What’s this about Rome, Mecca, and Jackson County, Missouri?
Let me get this out-of-the-way. And without saying too much, of course Rome is the Center of the Roman Catholic world. And, no, the Roman Catholic Church is not and never can be called the original church. It is far removed from ancient Christianity. I’ll leave little said about that.
As for Mecca, this is the holy city for the Muslims. Mohammed set about to replace the Biblical record of God’s redemption program through Jesus Christ, with a theology that has replaced Jacob/Israel with the Ishmaelites, as God’s favored redemptive people. Mohammed disclaimed Jesus as God’s Son and that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, but that He was a prophet. Not the greatest prophet, mind you. And when Jesus returns He will convert the world to the Muslim faith. (Enough on that.)
And as for Jackson County, Missouri, well, that is where Joseph Smith taught was the site of the original Garden of Eden, and thus prophesied that Jesus Christ would return there to a temple to be built in Independence, Missouri, as the temple of New Jerusalem.
It’s not that these three religions allow no room for an earthly Jerusalem in their theology. It is all the other things that twist and turn to make their religions the true religion of God. And isn’t it interesting how all three center so very much on spiritualism and esoteric experiences, including angel visitations.
Oh well, there is a lot more to all these stories, but let’s get past all this and on to the matter of God choosing Jerusalem.
God has chosen Jerusalem
“’Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ declares the LORD. ‘Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.’
“The LORD will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” (Zec 2:10-12)
Journal,
The Bible speaks of two Jerusalem’s, an earthly Jerusalem, and a heavenly Jerusalem. Of the heavenly city we have this, “But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.” (Gal4:26) Of the earthly city, the prophet of old called her, “the bloody city.” (Cf. Eze22:2; 24:6; 24:9)
Is it not strange why the ‘bloody city’ has always had a central place in God’s plan of redemption? And yet the earthly Jerusalem is also called, “The city of the great King.” (Cf. Psa48:2; Mat5:35)
Ever wonder why is the earthly Jerusalem called, “The city of the great King.”?
Or, why is Jerusalem the most contested city on earth?
Or, why Jesus wept over Jerusalem?
Understand the answers to these questions and you will know much more about the redemption of God. The more we gaze at the Bible, the more we will see Jesus. And the more we gaze at the Bible, the more we see why Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
Let’s begin with …
God’s Heavenly City
Yes, there is a heavenly and holy city of God. Abraham had seen in his heart a wonderful city. It says…
“By faith he [Abraham] lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb 11:9-10)
Of the saints of old, we have this:
“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. “
“And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” (Heb 11:13-16)
The Bible begins closure with a description of God’s heavenly city. John wrote:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev 21:1-2. Cf. Isa65:17-19)
This brings us to …
The Earthly Jerusalem
Abraham is instructed to offer his son on the mountains of Moriah.
“[God] said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.’” (Gen 22:2)
Moriah is where Jerusalem is situated. Isaac was the miracle child of Abraham and Sarah. And it is in this event where the Lord sets forth a prophetic picture of His Son, Jesus Christ, and the cross.
Rather than detail the event, let’s look at what happens when the Lord stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. Listen carefully:
“Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.
“Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.’” (Gen 22:13-14)
The mount of Moriah is where each of the successive temples would be built, beginning with Solomon’s and on to the millennium temple.
But another term is also import. ‘The Lord will provide’ can be equally translated, ‘The Lord will be seen.’ The Hebrew word, ra-ah, is a verb meaning, to see, or to appear. It is a word of vision or visitation.
Remember what Jesus said over Jerusalem as He wept? Listen:
“When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
“’For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, …
“… because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.’” (Luk 19:41-44)
So, yes, God’s redemption will be provided for and seen in Jerusalem. But that is not the end of the story. The day will also come when Jerusalem will indeed recognize her day of visitation. There are Jewish people turning to Jesus at this very time in record-breaking numbers. (Did you know that for the first time in history Israel is allowing American troops in their country. – to my understanding -).
So Jesus added,
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
“Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'” (Mat 23:37-39)
Jerusalem is nearing her time of visitation where she will call Jesus the blessed One, the Lord God of Israel.
Jerusalem, the City of Redemption
Where is the major hot spot in news today? Why are Muslims so adamant on East Jerusalem as their capital?
They know that Jerusalem is the city of redemption. And Satan well knows that Jerusalem speaks of redemption.
Jews to this day have their bodies sent to the Mount of Olive for burial.
At the Eastern Gate is a Muslim cemetery. The Bible speaks of the glory of God returning to Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate.
Jews, Muslims, and Christians know God’s redemption program begins and ends in Jerusalem.
But something has to happen to bring Jerusalem to her knees?
The Lord spoke through prophet Hosea, saying,
“I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” (Hos 5:15)
This is where we need to see a prophecy that tells the story of Jerusalem –
“Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him.
“So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.” (Hos 6:1-3)
And so, the gospel story begin with the Jews. Once it has circled the earth, it then ends with the Jews.
The Mystery of the Christian and the Jew
The great mystery of the Jew and the Christian is difficult for many to grasp. The new covenant began with the Jews and it fulfills itself with the Jews. What slowed down to a trickle through the years, is now beginning to become a mighty stream.
Jews are looking at Jesus afresh, in a way unknown since destruction of 70 A.D.
What did God tell Moses?
“Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; for they are a perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness.
“’They have made Me jealous with what is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.” (Deu 32:20-21)
Keep ‘not a people’ in view.
Peter quoted from Moses on the day of Pentecost. He also quoted Moses with regard to the Christian people of God.
“But you [Christians] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession…
“…so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; …
“… for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1Pe 2:9-10)
Yes indeed, the Jews and Christians have had a love-hate relationship from the beginning. The hate part will disappear in God’s time.
Hope this short study has stirred your heart.
Please take time for this song. The Lord wants to speak to you.
‘The Holy City’ by John Starnes —
Your Servant in Christ always,
Buddy
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