Jerusalem today is the capital of Israel, a nation of about five million people of whom eighty-three percent are Jews. It occupies a large place of importance among the nations of the world, all out of proportion with regard to its size or population.
Both the Old and New Testament have much to say about Jerusalem historically, and as to its future glory. Ancient clay tablets found in Upper Egypt give its name as signifying "city of peace." Salem means peace but Jerusalem's history has been anything but peace. In Judg. 1:88Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. (Judges 1:8) we learn that "the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire." This tells us about the first time the Jews gained control of Jerusalem. The last time the Jews gained control of Jerusalem is still in the memory of many living today. It was in the six-day war of June 1967 that Motta Gur's paratroop brigade forced its way through the Lion's Gate into the old city. Since that time the Jews have tenaciously held on to Jerusalem and the West Bank of the Jordan.
In between the first capture of Jerusalem and the last time the Jews gained it, the city has sustained twenty-seven different sieges. Babylon, Rome, the Persians, the Turks, the Crusaders, Saladin, Christians, the Ottoman Empire and various others have ruled over what was called the "city of peace.”
Will peace come to that troubled place? And if so, when?
How very affecting to our hearts it is to read our Lord's words as He beheld the city and wept over it. "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." Luke 19:42-4442Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:42‑44).
This has been fulfilled, but now again the Jews are back at the site of the crucifixion. Rev. 11:88And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8) speaks of Jerusalem in this way, "the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
What then will happen next? There is to be one more severe judgment that will fall upon that land after they have put themselves under the protection of the future Roman Empire and the antichrist. The city will be taken and the temple destroyed but this will not be the final destiny of Jerusalem. Jer. 31:4040And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. (Jeremiah 31:40) says, "It shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more forever.”
The beautiful prophecy of Haggai tells us of Jerusalem's future glory. "For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.... The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: AND IN THIS PLACE WILL I GIVE PEACE, saith the Lord of hosts." Chapter 2:6-9.
Ezekiel concludes his book with these words, "The name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.”
Another bright prophecy to be fulfilled is found in Zech. 8:44Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. (Zechariah 8:4) and 5; "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." Succeeding chapters in Zechariah describe the day of the Lord first in tribulation and mourning and then the blessing of the living waters that go out from Jerusalem. Then it promises that "men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.”
Not until God's earthly people in deep repentance finally confess and own Jesus as their Messiah and Lord will they get Jerusalem to keep and dwell in as their "city of peace."
Ed.