Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities on this earth. The first settlement occurred in the year 2500 B.C. and then it was just a few houses. The first city wall was built in 1800 B.C. so we can see that Jerusalem already existed before the time of David. He conquered Jerusalem some time around 1000 B.C. David and his army had to dispossess some of the Canaanites who lived on the mountains of Zion and Moriah. This fortified city was called Jebus, and its inhabitants were known as Jebusites.
Sister White writes the following: “For centuries Jebus had been looked upon as impregnable; but it was besieged and taken by the Hebrews under the command of Joab, who, as the reward of his valor, was made commander-in-chief of the armies of Israel. Jebus now became the national capital, and its heathen name was changed to Jerusalem.” –Patriarchs and Prophets,p. 703
By conquering Jerusalem, David opened the way for his son, Solomon, to build the first temple. And as the Bible tells us, it was the most beautiful building of its time. It was garnished with precious stones, lined with carved cedar, and burnished with gold. But as we know, in later years, Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians and destroyed. Then, Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonian empire and allowed the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and build a second temple.
Jesus was crucified outside this very city, and years after His crucifixion, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. It was later rebuilt as a Roman city. But this was not the end of Jerusalem. In its history we see that it has been invaded several times by different empires. It has not been a peaceful existence for this city. Even today, Jerusalem is not entirely at peace.
But what will be of Jerusalem in the future? The Bible speaks of a New Jerusalem, not one that has been made new by man, by rebuilding or reconstruction.
“And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one.” Zechariah 14:4–5, 9
This New Jerusalem in its splendour, comes down out of heaven and it rests upon the place made ready to receive it. This is the very place where Jesus, after His resurrection, ascended, and where the angels repeated the promise of His return. The verses speak of an earthquake and if the splitting of the mountain will be caused by such an earthquake, it is interesting, because I found some information while researching that a recent geological survey done in the area has verified the presence of a prominent fault. It runs east to west through the southern section of the mount of Olives.
Let us see what the Bible says about this New Jerusalem. “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. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” Revelation 21:12, 21.
In The Signs of the Times, January 30, 1901, it says that “the streets of the New Jerusalem are paved with gold” and “its walls are of jasper and precious stones.” It sounds so beautiful, so unimaginable! Solomon’s temple was nothing compared to this new city. What else does it say about this city in Revelation 22:5? “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” In the city of God “there shall be no night, they need no candle, neither light of the sun.” Why? “Because the Lord giveth them light.”
“The light of the sun will be superceded by a radiance which is not painfully dazzling, yet which immeasurably surpasses the brightness of our noontide. The glory of God and the Lamb floods the Holy City with unfading light. The redeemed walk in the sinless glory of perpetual day.” And something else is more wonderful than anything else. Like it says in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see through a glass darkly.” But then we shall see Him face to face without a dimming veil. We shall stand in His presence and gaze upon the glory of His countenance.
But who will enter this city? What must we do to be allowed in? “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in his temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:14–17
God’s chosen will come from dungeons, mountains, and from the caves of this earth. These are they who have suffered persecution, ridicule, and torment for Jesus’ sake. They have been partakers of His glory. No more feeble, afflicted, and oppressed, they stand before the throne of God, clothed in richer robes than the kings and queens of this earth. In Isaiah 61:3, He has promised “to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.”
“Before entering the City of God, the Saviour bestows upon His followers the emblems of victory and invests them with the insignia of their royal state. Upon the heads of the overcomers, Jesus with His own right hand places the crown of glory. For each there is a crown, bearing his own new name, and the inscription, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ In every hand are placed the victor’s palm and the shining harp. Before the ransomed throng is the Holy City. Jesus opens wide the pearly gates, and the nations that have kept the truth enter in.” –Darkness Before Dawn, p. 51
It is my wish and prayer that we may bravely face whatever trials the enemy throws at us so that we may one day enter the Holy City of God and dwell with Him for eternity. AMEN.
Sesciah Newby