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Jerusalem – Does this city belong to the Jewish People?

We know from history and archaeology that Jerusalem was the capital of the State of Israel for about 1,700 years until its destruction by Rome in AD 70 and the dispersion of the Jews to the ends of the earth. Remember Luke 21:24? Because of Israel’s sins, including the crucifixion of Jesus, Luke states that Jerusalem would be “trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

During this “times of the Gentiles,” the majority of Jews would be scattered to the ends of the earth. Yet some Jews would always remain in their land. Without going into the chronological details of the exact ending of the “times of the Gentiles,” all would agree it brings us to End-Time prophecy in which Scripturally Israel and Jerusalem play a very prominent role. Jerusalem is used in the Bible both literally, the actual city, and symbolically, the Jewish people.

Yes, the “times of the Gentiles” have ended, and this return of God’s favor to Israel included the return of their exclusive rights to their ancient capital of Jerusalem. However, the US and world powers are pressuring Israel to surrender their Biblical capital, East Jerusalem, to the Palestinians. The Palestinians’ claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem rests on their assertion that Jerusalem is the third holiest city of Islam. Are they correct?

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29 comments to Jerusalem – Does this city belong to the Jewish People?

  • sharon g

    Jeff, we have an xJW in our class who wanted NEW testament scripture that said anything about the New Jerusalem being on earth as well as in heaven. The earthly and the spiritual. Also anything that the Jews that were faithful would be. Saved in Jerusalem?

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Sr. Sharon G.

      We have lot’s of evidence of an earthly kingdom in various scriptures. Revelation 21 seems clear that the New Jerusalem comes down to earth.

      Revelation 21:1-3 (AV) “1 ¶ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

      Other scriptures talking about and earthly kingdom would be in line with this. Ask for a list if your want it.

      Israel’s enemies win at the beginning of the battle. Half the city of Jerusalem is taken (Zech 14:2). Proud taken away and humble remnant remains (“that day” Zeph 3:11-13; Isa 4:3,4). Rebels (proud ones) won’t enter land (New Covenant arrangement) Ez 20:37,38. Israel is finally delivered out of Jacobs Trouble (Jer 30:3-7).

      Here are some articles and comments which may help.

      Did the Apostle Paul believe that the Jews (natural Israel) were Rejected by Jehovah Forever?

      Who will occupy the land of Israel in Paradise earth?

      Who does Jehovah make the New Covenant with?

      CONVERSION OF ISRAEL

      10. Who is converted as a result of this battle?

      Israel is converted, receives holy spirit and mourns because they had killed the Messiah (Zech 12:10; Eze 36:26,27; 39:28) . Vol 3, pg 278 Ancient Worthies guide Israel’s conversion.

      God made known in eyes of the nations by rescuing Israel – Eze 38:22,23; 39:6,7,27. This marks the very beginning of the process of converting the world.

      COMPLETION OF THE CHURCH

      11. Is the Church completed before Israel is converted to Christ?

      Rom 11:25 – …blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (NKJ) This text shows that the Church is completed before Israel’s conversion.

      NEW COVENANT

      12. With whom does God establish the New Covenant? What does it accomplish?

      God establishes New Covenant with Israel Jer 31:31-34; 32:40; Eze 16:60,62; 20:37 and Rm 11:26,27. Since he makes a full end of all other nations (Jer 30:11) all mankind will fall under the umbrella of the nation of Israel and come into the New Covenant arrangement.

      The New Covenant will accomplish the putting of God’s laws in mans mind and heart and the forgiveness of their sins (Jer 31:33,34; Rm 11:26,27), but it will be with a better mediator and priesthood ( Heb 7:12,22, 8:6; 1 Pet 2:5,9 & Rev 20:6), namely Christ and his body (the Church).
      The Church are ministers (the mediator with Christ, being the body of Christ) of the New Covenant, just as Moses was a minister (mediator) of the Old Law Covenant (II Cor 3:6-8)

      The New Covenant is made with natural Israel, not with the Church. The Church was never in Egypt and the Church never broke an old covenant with God. (Jer 31:31-34) Nor have we ever heard anyone spiritualize this verse where it made any sense to us.

