Jerusalem ~ Past
Known as Salem in Genesis 14:18
Jebus in Judges 1:21; 19:10
David’s capital in 2 Samuel 5:5-6.

Jerusalem, the site of the temple of Solomon,
see 1 Kings 6:2; 8:6, 12.
It was destroyed in 586 BC by Babylon,
see Jeremiah 52:12-14.
It was rebuilt by a remnant of Israelites in days of Nehemiah,
see Nehemiah 2:11-20; 12:27.
An occupied city of the Roman period.
Matthew 2:1, 3; Luke 13:34; Acts 11:2, 22.
It was destroyed by Rome in 70 AD.

Jerusalem ~ Present
Divided into quarters: Armenian quarter; Muslim quarter; Jewish quarter; Christian quarter.

As a tourist: A busy city with narrow streets of cobblestone, uphill and down; small cars squeezing through pedestrians.  Tourists mingling with the locals, most on foot.  Small shops displaying their wares; people talking in various languages; the shrill Muslim call to prayer from minarets high above the streets in the Muslim quarter.  In the Jewish quarter, some young men and women in army fatigues; religious men in black suits and top hats or a yarmulke, women in dresses.

The Temple Mount – now dominated by the Dome of the Rock Mosque and controlled by the Muslims.
A holy site for Muslims: where Muslims believe Abraham sacrificed Ishmael.
A holy site for the Jewish nation: where Abraham sacrificed Isaac; where the Temple once stood.
A holy site for Christians: where our Lord Jesus Christ walked and taught.  Where He was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, buried in a garden tomb and resurrected on the third day.

Jerusalem ~ Future
One day, Jesus will come back as King over all kings to reign for 1,000 years… from Jerusalem.

~ Take it to heart ~

Jerusalem ~ the city of God!
Reader of this devotional – where does your allegiance lie?