What is the significance of the city of Jerusalem?

Answer.
For millennia, Jerusalem has been an important city, often commanding the attention of much of the world, and the city figures prominently in both biblical history and biblical prophecy. Jerusalem is central to many important events in the Bible.

The city of Jerusalem is situated on the edge of one of the highest tablelands in Israel, south of the center of the country, about thirty-seven miles east of the Mediterranean Sea and about twenty-four miles west of the Jordan River. Its situation, lined on two sides by deep ravines, provides a natural defense for the city. Jerusalem is called by various names in Scripture: “Salem,” “Ariel,” “Jebus,” the “city of God,” the “holy city,” the “city of David,” and “Zion.” Jerusalem itself means “possession of peace.”

Jerusalem in history. The first biblical reference to Jerusalem is found in the story of Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek, King of Salem (Genesis 14:18–24). The actual name Jerusalem first occurs in Joshua 10:3. Later, David marched on Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6–10, c. 1000 BC), and he “captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David” from the Jebusites (verse 7). At that time, Jerusalem became the capital of Israel. It was in Jerusalem that Solomon built the temple and his palace (1 Kings 6–7). In 586 BC the Babylonians destroyed the temple and the city and deported the Jews to Babylon (2 Kings 24–25). After the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, they rebuilt the temple, completed in 516 BC under Zerubbabel (Ezra 6). Under Nehemiah’s leadership the walls were rebuilt in 444 BC (Nehemiah 6).

During the intertestamental period, the Selucid king Antiochus IV (175–164 BC) desecrated the temple. In c. 165 Jerusalem was liberated by Judas Maccabeus, and the Jews cleansed and restored the temple. In 65 BC the Romans besieged the city and destroyed the walls. Herod the Great was made “king of the Jews” by Caesar Augustus in 40 BC. Twenty years later Herod began a massive remodeling of the Jewish temple, a project completed in AD 66. That temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, and the Jews dispersed throughout the world.

In the seventh and eighth centuries, Islam came on the scene, and Muslims began building shrines and mosques in Jerusalem to commemorate certain events important in their religion. The Dome of the Rock is the most noteworthy shrine, built directly on the temple mount. Under Arab rule, Jerusalem prospered, and tolerance was at first extended to Christians. However, this tolerance began to wane over time. In the early eleventh century, a ruler of the Fatimid Dynasty ordered the destruction of all churches in Jerusalem. This outraged Christians throughout Europe and led to the First Crusade (1095–1099).

After World War II, on May 14, 1948, Israel once again became an independent state, and President Truman duly recognized Israel’s restored status as a national homeland for the Jewish people. On December 5, 1949, Israel declared Jerusalem to be its “eternal and sacred” capital. Unfortunately, other nations have been slow in facing the reality of Israel’s independence and its right to choose its own capital. In December 2017 the United States officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Jerusalem in prophecy. The Bible predicted that the Jewish people would return to Israel, and Jerusalem figures prominently in prophecies concerning the end times (Joel 3:1; Jeremiah 23:3; 30:7; Ezekiel 11:17; 37:1–14). Someday, the Jewish temple will be rebuilt in the Holy City (Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).

In the early part of the tribulation, a combined military force, including Russia, will march against Jerusalem: this battle is outlined in Ezekiel 38–39 in the prophecy of Gog and Magog, and it will end in the destruction of those armies arrayed against Israel. During the tribulation, the two witnesses will be martyred in Jerusalem (Revelation 11). At the end of the tribulation, the nations of the world will mount a final assault on the city in the Battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:9–12; Zechariah 14:1–3; Revelation 16). That battle will be ended by the arrival of Jesus Christ Himself (Revelation 19). “The Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. . . . The Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him” (Zechariah 14:3, 5).

Zechariah 12:2–4 refers to the futility of people attacking Jerusalem: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness.”

During the Millennial Kingdom, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign over the earth from Zion, and the nations will come to Jerusalem for instruction and blessing (Isaiah 2:2–4; 35:10; Psalm 102:20–22; Revelation 20).

