The very name Jerusalem means “Foundation of Peace” or “Teacher of Peace“. But the only time the city of Jerusalem has ever known peace was during the reign of King Solomon (970-930 BC) whose name also means “peaceful” or “peaceable.” He succeeded his father, David, on the throne over the whole House of Israel. He built the Temple of Solomon on Zion, the City of David (2 Samuel 5:7), during his reign. Since his time, there has been no peace in the land called Jerusalem! The Temple was destroyed, rebuilt and destroyed again. Jesus taught there for about three years during the Roman Occupation. He was killed by Roman soldiers at the behest of the high priests.
The earthly city of Jerusalem is once again under fire. The ongoing unrest between Judah and Palestine has been since the times of our fathers, the Patriarchs. An eternal enmity exists between them. (“Hamas fires rockets into Israel“) The city of Jerusalem, previous to the time of David and Solomon, was a royal city of the Canaanites. It was a merchant city with temples dedicated to Jupiter and Venus. It has been fought over for millennia.
Jerusalem sacked by Rome, 70AD 
Jerusalem under attack, 2021
Biblical History of Israel
The Book of Genesis describes the characteristic differences between the two sons of Isaac, Jacob and Esau. As they grew, Esau was said to be a “cunning hunter” while Jacob was an “upright” man dwelling in tents (Gen 25). Jacob was a peaceable man; Esau was a man of war. He was envious and wanted to be like Nimrod, king of Babylon. He killed Nimrod while out hunting. Then he sold his birthright to Jacob, and thus he “despised his birthright” (Gen 25:34). Esau hated his brother Jacob and wanted to kill him (Gen 27:41). It is another enmity that has endured thousands of years, from generation to generation in the form of antisemitism and supremacy.
When they were eighteen, Isaac sent Jacob to Shem and Eber’s house to learn God’s Word, but Esau did not want to go as he preferred hunting. Jacob spent 32 years there studying. In the time of Abraham, Noah’s son Shem, Melchizedek, priest of God, was the king of Salem.
Many years later, when the House of Judah was taken captive into Babylon, the sons of Esau cheered at their demise, moved into their territory and stole their goods (Psalm 137:7; Obed :10-15). The Prophet Obadiah describes the violence toward Jacob by his brother Esau, whose people are known as Edom, and the consequences.
The Vow of Jacob
After his many years of study, Jacob made a vow to God saying: “If God will keep me in this way that I go, to give me bread to eat and raiment to put on so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then the LORD shall be my God.”
Genesis 28:20-21
So, God chose Jacob and changed his name to ‘Israel’ and he became the heir of the promises made to his fathers, Abraham and Isaac. He saw the face of God and his life was spared (Gen 32:28-30). His twelve sons are the Patriarchs of the House of Israel. After Joseph died in Egypt, the Pharaoh snared Israel into slavery. God delivered the children of Israel from the bondage and servitude of Egypt by the hand of Moses, grandson of Levi.
After the reign of Solomon, they were split into two houses: The House of Israel (10 tribes) and the House of Judah (2 tribes). From there they were scattered unto all the earth. They are a family of people, not a physical land. The birthright of Israel was given to Ephraim, Joseph’s youngest son (Gen 48:15-20).
Modern Israel
The modern land called “Israel” has never known peace and never will. “The way of peace they know not!” declares the Prophet Isaiah (chapter 59). In the “signs of the end times” Jesus said to expect “wars and rumors of wars” (Matt 24:6) “Nation against nation; kingdom against kingdom…” God is not there…
“On May 14, 1948, in Tel Aviv, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaims the State of Israel, establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years.”
Modern Israel has its origins in the Zionism movement, established in the late 19th century by Jews in the Russian Empire who called for the establishment of a territorial Jewish state after enduring persecution.Zionism is a religious and political effort that brought thousands of Jews from around the world back to their ancient homeland in the Middle East and reestablished Israel as the central location for Jewish identity.
Zionism is a movement to recreate a Jewish presence in Israel. The name comes from the word “Zion,” which is a Hebrew term that refers to Jerusalem.
Throughout history, Jews have considered certain areas in Israel sacred—as do Christians and Muslims. The Torah, the Jewish religious text, depicts stories of ancient prophets who were instructed by their God to return to this homeland (citation needed).
Under Israel’s 1950 Law of Return, Jews born anywhere in the world have the right to become an Israeli citizen…”
The History Channel
These statements exemplify the world view of this Middle Eastern land they call ‘Israel’ and ‘Jerusalem’. But the earthly does not match the heavenly!
The Vaccine Rollout
Just two months ago Israel was being hailed as a model of the Vaccine Rollout.
“We’re the first country in the world to emerge from Corona. With this ‘green passport’ you can go to restaurants, you can go to theaters, movies, sports events…”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, March 2021
Citizens are being forced to take the shot and get the passport or else those who refuse ‘will be left behind’. Now that they have the green passport they can resume buying and selling; going to the shopping mall and social events, etc. Gyms, theaters and other facilities are only open to those who have a ‘Green Pass’.
In the News Today
“More than 100 civilians have been killed and over 1,000 wounded as the latest round of fighting between Israel’s military and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group ruling the neighboring Gaza Strip, hurtled toward an all-out war with neither side showing any signs of backing down.”
Microsoft News
No Peace
“The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixer into the cup of his indignation; … And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.”
Revelations 14:9-11
The Lost Sheep of Israel
Since the time of king Solomon, Israel and Judah have been separate kingdoms with the thought that the ten tribes of the House of Israel have been lost to history. They do both have ancestors and a history in common but they have forgotten they are brethren.
Now they have been found so the birthright can be restored to the rightful heirs. They’ve been looking in the wrong place!
“I am not sent but unto the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel”
Jesus – Matthew 15:24
“Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn: but…) his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel… For Judah prevailed above his brethren and of him comes the chief ruler (The Messiah); but the birthright was Joseph’s)
1 Chronicles 5:1-2
New Jerusalem – Heavenly Jerusalem
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away… And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…
There came to me one of the seven angels… talked with me, saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:”
Book of Revelation 21:1-2, 9-12
The Remnant on Mount Zion
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion/Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads… And they sung as it were a new song before the throne… no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth… These are they which follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile/deceit: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
Revelation 14:1-5; 7:4
Earthy vs. Heavenly
“That was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man/Adam is of the earth, earthy: the second man/Adam is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
Apostle Paul – 1 Corinthians 15:46-53
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Adam in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Adam coming in/with the clouds of heaven with power/authority and great glory. And he shall send his angels/messengers with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Jesus – Gospel of Matthew 24:30-31
The Mountain of the LORD
“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, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. …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 4:2-3
The Heavenly Jerusalem
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and there by many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright…
For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched… But you are come unto Mount Sion/Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church/congregation of the firstborn/firstfruits, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. And to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Barnabas – Hebrews 12:14-24
The Former and Latter Rain
The House of Judah will not read the New Testament and the House of Israel does not read the Old Testament. But this is the “former and the latter rain”. The time is right to receive the double portion. They both fit together from the beginning to the end. So let it rain!
The Two will Become One
“The Word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Moreover, son of man, take one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in your hand.
And when the children of your people shall speak you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’ Say to them, ‘Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand. And the sticks whereon you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.
Say to them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, where they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountain of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
A Covenant of Peace
My servant David shall be king over them; they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes and do/keep them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever.
Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My Tabernacle also shall be with them: yes, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Ezekiel 37:15-27
Where they are, there is the true Israel and Jerusalem!