I am very much looking forward to sharing this study particularly. It has been on my heart for quite a long time that I have been wanting to talk about this topic. And it is so important and it is so inspiring. And as we begin to study these things out, I am going to talk about something a little bit different.

I normally talk about something related specifically to our walk with Yahweh and what Scripture has to teach us regarding how Yahweh desires us to live and to love. But today, I really want to take some time and discuss something that really any serious student of Scripture ought to examine and take a careful note of.

And that is something that Yahweh has His eyes on at all times. It is something that the entire world will see and will rejoice in. And that something is the city of Jerusalem. And so, today’s study title is called: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

Actually, it is pronounced “Yerushalayim” or “Yerushalem” in Hebrew. This tiny piece of land is the most important piece of land in the entire world. The events that have taken place here have altered the course of mankind and will alter the course of mankind for all eternity.

And so, I want to take a journey here through the Scriptures and see just how important this place is and how it relates to us as believers in Yahushua the Messiah. And I think by the time we are finished here we will see that this is a faith building exercise, and it will be seen, once again, just how amazing the Word of Yahweh truly is.

No human or group of humans could possibly have come up with this. I mean, it will be seen once again that the Scriptures we read from every day are clearly, clearly of divine origin.

Now the word “Jerusalem” is actually found in the Scriptures 821 times in 772 different verses. And this doesn’t even include the other names that Yahweh has given this city, such as: Ariel, Tsion (or Zion), Salem (Shalem), Moriah (Moriyah), Jebus and the City of David.

But what is it about this tiny piece of land? I mean, during David’s time, we are talking (according to archaeological excavations) maybe 12 acres in size, no more than 60 acres, maybe, during Solomon’s reign, although some have suggested maybe a little larger than that, but not much larger.

But what makes it so significant and why did Yahweh choose that place to put His name? Why did Yahweh say the things He said about Jerusalem? Why did the psalmist say:

Psalms 137:5 – If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget [its skill]!

6 – If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth — If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

And why did Yahweh say (of the land of Israel):

Deuteronomy 11:12 – a land for which YAHWEH your Elohim cares; the eyes of YAHWEH your Elohim [are] always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.

And then of Jerusalem, He said:

Psalms 87:2 – YAHWEH loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Obviously, Yahweh loves this place. And part of loving Yahweh is to love the things He loves and to hate the things that He hates.

And so, my goal here today is to take us through a journey through the Scriptures and see what we can learn about this place that Yahweh loves and why He loves it and what we can look at, and say, “Why, I can look at that and I can say, ‘Wow! I love it.’ “

Genesis chapter 14, verse 18– the first mention of this place. It says:

Genesis 14:18 – Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he [was] the priest of Elohim Most High.

19 – And he blessed him and said: Blessed be Abram of Elohim Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;

20 – And blessed be Elohim Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him a tithe of all.

Abraham had defeated Sodom. And this man named Melchizedek comes out, and He is King of Salem. Now the way you pronounce “Salem” in Hebrew is “Shalem” (shaw-lame’) and it is actually the same city that would later be called “Yerushalem” or “Yerushalayim” or “Jerusalem.”

And how we know that is Psalm 76 and verse 1. It says:

2 – In Salem also is His tabernacle, And His dwelling place in Zion.

And so, the Scriptures make a connection between this Melchizedek, who ruled over this place known as Shalem, or Salem, and this being the place that will later be known as Yerushalayim.

And so, looking again here at Genesis 14:18, we see that the first appearance of the city of Yerushalayim is here. And this king of Salem is also a priest. Now for one to be a king and a priest, both, we know in the Torah they were separate.

There were the sons of David that were the kings. And then there were the sons of Aaron who were the priests. And here we have one who is both king and priest.

And what is he bringing out? He is bringing out bread and wine. And his name, Melchizedek, means “my king is righteous.” And it is fascinating. Of course, he brings out the bread and the wine.

Yahushua is also a Priest after the order of Melchizedek, according to Psalm 110, and He also brings us bread and wine. And that is Yahushua Ha Mashiach, the Word and the redemption– as we have been sharing with the Passover in recent weeks.

And, of course, Abraham actually submits himself, and it says he paid this priest and king his tithe money.

And so, we have, according to Hebrews, been perfected, and Yahushua became this author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

Hebrews 5:9 – And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

10 – called by Elohim as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek,

And He is also a King.

And Hebrews 7, verse 1, says:

Hebrews 7:1 – For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High Elohim, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 – to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, meaning king of peace,

That is Melchizedek.

Shalem, or shalom, in Hebrew has everything to do with peace and completeness and wholeness.

Now, in Isaiah chapter 9, we have a Savior operating in this order. It says:

Isaiah 9:6 – For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty Elohim, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 – Of the increase of [His] government and peace [There will be] no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of YAHWEH of hosts will perform this.

So He is the One who is the Prince of and the King of this place known as “Shalem” or “Peace.” Awesome!

And so, this “King of Peace” Melchizedek figure in the book of Genesis is a person who is a precursor or an image of the coming Messiah, who would be a King of Peace and who would be a King and a Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

And Melchizedek means “my king is sedek,” “my king is righteous.” “Sedek” means “righteous” in Hebrew. And so, the name of the priest is “my king is righteous.”

