? IS JERUSALEM
160; A
CITY CHOSEN BY GOD ?
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Jerusalem has played and will continue
to play an important role in the work of God. God used the vicinity
of Jerusalem to establish His plan for mankind. This becomes evident
as we read and search the scriptures in the Old Testament. God realized
that there must be a standard of time and a place or location where
time is to begin on this round earth. The world today uses manmade
time.
According to astronomy and science --"There
are three methods of measuring time at present by man. The first two
methods are based on the daily rotation of the earth on its axis.
These methods are determined by the apparent motion of the sun in
the sky (solar time) and by the apparent motion of the stars in the
sky (sidereal time). The third method of measuring time is based on
the revolution of the earth around the sky (ephemeris time) "
1. "STANDARD
TIME, which is based on solar time, was introduce in 1883 by
international agreement to avoid the complications that followed in
railroad time schedules when each community used its own local solar
time. Man, in his infinite wisdom, thought to change time by using
the middle of the Pacific Ocean to establish time by arbitrarily assigning
time zones everyfifteen degrees." Man's time zones are divided into
twenty-four zones with twenty-four hours in each day. "The base position
is the zero meridian of longitude that passes through the Royal Greenwich
Observatory, Greenwich, England and time zones are described by their
distance east or west of Greenwich. if a person travels one hundred
and eighty degrees east or west, he will come to this International
Dateline in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The new date begins at
the International Dateline-an imaginary line drawn from the North
Pole to the South Pole" (Funk & Wagnall’s Encyclopedia).
"In 1966 the US. Congress pass the Uniform Time Act, which established
eight standard time zones for the United States and its possessions.
In navigation, clocks are often set to the local time at Greenwich,
called Greenwich mean time (GMT). Astronomers use this system but
call it universal time (UT).
2. "SOLAR
TIME, the apparent motion of the sun across the sky has long
been used as a basis for measuring
Time. At any locality, when the sun reaches
the highest point in the sky during any given day, it is noon. Mean
solar time was invented, based on the motion of a hypothetical sun
traveling at an even rate throughout the year" (Funk & Wagnall'
s Encyclopedia).
3. "SIDEREAL
TIME-because mean solar time is based on the motion of a hypothetical
sun, a base position from which the mean time can be calculated was
established. This base position is the vernal equinox. (Called "turn"
of the sun in God's Word) an imaginary point in the sky that is, nevertheless,
calculated with great accuracy by astronomers. Practically, the location
of the vernal equinox (turn) is found by reference to the position
of the fixed stars; Solar time based on the position of the stars
is called sidereal time" (Funk and Wagnall's Encyclopedia).
3 "Another form of time is called EPEMERIS TIME.
Neither mean solar nor mean sidereal
time is precisely accurate, because the motion of the earth on its
axis is not regular. Variatton in the rate of rotation amount to 1
or 2 seconds per year. The rate has varied as much as 30 seconds during
the last 200 years. In addition the earth is gradually slowing down
at the rate of about 111000 of a second very 100 years. These difficulues
were by passed in 1940 when ephemeris' time was introduced. Ephemeris
time is used chiefly by astronomers when the greatest degree of accuracy
is required in computing the positions of planets and stars, Ephemeris
time is based on the annual revolution of the earth around the sun,
and the base position, as in sidereal time, is the vernal equinox
(turn). Through the use of mathematical' tables, ephemeris time is
converted into mean solar time "
; (Funk & Waggnal's Encyclopedia).
We can see that time as established by
man has come into effect in the last 200 years, At the time of Christ
there was no' starting point for measuring time from Greenwich, England.
; God’s time is simple
God's time begins with a lunar-solar
calendar that revolves around calculating time from sunset to sunset--even
to even. "It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict
your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto
even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath" (Lev. 23:32). "And God called
the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and
the morning were the first day" (Gen 1: 5). God, long before man thought
of it, utilized a twenty-four hour day. Notice John 11:9, "Are there
not twelve hours in a day? ... " This twelve hour period of daylight
is consistent with a twelve hour night; and over a period of a year,
averages and maintains this consistency. God used both the sun, moon
and stars to keep time. The sun for the year and the moon for the
months. Just as the sunset starts the day, so the dark moon starts
the month. "He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his
going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night” (Psa. 104:
19-20). God's Word is always the final authority! His Word sets the
precedent!! With all the manmade rules for time and the calendar,
we need to follow what and where God established His time zone.
Since God has placed such an emphasis
on Jerusalem in the role of Christianity in the past and in the future,
it is only logical that time should be calculated from the future
location of God's headquarters for the Churchs of God. "And I John
saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev. 21:2) ..
