Almost two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus uttered these words : “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Luke 21 :31. He was referring to the time of unparalleled world distress that would be a sure sign of His second advent.
As we view the storm clouds of war that are arising in the political heavens we feel that the day is soon approaching when our Lord Jesus will return: There are four major events indicated in the prophetic word which are to take place when He does return.
- The end of Gentile times— The second advent of our Lord will bring to a close the centuries of man’s mis-rule and the evil, envy hatred that characterize the era in which we live, and which is waxing worse as we approach the Last Days, in which, Paul warns Timothy that “perilous times shall come.”
- The rescue of Israel from her final tribulation, “At that time will I bring you again even in the time that I will gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.” Zeph 3:19, 20.
- The overthrow of the evil ecclesiastical system designated by the name Babylon the Great, the evil harlot church which will oppose and resist the return of the Lord Jesus, and the establishment of His Kingdom. And upon whom the divine punishments as outlined in the book of Revelation will fall.
- The setting up of the Kingdom with Jerusalem the capital city of the great King. And it is to these particular prophecies and to the stirring events and the wonderful city that will be erected, that we wish to contemplate, of the time when His long expected advent is a reality, when He returns to reign on earth with all his faithful, those who have been asleep together with those living, who at His judgment, hear those welcome words, “well done good and faithful servant.”
Long before the birth of Jesus Christ, there lived a king in Israel named David, and unto David, God, made a convenant, that was associated with, and an extension of the promises made unto Abraham. “The Lord telleth thee that He will make thee an house, and when thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build an house for my name. I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever, and thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee, thy throne shall be established for ever,” 2 Sam 7: 11-16.
David realizing the magnitude of this promise responded with these words “Thou hast spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come.” The throne of David was and will be yet again in Jerusalem. When the angel appeared to Mary, he told her—”Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favor with God, and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David.” Luke 1 :31, 32.
David in his Psalms, makes mention of the great city, and its importance in the future, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together. . . . For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee.”
When we examine the prophetic word for details of the great future capital of the whole world, the coming physical changes that will alter the topography of the whole land must not be overlooked, the stupendous upheavals, when in the words of Isaiah 2:19: The Lord “Ariseth to shake terribly the earth,” the prophet Zechariah gives us a graphic picture of that great earthquake in Zech. 14:4. “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof towards the east and towards the west, and there shall be a very great valley: and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it towards the south.”
As a direct result of the earthquake the prophet tells us of the formation of a new river, “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea.” The literal changing of the terrain is also emphasized in this prophecy. “All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and it shall be lifted up.” Zech. 14:10.
The mighty convulsions depicted in these and other prophecies tell us of an earthquake of unparalleled size, that will change the contour and physical dimensions and characteristics of the land, and then man will, witness with awaking realization the power of the Almighty, who created the heavens and the earth.
After the great upheaval and after the destruction of all who oppose Him, will come the rebuilding of the city, and the building of that masterpiece of Divine architecture the temple that is outlined in the prophecy of Ezekiel, the house of prayer for all nations. Isaiah further tells us of the rebuilding program, that will take place in the Kingdom Age “And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” Isa 61 :4. From the literal ruins of the former city, will arise Jerusalem the city of the Great King, and as from the ruins of the political and ecclesiastical worlds, will arise the new order. From the changes to the earth’s terrain, geographical events will take place, which will also affect all mankind.
The great city, Jerusalem, from which King Jesus will rule the whole world, will be the metropolis of the whole world. “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth ; in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one.” Zech. 14:9. “Behold a King shall reign in righteousness and Princes shall rule in judgment,” in the city from which justice and equity will flow, “And men will dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction ; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited,” Zech. 14:11.
Synonymous with the rebuilding of the city, is the inaugurating of the new order of justice and the commencement of Christ’s reign of peace.
The new order is beautifully portrayed in Isaiah 65:17. “For behold I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create : for, behold. I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.”
When we contemplate the beauties of the city, and the wonders of the age to come, we long for that time when Jesus will return. We realize that now we are living in the night of Gentile darkness, as even now ominous war clouds darken the sky, David in his last words has these words of comfort for us. 2 Sam 23:4. “And He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth even a morning without clouds.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One