🌎 Kingdom Nations Series – Part 134
🇵🇸 Chapter 1 – Part 1
Palestine: The Land of Promise, Prophets, and the Prince of Peace
Ancient Canaan, the Patriarchs, Israel and Judah, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Ministry of Jesus, Early Christianity, Roman and Byzantine Rule, the Rise of Islam, the Crusades, Ottoman Palestine, the British Mandate, 1948, 1967, the Palestinian National Movement, Gaza and the West Bank, Palestinian Christianity, the Holy Land, and Palestine's Kingdom Calling
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." — Matthew 5:9
Introduction
Few places on earth carry as much historical, biblical, spiritual, and political significance as:
Palestine.
The land lies at the crossroads of:
Asia.
Africa.
The Mediterranean world.
And:
Arabia.
Its history reaches through:
Ancient Canaan.
The patriarchs.
Abraham.
Isaac.
Jacob.
The Exodus.
Israelite settlement.
The kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Jerusalem.
Bethlehem.
Hebron.
Nazareth.
Galilee.
Samaria.
The ministry of Jesus Christ.
The crucifixion.
The resurrection.
The birth of Christianity.
Roman rule.
Byzantine Christianity.
The rise of Islam.
The Crusades.
Mamluk rule.
The Ottoman Empire.
World War I.
The British Mandate.
The rise of Zionism.
The Palestinian national movement.
The creation of Israel in 1948.
The Palestinian refugee crisis.
The 1967 war.
The West Bank.
Gaza.
Jerusalem.
The Oslo process.
The Palestinian Authority.
Hamas.
Palestinian Christianity.
And the continuing search for:
justice, security, peace, reconciliation, and human dignity.
This is not merely a political territory.
It is a land whose history is woven into:
the Bible.
The Name Palestine
The modern political and geographic use of the name:
Palestine
has a long and complicated history.
Philistines
The name is related historically to:
the Philistines
who lived along portions of the southern coastal plain in antiquity.
Roman Palestine
After the Jewish revolt known as the:
Bar Kokhba Revolt
the Roman administration used the provincial name:
Syria Palaestina
Historical Names
Different periods used different names for parts of the land, including:
Canaan.
Israel.
Judah.
Judea.
Samaria.
Galilee.
Syria Palaestina.
Palaestina.
The Holy Land.
Palestine.
A Land of Many Peoples
The land has been home to:
Canaanites.
Israelites.
Judeans.
Samaritans.
Philistines.
Greeks.
Romans.
Byzantines.
Arabs.
Crusaders.
Turks.
Jews.
Palestinian Arabs.
Christians.
Muslims.
Druze.
and many other communities.
Geography
Palestine lies along the:
eastern Mediterranean.
Mediterranean Sea
The western boundary of the historic region is:
the Mediterranean Sea.
Jordan River
The:
Jordan River
runs through the land.
Sea of Galilee
The:
Sea of Galilee
is one of the most important geographical features of northern Israel and the wider biblical land.
Dead Sea
The:
Dead Sea
lies at the lowest elevations on Earth's exposed land surface.
Jordan Valley
The:
Jordan Valley
runs north to south.
Judean Hills
The:
Judean Hills
contain:
Jerusalem.
Bethlehem.
Hebron.
Mediterranean Plain
The coastal plain contains:
Major population centers.
Agricultural land.
Ports.
Negev
The:
Negev Desert
extends through the southern portion of the historic land.
Galilee
Northern Palestine and Israel contain:
Galilee.
Galilee
Galilee is especially important because it was the setting for much of:
Jesus' ministry.
Nazareth
Nazareth
was the hometown of:
Jesus.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem
is traditionally recognized as:
The birthplace of Jesus.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
is one of the world's most sacred cities.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is holy to:
Judaism.
Christianity.
Islam.
Three Faiths
Few cities carry comparable importance for:
Three major world religions.
Hebron
Hebron
is traditionally associated with:
Abraham.
Hebron
The:
Cave of the Patriarchs
is revered by:
Jews.
Muslims.
Jericho
Jericho
is among the world's oldest continuously inhabited urban centers.
Ancient Canaan
Before Israelite settlement, the land was inhabited by:
Canaanite peoples.
Canaanites
Canaanite society included:
Cities.
Kings.
Farmers.
Merchants.
Priests.
Canaanite Religion
Canaanite religion included worship of:
Baal.
Asherah.
El.
And other deities.
Abraham
The biblical story begins with:
Abraham.
Abraham
According to Genesis, God called Abraham from:
Mesopotamia.
Covenant
God established a covenant with:
Abraham.
Genesis 12
"I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing."