04442 Malkiy-Tsedeq {mal-kee-tseh’-dek} Meaning: Melchizedek = “my king is Sedek.” 1) king of Salem and priest of the Most High [ELOHIM] to whom Abram paid a tithe after the battle he fought to free Lot; ‘the order of Melchizedek,’ the order of priesthood to which [Messiah] belongs. Origin: from 04428 and 06664; TWOT – 1199i; n pr m.

And later on in Jeremiah chapter 23 and verse 5, it says:

Jeremiah 23:5 – Behold, [the] days are coming, says YAHWEH, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

This is a prediction of the Messiah. In His days Judah will be saved (salvation).

Jeremiah 23:6 – In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this [is] His name by which He will be called: YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

“Yahweh Tsidkenu.” And so, likewise, we have the king, here: “My king is righteous” (Melchizedek). And we also have Yahushua being called “Yahweh our Righteousness.”

And so, it is through Yahushua the Messiah that Yahweh was able to bring us His (the Father’s) righteousness. He said, “The works I do are just what I see the Father do. The works I do is the Father dwelling in me.” He says, “the Son can do nothing of Himself.”

And one tried to call Him good, and He said, “There is only one that is good. That is Elohim.” And so, all His righteousness came from the Father and it is through Him that we are able to be righteous. And, therefore, His name is called “Yahweh our Righteousness.”

So, why Jerusalem? Why did He not choose some other place? I mean, obviously, Yahweh is going to be King over the whole earth for a thousand years in the age to come. He had to choose a location, and the location He chose was, and is, Yerushalayim, or Jerusalem, as we saw there in Jeremiah 23.

And so, why did He choose this place? Above all places on the face of the earth, what makes this place so special that Yahweh would choose this as the place for His tabernacle, as the place from which He would reign forever?

Well, let’s move forward now to Genesis chapter 22, verse 1. And it says:

Genesis 22:1 – Now it came to pass after these things that Elohim tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am.

2 – Then He said, Take now your son, your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.

Land of Moriyah (Moriah). And this land of Moriyah is none other than the place upon which the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem was actually built according to 2 Chronicles 3, verse 1.

2Chronicles 3:1 – Now Solomon began to build the house of YAHWEH at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where [YAHWEH] had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And continuing on here, it says:

Genesis 22:3 – So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which Elohim had told him.

A specific place.

Genesis 22:4 – Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

5 – And Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.

Notice this: “We will (both of us will) come back to you.” Even though he was going to bring Isaac up there as an offering to Yahweh, he knew somehow he was going to bring him back. He knew Yahweh’s character.

So all indications are Shalem (or Salem), Moriah, Jerusalem, Tsion are all the same place. In light of this, it is quite possible that Melchizedek, who may have been living at this time, was well aware of what Abraham was doing when he took his son up to Moriyah (or Salem– or the place where Melchizedek was a king and a priest) to offer up his son.

Perhaps Melchizedek even knew what was going on and was overseeing or seeing the whole process for all we know.

But, anyway, it does say he rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men. He said, “We will come back to you.” He told his young men that they would.

Genesis 22:6 – So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid [it] on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

7 – But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. Then he said, Look, the fire and the wood, but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?

Now notice that, first of all, the wood is laid on Isaac, his son. And then he is wondering, “Well, he has the fire and the wood. Where is the lamb?”

Genesis 22:8 – And Abraham said, My son, Elohim will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering. So the two of them went together.

And Abraham was right.

Genesis 22:9 – Then they came to the place of which Elohim had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

10 – And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

11 – But the Angel of YAHWEH called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! So he said, Here I am.

Genesis 22:12 – And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear Elohim, since you have not withheld your son, your only [son], from Me.

13 – Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind [him was] a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

14 – And Abraham called the name of the place, The-YAHWEH-Will-Provide; as it is said [to] this day, In the Mount of YAHWEH it shall be provided.

YAHWEH-YIREH (Yahweh-Will-Provide). It is called “the Mountain of Yahweh.” So it is another name for Jerusalem– the Mount of Yahweh. It shall be provided.

Genesis 22:15 – Then the Angel of YAHWEH called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,

16 – and said: By Myself I have sworn, says YAHWEH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only [son] —

17 – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which [is] on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Genesis 22:18 – In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.

So because of Abraham’s obedience, he has a promise here. And this actually is a prophecy of the Messiah. This seed through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed is the Messiah.

And so, in this area which we now recognize as Yerushalayim, Mount Mariyah, we have the first promise to the descendant of Abraham, Isaac actually carrying the wood and was ultimately supposed to have resulted in his death.

And so, the picture here is absolutely amazing, because just as Isaac carried the wood that was meant to be for his own death, the son of Abraham, Yahushua, likewise, the son of Abraham, had to bear His own cross, His own stauros, as well– as we also know in John 19:16.

But this Seed is Yahushua, because…

Galatians 3:16 – Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to your Seed, who is Messiah.

That is to whom the promise is made– to Abraham and to his Seed, the Messiah. And through this Seed, all the nations of the earth are indeed blessed, wouldn’t you say?

Now we know that just as Abraham said Yahweh would provide a lamb, and ultimately discovered a ram that was caught in the thickets (even a one year ram can have these horns that will come out part way and it is kind of easy for them to get caught up in things), and so, this lamb was provided, caught in the thicket, in the thorns.

