Jerusalem, as a city, has intimately been connected with the Creator since antiquity. It was the city where Melchizedek, described as the King of Salem and a Priest of the Most High God, once dwelt. (Gen. 14:19; Heb. 7). Later, it was occupied by the Jebusites and finally taken by David, who called it \u201cthe city of David, the stronghold of Zion.\u201d (Ref: Josh. 15:63; 2 Sam. 5:6-9).<\/p>\n
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The history of Jerusalem is a chequered one. Its founder is not known for sure, yet it\u2019s arguably the single most important city in the world as far as the knowledge of the true God is concerned. Its early connection with Melchizedek (who typified Christ) suggests that God has had an enduring interest in using Jerusalem as a focal point for His salvation work on earth. (Ref: Psalm 48:2; 87:2-5; Isa. 14:32).<\/p>\n
Prophets, Temple, Messiah\u2014she has hosted them all. And she is not about to go out of the limelight! Jerusalem straddles the past, the present, and the future\u2014and so does the Sabbath.<\/p>\n
The scriptures speak of three Jerusalem city-states, each one inextricably connected with God\u2019s Sabbath-rest.<\/p>\n
The first Jerusalem is the earthly Jerusalem where the Sabbath tradition continues to this day. In the days of the holy prophets and righteous kings of Israel, it could safely be said that Jerusalem was the \u2018Sabbath capital\u2019 of the world living in peace and prosperity. (1 Kings 4:20).<\/p>\n
However, when Israel rebelled against God and desecrated His Sabbath, the peace of Jerusalem was shattered. The sin of Sabbath-breaking was the primary reason why God sent the children of Judah into exile to, first, teach them a lesson and then allow the land a 70-year Sabbath-rest.(Jer.17:21-27; 2 Chron.36:20-21; Neh. 13:15-18; Leviticus 26:2-4; 34).<\/p>\n
The lesson? Peace would elude Jerusalem, the city of peace, if the Sabbath is dishonoured. Ultimately, God wants His people to have both peace and rest\u2014and that\u2019s what Jerusalem represents.<\/p>\n
In this gospel age in which God is reaching out to all nations, particular emphasis has again been placed on Sabbath observance for both gentiles and eunuchs who join the house of Israel through repentance and faith in
Yeshua, Israel\u2019s Messiah. (See Isa. 56:1-7 and note the phrase \u201cfor my salvation is near to come\u201d, meaning in these end times).
Definitely, \u201cthere remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.\u201d (Heb. 4:9). The observance of the 7th Day Sabbath is our link to Jerusalem. Accordingly, the Sabbath-keeping nation of Israel has been enlarged through the adoption of the Sabbath tradition by all true called-out believers of all nationalities. (Isa. 26:15). In short, Israel and the the faithful Church of Jesus, the Messiah share a common distinction: The keeping of the Sabbath! (Numbers 23:9).<\/p>\n
But what is it about Jerusalem that always makes the Sabbath her indispensable companion?<\/p>\n
Jerusalem (in Hebrew Yerushalaym) means \u201cthe foundation [or city] of peace [shalom]\u201d, and the Sabbath supplies the key component of peace:Rest. The Hebrew word \u201cShabbat\u201d means rest, and rest goes hand-in-hand
with peace.