The Promise
The biblical narrative connects Abraham's descendants with:
The land.
Isaac
Abraham's son was:
Isaac.
Jacob
Isaac's son was:
Jacob.
Israel
Jacob was given the name:
Israel.
Twelve Tribes
Jacob's sons became associated with:
the twelve tribes of Israel.
Joseph
Joseph was sold into:
Egypt.
Egypt
The descendants of Jacob eventually became:
A large population in Egypt.
Moses
God called:
Moses
to lead Israel out of:
Egypt.
Exodus
The:
Exodus
became one of the foundational stories of:
Biblical Israel.
Mount Sinai
At:
Mount Sinai
Israel received:
The covenant.
Torah
The Torah became foundational to:
Israelite life.
Joshua
After Moses, leadership passed to:
Joshua.
Canaan
Joshua led the Israelites into:
Canaan.
Israelite Settlement
Israelite settlement developed over centuries through:
Tribal communities.
Judges
Before the monarchy, Israel was governed through:
judges.
Deborah
One of the most famous judges was:
Deborah.
Gideon
Another was:
Gideon.
Samson
Samson
became one of the most famous figures of the period.
Samuel
The prophet:
Samuel
played a major role in the transition to:
Monarchy.
Saul
Israel's first king was:
Saul.
David
David became Israel's greatest early king.
Jerusalem
David captured:
Jerusalem
and established it as his royal city.
City of David
Jerusalem became:
The political center of Israel.
Davidic Covenant
The biblical tradition describes a covenant with:
David.
Solomon
David's son:
Solomon
became king.
Temple
Solomon built:
the First Temple
in Jerusalem.
Temple Worship
Jerusalem became the center of:
Israelite worship.
Kingdom Divided
After Solomon's death, the kingdom divided.
Israel
The northern kingdom was called:
Israel.
Judah
The southern kingdom was:
Judah.
Samaria
Samaria became the capital of:
The northern kingdom.
Assyria
The northern kingdom was conquered by:
Assyria
in:
722 BC
Judah
Judah survived longer.
Babylon
Jerusalem was conquered by:
Babylon
in:
586 BC
Temple Destroyed
The First Temple was destroyed.
Exile
Many Judeans were taken into:
Babylonian exile.
Prophets
The exile produced some of the Bible's greatest:
Prophetic writings.
Isaiah
Isaiah
prophesied concerning:
Judgment.
Restoration.
The coming Messiah.
Jeremiah
Jeremiah
warned Jerusalem before its destruction.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel
ministered among the exiles.
Daniel
Daniel
became a symbol of:
Faithfulness in exile.
Return
The Persian Empire conquered Babylon.
Cyrus
Cyrus the Great
allowed exiled peoples to return.
Second Temple
The Jewish community rebuilt:
The Temple.
Ezra
Ezra
helped restore:
Torah-centered community life.
Nehemiah
Nehemiah
helped rebuild:
Jerusalem's walls.
Greek Rule
Alexander the Great conquered the region.
Hellenistic Period
Greek culture became increasingly influential.
Maccabees
Jewish resistance against Seleucid rule produced:
the Maccabean Revolt.
Hasmonean Kingdom
The revolt eventually produced:
A period of Jewish independence.
Rome
Rome conquered the region.
Herod the Great
Herod the Great
became Rome's client king.
Herod
Herod expanded and rebuilt:
The Jerusalem Temple.
Temple Expansion
The Second Temple complex became one of the ancient world's great:
Architectural achievements.
Jesus
Then:
Jesus Christ
was born.
Bethlehem
The Gospel of Matthew and Luke connect Jesus' birth with:
Bethlehem.
Nazareth
Jesus grew up in:
Nazareth.
Galilee
He began His public ministry in:
Galilee.
Sea of Galilee
Many of Jesus' miracles and teachings occurred around:
the Sea of Galilee.
Capernaum
Capernaum
became an important center of Jesus' ministry.
Sermon on the Mount
Jesus delivered teachings including:
the Sermon on the Mount.
Beatitudes
He taught:
"Blessed are the peacemakers."
Kingdom of God
Jesus proclaimed:
the Kingdom of God.
Miracles
The Gospels record Jesus healing:
The sick.
The blind.
The lame.
The demonized.
Disciples
Jesus called:
Twelve apostles.
Peter
One of the central apostles was:
Peter.
James
Another was:
James.
John
Another was:
John.
Matthew
The former tax collector:
Matthew
became one of the apostles.
Judas
Jesus was betrayed by:
Judas Iscariot.
Jerusalem
Jesus entered:
Jerusalem
before His crucifixion.