And we also have this Savior who not only carried the wood for the offering, but we have a Savior, also, who had thorns placed on His head. So when Abraham sees this ram– probably all bloody from the thorns and everything– the object lesson here is just unmistakable, because Yahushua Himself had a crown of thorns on His head.

John 19:16 – Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Yahushua and led [Him] away.

17 – And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called [the Place] of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

So Yahushua bore His own tree for a time, this wood. And then we know later Simon of Cyrene came and took that for Him.

And we have on Messiah this crown of thorns, which they put on His head. And they took the reed in His right hand, and they bowed before Him, mocking Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And then they spit on Him, and took the reed that He had in His hand and struck Him on the head.

Matthew 27:29 – When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put [it] on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

30 – Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.

Now when you have that crown of thorns on your head, and if they struck the crown of thorns, I am not sure, but imagine the blood. The very vascular area that was on His head would have bled profusely.

What is the significance, though, of the thorns? What is this about thorns? If you have ever done any research into Scripture about thorns, all throughout the Scriptures, thorns represent sin.

When Adam sinned, the ground from which he was made became cursed with thorns. And thorns actually were not a part of the original creation, but it became cursed with thorns.

And the burning bush through which Yahweh appeared to Moshe was actually a burning thornbush, yet it was not consumed.

And this burning thornbush, Yahweh was showing that man, in his sinful, thorny condition, would still be able to dwell with Him, with Yahweh, the consuming fire, and yet, not be consumed. And that is why, I think, He appeared in this thornbush, this burning thornbush that was not consumed.

And so, what happened is, Yahweh brought them through the wilderness, and He actually was a consuming fire. He was a fire by night and a cloud by day. And so, then, at Sinai, this fiery law was given among a thorny people.

Did you know the location where the Law was given, called Sinai, that that place, the word “Sinai”– “Ciynay” in Hebrew– means “thorns” or “thorny”? What an appropriate place to give His Law, to a mountain called “Thorns.”

And so, then, Yahweh also commanded that they would make this ark of acacia wood and that it would be overlaid in gold. Well, the tree from which the ark was made, the acacia tree, is a tree that bears thorns.

Now prior to entering the promised land, Israel encamped at a place called Abel Shittim, which means “field of thorns.” And likewise, we, also, before we enter the promised land, have to live in this “field of thorns.”

And so, Yahweh warned Israel to utterly destroy the heathen from the promised land. Otherwise, if they did not destroy the heathen from the promised land, He said they…

Numbers 33:55 – `But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain [shall be] irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.

And Yahushua also said, regarding those who bear fruits, look for the bad fruits.

Matthew 7:16 – You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

No! So the wicked are the thornbushes and the thistles. And Messiah said some seed falls among thorns, which we know from last week’s lesson that by fast growth thorns can grow up quickly, choke out a good plant, and that is what it is like to get caught up in the worldly things.

The thorny plants will suck up the water, suck the nutrients out of the soil, grow over the top of the good plants and shade it from needed sunlight. But we need two things in order to grow in our walk with Yahweh. 1) We need light. We need the Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. 2) And we need water.

Just like any plant– it needs light and it needs water. And that is grace, the giving of the Spirit, which comes out as living water.

And so, these are the two ministries that keep us growing spiritually: The Word to teach us; the Messiah to cleanse us. And it is our responsibility to be the good soil in which something can grow.

Which means we have to keep ourselves from the thorns, from the cares of riches, from the things of this world, from all the things that would seek to take up and just, you know, they in and of themselves can grow up and just choke out the Word so we are not fruitful.

And so, Yahushua the Messiah bore the curse of the Law. The curse of the Law is that we would be put to death for our sin, for our disobedience. This Law that was given at Sinai.

He became a curse for us, and He was crowned with thorns– a crown that we earned, really, because we deserve thorns on our head. But instead, Yahweh placed our thorns on His head, and He placed on us a crown of life.

And so, Yahushua is that ram which Yahweh provided to Abraham, with His head wounded in the thicket of thorns. And now, we, the thornbushes, can dwell with the consuming fire, and yet not be consumed and destroyed by it.

And we are Yahweh’s dwelling place. We are the “thorny ark” that is overlaid with gold, which is the Messiah and His glory. And we now live in this “Abel Shittim,” a land of thorns.

But one day a man named Yahushua is going to come and take us away from this Abel Shittim, this land of thorns. And just as Joshua, or Yahushua, the son of Nun came and brought Israel across the Jordan, we have a Yahushua, the Son of Elohim, who will take us across the Jordan into the promised land.

And He is coming with what? He is coming with fire. And the thorn bearers will be destroyed unless they turn (repent) and allow Messiah to bear the thorns for them.

So, to me, it is absolutely miraculous how the Scriptures, written and inspired by the Spirit of Elohim through forty different men, living on three continents, written over a period of fifteen-hundred years, come together and speak one clear message– even just about thorns. I mean, just about thorns!

And I do have a full study on that I gave back on the Roman date of 12/24/2011 (December, 24, 2011). It is called “The Message of THORNS.”

But going back here to this promise given to Abraham:

Genesis 22:15 – Then the Angel of YAHWEH called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,

16 – and said: By Myself I have sworn, says YAHWEH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only [son] —

17 – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which [is] on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Genesis 22:18 – In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.

Yahweh never had spoken this specific element of the promise, right here, “In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed,” until Abraham did this. He had never actually promised a Savior and a Messiah until Abraham went through with this act.

