A Windy Day in Bethlehem!
December 15, 2005
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
It was a windy day today in the city of our Savior’s birth, and all the Arab merchants were snuggled warm in their beds, hoping the tourists soon would be there.
They lit the big Christmas tree today in Manger Square, and awaited the jingle of coins for their wares.
There is only one thing that many Jews, Muslims, and Christians have as a common basis on which they will compromise their religious beliefs– it is called Mammon.
I Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
How ironic that the God who wrote this to Timothy through Paul was born in Bethlehem, which has become a city of commerce for profit to many who do not believe in him. Most of the merchants of Bethlehem have a treasure in the sales of objects relating to him, but they do not have the treasure of him living in them.
II Corinthians 4:6,7 – For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
[7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
I do not fault the tourists who go there to buy these religious objects. I have taken many groups there, but I
have never taken a kick-back from the shop owners. I have bought many gifts for my friends and family in these shops and, Lord willing, when I take my last tour there, we will visit these shops.
I merely use it as an example of where the three one-god religions of Jerusalem can meet on the common ground of money.
I look forward to the day when the same prophesied Messiah who was born there will return to Jerusalem to rule in the midst of the remnant
of his brethren. Israel rejected him as ruler on his First Advent, but will receive
him as their King on his Second Advent.
Micah 5:2,3 – But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. [3] Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children
of Israel.
Luke 1:31-33 – And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
[32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Zechariah 14:9 – And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.