The Battle of Jerusalem: Warring by the Prophetic Oracle
I CENTERPIECE OF GOD’S PURPOSE: BRING HEAVEN AND EARTH TOGETHER IN JESUS
Having made known to us the mystery (hidden plan) of His will … 10 that … He might gather
together in one ALL things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him.
(Ephesians 1:9-10)
A. We must understand God’s larger purposes to get the right perspective for the End Times. Only then can we begin
to more fully understand the specific events in the End Time drama. Seeing the big picture of a puzzle on its box helps
make the smaller individual pieces fit in their proper place.
B. The centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His Kingdom rule over all the
earth as He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. God’s purpose has always been for God and His people to live
together in this way. This is the interpretive key to understanding the End Times. Without this foundational revelation,
confusion is inevitable when studying the End Times.
II HEAVEN AND EARTH – DEFINITIONS
A. Heaven: supernatural spirit realm – divine power and presence
B. Earth: material physical realm – human emotions and physical sensation. The materiality of the Millennial earth
then the New Earth will consist of concrete reality. The earthly realm relationship with the heavenly realm requires a
resurrected body. God has planned a setting for human beings with material yet spiritual bodies to fully experience
His fullness.
C. Jesus ate and drank in His resurrected body to settle this issue that the resurrection was both a spiritual and a
material body. The reason saints go to heaven without a material body is because they do not need one there. Yet on
the earth, saints will need a resurrected body to fully relate to it. The New Jerusalem on the Millennial earth creates a
new situation in which the spiritual and physical operate together dynamically.
III FOUR ASPECTS OF JESUS’ KINGDOM NECESSARY FOR THE FULLNESS OF GOD
A. Heaven – supernatural spirit realm – divine power and presence, angels, New Jerusalem
B. Garden of Eden – material paradise of pleasure expressed on the Millennial earth and in the New Jerusalem
(with the Tree of Life and the River of Life fully restored)
C. Kingdom of David (Throne of David) – theocratic government with a righteous king ruling all the earth. It is the
revelation of Jesus as the human King over the human kingdom on a material earth.
D. Holy of Holies – worshipping Bride in intimate partnership
IV FOUNDATIONAL PASSAGES ABOUT HEAVEN AND EARTH
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)
V FULLNESS OF GOD
A. Gathering together in ALL things (Ephesians 1:9-10) – all these dimensions must come together for God’s
fullness to be manifest (Revelation 21-22). This happens as the New Jerusalem descends in the first stage to the Millennial
earth (Revelation 21:10), then, in the second stage to the New Earth (Revelation 21:2).
B. God requires the spirit realm and the material realm to come together to fully express God’s personality and purposes.
Till we all come … to the measure of the statute of the fullness of Christ … (Ephesians 4:13)
VI HEAVENLY JERUSALEM AND EARTHLY JERUSALEM BROUGHT TOGETHER
Showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God (Revelation 21:10)
The Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it (New Jerusalem) (Revelation 22:3)
A. Jesus rules in heaven as the Son of God (New Jerusalem) and He rules on the earth as the Son of David (earthly
Jerusalem). He is the only one with authority to bring both realms together (Matthew 28:18). The government of heaven
and of earth come fully together at the Second Coming. In other words, the two Jerusalems come together as the
“resurrection of the earth occurs” (Romans 8:17-23; 11:15; Isaiah 11:6-9; 35:1-8; 65:17-25).
B. Jesus is King of the two Jerusalems. He brings the fullness of heaven and earth together as the New Jerusalem
descends to the Millennial earth. The connecting point of earth and heaven is humanity. The point that God chose for
heaven and earth to come together is humanity in His image and filled with His Spirit.
C. Jesus will bring unity between the heavenly and earthly realms. The battle of Armageddon is over Jerusalem as
the place Jesus returns to rule the earth. The focus of spiritual warfare is on this battle. This is why so much terrorism is
focused on Israel.
D. The New Jerusalem descends to the Millennial Jerusalem creating a “Corridor of Glory” between the two Jerusalems
Showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God (Revelation 21:10)
He who overcomes … I will write on him … the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which
comes down out of heaven from My God. (Revelation 3:12)
The nations (Millennial nations) of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth
bring their glory and honor into it (New Jerusalem). 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day … 26 And
they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. (Revelation 21:24-26)
The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst
forevermore. (Ezekiel 37:28)
E. When Jesus comes in glory, then He will set up His Throne of Glory to judge all the nations.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory … then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will
be gathered before Him … (Matthew 25:31-32)
F. Jesus will establish His Throne of glory in Jerusalem.
At that time, Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it,
to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 3:17)
G. His Place: Jesus’ Throne of Glory will be connected to the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem.
Thus says the LORD … “Behold, the Man (Jesus) whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall
branch out, and He shall build the Temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the Temple of the LORD.