So it seems as though Yahweh needed to be sure Abraham was willing to give up and offer up his own son before He would actually give Abraham the promise that the Gentiles would be blessed through a promised Messiah who would ultimately be a son of Abraham. Right? Yahushua is a son of Abraham.

And so, Yahweh almost says, if you have to get Abraham’s permission, “Can I do this? Can I take one of your son’s? Okay. You are willing to give Me one of your sons. And it won’t be Isaac. I will provide a lamb, but it won’t be Isaac.” And that lamb was Yahushua the Messiah.

Now all these things took place in the land and in the place we now recognize as Yerushalayim, or Jerusalem, and the surrounding vicinity.

Now the meaning of the name of Yerushalayim is somewhat debated. Some suggest “teaching of peace,” and they get that from “yarah,” in Hebrew, which means “to teach.”

03389 Yeruwshalaim {yer-oo-shaw-lah’-im} rarely Yeruwshalayim {yer-oo-shaw-lah’-yim} Meaning: Jerusalem = “teaching of peace.”

But another thought on the origin of the city name, I think, is probably more correct. And that is, the name of this city being called Yerushalayim is because of what Abraham called this place in Genesis 22.

And he says:

Genesis 22:14 – And Abraham called the name of the place, The-YAHWEH-Will-Provide; as it is said [to] this day, In the Mount of YAHWEH it shall be provided.

Abraham called the name of the place “YAHWEH-YIREH” (Yahweh-Will-Provide). And so, if we combine “Yireh” and “shalem,” we have “Yerushalayim,” or “Yerushalem.”

And so, at the place he called Yahweh-Yireh, it means “Yahweh sees” or “Yahweh provides.”

Lexicon: 03070 Yahweh yireh {yah-weh’ yir-eh’} Meaning: Yahweh-yireh = “Yahweh sees” 1) symbolic name given by Abraham to Mount Moriah in commemoration of the interposition of the angel of Yahweh who prevented the sacrifice of Isaac and provided a substitute. Origin: from 03068 and 07200;; n pr loc Usage: AV – Yahwehyireh 1; 1.

It was “Jehovah” in the original Lexicon. I put “Yahweh” there. But we see that Abraham named this place “Yahweh provides” or “Yahweh sees.” And, of course, for Yahweh to observe us is to care about us and provide for us.

And so, I see an awesome connection here that Yahweh provided or saw to it that a ram was made available.

And so, He did provide for Himself provision in this location for peace, and He provided for that lamb when Yahushua died for our sins in this location known as Yerushalayim, where peace is one day provided.

And so, while this city was once called “Shalem,” which means “peace,” it is now known as the place where Yahweh provides peace. And that peace was provided through Yahushua our Savior.

Romans 5:1 – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with Elohim through our Master Yahushua Messiah,

And so, we, as believers in Messiah, are messengers of peace.

Romans 10:15 – And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!

And so, that is what we are purveyors of. We are the ones who are communicating, “Yahweh has provided peace!” Not only peace between you and your Maker, but peace right here within you if you are willing to receive it, because there is no peace for the wicked. There is no peace unless we are at peace with Yahweh our Maker.

Now moving on from the time of Abraham, it says:

Joshua 10:1 – Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it — as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king — and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,

2 – that they feared greatly, because Gibeon [was] a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it [was] greater than Ai, and all its men [were] mighty.

Interestingly, the name of this king of Yerushalayim is Adoni-Zedek, which means “my master is righteous,” whereas, Melchizedek means “my king is righteous.”

But, nevertheless, Adoni-Zedek was wicked, and he gathered four other kings and tried to attack Gibeon, a people who had made peace with Israel.

And so, what happened here in Joshua 10, verse 10, it says:

Joshua 10:10 – So YAHWEH routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

11 – And it happened, as they fled before Israel [and] were on the descent of Beth Horon, that YAHWEH cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. [There were] more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.

Joshua 10:12 – Then Joshua spoke to YAHWEH in the day when YAHWEH delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.

“Yahushua” is how you pronounce this (“Joshua”) in Hebrew, the same name as the Messiah.

Joshua 10:13 – So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. [Is] this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go [down] for about a whole day.

Joshua 10:14 – And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that YAHWEH heeded the voice of a man; for YAHWEH fought for Israel.

15 – Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

16 – But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

And so, then later Joshua gets them out of the cave and tells Israel to put their feet on their necks to show that he is going to be with them and overcome their enemies. And then a very interesting thing happened.

Joshua 10:26 – And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening.

27 – So it was at the time of the going down of the sun [that] Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, [which remain] until this very day.

So the king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Zedek, being wicked, was hung on a tree. The king of Jerusalem was hung on a tree. Now that was representing that the man was accursed.

Deuteronomy 21:22 – If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,

23 – his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which YAHWEH your Elohim is giving you [as] an inheritance; for he who is hanged [is] accursed of Elohim.

And that is why Paul said in Galatians:

Galatians 3:13 – Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree),

14 – that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Messiah Yahushua, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Through Him all the nations shall be blessed.

And so, Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Law. It doesn’t mean the Law is a curse. It means there is a curse that is in the Law that says we must be put to death because of our sin.

