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God's Appointed Times with Rabbi Jason Sobel

Jason Sobel & Erick Stakelbeck: Yom Yerushalayim | God's Appointed Times

February 19, 2026 | S3 E7 | 24:59

Jason Sobel & Erick Stakelbeck: Yom Yerushalayim | God's Appointed Times
God’s Appointed Times is an eight-week journey that explores seven of the most sacred times of the year. The series is led by renowned author and teacher Rabbi Jason Sobel. Raised in a traditional Jewish home, Rabbi Jason has seen the beauty of the biblical Jewish holidays from the perspective of Judaism. After a tangible encounter with Jesus, Rabbi Jason dedicated his life to Messiah. Rabbi now helps believers across the world reconnect to the Jewish roots of their faith.
#Israel #WorldHistory #PersonalStory #JewishHistory #JewishTradition #Judaism #Christianity #Bible #Peace #Prophecy #RabbiJasonSobel #ErickStakelbeck

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God's Appointed Times with Rabbi Jason Sobel | Jason Sobel & Erick Stakelbeck: Yom Yerushalayim | God's Appointed Times | February 19, 2026
  • Rabbi jason sobel: it's been called the spiritual center
  • 00:00:00.830 --> 00:00:02.699
  • Of the earth.
  • 00:00:02.832 --> 00:00:03.066
  • It will be god's throne in the messianic kingdom.
  • 00:00:04.134 --> 00:00:07.370
  • It's the holy city.
  • 00:00:07.370 --> 00:00:09.105
  • Right now we're talking about jerusalem, yerushalayim, for
  • 00:00:09.105 --> 00:00:14.177
  • Israelis there is no better time to celebrate jerusalem than the
  • 00:00:14.177 --> 00:00:18.715
  • National holiday of jerusalem day, yom yerushalayim.
  • 00:00:18.715 --> 00:00:23.053
  • This celebration is all about recognizing the geographical,
  • 00:00:23.053 --> 00:00:28.024
  • Spiritual, and prophetic significance of jerusalem.
  • 00:00:28.024 --> 00:00:32.529
  • I want to reveal why this city should matter to all followers
  • 00:00:32.529 --> 00:00:36.833
  • Of yeshua and explore god's plans for jerusalem.
  • 00:00:36.833 --> 00:00:41.371
  • That's right now on "god's appointed times."
  • 00:00:41.371 --> 00:00:45.508
  • [music]
  • 00:00:45.508 --> 00:01:13.870
  • Rabbi jason sobel: to understand the importance of jerusalem, we
  • 00:00:55.518 --> 00:01:17.040
  • Have to start by understanding its history.
  • 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.076
  • The ancient history of the promised land is documented in
  • 00:01:20.076 --> 00:01:23.746
  • Scripture, but it's important to understand the recent history of
  • 00:01:23.746 --> 00:01:27.617
  • The land too.
  • 00:01:27.617 --> 00:01:29.185
  • Even in just the last century, jerusalem has been shaped and
  • 00:01:29.185 --> 00:01:33.523
  • Guided by the hand of god.
  • 00:01:33.523 --> 00:01:36.259
  • Jerusalem is the most important city for the jewish people, but
  • 00:01:36.259 --> 00:01:40.363
  • What about gentile believers?
  • 00:01:40.363 --> 00:01:42.799
  • Paul said the gentile believers have been grafted into the
  • 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:46.769
  • Jewish roots of the faith.
  • 00:01:46.769 --> 00:01:48.972
  • Yeshua jesus himself was jewish, and this means that it's also
  • 00:01:48.972 --> 00:01:53.643
  • Important for all believers to understand jerusalem and why it
  • 00:01:53.643 --> 00:01:58.515
  • Matters, not to mention that so much of jesus's life and
  • 00:01:58.515 --> 00:02:02.785
  • Ministry happened near or in the city of jerusalem.
  • 00:02:02.785 --> 00:02:07.357
  • "then adonai said to abraham, 'get going from your land and
  • 00:02:07.357 --> 00:02:12.095
  • From your relatives, and from your father's house to the land
  • 00:02:12.095 --> 00:02:16.132
  • That i will show you.'"
  • 00:02:16.132 --> 00:02:18.401
  • It was always the heart of god for him to establish israel as
  • 00:02:18.401 --> 00:02:23.206
  • The home for his people.
  • 00:02:23.206 --> 00:02:25.441
  • This means god chose this relatively small piece of land
  • 00:02:25.441 --> 00:02:29.913
  • To birth the lineage that would deliver us the messiah.
  • 00:02:29.913 --> 00:02:34.317
  • The scripture also tells us that god blesses those who bless the
  • 00:02:34.317 --> 00:02:39.656
  • Children of israel and curses those who curse them.
  • 00:02:39.656 --> 00:02:44.093
  • The call to abraham begins with god saying, "lech lecha,
  • 00:02:44.093 --> 00:02:48.364
  • Therefore go to the land i will show you."
  • 00:02:48.364 --> 00:02:51.568
  • We read about the culmination of abraham's calling in genesis 22
  • 00:02:51.568 --> 00:02:55.805
  • With those same words, lech lecha, go, where god tells
  • 00:02:55.805 --> 00:02:59.375
  • Abraham to go to the land of moriah and offer his son.
