25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible

According to the Bible, pride is when you think too highly of yourself. Sinful pride usually involves you thinking and acting in a way that shows you think you are better than God and/or the people around you.

Since not all pride is sin, let’s look at 25 important examples of pride in the Bible to learn exactly what sinful pride is so we can examine our own pride in our lives.

1. Jesus is Beat and Mocked by the Guards

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.” (Matthew 27:27-30 ESV)

C.S. Lewis said, “the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride.” We see pride, the utmost evil, in action as the guards take the King of the Universe, Jesus Christ, and treat Him as if He were no better than dirt. They beat and mock Jesus before sending Him to the cross, treating Jesus as though He were inferior to them.

2. Naaman’s Refusal to Get into the Water

“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.’ But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’” (2nd Kings 5:10-11 ESV)

Naaman had a severe disease called leprosy, which would eventually kill him if nothing was done about it. Elisha told Naaman that God would heal him if Naaman would go wash in the Jordan River, which was a very gross body of water. Naaman was too proud of a man to do so, but eventually, he changed his mind and was healed.

3. Simon the Magician Tries to Buy the Holy Spirit

“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 8:18-19 ESV)

Simon saw the Holy Spirit work through the Apostles, and he wanted the same gift. In an ultimate act of pride, Simon tried to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money. He tried to take a gift that came from God’s grace and buy it for his prideful pleasure.

4. The Pride in All of Our Hearts

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Romans 1:24-25 ESV)

There are points in all of our lives where we sin by doing what God does not want us to do. We choose to use the good things that God has given us for selfish pleasure. We are being prideful people by doing what we want instead of what the Creator has called us to do.

5. Adam and Eve Eat the Forbidden Fruit

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 ESV)

When God made the universe, He gave the first humans, Adam and Eve, one rule. That was not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Due to their pride, they thought they knew more than God and ate the fruit anyway.

6. Saul Persecutes the Church

“And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:1-3 ESV)

Saul, who would later become the apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, persecuted the early church. Before Saul met Jesus, he was a prideful person who thought he was better than the Jewish Christians. Saul thought he had the right to beat, imprison, and kill them.

7. Goliath Judgment of David

“And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.” (1 Samuel 17:41-42 ESV)

The Philistine, who is Goliath, looks at the young man David and thinks David is not a worthy opponent to fight. Goliath’s sinful pride only allows him to look at the outside of David, not his heart. It is a good thing that God judges our hearts and not by our physical appearances.

8. The Golden Statue of Nebuchadnezzar

“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And the herald proclaimed aloud, ‘You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.’” (Daniel 3:1&4-5 ESV)

In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar makes a giant gold statue of himself and forces everyone to bow to it. The sin of pride is seen here by Nebuchadnezzar making much of himself instead of God. Later in the book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride leads to him having a very hard time in his life.

9. The Pharisee Judges the Sinner Woman

“One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.’” (Luke 7:36-39 ESV)

The sinner woman, who was probably a prostitute, cleans Jesus’ feet and puts a lovely smelling perfume on Him. The Pharisee, instead of seeing a woman who needs the love of Christ Jesus, judges her and sees a woman who he thinks is the scum of society (as someone fulfilling mens’ lust of the flesh). This prideful person judges the woman because he views himself as better than her.

10. The Pride of the Haughty Spirit

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

The book of Proverbs is full of teaching on pride. “Haughty” means that you think you are superior or that you have an exalted sense of yourself. People who have a haughty spirit are full of pride because they believe they are better than those around them.

11. Opposition of the Proud

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:6 ESV)

There is such a thing as good pride in the Bible. However, most of the time that pride is mentioned in Scripture, it is something we want to oppose. Often, people whose life is marked by this pride do not understand their need for grace or humility.

12. Judas Sells Jesus for 30 Pieces of Silver

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” (Matthew 26:14-17 ESV)

Even though Judas traveled with Jesus for three years, hearing Him teach God’s word, he sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. In a prideful moment of defiance, Judas thought he was better than Jesus and was willing to trade Jesus to those that wanted to kill Him.