Well, Isaiah 53, verse 6, says:

Isaiah 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And YAHWEH has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

And so, even the second king that we see here of Jerusalem is sort of representing the Messiah in the sense that he was wicked and he was hanged on a tree, and Yahweh laid upon Yahushua, the King of Jerusalem, our wickedness, and as a result, He was hung on a tree.

And through that, the blessing of Abraham that was promised (the last time we read about the city in Genesis chapter 22) is brought to the Gentiles. And so, wow! The blessing of Abraham is upon us.

And so, Yahweh did provide just as He said. And in that Seed, every nation of the earth was ultimately blessed. And so, the city of Jerusalem is a key, key spot in the entire world.

So, now, let’s move on to Judges chapter 1, verse 21. This is a different time period, a little bit later. It says:

And so, at this point, Jerusalem is actually divided. And in Judges chapter 2, verse 1, it says:

And so, part of the city that the Jebusites apparently had in their possession– were it through apathy or through lack of faith, or for whatever reason– the children of Israel did not choose to overcome that part of the city in which the Jebusites dwelled.

Which we understand later when we read this, that part of the city that they had in their possession was the stronghold of Tsion. It is like the enemy himself is trying to hold back, you know, like he is trying to fight the most at this one spot.

1Chronicles 11:4 – And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites [were], the inhabitants of the land.

Another name for the city.

1Chronicles 11:5 – Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, You shall not come in here! Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

And so, that stronghold was called the City of David.

1Chronicles 11:6 – Now David said, Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.

7 – Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David.

And so, that portion of the city that David lived was called the City of David, and was formerly, and is, the stronghold of Tsion, which is a taller part of the city which was very difficult to penetrate.

Another version says, “All the lame and the blind can repel you here.” This is a serious stronghold. And they went up by the water shaft and were able to destroy and penetrate the city.

And so, later on, David had the ark brought into this city.

1Chronicles 16:1 – So they brought the ark of Elohim, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Elohim.

And so, Yahweh had allowed David to bring the ark into this city.

Now later, David sinned against Yahweh by pridefully taking a census. And then Yahweh sent a plague to Israel as a punishment upon them.

1Chronicles 21:14 – So YAHWEH sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.

15 – And Elohim sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, YAHWEH looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, It is enough; now restrain your hand. And the angel of YAHWEH stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

That was the place He looked at, and said, “Okay, I can’t destroy Jerusalem. I can’t.”

And so, David, later on… verse 16:

1Chronicles 21:16 – Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of YAHWEH standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.

17 – And David said to Elohim, Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O YAHWEH my Elohim, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.

18 – Therefore, the angel of YAHWEH commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to YAHWEH on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Now a son of David ultimately is the one who upon the death was going to fall. And so, David, what he is actually doing here is saying, “Let it be on me and my father’s house. Let it be the line of David. I am the one that is the sinner. Let it be on me.”

And it was an offspring of David who ultimately bore our shame. And so, in the same way, Abraham was willing to give up his son. It was almost like David saying, “Okay, not the people anymore. Don’t let it plague the people. Let it be on me and my father’s house. I am the one that did this.” And so, he acted as an intercessor.

And so the angel stopped at an interesting spot– the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And ultimately this threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, where was it?

2Chronicles 3:1 – Now Solomon began to build the house of YAHWEH at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where [YAHWEH] had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And this actually happened around the time of Pentecost.

And so, this became “THE” dwelling place of Yahweh, where Abraham was willing to offer up Isaac, in this place, the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, that David had said, “Let it be on me and my father’s house.”

The angel had commanded that an altar would be built to Yahweh on that place. And that is where the temple ultimately stood.

And so, just as He had mercy on Isaac because of Abraham’s obedience, the plague stopped at this same place because Yahweh remembered, this was a sign of the future Messiah, Yahushua, and the blessing He had promised to Abraham, because of Abraham’s Seed, Yahushua the Messiah, and it being through Him that we are granted mercy, we are granted peace…

… in this city where peace is provided, Yerushalayim. And so, from this time on, Yerushalayim was the location of the kings of Judah and the place where Yahweh had put His name until the time that the city became so wicked Yahweh had to remove them from Jerusalem altogether.

As we all know, Nebuchadnezzar came and destroyed the city.

2Kings 25:8 – And in the fifth month, on the seventh [day] of the month (which [was] the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.

9 – He burned the house of YAHWEH and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire.

10 – And all the army of the Chaldeans who [were with] the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around.

And during this time of the exile, Jeremiah wrote Lamentations.

Lamentations 1:1 – How lonely sits the city [That was] full of people! [How] like a widow is she, Who [was] great among the nations! The princess among the provinces Has become a slave!

2 – She weeps bitterly in the night, Her tears [are] on her cheeks; Among all her lovers She has none to comfort [her]. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.

3 – Judah has gone into captivity, Under affliction and hard servitude; She dwells among the nations, She finds no rest; All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits.

Lamentations 1:4 – The roads to Zion mourn Because no one comes to the set feasts. All her gates are desolate; Her priests sigh, Her virgins are afflicted, And she [is] in bitterness.

5 – Her adversaries have become the master, Her enemies prosper; For YAHWEH has afflicted her Because of the multitude of her transgressions. Her children have gone into captivity before the enemy.

And so, we have these lamentations.

Another psalmist writes:

Psalms 137:1 – By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion.

2 – We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it.

3 – For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us [requested] mirth, [Saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion!