  • 00:02:59.375 --> 00:03:03.846
  • The place where abraham offers isaac is the exact same spot on
  • 00:03:03.846 --> 00:03:09.752
  • Which solomon built the temple in jerusalem, but what's even
  • 00:03:09.752 --> 00:03:13.890
  • More amazing, according to jewish, christian, and muslim
  • 00:03:13.890 --> 00:03:17.994
  • Tradition, there is something very important about the temple
  • 00:03:17.994 --> 00:03:22.365
  • Mount site.
  • 00:03:22.365 --> 00:03:23.700
  • It is believed that at creation, god took a rock known as the
  • 00:03:23.700 --> 00:03:28.404
  • Foundation stone and threw it into the midst of the chaos, and
  • 00:03:28.404 --> 00:03:33.176
  • It's from that stone that god created the world.
  • 00:03:33.176 --> 00:03:37.146
  • That foundation stone is the same spot as mount moriah, the
  • 00:03:37.146 --> 00:03:42.485
  • Site that would become the holy of holies.
  • 00:03:42.485 --> 00:03:46.322
  • Wow, this rock, like everything in the bible, is meant to point
  • 00:03:46.322 --> 00:03:51.628
  • To the messiah.
  • 00:03:51.628 --> 00:03:53.263
  • The apostle and rabbi paul says the rock that followed israel in
  • 00:03:53.263 --> 00:03:57.567
  • The wilderness was the messiah, and david writes in psalm 118,
  • 00:03:57.567 --> 00:04:02.972
  • [speaking hebrew]
  • 00:04:02.972 --> 00:04:05.975
  • "the stone which the builders have rejected has become the
  • 00:04:05.975 --> 00:04:10.680
  • Chief cornerstone."
  • 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:12.782
  • Yeshua is the eben, the rock, but he's also known as the rock
  • 00:04:12.782 --> 00:04:17.453
  • Of israel.
  • 00:04:17.453 --> 00:04:18.821
  • You can't accept jesus as the rock on which we build our lives
  • 00:04:18.821 --> 00:04:23.660
  • And reject israel.
  • 00:04:23.660 --> 00:04:25.795
  • You can't have the rock of israel without israel.
  • 00:04:25.795 --> 00:04:29.098
  • Just like yeshua, our rock is the center of our lives, israel,
  • 00:04:29.098 --> 00:04:35.038
  • And more specifically jerusalem is the center of the world
  • 00:04:35.038 --> 00:04:39.509
  • Historically, prophetically, and spiritually.
  • 00:04:39.509 --> 00:04:43.513
  • Israel and jerusalem matter to god,
  • 00:04:43.513 --> 00:04:46.449
  • And they should matter to you.
  • 00:04:46.449 --> 00:04:49.002
  • And they should matter to you.
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  • [music]
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  • Erick stakelbeck: shalom, erick stakelbeck here, stacks for
  • 00:04:57.294 --> 00:05:00.964
  • Short, host of "stakelbeck tonight" every weeknight on tbn.
  • 00:05:00.964 --> 00:05:05.235
  • Also have a very big youtube channel called "the watchmen,"
  • 00:05:05.235 --> 00:05:09.173
  • Where we talk all things israel and middle east, and why it
  • 00:05:09.173 --> 00:05:12.609
  • Matters to you.
  • 00:05:12.609 --> 00:05:14.545
  • You know, i don't think there's any coincidences in life, and my
  • 00:05:14.545 --> 00:05:18.315
  • First friend in life, growing up in a working-class neighborhood
  • 00:05:18.315 --> 00:05:21.685
  • In northeast philadelphia was a jewish guy who lived about three
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  • Houses down on my blocks.
  • 00:05:25.489 --> 00:05:27.157
  • That's my very first friend of childhood memory.
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  • That's number one.
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  • Number two, my high school basketball coach, profound
  • 00:05:31.662 --> 00:05:34.498
  • Influence in my life was a jewish man.
  • 00:05:34.498 --> 00:05:36.934
  • Number three, my first friend when i moved to washington dc,
  • 00:05:36.934 --> 00:05:40.237
  • I didn't know anyone, was an israeli jew, and throughout my
  • 00:05:40.237 --> 00:05:44.308
  • Life i've had jewish influences in my life, influential figures,
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  • Close friends who just happened to be jewish, even my
  • 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:51.849
  • High school.
  • 00:05:51.849 --> 00:05:53.217
  • I went out in my early days, went to a catholic high school,
  • 00:05:53.217 --> 00:05:55.886
  • Transferred to a private school, which was, surprise, surprise,
  • 00:05:55.886 --> 00:06:00.057
  • About 80% to 90% jewish.
  • 00:06:00.057 --> 00:06:02.526
  • Rabbi jason sobel: of all the places in israel, and i love
  • 00:06:02.526 --> 00:06:05.829
  • Going to israel.
  • 00:06:05.829 --> 00:06:07.164
  • There is no place like it in the world, jerusalem is my favorite.
  • 00:06:07.164 --> 00:06:12.536
  • And so when we talk about yom yerushalayim, jerusalem
  • 00:06:12.536 --> 00:06:16.340
  • Independence day, so important, because, you know, as you know,
  • 00:06:16.340 --> 00:06:22.546
  • Jerusalem is the center of the world.
