Believers in Jesus Christ are given eternal life, and membership in the household of God. Both gifts are cause for ceaseless rejoicing. Regarding the first, Jesus declares in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Regarding the second, Paul describes how believers in Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, have now become part of the commonwealth of Israel, “fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God”. (Ephesians 2:11-13, 19-22)
This citizenship, prophetically foreseen, carries privileges and responsibilities for believers in Messiah in these last days leading up to His return. In Psalm 87, the sons of Korah describe the glories of the city of God, including honorary citizenship to be given to believers, whatever their natural birth:
Psalm 87 (NIV)
1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you, city of God:
4 “I will record Rahab [Egypt] and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush [upper Nile region] —
and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.”
6 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion.”
7 As they make music they will sing,
“All my fountains are in you.”
Author Batya Wootten elucidates the significance of this God given citizenship in her book, “A Door of Hope for the Last Days”, writing on pages 39-43:
“Isaiah foretells a glorious promise that involves the Believers of our day. It is made to Jerusalem.
Isaiah 62 (NKJV)
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 the Lord will name.
3 You shall also be a crown of glory
In the hand of the Lord,
And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
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 the Lord delights in you,
And your land shall be married.
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 God 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 the Lord, do not keep silent,
7 And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
“Important declarations are made in these verses and they have to do with our call in the Last Days:
For Jerusalem’s sake we must not keep quiet – until her righteousness goes forth, her salvation like a torch that is burning.
- She will be called by a new name and be a crown of beauty, a royal diadem in the hand of our God.
- She is not to be called Forsaken or Desolate; but My Delight is in Her.
- Her land will be called YHVH delights in her and to Him her land will be married.
The Father and Son both love Jerusalem, will be married to her, and the same should be true of us. Earthly Jerusalem needs our care and concern. At this time in history earthly Jerusalem and eternal Jerusalem are on a collision course. We are her appointed watchmen, we are the Body of the Bridegroom and we now need to help prepare the hearts of her people! (Luke 13:34-35).
- The sons of New Jerusalem will one day marry her, and rejoice over her. According to Galatians 4:26, “Jerusalem above is our mother.”
- On her walls, YHVH has appointed watchmen, who, day or night will not keep silent nor take rest for themselves until YHVH makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
“These important truths are for now and for us. In Revelation 21 John affirms Isaiah’s declaration that New Jerusalem is the Bride. He saw a new heaven and earth. The first earth had passed away. He “saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
“Restated, we see that:
- We are betrothed to Messiah Yeshua
- Messiah Yeshua and the Father are One
- New Jerusalem will be their Bride
- We are the Body of Messiah (He is the Bridegroom)
- New Jerusalem is our Mother and we are her sons
- We go into the Bride and become one with her
“We play a part in all of these roles. Each one teaches us something about our earthly call. If we only see ourselves as a Bride who needs to be swept away, we miss out on the truth of an amazing end time New Jerusalem Wedding. We miss out on the life-changing truth that we are part of Israel and have an enormous job to do in the earth, right now, as watchmen, as part of the Body of Messiah!”
“We must not separate the Bride from New Jerusalem. We are blessed to be called citizens of that Chosen City. It is the City for which our father Abraham looked (Hebrews 11:1-16).
“The story of the Bride is not about us fleeing, but learning to love and care about helping to advance the coming City of Truth. It is therefore time for us to learn to truly “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).
We will “prosper” when we do so.”
David Krause, dhkrause@neteze.com, https://compellinglove.net/
Compelling Love 
Leave a Reply