Psalms 137:4 – How shall we sing YAHWEH’S song In a foreign land?

5 – If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget [its skill]!

6 – If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth — If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

It is a special place. And, perhaps, only those who dwelt there and were filled with the Spirit of the living Elohim could really describe and have a comprehension of the awesomeness of this place.

I mean, the Feasts there that made it so special, the dwelling place of Yahweh’s Spirit. And because Yahweh loves that place, those who go there, being filled with the Spirit, also love that place.

And so, the psalmist in Psalm 84 says:

2 – My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of YAHWEH; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living Elohim.

And Nehemiah, when he heard the report of Jerusalem and the trouble it was in, he wept.

Nehemiah 1:2 – that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

3 – And they said to me, The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province [are] there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem [is] also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.

4 – So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [for many] days; I was fasting and praying before the Elohim of heaven.

And for that reason, Yahweh inspired and allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to build its walls, one man next to another, shoulder to shoulder, building the walls of Jerusalem.

Ultimately, the temple was rebuilt and the children of Judah remained there. Although, it was often afflicted in various times like such as the time of the Maccabees, Antiochus Epiphanes, until the first century when Yahushua went there Himself every year for the Feasts and to be in His Father’s house.

And so, later, when Yahushua was brought into Yerushalayim for the very last time, He is riding on a donkey, and He looked at the city– the city with so much potential, so much hope, so much promise– and He wept. He wept over the city.

Luke 19:41 – Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,

One of the few times you hear about Yahushua actually weeping.

Luke 19:42 – saying, If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things [that make] for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

That is Yahushua.

Luke 19:43 – For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,

44 – and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.

They did not understand the times. And so, when they decided to have Him put to death and He was on the way to be hanged on a tree, He thought about this, the destruction of Yerushalayim, a destruction that would result in almost two thousand years of desolation.

And as He is on the way to be hanged on a tree, turning to the women who are weeping after Him, He says:

Luke 23:28 – But Yahushua, turning to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29 – For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, `Blessed [are] the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’

And so, as most of us know, the city was destroyed in 70 A.D., just as Yahushua predicted. And why? Because they did not know the time of their visitation– Yahushua. That is why it was destroyed. They rejected Him.

But He warned the disciples ahead of time, telling them. He says:

Luke 21:5 – Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,

6 – These things which you see — the days will come in which not [one] stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.

Not even one will be left upon another.

Luke 21:12 – But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.

Luke 21:20 – But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

21 – Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

22 – For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Luke 21:23 – But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.

24 – And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

And it wasn’t until 1967 that Judah actually had full control of Jerusalem again nearly two thousand years later. And we are now in that time period that Scripture predicts that the Jewish people would again rule over Jerusalem. And this is necessary in order for many prophecies of Scripture to take place.

And today Israel is being overcome by thorns, by worldliness and wickedness. Abortions are legal. Homosexual behavior is being normalized. I mean, last year five hundred people marched in a “gay pride” parade. Where? In Jerusalem.

Just one week before Yom Teruah, a time period in which we are supposed to be preparing ourselves for the fall Feasts and the coming of the Messiah, they are, in their haughtiness, proclaiming their abominations.

But there is going to be a day when the temple will be rebuilt in spite of all this, even in troublesome times, and the two witnesses will come and speak against the wickedness there.

Revelation 11:1 – Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of Elohim, the altar, and those who worship there.

2 – But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot [for] forty-two months.

So this is a future time from what I see. A future time.

Revelation 11:3 – And I will give [power] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 – These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the Elohim of the earth.

5 – And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

Revelation 11:6 – These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

7 – When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

8 – And their dead bodies [will lie] in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Master was crucified.

Interesting that Yerushalayim is called Sodom. Now I am not an expert in prophecy on how this is all going to come together, but I know pretty clearly why the city would be called Sodom, based on what’s going on in Israel right now.

And so, Ezekiel 16:49 says:

Ezekiel 16:49 – Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50 – And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw [fit] .

They were “haughty.” That is “prideful.” And they committed “abomination.” That is called “gay pride.” No wonder He calls Yerushalayim “Sodom,” spiritually.

And so, it is almost like there is this clash that is going to be going on. I mean, the kingdoms of Yahweh and the kingdoms of the enemy are going to come together in this location.

I have heard brethren who live in that area, they think Jerusalem is just a vortex where the two sides are coming together, and this vortex is spinning around and the two worlds collide. And these people who desire righteousness are going to be in direct conflict with those who have no fear of Elohim.

I mean, we see this even now, today, but what we are waiting on now, among other things, is a re-built temple, which is a precursor thing to Messiah’s return.

Paul says:

2Thessalonians 2:3 – Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

4 – who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Elohim or that is worshiped, so that he sits as Elohim in the temple of Elohim, showing himself that he is Elohim.

And so, in spite of all these things, in spite of the wickedness that is going to be there, the interesting thing is Yahushua said He is not going to return until this one specific thing happens.

Matthew 23:37 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing!

38 – See! Your house is left to you desolate;

39 – for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, `Blessed [is] He who comes in the name of YAHWEH!’

First of all, they are going to use the name of Yahweh. Second of all, they are going to receive the one Messiah who came in the name of Yahweh. And so, it is not until they receive a Savior named Yahushua who comes in the name of Yahweh, it is not until they receive Him, that we will see Messiah returning.

