You need to watch Jerusalem as never before. We are going to see one half of that city fall very soon. It could happen this year—2006!

I made that statement on our Key of Davidtelevision program, which aired the weekend after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a debilitating stroke—but I recorded that program weeks prior to this.

With Sharon gone, Israeli politics are at a crossroads. The next election could measurably speed events along.

Zechariah 14 contains an end-time prophecy about half of Jerusalem falling to the enemy. When half of Jerusalem falls, it starts a chain reaction of events—an avalanche of crises—that leads directly to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!

Did you know that much of the world is even now discussing how the Jews must give up East Jerusalem to the Palestinians? The United Nations, America, Europe, the Palestinians and even the Middle East Jews themselves are discussing how they must surrender East Jerusalem.

What does that mean? It means that the prophecy in Zechariah is now in the early stages of being fulfilled, even though the world doesn’t know it.

“Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee” (Zechariah 14:1). This verse talks about the end time—the Day of the Lord—which is a time of great suffering, and also the time of the return of Jesus Christ to this Earth!

“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city” (verse 2). Note the big overview Zechariah gives us. There are three phases to this crisis. Zechariah starts at the Second Coming of Christ, the third phase, and works his way back.

The verse starts with Christ conquering the European and Asian powers. Then there is a semicolon, which means all these events in verse 2 are linked and closely associated.

The first semicolon introduces the second phase of this violent time. The city shall be taken, houses rifled and women ravished. This is when a superpower comprised on European nations conquers the whole city of Jerusalem, as several other biblical prophecies explain (also America and Britain—Jerusalem is also a type of all the nations of Israel today, particularly the U.S. and Britain, as our free book proves), shortly after he conquers an Iran-led Middle Eastern coalition.

Then there is another semicolon, then is described the first phase, when half of Jerusalem goes into captivity—suggesting some violence in the process. (This sequence of events is explained in our booklet The History and Prophecy of the Middle East.) Watch Israel, because this first phase could happen any time—half of the Holy City is about to go into captivity! The Palestinians, backed by Iran, will almost certainly do this violent deed.

So why are these three events linked and so closely associated? I believe there is only one logical answer. The falling of half of Jerusalem triggers a violent and massive chain reaction that leads to Christ’s Second Coming.

The Palestinians will take half of Jerusalem. They say even now that they must have East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. If they were to take the Temple Mount, you could see a strong link to more war. The Temple Mount is holy to three great religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It is the Jews’ holiest site. The Arabs consider it their second or third holiest site. Christians put more emphasis on the whole city, especially the Roman Catholics. (Remember the Crusades?)

The Palestinians could—and, I believe, will—conquer the Temple Mount and refuse access to anybody else. This would certainly unite Europe and the Middle East Jews against the Palestinians. This would also intensify the “push” by the king of the south against Europe (Daniel 11:40). It could in itself provoke Europe to attack and conquer radical Islam. Europe would then control much of the Jerusalem area. Then it will quickly double cross and conquer the Middle East Jews, America and Britain at the same time.

This would then alarm the Asian powers and cause them to think they would be Europe’s next victim. So the Russians and Chinese will unite and plan an attack against Europe (Daniel 11:44-45). At that point, Christ gathers the armies of both these powers in Megiddo (Armageddon) and leads them down to Jerusalem, where He will conquer them and set up the Kingdom of God.

So you can see how all of this is linked. The trigger to all of it is the fall of half of Jerusalem. Then begins a step-by-step series of crises that leads to Christ’s electrifying return to Earth.

You urgently need to see where these events are headed.

East Jerusalem is comprised mostly of Palestinians. They are absolutely committed to getting Jerusalem, with the Temple Mount, as their capital. They are getting stronger as the Jews get weaker, along with Britain and America (who usually, and inexplicably, pressure the Jews to give in to the Palestinians).

For over 200 years, we have been living in the times of Israel. Now we are rapidly moving into the times of the Gentiles.

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). “Jerusalem shall be trodden down” also includes America and Britain. God is now cursing biblical Israel and they are about to go into captivity.

God’s prophetic Word is 100 percent reliable. His reputation is on the line. His Word never fails.

You are now seeing spectacular prophecies being fulfilled. America, Britain and Judah are going down like a sinking ship. At the same time, the Gentile powers are rising like a rocket.

We are entering extremely dangerous times. The good times for Israel are fading fast, just as God prophesied.

A poll published in Yedioth Ahronoth in the middle of December 2005 showed that 49 percent of Israelis support giving up parts of Arab East Jerusalem as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians. That is astonishing of itself. But according to biblical prophecy, the Jews are going to lose more than just “parts” of East Jerusalem. They want to make a “peace deal,” even though none of those peace deals have been honored by the Palestinians!

A Dec. 13, 2005, Jerusalem Newswire article by Ryan Jones had this to say: “Finance Minister Ehud Olmert, the prime minister’s top deputy and a man known for releasing ‘trial balloons’ regarding future policy, has on more than one occasion stated Israel would eventually have to relinquish the dream of an eternally united Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty.” That gives you a good idea of where Sharon’s party would try to take the country if it gains power in the March election!

The article continued, “Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia reminded [Israel’s political leadership] Monday they would fail without serious concessions in the holy city.

“There can be no ‘Palestinian’ statehood and therefore no Middle East peace unless the eastern half of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, comes under Arab rule, Qureia told a gathering of European representatives.

“The European Union recently clarified its position on Jerusalem in a still-unpublished report slamming Israeli activity and the imposition of Israeli law in the eastern half of the city, where several hundred thousand Jews live in the neighborhoods of Gilo, French Hill, Ramat Eshkol and others. …

“Many in Israel fear that as the ‘peace’ process progresses, a combination of ‘Palestinian’ intransigence, Western disregard for Israel’s ancient rights, and a headlong rush by leftist leaders such as Peretz and Sharon to conclude a final peace deal at almost any cost means the division of Jerusalem may not be far off.”

These Jewish fears are well-grounded. But will the Jews willingly give up the Temple Mount, their holiest site? I don’t think so. Even though it is considered the Arabs’ second or third holiest site.

So the Temple Mount impasse could be the reason that Palestinians take East Jerusalem by force.

Regardless, half of Jerusalem is going to be lost! I believe that will include the Temple Mount.

You can see why that crisis would bring at least three powers into war, which includes people around the world. It would involve many nations. That is why this event will be such a strong, explosive link leading to Christ’s Second Coming!

Do you realize how close we are to this emotional and violent explosion in Jerusalem? We are about to see the worst suffering this world has ever experienced. It is shockingly near.

Men work to have peace and always get war. Only God knows the way of peace. You can always trust Him. That is the lesson all this bloody violence is going to teach mankind!

Armies have fought to gain control of Jerusalem for thousands of years. But they will never rule that city for long. God has chosen Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:13). He did not choose London, New York City, Paris or Moscow. He chose Jerusalem.

Thankfully, the best news that men have ever heard is also just around the corner (Zechariah 14:3-4).

Jerusalem is the city from which Christ is going to rule the Earth. And that is the city from which the Father is going to rule the universe—with His Family. Jerusalem is going to become the capital of the universe. No city in the universe will ever be close to it in beauty and importance!

It is time that mankind learns about Jerusalem, the majestic city God has chosen. Watch Israel closely, because the trigger that will start the chain of events leading to Christ’s rulership over that city is about be pulled—right in the heart of Jerusalem!