Israel – A Heavy Stone!
A Warning to the Nations!
With James W. Goll
The first week of the year, I was given a vivid warning dream concerning a crucial time called “The Division of the Nations”. In this dream I was instructed that a controversy among the nations would rapidly escalate around the supporting the nation of Israel. Nation after nation (I especially saw South America, Northern Africa and Europe) were abandoning Israel right and left.
It was frightening to observe in the dream. But as the dream unfolded, there was hope in the midst of the disturbance. Suddenly, a nation arose with courage to “Pray and Take a Stand with Israel” in a troubling hour. This nation was a remnant portion of the global body of Christ which seemed to suddenly arise and choose to align with God’s Word and be Israel’s future best friend. I believe we are cross the threshold in this time called “The Division of the Nations”.
A Heavy Stone to Carry
Jerusalem is a prophetic city of great contrasts. The prophet Zechariah warned sternly:
Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.
Zechariah 12:2–3
Nations and entire empires have risen and fallen depending on how they have treated this unusual city and its inhabitants. It somehow either releases a blessing or exudes a curse, and we can choose between the two. Ultimately a day will come, the great and terrible day of the Lord, when all nations of the Earth will be caught in a divine vortex as they are gathered against Jerusalem.
In the midst of this, my prayer and expectant hope is that a body of believers will arise and be Israel’s best friend in that hour. The shout, “Israel, you are not alone,” will be heard from interceding friends whose hearts have been broken with the things that break God’s heart. Though Jerusalem is a “heavy stone to carry,” God gives grace to carry the burden. He must! It is His Kingdom way!
As for me and my house, I see no other choice than to care for Jerusalem and the destiny of her inhabitants. I want more than anything to be close to the heart of God.. I choose with honor, therefore, to pick up this stone and carry it with the love of Christ.
Recent Turbulent Events
Prominent news sources have confirmed that two Iranian warships on Tuesday were passing through the Suez Canal on route to Syria without incident, reports said, but Israeli officials have previously said that such a move would be considered a provocation. The ships entered the canal, which cuts through Egypt to connect the Middle East to Europe, at 7:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning, according to Reuters. The ships are the first Iranian naval vessels to enter the canal in more than thirty years. (If you talk to James today, ask him if he wants to include anything about the 5.9 earthquake that hit the canal just before those ships entered and actually delayed their passage - also the 4.1 in Tehran 2 days ago... - He didn't know about this till we talked yesterday afternoon after he had written this...)
What Time is It? The Countdown to Zechariah Twelve
In January of 2004, the Lord woke me up in the middle of the night and said, Watchman, tell me, what do you see? I looked up and in a visionary experience saw a clock that was not there in the natural, hanging on the bedroom wall. The time on the clock read 11:53 p.m. and above the 12 were the letters “Zech.” The Holy Spirit then said, Watchman, tell me, what do you hear? Then suddenly the external, audible voice of the Lord came: It is the countdown to Zechariah 12.
I rested in the presence of God for a while and did not move until His manifest presence withdrew. Then I turned on the light and read Zechariah 12. It is the most amazing chapter, all about a city named Jerusalem. Let’s read a portion of it together:
The burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel. Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundations of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” . . .
“In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. And . . . I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.”
Zechariah 12:1–3, 8–10
The countdown to Zechariah 12 is on. I am not saying this will happen in the next seven minutes, seven years or seventy years. What I do know is that God’s prophetic clock is moving toward a kairos moment when God’s plan for Jerusalem will be consummated. This is the final countdown!
God has a road map, and it points toward Zechariah 12:10. It is easy to identify with Zechariah 12:3 as we hear about the nations coming against Jerusalem. But read further and you will see that Zechariah 12:10 declares that God will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they will look upon the One whom they pierced and will mourn. Let’s arise and pray for Israel’s destiny!
Our Global Prayer Storm
This week in our Global Prayer Storm, let us take a combination of my teaching in “A View from My Chair” on "7 Reasons Why I Pray and Take a Stand for Israel” and the prophetic exhortation and warning listed above and let’s pray for those in authority in our own nations that they make wise decisions in these perilous days in alignment with the fear of the Lord and the Word of God. But let’s call forth the promise of this “one nation” that will arise in these days – the Body of Christ – to Pray and take a Stand with Israel.
Remember, the time of Purim is quickly coming upon us. Perhaps we were appointed for such a time as this!
Sounding an Alarm!
James W. Goll