Jerusalem in the present. Israel is a sovereign nation, and it has chosen its capital to be Jerusalem. In 1995, the United States Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, requiring the U.S. embassy to be moved to Jerusalem. However, for over two decades, implementation of that law was delayed by U.S. Presidents. Now the United States has officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a move that accords with thousands of years of history and the wishes of Israel itself.

Jerusalem is held in high regard by all three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jews consider the Temple Mount to be the holiest place on earth; it is the third holiest Islamic site. Christians value Jerusalem as the site of much of Jesus’ ministry, the place where He was crucified and rose again, and the church’s birthplace (Acts 2). Today the Temple Mount is under the control of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a trust established to manage the Islamic structures in Jerusalem. Under their current rules, access to the holy sites is prohibited to all non-Muslims. The closest the Jews can get to their former temple site is the Western Wall.

Currently, Jerusalem is still experiencing what Jesus called “the times of the Gentiles” in Luke 21:24: “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” This period began with the Babylonian Exile (or possibly with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70) and will continue through the tribulation period (Matthew 24; Revelation 11:2). Scripture tells us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).

The rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a vital step in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. The dry bones of the prophecy in Ezekiel 37 began coming back together. The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is another important step. The stage is being set for other prophecies to be fulfilled. We may not know all the implications that current events have on the prophetic timeline, but we do know that Jerusalem is a special city. It is the only city in the world where God has put His Name (2 Kings 21:7). As for the temple, the Lord said, “I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there” (2 Chronicles 7:16). God has promised an everlasting covenant with Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:60), and Zion has this promise:
“‘Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,’
says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10).

At His second coming, Jesus will descend to the Mount of Olives, just outside of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4). Jerusalem will be the seat of authority in Jesus’ kingdom, and judgment will be meted out from Zion (Micah 4:7; Isaiah 33:5; Psalm 110). With every passing day, we are closer to the Lord’s fulfillment of His promises concerning Jerusalem and His reign of true justice and peace (Isaiah 9:7). “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20, KJV).

Making peace with the devil.

By Robin Schumacher, Exclusive Columnist Monday, July 14, 2025

This probably won’t shock you, but there’s bad news on the world peace front.

According to the 2025 edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), “global peacefulness continues to decline … many of the leading factors that precede major conflicts are higher than they have been since the end of WWII. More countries are increasing their levels of militarization against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, increasing conflict, the breakup of traditional alliances and rising economic uncertainty. There are currently 59 active state-based conflicts, the most since the end of WWII and three more than the prior year.”

Ukraine and Russia (surprise, surprise!) saw the sharpest year-over-year declines in peace, driven by their ongoing conflict, and Israel followed with a major deterioration due to the Hamas and Iran conflicts. Despite attempts by America and other countries to end these and other clashes, there looks to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

What did Jesus say again about “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars” (Matt. 24:6) growing more frequent in the end times?

When it comes to achieving peace, we’ll go to great and sometimes illogical lengths to make it happen. For example, there’s the appeasement of aggressors approach, with some governments trying to buy peace by allowing hostiles to expand their power (e.g., Britain with Hitler in the 1930s). As we know, that usually doesn’t work out well.

Then you have the authoritarian approach, where certain regimes impose “peace” through abrasive control, limiting freedoms to suppress unrest (e.g., China’s approach in Xinjiang or Russia in Chechnya). This includes the silencing of any dissent (e.g., our modern-day cancel culture) in the name of maintaining “peace and unity.”

Whether it’s global or our own personal battles, understanding their primary root cause is easy according to the Bible. James tells us: “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” (James 4:1). But humanity is skilled at ignoring Jesus’ half-brother and God’s prescribed remedy, so people look to any other means to achieve peace, even the most radical ones.

Scripture tells us there’s a day coming when the world will take the most extreme option and make the proverbial deal with the devil to have peace. In his book Peace, Prosperity and the Coming Holocaust, author Dave Hunt talks about this future false peace treaty made with Satan —  what the prophet Isaiah calls a “pact with hell” (Is. 28:15) — when he says: “If the Bible is true, then the coming new age of peace and prosperity could be the most dangerous period in human history, a time of mind-boggling deception that will be humanly irresistible.”

