Perspectives of Jerusalem

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No city has been the focal point of so much contention as Jerusalem. Jews, Christians and Muslims all make claims of interest in it as a part of their religion. Since 691 A.D. Muslims have had their holy shrine, “the Dome of the Rock,” on the site of Herod’s temple, the nation of Israel now has the Western Wall, and nearby there is the “Resurrection Rotunda” in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Being considered sacred by the three religions, many wars have been fought to gain control of the temple mount. With all the contention, it is hard to conceive that the name Jerusalem means “The city of peace.” The Jebusites called it “Jebus,” and it was one of the last cities to be taken from them in the time of King David. It has many names in the Scriptures: “Zion,” “The City of David,” “Mount Moriah,” “Ariel,” and “Oasis of Justice,” to name a few. Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem receiving the “cup of trembling” from the hand of the Lord, yet later in the same chapter it is removed (Isa. 51:17,2217Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. (Isaiah 51:17)
22Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: (Isaiah 51:22)). Then in Zechariah 12:22Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:2) the prophecy states that the Lord will make Jerusalem a “cup of trembling” to Israel’s enemies who lay siege against Jerusalem. Indeed, Jerusalem is the focal point of God’s designs for the world.
The Doom of Jerusalem
After His rejecting in Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus wept over the city and pronounced its doom. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:3737O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)). Then in Luke’s Gospel he added concerning the temple, “As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Luke 21:66As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Luke 21:6)). The temple was destroyed about 40 years later. God allowed the temple to remain long enough for a clear testimony of Christ to be preached in that city. Then because the Christians were persecuted, they spread Christianity throughout the world. Christians left Jerusalem and carried the gospel into new areas, extending throughout the world. The rejection of the Messiah brought judgment—the destruction of Jerusalem. Only in recent years, in my generation, has God allowed the Jews to have the city back with a measure of control. The Lord said that it would be trodden down of the Gentiles until the “times of the Gentiles” were fulfilled (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)). Much speculation is made both among Christians and Jews about the construction of a new temple.
Ezekiel’s Prophecy
Ezekiel prophesied that the temple of Jerusalem would be overturned three times: “I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him” (Ezek. 21:2727I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (Ezekiel 21:27)). The temple has been destroyed twice. May we not conclude that the temple will be built again and destroyed once more before the Lord comes whose right it is! The scene is being set for this to take place, the main hindrance being that the Muslims have their holy shrine on the site.
Other articles in this issue relate the history of wars and occupation of the city of Jerusalem by various nations. In the year 1099 Christians first took Jerusalem from the Muslims. Down through the years other crusades were made by Christians to retake the city from the Muslims and claim it for the Christian faith. In later years following the Christian Reformation, many kings and persons of wealth made pilgrimages to Jerusalem as a token of homage to the city. This leads to the question of how we as Christians should regard the city of Jerusalem. Should it be regarded by us as a holy site, or is it only for the Jews? Should Christians take up the cause of removing the Muslims’ holy shrine from the temple mount? Jerusalem has indeed become the hot spot of contention between these three religions. Present-day events indicate that we may not be far from the time when these issues will flare up in warfare. To answer these questions, it is necessary to understand the difference between Israel’s earthly calling and the church’s heavenly calling.
A New Jerusalem
We may genuinely appreciate the zeal of our Christian forefathers who did not understand the difference between the earthly city Jerusalem for Israel and heavenly Jerusalem for the church. They sought in the name of Christ to possess and preserve a city on earth for those of the Christian faith without this understanding. But now in the last century and a half God has given us more enlightenment. We have clear teaching regarding the heavenly calling of the church as distinct from God’s dispensational ways with Israel. We owe much to those who sought out these truths that lift us above the earthly sphere, so that we can appreciate a heavenly city to which we are called. It changes the whole outlook of what we strive for. “If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things which are above, where the Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God: have your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth” (Col. 3:1-21If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:1‑2) JND). “Ye are come unto mount Sion [the mount of grace], and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:2222But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)). Our Savior has ascended to heaven and promises us heavenly Jerusalem. While we believe the Lord is going to bring all Israel back into blessing around Himself in Jerusalem on earth, Christians are not called to fight holy wars of physical combat for Jerusalem on earth. We have a better city, a heavenly Jerusalem. Our warfare is a spiritual one (Eph. 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)). In saying these things, we are not in any way seeking to discount God’s chosen people, the Jews. He has promised to bless those that bless them and curse those that curse them. But let us not confuse the promises to Israel with those to Christians. Let us lay hold of what the Lord has given us to enjoy.
The Jews Return
The providence of God is allowing many Jews to return to the land that was promised them. This was foretold in the scripture concerning the fig tree, which is a type of Israel nationally. “When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matt. 24:32-3332Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (Matthew 24:32‑33)). The restoration of Jews to their land is of interest to us, not because it involves us, but because these events precede Israel’s coming blessing. But it is not for Christians to build a temple for a nation that still rejects Jesus Christ as their Messiah. None but the Lord Jesus Himself will be able to make it a city of peace.
Very few nations look favorably on Israel today. Nearly every year resolutions are brought against them at the United Nations. Among the Protestant denominations there are divided opinions about the nation of Israel. Among many Christian denominations, however, there is strong support for Israel. Some go so far as to want to help them build a temple in Jerusalem.
Another Temple
Events make it look likely that a temple may be rebuilt in Jerusalem, and Scripture seems to indicate that another temple will be built. If this happens with unbelieving Jews, we can be sure that that temple will be overturned, as we have noted from Ezekiel. God will not allow such a work to prosper, since it does not give the Lord Jesus Christ his rightful place. But our place as Christians is not to be building a city on earth; we have the sure hope of the momentary coming of the Lord Jesus to take His heavenly people, the church, to the Father’s house at the rapture (1 Thess. 4:16-1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)).
Heavenly Jerusalem
There is a prophetic view of the church of God during the millennial reign of Christ in Revelation 21:9-279And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. 25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:9‑27). It is presented as a city coming down out of heaven to administer righteousness through its twelve gates. This will be the portion of the heavenly saints. Though the language in Revelation is symbolic, it easily conveys to our minds what our heavenly relationship with Christ is, as He reigns over the earth. There will be an earthly city of Jerusalem as well, where all nations will bring their glory and honor to the Lord, and waters of blessing will flow out to all who come to worship the Lord at Jerusalem on earth (Zech. 14). It will then be the “city of peace.” May He help us walk according to our heavenly calling.
D. C. Buchanan