Jerusalem has been in the headlines lately, with the announcement by the President of the United States that this country will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The announcement caused much turmoil in that city, and condemnation from all the nations of the world. What is so important about this city, especially in these Last Days, and the role it will play in the events of the End Times, that the world would be so agitated by its recognition?
The city of Jerusalem, cannot be separated from the Temple Mount within it, and with the Temple of the LORD which sat upon that Mount in the past, and, according to prophecy in scripture, will sit upon it again. Not only does the Temple Mount have historical and current day importance, but it also has deep, spiritual meaning and importance. As Ezekiel prophesied:
"Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; upon the top of the mountain, the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house." Ezek. 43:10-12
Every detail, every activity of the House of the LORD, has spiritual, life-changing power, according to the verses above. Even the mountain upon which it stood, every inch of it, was "most holy". As the people examined this Temple that Ezekiel would write out for them in detail, it would bring about a spiritual change to Israel. It would bring repentance, renewal, and reconciliation with God. This House shown to Ezekiel was not just a physical structure, but a spiritual structure.
A similar vision was given to the prophet Isaiah:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we shall walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Isa. 2:2-3
This house established on the top of the mountains, which Isaiah saw in a vision, is a work of "the last days", the days in which we currently live. That term does not refer to the end of the world, as people often mistake it, but the end of an age. Not only will this house spiritually impact Israel, but all the nations and people of the world. The LORD will teach all of the people from this house, and they will be enthusiastic to go there. The word of God that comes out of Jerusalem is no small thing. There is also no mistaking who the LORD is that is being referred to here. He is the God of Jacob, from the line of Isaac.
Not only is the world hostile to the idea of a glob-impacting spiritual transformation from Jerusalem, but even many of God's own people, prefer the comfortable status quo, in which they create their own law, and their own religious customs. To these people, it will never be the right time to "build the house of the LORD":
"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, "This people say, "The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built."... Now therefore thus sayeth the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways." Hag. 1:2, 5
The LORD went on to tell the people that the things that they considered important, and of a higher priority, had not satisfied their needs. The activities in which they invested instead of building the LORD's house, not only consumed their time, attention, sweat, and finances, but had not yielded long-lasting fruits to their lives, just the opposite: "Therefore, the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit." (Hag. 1:6,10). Even the natural conditions of the earth are affected by the presence, or absence of the house of the LORD. The LORD instructs the people to "...go up to the mountain..., and build the house; I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified" (v. 8).
As they listened to the servants of God, Zerubbabel (meaning "I am the sword of the Highest, and a prod to the house") and Joshua, who had both been obedient in all that the LORD had given them to do, and also to the prophet Haggai, the people came and did the work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.
The LORD again declares that this house to be built will have a spiritual effect upon the whole earth. The Lord will shake the heavens, the earth, the land, and the sea. Also:
"And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace." Hag. 2:6-9
As the people completed the foundation of the house of the LORD on the 24th day of the ninth month (this would be around the time of Hanukkah), the LORD told them to consider the day because "...from this day, will I bless you." (v. 18-19).
Keep in mind through all of this, the fact that Jesus is building a spiritual house out of living stones, a living temple. As the Church, this should be our fervent desire and goal. As we consider this great house that the LORD will build on the mountain of Jerusalem, and the earth shaking and changing effect it will have on all people, the living, spiritual house being built by Christ, a latter house, has even greater glory, and must be a part of this plan also. We can see this below.
