The "day of the LORD" Prophecy

Have you ever heard that expression, the "day of the LORD?"

Do you look forward to it?

You probably wouldn't, if you knew what it means. Jesus talked about it, as if it were just around the corner. He mentions it indirectly in a reference to "John the Baptist" fulfilling the role of the "prophet Elijah," who would come before the "great and dreadful day of the LORD.
This is from Matthew 17: (note: the KJV spells Elijah's name differently, as Elias)

10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
He might have got the notion that Elijah/Elias the prophet would proceed the Messiah from a part of this prophecy from Malachi 4:
5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Some Jewish people still believe that the "messenger" prophet of Malachi is a man who would introduce the LORD, as if the LORD is a man. All you have to do to understand what Malachi is talking about is read the passages in the Bible that use the words, "day of the LORD."
It doesn't take long to read and understand what it really means, especially if the hard part (looking the passages up) is done for you.

Isaiah 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: Isaiah 2:11-13 (in Context) Isaiah 2 (Whole Chapter)

Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Isaiah 13:5-7 (in Context) Isaiah 13 (Whole Chapter)

Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Isaiah 13:8-10 (in Context) Isaiah 13 (Whole Chapter)

Jeremiah 46:10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. Jeremiah 46:9-11 (in Context) Jeremiah 46 (Whole Chapter)

Ezekiel 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. Ezekiel 13:4-6 (in Context) Ezekiel 13 (Whole Chapter)

Ezekiel 30:3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. Ezekiel 30:2-4 (in Context) Ezekiel 30 (Whole Chapter)

Joel 1:15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Joel 1:14-16 (in Context) Joel 1 (Whole Chapter)

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; Joel 2:1-3 (in Context) Joel 2 (Whole Chapter)

Joel 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Joel 2:10-12 (in Context) Joel 2 (Whole Chapter)

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. Joel 2:30-32 (in Context) Joel 2 (Whole Chapter)

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Joel 3:13-15 (in Context) Joel 3 (Whole Chapter)

Amos 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. Amos 5:17-19 (in Context) Amos 5 (Whole Chapter)

Amos 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? Amos 5:19-21 (in Context) Amos 5 (Whole Chapter)

Obadiah 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. Obadiah 1:14-16 (in Context) Obadiah 1 (Whole Chapter)

Zephaniah 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. Zephaniah 1:6-8 (in Context) Zephaniah 1 (Whole Chapter)

Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:13-15 (in Context) Zephaniah 1 (Whole Chapter)

Zechariah 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. Zechariah 14:1-3 (in Context) Zechariah 14 (Whole Chapter)

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: Malachi 4:4-6 (in Context) Malachi 4 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: Acts 2:19-21 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)

1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:4-6 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 5 (Whole Chapter)

2 Corinthians 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:13-15 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 1 (Whole Chapter)

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter)

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:9-11 (in Context) 2 Peter 3 (Whole Chapter)

It appears that the early Christians still knew what it meant. It didn't take long for them to forget that the Messiah was actually supposed to protect them from getting "burned up," literally. Before the explanations of Christianity and the fulfillment of the "day of the Lord Prophecy," people who believed in the Bible would have "feared" that day. That might have been where the expression "fear of God" came from.

Christianity teaches that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the "Messiah," and their earliest writings admit that the "day of the LORD" is yet upon us. Since it is an original part of the prophecy of the Hebrew Bible, or Torah, it eliminates Jesus from possibly being the Messiah. As Jesus admits, Elijah will come before the "day of the LORD."

You can't consider the life of Jesus as the "day of the LORD," for two reasons, yet he obviously thought that it was. For one, nothing horrible happened, except for him getting crucified. There is a lot of prophecy that can be discovered by reading the stories that mention the "day of the LORD" in the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. (Did you know that Jewish people act offended if you refer to it as the "Old Testament?)

