Jerusalem: the City of the Great King

Jerusalem has long played a central role in Yahuwah’s plans for humanity. The declaration of Israel as an independent nation on May 14, 1948, is of great significance to those living in the last days.

The city of Jerusalem is far more than a tourist destination for those wanting to visit the “holy land.” It has been said that Jerusalem is the very center of Jewish life, tradition, and Scripture, but even this fails to grasp the full scope of Jerusalem’s significance in Yahuwah’s plans for mankind.
 

Place of Yah’s Choosing

References to Jerusalem appear in Scripture long before the Children of Israel conquered Canaan. Clear back in Genesis 14 when Abram was returning from rescuing Lot after the battle with Chedorlaomer, a king by the name of Melchizedek pronounced a blessing upon Abram who, in turn, paid tithes to Melchizedek. The significance of this act was still understood in New Testament times:

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of Elohim Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” (Hebrews 7:1-2)

In Hebrew, Salem is shalem which is related to shalom (peace) and means whole or complete. Jewish tradition suggests that this king of peace and king of righteousness was none other than Shem himself. He was certainly a worshipper of the only true God. The statement that he was “king of Salem” reveals that he ruled from what would later become … Jerusalem.

Forty-five to fifty years later, when Yahuwah told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, he was told to do it in “the region of Moriah” (Genesis 22:2). Mount Moriah was the mountain on which, centuries later, the temple would be built in Jerusalem! Still later, Moses repeatedly referred to Jerusalem as “the place Yahuwah your Elohim will choose as a dwelling for His Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to Yahuwah” (Deuteronomy 12:11). For the first time, in these statements, the importance of the future city was revealed.
 

City of the Great King

Jerusalem, as the city of Yah, has always been holy. When a person, place or thing is set apart as “holy,” it is set apart for Yahuwah’s purposes. The location of Jerusalem is not happenstance. To the east of Israel is a desert wasteland. People traveling from north to south and back again all had to pass through Israel (and centrally located Jerusalem). This was Yahuwah’s divine purpose for the spread of truth. As travelers passed through Israel, they would learn of Israel’s divine ruler and take that message home to their respective countries. Jerusalem, then, was a divine gift.

Even now, with a Muslim mosque on the place where Solomon’s temple used to be, Jerusalem and all it stands for is a shining light for all people. But Yahuwah isn’t through with Jerusalem yet.

In the last days the mountain of Yahuwah’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahuwah, to the temple of the Elohim of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of Yahuwah from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3).

Restored at Last

After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Jews were scattered. Over the ensuing centuries, the holy city came under the control of various powers, often through bloodshed and violence. In 1917, Great Britain became the first country to promote the establishment of a new, independent Jewish state. However, it wasn’t until 1948 that this actually occurred. Sadly, within a short amount of time, East Jerusalem, containing the Old City, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount, came under the control of Jordan.

But none can disrupt Yahuwah’s eternal plans. In June of 1967, a miracle occurred. In the 19 years since the creation of a Jewish state, Israel’s Arab neighbors had been a constant threat. Matters reached a crisis before finally, on June 5, 1967, Israel pre-emptively launched an attack that, within just six days, defeated the militaries of three surrounding nations and resulted in all of Jerusalem finally reverting to Israeli control.

This was a watershed moment in history.

A united Jerusalem has always been a more peaceful Jerusalem than a divided one. [Yahuwah’s] Holy City is meant to bring different people together and all people closer to [Yah]. This is the ultimate goal of the Messianic Era, and with the reunification of Jerusalem, we are one step closer to that goal, to the day when the Temple in Jerusalem “will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7).¹

The Return of the King

Yahuwah’s ultimate plan for Jerusalem will be finally fulfilled when the New Jerusalem is moved from Heaven down to earth, to be forever the capitol city of Yahuwah’s kingdom, set up on earth.

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 [Yahuwah], prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of [Yah] is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. [Yahuwah] Himself will be with them and be their theos [God]. And [Yahuwah] 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)

What a glorious future awaits all who remain loyal to Yahuwah through the days ahead! The recent history of Jerusalem indicates that the return of Yahushua and the establishment of Yahuwah’s kingdom on earth will happen in the near future.