And the day is going to come when this city will be surrounded by the armies of the world and attacked. We already see the world is against Israel.

Well, this will be the culmination of it:

Zechariah 14:1 – Behold, the day of YAHWEH is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst.

2 – For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

It looks like this is the last stand where anybody righteous is even going to be. “Half the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall NOT be cut off from the city.”

Maybe the stronghold will be Tsion. I don’t know.

So now they are in the place of the Jebusites, perhaps. And they are not cut off. They are protected.

Zechariah 14:3 – Then YAHWEH will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.

4 – And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, [Making] a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

Not until this happens do you ever need to believe that Yahushua has come back. This is what we are looking for.

Zechariah 14:5 – Then you shall flee [through] My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus YAHWEH my Elohim will come, [And] all the saints with You .

6 – It shall come to pass in that day [That] there will be no light; The lights will diminish.

7 – It shall be one day Which is known to YAHWEH — Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen [That] it will be light.

Zechariah 14:8 – And in that day it shall be [That] living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur.

9 – And YAHWEH shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be — YAHWEH [is] one, And His name one.

10 – All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. [Jerusalem] shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and [from] the Tower of Hananeel to the king’s winepresses.

Zechariah 14:11 – [The people] shall dwell in it; And no longer shall there be utter destruction, But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

12 – And this shall be the plague with which YAHWEH will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.

Zechariah 14:13 – It shall come to pass in that day [That] a great panic from YAHWEH will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, And raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand;

14 – Judah also will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations Shall be gathered together: Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance.

15 – Such also shall be the plague On the horse [and] the mule, On the camel and the donkey, And on all the cattle that will be in those camps. So [shall] this plague [be].

Zechariah 14:16 – And it shall come to pass [that] everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, YAHWEH of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

HalleluYah!

There will be people who are left over.

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to Keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

Zechariah 14:17 – And it shall be [that] whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YAHWEH of hosts, on them there will be no rain.

18 – If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they [shall have] no [rain]; they shall receive the plague with which YAHWEH strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Zechariah 14:19 – This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

20 – In that day HOLINESS TO YAHWEH shall be [engraved] on the bells of the horses. The pots in YAHWEH’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

21 – Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to Yahweh of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of hosts.

That is a merchant. And so, the amazing promises here given to this city.

And another promise is Isaiah chapter 2, verse 2. It says:

Isaiah 2:2 – Now it shall come to pass in the latter days [That] the mountain of YAHWEH’S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

3 – Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YAHWEH, To the house of the Elohim of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of YAHWEH from Jerusalem.

Remember we talked back in Genesis about the Mountain of Yahweh: “It shall be provided.”

“Out of Tsion shall go forth the Torah, and the Word of Yahweh from Jerusalem…”

Isaiah 2:4 – He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.

5 – O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of YAHWEH.

That is Messiah and the Torah because Yahushua is going to be the King and the whole earth will be brought to His feet.

Isaiah 62:1 – For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp [that] burns.

2 – The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of YAHWEH will name.

3 – You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of YAHWEH, And a royal diadem In the hand of your Elohim.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

Isaiah 62:4 – You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For YAHWEH delights in you, And your land shall be married.

Your land shall be married? How do you marry land?

Isaiah 62:5 – For [as] a young man marries a virgin, [So] shall your sons marry you; And [as] the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, [So] shall your Elohim rejoice over you.

6 – I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of YAHWEH, do not keep silent,

Isaiah 62:7 – And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

And so, let’s not rest from our prayers.

Brothers and sisters, not until He makes Yerushalayim and establishes it as a praise in the earth, do not cease from prayer for Yerushalayim. Pray for the shalom of the city in which shalom will be provided.

Psalms 122:6 – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.

That is a blessing to you if you love Yerushalayim.

Psalms 122:7 – Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.

That is our desire. And there is no peace in that place until they say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name Yahweh,” and He sets His feet on the Mount of Olives.

Psalms 102:11 – My days [are] like a shadow that lengthens, And I wither away like grass.

12 – But You, O YAHWEH, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.

13 – You will arise [and] have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.

Psalms 102:14 – For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, And show favor to her dust.

We must take pleasure in this place and pray for it. For as you do pray for it, you are praying for the Savior Messiah Yahushua to return hastily.

Psalms 102:15 – So the nations shall fear the name of YAHWEH, And all the kings of the earth Your glory.

16 – For YAHWEH shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory.

17 – He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.

Psalms 102:18 – This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise YAHWEH.

And the city will also have a new name according to Revelation 3:12.

Revelation 3:12 – He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My Elohim, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My Elohim and the name of the city of My Elohim, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My Elohim. And [I will write on him] My new name.

So, the name of His Elohim (this is Yahushua speaking here), the name of the city “of My Elohim,” and also, He says, “My new name.” What is this name?

What is the name that He bears, that Yahweh bears, and, also, that the city is going to bear? What is that name?

Remember Jeremiah 23, verse 5…

Jeremiah 23:5 – Behold, [the] days are coming, says YAHWEH, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

6 – In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this [is] His name by which He will be called: YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

That is “Yahweh Tsidkenu.” So the Messiah is going to bear His Father’s name. He says, “the name of My Elohim,” and, also, “My new name.” So that is the Messiah’s new name– “Yahweh Tsidkenu.”