The other reason that you can't consider his life as fulfillment of the "day of the LORD" prophecy is by simply looking at the times it's used in the New Testament. The early Christians used the phrase, and incorporated their belief that "Jesus would return" and save them when it came. The problem with that is that, according to Malachi, the Prophet Elijah would come, and tell people that it really was time for them to get ready for the destruction, of the "day of the LORD." According to Jesus, Elijah/Elias has already come and gone. And there is no mention anywhere in the original prophecy of the "day of the LORD" that indicates a supernatural being (Jesus returned, having not been born nor having lived a normal life). Instead, the prophecies mention a prophet of God, who would have a hard time with people at first, but finally gets some of them to arrange for their (and his) own survival.

That's because the "day of the LORD" prophecy gives some detailed information that includes things like the sun getting seven times brighter, people getting consumed by fire, smoke so thick that it darkens the sun, earthquakes so violent that the oceans cover mountains in tidal surges, and even include a flip of the earth's axis. If you understand Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), you won't have much trouble understanding how a huge one might cause that kind of destruction. Or perhaps, a Nova (or Micro-Nova) might be closer to what is being described. A blast of radiation and immense heat from the sun will do those things. We know now that getting such a blast of energy from the sun is quite possible, because we have seen Novas occurring in other stars.

The prophecy, or covenant of God is warning us of that and also telling us to look for God's Prophet. There's no mention of him magically appearing from the clouds, or of people being magically transported to safety.

The New Covenant

When we hear the word "covenant," we might think of the "new covenant," which Jesus brought to us, thus removing us from the burden/protection of the "old covenant." We probably don't even consider what the "old covenant" was about, as we warm ourselves with the "new covenant," provided by Christ.

Hebrews 9:15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Do we know what a "covenant" really is? That may sound like a stupid question, but it might not be so stupid. For example, the first place the word shows up in the Bible is in regard to a promise, or covenant that God made with humanity after the flood. Is that covenant still valid?

Sure it is, right?

Another way of expressing what Jesus did with the "new covenant," was take away the burden of the "old law," and provided us with a "new law." Does anyone know what that really means? To most Christians, it simply means to disregard everything in the Old Testament if it conflicts with their beliefs of what is in the New Testament.

Does anyone know that the "law" being discussed is short for the "Messianic Law," which is another term for a more correct one; "Messianic Instruction." It comes from an understanding of the written Word of God, by the Messiah. If you are a Christian, then you are probably content in knowing that that is exactly what Jesus did, in spite of the warning we received from Isaiah.

Isaiah 24:5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
Perhaps the word "everlasting" was a typo on Isaiah's part?

There is a "new covenant" that is promised, but it doesn't sound anything like what Christianity promises.

Jeremiah 31
31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

That's the "new covenant," and that is what Christ was supposed to provide. So why are we still not "talking to God" ourselves?

Does anyone know what else the "old covenant" that we threw away was about? It's instructions about how to deal with our world when it goes zonkers. Here's some highlights from just one book, Isaiah.

