After the Romans conquered Israel and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, the names of many of the cities were changed and the country was later called Palestine.  Since Israel became a nation again in 1948, many of the cities' names have been restored to those that existed prior to 70 AD (compare 70 AD map against Palestinian map [prior to 1948] and current day map of Israel online).  As noted in the previous issue of the Prophetic Newsletter, the restoration of Israel was the fulfillment of prophecy (Ezekiel 36:24, Isaiah 11:12) and a sign of the Lord's return (Psalms 102:16).  Other prophecies have been fulfilled in our generation regarding Israel, along with the rebirth of the nation.  Zephaniah 3:9 says, "For then I will return to the people a pure language, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent."  In 1881, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda left Paris to live in Jerusalem with a vision that Israel should be restored as a nation and that the Jews should again speak their native language, Hebrew.  Ben-Yehuda inspired school officials to teach the younger generation Hebrew and he was successful in convincing government leaders to adopt Hebrew as their official language.  When the Jews returned to Israel from all corners of the world, they spoke more than sixty-six different languages, having adopted the languages spoken in their former countries of residence.  Israel's official language today is Hebrew, the language spoken by the Jewish patriarchs of the Bible.  The Torah (Old Testament scriptures) was written in Hebrew and it is commonly accepted by Bible scholars that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments in the Hebrew language.  It is no wonder that, as God promised He would restore Israel as a nation, He would also restore their cities and the Holy Language.  
The Temple Institute (36 Misgav Ladach Street, Jerusalem, Israel 97500) was established in 1987 to restore all of the implements of the Holy Temple and rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem.  Paul spoke of the future Temple (Matthew 24:15) and God told Isaiah the Temple would be rebuilt (Isaiah 44:28).  It is apparent that in order for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled, the Temple must be rebuilt in Jerusalem.  The Temple Institute is setting about to do just that and they have already restored over 150 of the sacred vessels; the priests' garments have been made; there are three possible sites for  the Temple; and there is a registry of 300,000 Levites available, of which many are currently in training to perform the priestly duties required at the Temple.  They could commence building at any time!  For more information, you can visit the Temple Institute online:  http://www.templeinstitute.org/  
The use of the shekel has also been restored to Israel, as in the days of old.  Ezekiel 45:12 says, "And the shekel...shall be your maneh (currency)."  In order for the Jews to bring sacrifices into the future Temple, as commanded by the Lord, it is also necessary that they return to using the shekel as currency (Leviticus 5:15).  The Palestinian pound was used until 1952, at which time it was replaced by the Israeli Lira.  In 1985, the Israelis began to mint and use shekels as their currency.  More Bible prophecy fulfilled!
There are five gates in Jerusalem and to this day only one gate remains closed.  There have been several attempts to open the Golden Gate, also known as the "eastern gate," but all efforts to open the gate have been foiled.  God told Ezekiel that the eastern gate would remain closed until "The Prince" returns.  Ezekiel 44:1-3:  "Then He brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary, which looked toward the east, and it was shut.  Then said the Lord unto me, 'This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened and no man shall enter in by it, because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.  It is for The Prince, The Prince, He shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; He shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate and shall go out by the way of the same.'"  Therefore, it remains shut and will not be opened until the Lord returns.
Israel's Vice Prime Minister, Moshe Ya'Alon, sent this prayer to us (Christians in the USA) on June 27, 2010:  “ה’ עוז לעמו ייתן ה’ יברך את עמו בשלום”  (The Lord will bring strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.  G-d bless you all!)  This message for us is on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's website:  http://en.netanyahu.org.il/