Jerusalem: A History of the City of God

Jerusalem, which is called the City of God in Psalm 46:4 and 87:3, is viewed with great honor and respect, not just by the Jews, but by Christians and Muslims as well. No other city in the history of the entire world has witnessed as much love, hate, destruction, and rebuilding, as Jerusalem. This Holy City has been the focal point of the world from almost the beginning point of the history of mankind, and it will most certainly be the center of attention when history of man comes to an end.

This city, which very well may date back as far as 2,500 to 3,000 BC, has been built, conquered, destroyed, and rebuilt countless times. In spite of all these troubles and distress, Jerusalem has survived, and now, it is poised to become the focal part of the near future.

In addition to its physical history, Jerusalem has a great religious history. Jews and Christians consider it to be the holiest place on planet earth. Even the Muslims hold Jerusalem in reverence. They consider it to be their third-most holy site.

Solomon built the first Temple in Jerusalem. Some years later, it was destroyed. Later on, a second Temple was built. Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem during the era of the Second Temple. Not many years later, this Second Temple was destroyed as well.

Now, the Temple Mount is occupied by Muslim structures. Nevertheless, orthodox Jews have an intense longing for a Third Temple to be constructed on the site.

Over the centuries, the city and its walls have been destroyed and rebuilt. As a result, many, many gates, designed to protect Jerusalem's inhabitants from harm, have come and gone. The names of some of these gates have been the Sheep Gate, Horse Gate, Water Gate, Herod's Gate, Jaffa Gate, Golden Gate, Lion's Gate, New Gate, Damascus Gate, Dung Gate, and many more.

There is one striking trend you will notice while reading this book. This has to do with the repeated cycles of building, fortifying, and enriching Jerusalem, followed by systematic destroying the city, and ransacking its treasures. Ironically, this repetitive cycle of destruction and rebuilding was set in motion by Solomon, the wisest man to ever walk on the face of the earth, and his choice to worship pagan gods and idols. It is only by God's grace and love for his chosen people that Jerusalem has recovered from destruction so many times.