Jerusalem- A Prophetic City
By Henk Kamsteeg

The city of Jerusalem is the only city in the Bible that we are commanded to pray for by name. In the Bible we find many names for this unique place, such as Holy City, City of David, City of Judah, City of Joy, City of Peace, City of Praise, City of Righteousness, City of Truth, and City of God. Jerusalem is mentioned 881 times in the Scriptures. Prophets declared the future of Jerusalem and songs were written about the Holy City. Jerusalem is not only a prophetic city, but also a city of destiny!
“This is the Word of the LORD concerning Israel…I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves” (Zech.12:1-3).
This speaks of a great future battle against the nation of Israel that will usher in the end of history. The place where it will take place is Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12 begins with ‘all nations’ gathered against Jerusalem to make war on her. Chapter 14 ends with ‘survivors from all the nations’ going up to Jerusalem to worship God there. Quite a contrast: war and worship! Chapters 12 and 13 as a whole are about the restoration of God’s covenant relationship with Israel. It’s all about Israel’s ultimate deliverance and salvation - God himself will do it - and it will be a work somewhat comparable to the creation of the world! The declaration of intention is made by “The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him” (Zech.12:1).
In these confusing days of various peace plans, the most recent one the 2002 Saudi initiative revived by the Arab Quartet, we do not really know what it means to “pray for the peace” of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is the heart of Israel. The city of Jerusalem is not up for negotiation as a part of a Roadmap for Peace! The nations of this world have “no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (Nehemiah 2:20).
Every Christian has a mandate from heaven to intercede! When we pray for “shalom” for Jerusalem, we are actually asking the Lord to bring Jerusalem into her divine destiny and to let her be restored into the fullness of God’s calling.
“But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there…I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there…In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen…I will put My Name forever.” (2 Chronicles 6:6; 7:16; 33:7).
The current international peace process has little of God’s interests in mind. There will never be a true and lasting peace without the Prince of Peace being in the middle of the process! True peace is a Person – the Son of God, the Messiah, King of the Jews! So when you and I pray for the “peace of Jerusalem”, we cannot bypass the cross of Yeshua on the path to peace. To pray for the shalom of Jerusalem is to pray that the Jewish people will be reconciled to the God of Israel.

Join us and the growing prayer army across the world in this crucial hour of history. We are to be watchmen on Zion’s walls. We are to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the whole land.

Father God, we ask that You lean Your ears once again toward Jerusalem, the city You have chosen. Be attentive to the prayers uttered by Your chosen people and hear the decades of cries at the wailing Wall. You say that Your eyes and Your heart will always be there. Look now and hear the groans of Your covenant people.
Send Your shalom to Jerusalem. Let Your Kingdom come! Let the Prince of Peace come – Israel’s Messiah – and be revealed as the ultimate Source of eternal peace and salvation - and let His will be done. May the blinders come off both Jews and Gentiles alike. Bring Your shalom within the walls of Jerusalem and establish the City of God as a praise in the Earth for Your glory and holy name’s sake! Amen!

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Jerusalem- A Prophetic City By Henk Kamsteeg

Jerusalem- A Prophetic City
By Henk Kamsteeg