13. The Pharisee Who Thinks He Is Better than a Tax Collector

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’” (Luke 18:9-14 ESV)

Pride can be seen in the Pharisee because he thinks he is better than the tax collector because of his good works. However, we see the tax collector crying out for God’s mercy because of his sin. Wise men boast in the Lord and not the good things they do.

14. Pride in Your Possessions

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1st John 2:16 ESV)

The world will teach us to find our worth in what we look like and own. However, this is the perspective of the proud person who is of this world. We have worth in God because He is the Creator of the world.

15. Pride in the Good Gifts God Has Gave Us

“Thus says the Lord: “‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV)

It would be easy for us to boast about the things that we are good at or have a lot of. However, that comes from pride because everything we have comes from God. Instead, we should boast in God because we get everything from Him!

16. Pride Prevents Us from Serving Others

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

Humility is the exact opposite of pride. Pride tells us to put ourselves at the center of the universe. However, humility actually calls us to love and serve the people around us by looking out for their interests.

17. Hidden Pride in the Disciples

“An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, ‘”Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”‘ (Luke 9:46-48 ESV)

People often have pride and do not even know it is hiding in their hearts. For example, when the disciples are fighting over who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus shows them that those who are greatest have nothing to do with position but has to do with those who are willing to serve.

Jonathan Edwards, who was one of America’s most important theologians and died in 1758, wrote an essay called Undetected Spiritual Pride. He listed seven sneaky (or subtle) symptoms of pride. They are:

Price: the Great Fault-Finder
- This is when we criticize other people or note how they don’t measure up.
Pride: Ministering in a Harsh Spirit
- This is when we are unkind to others, even other Christians, and do not treat them as Christ treats them.
Pride: Putting on Pretenses
- This is when we act differently than we are, because we want to please others.
Pride: Takes Offense Easily
- This is when we act mean or bitterly when we have been offended, instead of being quiet and letting God be the Judge.
Pride: Presumption Before God and Man
- This is when we are too bold or confident before God, instead of treating him with the awe and reverence He deserves.
Pride: Hungry for Attention
- This is when we do things because we want to be noticed, or we think everyone needs our help.
Pride: Neglecting Others
- This is when we avoid others, especially those who we view to be sinful or unteachable. Instead, as Christ came down to our level, so should we with others who need spiritual guidance.

Reading and understanding these symptoms of spiritual pride show us “the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ.” (Jonathan Edwards) He says that spiritual pride is so important because from it comes all the other bad behaviors that lead us astray.

18. Pride in Building a Tower to Reach God

“Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.’” (Genesis 11:4 ESV)

At this point in history, there was one language. In this Bible verse, the proud people think that they can build a tower to God and be better than Him. Since God hates pride, He humbles the people by changing their languages and spreading them worldwide.

19. Herod Tries to Be God

“On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.” (Acts 12:21-23 ESV)

Herod puts himself in the place of God by allowing people to worship him as a god. The ultimate sign of pride is thinking and allowing others to believe that you are God.

20. Pharaoh Refuses to Listen to God

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me’…But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” (Exodus 8:1 & 15 ESV)

God tells Pharoah by the mouth of Moses to let His people, the Israelites, go from slavery under the Egyptians so that they may serve the Lord. In a sign of his pride, Pharaoh tells God “no” multiple times, is plagued, repents, and then tells God “no” again.

God plagued Pharoah a total of ten different times:

Water turned to blood
Frogs from the Nile River
Lice arising out of dust
Swarms of flies
Death of the livestock
Boils and sores
Hail of fire
Locusts
Three days of darkness
Death of all firstborn

God continued to give Pharoah chances to obey Him, and began the plagues with the least harm to increasing harm as Pharoah continued to renege on his promises in his displays of self-righteous pride.

21. The Pride of Haughty Eyes

“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.” (Proverbs 21:4 ESV)

Haughty eyes are often associated with looking down at others. This shows that your heart is full of pride because you think you are better than others. Instead of looking down on others, we should be looking up to God and praying to Him for humble hearts because God gives grace to the humble.

Jesus did not look down on people based on intellect, wealthy, social status, education, criminal background, or based on any of the ways we so often sadly see in this world today. We are called to love and walk in the image of Christ.

