Handbook:Jerusalem

From Door43

Jerusalem

Article Sources:	Easton's Bible Dictionary, Wikipedia

Jerusalem is the capital of the country of Israel. The temple for the worship of God during Bible times was in this city, and God often said that His name was connected to it (2 Kings 21:7). It is called the City of David (2 Samuel 5:7), because David conquered the Jebusites, took their city and made it the capital (2 Samuel 5). It also was called Zion (2 Samuel 5:7).

It was built in a hilly area, and had walls around it for protection, with several gates where people could go in and out. David's son Solomon made the city larger, added to its walls, and built beautiful buildings and gardens there, including the temple itself (1 Kings 6-9). Later, when the people of Israel were divided into two nations, Jerusalem was the capital of the nation known as Judah.

When the Babylonians defeated the Jews because of their great sin, they destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and took the Jewish people as slaves to Babylon (2 Kings 24-2 Kings 25). Later, King Cyrus allowed Jews to return to rebuild the city and their temple (2 Chronicles 25:22-23).

In the time of Christ, this second temple still stood in Jerusalem as a place for the worship of God. Jesus was at that temple many times during his life, teaching and healing people. He was crucified and buried just outside Jerusalem (Luke24:13-18). When he ascended to heaven 40 days later, it was from a location near Jerusalem (Luke 24:50-52). When he returns some day, he will rule the earth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3).

Jerusalem still exists today as a modern city. There is no temple today, and an important Muslim mosque^[1] is built on the site of the temple.

The city of Heaven is called the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21). There will be no temple in the New Jerusalem, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Revelation 21:22). It will never be destroyed, and will be a place of worship and praise to God forever (Ezekiel 37:24-28).

1. ↑ The Dome of the Rock