PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM---ZION
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM

The Psalmist David was MORE THAN A PSALMIST. He was also a PROPHET and a KING. There is also reason to believe that at times he functioned as a PRIEST. It is not our purpose to try to explore all of those facets of his life today. We are interested primarily in the fact that many of his psalms were PROPHETIC as well as poetic.

It is especially true of a great many of his songs that had something to do with Jerusalem and Mt. Zion. They pointed to the FUTURE rather than the day in which he lived.

In fact, much of the life of David was PROPHETIC. His entire life seems to have been PARABOLIC (a natural story with a Spiritual meaning).

If this is true, (and we believe it to be so) it is little wonder that so much of David’s writings have been so badly misunderstood and misappropriated by the theologians of our day.

In failing to understand that A GREAT SHARE of the Law and the Prophets pertained to OUR DAY instead of the time in which they were written, we have been unable to correctly interpret the writings of the holy men of old.

Listen to what Peter wrote concerning the time element in some of those old writings.

1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Perhaps one of the most grossly misunderstood portions of his writings is the one found in Psa 122

Psa 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psa 122:2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Psa 122:3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together: Psa 122:4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. Psa 122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Psa 122:6 PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM: THEY SHALL PROSPER THAT LOVE THEE. Psa 122:7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. Psa 122:8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
Psa 122:9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

It really distresses me to hear people use the part about PRAYING FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM as though it applies to the modern city of Jerusalem in the Middle East.

IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT CITY... NOT AT ALL!

The natural (geographic) city of Jerusalem had a sentence of DESOLATION decreed upon it by Jesus shortly before His Crucifixion. That city, and the NATION OF JUDAH were to be RECOGNIZED NO MORE BY THE LORD

The decree was carried out by Titus in 70 AD. Since that time, God does not regard either the city of Jerusalem nor the Nation of Judah. “Your house is left unto you DESOLATE.”

Regardless of how hard the Zionists may try to re-establish a city and a nation on the ancient site, it is sure to come to naught, and much dismay will result from their misguided efforts. When the Lord makes a decree, no amount of manipulation on the part of mankind will set it aside.

In reading from the book of Jeremiah (chapters 18 and 19) we find the DECREE OF DESTRUCTION for the Nation of Judah and the City of Jerusalem.

Note that God’s object lesson to Jeremiah was that ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom) would be marred in the hands of the potter, but He would REMAKE it into another vessel. He HAS DONE IT… in Jesus Christ. The present day Church is predominatly of Ten-tribed Israel stock.. (2004)

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again ANOTHER VESSEL, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

The decree for Judah and Jerusalem was portrayed by an earthen vessel that had been molded and “fired” but was broken, and COULD NOT BE REFORMED into something else. Destination… the SCRAP HEAP.

JER 19:1 THUS SAITH THE LORD, GO AND GET A POTTER'S EARTHEN BOTTLE, AND TAKE OF THE ANCIENTS OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE ANCIENTS OF THE PRIESTS; JER 19:2 AND GO FORTH UNTO THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM, WHICH IS BY THE ENTRY OF THE EAST GATE, AND PROCLAIM THERE THE WORDS THAT I SHALL TELL THEE, Jer 19:3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. Jer 19:4 Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; Jer 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spoke it, neither came it into my mind: Jer 19:6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter. Jer 19:7 And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcasses will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. Jer 19:8 And I will make this city desolate, and a hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof. Jer 19:9 And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them. JER 19:10 THEN SHALT THOU BREAK THE BOTTLE IN THE SIGHT OF THE MEN THAT GO WITH THEE, JER 19:11 AND SHALT SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; EVEN SO WILL I BREAK THIS PEOPLE AND THIS CITY, AS ONE BREAKETH A POTTER'S VESSEL, THAT CANNOT BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN: AND THEY SHALL BURY THEM IN TOPHET, TILL THERE BE NO PLACE TO BURY. Jer 19:12 Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet: Jer 19:13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods. Jer 19:14 Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD's house; and said to all the people, Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

This prophecy was carried out in 70 AD., and is the time that Jesus called THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

Mat 24:21 For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, SUCH AS WAS NOT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THIS TIME, NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE.

The REAL JERUSALEM that many of the scriptures are referring to is the one that is BEING BUILT BY THE LORD RIGHT NOW, made without hands… by the Spirit of God in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls… the CHURCH .

The Lord started the Church by filling believers with the Holy Ghost, which was evidenced by the recipients speaking in an unknown tongue. That is the tool the Lord is using in the construction of His Beloved City, the New Jerusalem.

The Holy Ghost is the only tool that is REALLY NECESSARY. However, men have added a few more tools for the purpose of helping the Lord in His project, but they may NOT BE OF MUCH HELP in the long run.

IT MUST, REALLY, BE A WORK OF THE SPIRIT.

Mar 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Dan 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.

Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

It is not a wise idea for mankind to rise up and try to depress or defeat the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD. The consequences will be disastrous.

Zec 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem (THE CHURCH) a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

A scripture in Psa 46 tells us plainly that the CITY OF GOD (THE CHURCH) is the place of ultimate sanctity in the economy of God. It is called Mt. Zion in other scriptures… also the Mountain of His Holiness.

Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The term “holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High” refers to the part of the Tabernacle of Moses which was 20 cubits long and 10 cubits wide, and called the Sanctuary. Timewise, it means the period from Pentecost until the end of this age. This is the time of the building of the New Jerusalem by that being which scripture calls “THE BRANCH”, who will also build the TEMPLE. (But that is another study altogether).

The Hebrew word for Jerusalem is a COMPOUND WORD, for BOTH of the two hills in the city… Moriah and Zion.

The ancient JERUSALEM was a type of the ENTIRE group of believers today. The ancient MT. ZION was the type of those Christians who progress farther into the attributes of Jesus Christ. They are called “My Jewels” by the Prophet Malachi.

The time of the Mt. Zion group of believers is probably what is portrayed by the ceremonies and furnishings of the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy place. (another compound Hebrew word) (6944,6944)

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Each of us is being “measured” every day of our life, to determine the extent of our final reward. Some of you will be of sufficient measure that you can be in the Overcomer/Reaper class. Others of us will simply not make the grade. Let me hasten to say that this has NOTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION. It is strictly a reward for Spiritual Achievement pursuant to Salvation. “To as many as received Him, to them He gave power (the privilege) to become (achieve to) The Sons Of God.” John 1:12 ZION!!

Not every Christian will attain to SONSHIP!

Zec 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Zec 2:2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. Zec 2:3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, Zec 2:4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: Zec 2:5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, (the mountain of His Holiness) and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, (the city not made with hands) Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

This 46th Psalm tells about the River that will “Make Glad” the City of God, Zion. It is the RIVER OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD that is described so vividly in Ezekiel 47.

It starts in the (Most) Holy Place (The Mount Zion group in the Church).

Eze 47:1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

It plunges swiftly down the East slopes of the mountain, increasing in volume as it goes along. After a few miles, it reaches the Dead Sea, which is a very vivid example of the complete depravity of the human race.

Once it arrives there, it immediately heals almost all (but not all) of the water in the Dead Sea. Almost a whole generation will be affected… maybe two generations.

Believe me, folks, there will be a MIGHTY INGATHERING OF SOULS as a result of this future outpouring of the SPIRIT OF GOD ON THE EARTH.

John saw a similar vision on the Isle of Patmos.

Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Most of our theologians tell us that this will be in the Hereafter, on the Beautiful Isle of Somewhere. I beg to differ with them. What John recorded is the account of the DELIVERANCE of God’s People… here on this earth… in this time.

Jesus told His adversaries, Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT, Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.