Now, let's look in the Bible and see
what God has in store for Jerusalem and His people. God chose Abraham
and told him to get out of the land he lived in and move to a land
that God would show him. This was the land of Canaan. Abram dwelled
in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain,
and pitched his tent toward Sodom (Gen. 13: 12). After moving to Hebron
(Gen. 13: 18) Abraham met Melchizedek (Jesus Christ) King of Salem.
Salem is known as the Jerusalem of today. "And Melchizedek king of
Salem brought forth bread and wine: and He was the priest of the most
High GOD" (Gen. 14: 18).
As we trace the story of the family of
Abraham, we find that Abraham has moved to the land of Canaan which
plays a major role in our lives today. "A land which the LORD thy
God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from
the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year" (Deu. 11:
12). The family of Abraham was the chosen family. The people of Abraham
became the people of Israel– chosen by God. David understood
that Jerusalem was the chosen city. David knew that God would keep
His word when He said He would establish Jerusalem forever for His
people. For David said, "The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto
His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever" (I Chron. 23
:25). God established His Name in Jerusalem forever. "Also he built
altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem
shall My name be for ever" (II Chron. 33:4). "But I have chosen Jerusalem,
that My name might be there; and have chosen David
to be over My people Israel" (II Chron.
6:6). "For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that My name
may be there for ever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there
perpetually" (II Chron. 7:16). "And the LORD said unto him, I have
heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before
Me: 1 have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put My name
there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually"
(I Kings 9:3).
In the time of Ezra and Nehemiah the
temple at Jerusalem was restored. They knew that God had established
Jerusalem forever. Even the rulers of the Gentile nations knew that
God's temple was at Jerusalem. “In the first year of Cyrus the
king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of
God at Jerusalem, Let the house he builded, the place where they offered
sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the
height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore
cubits" (Ezra 6:3). "As we have heard, so have we seen in the city
of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it
for ever. Selah"
(Psa. 48:8).
Through the linage of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob and their children the city of God was JerusalemJebus,
Salem. It is easy to see that Jerusalem played a major part in history.
When the final days of this present society comes to a close, it will
occur in the area of Jerusalem. "And: when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh"
(Luke 21 :20).
When Christ returns and sets up His government
on this earth, He will rule from Jerusalem. "And many people shall
go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways,
and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Isa. 2:3). "At that
time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the
nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem:
neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil
heart" (Jer. 3: 17). "Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion,
and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called
a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain"
(Zec. 8:3). As stated earlier, the logical place to calculate time
from is Jerusalem--the new Jerusalem.
At the end of the White throne judgment,
the earth will be renewed and GOD THE FATHER will come down to rule
with Christ forever in a New Holy City, NEW JERUSALEM. "And I saw
a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev. 21: 1-2). "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" (Rev.
21: 10-14). When the time comes for GOD
THE FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST to rule this new heaven and new earth
there will be no need for a temple. There will be no need for the
sun and moon for the Lamb will be the only light and-truth we will
need. "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord GOD Almighty and
the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun,
neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of GOD did lighten
it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 21: 22-23).
We see from history presented in the
Bible that Jerusalem will once again become the center of the government
of God, when the Kingdom of God is set up on this earth. The standard
for keeping time will be calculated from the area of Jerusalem. As
GOD is the great law giver, we must follow HIS example and calculate
from Jerusalem time today to start our count for the days, months
and years, God's way should be our standard. (We keep the same time
as it occurs in our area). The day is kept from sunset to sunset as
God instructs in Genesis. The Sabbath (the day, the time) is kept
as it occurs in your area based on time calculated in relation to
Jerusalem. Time is like a runner in a relay race. The runner starts
running for a distance then passes the baton (time) to the next runner
and hands him the baton. The relay is, repeated until the last runner
with the baton (time) runs back to the starting point. All the world
has shared a twenty-four Sabbath or Holy Day as it occurs, starting
from Jerusalem!!!☜ James Russell
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#160;
CREATION
OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
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Gen 1:1-14
1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face
of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
waters.
3
Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4
And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light
from the darkness.
5
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the
evening and the morning were the first day.
6
Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,
and let it divide the waters from the waters."
7
Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under
the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and
it was so.
8
And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning
were the second day.
9
Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together
into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
10
And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the
waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields
seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind,
whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.
12
And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according
to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself
according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
13
So the evening and the morning were the third day.
14
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens
to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons,
and for days and years;
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