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Jerusalem

The Dwelling Place Of God


by Maxwell A.
Many people today are unable to understand why each one of Israel's neighbours continues to
place such high priority on the destruction of the reborn state of Israel and is determined to claim
Jerusalem for Islam. What the Muslim nations have not taken into consideration is that they have
no entitlement to the land of Israel, nor have they any entitlement to Jerusalem.
The title deeds to both Jerusalem and the land of Israel are clearly laid down in the Word of God,
the Bible, and those who have determined to honour His Word would do well to re-examine these
Scriptures according to the original unconditional promises of the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob.
There is only one piece of real estate in the entire world that the Lord God specifically calls His
own, the land of Israel which He calls "My land" (Joel 1:6; Joel 3:2), and only one city which
He claims as His own, the city of Jerusalem,
"The city of the great King" (Psalm 48:2).
"For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation: this is my rest for
ever; here will I dwell, for I have desired it" (Psalm 132:13,14).
Why has the Lord God placed so much affection on Jerusalem, and put so much emphasis on the
need to continually?
"pray for the peace of Jerusalem"
(Psalm 122:6)?
We even read in Isaiah:
"You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give him no rest till he
establishes and till he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth" (62:6,7).
Why did the Messiah weep unashamedly over Jerusalem? We remember the occasion on Palm
Sunday when He was approaching Jerusalem riding on a colt to fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy
(9:9):

"And as he went, they spread their garments on the road. Then, as he was now drawing
near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice
and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying, 'Blessed is
the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest?"
(Luke 19:36-38).
Why would the Lord want to weep over Jerusalem? This is the city with the unique reputation of
having experienced more bloody battles fought in the name of religion, vengeance and power
than any other city on the face of the earth, and this has continued for almost 3,000 years. Not
only do we read how the city was lovingly chosen by God as His own dwelling place, but He
calls Jerusalem the city of peace — when there is no peace!
Spiritual Battle for Jerusalem
Of course, we can find no answers to these questions until we realize that this long- fought battle
for Jerusalem is essentially a spiritual battle; it is in fact a battle between good and evil, between
God and Satan, with the ultimate concern being the Divine purposes of God. Jerusalem is the
symbol of His faithfulness and the centre of His purposes. And, of course, God's enemy is out to
change that situation at all costs, and he, Satan, never seems to have problems finding willing
supporters for his cause!
This ongoing spiritual battle for Jerusalem is often mentioned in the Scriptures. The prophet
Zechariah recounts a vision he had from the Lord:
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and
Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, 'The LORD
rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem"
Surely this is why there is a spiritual battle
and why we are instructed to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem." (Zech 3:1-2)
It was Iran's fanatical leader Ayotollah Khomeini who promised Iran and Muslim nations that he
would march to Jerusalem by way of Iraq, and more recently we have witnessed the setback of
yet another fanatical leader, Saddam Hussein, whose zeal to rebuild the old Babylonian Empire
was exceeded only by his obsession to destroy totally the nation of Israel and claim Jerusalem for
himself and for Islam.
The entire world is just beginning to feel the effects of the enormously powerful and influential
Islamic Fundamentalism, one of whose main objectives is to claim Jerusalem for the Muslim
world. The ongoing battle for Jerusalem is indeed a spiritual battle. We are reminded of the words
of the Apostle Paul to the people at Ephesus; it was not until his spiritual blindness was taken
from him that he could recognize that the warfare in which he was engaged was a very spiritual
warfare. He said, . . .
Be strong in (he Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that
you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood, hut against. . . spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:10-
11).
A Long-standing battle
The record of the original battle for Jerusalem is found right back in Genesis. It began on the
day the Lord God tested Abraham's faith on a Mountain top which was to become the present-
day site of the Temple on Mount Moriah. On that day Mount Moriah was declared the
mountain of the Lord,
"As it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided (or the LORD
will see to it (Genesis 22:14).
The spiritual battle that took place that day was only the beginning of a very long spiritual
warfare that was to follow, for that same mountain was the one God chose for His dwelling
place in the city of Jerusalem. And just as surely as that first spiritual conflict was won by the
shed blood of the sacrificial lamb God provided on that occasion instead of Isaac, likewise the
final decisive battle for all those who have put their faith in the blood of the sacrificial Lamb
God later provided for us all will also be fought at Jerusalem.
Jerusalem a Unique City
Jerusalem is a unique city in the world as it has a beauty that is spiritual:
"Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth . . . the city of the great King. God is in
her palaces; he is known as her refuge" (Psalm 48:2),
A condition one day to be recognized when the King, the Lord of Hosts establishes His kingdom
on earth.
Jerusalem has no natural harbour; it is neither on the sea coast nor on any river. It began as the
capital of David's kingdom when he captured it from the Jebusites, and God chose it as His
dwelling place among men, He has preserved it through His mighty power, and He will bring His
glory to it in His time. Jerusalem is again becoming the centre of the world stage as the Scriptures
say will be the case.
In the final contest for Jerusalem the Lord says:
"Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and
livestock in it. For I says the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory
in her midst.” (Zechariah 2:4,5)
When the Lord goes to battle, that battle will be for Jerusalem and on behalf of His heritage
Israel.

"Behold, the day of the LORD is coming. . . For I will gather all nations to battle against
Jerusalem . . . 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 split in two, from east to west,
making a very large valley . . . Thus the LORD my God will come, and all the saints
with you and the LORD shall be King over all the earth . . .'" (Zechariah 14:1-9).
Just as Abraham and Isaac climbed the slopes of Mount Moriah four thousand years ago
for their appointment with the Lord God, so Israel's Messiah has an appointment on that
same mount where the city of God now stands. He will indeed come to His city, and
"The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea"
(Isaiah 11:9).

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