He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His Throne; so He shall be a priest (serving in the Temple)
on His Throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:12-13)
H. The Place: Jesus’ Throne of Glory will be connected to the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem.
The glory of the LORD came into the Temple (Millennial Jerusalem Temple … 5 The Spirit lifted me up and
brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the Temple. 6 Then I heard Him
speaking to me from the Temple … 7 He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My Throne and the place
of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. (Ezekiel 43:4-7)
I. The Mountain of the Lord’s House points to the “Corridor of Glory” (relationship of the two Jerusalems).
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the Mountain of the LORD’S House shall be established on the
top of the mountains … and all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD… He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of
Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.(Isaiah 2:2-3)
VII JERUSALEM IS THE VORTEX OF GOD’S END-TIME DRAMA
A. Jesus’ Second Coming will not happen until the national leaders of Israel receive Him as the Messiah.
For I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
(Matthew 23:39)
B. When satan is cast to the earth (beginning of the Tribulation) he will persecute Israel with rage.
When the dragon (satan) saw that he had been cast to the earth (Revelation 12:7), he persecuted the woman
(remnant of Israel) … 17 The dragon was enraged with the woman … (Revelation 12:13-17)
C. Demonic spirits will draw all the nations to the Battle of Armageddon to destroy Jerusalem.
I saw three unclean spirits … coming out of the mouth of the dragon (satan) … the beast (antichrist) … and
the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth
and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almight. (Revelation 16:13-14)
D. The Lord will draw all the nations to the Battle of Armageddon to destroy them.
I (Lord) will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled,
and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not
be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations … (Zechariah 14:2-3)
I (Lord) will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (area of Jerusalem);
and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel … 14 Multitudes,
multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near … 16 The LORD also will roar from Zion
(Jerusalem), and utter His voice form Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake … 17 I am the LORD …
dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy … (Joel 3:2, 12-17)
For in … Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant … (Joel 2:32)
E. The show down between David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) was a dress rehearsal for the show down to come at the
end of the age at Armageddon. It may be similar. God is bringing all the nations of the earth to this battle. Why? To show
His power to all nations as He did with Pharaoh.
F. As the nations are now gathering around Israel (anti-Semitism) to be fully manifest at the Battle of Armageddon. So
also, God is gathering the nations of intercessors around Jerusalem as a wall of intercessory fire which is to be fully manifest
at His coming (Zechariah 2:5)
VIII OVERCOMING SATAN AND THE ANTICHRIST: ISSUE OF FAITH OR FEAR
They overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not
love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11)
Those who have the victory over the beast (antichrist), over his image and over his mark (Revelation 15:2)
It was granted to him (antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them (physically)
(Revelation 13:7)
Those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and
flame, by captivity and plundering … 35 Some of those of understanding shall fall (martyrdom), to refine them,
purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end … (Daniel 11:33-35)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
one. 17 take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always … (Ephesians 6:16-19)
IX THE PROPHETIC ORACLE OF ISAIAH 40 – FORERUNNERS PROPHESYING TO JERUSALEM
A. Isaiah 40 was meant to be applied through history. However, it has its greatest impact related to the End Time
Battle of Jerusalem which is the central place in God’s End Time plan and satan’s rage (Zechariah 12-14; Joel 3:1-7;
Revelation 11:1-13; 14:17-20; 19:11-21; Ezekiel 38-39). The immediate context of this prophetic message was to comfort
Jerusalem related to the coming crisis (39:5-7). Isaiah is answering the dilemma that his prophetic ministry created by
prophesying both glory and crisis. Gentile believers have a responsibility to fearlessly proclaim God’s word to Jerusalem
with authority and clarity.
Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’ … 10 “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and
declare it … say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him … ‘ (Jeremiah 31:7-10)
Indeed the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your
salvation is coming; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.’” (Isaiah 62:11)
X THE PROPHETIC MESSAGE TO END TIME JERUSALEM (Isaiah 40:1-11)
A. Isaiah 40:1-2, The mandate to comfort Jerusalem
Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God. 2 “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that
her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD’S hand double for
all her sins (Isaiah 40:1-2)
Instead of your shame you shall have double honor … therefore in their land they shall possess double;
everlasting joy shall be theirs. (Isaiah 61:7)
B. Isaiah 40:3-5, Forerunners preparing the people to experience God’s glory seen in revival that culminates in the
Second Coming in which all the world witnesses.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a
highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked
places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; 5 the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and
all flesh shall see it together … (Isaiah 40:3-5)
1. This is applicable in spiritually preparing the people before both the first and second Coming as well as the
physical preparation for the Lord to lead a procession of His refugees returning from the nations to Jerusalem.
2. This picture combines forerunners preparing the people spiritually (in building a spiritual highway) with
building the actual highway of holiness (Isaiah 11:16; 19:23; a35:8; 40:3; 57:14; 62:10) to Jerusalem that includes
the removing of rugged places (mountainous areas). This is the new Exodus (Jeremiah 16:14-16) with all the world
watching in awe and terror (flesh) (Psalm 47; 95-100).