Temple
He taught in the:
Temple.
Passover
His final days occurred during:
Passover.
Last Supper
Jesus celebrated the:
Last Supper
with His disciples.
Gethsemane
He prayed at:
Gethsemane.
Crucifixion
Jesus was crucified in:
Jerusalem.
Golgotha
The crucifixion is traditionally associated with:
Golgotha.
Resurrection
The central claim of Christianity is:
Jesus rose from the dead.
Empty Tomb
The Gospels describe:
An empty tomb.
Resurrection
Christianity was born proclaiming:
the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Pentecost
The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in:
Jerusalem.
Early Church
Jerusalem became the birthplace of:
The Christian Church.
Peter
Peter preached publicly in:
Jerusalem.
Acts
The:
Book of Acts
records the expansion of Christianity.
Stephen
Stephen
became the first Christian martyr recorded in Acts.
Paul
Paul
became Christianity's great missionary to:
The nations.
Damascus Road
Paul encountered Christ on the road to:
Damascus.
Gentiles
The Christian movement expanded beyond:
The Jewish people.
Jerusalem Council
The early Church wrestled with:
Jewish and Gentile identity.
Christianity Spreads
Christianity spread throughout:
The Roman Empire.
Roman Destruction
Jewish revolt against Rome led to:
The destruction of Jerusalem's Temple.
70 AD
The Second Temple was destroyed in:
70 AD
Bar Kokhba
Another major Jewish revolt occurred:
132–135 AD
Hadrian
Roman Emperor:
Hadrian
suppressed the revolt.
Syria Palaestina
Rome subsequently used:
Syria Palaestina
as the provincial designation.
Byzantine Period
Christianity eventually became dominant in the:
Roman Empire.
Byzantine Palestine
The region became an important center of:
Christian pilgrimage.
Bethlehem
Churches were built at sites associated with:
Jesus' life.
Church of the Nativity
The:
Church of the Nativity
was built in Bethlehem.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem became a major:
Christian pilgrimage center.
Holy Sepulchre
The:
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
became one of Christianity's most sacred churches.
Monasticism
Christian monks established communities throughout:
The desert.
Desert Fathers
The Judean desert became a center of:
Christian asceticism.
Christianity and Palestine
The land became:
The Holy Land.
Islam
In the seventh century, the region entered:
The Islamic world.
Arab Conquest
Arab Muslim armies conquered Palestine from:
Byzantine rule.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem became important in:
Islamic tradition.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
The:
Al-Aqsa Mosque
stands on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.
Dome of the Rock
The:
Dome of the Rock
was completed in:
691–692 AD
Islamic Jerusalem
Jerusalem became sacred to:
Muslims.
Three Holy Cities
Jerusalem became one of Islam's most important sacred places, alongside:
Mecca.
Medina.
Palestinian Christianity
Christian communities continued living in:
The land.
Arab Christians
Arabic-speaking Christians became an important part of:
Palestinian society.
Christian Presence
Christianity never completely disappeared from:
Palestine.
Crusades
In:
1099
Crusader forces captured:
Jerusalem.
Crusader States
European Christian kingdoms established:
Crusader states.
Crusader Kingdom
The:
Kingdom of Jerusalem
became the most important.
Saladin
The Muslim ruler:
Saladin
defeated the Crusaders at:
Hattin
in:
1187
Jerusalem Retaken
Saladin retook:
Jerusalem.
Richard the Lionheart
The:
Third Crusade
followed.
Crusader Legacy
The Crusades left deep memories among:
Christians.
Muslims.
Jews.
Mamluks
The:
Mamluks
eventually controlled the region.
Ottoman Empire
In:
1516
the Ottoman Empire conquered Palestine.
Ottoman Palestine
Palestine remained under Ottoman rule for approximately:
Four centuries.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem remained an important:
Religious center.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem remained important to:
Christians.
Hebron
Hebron remained sacred to:
Jews.
Muslims.
Jewish Communities
Jewish communities continued living in:
Jerusalem.
Hebron.
Safed.
Tiberias.
Palestinian Arab Society
Arab Muslim and Christian communities developed:
Agricultural.
Urban.
Religious.
and:
Commercial
life.
Nineteenth Century
European interest in the Holy Land increased.
Pilgrimage
Christian pilgrimage increased.
Archaeology
European archaeologists increasingly studied:
Biblical sites.
Jewish Immigration
Jewish immigration from Europe increased during the:
Late nineteenth century.
Zionism
Modern:
Zionism
developed as a Jewish national movement.
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
became one of modern political Zionism's most important figures.
Jewish Homeland
Zionism sought:
A Jewish homeland.