With everything happening today, we’re rapidly racing to the point where any promise of peace is “humanly irresistible,” even one proposed by the enemy. But as Charles Spurgeon rightly points out in his sermon The Peace of the Devil, and the Peace of God, “Peace caused by the devil is often the awful prelude of the last tremendous storm.”

The perfect storm

The book of Revelation talks about the beginnings of “the last tremendous storm” in its fifth chapter where John records the opening of “a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals” (Rev. 5:1). Many Bible commentators say this book represents the title deed to the earth, which Jesus Himself begins to open in the sixth chapter.

Scripture speaks about the breaking of the first seal in the following way: “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer” (Rev. 6:1-2).

There have been a lot of wild speculations as to the identity of the first horseman of the apocalypse. But when you look at the other horsemen that follow, you quickly see that they don’t represent persons but rather future events and judgments.

I believe John MacArthur nails the first horseman correctly when he says in his commentary: “The four horses and their riders do not represent specific individuals, but forces. Some, however, identify this rider with Antichrist. Although he will be the leading figure, John’s point is that the entire world will follow him, being obsessed with pursuing this false peace. The bow is a symbol of war, but the absence of arrows implies that this victory is a bloodless one — a peace won by covenant and agreement, not by war”.

It appears that what Revelation is describing with the first seal being broken is the coming together of humankind’s desperate search for peace and the offer of an enveloping armistice by the devil, which makes for the prologue of the perfect storm. However, the devil’s peace doesn’t last long because the next two verses show the second rider taking it away: “When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come.’ And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him” (Rev. 6:3–4).

Paul describes the suddenness of the devil’s peace ending when he says, “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3). Those deceived by the devil’s false peace will sadly experience what Isaiah wrote: “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked” (Is. 57:21) and the Psalmist: “How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!” (Ps. 73:19).

Given what’s coming, the question for us today is what Peter asked centuries ago: “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be?” (2 Pet. 3:11). The answer is, people who don’t make peace with Satan, but rather peace with God, which automatically results in war with the devil.

Obeying God’s Gospel call ends the war we have with God and results in our eternal peace, just as Paul says: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life … Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:10, 1). The Psalmist describes our peaceful reconciliation with God in the most beautiful way I’ve seen in Scripture: “Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Ps. 85:10).

As Spurgeon says, trying to make peace with the devil is a losing game. Instead, we all need to make peace with God, and when we do that, “The God of hope [will] fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).

And that’s the best peace of all.   

Robin Schumacher is an accomplished software executive and Christian apologist who has written many articles, authored and contributed to several Christian books, appeared on nationally syndicated radio programs, and presented at apologetic events. He holds a BS in Business, Master’s in Christian apologetics and a Ph.D. in New Testament. His latest book is, A Confident Faith: Winning people to Christ with the apologetics of the Apostle Paul.

As  Pilate stared at the Truth Himself, Jesus Christ,  he posed the question, “what is truth” (John 18:38).  Today people are not just asking what the truth is but also stating that  truth cannot even be known.  In a world which has pronounced the death of truth all that remains is subjectivism, personal opinion, and skepticism. All barriers to truth, however, end up to be self defeating or dogmatic. When these barriers are removed we are able to access the absolute truth which shines down on everyone whether they like it or not.

After showing the importance of the truth question we will first define truth as absolute, showing that there is a “reality” that is true for all people, at all times, and in all places. We will then remove the philosophies standing in the way of knowing  truth.  It is vital that we are able to access truth because if the Bible is true it makes statements which carry eternal consequences. Showing truth is absolute and knowable is the first step to proving the truthfulness of Christianity [1].

Importance of Truth

The way people live their life shows the importance of knowing the truth. Even if someone has not considered the question of whether truth is absolute and knowable, they demand to be told the truth in everyday life; demanding accurate food labels, honest doctors, and functioning court systems.  For example there are consequences to pay for not heeding a warning sign saying “Keep off the ice”, truth is to be ignored at people’s own peril.  Society, therefore, cannot function without absolute and knowable truth.