Jerusalem therefore provides the ideal atmosphere for keeping and enjoying God\u2019s Sabbath-rest. Both Jerusalem and the Sabbath are rich in prophetic symbolism; they foreshadow the millennium of bliss that will be inaugurated after the expiration of the 6000-year rule of man on earth.<\/p>\n
The Prophet Isaiah alludes to this epochal age\u2014the Second Jerusalem–in the 65th and 66th chapters of his book. That will be the age when Jerusalem (Divine Peace) will be universalized along with the Sabbath. (See Isa. 65:17-19; 66:22-23).<\/p>\n
As it is with Jerusalem, so it is with the Sabbath. Both are of \u2018ancient of days\u2019, yet they point to the future. Their relevance continues invariably in the salvation plan of Yah:<\/p>\n
The Sabbath is a perpetual covenant or sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:16-17), while Jerusalem anticipates the everlasting \u2018covenant of peace\u2019 He has promised to make with His people, the saints. (Ezekiel 37:26).<\/p>\n
We now look at the third Jerusalem. This Jerusalem is heavenly, the Kingdom of God in situ, the locus of the heavenly throne. Here, it\u2019s Sabbath throughout; Sabbath and Jerusalem consummate. Absolute rest, absolute peace! Entry into the heavenly Jerusalem is the ultimate reward for the believer. (John 14:1-3).<\/p>\n
However, the third Jerusalem will be and is the acme of the Jerusalem-Sabbath ideal:Peace and Rest without end, after the expiration of the 1000-year duration of the second Jerusalem. (Rev. 20:4-11).<\/p>\n
In this heavenly Jerusalem, sinners will not be allowed entry; it will be \u201cthe land of uprightness\u201d\u2014Isa. 26:10. (Contrast this with the apparent \u2018toleration\u2019 of sinners in the second Jerusalem such that \u201cthe sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed\u201d- Isa. 65:20). Moreover, the city will have \u201cno need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it\u201d. (Rev. 21:23; 20:11). In contrast, the moon will at least be present in the Second Jerusalem\u2014hence \u201cfrom one new moon to another\u201d shall all flesh come to worship the great King. (Isa. 66:23). To put it briefly, the Second Jerusalem\u2014the Millennium\u2014is time bound and the Third is eternal.<\/p>\n
This Jerusalem is the final destination of the redeemed saints\u2014the Church in its perfect state. It comes in the
wake of the 1000-year reign of Christ with the saints on earth after the first resurrection of the just. (Rev. 5:10; 20:5-6).<\/p>\n
Revelation 19:1 pictures the saints in the heavenly Jerusalem thus: \u201cAnd after these things I heard the voice of
much people in HEAVEN, saying, Alleluia; Salvation and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord, our God.\u201d (Emphasis ours).<\/p>\n
Home at last! This is the Jerusalem Abraham looked forward to as he sojourned in the land of Canaan, for \u201che looked for a city\u2026whose builder and maker is God\u201d\u2014Heb. 11:10. (Conversely, men shall build houses, vineyards, etc, in the 2nd Jerusalem \u2013 Isa. 65:21-23).<\/p>\n
The 3rd Jerusalem represents an entirely new beginning for man\u2014a glorious chapter without precedent in the history of humanity. (1 Cor. 2:9).
In keeping with tradition, the names of the twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles of the Sabbath-keeping nation of Israel and the faithful Church have been inscribed on the twelve gates and twelve foundations of the city respectively\u2014 thus stamping their \u2018claim\u2019 on the city. (Rev. 21:12-14). <\/p>\n
Surely, the observance of the Sabbath through faith in Christ leads to the Jerusalem in Heaven. The desire of the saints who observed the Sabbath\u2014in expectation of the LORD\u2019s promise of eternal rest\u2014will have finally come to pass. Their works (the keeping of God\u2019s righteous laws, Sabbath included) will follow them into Heaven. (Rev. 14:13).<\/p>\n
Jerusalem, in all of its three manifestations, is distinguished by her Sabbath tradition. The coming Yerushalaim, \u201cOlam Haba\u201d (Hebrew for \u2018the world to come\u2019), is \u2018Shabbat\u2019 and \u2018Shalom\u2019 ad infinitum!<\/p>\n
The Almighty Father never abolished the Sabbath, neither did Christ. He (Christ) rather He endorsed it as made for man, and even declared Himself \u201cthe Lord of the Sabbath.\u201d (Mark 2:27-28). All the apostles and the early Church kept it. (Acts 13:42,44; 16:13; 17:13; Heb. 4:9-10).<\/p>\n
As the return of the Messiah draws ever closer, it\u2019s high time we dropped all prejudices against the Sabbath and see it for what it is\u2014a constant pointer to God\u2019s eternal rest for mankind.<\/p>\n
The promise is as sure as the dawn of a new day. The Messiah will give Peace and Rest in Jerusalem, the seat of His universal reign, even as He restores the Sabbath to its pride of place.<\/p>\n
The ascent of Jerusalem and of the Sabbath is the ascent of the Church in glory. Certainly, we cannot afford to miss the import of God\u2019s call to \u201cremember the Sabbath day and keep it holy\u201d. (Exodus 20:8). The Sabbath is far bigger than we ever imagined!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"