Palestine
For many Zionists, the historic land of Israel/Palestine was central to:
Jewish national aspirations.
Arab Population
Palestine already had a large:
Arabic-speaking population.
Nationalism
Palestinian Arab political identity developed increasingly during:
The late Ottoman and Mandate periods.
World War I
The Ottoman Empire entered:
World War I.
British Campaign
British forces defeated Ottoman forces in:
Palestine.
General Allenby
Edmund Allenby
captured Jerusalem in:
1917
British Mandate
After the war, Britain received the:
Mandate for Palestine.
Balfour Declaration
In:
1917
Britain had issued the:
Balfour Declaration
supporting a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine while also stating that the rights of existing non-Jewish communities should not be prejudiced.
Contradictory Promises
The postwar period contained:
Conflicting political commitments.
Jewish Immigration
Jewish immigration increased.
Palestinian Arab Opposition
Many Palestinian Arabs opposed:
Zionist immigration.
British policy.
Riots
Communal violence occurred repeatedly.
Arab Revolt
The:
1936–1939 Arab Revolt
challenged British rule and Zionist immigration.
British Response
Britain suppressed the revolt.
White Paper
Britain later issued a policy restricting:
Jewish immigration.
World War II
The Holocaust transformed the political situation.
Holocaust
Nazi Germany murdered approximately:
Six million Jews.
Displaced Jews
After the war, international pressure for:
Jewish refuge and statehood
increased.
United Nations
In:
1947
the United Nations proposed:
A partition plan.
Partition Plan
The plan proposed separate:
Jewish.
and:
Arab
states.
with Jerusalem under a special international arrangement.
Civil War
Violence intensified.
1948
In:
1948
Britain ended its mandate.
Israel
The State of:
Israel
declared independence.
Arab-Israeli War
Neighboring Arab states entered the war.
Palestinian Nakba
For Palestinians, 1948 is remembered as:
the Nakba
or:
catastrophe.
Displacement
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians became:
Refugees.
Villages
Many Palestinian villages were:
Depopulated or destroyed.
Refugees
Palestinian refugees were dispersed across:
Jordan.
Lebanon.
Syria.
The West Bank.
Gaza.
Other countries.
Human Tragedy
Both Jewish and Palestinian histories contain:
Trauma.
Displacement.
Loss.
Fear.
Jordan
Jordan controlled:
The West Bank.
including:
East Jerusalem.
Egypt
Egypt controlled:
The Gaza Strip.
1967
In:
1967
war again transformed the region.
Six-Day War
Israel captured:
The West Bank.
East Jerusalem.
Gaza.
The Golan Heights.
The Sinai Peninsula.
Occupation
The West Bank and East Jerusalem came under:
Israeli military occupation.
Gaza
Gaza also came under:
Israeli military control.
Settlements
Israeli settlements were established in:
Occupied territories.
Palestinian National Movement
The:
Palestine Liberation Organization
or:
PLO
became the central Palestinian national organization.
Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
became the most internationally recognized Palestinian leader.
Palestinian Authority
The:
Palestinian Authority
was established during the:
Oslo process.
Oslo Accords
The:
Oslo Accords
began in:
1993
Mutual Recognition
Israel and the PLO mutually recognized one another.
Palestinian Self-Government
Limited Palestinian self-government was established in parts of:
The West Bank and Gaza.
Oslo Hope
Oslo created hope for:
A negotiated peace.
Oslo Failure
The peace process ultimately failed to produce:
A final-status agreement.
Gaza
The Gaza Strip became a central arena of:
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hamas
The:
Hamas
movement emerged in the late 1980s.
Hamas
Hamas became a major political and militant force.
2006
Hamas won the Palestinian legislative election in:
2006
2007
Hamas took control of:
Gaza.
Palestinian Division
Palestinian political authority became divided between:
Hamas in Gaza.
and:
The Palestinian Authority in parts of the West Bank.
Gaza Blockade
Israel and Egypt imposed restrictions on movement and goods entering and leaving:
Gaza.
Repeated Wars
Gaza experienced repeated:
Israeli-Hamas conflicts.
Civilian Suffering
Civilians have repeatedly suffered:
Death.
Injury.
Displacement.
Destruction.
October 7, 2023
On:
October 7, 2023
Hamas and other militants launched a large-scale attack on Israel.
Israeli Response
Israel launched a massive military campaign in:
Gaza.
Humanitarian Catastrophe
The resulting war produced:
Enormous civilian suffering.
Hostages
Israeli and foreign civilians were taken:
Hostage.
Gaza
Large portions of Gaza's:
Housing.
Infrastructure.