1:7 - Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields --strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.
1:9 - Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.
2:19 - Men will go into caves of the rocks And into holes of the ground Before the terror of the LORD And the splendor of His majesty, When He arises to make the earth tremble.
8:22 - Then they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be driven away into darkness.
9:19 - By the fury of the LORD of hosts the land is burned up, And the people are like fuel for the fire; No man spares his brother.
10:22 - For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.
10:23 - For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord GOD of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land.
13:5 - They are coming from a far country, From the farthest horizons, The LORD and His instruments of indignation, To destroy the whole land.
13:6 - Wail, for the day of the LORD is near ! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
13:7 - Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every man's heart will melt.
13:8 - They will be terrified, Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor, They will look at one another in astonishment, Their faces aflame.
13:9 - Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it.
13:10 - For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises And the moon will not shed its light.
13:11 - Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
13:12 - I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir.
13:13 - Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken from its place At the fury of the LORD of hosts In the day of His burning anger.
19:5 - The waters from the sea will dry up, And the river will be parched and dry.
19:6 - The canals will emit a stench, The streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up; The reeds and rushes will rot away.
19:7 - The bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile And all the sown fields by the Nile Will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
19:8 - And the fishermen will lament, And all those who cast a line into the Nile will mourn, And those who spread nets on the waters will pine away.
24:1 - Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants.
24:2 - And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor.
24:3 - The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the LORD has spoken this word.
24:4 - The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.
24:5 - The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.
24:6 - Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.
24:19 - The earth is broken asunder, The earth is split through, The earth is shaken violently.
24:20 - The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again.
24:21 - So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth.
28:22 - And now do not carry on as scoffers, Or your fetters will be made stronger; For I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts Of decisive destruction on all the earth.
30:26 - The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted.
30:27 - Behold, the name of the LORD comes from a remote place; Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke; His lips are filled with indignation And His tongue is like a consuming fire;
30:28 - His breath is like an overflowing torrent, Which reaches to the neck, To shake the nations back and forth in a sieve, And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads to ruin.
33:12 - "The peoples will be burned to lime, Like cut thorns which are burned in the fire.
33:14 - Sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. "Who among us can live with the consuming fire ? Who among us can live with continual burning ?"

If you read all of that, and you understand some things about science, you might draw the conclusion that there is a huge catastrophe being predicted.

Is it possible that the Messiah is actually supposed to help some of us live through it?

Oh yeah, that's right......Jesus is coming back with his "new covenant" and everyone that believes it gets a ticket out of here.

Funny thing though......there's no mention of that happening. Instead it talks about this other guy, who was going to have a hard time getting people to listen to him, resulting in a lot of people's suffering.

The Seize of Jerusalem

There is a very major prophecy regarding the city of Jerusalem. A point in time is given to us, with regard to that city’s “seizure,” in Isaiah 7. That point in time is important because it is a “anchor point in time,” that can be used to determine when the rest of the events would unfold. It is also intended to be another “sign” of the correct time to get ready for the coming of the Messianic Age, of the Messiah.

The prophecy of Isaiah 7 describes a specific number of years that the “seize of Jerusalem” would occur, and what would happen at the end of those years. It says that after 65 years, the people who had seized Jerusalem would no longer be a People.

It’s important to know whether or not this prophecy has occurred because it is an introduction to the Messianic Age, and it comes with a terrible wallop. There have been several “seizes” of Jerusalem through history. None of them fit the description of what would happen to the people who seized Jerusalem, and none of them lasted 65 years, including the one that Christians favor, in 70 CE.

These are the years of various controlling parties of Jerusalem, since writing developed.
Antiquity (prehistory - 1000 BCE) Egyptian control, as far as anyone really knows.
Israelite Kingdoms (1000 BCE - 580 BCE) King David and Solomon, and other Biblical Accounts, none of which can be established as real history.

Restoration and the Hasmonean era (580 BCE – 6 CE) Cyrus the Great of Persia grants permission for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild it. That can be confirmed elsewhere in history, and can also be the birth of “Jew-daism,” because the people who returned to Jerusalem thought that they were part of the “house of Judah,” which rightfully controlled Jerusalem.

Roman and Byzantine rule (6 CE - 638 CE) undisputed history, and not even close to the 65-year seize described.
Arab Caliphates and Christian Crusaders (638-1300s)
Mameluks and early Ottoman rule (1300s-1800s)
Late Ottoman Period (1800s-1917)
British Mandate (1917-1948)
Last Seize of Jerusalem (1948-2013)

“On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly approved a plan which partitioned the British Mandate of Palestine into two states: one Jewish and one Arab. Each state would be composed of three major sections, linked by extraterritorial crossroads, plus an Arab enclave at Jaffa. The Greater Jerusalem area would fall under international control. After partition, the fight for Jerusalem escalated, with heavy casualties among both fighters and civilians on the British, Jewish, and Arab sides. By the end of March, 1948, just before the British withdrawal, and with the British increasingly reluctant to intervene, the roads to Jerusalem were cut off by Arab irregulars, placing the Jewish population of the city under siege. The siege was eventually broken, though massacres of civilians occurred on both sides, before the 1948 Arab-Israeli War began with the end of the British Mandate in May of 1948.” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Jerusalem
That article says that the “seize ended,” but it didn’t end because it’s still being occupied by the state of Israel and the Jewish population of immigrants who now live there.
And that is why we are currently getting our butts pounded.