  • 00:06:22.546 --> 00:06:26.984
  • We look at it from a biblical worldview perspective, and we
  • 00:06:26.984 --> 00:06:32.790
  • See this it's so interesting going back to ancient times,
  • 00:06:32.790 --> 00:06:36.326
  • There is this ancient map, the cloverleaf map, and in those
  • 00:06:36.326 --> 00:06:41.665
  • Ancient maps you have jerusalem at the center, you have asia,
  • 00:06:41.665 --> 00:06:47.137
  • You have europe, you have africa, so jerusalem is
  • 00:06:47.137 --> 00:06:51.108
  • Literally depicted on the ancient map as being at the
  • 00:06:51.108 --> 00:06:54.278
  • Center of the world.
  • 00:06:54.278 --> 00:06:56.580
  • I mean, geographically, it was the land bridge.
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  • It was the piece of land that connected these three
  • 00:07:00.851 --> 00:07:05.956
  • Continents together.
  • 00:07:05.956 --> 00:07:07.291
  • And this is one of the reasons why so many nations battled over
  • 00:07:07.291 --> 00:07:12.463
  • It throughout history, because it was a natural land bridge,
  • 00:07:12.463 --> 00:07:16.066
  • It had great--
  • 00:07:16.066 --> 00:07:17.568
  • Erick stakelbeck: conquered and reconquered again and again, and
  • 00:07:17.568 --> 00:07:19.736
  • It really is truly, rabbi, it is, if you look at the map, the
  • 00:07:19.736 --> 00:07:23.273
  • Center of the world.
  • 00:07:23.273 --> 00:07:24.608
  • Jerusalem is the geographic center of the world.
  • 00:07:24.608 --> 00:07:26.543
  • Even in modern maps it truly is, all a coincidence i'm sure.
  • 00:07:26.543 --> 00:07:30.581
  • Rabbi jason sobel: all a coincidence, and it just goes to
  • 00:07:30.581 --> 00:07:32.149
  • Show that the geography of where god situated israel, you know,
  • 00:07:32.149 --> 00:07:37.621
  • Points to its strategic importance, but it's not just
  • 00:07:37.621 --> 00:07:41.325
  • Strategically important from an economic or from a
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  • Military perspective.
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  • Most important is that it is spiritually strategic, and it is
  • 00:07:48.298 --> 00:07:54.605
  • Spiritually the center of the world.
  • 00:07:54.605 --> 00:07:57.207
  • When you think about the religious makeup of the world,
  • 00:07:57.207 --> 00:08:00.444
  • You have christianity, the largest religion, comes from
  • 00:08:00.444 --> 00:08:06.617
  • Birthed out of judaism, so christianity and judaism and
  • 00:08:06.617 --> 00:08:11.955
  • Islam is all birthed out of the land of israel, the three
  • 00:08:11.955 --> 00:08:17.895
  • Abrahamic faiths.
  • 00:08:17.895 --> 00:08:19.930
  • So, no wonder there is such a focus on the land of israel and
  • 00:08:19.930 --> 00:08:24.601
  • In particular on the city of jerusalem, the holiest site for
  • 00:08:24.601 --> 00:08:28.238
  • Jews, the third holiest site for muslims.
  • 00:08:28.238 --> 00:08:30.641
  • Erick stakelbeck: yeah, and the spiritual warfare of jerusalem,
  • 00:08:30.641 --> 00:08:32.442
  • Rabbi, is so intense now.
  • 00:08:32.442 --> 00:08:34.411
  • Muslims believe that their prophet mohammad ascended to
  • 00:08:34.411 --> 00:08:36.980
  • Heaven from jerusalem, of course, the dome of the rock and
  • 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:39.750
  • The al-aqsa mosque sit atop the temple mount today where the
  • 00:08:39.750 --> 00:08:43.153
  • First and second jewish temples once stood.
  • 00:08:43.153 --> 00:08:46.256
  • The temple mount in particular, the center of that center, the
  • 00:08:46.256 --> 00:08:49.026
  • Temple mount, is the most coveted piece of real estate in
  • 00:08:49.026 --> 00:08:52.195
  • The world.
  • 00:08:52.195 --> 00:08:53.530
  • Rabbi, as you said, jews, christians, muslims, for us,
  • 00:08:53.530 --> 00:08:55.899
  • I mean, as a follower of jesus, yeshua, look, jesus taught in
  • 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:59.536
  • That temple, in that second temple, herod's temple.
  • 00:08:59.536 --> 00:09:01.872
  • It's where he chased out the money changers.
  • 00:09:01.872 --> 00:09:03.507
  • We learn when he was 12 years old, he was there, he got
  • 00:09:03.507 --> 00:09:05.576
  • Separated from his parents as a young boy.
  • 00:09:05.576 --> 00:09:08.445
  • So, for jews and christians, the temple mount, it is the
  • 00:09:08.445 --> 00:09:12.716
  • Paramount place in the world in terms of-- look, the old
  • 00:09:12.716 --> 00:09:16.653
  • Testament says that god's divine presence, at least for a time,
  • 00:09:16.653 --> 00:09:20.057
  • Dwelt in that first temple under king solomon.
  • 00:09:20.057 --> 00:09:23.460
  • So, for us as bible believers, just a place of intense, intense
  • 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:28.865
  • Spiritual feeling and connection with the lord.
  • 00:09:28.865 --> 00:09:31.802
  • And i think it's going to increase in the days to come.
  • 00:09:31.802 --> 00:09:34.104
  • Actually, we know it's going to increase in the days to come.