22. The Deception of Pride

“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:3 ESV)

Prideful people think that they are something special, when none of us can compare to God. The good news is that even though we are not something, our God is. We get to know the one who created it all.

23. Uzziah’s Pride Leads to Death of Many

“But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” (2nd Chronicles 26:16 ESV)

Uzziah is leading Israel successfully as their king, which leads him to go into the temple and give an offering that was not his job. While this may seem like a little thing, he did not listen to the rules God put in place. The consequences of pride led to the death of many.

24. Jonah Flees From God

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:1-3 ESV)

The Lord tells Jonah to go and preach about His grace in Nineveh, but Jonah does not want to because he does not want those in Nineveh to get a second chance. Jonah’s pride led him to run in the opposite direction from God. He had so much pride that he thought he could outrun God.

25. Loving Yourself More Than God

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2nd Timothy 3:1-4 ESV)

The last days are the period of time from the resurrection of Jesus to His second coming. During these last times, people will choose to love themselves over loving God by giving in to all the sin mentioned in these Bible verses. They will be swollen with conceit (pride) because they will put other people and things above their love for God.

Conclusion

The Hebrew word for “pride” can literally be translated as “high.” The Hebrew word for “pride” can also be translated as “haughtiness,” “boastfulness,” “arrogance,” or “conceit.” As we see from every one of these 25 great examples above, sinful pride is when you choose to love yourself more than God and the people around you.

Pride is the opposite of humility or being a humble person with a humble spirit and a humble heart. People full of pride choose to use God and others to lift themselves up. Where do you see yourself lifting up yourself or making yourself the center of attention over God and other people?

Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master’s Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.

What happens after death?

How do I get right with God?

Christian Socialist.

Can a christian be a socialist?

The question of whether a Christian can be a socialist has been debated for many years. It is a complex issue that requires an understanding of both Christian theology and the principles of socialism. This article will explore the various arguments for and against the idea of a Christian being a socialist. It will look at the different interpretations of socialism, the implications of socialism for Christian beliefs, and the potential benefits and drawbacks of a Christian embracing socialism. Finally, it will provide an overview of the current debate and offer some conclusions.

Table of Contents

Exploring the Relationship Between Christianity and Socialism

The relationship between Christianity and socialism has been a topic of debate for centuries. While some argue that the two ideologies are incompatible, others believe that they can coexist in harmony. In this blog post, we’ll explore the relationship between Christianity and socialism and how they can work together.

At first glance, it may seem like Christianity and socialism are completely at odds. After all, Christianity is based on the idea of individual responsibility and free will, while socialism is based on collective responsibility and shared ownership. However, thereare some key points of overlap between the two ideologies.

For starters, both Christianity and socialism emphasize the importance of helping those in need. In Christianity, this is expressed through the concept of charity and the belief that we should help our neighbors. In socialism, this is expressed through the idea of social welfare and the belief that everyone should have access to basic necessities.

In addition, both Christianity and socialism emphasize the importance of justice and equality. In Christianity, this is expressed through the concept of justice and the belief that everyone should be treated fairly. In socialism, this is expressed through the idea of economic equality and the belief that everyone should have access to the same resources.

Finally, both Christianity and socialism emphasize the importance of community. In Christianity, this is expressed through the concept of fellowship and the belief that we should look out for one another. In socialism, this is expressed through the idea of collective ownership and the belief that everyone should have a say in how resources are used.

Ultimately, Christianity and socialism can coexist in harmony. While there are some differences between the two ideologies, there are also many points of overlap. By recognizing these points of overlap, we can create a society that is both just and equitable.

Examining the Biblical Basis for Christian Socialism

Welcome to this blog post on the Biblical basis for Christian Socialism! As a Christian, you may have heard of Christian Socialism, but you may not be sure what it is or how it is supported by the Bible. In this post, we’ll explore the Biblical basis for Christian Socialism and how it can be applied to our lives today.

Christian Socialism is a form of socialism that is based on the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. It is a belief that the world should be organized in a way that is just and equitable for all people, regardless of their economic or social status. It is based on the idea that all people are equal in the eyes of God and should be treated as such.