      FINAL REGATHERING

      13. When will the Jewish regathering be completed?

      After Israel is delivered from their enemies, the remainder of Jews scattered throughout the world will return to Israel. Isa 11:11,12 & 66:18-20.

      ISRAEL, A BLESSOR NATION

      14. What Scriptures show that Israel will be a Blesser Nation?

      Isa 27:6 – Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (NKJ)
      Zech 8:22-23 – many nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem (NKJ)
      Jer 3:17 – Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD (NKJ)
      Isa 61:5&6 – Other nations will look to Israel as priests and will bring their wealth and services.
      Isa 2:2-4 – People seek the LORD in Jerusalem and worship Him there (Zech 14:16)
      Zech 14:17 – Whoever doesn’t go to Jerusalem to worship will receive no rain (blessings, see
      also Micah 5:7)
      Zech 8:13 – Israel shall be a blessing
      Gen 28:14 – In Abraham’s seed all the families of the earth will be blessed. Isaac pictures the heavenly seed and Jacob the earthly seed (natural Israel). Blessing will flow both from heaven (Christ & the Church) and earth (natural Israel).

      ANCIENT WOTHIES

      15. What Scriptures speak of the Ancient Worthies in the kingdom? (see Volume 3, pg. 265)

      Isa 32:1 – Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. (NKJ)

      Ps 45:16 – Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, whom You shall make princes in all the earth. (NKJ)

      Isa 1:26 – I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” (NKJ)

      Matt 8:11 – And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (NKJ)

      Ps 47:9 – The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted. (NKJ)

      Jer 3:15 – And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. (NKJ)

      Jer 23:4 – I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD. (NKJ)

      Dan 12:13 – But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days. – (NKJ)

      WORSHIP IN THE KINGDOM

      15. Where and how will worship take place in the kingom?

      Jerusalem will be the center of worship. (Jer 3:17; Zech 14:16 & Isa. 2:2-4)
      Tabernacle types will not be brought back since they were fulfilled by the antitype (Matt 5:18; Rm 10:4; Heb 8:13; 10:18). The Ark of the Covenant will never be used again in worship. (Jer 3:16)
      Priestly services from the Old Testament Tabernacle will not be reinstated in a rebuilt temple or tabernacle since the Old Law Covenant will have fully passed away once the New Covenant has been ratified by the completion of the Church.

      ISRAEL’S BOUNDARIES

      16. What boundaries will be restored to Israel? (see the booklet, “This Land is Mine”)

      Gen 15:18 – the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt [southern border] to the great river, the River Euphrates [northern border]–(NKJ)
      We suggest that the southern border of Israel, here referred to as the river of Egypt, is the Wadi el Arish, now a dry river bed in the eastern Sinai (the southern border of Solomon’s kingdom).
      The eastern border will include land east of the Jordan River (Isa 10:1 Edom and Moab, Zech 10:10 Gilead). This includes much of modern day Jordan. The northern border will be Lebanon (Zech 10:10)

      The most complete description of the land which Abram’s seed was to inherit is found in
      Deuteronomy 1:7, 8: “Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites [the Nebo ridge on the east bank of the Jordan], and unto all the places nigh thereunto [the Jordan valley, east of the river itself], in the plain[in Hebrew, Arabah, the Great Rift of the Jordan valley south of the Dead Sea], and in the hills [the Judean hills], and in the vale [in Hebrew, Shephelah, lying between the coastal plain and the Judean hills], and in the south [the Negev], and by the seaside [the Mediterranean coastal plain], to the land of the Canaanites [particularly the Plain of Sharon and the Jezreel Valley], and unto Lebanon [in the north–How far north?], unto the Great River, the River Euphrates. Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.”