The prophecy of Isaiah tells us that there would be two groups of people who would “seize Jerusalem.” One would be mighty, and be followers of “Immanuel,” and they would support the others, as they planned their take over of Jerusalem. A “king” would come to the assistance of the people who rightfully owned the land of Jerusalem, and steal the world’s wealth in his resistance to the take over of Jerusalem. That king is known in the prophecy as the “king of Assyria.”

According to the prophecy, our butts are going to get pounded so hard that we decide that the control of Jerusalem isn’t really that important to us.
And that’s a prelude to what the prophecy is really about.

St. Malachy - Gloria Olivae?

Catholics are having a little problem understanding the prophecy of one of their own. It seems as though St. Malachy identified all of the future Popes one day, and got them all right up to their last Pope’s description. They are still wondering how their new Pope fits St. Malachy’s description of “Gloria olivae.”
“The Benedictine order traditionally said this Pope would come from their order, since a branch of the Benedictine order is called the Olivetans. St Benedict is said to have prophesied that before the end of the world, a member of his order would be Pope and would triumphantly lead the Church in its fight against evil. While the Holy Father chose the name "Benedict", this does not seem enough to fulfil the prophecy. Nor is it clear how Benedict XVI (a Bavarian) is "Glory of the Olives". Since he is said to have remarked in the Conclave after saying he would take the name Benedict that it was partly to honour Benedict XV, a pope of peace and reconciliation, perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the World, and thus carry the olive branch.” – from “The Catholic Pages.”
The problem they have understanding this part of their prophecy is that they don’t understand how the prophecy unfolds. They can’t imagine how the Messiah could have been predicted to enter into their lists of predicted Popes.
There’s a clue to knowing this, from the final description. “In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End”
“Many tribulations,” “the city of seven hills will be destroyed,” “in extreme persecution,” all indicate fulfillment of the other prophecies, and the coming of the Messiah.
If he just happens to appear, without having to be born like any other person, then he probably won’t have any problem with the Catholic or other Christian Churches. But what if he does have to come through life as a normal person, who finds out about who he is only after the prophecy begins to be fulfilled? The Church simply wouldn’t accept that, and would be against him.
With that in mind, consider what the only description of the “Pope” is, just before the last one; “Gloria Olivae.” It means “glory of the olives.” If you do a search on the word “olive” in the Old Testament, you’ll find the meaning behind one of those two words.
“Then the word of the LORD came to me: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.
"Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
"(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)"
Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
He replied, "Do you not know what these are?"
"No, my lord," I said.
So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth." – Zechariah 4:8-14.
There are two people who are “anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth,” and one of their descriptions is that of the “Olive Trees.” The “glory of the olives,” can be easily understood as being related to the “anointed ones,” and their entrance and/or anointing, which would occur between the last two popes, perhaps overlapping both.
We’ll know for sure that it’s really the right time, when we see the destruction of the “city of seven hills.” We’ll also find out which city that is, since there are two cities currently known as the “city of seven hills.” One is Rome and the other is Jerusalem. Both fit the description as being the “whore of Babylon,” from Revelation 17.