In Chapter 37, Ezekiel talks about a divided people, one of Judah, and the other of Ephraim, the half-gentile son of Joseph, becoming joined together as one (v.19). It will be accompanied by a great miracle of God: the Israelites are taken from the nations, and brought back into their own land. We already saw this fulfilled after WW II. As these two people are united as one, David (Messiah) will be their King and Shepherd (v. 24). They will be cleansed of sin, and restored to God (v. 23). The LORD will make an everlasting covenant of peace to be established among this united people. "I...will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore." Ez. 37:26-28
To Contact/Give:
PO Box 155
Christmas, FL. 32709
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
PayPal available
To watch Dr. Stevenson's message:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10210677812123271&id=1287453776
The city of Jerusalem, cannot be separated from the Temple Mount within it, and with the Temple of the LORD which sat upon that Mount in the past, and, according to prophecy in scripture, will sit upon it again. Not only does the Temple Mount have historical and current day importance, but it also has deep, spiritual meaning and importance. As Ezekiel prophesied:
"Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; upon the top of the mountain, the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house." Ezek. 43:10-12
Every detail, every activity of the House of the LORD, has spiritual, life-changing power, according to the verses above. Even the mountain upon which it stood, every inch of it, was "most holy". As the people examined this Temple that Ezekiel would write out for them in detail, it would bring about a spiritual change to Israel. It would bring repentance, renewal, and reconciliation with God. This House shown to Ezekiel was not just a physical structure, but a spiritual structure.
A similar vision was given to the prophet Isaiah:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we shall walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Isa. 2:2-3
This house established on the top of the mountains, which Isaiah saw in a vision, is a work of "the last days", the days in which we currently live. That term does not refer to the end of the world, as people often mistake it, but the end of an age. Not only will this house spiritually impact Israel, but all the nations and people of the world. The LORD will teach all of the people from this house, and they will be enthusiastic to go there. The word of God that comes out of Jerusalem is no small thing. There is also no mistaking who the LORD is that is being referred to here. He is the God of Jacob, from the line of Isaac.
Not only is the world hostile to the idea of a glob-impacting spiritual transformation from Jerusalem, but even many of God's own people, prefer the comfortable status quo, in which they create their own law, and their own religious customs. To these people, it will never be the right time to "build the house of the LORD":
"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, "This people say, "The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built."... Now therefore thus sayeth the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways." Hag. 1:2, 5
The LORD went on to tell the people that the things that they considered important, and of a higher priority, had not satisfied their needs. The activities in which they invested instead of building the LORD's house, not only consumed their time, attention, sweat, and finances, but had not yielded long-lasting fruits to their lives, just the opposite: "Therefore, the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit." (Hag. 1:6,10). Even the natural conditions of the earth are affected by the presence, or absence of the house of the LORD. The LORD instructs the people to "...go up to the mountain..., and build the house; I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified" (v. 8).
As they listened to the servants of God, Zerubbabel (meaning "I am the sword of the Highest, and a prod to the house") and Joshua, who had both been obedient in all that the LORD had given them to do, and also to the prophet Haggai, the people came and did the work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.
The LORD again declares that this house to be built will have a spiritual effect upon the whole earth. The Lord will shake the heavens, the earth, the land, and the sea. Also:
"And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace." Hag. 2:6-9
As the people completed the foundation of the house of the LORD on the 24th day of the ninth month (this would be around the time of Hanukkah), the LORD told them to consider the day because "...from this day, will I bless you." (v. 18-19).
Keep in mind through all of this, the fact that Jesus is building a spiritual house out of living stones, a living temple. As the Church, this should be our fervent desire and goal. As we consider this great house that the LORD will build on the mountain of Jerusalem, and the earth shaking and changing effect it will have on all people, the living, spiritual house being built by Christ, a latter house, has even greater glory, and must be a part of this plan also. We can see this below.
In Chapter 37, Ezekiel talks about a divided people, one of Judah, and the other of Ephraim, the half-gentile son of Joseph, becoming joined together as one (v.19). It will be accompanied by a great miracle of God: the Israelites are taken from the nations, and brought back into their own land. We already saw this fulfilled after WW II. As these two people are united as one, David (Messiah) will be their King and Shepherd (v. 24). They will be cleansed of sin, and restored to God (v. 23). The LORD will make an everlasting covenant of peace to be established among this united people. "I...will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore." Ez. 37:26-28
To Contact/Give:
PO Box 155
Christmas, FL. 32709
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
PayPal available
To watch Dr. Stevenson's message:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10210677812123271&id=1287453776
