Tag: Millenium

Bible Studies

Advent 2025: A Pivotal Event for All   

Loring Schultz

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world.” Micah 5:2, 4 NLT

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The birth of the King of the Jews in Bethlehem was a pivotal historic event. The prophet Micah was prophesying of the destruction that would come upon Judah. This devastation will come about due to their continual disobedience to the Lord their God. The people of Judah will be carried off to Babylon as their land would now be occupied by the conquering nations. Although the Jews did go back to the land, restoring worship and rebuilding the Temple, they never had full autonomy, but were a province under foreign kings.

One day Judah and all of Israel will have their land back and full autonomy under the Messiah Jesus Christ during the millennial period. Micah writes of that future king being born in the little town of Bethlehem. ‘A ruler of Israel will come from you.’ Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David and the Messiah will be a descendant of David born in the same city. The remnant of Jews will accept Christ as their Messiah in that future day. Christ’s birth in Bethlehem was a pivotal event concerning the future of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.

Christ’s birth was also a pivotal event for the entire world. Micah says the baby who was born that night in Bethlehem has His ‘origins are from distant past,’ meaning He is the eternal God. Jesus Christ, God the Son, left heaven’s glories emptying Himself by giving ‘up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form.” (Ph.2:7 nlt) Jesus did this to offer Himself as the only perfect sacrifice possible to save us from our sins and reconcile us back to God. That holy night in Bethlehem was indeed a pivotal event for all.

A Christian Perspective

Jerusalem: the city of God

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 87 NLT – Psalm 87 – A song. A psalm of the – Bible Gateway

“I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me—also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!” Psalm 87:4 NLT

Photo by Anton Mislawsky on Unsplash

The city of Jerusalem is a much-disputed city today in 2025. It is the holy city of the three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each claim a historic site within the city. The western wall known as the Temple Mount is the remains of the second temple built after the exile under the leadership of Zerubbabel. The church of the Holy Sepulchre, is believed by Christians as the site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. Islam notes that The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque is where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. 

The city not only has territorial disputes, but disputes based on religion which tie into the territorial disputes. All three of these major religions have a belief in God, but again there is a dispute among them as to their interpretation of God, and His plan of salvation, and His plans for the world. To add to this, many nations across the world have a deep hatred for Israel and the Jewish people. They also have the same hatred towards Christians who name the name of Christ as the only way of salvation.

One thing that might be worth mentioning is there are no disputes over Jerusalem with God, because Jerusalem is the city of God. “On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the LORD. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!” (Ps.87:1-3 nlt) It is the Lord’s city. It is where He chose to place His name. And one day Jesus Christ, God the Son, will rule the world from the city of Jerusalem.

Psalm 87 is a celebration of Jerusalem, the city of God, and it forecasts the millennial kingdom when Christ will rule on the earth. There may be disputes today over Jerusalem, but it is God’s city and always has been. One day all people in every nation will come to realize that when the Lord Jesus returns to rule on the earth. That day may be sooner than we think. Although Jerusalem is a divided city today, it will not be in the future as it will serve as the capital of the world under Jesus Christ.

Photo by Lisa Forkner on Unsplash