Why Isn't the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem?

As I sit I my hotel room in Jerusalem, I can’t help but think of how this city has been a city of controversy for endless centuries. And the controversy shows no signs of going away. In fact, barely two months ago, the Democratic National Convention waffled over recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s (undivided) capital. Why the constant controversy about this city?

Twenty-five hundred years ago, when the returning Jewish exiles were attempting to rebuild the city, their opponents sent a letter of warning to the king of Persia. (At that time, Judah was a province of Persia). “Be it known to the king,” the letter stated, “that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired” (Ezra 4:12-13)

Five hundred years later, Jesus himself referred to Jerusalem as “the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” (see Matt. 23:37) And the ancient prophet Zechariah predicted that at the end of the age, “all the nations of the earth will gather against it” (see Zech. 12:3)

But as fascinating as these texts are, given the current controversy about the status of Jerusalem, there’s another question almost no one seems to be talking about: If Jerusalem is really Israel’s capital, as both our political parties still affirm (even if the Democrats do it with reserve), why haven’t we moved our embassy there? From a political perspective (as opposed to a biblical perspective), if we truly recognize it as the undivided capital of Israel, why haven’t we relocated our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?

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Evermyrtle

Who gets to choose a capital city for Israel? Obama says that Jerusalem is not any longer the capital.

The Bible does say the in Zech 12:3 "all the people of the earth will be gathered together it against it (Jerusalem) .

Zech. 12:6. In that day……… Jerusalem will be inhabited again in her own place even in Jerusalem.
The USA is the last nation that has be friends with Israel but that has come to an end in the last four years.

8. In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as GOD., as the angel of the LORD before them.

9. And it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to (put an end) to all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
- http://www.facebook.com/michael.papich.3 Michael Papich
  
  Read the New Testament as to why Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/David-B-Severy/557985964 David B Severy
    
    Read the whole Bible and find out that God will restore sight to the Jews in the last days.
    
    Zechariah 12
    12 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
    2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
    3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
    4 In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
    5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God.
    6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
    7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
    8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.
    9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
    10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
    11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
    12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
    13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
    14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
  - Pastor Dwayne
    
    What does your statement have to do with what is being disqused???
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
  
  the Jews were an idolatrous people in the first century worshiping the temple instead of God. they were called to be a light to the gentiles, but instead were intent on having a pure Jewish race. after the captivity the left one from of idolatry for another. they turn from worshiping other gods to worshiping the things of God instead of God. they were worshiping the temple, the land, and even angels as pointed out at the beginning of Hebrews. dispensationalism is pushing for the new worship of the things that God judged the Jews and Jerusalem for in 70 AD. it is ironic that Christian Zionists promote the things that first century Jews did back then.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/David-B-Severy/557985964 David B Severy
    
    "…Christian Zionists promote the things that first century Jews did back then."
    
    Not so my friend, or which Zionists and what things do you refer to?
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
      
      for one being a physical descendent of Abraham is something special to God. Paul declares in Romans 9 that not all Israel is really Israel and not all physical descendents of Abraham are children of Abraham. John declares that God could make children of Abraham out of the stone while at the same time condemning the pharisees. how about the worship of Mount Zion for the first century Jews where worshiping the mountain and temple over the Lord. how about Jerusalem for God had the Roman level the city for all its idolatry.
  - Pastor Dwayne
    
    Once again Wes, if you are a gentile , you are only here because GOD blinded Israel's eyes , so they couldn't SEE Jesus as their Savior, hardened their hearts and minds so they couldn't know and understand that that Jesus was their Savior, for ONE reason, so that you a gentile could see Jesus THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD , and get Born Again, ( Israel was never to be a light for the Gentiles, never )
    And according to the book of the Romans 11:25 The blindness of eyes and hardness of heart and mind has happened to Israel, and will be there untill the END of the times of the gentiles.
    Now we know, that true Israel ( concerning Israelites ) are not blinded nor hardened, for they have been born again and see with their eyes and believe with their hearts!! So, who are the Israelites in the nation of Israel now?? The Lord said in scripture He would start bringing Israelites from all over the world home! But, they need a home to come home to . So the Lord moved nations to give the land of Israel back to the Israelites, you know the blind and hard hearted.
    So, we now know that ISRAEL IS NOT, just another nation among all the nations, this is the Israel that will have to go through the time of Jacob's great trouble. ( the last 3.5 years called also the great tribulation.
    I know this messes up some peoples theory, but that is what happens when you steal promises from Israel and try to apply them to the Church!
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
      
