What does the Bible say about jesus ruling in jerusalem?

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The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the promised King who now reigns by God’s right hand and will openly rule over all creation when he returns. Gabriel declared that he would sit on David’s throne and reign forever in Luke 1:30-33. Jeremiah 3:17 and Zechariah 14:1-21 portray Jerusalem as the place of the Lord’s manifested kingship and final worship, while Christians differ on how literally these images relate to a future earthly Jerusalem. Jesus himself foretold his visible coming in Matthew 24:30, and Revelation 2:27 and 20:4-6 affirm his righteous, victorious reign with his people. Until that day, Christ gathers and governs his church through the gospel, as Acts 2:1-47 shows.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Zechariah 14:1-21 7 votes

    [1] Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your spoil will be divided in your midst. [2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. [3] Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. [4] His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. [5] You shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel; yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you. [6] It will happen in that day, that there will not be light, cold, or frost. [7] It will be a unique day which is known to Yahweh; not day, and not night; but it will come to pass, that at evening time there will be light. [8] It will happen in that day, that living waters will go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter will it be. [9] Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one. [10] All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up, and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin's gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king's wine-presses. [11] Men will dwell therein, and there will be no more curse; but Jerusalem will dwell safely. [12] This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the peoples who have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth. [13] It will happen in that day, that a great panic from Yahweh will be among them; and they will lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbor. [14] Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together: gold, and silver, and clothing, in great abundance. [15] So will be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the animals that will be in those camps, as that plague. [16] It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of Hosts, and to keep the feast of tents. [17] It will be, that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn't go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of Hosts, on them there will be no rain. [18] If the family of Egypt doesn't go up, and doesn't come, neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike the nations that don't go up to keep the feast of tents. [19] This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that don't go up to keep the feast of tents. [20] In that day there will be on the bells of the horses, "HOLY TO YAHWEH;" and the pots in Yahweh's house will be like the bowls before the altar. [21] Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to Yahweh of Hosts; and all those who sacrifice will come and take of them, and cook in them. In that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of Hosts.

  • Jeremiah 3:17 5 votes

    At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Yahweh; and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of Yahweh, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

  • Revelation 2:27 4 votes

    He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father:

  • Matthew 24:30 4 votes

    and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

  • Matthew 24:1-51 3 votes

    [1] Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. [2] But he answered them, "Don't you see all of these things? Most assuredly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down." [3] As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" [4] Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. [5] For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. [6] You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. [8] But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. [9] Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake. [10] Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. [11] Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. [12] Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. [13] But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. [14] This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. [15] "When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), [16] then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. [17] Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. [18] Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. [19] But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! [20] Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, [21] for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. [22] Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. [23] "Then if any man tells you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' don't believe it. [24] For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. [25] "Behold, I have told you beforehand. [26] If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner chambers,' don't believe it. [27] For as the lightning comes forth from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [28] For wherever the carcass is, there will the vultures be gathered together. [29] But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; [30] and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. [31] He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. [32] "Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. [33] Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. [34] Most assuredly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. [35] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [36] But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. [37] "As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [38] For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, [39] and they didn't know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [40] Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; [41] two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. [42] Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes. [43] But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. [44] Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come. [45] "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. [47] Most assuredly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. [48] But if that evil servant should say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying his coming,' [49] and begins to beat his fellow-servants, and eat and drink with the drunken, [50] the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it, and in an hour when he doesn't know it, [51] and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

  • Acts 2:1-47 2 votes

    [1] Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. [4] They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. [5] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. [6] When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. [7] They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren't all these who speak Galileans? [8] How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? [9] Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, [10] Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!" [12] They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?" [13] Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine." [14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. [15] For these aren't drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. [16] But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: [17] 'It will be in the last days, says God, That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. [18] Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. [19] I will show wonders in the sky above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and billows of smoke. [20] The sun will be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. [21] It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.' [22] "Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know, [23] him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; [24] whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. [25] For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. [26] Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope; [27] Because you will not leave my soul in Hades, Neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay. [28] You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.' [29] "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [30] Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, [31] he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. [32] This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. [33] Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. [34] For David didn't ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit by my right hand, [35] Until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."' [36] "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." [37] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" [38] Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." [40] With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!" [41] Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. [42] They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. [43] Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. [44] All who believed were together, and had all things in common. [45] They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. [46] Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

  • Luke 1:30-33 2 votes

    [30] The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.' [32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

  • Revelation 20:4-6 2 votes

    [4] I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years. [5] The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

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