  • 00:09:34.104 --> 00:09:36.673
  • Rabbi, you've talked about zechariah 12, which says that
  • 00:09:36.673 --> 00:09:39.743
  • Jerusalem will become like a cup of trembling for the entire
  • 00:09:39.743 --> 00:09:42.879
  • World, although anyone who comes against it will be cut
  • 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:46.249
  • To pieces.
  • 00:09:46.249 --> 00:09:47.584
  • You know, for me, as we're talking, i think about my first
  • 00:09:47.584 --> 00:09:50.887
  • Visit to israel and the first time i ever laid eyes
  • 00:09:50.887 --> 00:09:54.224
  • On jerusalem.
  • 00:09:54.224 --> 00:09:55.592
  • Rabbi, this was a lifelong dream for me, and i'm finally there,
  • 00:09:55.592 --> 00:09:59.696
  • I'm in god's land, i'm in jerusalem, the city, and i'll
  • 00:09:59.696 --> 00:10:04.534
  • Never forget the first time i behold the western wall, and
  • 00:10:04.534 --> 00:10:09.006
  • 2,000 years ago, look, the western wall, it's only a
  • 00:10:09.006 --> 00:10:11.408
  • Retaining wall.
  • 00:10:11.408 --> 00:10:13.010
  • It was underneath the temple mount, that glorious second
  • 00:10:13.010 --> 00:10:16.613
  • Temple which you could see for miles and miles around.
  • 00:10:16.613 --> 00:10:20.050
  • And the dome of the rock is big, but the second temple was
  • 00:10:20.050 --> 00:10:22.786
  • Another story entirely, just amazing, amazing structure.
  • 00:10:22.786 --> 00:10:26.390
  • But i'm standing at the western wall, and i walk closer, i'm
  • 00:10:26.390 --> 00:10:29.926
  • Overwhelmed, and i felt the presence of god in such a
  • 00:10:29.926 --> 00:10:34.297
  • Powerful, tangible way like i hadn't in my entire life.
  • 00:10:34.297 --> 00:10:37.968
  • And by the way, by the time of that trip, i hadn't given my
  • 00:10:37.968 --> 00:10:41.705
  • Life to jesus yet.
  • 00:10:41.705 --> 00:10:43.206
  • I was very close, and i feel like god strategically brought
  • 00:10:43.206 --> 00:10:46.777
  • Me to his land to draw me closer to him, and i'll never forget
  • 00:10:46.777 --> 00:10:51.148
  • That overwhelming feeling i had at the western wall of the
  • 00:10:51.148 --> 00:10:54.651
  • Presence of god and a sense in my heart that, look, i want you
  • 00:10:54.651 --> 00:10:58.655
  • To help my people.
  • 00:10:58.655 --> 00:11:00.457
  • And as a gentile, you know, christian, i knew he meant
  • 00:11:00.457 --> 00:11:06.029
  • The jewish people.
  • 00:11:06.029 --> 00:11:07.431
  • I knew it, i knew he meant israel.
  • 00:11:07.431 --> 00:11:08.799
  • I knew he meant the jewish people.
  • 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:10.200
  • I feel like god really impressed that on my heart in a powerful
  • 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:12.269
  • Way at the western wall in jerusalem.
  • 00:11:12.269 --> 00:11:14.905
  • And i've talked to so many people who've had similar
  • 00:11:14.905 --> 00:11:17.274
  • Experiences in prayer at the wall or just in jerusalem
  • 00:11:17.274 --> 00:11:20.977
  • In general.
  • 00:11:20.977 --> 00:11:22.312
  • It was the most profound experience with the lord i ever
  • 00:11:22.312 --> 00:11:25.615
  • Had up until that point in my life, and he took me to
  • 00:11:25.615 --> 00:11:29.086
  • Jerusalem to reveal himself to me.
  • 00:11:29.086 --> 00:11:32.055
  • Rabbi jason sobel: it's so good, i mean, there is a tangible,
  • 00:11:32.055 --> 00:11:35.325
  • Palpable presence of god in that city that's indescribable like
  • 00:11:35.325 --> 00:11:41.865
  • Nowhere else i've ever felt.
  • 00:11:41.865 --> 00:11:43.366
  • But of course, it's a city that has been saturated in prayer
  • 00:11:43.366 --> 00:11:48.305
  • Going back to, you know, david and the prophets and even, you
  • 00:11:48.305 --> 00:11:53.343
  • Know, abraham, even before that.
  • 00:11:53.343 --> 00:11:55.145
  • Erick stakelbeck: with isaac, yeah, the finding of isaac.
  • 00:11:55.145 --> 00:11:57.080
  • Rabbi jason sobel: yeah, so you have this rich spiritual,
  • 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:59.583
  • Historic, prophetic history that ties there, and i feel the same
  • 00:11:59.583 --> 00:12:04.855
  • Way about the city, and i think it's so interesting, because
  • 00:12:04.855 --> 00:12:09.192
  • Again, that's why i love taking people on our tours to israel,
  • 00:12:09.192 --> 00:12:12.996
  • And what's really cool is that when you go to jerusalem, you're
  • 00:12:12.996 --> 00:12:18.769
  • Making an aliyah, you're making a-- literally the hebrew word
  • 00:12:18.769 --> 00:12:22.973
  • Aliyah means to ascend, because jerusalem is elevated, so you
  • 00:12:22.973 --> 00:12:27.577
  • Literally have to ascend the mountain or the hill to go into
  • 00:12:27.577 --> 00:12:32.482
  • Jerusalem, and that's true both physically, but it's also true
  • 00:12:32.482 --> 00:12:39.156
  • Spiritually as well.
