Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Prophecies Respecting: To be a Wilderness

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Jerusalem, the city central to biblical history and prophecy, is often depicted in Scripture as a focal point of divine judgment and restoration. Among the prophecies concerning Jerusalem, there are those that foretell its desolation and transformation into a wilderness. These prophecies serve as a testament to the consequences of the city's disobedience and rebellion against God.

Prophetic Warnings of Desolation

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently warned Jerusalem of impending judgment due to its unfaithfulness. One of the most vivid portrayals of Jerusalem becoming a wilderness is found in the book of Jeremiah. The prophet Jeremiah, speaking the words of the Lord, declares: "I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant" (Jeremiah 9:11). This imagery of a once-thriving city reduced to ruins and overrun by wild animals underscores the severity of divine judgment.

Similarly, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the desolation that will come upon Jerusalem as a result of its sins. In Isaiah 64:10, the prophet laments, "Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation" . This passage highlights the transformation of Jerusalem from a place of holiness and worship to a barren and forsaken land.

Consequences of Disobedience

The prophecies concerning Jerusalem's desolation are deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The city, chosen as the dwelling place of God's name, was expected to uphold the statutes and commandments given to Israel. However, repeated acts of idolatry, injustice, and neglect of the covenant led to the pronouncement of judgment.

Ezekiel also prophesies about the desolation of Jerusalem, emphasizing the cause of its downfall. In Ezekiel 5:14, the Lord declares, "I will make you a ruin and a reproach among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by" . This statement not only predicts the physical destruction of the city but also its humiliation and disgrace among the nations.

Symbolism and Fulfillment

The prophetic imagery of Jerusalem becoming a wilderness serves as both a literal and symbolic warning. Historically, the city experienced periods of destruction, notably during the Babylonian conquest and later during the Roman siege in 70 AD. These events are seen as fulfillments of the dire warnings issued by the prophets.

Symbolically, the desolation of Jerusalem represents the spiritual barrenness that results from turning away from God. The wilderness motif is a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance and restoration.

Hope Amidst Desolation

While the prophecies of Jerusalem's desolation are sobering, they are not without hope. The same prophets who foretold the city's destruction also spoke of its future restoration. The desolation serves as a precursor to renewal, as God promises to restore Jerusalem and make it a place of joy and righteousness once again.

In conclusion, the prophecies respecting Jerusalem's transformation into a wilderness highlight the seriousness of divine judgment while also pointing to the hope of redemption and restoration. These prophecies serve as a call to faithfulness and a reminder of God's enduring covenant with His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 64:10
Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Comparison of the Statements of the Four Evangelists Respecting ...
... of the Statements of the Four Evangelists Respecting John the ... the Lord;" while Mark
combined two prophecies spoken by ... there went out to John Jerusalem and all ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/14 comparison of the statements.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Cyril of Jerusalem on the Manich??ans, referred to ... the Hebrew, and their prophecies
respecting Christ, defended ... 49; absurd views of Faustus respecting, [889]252 ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /index of subjects.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Syriac, 405; the Philoxenian, 406; the Hexapla, 406, seq.; the Jerusalem Syriac
Lectionary ... Zechariah, Prophecies of, 346, seq.; question respecting the last ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... To the second part belong the prophecies contained in the ... way of duty, adding glorious
promises respecting the future prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

The Harbinger
... T he general style of the prophecies is poetical ... The leading ideas respecting MESSIAH'S
appearance, suggested by ... 29) : but his attempt upon Jerusalem was beyond ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon ii the harbinger.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... no expedition of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem in the ... countrymen put together
his prophecies, prefixing to them introductory notices respecting the author ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... they take place in this world; respecting the latter ... that he shed, for he filled
Jerusalem with innocent ... in some measure illustrated by other prophecies; but as ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... minute description of a New Jerusalem, with its ... In the classes of prophecies that
have been ... There are two questions, especially, respecting which interpreters ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... should treat of the same period and be silent respecting such an ... the views of those
who limit the prophecies of the ... The Bride will dwell in the holy Jerusalem. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... The hundreds of prophecies which are found in the ... raise an argument at this point
respecting the believer's ... and inheritance and journeyed to Jerusalem to keep ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm