing terrorist attacks, and several intifadas against Israel.
Starting in September 2000, a low grade war started over Jerusalem. This war was a continuation of the fighting that started in the 1920s. Although the fighting and terrorism appears endless, there will be an end. There seems to be tension, terrorism and fighting between all the major moves of God to restore Israel. The terrorism and fighting against Israel will continue up to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem .
Jerusalem was united over 40 years ago. Now, the focus of tension is over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount area. The Bible states the possession of Jerusalem will be the cause of the last great world war. The issues involving Jerusalem will draw all the nations of the world into this battle. God is going to use Jerusalem as an anvil against the nations of the world. In September 2000, the Temple Mount became the scene of bloody combat. This could be the fuse that ignites the last world war.
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