  • 00:12:39.156 --> 00:12:41.291
  • So, in the temple, there were these 15 steps in the second
  • 00:12:41.291 --> 00:12:45.929
  • House of god, and on those 15 steps they would sing 15 psalms.
  • 00:12:45.929 --> 00:12:51.134
  • And what are they?
  • 00:12:51.134 --> 00:12:52.502
  • The 15 psalms of ascent that all begin with shir hama'aloth in
  • 00:12:52.502 --> 00:12:58.441
  • The hebrew or sir hamma'lot in the hebrew, because literally
  • 00:12:58.441 --> 00:13:03.413
  • Pilgrims were making a spiritual ascent to jerusalem.
  • 00:13:03.413 --> 00:13:06.716
  • They're making a spiritual ascent when they're in the
  • 00:13:06.716 --> 00:13:09.386
  • Temple, and that's part of what that city represents, that god
  • 00:13:09.386 --> 00:13:13.056
  • Wants us to rise higher, he wants us to go to the next
  • 00:13:13.056 --> 00:13:17.160
  • Spiritual level, and that's literally why it makes sense
  • 00:13:17.160 --> 00:13:21.731
  • That yeshua would also ascend from jerusalem, you know,
  • 00:13:21.731 --> 00:13:25.869
  • Into heaven.
  • 00:13:25.869 --> 00:13:27.237
  • It all kind of ties together.
  • 00:13:27.237 --> 00:13:28.572
  • It's the reason why god commanded the jewish people
  • 00:13:28.572 --> 00:13:31.842
  • Three times a year, known as the shalosh regalim.
  • 00:13:31.842 --> 00:13:35.545
  • All jews were to appear before the lord and to go up to the
  • 00:13:35.545 --> 00:13:40.650
  • Temple in jerusalem, and really, jerusalem was meant to be the
  • 00:13:40.650 --> 00:13:48.024
  • Uniter of god's people.
  • 00:13:48.024 --> 00:13:50.527
  • It was meant to be the place that brought everyone together,
  • 00:13:50.527 --> 00:13:54.431
  • Which is so interesting that god chose this location, because
  • 00:13:54.431 --> 00:13:59.436
  • People think when they think about the 12 tribes of israel,
  • 00:13:59.436 --> 00:14:02.806
  • Who was the king of israel?
  • 00:14:02.806 --> 00:14:05.342
  • What tribe was he to come from?
  • 00:14:05.342 --> 00:14:08.044
  • Erick stakelbeck: well, the line of the tribe of judah, i think
  • 00:14:08.044 --> 00:14:10.113
  • Of yeshua, jesus.
  • 00:14:10.113 --> 00:14:11.481
  • Rabbi jason sobel: right, but we think about it, technically
  • 00:14:11.481 --> 00:14:13.516
  • Jerusalem is not in judah, it's in benjamin, which is so
  • 00:14:13.516 --> 00:14:18.221
  • Interesting, because david took kingship, god gave it to him
  • 00:14:18.221 --> 00:14:23.526
  • From the tribe of benjamin, so he didn't take it and put it in
  • 00:14:23.526 --> 00:14:26.630
  • Hebron, which was in judah's territory, he put it in another
  • 00:14:26.630 --> 00:14:31.601
  • Tribe's territory, which is most central in the country, because
  • 00:14:31.601 --> 00:14:35.572
  • Again, politically, relationally, he wanted to unify
  • 00:14:35.572 --> 00:14:40.944
  • The entirety of the 12 tribes and create peace, and so
  • 00:14:40.944 --> 00:14:45.115
  • Literally, jerusalem is the city of peace.
  • 00:14:45.115 --> 00:14:47.484
  • Erick stakelbeck: wow, that's amazing, rabbi,
  • 00:14:47.484 --> 00:14:48.952
  • I never thought of that.
  • 00:14:48.952 --> 00:14:50.954
  • [music]
  • 00:14:50.954 --> 00:14:55.525
  • Rabbi jason sobel: it's almost impossible to overstate the
  • 00:14:55.525 --> 00:14:59.996
  • Spiritual and prophetic importance of jerusalem.
  • 00:14:59.996 --> 00:15:04.100
  • It is so significant, right?
  • 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:05.835
  • It's the place where yeshua jesus died, it's the place where
  • 00:15:05.835 --> 00:15:10.473
  • He rose from the dead, it's the place where he ascended into
  • 00:15:10.473 --> 00:15:15.045
  • Heaven, it's the place that he is coming back to when
  • 00:15:15.045 --> 00:15:18.148
  • He returns.
  • 00:15:18.148 --> 00:15:19.516
  • His feet are going to be on the mount of olives.
  • 00:15:19.516 --> 00:15:22.319
  • And for us as believers, we need to keep our eyes fixed
  • 00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:26.289
  • Towards jerusalem.
  • 00:15:26.289 --> 00:15:28.024
  • You know, it's like the jewish people who pray towards
  • 00:15:28.024 --> 00:15:31.061
  • Jerusalem every day, because ultimately we are ultimately
  • 00:15:31.061 --> 00:15:35.165
  • Going to jerusalem.
  • 00:15:35.165 --> 00:15:36.900
  • It is our home.
  • 00:15:36.900 --> 00:15:38.435
  • One of the things that's amazing in my mind as well is that even
  • 00:15:38.435 --> 00:15:44.975
  • The geography of jerusalem itself points to something
  • 00:15:44.975 --> 00:15:50.513
  • Very significant.
