A History Of Jerusalem: The City Of David

When Jesus Christ (see also The Rock Of The Church) returns to Earth (see also The True Gospel Of Christ), specifically to Jerusalem (as will be covered in a subsequent study in this series; see also When And Where Your Eternal Life Will Begin), it will be as a conquering King.

"^19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

^19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ^19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God [see What Does Word of God Mean To You?].

^19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ^19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

^19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING of kings, and LORD of lords." (Revelation 19:11-16 KJV)

With His Eternal New World Order (unlike the real or imagined human "new world order" that one rising and then falling empire after another has produced throughout human history) by Christ's overwhelming power (see The Coming World Dictator), the King of (human) kings and LORD of (human) lords will deliver His religious Truth to all the world from Jerusalem. His Truth will be the Law everywhere.

"^4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

^4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion [see Moriah: Separating The Wheat From The Chaff], and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ^4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:1-3 KJV)

King David's military capture of Jerusalem, and then his preparations for the building of the Temple in Zion, were prophetic object lessons of the Messianic verses quoted above.

First, David's taking of Jerusalem from the Jebusites (see A History Of Jerusalem: Jebus Of Canaan) after the civil war against Saul (see The Civil War Kings). These verses also help to explain the original meanings of "Zion" and the "city of David" within Jerusalem, which in David's time extended only over the central ridge area, with the valleys encompassing it (see the illustration and map below) i.e. "David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David" and "David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David."

"^5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel [see Are Levites 'Jews'?] to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. ^5:2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

^5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

^5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. ^5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

^5:6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land [see A History Of Jerusalem: Jebus Of Canaan]: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. ^5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

^5:8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. ^5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward." (2 Samuel 5:1-9 KJV)

When David's hold on the city became consolidated, he built a "house" and greatly increased his family (see also The Wives Of King David).

"^5:10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

^5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees [see also The Temple Cedar], and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. ^5:12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

^5:13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. ^5:14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, ^5:15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, ^5:16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet." (2 Samuel 5:10-16 KJV)

Ironically, David's greatest military and political threats came from within his own family, including when his son Absalom staged a coup against his father and temporarily drove David out of the city. It was a fatal mistake for Absalom.

"^15:13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

^15:14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

^15:15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

^15:16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. ^15:17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off." (2 Samuel 15:13-17 KJV)

David also brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem "and pitched for it a tent" - keeping in mind that it had always been in a tent, or tabernacle, right from the time of the Exodus. The verse "None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever" also explains why no one could have taken the Ark away from Jerusalem (see Raiders Of The Lost Ark).

"^15:1 And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. ^15:2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

^15:3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it. ^15:4 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
^15:5 Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:
^15:6 Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:
^15:7 Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
^15:8 Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:
^15:9 Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
^15:10 Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.

^15:11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, ^15:12 And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. ^15:13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. ^15:14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. ^15:15 And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD." (1 Chronicles 15:1-15 KJV)

David fully realized that his role as the "King of Jerusalem" also enabled Zion to be the place where the Law would "go forth" unto all the world (as we read in the verses above). David laid the foundation for the basis of that being done when he brought the Ark home forever i.e. "For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof."

"^23:25 For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: ^23:26 And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it [see also The Temple Vessel Prophecies Today]for the service thereof. ^23:27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:

^23:28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; ^23:29 Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; ^23:30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; ^23:31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:

^23:32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD." (1 Chronicles 23:25-32 KJV)

David also knew that he had set the stage for the building of the Temple (the spiritual purpose of which will be covered in a subsequent study in this series), that would be completed by his son Solomon.

"^28:1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.

^28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: ^28:3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. ^28:4 Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel: ^28:5 And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. ^28:6 And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ^28:7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day." (1 Chronicles 28:1-7 KJV)

With his royal prophetic task completed, "David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David" where he awaits his resurrection on the day of Christ's return (see the Fact Finder question below).

"^2:10 So David slept with his fathers [see What Does The Bible Really Say About Your Soul?], and was buried in the city of David.

^2:11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

^2:12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly." (1 Kings 2:10-12 KJV)

Fact Finder: What will King David be doing when the Messiah returns and establishes the Kingdom of God?
See David, Future King Of Israel

This Day In History, January 24

41: Roman emperor Caligula was assassinated by his own bodyguards, the Praetorian Guards. Caligula had succeeded Tiberius, who ruled the Roman Empire at the time of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ (see also New Testament Roman Emperors). The assassins then proclaimed Caligula's uncle Claudius as Emperor (see also The Politics Of Rome and Pax Romana: The Birth Of The Roman Empire; also Whatever Happened To Those Romans?).

1076: German bishops renounced their subjection to Pope Gregory at the Synod of Worms (Vorms, rendered in English as "Worms," is a city in Germany).

1458: Matthias Corvinus was elected the king of Hungary. He was the son of the popular Hungarian nationalist leader John Hunyadi.

1568: The Spanish imperial governor, the Duke of Alva, declared William I ("William of Orange") of the Netherlands an outlaw. William was a leading founder of Dutch independence.

1742: Charles Albert of Bavaria was proclaimed Holy Roman Emperor as Charles VII. Charles opposed the Hapsburg, Francis, husband of Maria Theresa (see Emperors and Popes).

1800: The Convention of al-Arish. An abortive Anglo-French agreement for the French evacuation of Egypt.

1915: During that First World War (listen to our Sermon The European World Wars), the British fleet under the command of Admiral Beatty defeated the German navy under Von Hipper at the Battle of Dogger Bank. The German cruiser Blucher was sunk, killing 870.

1931: The League of Nations rebuked Poland for the mistreatment of a German minority in Upper Silesia.

1961: A U.S. B-52 bomber, with two 24-megaton nuclear bombs aboard, crashed near Goldsboro, North Carolina. While neither of the weapons of mass destruction detonated from the impact, the explosive uranium core of one of them was never recovered.

1965: Winston Churchill died at age 90. He served as the Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War.

1966: Indira Gandhi, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru (India's first prime minister), became Prime Minister of India after the death of Sri Shastri.

1972: On Guam, a Japanese soldier from World War Two was discovered. Shoichi Yokoi had spent 28 years in the jungle with the belief that the war that ended in 1945 was still ongoing.

1978: A Soviet Union satellite, powered by a nuclear reactor, re-entered the earth's atmosphere and disintegrated over northern Canada.

1981: Millions of workers in Poland boycotted their jobs to support the Solidarity trade union's demand for a 5 day work week. The communist government eventually relented.

1986: Voyager 2 made a fly-by of the planet "Uranus" (a pagan name given to the planet by man) at 81,593 km. It found new moons.

1989: Mass murderer Ted Bundy, 42, was executed in the Florida electric chair; he killed up to 100 women.