World News and Trends- Jerusalem: Troubles in a united and yet a divided city
Four decades after the Six-Day War reunited Jerusalem, some in Israel still fondly call this historic city the "eternal, undivided capital."
Four decades after the Six-Day War reunited Jerusalem, some in Israel still fondly call this historic city the "eternal, undivided capital." But others are now wondering if it is inevitable that the city will become politically divided yet again. One right-winger-turned-peace-activist even said that "we have to divide Jerusalem. We have to get rid of some of our syndromes; some of our dreams."
Jerusalem is not a popular place to live. It is Israel's poorest city economically. Most Israelis prefer residing in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other places along Israel's high-tech corridor. Current demographics and even its geography now trouble the ancient capital of King David.
Some 300,000 Jews have left Jerusalem since the Six-Day War. More than 17,000 left in 2006, offset somewhat by nearly 11,000 moving into the city. Demographers have estimated that the ratio of Jews to Arabs in the city will be 50-50 within 20 years. A long barrier both divides and surrounds Jerusalem. The network of checkpoints frustrates both Arabs and Jews. The city itself is often full of religious tension and strife. Its current plight reflects the biblical description of its spiritual condition in Revelation 11:8.
Yet in spite of all the past, present and future sufferings of this great city, we should never forget the sure hope behind these inspired words of King David: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). They echo down its 3,000-year history. It is certain that David's prayer will be answered when Jesus Christ returns to make this great city the capital of the world. From there He will reign over all nations in a world of peace, purpose and plenty.
To understand Jerusalem's historic role, request or download our free booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy. (Source: Newsweek, June 4, 2007.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: July - August 2007
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