C. Isaiah 40:6-8, the certainty of victory before the hostile Gentile armies of the earth.
The voice said, “Cry out!’ And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like
the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40:6-8)
So they worshiped … worshiped the beast (antichrist), saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make
war with him?” (Revelation 13:4)
Then the lawless one (antichrist) will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth
and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked (antichrist).
(Isaiah 11:4)
When He had said this, He breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22)
1. We are commanded to “cry out” in a way that will not always be politically correct.
2. The executive factor is God’s breath (7b) operating with His Word (8b). The Holy Spirit is the breath of God
(Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; John 20:22; Psalm 33:6) as God’s energy released by Jesus’ Word.
D. Isaiah 40:9-11, Jesus will come as a mighty warrior (v 10) and a tender shepherd (v 11).
O Zion, You who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings,
lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward
is with Him, and His work before Him. 11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with
His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young. (Isaiah 40:9-11)
E. The Second Coming of Jesus (v 10, 7) with a strong yet tender arm. Jesus shows forth His arm as a mighty warrior (v 10)
and as a tender shepherd (v 11). Isaiah repeats this in Isaiah 62:11. Jesus quotes these two passages in the first person and
clearly interprets them to refer to His second coming (Revelation 22:12).
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
(Revelation 22:12)
XI KNOWLEDGE OF GOD: PREPARING OUR HEART TO BELIEVE GOD’S PROMISES (ISAIAH 40:12-26)
The argument sets forth (40:12-26) with two main arguments that correct the wrong mindset (Isaiah 40:27) with the only
proper response being (Isaiah 40:28-31). The knowledge of God (Isaiah 40:12-26) is what prepares our heart for strong
and sustaining confidence in God’s promises (Isaiah 40:1-11).
A. Isaiah 40:12-14, The God of Israel is the Creator thus, He is filled with power and wisdom.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the
dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has
directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has taught Him? 14 With whom did He take counsel,
and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him
the way of understanding? (Isaiah 40:12-14)
B. Isaiah 40:15-17, The God of Israel is the ruler of history thus, He is filled with power and wisdom.
Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts
up the isles as a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its beasts sufficient for a
burnt offering. 17 All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and
worthless. (Isaiah 40:15-17)
C. Isaiah 40:18-20, The question: Who is comparable to the God of Israel? Definitely not idols.
To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? 19 The workman molds an
image, the goldsmith overspreads it with gold, and the silversmith casts silver chains. Whoever is too
impoverished (poor) for such a contribution chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks for himself a skillful
workman to prepare a carved image that will not totter. (Isaiah 40:18-20)
He (false prophet) was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
(antichrist) should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
(Revelation 13:15)
D. Isaiah 40:21-22, The God of Israel is the Creator who controls the heavens (skies and weather).
Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not
understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its
inhabitants are like grass-hoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out
like a tent to dwell in. (Isaiah 40:21-22)
E. Isaiah 40:23-24, The God of Israel is the ruler of history who brings down hostile End Time governments.
He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be
planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, when He will also blow
on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. (Isaiah 40:23-24)
F. Isaiah 40:25, The question: Who is comparable to Me (God of Israel)?
To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal? Says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25)
G. Isaiah 40:26, The God of Israel is the Creator who controls the heavens (stars).
Lift up your eyes on high, and see Who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.
(Isaiah 40:26)
XII ISAIAH 40:27-31 PRACTICAL APPLICATION: ENCOUNTERING GOD
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my just claim is
passed over by my God? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD,
the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increase strength. 30 Even the youths
shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. 31 But those who wait on the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they
shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:27-31)
A. The wrong mindset (Isaiah 40:27) with the only response being to live a lifestyle of encountering God (Isaiah 40:28-31).
How can God’s people accuse God of forgetting them (Isaiah 40:27)? The God of power shares His strength
(Isaiah 40:28-29) to the degree that we want it and pursue it His way (Isaiah 40:30-31)
B. The Battle of Jerusalem is to settle the issue of who will be worshipped in that city and who will govern the earth for it.
Islam’s counterfeit house of prayer will not have more passion or authority than God’s true house. The Battle of Jerusalem
is for an open heaven. A portal will be opened in the spirit as New Jerusalem descends. This open heavens over
Jerusalem will affect the whole earth. This is the ultimate expression of spiritual warfare for this open heaven over a city
unto global impact. The spiritual and mystical will be birthed across the earth in this battle and open heaven. We maintain
that a down payment of this ultimate open heaven will happen in these days through night and day prayer – this is precursor
to New Jerusalem. Western civilization is under its greatest attack in these days by militant Islam. Tokens of the Psalm 2
Battle of Jerusalem occurred in Acts 4:5-34.