In order to understand the importance of Jerusalem in the eyes of God we need to understand how the “city of peace” came into being and under whose rule it operated following its founding.  We pick up the story line in Genesis 12.  Here we find that the Lord has instructed Abraham to leave his homeland in the area known as Babylon, a multi-god society from whence came many of the beliefs and practices embraced by the Institutional Church.  Read Simon of Samaria: The Legacy.  Key word–Simon. and the Introduction to this website.  Abraham did as He was commanded.  He left Babylon (symbolic of sin) and became a Hebrew (“one who crosses over”) by entering the land of Canaan, otherwise known as “the Promised Land.”  In order to become one with the Godhead (God and Christ) we must become Hebrews by crossing over (leaving) Satan’s world of sin that encompasses the entire planet and the world that exists on it.  We must then enter into God’s spiritual world where holiness and righteousness are the norm (Rev. 18:4/ 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1).  The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:21 and 6:22 that the end result of living in that world is salvation (Rom. 5:21; 6:22).

Anciently, Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land where they replaced a heathen society known as  Canaanites.  Canaanites were the descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, Noah’s son.  The Canaanites were an evil, idolatrous people.  God would not allow them to remain in the land Abraham’s descendants had inherited due to his obedience to God.  God has promised to bring His true saints to that same land upon the return of His Son Who will establishment the Kingdom of God there.  Read The Kingdom of God.  Key word–Kingdom.  The Godhead and their Very Elect will live there forever.  After the surface of the earth and the heavens are burned up and replaced by a new earth and a new heaven, God will descend with New Jerusalem which will replace Old Jerusalem.  From there He, Christ and their true saints will rule the universe forever (Rev. 22:5).  More on new Jerusalem in the following posting.

It was when Abraham was living in the Holy Land that he met Melchisedec.  Who was this great king?  And over what was He king?  We learn of their meeting in Genesis 14 where we find Abraham returning home following his victory over four powerful Assyrian kings.  Enroute he met Melchisedec, King of a local city-state who brought out bread and wine for the victors.  Melchisedec was not only the King of Salem, but was also “the priest of the most high God.”  The king blessed Abraham in the name of God, then blessed God Who had given Abraham his victory over the Assyrians.  This bearer of bread and wine was the “King of Salem” (peace) who , we are told, had no mother, no father, no beginning and no ending.  This Melchisedec was “LIKE UNTO THE SON OF GOD” and “abides a priest forever.”  Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war to Melchisedec Who was none other than the Word Who would later come to earth as Jesus of Nazareth (Jn. 1:1-4,14).  This king was in all likelihood the founder of Jerusalem, which means “city of peace.”  The word “salem” in Hebrew means “peace.”  Recall that Jesus is called the “Prince of peace.”  Recall also that the Being who appeared with the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace was described as one “LIKE UNTO THE SON OF GOD” (Dan. 3:25).  Melchisedec, the Word, the fourth man in the fiery furnace and Jesus of Nazareth were all one and the same.  How great is our Messiah?

Jerusalem was chosen by God for a special purpose that will involve every human being that has ever been born.  This once great city was in all likelihood created by Melchisedec.  It would be here that Abraham would take his son Isaac in order to sacrifice him to the Lord.  It was also here that Solomon’s temple would one day be built  (2 Chron. 3:1) and where Melchisedec/the Christ/the Word/ Jesus would be nailed to a tree.  Read Did Jesus Die on a Cross?  Key word–Cross.

It is also here, on the Temple Mount, where the al Aqsa Mosque now sits.  This Muslim edifice covers the rock upon which Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:9,10).  The Muslims claim that it was from that rock that Mohammad ascended into heaven.  Many years ago I was with a group which was touring Israel.  One part of the tour involved going into the al Aqsa Mosque.  But when we approached mosque, God would not allow me to enter.  Everyone else went in while I sat on a bench outside.  No one in the group questioned me about it.  I’m sure they thought I was wrong for not going inside.  Not so.  I was the only one listening to God.  We are commanded not to touch that “unclean thing.”  In 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Paul was warning the saints about the Institutional Church.  In Jerusalem it also applies to the al Aqsa mosque.

Abraham’s aborted sacrifice of Isaac is believed to have taken place on the rock over which the Muslim “dome of the rock” was built.  God had told Abraham that he would know where to sacrifice Isaac when he saw it.  When he saw Mt. Moriah in the distance he knew that was the place.  At that point Abraham spoke words that are undoubtedly the greatest statement of faith ever uttered by mortal man.  He knew that he would kill Isaac.  But hear what he told his helpers when he saw the mountain in the distance: “Wait here.  I and the Lad will go yonder and worship.  Then WE will RETURN TO YOU.”  Abraham knew that God had promised him multitudes of descendants through Isaac.  He also knew that God had commanded him to kill Isaac.  This was the conundrum to end all conundrums.  Dead men do not reproduce.  There was only one answer to the riddle: GOD WOULD RAISE ISAAC FROM THE DEAD.  Abraham believed God.  Abraham would kill Isaac and burn his body as an offering.  God would then raise him up.  Father and son would return to the helpers and together they would return home.  That, dear readers, is 1) REAL FAITH and 2) a REAL WORK OF FAITH.  Without the work, Abraham’s faith would have counted for nothing.  How righteous would Abraham have been if he had believed God, then refused to 1) leave his native land, 2) go where he did not know, 3) circumcise himself and his servants, 4) sacrifice Isaac?  Had he not done those WORKS he would not have be known as “the father of the faithful.”  That is what the “fine print” tells us about the “headline” that states that “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.” Righteousness is the END RESULT of WORKS OF FAITH.  The worldly church does not believe this.

Just yesterday read a statement by a popular preacher who said that works relative to faith was in fact legalism, which, he assured his readers, the Lord rejects.  He said that God is not interested in works, that He only looks at one’s faith.  He wrote that works actually taints one’s faith.  A more deadly statement cannot be uttered.  If, that is, we can believe the Apostle James (2:10,14,17,18,29,24,26).  This same James said that “FAITH IS MADE PERFECT BY WORKS” (Jam. 2:22).  I believe James who wrote under the power of the Holy Spirit.  I do not believe Satan’s false prophet.  L.J.