JERUSALEM - THE ETERNAL CITY

 

Jerusalem, the capital of Israel since Davidic times, that is, since 3,000 years ago, is an enigmatic city that arouses fascination over many. Its origin lies at some unknown time in remote antiquity. Certain artifacts and ceramics found in its pres9ent area near the Temple Mount reveal in that area the presence of human settlements around the fourth millennium BC. Abraham, who is usually dated by scholars around the year 2000 BC, according to the narrative of Genesis 14, met "Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God." This "Salem" is recognized by experts as the city of Jerusalem.  

Around the year 1000 BC, David conquered it from the Jebusites and established it as the capital of Israel, and thus went until 586 BC when the Babylonian empire destroyed it. It was rebuilt and again destroyed in the year 70 by the Romans. These restored it in the year 130 and came to call it Élia Capitolina. The Holy City remained under Roman rule until 638, when it was dominated by followers of Islam. In 1099 it was conquered by Christian Crusaders, but fell again under Islamic rule in 1187. In the year 1517 it passed to Turkish Ottoman rule and in 1917 came to be administered by the English. In 1948, in the Arab-Israeli war, Israel gained its independence and half the city. Only in 1967, in the Six Day War, did Israel achieve complete control over all Jerusalem. 

Why didn't Jerusalem disappear in time, like so many others? Why so many interest in it? During its long history, besides being destroyed twice, it was 23 times besieged, 52 times captured and 44 times recaptured [1]. Today it lives in a climate of constant tension, as the eastern part, where followers of Islam live, continues to be claimed as the capital for a possible Palestinian state. Another source of conflict is the Omar Mosque, an Islamic temple built in the 7th century, exactly where Solomon, about 1000 years before Christ, built the first Temple to Yahweh.  

Jerusalem is not the holy city for its own sake, for prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Micah spoke of her “as a whore, estranged from God, guilty of idolatry and blatant disregard of God's commandments” [2]. Stage of battles, bloodshed and sin, Jerusalem is the holy city because it was in it that God decided to reveal Himself to humanity. It was in this setting that well characterizes fallen man that He walked without sin, and through his death and resurrection opened the way for man to return to God and enter heavenly Jerusalem.  

Jerusalem remains one of the most desired and disputed places on earth. It is possible that much blood will still be shed on it. But it has this eternal character because it is a symbol of humanity that reflects all pain, all anguish and all human arrogance. However, it is eternal because in it God has extinguished, by the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ, all evil on earth. 

So, Jerusalem is God's solution to humanity. Solution from above, as the Apostle John said, “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21: 1-3). It will be in Jerusalem that all human drama will have its end, its happy ending.

Antônio Maia - Ph.B., M.Div.

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[1] WIKIPÉDIA. Artigo Jerusalém.

[2] ELWELL, Walter A. Enciclopédia Histórico-Teológica da Igreja Cristã. Pg364.