I am in Jerusalem.
The city of a thousand memories.
Where once the Shekinah glory of the God of Israel dwelt.
When rebellious Israel ensured their fate the Lord Jesus wept over the city for its certain doom at the hand of Rome, the fourth beast (Matthew 23:37-39). “Not one stone upon another” will be left, he said (Matthew 24:2), and indeed the stones there today relate not to the temple but to the great retaining walls built by Herod to extend the platform above.
Today, the city is dominated by shrines and idolatry. The narrow streets are stacked with many shops selling tourist material, icons, crosses and jewellery. Hundreds of tourists flood the streets and holy sites, detracting from serious contemplation. Thankfully, the Muslims who manage the Temple Mount, do not permit any show of idolatry on the Mount. In fact, the erection of the Dome of the Rock (late 7th century) was a direct challenge to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre’s triune god.
After 1,900 years, Jerusalem is now back in Jewish hands as Jesus prophesied (Luke 21:24). But there is yet one more downtreading to come. Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies and will fall to the infidel. Half of the Jewish population will be deported (Zechariah 14:1,2). This time Israel will be unable to redeem themselves.
Then like swift lightning, the Lord will arrive, returning to the Mt of Olives from where he ascended. In the ensuing earthquake, all the idolatry will be destroyed and the geography of the area dramatically changed, with new waterways being formed to transform the land, and even beyond in Arabia (Zechariah 4:4-11; Isaiah 21:13; Joel 3:18).
The Redeemer shall come to Zion and restore the ancient Kingdom of Israel. Tribes of Arabia will come to worship at the new temple in Jerusalem (Isaiah 59:20 – ch 60:1-14).
Today, Jerusalem is characterised by religious divisions.
Tomorrow, Jerusalem is the “city of the great King”. (Matthew 5:35)