The End of the Story

 In our brief review of the history of Israel, we learned that the glory of the Lord departed the temple and that the people of Israel went into captivity.  There was always, however, the hope and promise of the Lord's return.  And after seventy years of captivity, a remnant returned to Jerusalem.  The temple was rebuilt.  (You can find this in the book of Ezra.)  The wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt under Nehemiah's leadership.  But none of this was the complete fulfillment of Ezekiel 48:35 ("the name of the city from that day shall be, the LORD is there".)

The promised return to Jerusalem was confirmed through the prophet Zechariah (see Zechariah 2:10-13).
God spoke again through Malachi (see Malachi 3:1), who was the last of the Old Testament prophets.  After Malachi, there would not be another word from God for four hundred years.  During those years, the people of God had two things to cling to:  His name, Jehovah-Shammah, and His promise (see Ezekiel 39:25-29).

And God kept His promise!  He did return to Jerusalem, although most did not recognize Him.  Read the following passages and see what happened.

• Isaiah 9:6
• John 1:1-14
• Luke 2:22, 28-32
• Luke 3:23
• John 8:59
• Matthew 13:13-15
• John 6:66
• Matthew 23:37-24:1
• John 16:7

Jesus was on earth for thirty-three years.  He went in and out of the temple. And then one day, the glory of the Lord again departed the temple (Matthew 23:37-24:1).  Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified.....
Jehovah-Mekoddishkem paying the price for our sanctification so that we might have "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jehovah-Shalom) according to Romans 5:1.  Jesus died for our sins, died so that we might be healed (He is Jehovah-Rapha) from our sin-sickness.  But He didn't stay dead!  He rose from the grave and has ascended back to the Father.  But even now, He is Jehovah-Shammah to those of us who have blieved on His name.  He dwells within us in the person of the Holy Spirit.  (Read John 16:7 again, along with 1 Corinthians 3:16, Colossians 1:27 and Hebrews 13:5).

But that isn't the end of the story!  We have the promise of His return! God promised through Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 27:21-28) that He would return to Jerusalem and that the name of Jerusalem would be Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord is there.  When He returns, this promise to His people Israel will be fulfilled.  But before that happens, He will fulfill His promise to His church.  Read John 14:2-3 today and rejoice! 

Exactly when will that promise be fulfilled?  We don't know.  What if it were today?  Are you ready?

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession."  (Titus 2:11-14)