  • QINISO ZULU

    Those who now inhabited the land of Israel are actual the Hebrew speaking Ashkenaz Jewish. There are the Gentiles according to the book of Genesis 10:2-3,5(King James bible);1 Chronicles 1:5,6. We all know that the true Hebrews are the Shemites(the people of color)

    • just stay sweet and good

      from a purely biblically point of view there were only two types of people …..the Jewish followers of JHVH and the rest of the pagan world aka Gentiles

      • QINISO ZULU

        But according to the book of Genesis 10 from verse 2 to 5. Verse 5 stated that:-
        ………By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. The Ashkenaz Jews are the
        proselyte Jewish not the fleshly Jews. The book of Romans 11:11-12 gives us reason why Yhwh has allowed the gintiles to rules over the flashly Jews. The reason is to provoke them to jealousy. Please compare with Roman 11:14 and Roman 10:19. The bible warns us of those who pretend to be Jews but the impostors (Revelation 3:9)

    • Peter K. (admin)

      We can historically trace much of the dispersion of the Jewish people after the Assyrian and Babylonian and Roman dispersions. Yes, they really are the children of Abraham. What evidence do you have to the contrary?

  • alfredo tejeda

    One thing to think about is that modern Israel was established through the united nation, the successor of the league of Nations such is the scarlet colored wild beast which is also the living image of the first 7 headed beast of revelation. The 2 horned beast breathed life to the beast that had the sword stroke. The emergence of global governance is no coincidence. Gods kingdom will be ruled from heaven and is the only true world government, all others are imposters and cannot bring true peace . Daniel 2:44 and others make it clear that gods kingdom will bring to ruin all others. Also remember revelation states the kings of the earth turn their back on the lamb and give their authority to the wild beast, this has indeed happened since the UNs founding. Thus we now have a UNASUR, AfricanUnion,European Union,Arab League and lets not for get the remaining crown empire/anglosuperpower. The Jewish people are special but human governance is not gods kingdom

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Alfredo Tejeda – Thank you for bringing up some stimulating discussion points. Revelation is quite complex and personally I see the beast as being the Papacy. In any case Natural Israel is not part of this Revelation context.

      According to Bible Prophecy, the Jews are gathered back to Israel in unbelief and are later delivered, then accept Jesus as Messiah (Zech 12)

      Zec.12.3.(nasb) “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”

      Zec.12.10.(nasb” “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.”

      You commented that “modern Israel was established through the united nation.” It us not unusual for Jehovah to work with civil authorities in this manner. For example He worked with kings Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Cyrus of Persia to accomplish His ends for Israel. Also consider that King Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah permission to to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

  • Gary Glaser

    This is a very interesting site, but I was wondering whether it is connected to a particular religious belief. I worship with Jehovah’s Witnesses because they’re the closest to my beliefs, but I’m not necessarily a typical JW. For one, I am a rather militant Zionist. And to me the question of the nature of Jesus is still open, although I tend to lean toward the adoptionist view point. I’ve always been a Biblical Unitarian.

  • humbleman

    Also the jws believe that only the 144000 are in the New covenant. and the great crowd and the resurrected ones just receive the benefits of the new covenant. they also believe Jesus is only the mediator of the 144000 and not mankind. in my humble opinion they have it backwards.it is the world of mankind who are under the new covenant starting with the nation of Israel.

    1 timothy 2 v
    3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

    If there was only 144000 places in the new covenant why would God desire All men to be saved and have Jesus as there mediator. it wouldn’t make sense. but what does make sense is that the new covenant is still future and Jesus being a ransom for all will be testified during the 1000 years Judgement day

  • humbleman

    Hi its been a while since i posted on here i hope all my dear bro & sis are doing good :). for me coming out of the jws was because of doctrinal issues one of the doctrines was weather the bride are with Christ at Armageddon. for me this would determine who the Israel on earth are at the time of Armageddon. this is something i constantly think about as bro Jeff would testify too as it always seems to be our topic of conversation :). i feel very confident that the scriptures show the bride to be with Christ at his second coming which in turn gives evidence that it is the nation of Israel on earth when the deliverer comes Romans 11 v 26. here are just a few scriptures to think about.

    psalms 2 v 7 I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:

    He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
    8 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
    9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

    Rev 2 v 26

    26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father.

