The earthly Jerusalem of today is a worldly city, often used to lend spiritual credibility to some of satan's most popular religions, thereby confusing the true religion of God. This city, represented as an unholy place due to the state of these religions, stands as the religious capital of the world, embodying the global condition of religion. Jerusalem has played a prominent role in history, yet its historical record is scant, and descriptions from literary sources are often imprecise. Archaeological remains are not plentiful, and many finds are rejected or unpublished, often intentionally, to hide proof of Israel's history. Satan's plan seeks to erase the true identity of Israel, evident in the deliberate destruction by Palestinians of ancient sections near the Temple Mount, which validate the presence of ancient Israelites, an act overlooked by the United Nations. Numerous historical, archaeological, and topographical problems surround Jerusalem, with unresolved questions and controversies due to its continuous habitation for nearly 6,000 years. Periodic destructions and rebuilding have complicated the city's complex defense systems and earth layers, while its location on a mountain ridge poses severe topographical challenges. Changes in contours and names of architectural features over centuries further hinder conclusive answers about Jerusalem's history. The biblical origins of Jerusalem may trace back to the ancient Canaanite site of Salem, associated with Melchizedek, the priestly king. The city's history from Joshua to its destruction by Titus spans 15 centuries of changes, revolutions, sieges, and restorations. Its greatest physical glory was under King Solomon, who built the Temple and a royal palace, enlarging and strengthening the city's walls. One of its greatest humiliations occurred under Antiochus Epiphanes, who sought to destroy the Jews, their religion, and the city itself. Joshua's defeat of Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, marks its first specific biblical mention, with the Jebusites as ancient inhabitants until David captured the city, renaming the stronghold of Zion as the City of David. David established Jerusalem as Israel's capital, bringing the Ark of the Covenant there, making it the seat of divine kingship. Solomon's construction of the Temple furthered this, bringing Israel to an economic zenith, though conditional on obedience. Jerusalem became a figure of speech for the entire nation, with God's blessings and curses on the city seen as salvation and judgment for all Israel. Prophets warned of God's withdrawal due to apostasy, leading to the Babylonian defeat in 586 BC and exile. Restoration hopes centered on a rebuilt Jerusalem, essential for reestablishing divine and Davidic kingship after the return from exile in 538 BC. Under Herod the Great, Jerusalem was restored with an enlarged and beautified Temple, improved water supply, and doubled city wall area under Herod Agrippa. During Christ's time, Jerusalem was central to His teaching of restoration, symbolizing the Kingdom of God, though He elevated worship to a spiritual level, ending its position as the physical spiritual center. Christ's triumphal entry, death, resurrection, and ascension occurred near Jerusalem, associated with His exaltation to David's throne. Yet, earthly Jerusalem also faced judgment for rejecting Christ, with Jesus prophesying its destruction in AD 70 and at the end time, each destruction progressively worse. In contrast, the heavenly Jerusalem represents the New Covenant, the eternal home in glory, and the spiritual center of God's Kingdom, superseding the earthly city. Earthly Jerusalem symbolizes Jewish unfaithfulness and disobedience, while its glories lie in the future heavenly Jerusalem. Zion, often equated with Jerusalem, represents divinely ordained worship and government, from which the message of mercy spreads, as Christ commanded His disciples to begin preaching repentance and remission of sins from Jerusalem

Many of the returnees from Babylon did not resettle in Jerusalem, despite the decree of Cyrus the Great, which explicitly commanded the building of a house in Jerusalem, in Judah. This word Jerusalem appears four times in his brief proclamation. Although about 47,000 Jews returned, most failed to repopulate Jerusalem, returning instead to their inherited cities and towns in the territories of Benjamin and Judah surrounding it. As a result, Jerusalem did not experience economic or political rebirth upon their repatriation. A century after the initial return led by Zerubbabel and Joshua, Jerusalem remained an unimpressive and unimportant center, with its walls still broken down. Some Jews lived there, intermixing with many Gentiles, but the city had not been rejuvenated or rebuilt to any notable extent. The remnant and their descendants showed a half-hearted effort in fulfilling Cyrus' decree, lacking the resolve to fully restore Jerusalem. Nehemiah, arriving about thirteen years after Ezra, spent considerable effort rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. This wall was more than a physical structure; it represented a separation between Israel and the Gentiles, an emblem of their distinct identity. Nehemiah used the wall to enforce separation, closing Jerusalem's gates on the Sabbath to prevent business with outsiders. This act symbolized the broader call for the people to separate themselves from the pagan world around them. The second decree by Artaxerxes, under which both Ezra and Nehemiah labored, aimed to establish a community in Jerusalem ruled by God's Law. This required a wall of separation, signifying sanctification from the godless influences surrounding them. While the people did eventually rebuild the Temple and reestablish Jerusalem as a commercial and religious center, their commitment wavered. They separated from pagan culture and kept the Sabbath only temporarily and when convenient, failing to consistently obey God and fully leave the ways of Babylon behind. The wall around Jerusalem, both physical and symbolic, underscored the need for separation from sin and evil. Nehemiah's declaration to the pagans that they had no heritage, right, or memorial in Jerusalem emphasized their exclusion from the city and its sanctified community. Despite these efforts, the people's inconsistent obedience led to a failure to reestablish God's government, as they brought the ways of Babylon back with them into Jerusalem.

Jerusalem holds a central role in the unfolding of God's plan for the return of Jesus Christ, our Messiah. Following the great revolt of the Jews from 66-70 AD, the walls of Jerusalem were breached on Tammuz 17, and the temple was destroyed. For nearly 1900 years, Jerusalem endured repeated overthrows until the British assumed control of Palestine after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 expressed favor for establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, marking a significant step in Jerusalem's history. The Ten Jubilee Prophecy of Jerusalem, attributed to Rabbi Judah ben Samuel, predicted that the Ottomans would rule Jerusalem for eight jubilees, or 400 years, from 1517 to 1917. Following this, Jerusalem would become a no man's land for one jubilee, from 1917 to 1967, and then return to Jewish possession in the ninth jubilee, signifying the beginning of the Messianic end time. This prophecy aligned with historical events, as Jerusalem was indeed under contested control until 1967, when it came back into Jewish hands after the Six Day War. The tenth jubilee concluded in 2017, coinciding with the United States recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announcing the relocation of the U.S. embassy there. Jerusalem stands as the spiritual epicenter of the earth, a city pivotal to the divine timetable. God is setting the stage for the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ, through these events surrounding Jerusalem, and its importance will continue to grow as the time draws near. Keep your eyes on Jerusalem, for it will play a crucial role in the fulfillment of these plans.