Did The Shimon Peres Funeral Fulfill Biblical Prophecy?

In a rare gathering, a multitude of world leaders arrived in  Jerusalem on Friday, 30 September 2016 for the funeral of Israeli statesman, Shimon Peres. The number and prominence of world leaders in attendance was staggering, but even more startling is how this conforms precisely to Biblical prophecies. For one rabbi, it is clear that such a gathering had to occur on this particular Sabbath eve, moments before Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, while Gog and Magog is in full-swing.

In chapter 60 of Isaiah, the prophet directly addresses Jerusalem, predicting that the nations will turn to the city to dispel the darkness that rules in the days preceding Messiah.

Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of Hashem is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1

The prophecy goes on to say that that the kings of the world will come to the city, gathering together en masse, in the end of days.

And nations shall walk at thy light, and kings at the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all are gathered together, and come to thee; thy sons come from far, and thy daughters are borne on the side. Isaiah 60:3-4

The gathering of this many world leaders in one place at one time – and that place being Jerusalem – is a truly unprecedented event and a testament to the respect and love felt for Shimon Peres, the last of Israel’s “founding fathers.”

The list of dignitaries that arrived for the funeral was staggering, including prime ministers, presidents, and princes, Obama, Bill Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry. To the surprise of many, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was also in attendance.

Also at the funeral was French President Francois Hollande, Britain’s Prince Charles, British Prime Minister Theresa May, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, former British prime minister David Cameron, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, German President Joachim Gauck, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, among many others

Rabbi Yosef Berger, rabbi of the Tomb of David on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, said that not only is the gathering significant, but the timing, he said, is, “the opening to Gog and Magog, and the final stages before Messiah”.

“What is happening now is a process directed from Heaven, that so many world leaders will come to Jerusalem on the eve of Rosh Hashana,” Rabbi Berger said. “This is exactly like the psalm we will say a few days after the funeral, before blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashana.”

O clap your hands, all ye peoples; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For Hashem is most high, awful; a great King over all the earth. He subdueth peoples under us, and nations under our feet. Psalms 47:2-4

“This verse is speaking specifically about Gog and Magog,” explained Rabbi Berger. “The foreign kings may think they are coming for a funeral, but the reason they are really coming is to acknowledge God as their king, before blowing the great shofar to bring in the Messiah.”

In fact, the gathering of world leaders was doing precisely that. As per Shimon Peres’s request in his will, musician David D’or will sing Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King) at the funeral, a Jewish prayer recited on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Berger noted another auspicious aspect of the unscheduled gathering.  “This is also the weekly Torah reading of Nitzavim, which begins with the gathering of leaders,” said Rabbi Berger.

Ye are standing this day all of you before Hashem your God: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel. Deuteronomy 29:9

Rabbi Berger quoted Maimonides, the foremost Torah authority of the 12th century known by the acronym of his name, Rambam, whose rulings are still used as the basis for much of Jewish law. Rabbi Berger explained that the Rambam brought this verse in the laws pertaining to kings as the sign of the beginning of the Messiah’s return.