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Wonderful World Tomorrow   
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The Fate Of Jerusalem

Jerusalem means “city of peace”, and yet Jerusalem has been conquered or destroyed more times than any other city. Over the centuries three distinct religions have fought for mastery of this ancient city, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Each one views Jerusalem as a powerful symbol of their beliefs. Today, Jerusalem poses the largest problem that is preventing peace initiatives between the Jewish and Muslim people. Biblical prophecy warns us that much more trouble looms just ahead for this ancient city. In this article we answer the question, what will be the fate of Jerusalem?

According to Josephus, a Jewish historian, Jerusalem was called the ancient biblical city of Salem and it was the capital where King Melchizedek ruled (see Genesis 14:18). Salem means peace, and Jeru – salem means city of peace. Under the rule of King Melchizedek, the city was a place of peace and education. Melchizedek handed out the very law of God to the nations from this city. Even Abraham came to worship and pay tithes to King Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20). The Bible does not tell us how long King Melchizedek reigned, but around the time of the exodus, Jerusalem was already inhabited by a group of people who were known as the Jebusites (Joshua 15:63), and ithe city itself was called Jebus (Joshua 18:28). The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, as written about in the books of Joshua and Judges, could not conquer Jerusalem. Under King David’s leadership, however, a united Israel conquered the city. Jebus then became the capital of Israel and was called the City of David (2 Samuel 5:5-7).

Jerusalem remained the capital of a united Israel throughout the reigns of both David and his son Solomon; but following Solomon’s death, the northern 10 tribes of Israel split away from the southern tribes of Judah and Levi, leaving Jerusalem as the capital of Judah only. In 585 B.C. an invading army from Babylon conquered the city and took those dwelling throughout Judah and Jerusalem into captivity. When, after seventy years in captivity, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, the city came again under Jewish control until Antiochus Epiphanes, a Greek-Syrian king, conquered it again. Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the holy temple in Jerusalem by offering swine on its altar, which became a notable incident in Jerusalem’s history termed the Abomination of Desolation mentioned in the book of Daniel and referred to by Christ. If you have a red letter Bible, Luke 21:20, which describes this event, appears in red showing it as the very words of Christ himself. Jerusalem was freed from Syrian control during the Maccabean revolt and remained under Jewish control until 70 A.D when the Romans under the direction of Titus destroyed the city. During the second Jewish revolt in 130 A.D., Emperor Hadrian refused to allow Jews to enter the city, and it became the Roman colony of Aelia Capitolina. The Jewish capital and nation, for all practical purposes, ceased to exist!

During the 4th century A.D. when Constantine made Christianity the state religion, Jerusalem was resurrected as a Christian center for pilgrims. Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, however, Jerusalem was conquered by the Persians in 614, by the Byzantines in 628 and finally by the Arab Muslims in 637 who built the Dome of the Rock in 688. European Crusaders conquered Jerusalem in 1099, and Jerusalem was under Christian control until surrendered to Saladin in 1187. From that time until 1917, when the British took control of Jerusalem, Jerusalem was conquered by the Turks, Egyptians, European Crusaders, Khorezmians, and the Ottomans - sometimes more than once.

Following World War II, with British help, the modern-day state of Israel was created. In 1948 the Jewish army took control of western Jerusalem, while Jordan occupied the eastern portion, which included all the holy places such as the Jewish Western Wall, the Muslim Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa mosque.

The city remained divided until the 1967 Six Day War, after which the Jewish state of Israel occupied the entire city of Jerusalem. In 1980 it was declared the capital of modern-day Israel; and in 2000, Israeli-Arab conflicts erupted once again when Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount and declared the area Israeli territory. Since that time, a tenuous peace, at best, has been maintained, but continuous fighting erupts because Jerusalem is the prize that both sides are fighting for. Biblical prophecy states that this city will endure further violence and desolation.

Regarding its future, there is biblical evidence that the Jews will begin an attempt to rebuild the holy temple in Jerusalem fairly soon, and will resume the daily sacrifices that were commonly performed in the Old Testament. Daniel 12:11 mentions these sacrifices will be stopped, however. The rebuilding of the temple is to include the building of an altar for initiating the animal sacrifices. The temple building itself doesn’t necessarily need to be re-built entirely in order for the daily sacrifices to begin; the builders just need to place the altar at the temple site (Ezra 3:1-8). Many orthodox Jews believe that the Messiah will not return until they renew the daily animal sacrifices. This can only happen if the temple mount is fully under Jewish control! You can only imagine under today’s climate of Palestinian - Jewish tension how this would be received by the Muslim world. If the 2nd Intifada (which means uprising or shaking off) started because Ariel Sharon was alleged to have desecrated the Muslim holy place, Haram al-Sharif, in 2000, then it is likely a much more intense and deadly Intifada will break out once the Jews take total control of the temple mount. It is likely such a move will cause mobilization of all the Muslim armies.