  • 00:15:50.513 --> 00:15:52.449
  • One of the main names of god in the bible is el shaddai, which
  • 00:15:52.449 --> 00:15:56.453
  • Means god almighty, and the hebrew name shaddai is
  • 00:15:56.453 --> 00:16:00.390
  • Represented by the hebrew letter shin.
  • 00:16:00.390 --> 00:16:02.292
  • It's a three-pronged hebrew letter.
  • 00:16:02.292 --> 00:16:04.594
  • Like if you go to the doorpost of a jewish home, you'll see
  • 00:16:04.594 --> 00:16:07.297
  • That there is a mezuzah, a little box, and it has a letter
  • 00:16:07.297 --> 00:16:11.001
  • Shin on it standing for shaddai, el shaddai, god almighty
  • 00:16:11.001 --> 00:16:15.638
  • Guarding the homes.
  • 00:16:15.638 --> 00:16:17.474
  • But what's incredible is this, so jerusalem is made up of these
  • 00:16:17.474 --> 00:16:22.278
  • Three valleys, the kidron valley, the kinnon valley, and
  • 00:16:22.278 --> 00:16:25.749
  • The triopian valley, and what's incredible when you look at it,
  • 00:16:25.749 --> 00:16:29.786
  • It actually forms the letter shin, these three valleys
  • 00:16:29.786 --> 00:16:34.391
  • In jerusalem.
  • 00:16:34.391 --> 00:16:36.793
  • So, literally, god has signed his name into the city.
  • 00:16:36.793 --> 00:16:43.033
  • And i think that's part of the reason why there's been such a
  • 00:16:43.033 --> 00:16:46.202
  • Spiritual battle over the city.
  • 00:16:46.202 --> 00:16:48.905
  • It's not because muslims versus jews are just a political thing.
  • 00:16:48.905 --> 00:16:55.712
  • It's really behind it is satan, right?
  • 00:16:55.712 --> 00:17:00.650
  • Erick stakelbeck: as we're to love what god loves, he hates
  • 00:17:00.650 --> 00:17:03.586
  • What god loves, and jerusalem, i think, is one of the main
  • 00:17:03.586 --> 00:17:06.790
  • Physical manifestations of the presence of god and the
  • 00:17:06.790 --> 00:17:10.193
  • Existence of god.
  • 00:17:10.193 --> 00:17:11.528
  • And that's amazing, because the bible says the name of the lord,
  • 00:17:11.528 --> 00:17:15.532
  • God says, "i've written my name in jerusalem," and you just laid
  • 00:17:15.532 --> 00:17:19.669
  • It out.
  • 00:17:19.669 --> 00:17:21.004
  • And by the way, some of those valleys have a more notorious
  • 00:17:21.004 --> 00:17:22.772
  • Reputation than others.
  • 00:17:22.772 --> 00:17:24.107
  • We talk about the valley of hinnom, but i think of-- when we
  • 00:17:24.107 --> 00:17:27.077
  • Think about the centrality of jerusalem, rabbi, i think of
  • 00:17:27.077 --> 00:17:29.546
  • Joel 3:2.
  • 00:17:29.546 --> 00:17:30.914
  • We might dig into this a bit, but the valley of jehoshaphat is
  • 00:17:30.914 --> 00:17:34.150
  • Kind of a valley within a valley inside the kidron valley, and a
  • 00:17:34.150 --> 00:17:39.055
  • Day is coming, god is very clear where he will bring all nations
  • 00:17:39.055 --> 00:17:41.991
  • Down to the valley of jehoshaphat, and he will
  • 00:17:41.991 --> 00:17:44.294
  • Actually judge the nations in jerusalem in the valley of
  • 00:17:44.294 --> 00:17:48.064
  • Jehoshaphat, and the kicker is for how they treated israel,
  • 00:17:48.064 --> 00:17:52.669
  • Because you have, paraphrasing here, persecuted my people and
  • 00:17:52.669 --> 00:17:56.106
  • Divided up my land.
  • 00:17:56.106 --> 00:17:58.208
  • So the enemies of israel and the jewish people will not have a
  • 00:17:58.208 --> 00:18:00.844
  • Very pleasant day on the day of judgment in the valley of
  • 00:18:00.844 --> 00:18:03.913
  • Jehoshaphat it seems.
  • 00:18:03.913 --> 00:18:05.281
  • Rabbi jason sobel: no, it's such a great point.
  • 00:18:05.281 --> 00:18:06.616
  • I mean, i think this contest, this struggle for jerusalem
  • 00:18:06.616 --> 00:18:11.187
  • That's at the heart of the conflict in the middle east for
  • 00:18:11.187 --> 00:18:14.491
  • The temple mount where the dome of the rock sits today, where
  • 00:18:14.491 --> 00:18:17.360
  • The first and second temple, the original temple created by
  • 00:18:17.360 --> 00:18:21.631
  • Solomon, which yeshua jesus worshiped in the second temple
  • 00:18:21.631 --> 00:18:26.035
  • That was made beautiful by king herod, it's because satan is
  • 00:18:26.035 --> 00:18:30.106
  • A usurper.