If there is no truth then all that remains are opinions.  There is no reason for soldiers going into battle to listen to the briefings of their superiors; in an absence of truth why should they believe such information?  Many soldiers however died in World War Two for not listening to the truths their commanders presented.  Just as a compass is used to point us in the right direction, without truth we cannot make right decisions, only good guesses.

Christianity makes absolute truth statements that Jesus is the only way to be saved. If you cannot show truth is absolute and knowable then why would someone believe the words of Jesus when He said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Only after establishing the proper nature of truth,  can we make truth claims evaluating Christianity and showing why it is true.

Nature of Truth

Truth is finding out what is real and what is not real, or in other words telling things like they are. Truth by definition is narrow – two plus two always equals four and not any other number. If someone makes a statement about reality then that statement needs to be tested against reality to see if it is true. If that statement corresponds with reality it is true and if it doesn’t correspond with reality then it is false [2] . Conflicting statements about reality cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense.  We will show how this truth is both absolute and knowable.

Truth is Absolute

Absolute truth means that true things are true for all people, at all times and in all places and therefore all statements are absolute statements. We will show anyone who denies this in favor of relativism misunderstands the meaning of absolute truth.

Truth is True for All People

Truth is unchanging and not determined by anyone’s belief but rather existing independently,  it is objectively true for all people.  People can have true or false beliefs and a belief is shown to be true or false when it is tested by what is present in reality. It is not beliefs which make truth, but rather truth itself, when apprehended, gives rise to true statements. For example believing the earth is flat doesn’t make it flat, it always remains a sphere shape.  Truth therefore is absolute for all people.

The Relativist may argue that a door on the right hand isaaside of one person is on the left of another. Therefore some truths are relative to the individual. However it is an absolute truth for everyone that the door is on my right and so too it is an absolute truth for everyone, everywhere that the door is on the other persons left. Absolute truth, therefore, remains.

Truth is True at All Times

Truth is also true for all people at all time,  and  is not invented but rather  discovered during the passage of time. The law of gravity existed before Isaac Newton discovered it – he didn’t invent it because it had always existed. The law of gravity is true for the person who jumps out of the top floor window, regardless of his belief he will fall to the ground. Truth remains true whether it is known or not. It is our responsibility to discover that truth and make it known. Truth therefore is absolute at all times.

Someone may object and say that truth cannot be unchanging because if that was the case, we cannot have any new truths. For example, on January 2009 Obama became President of America. However there is a distinction between truths new to us and truths new in time. New truths  come into existence regularly at a certain point in the passage of time but were false before that point in time.   After January 2009 it will always be true that Obama became President of the United States, however before that day the statement would not have corresponded with the fact and therefore would have always been absolutely false.

On the contrary, an example of a truth that is new to us would be the discovery of gravity, we just discover its existence. This didn’t become a new truth when we found it for gravity was always acting on people and keeping them from floating into space. When we find a truth new to us we become aware of the truth’s existence, in this case gravity. We can have new truths – both new truths to us and new truths in time are absolute truths – and truth, therefore,  remains absolute at all times.

Truth is True in All Places

Truth is not only true for all people and at all times but also in all places however diverse the culture and climate. Both in China and America truth remains the same. A relativist may object and say that comparing conditions in different locations destroys absolute truth, for example it is warmer in Egypt and colder at the North Pole.

This objection  fails because you have to ask the question, warmer than what? It is absolutely true for all people, in all places, that on 30^th December 2008 it was colder at the North Pole than it is in Egypt.  All pleas that comparisons are relative fail when you ask what they are being compared against. Every statement is an absolute statement and remains true for all people, at all times and in all places.

We have shown how all truth is absolute, at all times, in all places and to all people. The next step is to show how all philosophies which deny that truth can be accessed, fail. (see this article on why barriers to truth fail)

[1] Norman L Geisler and Frank Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist(Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004), 28.

[2] Norman L. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids : Baker Academic, 2007), 742.