Healthcare.
Schools.
and:
civilian systems
were severely damaged or destroyed.
Palestinian Deaths
Large numbers of Palestinians were killed.
Israeli Deaths
Large numbers of Israelis were also killed.
War
The conflict demonstrates:
The terrible human cost of unresolved political conflict.
Children
Children have suffered especially severely.
Kingdom Perspective
A Kingdom perspective cannot celebrate:
Civilian suffering.
Justice
Justice requires recognizing:
The dignity of every human being.
Genesis 1:27
"So God created man in his own image."
Image of God
Every:
Israeli.
Palestinian.
Jew.
Christian.
Muslim.
child.
elder.
civilian.
soldier.
possesses human dignity.
This Does Not Erase Justice
Recognizing dignity does not mean:
Ignoring crimes.
Terrorism
Deliberately attacking civilians is:
Wrong.
Hostages
Taking civilians hostage is:
Wrong.
Collective Punishment
The suffering of civilians cannot simply be dismissed because:
A militant organization operates among them.
Justice and Mercy
Biblical justice requires:
Truth.
Accountability.
Mercy.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem remains one of the central unresolved questions.
Holy City
For Jews:
Jerusalem is the center of biblical history.
Christians
For Christians:
Jerusalem is where Jesus was:
Crucified.
Buried.
Resurrected.
Muslims
For Muslims:
Jerusalem is associated with:
The Prophet's Night Journey.
Temple Mount
The:
Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif
is among the most contested sacred sites on earth.
Western Wall
The:
Western Wall
is Judaism's most important surviving prayer site.
Al-Aqsa
The:
Al-Aqsa Mosque
is one of Islam's holiest sites.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The:
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
is among Christianity's most sacred places.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem remains sacred to:
Christians.
Church of the Nativity
The:
Church of the Nativity
is a major Christian pilgrimage destination.
Palestinian Christians
Palestinian Christians have lived in the Holy Land for:
Nearly two thousand years.
Ancient Community
They are not:
Foreign newcomers.
Arab Christians
Many Palestinian Christians are:
Arabic-speaking.
Denominations
Palestinian Christians include:
Greek Orthodox.
Roman Catholic.
Melkite.
Armenian.
Anglican.
Lutheran.
Baptist.
Evangelical.
and other traditions.
Bethlehem Christianity
Bethlehem remains an important center of:
Palestinian Christianity.
Christian Exodus
The Palestinian Christian population has declined significantly over:
Recent decades.
Causes
Factors include:
Emigration.
Economic hardship.
Political instability.
Conflict.
Restrictions.
Christian Witness
The survival of Christianity in the Holy Land matters because:
Christianity was born here.
Nazareth
Nazareth remains home to:
A significant Christian community.
Galilee
Christian villages and communities remain throughout:
Galilee.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem contains some of the world's oldest:
Christian communities.
Palestinian Christianity
Palestinian Christians provide a living bridge between:
Biblical Christianity.
and:
The modern Arab world.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Different Christian traditions share responsibility for:
The Holy Sepulchre.
Ecumenism
The Holy Land requires:
Christians to learn cooperation.
Palestinian Culture
Palestinian culture includes:
Music.
Poetry.
Food.
Embroidery.
Architecture.
Family.
Hospitality.
Tatreez
Traditional Palestinian embroidery is called:
tatreez.
Tatreez
Tatreez patterns can represent:
Villages.
Families.
Regions.
Identity.
Olive Trees
Olive cultivation is deeply connected with:
Palestinian life.
Olive Trees
The olive tree symbolizes:
Land.
Peace.
Resilience.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a major part of:
Palestinian cuisine.
Agriculture
Palestinian agriculture also includes:
Citrus.
Grapes.
Dates.
Vegetables.
Food
Palestinian cuisine includes:
Maqluba.
Musakhan.
Falafel.
Hummus.
Tabbouleh.
Hospitality
Palestinian hospitality emphasizes:
Family.
Guests.
Community.
Arabic
Arabic is the principal language of:
Palestinian society.
Palestinian Arabic
Palestinian Arabic has distinctive:
Regional dialects.
Poetry
Palestinian poetry has played a major role in:
National identity.
Mahmoud Darwish
Mahmoud Darwish
became one of the most famous Palestinian poets.
Literature
Palestinian literature often explores:
Exile.
Memory.
Identity.
Homeland.
Loss.
Hope.
Refugee Camps
Palestinian refugee camps exist throughout:
The West Bank.
Gaza.
Jordan.
Lebanon.
Syria.
Refugee Identity
For many Palestinians:
The memory of the ancestral village remains central.