The Bible is full of passages that support the idea of Christian Socialism. In the book of Isaiah, God says, “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people.” This passage clearly shows God’s disapproval of laws that oppress the poor and deny them justice.

The Bible also speaks of the importance of caring for the poor and needy. In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” This passage shows that Jesus expects us to care for those who are less fortunate than us.

Finally, the Bible speaks of the importance of sharing resources. In the book of Acts, the early church is described as having “all things in common.” This passage shows that the early Christians shared their resources with one another, regardless of their economic or social status.

These passages from the Bible clearly show that Christian Socialism is supported by the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. It is a belief that the world should be organized in a way that is just and equitable for all people, regardless of their economic or social status. It is a belief that all people are equal in the eyes of God and should be treated as such.

We hope this blog post has helped you understand the Biblical basis for Christian Socialism and how it can be applied to our lives today. Thank you for reading!

Investigating the History of Christian Socialism

Welcome to my blog about the history of Christian Socialism!

Christian Socialism is a movement that has been around for centuries, but it has only recently become a topic of discussion in the public sphere. This blog will explore the history of Christian Socialism, from its roots in the 19th century to its modern-day implications.

The roots of Christian Socialism can be traced back to the 19th century, when a group of Christian thinkers began to question the status quo of the capitalist system. These thinkers argued that the capitalist system was unjust and that it was the responsibility of Christians to work towards a more equitable society.

The first major figure in the history of Christian Socialism was the English theologian and social reformer, William Morris. Morris argued that the capitalist system was exploitative and that it was the responsibility of Christians to work towards a more equitable society. He was a major influence on the development of Christian Socialism in the 19th century.

In the early 20th century, Christian Socialism began to gain traction in the United States. The Social Gospel movement, led by Walter Rauschenbusch, argued that the teachings of Jesus should be applied to social and economic issues. This movement was influential in the development of the labor movement and the civil rights movement.

In the late 20th century, Christian Socialism began to gain more attention in the public sphere. The Catholic Church, in particular, began to embrace the idea of Christian Socialism, arguing that it was a way to promote social justice and economic equality.

Today, Christian Socialism is still a topic of debate in the public sphere. While some argue that it is a way to promote social justice and economic equality, others argue that it is a form of socialism that is incompatible with Christianity.

No matter what your opinion is on Christian Socialism, it is clear that it has had a major impact on the history of social and economic thought. This blog has explored the history of Christian Socialism and its implications for today. I hope you have enjoyed learning about this fascinating topic!

Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Christian Socialism

Christian Socialism is an ideology that has been gaining traction in recent years, as more and more people are looking for a way to combine their faith with their political beliefs. While it may seem like a contradiction in terms, Christian Socialism is actually a very interesting concept that has a lot of potential. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of Christian Socialism to help you decide if it’s something you’d like to explore further.

Pros of Christian Socialism

The main benefit of Christian Socialism is that it provides a way to combine faith and politics. It’s a way to bring together the teachings of Jesus with the principles of socialism, such as social justice, economic equality, and the redistribution of wealth. This can be a powerful combination that can help create a more equitable society.

Christian Socialism also emphasizes the importance of community and solidarity. It encourages people to work together to create a better world for everyone, rather than relying on individualism and competition. This can be a great way to foster a sense of unity and purpose among people of faith.

Cons of Christian Socialism

One of the main drawbacks of Christian Socialism is that it can be difficult to reconcile with some of the more traditional teachings of Christianity. For example, some people may find it hard to accept the idea of redistributing wealth, as this goes against the traditional Christian view of private property.

Another potential issue is that Christian Socialism can be seen as a form of “religious socialism”, which some people may find off-putting. This is because it can be seen as an attempt to impose religious beliefs on others, which can be seen as a violation of religious freedom.

Conclusion

Christian Socialism is an interesting concept that has a lot of potential. It can be a great way to combine faith and politics, and it encourages people to work together for the common good. However, it can also be difficult to reconcile with some of the more traditional teachings of Christianity, and it can be seen as a form of “religious socialism”. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if Christian Socialism is something you’d like to explore further.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is possible for a Christian to be a socialist, as long as they are able to reconcile their faith with the principles of socialism. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide how they want to live their life and how they want to practice their faith.

Question.

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).