But also, a little bit later, in Jeremiah 33, verse 14, it says:

Jeremiah 33:14 – `Behold, the days are coming,’ says YAHWEH, `that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:

15 – `In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

Almost the same exact verbiage here.

Jeremiah 33:16 – In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this [is the name] by which she will be called: YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

Female. The city is in the “feminine,” and the city is called: “Yahweh Tsidkenu.” So the city is called Yahweh Tsidkenu. The Messiah is called Yahweh Tsidkenu.

Now other Scripture that demonstrates that the city is in the feminine is Galatians 4:26.

Galatians 4:26 – but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Interesting. So she is called “Yahweh our Righteousness” because the city of Yerushalayim has a deep connection to the Messiah who is also called by that same name.

Now what about us?

I want you to notice in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 19, it says:

Ephesians 2:19 – Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of Elohim,

20 – having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahushua Messiah Himself being the chief [cornerstone],

21 – in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in Yahweh,

Ephesians 2:22 – in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of Elohim in the Spirit.

And so, it is written.

Revelation 21:9 – Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

Now aren’t we the Bride? Aren’t we Yahushua the Messiah’s Bride? Yes! But what does he do?

Revelation 21:10 – And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from Elohim,

The city is, according to the angel here, the Lamb’s wife.

Revelation 21:11 – having the glory of Elohim. Her light [was] like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

12 – Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

If you want to enter into the city, you have to become an Israelite through Yahushua the Messiah.

Revelation 21:13 – three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 – Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

There are the apostles and prophets being the foundation, Yahushua being the chief cornerstone.

Revelation 21:15 – And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 – The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

17 – Then he measured its wall: one hundred [and] forty-four cubits, [according] to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

That is 216 feet high. A “furlong” is 606.75 feet long. So that is 1,379 miles square, cubed.

I mean, think about it. Seventy-five miles is the height of the present earth’s atmosphere. This is going to be 1,379 miles high. What kind of place is this going to be? I mean, that is almost the distance from Missouri to California.

Revelation 21:18 – The construction of its wall was [of] jasper; and the city [was] pure gold, like clear glass.

19 – The foundations of the wall of the city [were] adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation [was] jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

20 – the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

All these precious stones being the foundations.

Revelation 21:21 – The twelve gates [were] twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city [was] pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 – But I saw no temple in it, for YAHWEH Elohim Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 – The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of Elohim illuminated it. The Lamb [is] its light.

Revelation 21:24 – And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Revelation 21:25 – Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

26 – And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

27 – But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Think about that!

You know, when we are praying for the peace of Yerushalayim… I mean, glorious things are written about her, right? The salvation of the entire world is centered around this Yerushalayim, around the Messiah, who is the chief cornerstone. And we are being built on the foundation. We are the walls with Yahushua being the chief cornerstone.

And so, we are the city of Yerushalayim. We are the city because we are part of Messiah.

And so, when Yahweh says in Psalm 87…

2 – YAHWEH loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.

3 – Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of Elohim! Selah

Do we understand that we, who are being built on this foundation of the apostles and prophets, there is a wall that goes up and we are the wall? We are the outer perimeter.

Let’s look at Psalm 51, verse 17. It says:

Psalms 51:17 – The sacrifices of Elohim [are] a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O Elohim, You will not despise.

This is the Psalm that David wrote when he sinned against Yahweh. This is how he responded after he had sinned.

Psalms 51:18 – Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.

And that is how the walls are being built, by people who are willing to say, “I will come to my Father in heaven with a broken and contrite heart and seek forgiveness.” And by that, the walls of Jerusalem will be built through Yahushua the Messiah, our Savior.

And so, we are called, and the city is called, and our Savior is called: Yahweh our Righteousness. And when Yahweh builds the walls, we are the walls, by the power within us– the spiritual city of Yerushalayim.

The reason why we are the walls is because we are making a stand against the enemy. And as Nehemiah built the walls of Yerushalayim with each man standing shoulder to shoulder, each being responsible for a part, we make a stand against the enemy and his attacks.

We are called to be watchman, standing shoulder to shoulder, who are willing to lay down our lives if needed and be what Yahushua was– a living standard, up against the ways of this world, and a vessel and a dwelling place as the city of Yerushalayim is called to be, a dwelling place for Yahweh’s Spirit, a dwelling place for the presence of Yahweh.

And so, may Yahweh build the walls of Yerushalayim by our willingness to proclaim His ways in boldness, in love, to the people of this world, calling them into the city, the city of Yerushalayim, to be a part of this place of separation, where we are no longer outside the city, where the wicked will be punished.

But we are part of the city, and we are in the city, this dwelling place of Yahweh– Yerushalayim.

And so, I speak to the city: O Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, let your walls be built.

O Yahweh, build the walls of Yerushalayim.

And to you, His people: O Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, glorious things are spoken of you.

O city of Elohim, O Yahweh Tsidkenu, Yahweh our Righteousness, glorious thing are spoken of you. Humble yourselves in the sight of Yahweh. Be broken before Yahweh regarding your sins and He will lift you up. He will build you up.

He will build the walls of Yerushalayim, and the enemy will not be able to conquer you because of He who dwells in the city.

And so, brothers and sisters, as Yahweh builds the walls of this city, the precious stones that are joined to the chief cornerstone, Yahushua Ha Mashiach, may Yahweh bless you, and may Yahweh have mercy on us all.