Bible prophecy shows there will be an intervention by the western world that will bring their troops into Jerusalem (See Revelation 11:2). It will be Europe, however, instead of the United States this time that will finally be drawn into the Middle Eastern conflict. According to Luke 21:20, when the invading armies surround Jerusalem, those of God’s people who are dwelling in Jerusalem are to flee to the mountains. This invading power termed the beast power in the book of Revelation will take over Jerusalem, putting an end to the daily sacrifices (Daniel 11:31), and will desecrate the holy places, showing no partiality to either the Jews or the Muslims. Matthew 24:15 tells us that another Abomination of Desolation will occur much like that which occurred during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. The Muslims, quite obviously, will be outraged by this incursion and it is prophesied they will rise up against the invading army. This war will end swiftly with the European power totally dominant in the Middle East. Many will probably rejoice because “Peace in the Middle East” will finally seem to be a reality.

Once these northern troops enter Jerusalem, however, the Bible states two men, specifically mentioned in the Bible as the two witnesses, who are empowered by God’s Spirit, will stand up and begin prophesying for 3 ½ years of the soon-coming return of Jesus Christ (see Revelation 11). The takeover of Jerusalem will be a signal that this period of 3 ½ years ends in the return of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, these two men who are given great power by God – much like the power given to Moses to free the Israelites from bondage in Egypt -- will resist the foreign invaders, but will themselves be killed in the streets of this ancient city at the end of the 3 ½ year period. But once they are slain, the whole world will rejoice over their death. People around the world will think these two men have been preventing peace, but they will be shocked and dismayed when they see broadcasts showing their dead bodies, having lain for 3 1/2 days in the troubled streets of Jerusalem, suddenly stand up and ascend into the clouds. This astounding event will shock the entire world and signal to the world that the armies of Christ have returned to permanently end the conflict in the Middle East, once and for all. The following is the biblical account of this amazing event:

Following the prophesying by the two witnesses, Revelation11:7-13 states, “When they (the two witnesses) finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

Quickly following these events in Jerusalem comes the Day of the Lord talked about in Zechariah 14:1-4:

“Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.”

The Day of the Lord ends with Jesus Christ putting down all those who oppose him. But what happens to Jerusalem? Does the city lie in ruins never to rise again? As history always seems to repeat itself, the Eternal City does continue on. Upon his return, Jesus Christ will set up his headquarters in Jerusalem and will rule from there during His millennial reign. The kingdom of God will spread forth out of Jerusalem until it eventually encompasses the entire earth.

Under Jesus Christ, the prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6), Jerusalem, as its name implies, will finally become a “city of peace.” Just like in the time of King Melchizedek, God’s laws will flow from the Eternal City. Isaiah 2:1-4 states:
 

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the Lord's house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
Many people shall come and say,
"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.”
 

What a wonderful blessing mankind will receive. But the story of Jerusalem doesn’t end there. God has even more wonderful plans for this city. Following the millennial reign of Christ mentioned in Revelation 20, the Apostle John wrote, “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. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 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” (Revelation 21:1-4).

Yes, this wonderful prophecy declares that God is going to dwell with us, and Revelation 21:10 states His chosen city will be Jerusalem, but not the war-torn, beleaguered city that has been conquered so many times. Rather, He will replace it with a New Jerusalem. Chapters 21 and 22 of the Book of Revelation give us a glimpse of the majesty and beauty of this glorious and holy city:

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:10-21).

What a beautiful city Jerusalem will be in the Kingdom of God! It has always been a paradox that Jerusalem was originally intended to be a city of peace, tranquility, and law, but instead became a city of strife and destruction. As long as human hands have touched this amazing city, it has been corrupted. But the New Jerusalem will be built without human hands, and will finally live up to its name. In the Kingdom of God, New Jerusalem will never be conquered again. Instead it will become the headquarters of the very Universe. This is the fate of Jerusalem!