Why
Jerusalem ?

Jerusalem/Israel: apple of discord in the world - the eyeball of God

Already in the 19th century BC the city is mentioned in Egyptian texts. Around 1000 B.C. King Solomon built the Temple of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a central focus in world history and the history of religion. For Judaism and Christianity the capital of Israel is the most important city. (The Palestinians have also made Jerusalem their capital.)

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In 1922, the League of Nations recognized "the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and the basis for the restoration of their national homeland in that country". According to the UN General Assembly Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" (UNDRIP) of 2007 and 2010, the descendants of the Israelites as an indigenous people have a right to their Biblical land in Judea and Samaria, because they were once born there as indigenous people. Nevertheless, in December 2016, the UN Security Council condemned Israel in Resolution 2334 for building illegal settlements in Judea and Samaria. However, this UN resolution violates not only the UNDRIP of 2007, but also the British Mandate of 1922 and other preceding treaties and declarations such as the "Balfour Declaration" (1917) or the "San Remo Resolution" (1920).

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Jerusalem is geographically and spiritually the capital of the Jewish and Christian history and has gained enormously in importance with the foundation of the state of Israel on May 14, 1948, immediately after World War II, which was unexpected for the whole world. How much this was a thorn in the side of the neighbouring states was shown in their attack immediately the following night. Five countries attacked the newly founded state.

God holds fast to His people Israel as a whole and does not take away their significance and election, and, at the same time, makes the covenant promised by the prophets with Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus (Luke 22,20).

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The modern state of Israel is to be understood and accepted as the second fulfillment (after the first was the return from Babylon) of countless biblical promises of God to his first-chosen people. In addition, Jerusalem has an essential role and significance. On the basis of many scriptural passages (such as Ps 132,13-18 /Zech. 3,2/Ez 5,5/ Matth 5,35) it is clear that Jerusalem is the place chosen by God for its specific dwelling among human beings. Sure, he is everywhere, but in Jerusalem he does things that he does nowhere else.

Jesus, too, will return there and will guide, teach and rule the nations from there (Mat 23,39 / Is 2,1-5). From this point of view, we invite you to a sincere rethinking; we Christians often have spiritualized the reality of Israel and thus depoliticized and downplayed it. For thousands of years Jews were also excluded, persecuted and killed by Christians, as in the Holocaust, where 6 million Jews were brutally murdered. Where this has happened, we have opposed the understanding and feeling of the Bible.

From a biblical point of view, Jews and Christians are like two brothers. God chose a people in the Jews; this election is still valid today.

The Jerusalem Prayer Switzerland Association rejects the replacement theology* that is still widespread today, but advocates that both Jews and Christians form God's people and belong together.

(Text taken in part from: "The relationship between Israel and the nations", Rev., Dr. H.J. Kägi, Oelbaumgroup, unpublished)

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