Post by ResLight on May 19, 2014 18:56:32 GMT -5
A comment by Brother J. A. Weimar, as appeared in The Watch Tower, April 1, 1891, page 52:
It may be well to mention, for those who are little familiar with the different names of this ancient city, that before Jerusalem became a place of residence, its sacred hill was called "Moriah" (2 Chron. 3:1), northeast of the hill Zion, and was early hallowed by God's trial of Abraham's faith. (Gen. 22:1-19.) Its most ancient name was "Salem." (Gen. 14:18; Psa. 76:2; Heb. 7:2.) Afterwards it was called "Jebus," as belonging to the Jebusites. (Judg. 19:10,11.) Several other significant names were given it: "Ariel" (Isa. 29:1,2,7); "The Holy City" (Neh. 11:1; Mat. 4:5; 27:53); "The City of David" (2 Sam. 5:7); and "The City of the Great King."--Psa. 48:2; Mat. 5:35.
Jerusalem is situated on elevated ground, south of the centre of the Holy Land, about thirty-three miles from the Mediterranean sea, and about nineteen miles from the river Jordan. From the time it was called "The City of David," according to 2 Sam. 5:6-9 (where the storming of its fortress by David is given), it also became the religious and political centre of the typical Kingdom by the divine, great King Jehovah's appointment. (1 Kings 11:36.) After the division of the tribes, "The City of David" continued for a time to be the capital of the kingdom of Judah, though several times plundered, until at length it was made "desolate" at the Babylonian captivity.--2 Chron. 12:9; 21:16; 25:23; 36:3,10,17-20; 2 Kings 14:13.
After seventy years of desolation, on the return of the Israelites from captivity (536 B.C.) it was rebuilt the second time (Ezra 5:2); but it did not remain long, for only a century later it was conquered by the Romans under Pompey, and plundered by Crassus, B.C. 54.
The third time it was rebuilt by Herod the Great, commencing in B.C. 20; and the city and its grand temple remained until they were taken by the Roman Titus, and totally destroyed, A.D. 70. This ancient city Jerusalem suffered in all thirty-two wars, was stormed and taken seven times, and was twice totally despoiled. Thus it has remained until recently--a "desolate" city--as Jesus, the Great Prophet, predicted: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate;" and "Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."--Mat. 23:38; 24:2.
History tells us that the Emperor Julian, the Apostate, endeavored to rebuild the temple in A.D. 363, with the object of making void and of none effect the prophecy of Christ as above quoted; but his design was frustrated by an earthquake, and by fire bursting forth from the foundation-walls of the "thrown down" temple.
But though the "due time" for the rebuilding of the fourth temple (Ezek. 40-48) has not yet arrived, nevertheless "The City of the Great King" has been wonderfully reviving for the past sixteen years; and not only the city, but also the land, "a land [once] flowing with milk and honey."--Exod. 3:8.
It may be well to mention, for those who are little familiar with the different names of this ancient city, that before Jerusalem became a place of residence, its sacred hill was called "Moriah" (2 Chron. 3:1), northeast of the hill Zion, and was early hallowed by God's trial of Abraham's faith. (Gen. 22:1-19.) Its most ancient name was "Salem." (Gen. 14:18; Psa. 76:2; Heb. 7:2.) Afterwards it was called "Jebus," as belonging to the Jebusites. (Judg. 19:10,11.) Several other significant names were given it: "Ariel" (Isa. 29:1,2,7); "The Holy City" (Neh. 11:1; Mat. 4:5; 27:53); "The City of David" (2 Sam. 5:7); and "The City of the Great King."--Psa. 48:2; Mat. 5:35.
Jerusalem is situated on elevated ground, south of the centre of the Holy Land, about thirty-three miles from the Mediterranean sea, and about nineteen miles from the river Jordan. From the time it was called "The City of David," according to 2 Sam. 5:6-9 (where the storming of its fortress by David is given), it also became the religious and political centre of the typical Kingdom by the divine, great King Jehovah's appointment. (1 Kings 11:36.) After the division of the tribes, "The City of David" continued for a time to be the capital of the kingdom of Judah, though several times plundered, until at length it was made "desolate" at the Babylonian captivity.--2 Chron. 12:9; 21:16; 25:23; 36:3,10,17-20; 2 Kings 14:13.
After seventy years of desolation, on the return of the Israelites from captivity (536 B.C.) it was rebuilt the second time (Ezra 5:2); but it did not remain long, for only a century later it was conquered by the Romans under Pompey, and plundered by Crassus, B.C. 54.
The third time it was rebuilt by Herod the Great, commencing in B.C. 20; and the city and its grand temple remained until they were taken by the Roman Titus, and totally destroyed, A.D. 70. This ancient city Jerusalem suffered in all thirty-two wars, was stormed and taken seven times, and was twice totally despoiled. Thus it has remained until recently--a "desolate" city--as Jesus, the Great Prophet, predicted: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate;" and "Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."--Mat. 23:38; 24:2.
History tells us that the Emperor Julian, the Apostate, endeavored to rebuild the temple in A.D. 363, with the object of making void and of none effect the prophecy of Christ as above quoted; but his design was frustrated by an earthquake, and by fire bursting forth from the foundation-walls of the "thrown down" temple.
But though the "due time" for the rebuilding of the fourth temple (Ezek. 40-48) has not yet arrived, nevertheless "The City of the Great King" has been wonderfully reviving for the past sixteen years; and not only the city, but also the land, "a land [once] flowing with milk and honey."--Exod. 3:8.