      God's salvation was for the entire world. the Jews blinded themselves with their idolatry in the first century and God judge them for it in 70 AD just as Jesus said he would.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        You are wrong ,you are using False Doctrine Wes, but you have to, or else you have have to go to the real truth of Dan 9:26-27. Do you find it interesting that all the weeks up to the 69th week are accounted for in scripture , then nothing is mentioned about the 70th week , then comes a bunch of by golly and by guess by those who think they know scripture.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        why do you say Israel was to be a light to the gentiles, which they weren't, And it was God that did did the blinding and hardining
- victorbarney
  
  The "LORD" in Hebrew means "BAAL" so be careful with additions to the Hebrew inspired(Zeph. 3:9, Acts 26:14, & 1 Cor. 4:6) text! Just saying what's REALLY WRITTEN IN IT! Yes, indeed, "the whole world has been deceived" and it's NOT going to end well for most anglo-saxons clearly states Revelation, chapter 11), as written also…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams

The US no longer really stands with Israel. This is to our detriment. God will not bless those who do not bless Israel.
- Old Observer
  
  As we are already finding out. In the Old Testament, God punished the Jews for their disobedience by two things we see here now—1) Corrupt leaders, and 2) attacks by other countries.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/David-B-Severy/557985964 David B Severy
    
    Zechariah 1:15; Obadiah 1:1-21
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
  
  God has only one people who are those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. the state of Israel is just a nation like any other that God has set is time and borders. there is no longer an eschatological purpose for Israel for God redemptive purpose for the Jews was completed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian Zionism is creating the more problems in the middle east than it is solving. last month Pope Benedict XVI told the faithful in Lebanon, which is 40% Christian to be peacemakers. many muslims in the middle east are disillusioned with islam and are looking for something better. the sad thing is that Christian Zionists are pushing them to the jihadists with their lets get all the Jews in Israel so Jesus will rapture the church and all hell will break loose on the earth.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/David-B-Severy/557985964 David B Severy
    
    Keep studying the Word Wesley, and abandon the commentaries.
    - Pastor Dwayne
      
      Double AMEN, David. That is what happens when you use dispensationalism to take the promises applied to Israel , and then try to apply them to the church.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/David-B-Severy/557985964 David B Severy
    
    Zechariah 1:15; Obadiah 1:1-21
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams
    
    You either haven't read the Bible, or you are listening to corrupt teachers.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
      
      i have been reading it in context. the whole Old Testament was pointing to Jesus Christ. Paul in his letters uses the Old Testament to prove the Jesus Christ was who he was.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams
        
        I don't disagree with that statement. However, previously you indicated that God has gone "Indian giver" on His promises (covenent) with Israel. That just is NOT so!
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        God told them many times that if the keep his laws he would be their God, but if they would turn to other gods then he would have the land vomit them out. God warned them multiple times, but they refused and chose their own way. God was faithful, but Israel was not and God divorce her leaving her to her own ways. Just read Jeremiah between chapter 20-30 for he tells Jeremiah to tell Judah that she would be like her idolatrous sister, which he did divorce when he allowed Israel to be lead into Assyrian captivity.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams
        
        God's covenant with Israel had/has NO conditions. When He made the covenant, God knew that Israel would fail, but God CANNOT fail. That is why He placed all of the responsibility for keeping the conenant upon Himself.
victorbarney

The Hebrew-inspired Scriptures are crystal clear about our future: The two-witnesses are going to testify against u.s. of Revelation, chapter 11 for turning to the "forbidden foreigner" of Deuteronomy 17:15 & self-professed "Anti-Christ"(Marxist) of Revelation, chapter 11. They will start in fall and end 3 1/2 years later with only 144,000 of u.s. left alive. 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes with the tribe of Joseph replaing Dan(Irish) as being protected during these later days called "Jacob's trouble" by most scholars(Revelation, chapter 7). In addition, our Savior immediately destroys the "Beast" of Revelation, chapter 18 when HE returns. Just saying what's already been written. p.s. Welcome to Adam's world even before his first-born son & first murderer, Cain, was born! However, also remember, it's called Evil, not Cainville…Just saying…
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
  
  accounting to you the two witnesses have been reveal so who are they? you can spout out your racist remarks all you want, but it will get you anywhere. no amount of hiding it in religion will change that.
  - Old Observer
    