The Temple Mount

It's a small piece of rock, that exposes a big misunderstanding. It's a HUGE part of a prophecy, and its importance to the religious groups who claim its reverence is overwhelming.
A golden dome currently stands out on the rock. The Muslim people completed the building in 691 AD. It was built near the ruins of the supposed second Jewish "Temple of God," which was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. The only record of the first or second "Temple of God," is from the Bible, and no trace of either has ever been found.
The Jewish people want to build a new temple at that location. Of course the Muslim people don't think too much of that idea. It's a holy shrine to the Muslim people, because it's where Muhammad ascended to Heaven. It's a holy shrine to the Jewish people, because they claim that it's where Jacob saw the "ladder to Heaven." It's a holy shrine to Christian people, because it was where Jesus basically took on the Jewish leaders, by throwing the money changers out of the temple, and began healing people.
The name "Jerusalem" means, "teachings of peace."
Perhaps we'll have to split the child up, so that we can all have a piece?

Daniel 9 - Destruction of Jerusalem - June 2008

24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Work resumes on disputed Jerusalem site
By MATTI FRIEDMAN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Feb 11, 7:08 AM ET

JERUSALEM - Construction work resumed Sunday on a ramp leading to a disputed holy site in Jerusalem, despite objections from the Muslim world and two days of violent Palestinian protest.
Under heavy Israeli police guard, workmen returned to the site in the walled Old City after a break Saturday for the Jewish Sabbath.
A government official said that Israel's Cabinet voted Sunday to proceed with the construction project. The vote rejected calls from the Palestinians and throughout the Muslim world to halt the project, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
Tensions in the city have been high since last week, when Israel began work outside the compound known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The new walkway is meant to replace an ancient earthen ramp that partially collapsed in a snowstorm three years ago.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld reported no new incidents Sunday morning and said the work was scheduled to proceed throughout the day. He said police on duty in and around east Jerusalem would stay at an increased strength of around 2,000 officers and restrictions barring men under the age of 45 from praying at the sanctuary's Muslim holy sites would remain in force.
Speaking ahead of a weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert slammed "people with ulterior motives in the international Arab world" for using the Israeli work as a pretext "to fan the flames of hostility and hatred."
The existing ramp, Olmert said, "is a dangerous structure that must be renovated," and the work was being done "in an area that is totally and completely under Israeli responsibility and day-to-day administration, and under our full sovereignty."
On Friday, about 200 riot police firing stun grenades and tear gas battled rock-throwing protesters among the 3,000 Muslim worshippers there, while on Saturday Palestinian teenagers stoned Israeli security forces, burned an Israeli flag and pelted a Canadian tour bus with rocks.
Despite accusations from Arab leaders that Israel is trying to harm the compound's Islamic sites and calls for Muslims to forcibly resist the renovation work, there have been only limited clashes and nobody has been seriously injured.
The Old City hilltop compound has been a catalyst for earlier rounds of Israel-Palestinian fighting. It houses the third holiest site for Muslims, who believe it is where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
The compound is Judaism's holiest site, venerated as the location of two biblical temples, and Jews gather to pray near one of its outer retaining walls, known as the Western Wall.
On Saturday, the Arab League secretary-general, Amr Moussa, accused Israel of attempting to "change the features" of Jerusalem with the excavation, and Turkey's Foreign Ministry urged Israel to avoid "acts that may create new tensions." Most Islamic countries have issued condemnations of the work.
Touring the site Sunday morning, Israel's public security minister, Avi Dichter, said he believed "that reason will return, and in the coming period we'll see things settle down on this matter."

You and I are We Together

I love the morning,
I love the night,
I love to go soaring,
I love the flight.
I can see the ground far away,
I can see the people still at play.
I want to land but what is that
I remember from a distant act.
You are where and we’re a team
You came once to me in our dream.
You brought me to a field and stream.
You are a part of the scheme.
You and I and he and she,
You and they are what will be.
You are life and life it is,
You have yours and he has his.
We love the days we spend together
We love the nights in bad weather.
We huddle close and cuddle tight,
We search for things of delight.
We are one in our bliss
We think about in times like this.
We can reach above the stars,
We have been behind the Mars.
Together we live on this huge rock,
Together we watch things like Spock.
Together we brought the dirt to life,
Together we struggle through the strife.
Together we fall,
Together we climb,
Together we live,
Together we shine.