(2Samuel 24:16) And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah turned from the evil, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, Enough! And stay your hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-place of Araunah the Jebusite.
(2Chronicles 12:7) And when Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the Word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will give them some deliverance. And My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
(Ezra 6:12) And may the God who has caused His name to dwell there destroy all kings and people who shall put their hand to alter or to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree. Let it be done with speed.
(Ezekiel 9:8) And it happened as they were slaying them, and I remained, then I fell on my face and cried, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in Your pouring out of Your fury on Jerusalem?
Ideas some presented:
Because they rejected and crucified Christ
To foreshadow the destruction of the world at the end of time
They were so evil there was not other correction or remedy
My view:
End of Jewish economy, life, law, priesthood, and temple worship – The destruction of the temple was a special sign that God was through with that place. It no longer represented His dwelling place. (See Jeremiah 31:31-33)
No longer limited to Israelites – all nations, every creature, whosoever wills
God planned to end the law (Amos 8:5, 9-10)
Priesthood ended, sacrifices ended, law ended, Jewish system ended
Jerusalem represented the house of God, dwelling place of God. In NT, God is not limited to Jerusalem, to one nation, one race. All nations and every creature are included in the NT church. The temple and Jerusalem represent the old law.
Acts 10:34-35; Acts 17:24-28
What ended at the cross?
Priesthood of Aaron
Animal sacrifices
10 Commandments
Sabbath day, new moons, feast days, fast days, holy days
Circumcision
Law of Moses
Commands, ordinances, law of death
Study Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21
I wrote an email to a preacher list. I got two responses to my question.
2 Chronicles 36:14-21 – This passage speaks of the destruction and captivity into Babylon. The 70 years of captivity are also mentioned in this text. The writer said, “When God Almighty can’t figure out (find a remedy) a way – to save his people from their own destructive behavior – even God has his limit – then He has no choice but to send destruction.”
The second response wrote in part: “Jerusalem (referred to as the FAKE VINE, the FAKE RELIGION, the killer of the prophets, etc.) was a symbol of what mankind does when they leave God out! BUT – they were respected by MANY – but they had scriptures but no message of agape. That whole scenario was then the epitome of MAN FOCUS. What can God do in a case like that? Just like the OTHER Babel – destroy – but his time it was worse than Babel – so the prophecy was worse. We CANNOT understand that if we don’t confront our own Pharisee nature and commitments!”