    The witnesses have not been revealed! And will not be until the tribulation. The Jews were, and are, God's chosen people. They have been punished, but are now returning to their homeland. Their biggest sin was rejecting Jesus–but they will, during the tribulation, finally realize their mistake.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
      
      they were revealed before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem between 7-4 BC. they are the Law of Moses and the prophets for even Jesus himself mentioned that in the gospel. dispensationalism took traditional interpretation and turned it on its head and made the most symbolic book into a hauge-pauge of literal-symbolic interpretation of events that would be the cruelest joke on its original readers. Revelation was written circa 65 AD during the reign of Nero for Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus (Octavius), Tiberius Caesar, Caligula Caesar, and Claudius Caesar have fallen (died), Nero was reigning next Gaius reign was one of four in the four Roman Emperors and Vespasian took the throne and reign after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Vespasian son Titus was the Roman general that destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD putting down the Jewish rebellion.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        You haven't began to see or read about destruction in Israel!! 70AD will be a picnic compared to what is SOON to come ! As soon as they, Israel, and the Muslim nations around Israel say peace and safety, the treaty , ( covenant ) will be broken by the AntiChrist. Then will begin the Time of Jacob's great trouble, the last 3.5 years of the GREAT Tribulation. ,,,,, just because it doesn't agree with your half truths, you call it dispensationalism. Do your self a favor Don't. !!!!!!!!!!
      - mallen11
        
        Pastor Dwayne, you are absolutely right. It is sad that Wesley Woods is so mixed up in his comments. So many things have not taken place that will take place in the Tribuation and Millennium. He tries to "spiritualize" eschatology and it just doesn't line up with the Word of God.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        the demon locus, there is another place where man is described as locus found in Judges for the Medianites are described as locus. just reading the description points to the Roman army. the Romans were master of making people suffer. the Romans would later after the rebellion would not die down turned to destroying everything like they did in the third Punic War when they just leveled Carthage leaving just enough to remind people of the city's size and that it actually existed outside of that it was leveled.
      - mallen11
        
        Your ramblings do not make sense.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        AMEN
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        an eschatological system that rises on the scene at the same time that cults are starting to rise. i read the Old and New Testaments as one continuous story of God's redemptive plan for mankind, the way the Bible was meant to be read. there has been a long history of people predicting the end of the world and it is still here and many of them have died except of the latest who keep getting older and will soon die without their rapture.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        Ok you read from one end to the other,,,,, a question,, when does the end the gentiles happen
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        when Jesus physically returns to resurrect the dead and judge them for the final judgment to either eternal life or destruction as the scriptures teach.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        One of the worst of eschatological systems and cults , started when John Calvin brought his filth in to being
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        i am not a Calvinists as you seem to think. i am a Methodist who believes that Christ can cleanse us from all sin to where our sin nature is even brought under his control. since studying the foundations of Western Civilization I have come to see the flaws of dispensationalism and how they have come to impact Western Civilization from being Christ messengers to let's just sit back to wait for the Lord's return while millions enter into eternity condemned to destruction. there has been a long history of people predicting the Lord's return and have been wrong every time.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        I have not accused you of being Calvinist , But now that you say you are Methodist, Let me ask you,,, At what age and "how" were you born again????
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        Still waiting for my answer Wes, at what age , and "how" were youborn again
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        just saying the sinner's prayer does not save anyone for their are probably millions in hell who said the sinner's prayer possibly more than once even. it is between me and the Lord Jesus Christ.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        the only singular subject in the seventy week prophecy is the Messiah and nowhere does the prophecy say that the covenant is even broken for all it says is that he causes the sacrifices to cease.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        you do know the only thing that can make anything worse than what happened in 70 AD to Israel is for it to be nuked. the temple was leveled, million of inhabitants dead, Jerusalem is leveled, and the only survivors were those who heeded Jesus' warning in the Olivet Discourse and those who were taken as slaves early in the rebellion.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        would you say the slaughter of 2/3rds of 6 million of the nation of Israel makes 70 AD a picnic !!!!!!!!!!!!
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        no for you seem to not get that the Jews lost everything their freedom, their temple, and the beloved holy city. more than a million Jews out of less than 2 million died, the temple was ripped apart so the Romans could get the precious metals that would finance the building the Colosseum, and Jerusalem was leveled to the ground minus the few towers left to serve as reminders of the might of Rome. those Jews who survived and were not believers were taken to Rome as slaves. the land laid barren from the devastation of war. it is said that both Herod's and Solomon's temples were destroyed on the same day of the year.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        They lost everything except a God that had given them an everlasting covenant , that wasn't based on Israel sinning or not sinning. Then God told them I will bring you back from all the nations of the world that you have been scattered to .
        Wes there is a temple already built here in the USA . It is in pieces and can be erected literley overnight, the Jews already have a Red Heifer to once again begin the sacrifices. THE ANTI CHRIST will brake the treaty he has signed with many. Which is the truth of Dan. 9:25-27 in the middle of the 7 tear agreement and will stop the sacrifices, then begins hell on earth for the Jews/Israel, with 2/3rds of 6 million killed. The Muslims also want the USA destroyed. If you don't believe what I say ,,,,,,,,,,,,,open your eyes and see what is going on in the world
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        God did bring them back from captivity under Cyrus the Great king of Medes and Persians. just read the book of Ezra for that is all it is about the captives returning and rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah is about the rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. through the prophet Jeremiah God said after the captivity he would make a new covenant which is found in Jesus Christ. those Jews who did not believe in Jesus even lost the God of their forefathers by rejecting him. the temple build here in the United States is a replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece on Mars Hill were Paul preached to the city. every time they think they got the Red Hefer it has turned out to be bogus. besides the fact that it tramples underfoot the precious blood of Jesus Christ and says that Christ's sacrifice was not enough which is blasphemous. Daniel there was prophesying that Jesus Christ was going to make a new convenant, die to bring an end to sacrifices, and the old covenant would come to an climatic end. all that was fulfilled by the end of 70 AD.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        A new covenant that would end in seven years???? also the Jews captivity you are speaking of is just from babylon, The God of the everlasting covenant??? Now needs a NEW covenant, very interesting, It just proves you don't know a hoot what the word of God says about this topic!!! The last of your post says , " and the old covenant would come to a climatic end." EVERLASTING in Gods eyes is e v e r l a s t i n g, Whay you have said in your post , the Bible says is false prophet/teaching. get a grip. What I have heard in your post speaks of a non born again , self righteous person ,
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        It will be interesting to see the Law of Moses and A prophet be put to death, and the whole world rejoice at their death
- Old Observer
  
