JERUSALEM: SOME OBSERVATIONS

ITS BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION

1. “Jerusalem” is found some 814 times in the Bible. The name itself means “foundation of peace.” Its birth is mentioned in Ezekiel 16:3.
2. Another name for Jerusalem is “Salem” (Genesis 14:18), where Melchizedek “King of Righteousness” was the king in Abraham’s time – – c. 2,000 B.C.
3. “Jerusalem” is first found in Joshua 10:1. The king then was a man by the name of Adonai-Zedek, meaning “lord of righteousness.”  (This chapter recounts the sun as standing still), around 1,400 B.C. During this period, it was also known as Jebus, with its inhabitants being the Jebusites (Judges 19:10, 11; I Chronicles 11:5, 7).
4. David conquered Jerusalem and made it his headquarters and the United Kingdom of Israel, c. 1,000 B.C. (II Samuel 5:6-10).
5. This is where Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him (at Mt. Moriah, the Temple Mount) – – (Genesis 22:2); outside of which God’s Son was crucified (Hebrews 13:12); where Jesus was resurrected (John 19:41); and ascended (Acts 1:4, 9, 12), and where the Church was born (Luke 24:49; Acts 2).

ITS PROPHETIC IMPORT

1. It is the epicenter of this universe (Psalm 115:16) … – –
   • The epicenter of the world is Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8) …
   •   The epicenter of Israel is Jerusalem (Ezekiel 5:5) …[directionally, geographically, historically, nationally, politically, prophetically and religiously]!
   • The epicenter of Jerusalem is the Temple [Mount] (Psalm 116:19) …
   •  The epicenter of the Temple is the Holy of Holies (Ezekiel 48:21) …
   • The epicenter of the Holy of Holies is the Ark of the Covenant (Hebrews 9:1-5) …
   • The epicenter of the Ark of the Covenant is God’s Commandments – –  the moral law (Exodus 25:16; Hebrews 9:4) …!
2. It is the city that God has chosen as His own – – forever (Psalm 132:13, 14) …
3. Some of the most extensive prophecies about Jerusalem are found in Isaiah 60, 61 and Zechariah 12, 14.
4.   For this present age, any who would seek to “heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all the nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3; 14:1-3) …! [No city throughout history has experienced more military aggression & occupation] – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
5.  In the Millennium all the nations will come to Jerusalem for instruction and blessing (Psalm 102:21, 22; Isaiah 2:2-4) …
6.  The eternal city, “the New Jerusalem,” is named after the earthly one (Revelation 3:12; 21:2) … [not London, Paris, or Rome]!
7.   God gifted this land as a permanent possession to/for His people (II Samuel 7:10; II Chronicles 33:7b, 8a) …!

ITS CONCLUDING INSIGHTS

1. Since what we have learned in this lesson is true, it is a very dangerous thing to tamper in any way, shape, or form, with God’s eternal choice of Jerusalem (such as belittling it, battling against it, occupying it, or any other way). God has spoken (Psalm 83; Zechariah 12:1-3) …!
2. A very fitting concluding quotation from Ice and Demy is worth pondering: “Even though our myopic focus may too often be on the ‘daily grind,’ when we reflect upon our eternal destiny from God’s perspective, we must realize that the future of every believer is vitally linked to a city named Jerusalem. Not only is prophecy relevant, it is personal!”

– – The Truth About Jerusalem in Bible Prophecy, p. 38. Harvest House

House Publishers (1996).