The future of Jerusalem

Friday June 18, 2021

The future of Jerusalem

Then will take him away from among you (Jerusalem) those who exult in their pride, and you will cease to be arrogant on my holy mountain. Zephaniah 3:11

After announcing the universal judgments preceding the establishment of the Messianic kingdom, then those reserved for the nations neighboring Israel, Zephaniah describes those which will reach the Jews themselves. He lists the many reasons that make the execution of a just God's sentence inevitable (Zephaniah 3:5) : not to listen to God, to refuse his instruction, not to trust in him, not to approach him.

However, the trial sent by God will produce its effect : the rebels and the proud will be judged, but a core of the afflicted and humbled people (v. 12) will trust in the Lord. The grace of God will then abound and tribulations will give way to the joy and the rest of the people and of the Messiah who will cheer himself up with a song of triumph (v. 17). From then on, Christ will reign for a thousand years, precisely where he was humiliated, outraged, hated and finally crucified. Glorious prospect for pious Jews and Christians witnesses of the earthly glory of their Lord !

But what do we see now ? Two peoples are fighting for the possession of a country and, in particular, for the location of the "holy places" that their religion makes them claim. This "Temple Mount" in Jerusalem, however, does not belong to either one, but to God who calls it : my holy mountain (Joel 2:1). The Christian cannot therefore today take sides with one or the other of the antagonists, even if the death of innocent people moves him and if the means of war used indignant him ; these events make him realize that the judgments are near. They are the harbingers of the execution of God’s plan : The Lord will reign over them from Mount Zion (Micah 4:7).

Then there will be no more, no national pride, no political demands, no deadly fighting. God will have purified his people by trial, brought them to humble themselves by having crucified Jesus and brought them to their holy mountain (Isaiah 56:7). This is the glorious purpose of God. We see the preparations for it ; apocalyptic judgments will not take place until after our rapture to the Lord (Revelation 3:10).

Christians, let's be ready to meet the Lord. He tells us : I am coming soon (Revelation 22:20).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)