Jerusalem would be one of the most loved cities in the world if the Jewish people could be eliminated. Yet Jerusalem without the Jews would cease to be anything more than just another city. It is “Israel and Jerusalem” together that creates love or hatred. Jerusalem was never called the Zion of God until it was taken by David and made the capitol of the Jewish nation. God actually called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans/Babylonians to make Him a Nation and to establish that nation in the Promise Land and Jerusalem as its center. God chose Jerusalem before Abraham or David was born and ordained it to become His beloved city and then called His chosen to establish it for His glory in the earth.
Anyone who attacks the Jewish people or the city of Jerusalem is sealing their fate to be judged by the Heavenly Father. What God has chosen or called Holy let no man despise. The earthly Jerusalem is named after the City of God in the sides of the North where the Mighty Creator sits on His Throne. His Son, glorified and exalted, sits on His Right Hand while the Holy Spirit manifests His glory in all His universe. The Lord Jesus promised that He would “prepare a place for us and come again to receive us unto Himself” (St. John 14:1-2). The place He has prepared is finished because John the Revelator saw it and gave us its name. It is called “New Jerusalem” and its glory will liberally outshine the sun. So, we have three cities all called Jerusalem–the City of God, the earthly city, and New City soon to descend down to the earth.
The name Jerusalem is so special and fixed in the Heart of God that even His invisible Church is called by that name. Apostle Paul said of the Saints of God, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24). His saints washed in the sacred Blood of His Son are His spiritual Jerusalem, rejoicing in all His favour while we wait His appearing to take us to His Heavenly Jerusalem. The city of Jersualem is still in bondage with her children the Je ws but will soon be free. “For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children” (Galations 4:25). Yet please remember that while we await for the city and her inhabitants to believe and receive the “returning King of Kings” we are already free. “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all” (Galations 4:26).
Joseph R. Chambers
jrc@pawcreek.org