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Post by alon on Jun 13, 2021 12:04:17 GMT -8
Just received this from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews: Why Israel?Have you ever wondered that?Not the people of Israel… you know their story, from the Bible.But the LAND of Israel?The Holy Land, the ground between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, has been desired, conquered, lost, and reclaimed so many times, by so many peoples, for so many centuries.So, what makes this small strip of land in the Middle East so special?First of all, it’s the land of prophecy. Here, in Israel, Ezekiel’s words from the Bible literally came to life in 1948: “But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home” (36:8). It’s also the land of protection, where the Jewish people were granted refuge after the Holocaust and where they are free to defend themselves.Finally, it’s the land of promise, where God’s words to Abraham endure to this very day: “I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you” (Genesis 48:4).The land of Israel is holy ground. But it’s holy ground that I also call home. A home to raise my children in our faith, to observe biblical holy days, to live as God intended.I should probably be used to it by now, but whenever Israel is attacked, I take it personally. Because whenever God’s enemies attack, they’re not just attacking my beliefs about prophecies and promises, they’re attacking my home.It’s hard to explain exactly how I feel, so I want to show you what I mean. Come take a quick drive with me, from the river to the sea, to a few places near my own home in the Holy Land. Watch this video to see the Holy Land of Israel that I call home.
click.bless.ifcj.org/?qs=44f24da95d41f4637f4dff808a9e254f4da27e26f3ca800f783844a7590e40a8d2c44c339679953762d8d1e364ab5aed952bb112b661ec1f(Note: you'll have to copy and paste the link. It will take you to a page with the video imbedded. It also asks donations, and while I do believe them to be a good organization that helps Jews worldwide, they are not Messianic. So I neither recommend them nor disparage giving to them; that's an individual choice. I do however recommend them as a resource for news of Israel and worldwide when it effects the Jewish people.)Israel is rich in history – biblical history. Through the ages, she has survived against all odds. And the people of the Promised Land continue to survive – and thrive – thanks to you.With blessings from the Holy Land,Yael EcksteinPresident and CEO
Another thing I recommend people do is study the land of Israel: its' geography (which is much more than just topography), resources, and history. Then use maps whenever you study your Bible. The land itself and God Almighty are the only living witnesses to biblical history. We should make use of both resources whenever we study. The biblical accounts take place on the land, and the terrain would have greatly effected how each story developed. So would rainfall, resources (especially water), geopolitics, highways and byways (trade routes to local trails), and much more. To understand the land is to understand God's purpose for Israel and the nations.
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Post by mosheli on Jun 13, 2021 23:12:23 GMT -8
Some more possible reasons include it may have been the site of Eden.
It is on the crossroads/highways/routes of continents and ancient civilizations and two major seas/oceans.
"In its physical characteristics Palestine is unique, combining the most opposite physical features: eg maritime and inland, mountain and plain, luxuriance and desert, cold and tropical, glacial and volcanic, pastoral and arable." "There is not another spot on earth where so much of nature is focused as in this little corner. You have Alpine cold, cold and torrid heat. Here are all animals, birds, insects, plants, shells, rocks of all zones." (Which sounds similar to description of the Tiahuanaco/Tiwanaku site of Atlantis capital city.) And the climate is good. (Not so cold as north western European lands. "Businesses relocate to warmer latitudes.") It is in the 10 40 Belt or Tropic of Cancer latitude band or pyramid belt (or "lucky latitudes") where most of the world's ancient civilizations were. Some sources say the world's largest reservoir of petroleum is underneath the Dead Sea? Modern Israel has been called the bread basket of Europe? Land of milk and honey.
Geopolitically the eastern hemisphere and northern hemisphere and north-east quadrant have the majority of land and population, and the Old World is the largest land mass.
And in a star map Virgo is roughly where Israel is in a world map.
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Post by alon on Jun 14, 2021 3:50:13 GMT -8
Some more possible reasons include it may have been the site of Eden. Possible, but impossible to know from the biblical text. A lot of scholars have speculated on the location of Eden, but the fact is we lost it at the fall, and it would have been wiped out in the flood in any event. It is on the crossroads/highways/routes of continents and ancient civilizations. Yes, the ancient trade routes between Mesopotamia and Egypt all went through Israel. It was also a major sea shipping terminus right up to the Roman era and beyond. Part of the reason maps are so important. We can see God's plan, in that Israel was not meant to be a great military power. But they existed where the great powers came to them, so they could be an influence on th world. Also they were prime real estate, so their existence was never in doubt that it was their God who was responsible; just like today."In its physical characteristics Palestine is unique, combining the most opposite physical features: eg maritime and inland, mountain and plain, luxuriance and desert, cold and tropical, glacial and volcanic, pastoral and arable." "There is not another spot on earth where so much of nature is focused as in this little corner. You have Alpine cold, cold and torrid heat. Here are all animals, birds, insects, plants, shells, rocks of all zones." (Which sounds similar to description of the Tiahuanaco/Tiwanaku site of Atlantis capital city.) There are similar places. Where I live is one of them, right down to ocean ports on one side of a huge gorge resembling the rift and desert on my side of the mountains. And the region has been semi-isolated from a lot of the problems the country has faced over several decades because (I think) we have strong ties to Israel. But that has been decreasing lately, and we are feeling the effects of God withdrawing His favor. However just the state where I live is much larger than Israel, and not quite as diverse. So even we cannot claim the status of Israel there.And the climate is good? Excellent! But then, I am a desert dweller. Always have been.
