Dispensationalism and the eyes of our understanding
On the throne and key of David
Which Jerusalem remains forever?
What is the land of Christ's kingdom?
They shall no more be pulled up out of their land, Amos 9:15
Is the throne of David a type?
When will Israel’s kingdom be restored?
David's throne in Acts 2:29-36
Was the kingdom offered to the Jews?
James and the tabernacle of David
Mountains, hills, and rivers of prophecy
The 3rd of 15 scriptures discussed in this article by George Zeller, refers to Jeremiah’s prophecy that Jerusalem would remain forever. But that was not true of the earthly city, which was destroyed completely in the war with the Romans in 70 AD. Zeller wrote:
Jeremiah 17:25
Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes
sitting upon the THRONE OF DAVID, riding in chariots and on horses,
they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of
JERUSALEM: and this city shall remain for ever
The only way to get to David’s throne is by way of the gates of the city of Jerusalem (see also verses 19-24).
Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep.” [John 10:7] “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” [vs. 9]
In prophecy, the city of Jerusalem represents salvation, and the kingdom of God. Jesus said it is “the city of the great King.” [Matthew 5:35] Its gates are symbolic; Isaiah said, "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." [Isaiah 26:1]
Isaiah’s strong city is no longer the earthly city, but is now the heavenly one. The earthly city was destroyed in a holocaust by the Romans in 70 AD. If the earthly city was meant in Isaiah’s prophecy, no doubt God would have saved it from destruction. But after Jesus ascended to heaven the Jerusalem to which prophecy applies is the heavenly one, as Jerusalem and mount Zion were raised up, as foretold in Isaiah 2:2.
Isaiah 60:18
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction
within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy
gates Praise.
There was no safety in the earthly city in 70 AD, nor has there been since then. The heavenly city is defended by God, and he builds its walls.
Psalm 51:18
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of
Jerusalem.
God builds Jerusalem, but this is not true of the earthly city.
Psalm 147:2
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of
Israel.
The walls of the heavenly city have 12 gates and the angels at the gates have the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel written on them. Each one is a pearl.
Revelation 21:10-12
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and
shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven
from God,
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most
precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
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:
Access to the holy city, and God’s kingdom, is the “pearl of great price” in the parable of Jesus. Dwelling there pictures dwelling in Christ.
The Jerusalem and temple that were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD were not the Jerusalem and temple spoken of in Isaiah’s prophecies.
Isaiah 33:20
Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see
Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken
down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither
shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
Who would claim that this prophecy applies to the earthly city? It would make nonsense of God’s word. But when applied to the heavenly city, that was raised up, when Jesus ascended to heaven, the prophecy is perfectly valid. The following verse confirms this:
Isaiah 33:21
But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and
streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant
ship pass thereby.
Isaiah clearly showed that the broad rivers around Jerusalem are metaphorical. Was the Lord around the earthly city, like broad rivers and streams, when the Romans camped against it in 70 AD? Obviously not. The prophecy applies to the heavenly city, as the Jerusalem of prophecy was raised up, and was no longer the earthly city.
Psalm 125:2
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about
his people from henceforth even for ever.
Neither was God around about the earthly Jerusalem, when the Romans came against it. These prophecies can only apply to the heavenly city, where Jesus reigns upon David’s throne.
Copyright © 2012 by Douglas E. Cox
All Rights Reserved.