Jerusalem

Jerusalem

There has always been strife about Jerusalem. We also experience that in our days, and we can read about it in the newspapers.

There is an earthly Jerusalem and a heavenly Jerusalem. Gal. 4:25-26. Jerusalem is a picture of the church. That is where the battle is being waged “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12. We can learn about the spiritual battle for the church by reading about the battle for the earthly Jerusalem.

“O God, the heathen have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps.” Ps. 79:1. This is also how it will go with the church when the rulers of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places gain power there. “The heathen have come into your inheritance.” We also see this among Christians today. The spirit of the times—fashions—is trickling in. Therefore Jerusalem is sinking “marvelously . . . For she has seen the heathen enter her sanctuary, those whom You commanded not to enter Your congregation.” Lam. 1:9-10. The uncircumcised were to be cut off from the people. Gen. 17:14; Rom. 2:28-29.

“Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captives, but have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.” Lam. 2:14.

Oh, what an apt description this is of our times. Who has the strength and the mind to reveal the sins of the times—women’s immoral dress, haughtiness, etc.? Only a few do, and thus there is just an appearance of godliness. These so-called Christians do not tolerate that their sins are being pointed out. Consequently, their prophets have to preach to them vain and deceptive visions.

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who will not believe the gospel of God?” 1 Pet. 4:17.

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day or night. 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.” Isa. 62:6-7.

When people think of the church in the early days, most of them think exclusively of signs and wonders. This is a profound misunderstanding. The great thing was that they were being set free from sin! Ananias and Sapphira are examples of God’s judgment over His house. Now many believers wait for the church to become as it was in the early days, but they do not want to purify themselves from sin and be circumcised in their hearts, or to cleanse out the world and the spirit of the world.

“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” 1 Cor. 11:31-32.

Oh, how precious are the souls who judge themselves! They are being built up to be a habitation of God. They are “the precious sons of Zion, valuable as fine gold.” Lam. 4:2. And the true prophets, those who, like Paul, exhort each and every one with tears, are nobles who are brighter than snow and whiter than milk; they are more ruddy in body than rubies, like sapphire in their appearance. V. 7; Acts 20:31.

Oh, that God may raise up many such laborers in these last days who are just as faithful and caring as the apostles were, so that the church, Jerusalem, can be built up again and be a praise until Jesus’ return.

We praise God that we have already seen this work of God for many years, and how He, especially in these last years, is gathering the precious sons of Zion from all the corners of the world, from more and more countries, to a fellowship that is one, just as the Father and the Son are one.