Jerusalem: The Eternal Capital of Mankind

Why the noise about Jerusalem especially, about the recent declaration by President Donald J. Trump of the USA that Jerusalem is the official capital of Israel? The noise and concern as voiced by some global citizens are centered around the fact that Jerusalem is home to sacred monuments in the three Abrahamic or monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. These three religions have reference to the same Supreme God, the Creator of all things. They agree on this and share similarity in some other areas especially in the commonality of Abraham, the friend of God in all these religions which in itself should send wise signal to discerning minds of the purpose of God. But their major differences come in the manner they relate with God through the icons of their faiths: Moses- the man of God, Jesus Christ- the Son of God and God-incarnated, Mohammed- the messenger of God. This also has so much to do with their claims on Jerusalem. For instance, the Temple Mount in the Old City,  held sacred by the three religions, is site to the Al-Aqsa Mosque which is thought to mark the place from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven (the Isra and Mi'raj); the Foundation Stone or the Rock which is believed in Judaism to be the location of the Holiest of Holies, the spiritual junction between the Heaven and the Earth and thus the holiest site in Judaism towards which the Jews pray; and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which contain "the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, at a place known as "Calvary" or "Golgotha", and Jesus's empty tomb, where he is said to have been buried and resurrected".
Whereas man's misguided understanding of God and His ways which are past finding out has made claims to physical and material holiness appealing. It has brought about wanton destruction of lives and properties. It has created terrorism and extremist behaviour. Notwithstanding, claims to the history of any people is both just and worthy, and standing by the truth and reality is the most honorable thing anyone can do.

However, Jerusalem, being one of the oldest surviving world cities holds significant place in the general history of mankind. It is therefore necessary to understand what the Maker, the Most High God has as His sacred and eternal plans for the city. And this plan, He alone will achieve without the instrumentality of man or his religions or history. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants as witnessed and testified to by John the Elder who reported that: 

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband... And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed 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: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Certainly, Jerusalem shall be the only surviving city of all time. While the beauty of Paris, the hectic wonders of New York and the vanity of Babylon shall all pass, the glorious holiness of Jerusalem shall descend from above and all the inhabitants of the earth shall dwell in it. It shall be built upon the foundation of the Apostles and the gates thereunto shall be the twelve tribes of Israel. When the dots of the history of Jerusalem are connected to this its glorious future, simple wisdom or common sense have it that, faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham shall be the claiming right to the Jerusalem. So, as it were, there is something more eternal about Jerusalem than whatever claims anyone can have.

Jerusalem is the capital of the redeemed, sane and holy world soon to be. It is the eternal home of all peoples of all creeds, colours, and tongues. It is our final resting place. It is our capital. As someone satirically enthused that Trump should move to Jerusalem, he will, and not only him, but us all. It is a matter of time and faith. 

So, is Jerusalem the capital of Israel (Jews)? Yes. Is it the capital of Christianity and Islam? Yes, it is the capital of all peoples who believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died and resurrected from the dead, who is the LORD over all. Jerusalem is the eternal capital of mankind. Come on, sing with me Samuel Crossman's eternal song:

Jerusalem on high,
My song and city is,
My home whene’er I die,
The centre of my bliss;
Oh, happy place!
When shall I be,
My God, with Thee,
To see Thy face?

2 There dwells my Lord, my King,
Judged here unfit to live;
There angels to Him sing
And lowly homage give;
Oh, happy place!
When shall I be,
My God, with Thee,
To see Thy face?

3 The patriarchs of old
There from their travels cease;
The prophets there behold
Their longed-for Prince of Peace;
Oh, happy place!
When shall I be,
My God, with Thee,
To see Thy face?

4 The Lamb’s apostles there
I might with joy behold,
The harpers I might hear
Harping on harps of gold:
Oh, happy place!
When shall I be,
My God, with Thee,
To see Thy face?

5 The bleeding martyrs, they
Within these courts are found,
Clothèd in pure array,
Their scars with glory crowned;
Oh, happy place!
When shall I be,
My God, with Thee,
To see Thy face?

6 Ah me! ah me! that I
In Kedar’s tent here stay;
No place like that on high;
Lord thither guide my way;
Oh, happy place!
When shall I be,
My God, with Thee,
To see Thy face?
Amen.