Right of Return
The:
right of return
is one of the most contested issues in the conflict.
Israeli Perspective
Many Israelis fear that a mass return would undermine:
The Jewish character of Israel.
Palestinian Perspective
Many Palestinians regard return as:
A fundamental right.
Negotiation
A lasting peace requires addressing:
Refugees.
Borders
Another central issue is:
Borders.
Two-State Solution
The most internationally discussed framework has been:
a two-state solution.
Two States
The concept envisions:
Israel.
and:
A Palestinian state.
Challenges
Major obstacles include:
Borders.
Jerusalem.
Settlements.
Security.
Refugees.
Gaza.
Mutual recognition.
One-State Ideas
Other proposals envision:
A single state.
Confederation
Other proposals envision:
A confederation.
Future
No solution can succeed without:
Consent.
Security.
Justice.
Kingdom Peace
Biblical peace is more than:
The absence of shooting.
Shalom
The Hebrew concept:
shalom
includes:
Wholeness.
Peace.
Justice.
Well-being.
Peace
True peace requires:
Truth.
Truth
Truth requires acknowledging:
Historical suffering.
Israelis
Israelis have experienced:
Antisemitism.
Persecution.
The Holocaust.
Terrorism.
War.
Palestinians
Palestinians have experienced:
Displacement.
Occupation.
Refugeehood.
Military conflict.
Economic hardship.
Both Histories Matter
Acknowledging one people's suffering does not erase:
The other's.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation requires:
Courage.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness does not mean:
Pretending nothing happened.
Justice
Justice requires:
Accountability.
Mercy
Mercy prevents:
Justice from becoming vengeance.
Jesus
Jesus taught:
"Love your enemies."
Impossible Command
In the Holy Land, this teaching may be among the most difficult:
Commands.
Kingdom Calling
The Church should become:
A people of reconciliation.
Palestinian Christians
Palestinian Christians have a unique opportunity to:
Bear witness to Christ in the midst of conflict.
Israeli Christians
Israeli Christians likewise have an important:
Reconciliation calling.
Messianic Jews
Messianic Jewish believers proclaim:
Jesus as Messiah.
Arab Christians
Arab Christians proclaim:
Jesus within the Arabic-speaking world.
One Body
Christian identity ultimately transcends:
Ethnicity.
Nationality.
Galatians 3:28
"There is neither Jew nor Greek... for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
The Holy Land
The land is sacred because:
God acted in history here.
But the Land Is Not God
The land must never become an excuse for:
Idolatry.
Idolatry of Politics
Political nationalism can become:
A substitute for God.
Kingdom First
The Kingdom of God is:
Greater than every earthly nation.
Jesus and Jerusalem
Jesus wept over:
Jerusalem.
Luke 19:42
He lamented that the city did not recognize:
The things that make for peace.
The Prince of Peace
Isaiah describes the coming Messiah as:
the Prince of Peace.
Palestine's Kingdom Assignment
Palestine's Kingdom assignment can be summarized as:
Land of biblical memory.
Birthplace of Christianity.
Holy Land of three religions.
Jerusalem-centered spiritual crossroads.
Bridge between peoples.
Home of Palestinian Christianity.
Place of prophetic memory.
Place of reconciliation.
Place where peace must become practical.
Witness to the cost of hatred.
Witness to the possibility of forgiveness.
Prayer for Palestine
Pray:
- For Palestinians.
- For Israelis.
- For Palestinian Christians.
- For Israeli Christians.
- For Jews.
- For Muslims.
- For Christians.
- For churches.
- For synagogues.
- For mosques.
- For Jerusalem.
- For Bethlehem.
- For Nazareth.
- For Hebron.
- For Jericho.
- For Gaza.
- For the West Bank.
- For East Jerusalem.
- For Galilee.
- For the Jordan Valley.
- For Palestinian refugees.
- For Israeli refugees and displaced families.
- For hostages and their families.
- For families who have lost loved ones.
- For children.
- For mothers.
- For fathers.
- For the elderly.
- For hospitals.
- For doctors.
- For nurses.
- For humanitarian workers.
- For journalists.
- For peacemakers.
- For diplomats.
- For political leaders.
- For Palestinian Authority leaders.
- For Israeli leaders.
- For religious leaders.
- For Christian pastors.
- For rabbis.
- For Muslim imams.
- For reconciliation workers.
- For peace organizations.
- For the protection of civilians.
- For the release of hostages.
- For an end to terrorism.
- For an end to indiscriminate violence.
- For humanitarian access.
- For food.
- For water.
- For medicine.
- For shelter.
- For reconstruction.
- For schools.
