Israel and Jerusalem - Focus of world attention

Has it ever seemed strange to you that the tiny nation of Israel always appears in the news? Why this nation of only five million people? The answer is simply that the Hebrew and Christian prophets had so much to say about Israel and Jerusalem in the end times. The valley of Megiddo is there, probably the most famous valley in the world, where two end-time battles will be fought. The Mediterranean and the Arab allies of Russia will do battle there, and Jerusalem - mentioned in prophecy more than any other city on earth - will be a pain in the neck to the rest of the world, just as it seems to be today.(If you are those who don't read the news, please update yourself at http://www.google.com/.)

The city of Jerusalem, although it is home to many sacred places such as the traditional Mount Calvary and the garden tomb where it is believed Jesus rose from the dead, it isn't really a beautiful place. It is crowded, smelly, and extremely noisy. It has been built and destroyed and rebuilt more than any other city, and today is thriving. Unlike the great cities of the world, it is not famous for any great river that flows through it, nor does it have a harbor to connect it to the great shipping routes of the world; in fact, it is many miles even from the nearest airport. It is not the headquarters of any world government body or banking instituition - yet it remains at the center of world attention.