Don’t Forget Jerusalem!

 

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill,” – Psalm 137:5

On Wednesday of this week, December 6^th, 2017, President Donald Trump of the United States of America, affirmed Jerusalem as the capitol of the nation of Israel. To that you might think, So what? Didn’t everybody know that? No, it was accepted by the citizens of Israel and by many evangelical Christians throughout the world, but for the most part declaring Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel was a political hot potato that no one wanted to touch. Oh, our government in 1995 passed legislation to that effect, but no president had the moral aptitude or courage to risk the repercussions of such a declaration. Now, in President Trump, we have a leader more interested in doing what is “right” than in what is politically expedient. Now we have a leader who is keeping his political election promises. He’s going down the checklist of the agenda he was elected on. Now we have a president who I believe has been raised up “for such a time as this” (cf. Esther 4:14).

Wednesday the art of his deal was to pronounce and declare, in front of the entire world, that Jerusalem is justifiably and historically the proper capital of Israel. I believe our president was moved by God to make this step. President Trump certainly would not have made this move if he were simply listening to political pundits. He wouldn’t have made this move if he were concerned about his political future. It’s not a politically popular move. But I believe God emboldened and encouraged our president to make this move even in the face of threats of terror, even though it would not be politically popular. (And I have to say here, aren’t you glad we don’t have a politician as president? Yes, he’s not always as discreet as he could be. Some of his tweets are cringeworthy. But aren’t you glad we have a leader more interested in doing the great and right thing rather than just going along with the comfortably ineffective lukewarm status quo?)

Since Wednesday, demonstrations and rioting throughout the Muslim world are percolating and exploding. There is sure to be more and more unrest. President Trumps political opponents will forget their unanimous votes in favor of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and they will criticize the political recklessness of declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel. The political opposition will be in full spin mode. There very well may be a political price to pay as the rebellious will cease upon this declaration as an excuse for further anarchy and violence. So, this is a very big deal politically.

But more importantly, declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel Wednesday was a big deal prophetically. The name “Jerusalem” occurs 804 times in the Bible. It is first mentioned in Joshua 10:1 as God’s people are making conquest of the Promised Land. “Jerusalem” (Hebrew yerusalami ) means, peaceful or teaching of peace.” It is the most prominent city in the Bible. But Jerusalem was not always a city of Israel. It was David who conquered this city and took if from the Jebusites (2 Samuel 5). And because of this Jerusalem is sometimes referred to as “the city of David” (2 Samuel 5:7).

God’s word attaches a promise to this city stating, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’” (Psalm 122:6). There will be blessing to those who give their heart to this ancient city that is so precious to God. God uses Jerusalem to illustrate His love for His people. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” (Psalm 125:2). God declares goodness is attached to this city – “The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life” (Psalm 128:5). Scripture tells us God “dwells in Jerusalem” and we should praise the LORD for that (Psalm 135:21). It is the LORD who is involved in this city like a Master Builder (Psalm 147:2). The psalmist is inspired to write, “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth – if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy” (Psalm 137:5-6). Jerusalem is important. Don’t forget Jerusalem! God singles out no other city for such special concern. And therefore, we should, “Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!” (Psalm 147:12).

Back in the 6^th century BC the prophet Zechariah received a vision from the LORD stating, “The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: ‘Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, through all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12:1-3). The term “drunkenness” (Hebrew ra’al) means to reel or tremble from being intoxicated. The world is drunk and reeling with an anti-Israel, anti-Jew intoxication. This intoxication is so irrational in its intensity that it tips us off that it is otherworldly in its origins. Yes, some will claim Israel has unjustly oppressed the Palestinians. But such protests are a thinly veiled excuse to further a demonic hatred of Israel and her people. There is a viciousness toward the Jew historically that is seen in the persecution of Jews through the pograms of the Middle Ages and in the holocaust of the twentieth century. Satan is a murderer and where we see mass murdering we can be sure his blood-drenched fingers have been involved. Satan is behind that explosively enraged hatred for Israel amongst Muslim nations and really throughout the world.

Why is Satan so dead set against Israel? Satan knows that God’s prophetic plans involve Israel. If he can destroy this tiny nation, he can thwart God’s plans or at least delay them and therefore prolong his time to influence the world. But Satan is a loser. God is going to prevail. He is going to show His Might and Almighty Power by defending poor little Israel from the Satan-infected Satan-influenced world. In so doing, the LORD God Almighty will make it clear that He is real and He protects His people.

A time is coming at the end of a seven period of Tribulation on the earth that will be historically unprecedented. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). And at the conclusion of that seven-year period (see Revelation 6-19), arguably the greatest event in human history will occur, The Second Coming of Jesus! The Bible describes it like this: “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:27; cf. also 24:29-31). This will be an incredible event because every eye will see Him. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7).  At this point in history Jesus will be declared as the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16). Incredible.

Keep in mind that Jesus’ teaching on His Second Coming was delivered in the context of His teaching about God’s prophetic fulfillment as it pertains to Israel. Israel is close to the center of God’s prophetic word. God’s word is centered on Jesus (cf. Hebrews 10:7). But Israel is a primary instrument in God carrying out His prophetic word. Israel is central to God’s prophetic plan. And Jerusalem is at the heart of Israel.

Jerusalem will be the capitol city of Israel and the central headquarters of Jesus during His millennial (i.e. 1000 year) reign on earth. “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. . . . And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be – ‘The LORD is one,’ and His name one. All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place . . . The people shall dwell in it; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. . . . And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which come against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:4a, 9-11 and 16; cf. also Revelation 20). The Father loves Jerusalem. But Jesus loves this city too.

Zechariah speaks of Jerusalem being an intoxicating preoccupation for “the surrounding people’s” and “all the nations of the earth.” He is inspired to speak of God making the little tiny city of Jerusalem in the little tiny nation of Israel a central focus and “heavy stone for all peoples.” Let me ask you something, on Wednesday, where were all eyes focused? Let me ask you something else, since Wednesday, where has the world been focused? On JERUSALEM! Folks, we are seeing prophecy fulfilled before our eyes.

The heroic declaration by President Trump that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel is a major step in paving the way to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. There is no Temple in Jerusalem now, but the Bible speaks of a rebuilt Temple in the Latter Days. “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles” (Revelation 11:1-2a). Now that Jerusalem has been declared the capitol of Israel, we are one step closer to negotiating the reality for the Temple of the End Times to be rebuilt. We are living in incredible times my brothers and sisters.

But as wonderful a city as Jerusalem is, as significant a historical and Biblical city as Jerusalem is, as beloved to God as Jerusalem is, it will one day be destroyed. Humanity will not destroy this city, God will. What do I mean? At the end of God’s prophetic plan, a time will come when the earth along with every city in it, including Jerusalem, will be done away with and replaced with a New Earth. Oh, what a day that will be! Jesus has described it this way:

Revelation 21:1–5 - Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

One might be tempted here to say, “Well, that’s the end of the story.” But really, that is only the beginning; the beginning of eternity with our LORD. Yes, we should not forget Jerusalem. But we should not idolize even this great city above the LORD of the city. Don’t forget Jerusalem! But more importantly, don’t forget the God our LORD Jesus of that city, for we will spend eternity with Him. “These words are true and faithful.” You can depend on God’s word. God’s word is happening right before our eyes. I can’t wait for its further fulfillment. Maranatha! Come LORD Jesus!