A historic event
Dear editor:
I don’t know how many of your readers realize that our world is experiencing an historic event this month. In the month of August, in the year of our Lord 1191, mankind saw, as we witness today, five Fridays, five Saturdays, and five Sundays.
This event occurs once every 823 years.
What was going on in the world during the year of 1191? The Muslims took control of the city of Jerusalem in 1187 under the leadership of Saladin, the Kurdish sultan of Egypt and Syria, which served to provoke the third of seven crusades. Its leaders were three of the most famous medieval kings — Frederick Barbarossa of Germany, Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, and Philip Augustus of France. Frederick was drowned in Asia Minor; and after many quarrels with Richard, Philip returned home. Saladin and Richard remained the chief protagonists.
To keep the Muslims united, Saladin proclaimed a jihad (struggle), or holy war, against the Christians. He once said, “Abstain from the shedding of blood, for blood that is spilt never slumbers.” Richard and Saladin agreed to a three-year truce and gave Christian pilgrims free access to the city of Jerusalem to celebrate their holy days.
Now, today, we see that Middle East area is still under siege by the Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslims — and so, it will always be until Christ returns to set up His millennial reign in the Holy City. America must remain Israel’s strongest ally and be willing to support her militarily. To remain neutral or noncommitted to Israel is the same attitude to have toward God, for they are His chosen people (Deut. 7:6).
As James 2:23 states that “Abraham was a friend of God” and the nation of Israel was sired by Abraham (Genesis 17:4), whosoever befriends Israel befriends God. It behooves us, as a nation, to be on the side of God.
Rev. Don Cunningham
Hot Springs