Ninety seven years ago this morning, 9th December 1917, the British army encamped outside Jerusalem awoke to find the enemy troops had silently retreated from the city overnight. So, there were no longer any  occupying Turks, or their German allies, in possession of the city to prevent its surrender by the mayor on the 10th December.

That is the significant historical occasion I referred to when quizzing readers in Blog’s 3rd birthday on which military event during the First World War has a direct connection to one of the prophecies spoken by Jesus Christ?.

Congratulations to Andrew Chapman for submitting the correct answer, which deserves to be quoted in full:

“I think you must be thinking of the liberation of Jerusalem by British and Allied military forces in December 1917. It would seem to be connected to the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967, which is perhaps the fulfillment of Luke 21.24: ‘And Jerusalem will be being trampled by nations, until times of nations are fulfilled’.

“The circumstances of Allenby’s victory have been seen as a fulfillment of Isaiah 31.5: ‘Like birds flying about, So will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over He will preserve it.’

“It is said that on December 8th, Isaiah 31 was appointed to be read in the Anglican churches worldwide, and that on the 9th Allenby flew planes over Jerusalem, dropping leaflets calling (successfully) for surrender.

“Grattan Guinness had remarkable success in predicting the time of the ending of Gentile control over Jerusalem. In Light for the Last Days, I think it was, he named 1917 as a key year (although later he revised the date by a year or two).”

We will consider the finer details relating to Jesus’ words, scripture and timing in another post but in the meantime, well done Andrew!

Further reading:

• Battle of Jerusalem, Wikipedia
• Timeline for History of Jerusalem, Jewish Virtual Library
• British Army in Sinai & Palestine Campaign, Imperial War Museum
• for some illustrated, informative short articles on WW1 visit i-history

The Tower of David photograph courtesy of FreeIsraelPhotos.com