- For universities.
- For churches.
- For mosques.
- For synagogues.
- For religious freedom.
- For freedom of worship.
- For the preservation of holy sites.
- For the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
- For the Church of the Nativity.
- For Al-Aqsa Mosque.
- For the Western Wall.
- For Christian communities.
- For Palestinian Christian families.
- For Christians facing emigration.
- For Palestinian farmers.
- For olive growers.
- For fishermen.
- For workers.
- For businesses.
- For economic development.
- For refugees.
- For refugee camps.
- For a just resolution of the refugee question.
- For Jerusalem.
- For a peaceful future for Jerusalem.
- For security.
- For justice.
- For borders.
- For responsible settlement policy.
- For an end to occupation.
- For Palestinian self-determination.
- For Israeli security.
- For Palestinian security.
- For mutual recognition.
- For political courage.
- For truthful history.
- For reconciliation.
- For forgiveness.
- For shalom.
- For the two peoples.
- For every ethnic community.
- For every religious community.
- For children growing up without war.
- For young people.
- For education.
- For peace-building.
- For the Gospel to reach every community.
- For churches to become houses of prayer.
- For Christians to reject hatred.
- For Christians to reject antisemitism.
- For Christians to reject anti-Arab racism.
- For Christians to reject Islamophobia.
- For Christians to reject political idolatry.
- For the Kingdom of God to become visible through:
- Justice.
- Mercy.
- Truth.
- Peace.
- Reconciliation.
- For Palestine to become a blessing to:
- The Middle East.
- The Jewish people.
- The Arab peoples.
- Christians.
- Muslims.
- The nations.
Palestine Before the Throne
The land has experienced:
Canaanite civilization.
The patriarchs.
The Exodus.
Israelite settlement.
The Judges.
The united monarchy.
David.
Solomon.
The divided kingdoms.
Assyria.
Babylon.
Persia.
Alexander.
The Maccabees.
Rome.
Jesus.
The apostles.
Christianity.
Byzantine rule.
Islamic rule.
The Crusades.
Mamluk rule.
Ottoman rule.
British rule.
The Zionist movement.
The Palestinian national movement.
Oslo.
The Palestinian Authority.
Hamas.
Repeated wars.
And generations of:
Hope.
Loss.
Memory.
From Abraham to Jesus
The biblical story moves through:
Abraham.
Isaac.
Jacob.
David.
The prophets.
and finally:
Jesus Christ.
From Bethlehem to Jerusalem
Jesus was born in:
Bethlehem.
He ministered throughout:
Galilee.
He was crucified and raised in:
Jerusalem.
From Jerusalem to the Nations
The Gospel began in:
Jerusalem.
But it did not remain there.
Acts 1:8
Jesus told His disciples:
"Ye shall be witnesses unto me... unto the uttermost part of the earth."
The Nations
From Jerusalem, Christianity spread to:
Africa.
Asia.
Europe.
And eventually:
Every continent.
The Gospel Returned
Today people from around the world return to:
Jerusalem.
Pilgrims
Christians come to:
Pray.
Worship.
Study.
Remember.
But the Holy Land Is Alive
It is not merely:
An archaeological museum.
People live here.
Families live here.
Children live here.
Living Stones
The Church is made of:
Living people.
1 Peter 2:5
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house."
Living Church
The Church in the Holy Land must remain:
Alive.
Reconciliation
Perhaps the greatest Christian testimony the Holy Land can produce is:
Enemies becoming brothers and sisters.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem could become known not only for:
Conflict.
But for:
Reconciliation.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem could become known not only as:
The birthplace of Jesus.
But as:
A city of peace.
Hebron
Hebron could become a place where:
Shared ancestry produces reconciliation.
Galilee
Galilee could continue reminding the world:
Jesus crossed social boundaries.
Samaria
The story of the:
Good Samaritan
teaches that:
The neighbor is the one who shows mercy.
The Good Samaritan
Jesus deliberately made a Samaritan:
The hero of His story.
Kingdom Lesson
Kingdom identity is stronger than:
Ethnic hostility.
Enemy
The Gospel commands:
Love.
Peace
Peace must be pursued:
Practically.
Justice
Justice must protect:
The vulnerable.
Mercy
Mercy must restrain:
Vengeance.
Truth
Truth must confront:
Lies.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation must cross:
Borders.
Palestine's Future
The future of the land cannot be built solely upon:
Weapons.
Security
People need:
Security.
Freedom
People need:
Freedom.
Dignity
People need:
Dignity.
Justice
People need:
Justice.
Prosperity
People need:
Economic opportunity.
Water
People need:
Clean water.
