gardenjo

Thanks for the reference to the article. Great info. Something else to think about: Abraham was blessed that his posterity would be the "son of promise and covenant". Galatians 4:22-31 Ishmael, "born according to the flesh": Isaac, "born according to the promise". The Bible claims that Isaac was placed on the altar. I read somewhere (can't remember where, so this might not be true if we're relying on my memory) that Islamic tradition claims that Ishmael was placed on the altar. So, we have two half brothers fighting for 4,000years over the land of Israel that was promised to Abraham and his descendants. Maybe there's nothing to it, but I find it "coincidental" that Isaac storms through right before all this upheaval in the Middle East occurs. I don't think it's so much about the land as much as it is a reminder of our covenants and judgment; if there's anything to it at all. (Sometimes I read to much into things).

John Pratt suggests that Jubilee year begins September 2008. I don't think it was a coincidence that in the Oct. 2008 conference the Philadelphia Temple was announce --- (Constitution, and Liberty Bell with the inscription: "to set the captive free") A new nation! The promised land! John Pratt also says:...(speaking of Sept 2008) ".. the seventieth jubilee year from the events of the last year of Moses leading the children of Israel through the wilderness and of Joshua crossing the Jordan River into promised land of Canaan." I have heard it suggested that the United States is also symbolic of the tabernacle in the wilderness. (not from an LDS perspective). The similarities are quite intriguing. Another interesting point: The Rome Temple was announced at the same time as the Philadelphia Temple.