  • 00:18:30.106 --> 00:18:31.574
  • If that's where god is to be worshiped and where god wants to
  • 00:18:31.574 --> 00:18:34.844
  • Place his name, he wants to place his name there, because he
  • 00:18:34.844 --> 00:18:38.915
  • Hates everything that god loves, and he wants everything that god
  • 00:18:38.915 --> 00:18:43.553
  • Has and that belongs to him.
  • 00:18:43.553 --> 00:18:45.288
  • Erick stakelbeck: he's very unoriginal, by the way.
  • 00:18:45.288 --> 00:18:47.323
  • The enemy's blueprint for centuries, right?
  • 00:18:47.323 --> 00:18:50.260
  • But everyone, rabbi, you make the key point, everyone
  • 00:18:50.260 --> 00:18:53.429
  • Covets jerusalem.
  • 00:18:53.429 --> 00:18:55.365
  • Whether it's iran or the un, everyone wants a piece of
  • 00:18:55.365 --> 00:19:00.537
  • Jerusalem, and where it's all-- it's where it is all gonna come
  • 00:19:00.537 --> 00:19:03.606
  • Together one day, maybe not so far off, and yeshua will lay
  • 00:19:03.606 --> 00:19:08.077
  • Down his foot on the mount of olives, and then things get
  • 00:19:08.077 --> 00:19:11.080
  • Really interesting.
  • 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:12.415
  • Rabbi jason sobel: the name jerusalem itself, it's the
  • 00:19:12.415 --> 00:19:14.417
  • Hebrew word yerushalayim, and there's a deep spiritual truth,
  • 00:19:14.417 --> 00:19:19.055
  • You might even say a mystery contained within that word.
  • 00:19:19.055 --> 00:19:23.526
  • Because the hebrew ending of that word jerusalem or
  • 00:19:23.526 --> 00:19:28.031
  • Yerushalayim, ayim in hebrew is always double.
  • 00:19:28.031 --> 00:19:32.068
  • So einayim is eyes, raglayim is feet, yadayim is hands.
  • 00:19:32.068 --> 00:19:39.776
  • It means a pair, a double, so why does jerusalem end in the
  • 00:19:39.776 --> 00:19:45.848
  • Suffix that represents a doubling?
  • 00:19:45.848 --> 00:19:49.152
  • And it's because there is a jerusalem below, which is the
  • 00:19:49.152 --> 00:19:52.589
  • Earthly jerusalem, and yet there is a jerusalem above, and the
  • 00:19:52.589 --> 00:19:58.328
  • Two are inextricably connected.
  • 00:19:58.328 --> 00:20:00.330
  • That's why it says in psalm 122:3, jerusalem is like a city
  • 00:20:00.330 --> 00:20:05.468
  • That is built compacted together, yachdav in hebrew.
  • 00:20:05.468 --> 00:20:09.505
  • And what's interesting, we even, i think, see a glimpse of this
  • 00:20:09.505 --> 00:20:12.575
  • On the flag of israel.
  • 00:20:12.575 --> 00:20:15.178
  • You have the jerusalem above stripe.
  • 00:20:15.178 --> 00:20:18.781
  • You have the jerusalem below stripe, right?
  • 00:20:18.781 --> 00:20:23.386
  • And even the fact that it's blue in hebrew and hebrew would be
  • 00:20:23.386 --> 00:20:27.357
  • The color teckhelet, one of the reasons why they chose the color
  • 00:20:27.357 --> 00:20:30.627
  • Blue is because this is the color of heaven.
  • 00:20:30.627 --> 00:20:33.830
  • Erick stakelbeck: can we do maybe ten of these
  • 00:20:33.830 --> 00:20:35.965
  • Shows together?
  • 00:20:35.965 --> 00:20:37.300
  • Because i'm just learning, man, i'm soaking this all in.
  • 00:20:37.300 --> 00:20:40.003
  • I'm in my glory right now, i'm loving this.
  • 00:20:40.003 --> 00:20:42.505
  • Rabbi jason sobel: and the two stripes also reminds us of the
  • 00:20:42.505 --> 00:20:45.308
  • Two traditional stripes on the talit, the prayer shawl, right?
  • 00:20:45.308 --> 00:20:48.711
  • Again, it shows that israel was not just birthed, and jerusalem
  • 00:20:48.711 --> 00:20:54.083
  • Did not just come back into jewish hands solely by
  • 00:20:54.083 --> 00:20:57.520
  • Human effort.
  • 00:20:57.520 --> 00:20:58.855
  • Ultimately it was divine, but it took god's divine promises and
  • 00:20:58.855 --> 00:21:03.593
  • Faithfulness and supernatural working behind the scenes, and
  • 00:21:03.593 --> 00:21:06.596
  • Yet it also took israelis having the faith to take action
  • 00:21:06.596 --> 00:21:12.468
  • As well.
  • 00:21:12.468 --> 00:21:13.803
  • So it's always that combination.
  • 00:21:13.803 --> 00:21:15.171
  • Erick stakelbeck: rabbi, what i don't understand is that people
  • 00:21:15.171 --> 00:21:18.708
  • Believe, many people, that the existence of israel, everything
  • 00:21:18.708 --> 00:21:22.478
  • You just laid out is all coincidence.
  • 00:21:22.478 --> 00:21:25.214
  • I don't see how people miss this, that this is a divine act
  • 00:21:25.214 --> 00:21:29.319
  • Of god.
