Two weeks ago, we pointed out some of the significant biblical and historical events that occurred in the modern land of Iraq. We noted only the Fertile Crescent, the Cradle of Civilization (i.e., the Garden of Eden), the Flood, Babel, Babylon, Ur, and Karbala. These locations, except Karbala, are covered by the historical record of Genesis 1-12. Karbala is an important site among the Shite Muslims because Husayn, the grandson of Mohammed, died there in a conflict with the Sunnis.

But, the most famous of all places in Biblical history is the city of Jerusalem. From the time of King David to its destruction in AD 70, spanning more than 1000 years, Jerusalem is at the center of attention. Even today its reputation remains and the international spotlight is often on this ancient city. Historical, geographical and even archaeological studies are intertwined with biblical redemptive history. If we could just stop and stay in this city over its history and observe carefully the events happening around us, we would understand much about the activity of God to bring about redemption to his people. How important and how numerous are the stories that this city could tell.

The earliest mention of Jerusalem on cuneiform tablets dates back to 1450 BC. Then it was called Urusalim. The most ancient biblical name in the days of Melchizedek is the shortened form, Salem. Melchizedek is called the King of Salem. (Gen. 14:18, see also Psalm 76:2.) The name, Salem, is believed to mean something like "City of Peace" or "Foundation of Peace" or "Possession of Peace." It is one of the great ironies of history that this city which has seen so little peace is called the City of Peace! To this day, suicide bombers from Palestine and Syria often enter this city to kill and destroy. This city is also called Ariel in Isaiah 29:1, a name which means the hearth of God or the righteousness of God. Jebus is another ancient name, Judges 19:10; where both Jerusalem and Jebus is found. This name, no doubt, comes from the ancient dwellers, the Jebusites, who controlled the district before the Israelites were given the land.

King David conquered the citadel, Zion, and it became known as the "City of David." The inhabitants did not think that David and his men could take the city. "Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David." (2 Sam. 5:7.) Jerusalem in David’s day was a much smaller, compact city. It grew extensively during the reigns of David and Solomon. Remember that the first seven and half years of David’s reign was in Hebron. During the last thirty-three years, David ruled from Jerusalem. When the temple and king’s palace was built by Solomon in Jerusalem, the city was greatly expanded and became more important. The name, Zion, did not refer to the entire city, but rather to a fortified part of it. From this smaller area, then the name was used later to refer to the surroundings as well. Zion is a popular expression in apocalyptic literature and symbolic references to heaven. The Hebrew writer said, "But you are come to Mount Zion, unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." (Heb. 12:22.) Christians sing about Zion’s Call ringing sweetly and bidding us to realm’s above.

When Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, he began by saying, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves." (Luke 10:30.) Jericho is about 15 miles east of Jerusalem toward the Jordan River, north of the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is about 35 miles west of the Mediterranean Sea. It is built between low mountain ranges, being shut in by a rough triangle of higher mountain ranges. The Psalmist said, "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever." (Psalm 125:2.) The elevation of the city is about 2400 feet above sea level. In contrast, the Dead Sea is about 1300 feet below the Mediterranean Sea and plunges another 1300 feet to the bottom. On the east side of the city is the Kidron Valley with the Mount of Olives beyond this valley. To the south is the Valley of Hinnon.

Over the years walls have been built and rebuilt around the city. To allow entrances into the city, there are several gates on all sides. The most complete biblical description we have of the walls and gates of Jerusalem is given by Nehemiah. (Neh. 2 & 3.) Josephus also gives us a description of the city as well. The modern walls of the city measure about 2 1/8 miles long, average height of 35 feet, with 35 towers and 8 gates. Here are some of the names of the gates to the city through the massive walls: the valley gate, dung gate, fountain gate, water gate, horse gate, sheep gate (also known as the gate of Benjamin), fish gate, old gate and gate of Ephraim.

Priesthood of Melchisedek. This small city was destined for an important role in history. In ancient days, about 2000 BC, when the king-priest Melchisedek ruled, the redemptive role of Jerusalem was already planned by Jehovah. When Abram sought out the kings in the area who took captive his family and possessions, Melchisedek pronounced a blessing upon Abram. (Gen. 14:18-20.) Abram also gave tithes to this priest. The Hebrew writer said, "Now consider how great this man was unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils." (Heb. 7:4.) The Hebrew writer explained that the Levites, who were in the loins of Abraham their great grandfather, paid tithes to Melchisedek. The one who received tithes is greater than the one who gives the tenth. His point is that the priesthood of Melchisedek is greater than the Levitical priesthood. (7:9-11.) The priesthood of Jesus Christ is based upon this unique, one-of-a-kind priest who lived and served God in Salem. Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi, but from Judah. Therefore, he could not serve in the Levitical priesthood. "The priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." (Heb. 7:12.) Covenants are administered by priests of God. This old priest in Salem was a type of the Christ to come.

Two covenants and important places. The old covenant centers around three places: Egypt, Mount Sinai and Jerusalem. Egypt is the place of bondage from which the children of Israel were delivered. Mount Sinai is the place where the law was given to Moses. Jerusalem is the place where God placed his name in the temple. It is the holy place of worship and atonement.

