In Bible prophecy, Israel, Judah, the city of Jerusalem, holy city, house of David,
and
the
temple are terms used to refer to the church of the NT, which
is depicted as the kingdom of which Christ is king, reigning on the
throne of David. The church is the heavenly Jerusalem, and Mount Sion
in Hebrews 12:22-23. The church is the woman
clothed with the sun in
Revelation 12.
The 70
weeks
prophecy of Daniel 9 applies only in part to the literal city of
Jerusalem; its application is primarily to the church.Two prominent
features of the holy city, mentioned in both Daniel 9:24-27, and
Revelation 21, are its wall, and a street. The wall is
identified with Christ, in Zechariah 2, which speaks of a "wall of fire."
In Revelation 21 the wall of the holy city has 12 gates, which have the names of the 12 tribes of Israel written on them. Each gate is a single pearl. The city consists of gold, transparent like glass. The foundations are garnished with precious stones.
The 70 weeks prophecy refers to the anointing of the church, but the
literal city does not get anointed. The river
flowing from Jerusalem in Zechariah 14:8 represents the Gospel, and the
knowledge of God, flowing continually, like a river, from the church to
the world.
The temple is another, separate metaphor, also representing the
church. The prophecy of the 2 witnesses in
Revelation 11 is related to this anointing.
The Mount of Olives, in Zechariah's prophecy of Zechariah 14, is symbolic of the Olivet prophecy Jesus gave there. The valley between the two halves of the mountain is where Christians need to flee.
Gehenna, a valley near Jerusalem, used for disposing of garbage, represents the judgment of those unfit for the kingdom of God. They will have to go through the judgment, referred to as great tribulation in Revelation 7.
Prophecies about God defending, and comforting Jerusalem, apply
to the church, which is Christ's bride. The 144,000 in Revelation 7
describes the saints. Isaiah 60 parallels
Revelation 21. In chapter 12:14 the woman is given eagle's
wings, that may represent an understanding of prophecy.
Numerous prophecies about the desolation of
Jerusalem, the siege by all nations in Zechariah 14:1-3, and the
assault by
the hordes of Gog
and Magog in Ezekiel 38 & Revelation 20, all apply to the
church. In
Joel, these invaders
are depicted as an army of locusts.
These
prophecies
reveal the current
state,
and
the future
of the church.
In his message to the church at Philadelphia, Jesus
says he has the "key of David." This article shows the house of David,
and the holy city, is the church.
Then
they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
At the sixth seal in Revelation, all men, from the least to the greatest, hide themselves in the dens and caves of the mountains, and call on the rocks to "fall on them." And Jesus said, "Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us." What did Jesus mean?
The sun turns black, and the moon turns to blood at the 6th seal.
How can this prophecy be fulfilled?
The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll
More on the events of the 6th seal
About the 144,000 in Revelation 7:1-8.
Interpreting the 5th trumpet in Revelation 9:1-11.
The locust
plague of Revelation 9:1-11
Another discussion of the 5th trumpet in Revelation 9:1-11.
Locusts in Joel and Revelation 9 compared
A study of Revelation 11.
The Two Witnesses are identified with two olive trees. What are they?
The Two Witnesses have power to "shut heaven." This is a discussion
about what it could mean.
Discusses the three and a half years of no rain, in the days of
Elijah, and Malachi's prophecy about Elijah's return.
See this page for a discussion of the time periods mentioned in
Revelation 11, 12, and 13, the "time, times and a half," 42 months, and
1,260 days.
The church is represented by a city, a temple, and a woman in
heaven. The church is also promised a country, which is called our
"rest."
A paraphrase of Revelation 11:1-12 from A plaine discovery of the
whole Revelation of St. John by John Napier (1611).
George
Gifford
and the two witnesses
This 16th century Puritan interpretation of the prophecy of the two witnesses includes an outline of the history of the church.
The sun that clothes the woman in Revelation 12:1 is the great light
of the Gospel.
This study identifies the woman in Revelation 12 as the church.
Why does the
woman of Rev. 12 flee twice?
This woman is depicted fleeing to the wilderness twice in the same
chapter.
William
Fulke on
Revelation 12
A 16th century Puritan interprets the prophecy of
Revelation 12.
A nother 16th century Puritan view on the prophecy of Revelation 12.
Views of several Commentators on the identity of the woman clothed
with the sun in Revelation 12:1.
About the war in heaven, Revelation 12:7.
Exposition of Revelation 12:14.
One of the heads of the beast of Revelation 13
received a deadly wound. The Roman province of Judea, destroyed in 70
AD, and restored as the Zionist state in Palestine, fulfills John's
prophecy.
There are two different kinds of "fire from heaven" in the
prophecies of Revelation.
A study of Revelation 16.
The
spiritual nature of the battle of
Armageddon
The end time warfare, including the battle of Armageddon, is spiritual.
Discusses the 1,000 years of Revelation 20.
The significance of the invasion by the hordes of Gog and Magog in
Revelation 20:9.
Two of George Gifford's Sermons vpon the whole booke of the
Reuelation, 1599.
Is the wall of the holy city in Revelation 21 related to the "wall
of fire" mentioned in Zechariah's prophecy?
Isaiah
60 hidden in Revelation 21
Parallel prophecies about the holy city.