Bible Discussion Thread

Are israelites suppose to pray facing to the east?

The Jews generally pray facing Jerusalem, as Muslims do facing Mecca. The Scripture that Jews use to support this is found in 1 Kings 8:35,36: "When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance".

Other supporting Scriptures: Daniel 6:10 and Psalm 5:7

When Jesus prayed, He looked up towards Heaven, even though He was in Jerusalem when He could have faced the Temple. ( John 17:1). Also, Luke 9:16. However, when the eyes of the Jews are opened & they see, recognize & put their faith in Jesus Christ, then their eyes will no longer be turned to Jerusalem.

Israeli Jews pull their prayer shawl over their heads to pray. Scripture says to enter the closet to pray. They do not face east like the Palestinians do.

Example:

Revelation 16:12

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared.

Kings from the East traveled to Bethlehem to see Jesus after his birth. They followed the prophetic writings about his birth.

There are even prophesies about the Abrahamic Accord that recently was signed between Israel and the UAE (Arab nations). It's interesting to follow the process of Prophesy with the daily news. Even tho our national news media barely speaks of it. Obviously they have little knowledge about it.