  Victor, I think you should sit down with your Bible and read it more carefully. You are scrambling it up worse than anyone I've read lately. !44,000 refers to as you said, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. t But hey will be the messengers(missionaries) to the Jews bringing them to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. And this is only one of the ideas you have screwed up.
  - victorbarney
    
    Old Observer, WATCH! You'll be FIRST, I PROMISE! Just saying…
    - Old Observer
      
      Victor, I will stand by what my Bible says and not the confusing garble you are spouting. We who believe in salvation through Jesus Christ will not even be here when the time of "Jacob's Trouble" comes.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
        
        all a person has to do is read Josephus' account of the Jewish Revolt between 67-70 AD and see that Israel could not have any worst trouble than it. the temple is no more, the city of Jerusalem outside a few watch towers to show its size is no more, and the scavenger birds have plenty of dead humans to feast on for months.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        Wes where are the 144K Israeli evangelists in 70 AD??
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        Amen Old one, we will be out of here, since "some" on here don't believe in the Rapture, we will call it caught up! by the way ,I'll be catchin you in 10years
  - Pastor Dwayne
    
    Old,,,, the 144k truely are evangelists. Preaching not only to Israel, but also, I believe the gentiles. The people that are saved through their ministry become what we call , The Tribulation Saints. This time frame is the time of Jacob's great trouble , or as we more know it The great tribulation. The times of the gentiles end at the end of the great tibulation.
Old Observer

God gave Jerusalem to the Jewish people, but the Muslims have for years been trying to erase all signs of Jewish heritage. But God said they ( the Jews) would again occupy their homeland, and they do. And in time, Jerusalem will be completely theirs, with god's intervention. Just read the Bible.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-B-Severy/557985964 David B Severy

Jerusalem is the City of God on this earth! Jesus, God's beloved Son, will return to it and rule for 1000 years! What part of Capitol do we not understand? It is the Capitol of Israel and the whole earth! Even the Universe!

Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
  
  he has been reigning over the whole world in the New Jerusalem ever since he ascended into heaver for Paul tells us that he ascended to the heights so he could fill all things and rule all things. you really should read the New Testament better and not believe everything that the dispensational "prophecy experts" tell you for they love to interpret scripture minus Christ which was the whole theme of scripture. it is God's story of redemption of man through his Son Jesus Christ.
  - Pastor Dwayne
    
    Jesus will rule only in New Jerusalem here on earth, no dispensationalism to it .Don'ttry to spiritulize all of Revelations, it will mess you up, which it sounds like it has messed u up.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
      
      first off you are the one who believes dispensationalism for i am a partial preterist post-millennialist. i am also not spiritualizing Revelation or Christ reigning now from the New Jerusalem for John saw the New Jerusalem come out of heaven. it is sad you believe a system which you do not even know what it is called.