Likewise, the new covenant has three significant places. We have been called from our place of bondage in sin. The Word of the Lord came forth from Jerusalem. (Isa. 2:3.) The holy place where God dwells is the new or heavenly Jerusalem which is above. (Heb. 12:22.)

Jesus’ trials, death and resurrection. The central events of the Gospel occurred in Jerusalem. In Jesus’ day, the city was controlled by powerful Jewish leaders---the Sadducees, scribes, lawyers, and Pharisees. They controlled the operation of the city religiously, the temple and the general way of life. Religion and state were one. The Jews ran their affairs under the guidance of a Roman governor, who tried often to appease the Jews and gain their favor. They hated each other, but tolerated one another for political reasons. The Jews were always watchful for opportunities to overthrow the Roman yoke. When Jesus came to town and performed miracles, they tried to force him to use his power to defeat Rome. (John 6:15.) They wanted him to be their political king, but he kept saying things that were offensive to them. He was talking about spiritual things, a spiritual people, and a spiritual kingdom (Luke 17:20-21). He used cutting, harsh language to describe their behavior of the Pharisees. He told the Sadducees that they did not know the Scriptures nor the power of God. He drove the money exchangers out of the temple because they made the house of God a place of merchandise. These were Sadducees. He condemned the Jews for searching the Scriptures for eternal life, but rejecting Him to whom the Scriptures pointed. (John 5:39-40.)

Due to this serious conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, they plotted his death. Even one of the twelve assisted them in their nefarious plot. Jesus had a mockery of a trial and severely beaten. Pilate had hoped that the scourging would satisfy the Jewish leaders, but they insisted upon his death.

Jesus suffered the death of the cross outside the walls of Jerusalem on Golgotha or Calvary. On the third day, he arose and the message of his resurrection was preached in the very city where he had been rejected. The guilt of both the Romans and Jews was self-condemning. They knew that they had with evil intent killed an innocent man.

Fifty days later on Pentecost, the church of our Lord was planted in the city of Jerusalem with three thousand obeying the Gospel. (Acts 2.) Jesus told his disciples prior to his ascension that the Gospel would spread from Jerusalem to Judaea to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. Isaiah foretold that the word of the Lord would go forth from Jerusalem and out of Zion. (Isa. 2:3.) Jerusalem, therefore, is a highly significant place for Christians because of these biblical events.

The destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus foretold an approaching destruction of the city. Three gospel accounts give a rather lengthy statement about it. (Matt. 24, Luke 21, Mark 13.) He gave the apostles this information in response to their pride in the great buildings of the temple. He did not want them to be so impressed with those structures. He shocked them by saying that not one stone would be left on top of another. Further, Jesus said that all those events would occur in their generation. (Matt. 24:34.) Jerusalem had been conquered by others in the past, but this time it would be by the powerful armies of Rome under the direction of Titus, the Roman general. The events of Matthew 24 occurred in 68-70 AD. Those things foretold by Jesus do not refer to the end of time when Jesus returns, as so many interpret Jesus’ words.

We have an historical eyewitness account of the destruction of Jerusalem. The Jewish historian, Josephus, was inside the city when the siege began. The Romans allowed him to come outside and help convince his fellow countrymen to surrender. Josephus’ own mother was inside and would not come out. The Jews threw darts and stones at Josephus when he made his pleas for them to surrender. A stone hit him in the head. If his numbers can be trusted, the historian recorded that 97,000 were taken captive by the Romans and 1.1 million were killed. (This seems to be too high a number.) There were so many killed inside by the three warring parties and thrown over the city walls into the valleys below that Titus cried out, "I call God to witness against me that this is not my doing!"

Some among us have made the destruction of Jerusalem the defining event in biblical history. To them it is more important than Pentecost. All things are consummated and fulfilled during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Even the Second Coming of Jesus and the resurrection occurred then. The New Covenant was not completely established until Jerusalem fell. According to that view, we are now in the eternal phase of the Kingdom of God and it shall continue world without end. Max King made this view popular in his book, The Spirit of Prophecy. This view makes far too much of the fall of this ancient city. Pentecost, Acts 2, is the consum-mation of the voice of the prophets of God. The spiritual kingdom had its beginning in AD 30, not AD 70.

Muslims believe that Mohammed ascended from Jerusalem. Under the impressive dome in Jerusalem is not a floor as you would expect in a beautiful building, but rather it houses a rock. Thus, the name, the Dome of the Rock. This famous place is believed to be the place where Abraham started to offer Isaac and also where Muhammad ascended to heaven.

After Mohammed’s death, Omar, one of his followers, would not believe that Mohammed was dead and proclaimed that he only swooned away. But Abu Bakr silenced him and denounced any who would worship Mohammed. However, in the Koran, there is a section titled, "The Night Journey." It says, "Glory be to Him who carried his servant by night from the sacred temple of Mecca to the temple that is remote" (i.e. in Jerusalem). (Koran, Sura 17.) From this, Muslims believe that Mohammed was carried in the night from the temple in Mecca to Jerusalem. Then he ascended to Paradise from Mount Moriah, the modern site is the Dome of the Rock. But, he died in Mecca on June 8, 632, at the age of 63.