Jerusalem is a unique city. Three thousand years ago God said of it: "In Jerusalem will I put My name" (2 Kgs. 21:4). It is there that His plan of mercy would come into being, a plan destined for all mankind. Throughout the centuries Jerusalem has been the place where most of God's revelations regarding His plan with the world were made. It is the city of David, the city in which this great king ruled and where his throne will be to eternity (2 Sam. 7:16; Acts 15:16-17). King Solomon also built the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the Holy of Holies was a constant reminder of God's presence and glory (2 Chr. 3:1; 7:1-3). The voices of the prophets were often heard in the streets of Jerusalem, while they proclaimed God's word to a people who would not always accept His authority and will.

As a result of the spiritual decline of its inhabitants, Jerusalem would become a downtrodden city for centuries. During the dispensation of the church, Israel would be punished for her iniquities and disobedience, while her people would be dispersed all over the world: "...and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Lk. 21:24 AB).

Jerusalem has been restored physically and politically, but its spiritual restoration must still come into effect. The previous mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek, has publicly stated that he has the most difficult task any man can have: to prepare the city of Jerusalem for the coming of the Messiah. In his message at the Feast of Tabernacles in 1992, he said: "In another four years, 1n 1996, we shall celebrate 3 000 years since David the King came here, and made this place the capital of the Jewish kingdom... My share is to try and make Jerusalem a beautiful city for a very good reason. The Messiah cannot come to an ugly city."

The expectancy of the coming of the Messiah is indeed high in Jerusalem. Of the arrival of the Anointed One, the prophet Zechariah said: "And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east" (Zech. 14:4).

"At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem; they shall walk no more after the stubbornness of their evil heart" (Jer. 3:17).

Then there will be more than enough reason to celebrate in Jerusalem, for God will be there! The peace that only He can give will prevail on earth:

"Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that will not be taken down; not one of its stakes will ever be removed, nor will any of its cords be broken. But there the majestic Lord will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will sail, nor majestic ships pass by [for the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us]" (Is. 33:20-22).

Jerusalem will be the capital of the whole world:

Do you pray for the fulfilment of these wonderful promises? "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you" (Ps. 122:6).

The Jews in captivity have not forgotten their city. For many of them it is the most exalted ideal that the city and its sanctuaries be restored in full: "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill! If I do not remember you, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth - if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy" (Ps. 137:5-6).

Do you also pray for Jerusalem and her inhabitants, as Isaiah did?

After the Messiah has come and His millennial kingdom has been established with Jerusalem as capital, a completely new dispensation will be introduced on earth. The main features of this future dispensation will be as follows:

• God will rule the world in the Person of Jesus, the Messiah. A Theocratic world government will therefore be instituted (Lk. 1:31-33; Rev. 11:15 and 19:15; Is. 11:5-6).
• The throne of the Messiah will be established in Jerusalem (Zech. 8:22; Is. 2:2-3 and 24:23).
• The reign of the Messiah will be characterised by righteousness (Is. 1:26-27; Jer. 23:5-6).
• Peace will prevail on earth. Nations will no longer have armies. They will abrogate all forms of military training and not manufacture any weapons (Is. 2:4; Mic. 4:3-4).
• Satan will be bound and sealed in a bottomless pit so that he will not be able to deceive the nations (Rev. 20:1-4).
• The entire nation of Israel will be saved and rejoice in the Lord (Is. 12:3-6 and 28:5).
• Israel will proclaim the gospel of salvation among all nations, and in so doing fill the earth with spiritual fruit (Is. 27:6 and 40:9).
• The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14).
• There will be no diseases, as no inhabitant will say, 'I am sick' (Is. 33:24).
• People will reach high ages. A man of 100 years will be regarded as a boy (Is. 65:20-23).
• The physical world will also be blessed abundantly when the kingdom of God has been revealed (Is. 41:18-20; Rom. 8:19-22).
• Times of economic prosperity will prevail. During the planting season, the previous crop will not yet have been completely harvested (Amos 9:13-14; Joel 3:18).
• Complete harmony will prevail among the animals. The wolf shall dwell will the lamb and the lion will eat straw like an ox (Is. 11:6-9, 65:25).

In view of the future glory that is in store for Jerusalem, it is no wonder that the kingdom of darkness sets every conceivable plan in motion to make its presence felt in this city. For millennia it has been intent on estranging the city from its rightful owners, on establishing the sanctuaries of a foreign religion on the holy site of the Temple Mount, and on preventing the physical, political and religious restoration of Jerusalem according to the Scriptures.