Children
Children need:
A future.
Peace
And everyone needs:
Peace.
Final Commission
May Jerusalem become a city of peace.
May Bethlehem become a city of hope.
May Nazareth become a city of reconciliation.
May Hebron become a city where shared ancestry produces:
Understanding.
May Galilee remain a place where:
People remember Jesus.
May Gaza be rebuilt.
May Palestinian families return to:
Safe homes.
May Israeli families live without:
Fear.
May hostages return home.
May prisoners and detainees be treated humanely.
May children stop growing up under:
War.
May hospitals be protected.
May humanitarian workers serve safely.
May food and medicine reach those who need them.
May schools reopen.
May universities flourish.
May businesses recover.
May Palestinian farmers safely tend:
Their olive trees.
May Israeli farmers safely tend:
Their fields.
May fishermen work safely.
May workers find:
Dignity.
May Palestinian Christians remain in:
Their ancestral homeland.
May Christian churches remain:
Open.
May Jews worship freely.
May Muslims worship freely.
May Christians worship freely.
May every holy site be:
Protected.
May Jerusalem remain accessible to:
All who seek to worship.
May religious leaders become:
Peacemakers.
May politicians choose:
Wisdom.
May military leaders choose:
Restraint.
May diplomats choose:
Courage.
May journalists pursue:
Truth.
May historians preserve:
Honest memory.
May Israelis remember:
The dignity of Palestinians.
May Palestinians remember:
The dignity of Israelis.
May Jews remember:
The dignity of Arabs.
May Arabs remember:
The dignity of Jews.
May Christians remember:
The Gospel of the Prince of Peace.
May the Church reject:
Antisemitism.
May the Church reject:
Anti-Arab hatred.
May the Church reject:
Islamophobia.
May the Church reject:
Nationalistic idolatry.
May Christians become:
Bridges.
May Palestinian Christians and Israeli Christians become:
Witnesses of reconciliation.
May the Holy Land become:
A testimony.
Not merely to conflict.
But to:
Forgiveness.
May Jerusalem become:
A city where enemies can pray.
May Bethlehem become:
A city where children can dream.
May Gaza become:
A place of rebuilding.
May the West Bank become:
A place of flourishing communities.
May Israel become:
Secure.
May Palestine become:
Free and prosperous.
May both peoples possess:
Security.
Dignity.
Self-determination.
And peace.
May every legitimate grievance be brought into:
Truth.
May every legitimate fear be answered with:
Security.
May every wound receive:
Healing.
May every victim receive:
Justice.
May every prisoner receive:
Human dignity.
May every refugee receive:
Hope.
May every child receive:
A future.
May the olive tree continue to grow.
May the vineyards continue to produce fruit.
May the Jordan continue to flow.
May the Sea of Galilee remain healthy.
May the Mediterranean remain clean.
May the Dead Sea be protected.
May the land flourish.
And may the people of the Holy Land, together with every nation, tribe, people, and language, one day stand before the throne of God and declare:
"Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
(Revelation 5:13)
Amen.
🇵🇸 Kingdom Nations Series – Part 134
Palestine
From ancient Canaan to the patriarchs.
From Abraham to Isaac.
From Jacob to Israel.
From Moses to the Exodus.
From Joshua to the Judges.
From David to Jerusalem.
From Solomon to the Temple.
From Israel to Judah.
From Babylon to restoration.
From the prophets to the Messiah.
From Bethlehem to Nazareth.
From Galilee to Jerusalem.
From the cross to the empty tomb.
From Pentecost to the nations.
From Jerusalem to the birth of Christianity.
From Byzantine Christianity to Islam.
From the Crusades to Saladin.
From the Ottoman Empire to the British Mandate.
From Zionism to Palestinian nationalism.
From 1948 to the Nakba.
From 1967 to occupation.
From Oslo to the search for peace.
From Gaza to the West Bank.
From Palestinian Christians to the global Church.
From Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
From the Holy Land to the nations.
From conflict to reconciliation.
From Palestine to the Kingdom.
From Palestine to the Prince of Peace.
From Palestine to the throne.
End of Kingdom Nations Series – Part 134: 🇵🇸 Palestine
Coming Next: 🌎 Kingdom Nations Series – Part 135: 🇵🇦 Panama — From ancient Isthmian peoples and Spanish conquest through the colonial trade routes, Panama's role connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, the construction of the Panama Canal, independence from Spain and Colombia, the Torrijos era, the Canal treaties, the 1989 U.S. intervention, modern Panama, the Darién, biodiversity, Indigenous peoples, Christianity, global shipping, finance, and Panama's Kingdom calling.