Some sources say the world's largest reservoir of petroleum is underneath the Dead Sea? I've heard that. But with the technology available today to both locate and access oil reservoirs I kinda suspect they'd have the oil rigs up and going by now if it were the case.
Modern Israel has been called the bread basket of Europe? They do produce a lot of food for such a small country!
Land of milk and honey. We tend to think this was a statement that life would be easy in the land. That is what many of us were told it meant by well intentioned, but woefully misinformed Sunday School teachers. I didn't question it for years; just accepted their indoctrination as true. But then, on closer introspection ... I'm a country boy, and I can say from experience that cows are hard work, and if you want the honey be prepared to get stung. And goats, which would have been their best source of milk are a pain to work with. Almost impossible to keep them penned (they climb anything), and the Bills can be mean, even dangerous! And they stink. I do not like goats, at all!
They had plenty, as long as God sent the rains in their season. But they worked for it. They did not become wealthy until they conquered the cities on the trade routes. They became wealthy and somewhat powerful. They thought they could take care of themselves, without God, and were exiled. Just like He had told them they would be.
And in a star map Virgo is roughly where Israel is in a world map. Not sure how that is significant, but since everything in the universe is connected I suppose it is possible. Although if it is Astrology I'd be suspect, since that is a pagan practice brought back from (I believe) Babylonia. But not my thing, so I can't really speak to it.
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Post by mosheli on Jun 14, 2021 16:26:13 GMT -8
Some more possible reasons include it may have been the site of Eden. Possible, but impossible to know from the biblical text. A lot of scholars have speculated on the location of Eden, but the fact is we lost it at the fall, and it would have been wiped out in the flood in any event. And in a star map Virgo is roughly where Israel is in a world map. Not sure how that is significant, but since everything in the universe is connected I suppose it is possible. Although if it is Astrology I'd be suspect, since that is a pagan practice brought back from (I believe) Babylonia. But not my thing, so I can't really speak to it. I agree that the location of Eden is difficult to know from the bible/Tanak. But from my own occasional studies I came to conclude that Israel is the most likely location. Hoeh said that in the Cretaceous period there were 4 rivers in the Israel area. In my theory that the 4 rivers may be where the continents split and "drifted" from Israel is one of the possible locations that fit (being in between 3 continents and 2 oceans) and the Rift Valley might relate. The bible starts with Eden in Geneses and in Revelation ends with the Eden-like New Jerusalem. The Mt of Olives being cleft and two rivers flowing out is also similar to Eden. And the Gihon spring. Garden of Gethsemane parallel. Jesus dying and buried and rising in the same area as the fall was. And that Ezekiel? verses about Dead Sea becoming fresh. And the description "like the Garden of the Lord" about Siddim in Abraham's & Lot's days. I previously thought Antarctica was the location, but I came to see that it makes sense biblically that Israel is the "center of the (biblical) world" and Antarctica or anywhere else makes no sense and it just seems to feel (not surprisingly) directionless or senseless or whatever the right word is looking anywhere else (I have similar feeling with Ark of the Covenant location research). On the possible Virgo match. It is not astrology. All I meant was in this star map I have in a book I noticed that a few constellations seem to be roughly the same places as corresponding lands in a world map. Virgo is roughly where Israel is, Leo roughly where middle east is, Orion roughly where Iraq is, Draco roughly where north-west Europe &/or USA is. In Hebrew Mazzaroth and messianic/christian Virgo is virgin mother of messiah (Jesus) ("Mary", but Israel in Revelation). (Virgo holds ears of wheat in her hands, like the seed of the woman in Genesis?) Leo is lion of Judah. Orion is Kesil or Jabbir or Sah is Nimrod (though not sure what it is in Job). Draco is dragon Devil in Revelation. Genesis 1 did say for times and seasons so there might be some matches. (And 24 elders around throne of God and 12 gates of Jerusalem in Revelation resembles 12 signs around sun or earth.) But it is only very tentative theory because the star map is arbitrary where the beginning, center and end of the west and east is (as is also world map except that we know Americas is west and Old World east because in continental shift Americas was originally attached to the west side of Europe and Africa).
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Post by jimmie on Jun 15, 2021 13:21:23 GMT -8
She points out a power plant in the video. If Israel bore a tunnel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea which is 1412 feet below the Mediterranean Sea, they could built a hydroelectric power plant that would produce 2500 megawatts of power (hoover Dam produces 2080 megawatts). And the discharge would never fill the Dead Sea basin due to evaporation. The water could also be ran through a desalinization plant to provide fresh water to the region and the waste could go to the salt pools to recover salt and other minerals.
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