during Jesus’ reign
For centuries, the city of Jerusalem has been treasured in the hearts of Christians and sacred in the beliefs of many religions. To Christians, the city is significant as the place of Christ’s crucifixion and the pivot of Bible history. But the Bible reveals that tremendous environmental and spiritual changes are in store for both city and state. It claims that Jesus, who was crucified in Jerusalem more than 2000 years ago will soon return to become its great monarch; that the land today known as Israel is to become the first State in all the world; that a great temple-city will be established in Jerusalem, where all mankind will find true direction, and from which will flow careful, protective and equitable laws for the benefit of mankind.
Jerusalem – the City of Salvation
The city in which Christ will reign will be totally different from the Jersualem of today. It will no longer be noted for superstition and violence as at present but shall become “the city of truth” (Zecharaiah 8:8), the “joy of the whole earth” (Psalm 48:2). The decrees and laws of its immortal king will penetrate into every corner of the earth solving the political, moral, social and religious problems of today.
Jerusalem – Centre of Universal Worship
Jerusalem shall not only become the political centre of Christ’s reign on earth, but also his religious headquarters. It will become a great temple city: a place where all mankind will be united in a common acceptance of divine truth, by which they will learn to view all things from the standpoint of God.
This is part of Jesus’ teaching when on one occasion he was visiting the temple and rebuked the guilty traders who were making profits from worshippers.
“And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?’ but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Mark 11:15-17
This incident is well known to many, but the real significance of the Lord’s words is usually overlooked. Notice that it states:
“HE TAUGHT, saying unto them…My house SHALL BE CALLED OF ALL NATIONS the house of prayer.”
The Lord Jesus thus identified the temple in Jerusalem as “his Father’s house,” and taught that the time will come when “all nations” shall recognise it as such.
That time is now imminent, for world events, according to Bible prophecy, indicate the return of Christ is at hand.
On another occasion, Jesus predicted that the temple of his day would be completely destroyed (Luke 21:6), and that Jerusalem would be “trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (v 24).
This prediction required that:
- (a) the temple in the city of Jerusalem at the time would be destroyed
- (b) Jerusalem overthrown
- (c) The Jewish people taken into captivity
- (d) The Jewish nation ultimately restored
- (e) Jerusalem delivered from foreign domination
- (f) The temple rebuilt to become the centre of universal worship.
Points (a), (b), and (c) were fulfilled in AD70 when the Romans destroyed the Jewish state. Point (d) was partially fulfilled in 1948 when the Jewish State was reformed. Point (e) had part fulfilment in 1967 when, as the result of the Six Day War, the city of Jerusalem was again occupied and controlled by the Jewish people. Point (f) has never yet been fulfilled, and awaits Christ’s return.
Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem
The Bible teaches that both Jews and Gentiles will worship in Jerusalem.
“Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.” Jeremiah 16:19
At the same time “the deliverer shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Romans 11:26
This will be accomplished by the divine worship to be set up in Jerusalem at Christ’s coming:
“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jersualem.” Micah 4:1-2
Here are more prophecies of Jerusalem as the residence of the Lord Jesus, the headquarters and metropolis of the Kingdom.
- “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:3
- “The Lord shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” Isaiah 24:23
- “And they shall call thee The city of the lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 60:14
- “…I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” Isaiah 65:17
- At that time they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord: and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord to Jerusalem; neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.” Jeremiah 3:17
- “So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain; then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no stranger pass through her any more.” Joel 3:17
- “The Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion…the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:7-8
- “Yea many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.” Zecharaiah 8:22
- “And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jersualem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” Zecharaiah 14:16
- “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:2
- “But I say unto you swear not at all..neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.” Matthew 4:34-35