What are Israels borders? In the land promise, there is a great metaphor, which must be recognized in order to understand many prophecies. In some prophecies, the land of Israel represents the saints, and the area outside it, beyond the boundaries, represents the world. Ezekiels prophecy of the invasion of Gog and Magog and their armies is an example. They come against the mountains of Israel. [Ezekiel 38:8] Another example is the antichrist figure in Daniel chapter 11, who establishes himself between the seas in the holy mountain. This alludes to the eastern and western boundaries of Israel, as they were defined in Numbers 34:6,12, and Ezekiel 47:18,20. Daniel 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Similarly, the city of Jerusalem is a metaphor representing the saints, in Zechariahs prophecy. Zechariah 12:2-3 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Here, Jerusalem is not the earthly city, but the heavenly one. The saints are scattered in all nations, and they are represented by heavenly Jerusalem. Zechariah 8:3 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. The church of Christ is the city of truth, not the earthly Jerusalem. In the first epistle to Timothy Paul called the church the house of God, or the temple, and the pillar and ground of the truth. He probably had Zechariah 8:3 in mind. 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Truth cant be constrained to a literal city, or to literal borders! Thus the land is a metaphor, that is fulfilled in Christ.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 02:58:14 +0000
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