Well, the year 2000 has finally arrived, and perhaps Y2K can cease to be a consuming topic for profiteers of Bible prophecy. Regular subscribers to "Focus on Jerusalem" will recall that this newsletter never even once mentioned that fanciful subject.

      I am always disturbed by the way things like the Y2K phenomenon seem to catch hold of the public's mindset, and then ultimately bring disreputability on true prophecy. The harm done by this type of vain speculation is irreparable. I watched with sadness the various news documentaries over the New Years Eve, portray Appocalyptic end-time events as being scare tactics by crazed Bible-thumping fanatical Christians.

      It has always been a fear of mine that the mere turning of the calendar into a new millennium might result in a castigation of prophecy in general. As the 21st century gets underway, and daily life returns to its usual normalcy, and anxieties over prospective 2nd millennium phobias fade away, the sense of urgency concerning the second coming of Jesus will probably fade away also for many people.

      Albeit, Y2K for me really meant "Yearning To see the King"! And that sensation continues for me until the day that I do see him. The manmade calendar which we use to measure time on this earth doesn't alter the providential plan of God in the least.

      So then, Christians everywhere need to continue to be steadfast in the blessed hope that is entailed with the second coming of Jesus. There is never any need to flee to a remote region to fortify defenses against the onslaught of the Antichrist. The second coming of the King is a portent of only good things for all people that have accepted the manifestation of God's love, and applied that demonstrated payment to their own stead.

      Too often, people associate Bible prophecy with a kind of gloom and doom mentality. Some have even remarked to me that they never expected to see the year 2000 because the churches they grew up in had instilled in them the idea that this world was so evil that nothing could salvage it, and that time probably would end before the year 2000 rolled around.

      Coupled with that mentality is the erroneous idea that the Rapture is a concocted idea of self-escapism. Today’s culture perceives the Christian Rapture as a cultic fringe concept, whereby only the self righteous escape an impending judgement, leaving behind their ever despairing environment on the earth.

      Neither of these mentalities are Biblically accurate! In fact, the Christian has every reason in this world to be optimistic! Yet, sadly, most do not realize the significance of the Biblical term; "The Blessed Hope".

      The Blessed Hope is a spiritually instilled yearning for dutiful service to the King, and causes optimism at the mere prospect of his promised appearing.

      Today, I sense that many Christians have lost sight of the fact that the return of Jesus shall serve as a harbinger of wonderful and magnificent things.

      The Blessed Hope promise stirs up deep down in my soul a realization of unbridled anticipation. There is absolutely no reason for anxiety and fear regarding the imminent return of Jesus in the last days.

      Therefore, I offer the following 14 reasons why all Christians should be Yearning to see the King!

      Satan will at long last finally be dethroned as the Prince of this world, and be publicly exposed as a liar and the old deceiver that he is.

      John 12:31 Now is the judgement of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

      Satan presently has dominion in this world because mankind gave it to him. The fall of mankind in the garden enabled Lucifer to enlist mankind in his fight to supplant God.

      Lucifers scheme is exposed by Isaiah 14:13-14:

      I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the clouds; I will be like the most high.

      Yet in verse 15, Lucifer is portrayed as being brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Revelation 20:10 reveals his ultimate destination in the lake of fire. In Revelation 20:1-3 we see his earthly dethronement as King Jesus comes back to assume his rightful reign.

      And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

      And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more:

      I don't know about you, but I am yearning to see the devil bound and shut up!

      Jesus shall be the King. The King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords.

      Isaiah 9:6-7 foretold that a son would be born unto Israel, and that he would establish a government, his names would be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, that his government shall never end, and that he forever shall sit upon the throne of his father David.

      Micah 5:2 speaks of Israel's King being born in the tiny town of Bethlehem, while Daniel 9:26 relates the fact that he would be denied initial acceptance.

      Luke 1:33 repeated the fact that the King would in fact reign over the house of Jacob, and that his rule as King would never end.

      During the long experiment of man's self governing he has searched for the ideal method of manipulating the masses of people under a system of efficient and effective subjection. Monarchy, Dictatorship, Royalty, Democracy, Theocracy, and various religious systems have all been tested and remodeled.

      However, there is only one who is worthy to rule over this world, and do it justly, righteously, without ever making a mistake. Only King Jesus can put an end to sin.(Dan 9:24)

      So, I am yearning for the day when Jesus will reign as King in this world.

      Jesus will receive honor, glory, and recognition as the Lord. The first time Jesus came into this world he was rejected as a King, he was scourged, mocked, and put to death. Finally, at long last; when indeed Jesus does return, he will be accorded the honor due a rightful King.

      Whereas Isaiah 9 spoke of a King coming to Israel, Isaiah 53 depicts the view of him being despised and rejected, acquainted with grief, and wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, even led as a lamb to the slaughter.

      If Jesus story were concluded with this legacy, his mission to Israel, and the world could be cast as an utter failure. But alas, he said he would return some day to finish the mystery of his foreordained mission!

      Revelation 11:15 states that all the kingdoms of this world shall become the possessions of our Lord, and that he shall reign over them forever and forever.

      Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honor, and glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and forever.

      In John 18:37 Pilate mockingly asks Jesus if he was a king. The sarcasm of his question was intended to belittle Jesus, and to make light of his kingly rights. But Isaiah 45:23 indicates when Jesus returns as king, that every knee shall bow, and every tongue eagerly shall confess that Jesus is King.

      Revelation 5:12 records as fact that the slain Lamb shall receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, and glory, and blessing. All will accord him the high honor of King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

      Today our Lord's name is slandered, taken in vain as curses; but I am yearning for the day when our precious Lord will receive a name above every name!

      Israel shall be saved, and will then recognize Jesus as their long awaited Messiah!

      When it shall come to pass that the Antichrist has completely encircled Jerusalem, and leaving absolutely no hope of escape for Israel; then shall Jesus descend physically to the Mt. of Olives, destroying all Israel's enemies.

      Upon this miraculous rescue, Israel will spring out of its blindness; to the realization that Jesus is their Deliverer.

      Zechariah 13:9-10 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

      And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they 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.

      Supplications is a spirit of humble, earnest prayer seeking forgiveness. Israel will find God's grace when Israel learns to mourn for its crucified son!

      Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

      In Hebrews 8:10 and also in Jeremiah 31:31-33, God says that he will make a new covenant with Israel in the day that Israel mourns for their Deliverer. That covenant will be to write his law in their hearts.

      Paul's prayer in Romans 10:1 for Israel to be saved will finally be answered. I am also yearning for that day when Israel will come to know Jesus!

      Israel will receive all of their Promised Land! God promised Abraham all the land from the Nile River in Egypt, eastward unto the Euphrates River in Iraq. Deuteronomy 4:1, 8:1, 11:8-9 reveal the fact that Israel needed to keep God's statutes and laws if she wished to possess the land entirely, and continually. Yet, Israel did not keep God's law, thus Israel never has known the full land blessing of its promise.

      And even today, Israel has returned to only a tiny portion of the promised land. Also, Israel is finding it virtually impossible to exercise its right to possess even a fraction of the land, due to the world resolve against the God of Israel. When Israel learns to trust in God, it will acquire all of the promised land.