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.
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