  • 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.653
  • Israel is not only rebirthed, but its continued, not only
  • 00:21:30.653 --> 00:21:33.556
  • Ability to survive, but thrive against all odds, and people
  • 00:21:33.556 --> 00:21:37.994
  • Really think it's just all a coincidence that has nothing to
  • 00:21:37.994 --> 00:21:41.364
  • Do with god.
  • 00:21:41.364 --> 00:21:42.699
  • It's hard for me to wrap my head around that.
  • 00:21:42.699 --> 00:21:44.834
  • I think you have to have more faith, i think, in this case to
  • 00:21:44.834 --> 00:21:47.870
  • Not believe that-- i mean, come on.
  • 00:21:47.870 --> 00:21:50.206
  • I mean, to me it's all there.
  • 00:21:50.206 --> 00:21:51.541
  • God's fingerprints are all over it, right down to the flag.
  • 00:21:51.541 --> 00:21:55.000
  • God's fingerprints are all over it, right down to the flag.
  • 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.379
  • [music]
  • 00:21:55.713 --> 00:21:59.550
  • Rabbi jason sobel: in hebrew, the name of the city of
  • 00:22:02.252 --> 00:22:04.688
  • Jerusalem is ir yerushalayim.
  • 00:22:04.688 --> 00:22:07.424
  • There's so much in the hebrew words.
  • 00:22:07.424 --> 00:22:09.793
  • The word for city, ir, literally means to wake up.
  • 00:22:09.793 --> 00:22:15.432
  • Yerushalayim can mean peace or wholeness or awe.
  • 00:22:15.432 --> 00:22:22.740
  • Jerusalem is a city that represents god waking up his
  • 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:27.444
  • People, waking up this world to a sense of awe, to a sense that
  • 00:22:27.444 --> 00:22:33.784
  • We can be made whole, that we can find shalom even in the
  • 00:22:33.784 --> 00:22:38.589
  • Midst of the chaos.
  • 00:22:38.589 --> 00:22:41.825
  • We need to not be asleep, but we need to wake up, because yes,
  • 00:22:41.825 --> 00:22:46.697
  • There is chaos and turmoil, yes, the nations of the world have
  • 00:22:46.697 --> 00:22:51.435
  • Come against jerusalem so many times throughout history, but
  • 00:22:51.435 --> 00:22:55.305
  • God gives us a hope and a future.
  • 00:22:55.305 --> 00:22:58.108
  • There is a future jerusalem, a new jerusalem that is coming,
  • 00:22:58.108 --> 00:23:03.514
  • And scripture tells us it's gonna be glorious
  • 00:23:03.514 --> 00:23:06.016
  • And magnificent.
  • 00:23:06.016 --> 00:23:07.418
  • One of the things that's used to describe the city is that it's
  • 00:23:07.418 --> 00:23:10.220
  • Going to be paved with gold.
  • 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:13.056
  • Did you ever wonder why the streets are paved with gold?
  • 00:23:13.056 --> 00:23:16.693
  • Is god the ultimate hip-hop artist?
  • 00:23:16.693 --> 00:23:19.029
  • He just wants to bling-bling and ice out heaven?
  • 00:23:19.029 --> 00:23:21.698
  • Is it like lifestyles of the rich and famous?
  • 00:23:21.698 --> 00:23:24.368
  • No, one of the reasons why the streets of the city are paved
  • 00:23:24.368 --> 00:23:27.971
  • With gold is because people will kill and destroy and do anything
  • 00:23:27.971 --> 00:23:34.778
  • To get gold, but the reason why the streets are paved with gold
  • 00:23:34.778 --> 00:23:38.649
  • Is because it is a reversal of the values of this world.
  • 00:23:38.649 --> 00:23:42.519
  • It's walking on what most people hold in highest regard.
  • 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:48.025
  • God's kingdom is the kingdom of opposites.
  • 00:23:48.025 --> 00:23:52.830
  • And so even in the midst of chaos, we can focus on
  • 00:23:52.830 --> 00:23:56.934
  • Jerusalem, the city of the king, and know that god is in control
  • 00:23:56.934 --> 00:24:01.738
  • And that we can have that shalom, that peace and
  • 00:24:01.738 --> 00:24:04.274
  • That wholeness.
  • 00:24:04.274 --> 00:24:05.609
  • That's the promise of the new jerusalem.
  • 00:24:05.609 --> 00:24:09.146
  • River of life, the trees of life that will be healing for
  • 00:24:09.146 --> 00:24:13.550
  • The nations.
  • 00:24:13.550 --> 00:24:14.885
  • We can tap into that healing right now through jesus, yeshua,
  • 00:24:14.885 --> 00:24:20.624
  • Who is sar shalom, the prince of peace.
  • 00:24:20.624 --> 00:24:24.027
  • And that reminds us of what psalm 122:6-8 says.
  • 00:24:24.027 --> 00:24:29.366
  • It says shaalu shalom, jerusalem, pray for the peace of
  • 00:24:29.366 --> 00:24:35.539
  • Jerusalem, because those who love her will prosper.
  • 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:40.244
  • I hope that throughout this discussion you've seen the
  • 00:24:40.244 --> 00:24:43.480
  • Incredible significance of the holy city.
  • 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:46.450
  • Jerusalem is important spiritually, historically, and
  • 00:24:46.450 --> 00:24:50.354
  • Prophetically for every follower of yeshua jesus.
  • 00:24:50.354 --> 00:24:54.992
  • I'm rabbi jason sobel, and this is "god's appointed times."
  • 00:24:54.992 --> 00:24:54.992