    Rev 19 v 15

    15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written

    The time Jesus dashes the nations to peaces like peaces of pottery is at the beginning of judgement day (ARMAGEDDON) in Revelation 2 v 27 Jesus promises the one who does his will to the end will also dash the nations to peaces it would be be impossible for this to happen unless the 144000 are with Christ at the time he conquers and puts a end to these wicked governments. much christian love to you all bro humbleman

  • Ken

    Arn’t they all supposed to be in heaven then?

    • Jacqueline

      True point Ken. Br Rutherford died in 1942 if he had waited and not been impatient he would have seen the holocaust and the Jews returning to Israel and the 6 day war and today. He might not have changed the fact that the actual Jewish nation can depend on the promise made to Abraham to bless them. True Jesus fulfills that promise but Abraham understood it from his friend as a promise to his earthly heirs.

      Also Ken, I have some vol I that are curled on the ends and some paper back ones that I will share with you. I will get them at the convention for Chicago on Memorial day weekend. We can use these since vol one is easy to understand and is an overview of the Divine Plan. The Remember the Holocaust is being celebrated today in Washington DC. It is on c-span.org now.

      • Ken

        Jacqueline, I’ll definately take advantage of your offer if I’m there:)

      • Ken

        Jacqueline,the volumes 1 you’re offering that are curled up on the end are all paper back or hard cover?

        • Jacqueline

          Hard and soft but I don’t have them yet. Will have them in end of May. On hard have a curl on end. Witnesses would love to have volume one of the SIT. I have not had a problem with them taking any SIT.

          • Ken

            Ok Jacqueline,let me know when you get them, I’ll get a few of them. How do the witness elders feel( i.e,if they find out) when their members read the SITS?

            • Jacqueline

              One BOE is actually a collector of anything Br. Russell and watchtower. He in fact said there is nothing wrong with reading the SITS as long as they are not changed in any way. Brothers in prior to 1975 have seen them on the shelf. One coming in under the governing body might see things differently. I find my children and ones after 1990 are totally corporate and indoctrinated. Older ones however were not taught that way and have more of an open mind. Don’t witnesses ask other religions to read their literature? So I see no problem especially if they say they want one.

          • Jeff

            Alas, ….The Jws I spoke with for two hours about Armageddon wouldn’t take the first volume from me.

            They WERE going to take it until I told them I was an Associated Bible Student.

            • Ken

              Jeff, did they say what they had against the Bible students?

            • Jacqueline

              Yeh, the words Bible Students are associated with evil slave in the JW world. It is what they have been told. Hopefully these brothers will go to the internet and check it out. I just say I have some books from Br. Russell’s day in reprint. Normally Br. Russell’s name is acceptable to most witnesses especially since the new DVD is out. Barbara Anderson did most of the reaearch for the proclaimer’s book so they put out a DVD as is their custom when a writer is DF’d as an apostate. So it is presentation and wording,

  • Ken

    The Jw’s don’t believe the fleshly Jews have a significant role in God’s purpose,either today nor in the new order, yet they teach that “perhaps” some of the anointed ones will still be on earth at the start of the the new system.If this is true, how can it be said that the church will rule with Christ for the 1,000 years?

    • Jeff

      Hi Ken,

      I think this idea stems from the interpretation of Israel as the anointed 144,000 being Israel instead of the fleshly Jews.

      As we have seen in the discussions on this forum in the past on Armageddon, if someone does replace Israel in this way, then it forces other strange interpretations.

      In the contexts of Scripture, Israel is in unbelief when it is returned to its homeland. Israel will not believe until the spirit is poured out AFTER Armageddon.

      In JW thinking, the anointed are gathered, the spirit poured out and THEN Armageddon happens.

      I have thought of something else in this regard recently regarding the New Covenant. In Jeremiah 31 the New Covenant appears to be applicable to Israel and the world in the age to come, while the JWs apply it to the 144,000 and ONLY the 144,000.

      What covenant then would the world be under?

      • Ken

        Very good point Jeff, what covenant would they be under?? According to the Jw’s the great crowd isn’t under the old or new covenant, makes me wonder how they really fit in?

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