GOD TEARS DOWN AND BUILDS UP CITIES, KINGDOMS AND NATIONS
Jews’ and Christians’ eschatological teachings about the end times err greatly in their anticipation of global, future, physical, apocalyptical events that affect everyone living at the same time. They totally miss the symbolism of God’s use of time and cities, kingdoms and nations. They fail to understand that God’s references to cities, kingdoms and nations are all about religion. He just uses different words to describe one concept.
It is God’s intent that there be only one kingdom: The kingdom of God. It is also his intent that there will be only one nation: Spiritual Israel. And it is his intent that there be only one city: Spiritual Jerusalem.
References to end times, therefore, are to the end of the times of religion and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Another way to say this is that end times are the end of Old/First Covenant religion in preparation for becoming New Covenant disciples. It must be said, however, that these events are played out on a purely individual basis — not globally. In other words, each individual has his or her own “end time” when he/she ceases to be an Old/First Covenant religionist and becomes a New Covenant disciple.
This interpretation contrasts with the teachings in all religions that say that a unique time is coming when God will make all things new globally, for all persons at the same time. But, this literal view of scriptural references to time is incorrect. A correct way to interpret time in the Bible is very personal so that each person can apply the scriptures to himself or herself and not be deceived into thinking that time refers to historical events or future events that have happened to other people in the past or will happen to other people in the future. Either way, the tendency is to dismiss scriptural references to time because of the difficulty of applying those scriptures personally in real time (i.e., today). Taking a here and now, personal, interpretation of Biblical time is the only interpretation that affirms what scripture says about all Scripture being inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Any other interpretation that does not lead to a personal, here and now application is a wrong interpretation.
A here and now, personal interpretation of time is especially instructive with respect to cities, kingdoms and nations as God talks about them in the following verses:
Jeremiah 18: The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. 4 But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased * the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, 6 “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. 7 “At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; 8 if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. 9 “Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 10 if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it. 11 “So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds.”‘ 12 “But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow * our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ 13 “Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Ask now among the nations, Who ever heard the like of this? The virgin of Israel Has done a most appalling thing. 14 ‘Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country? Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever snatched away? 15 ‘For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway, 16 To make their land a desolation, An object of perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head. 17 ‘Like an east wind I will scatter them Before the enemy; I will show them My back and not My face In the day of their calamity.'” 18 Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the sage, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike at him with our tongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words.” 19 Do give heed to me, O LORD, And listen to what my opponents are saying! 20 Should good be repaid with evil? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You To speak good on their behalf, So as to turn away Your wrath from them. 21 Therefore, give their children over to famine And deliver them up to the power of the sword; And let their wives become childless and widowed. Let their men also be smitten to death, Their young men struck down by the sword in battle. 22 May an outcry be heard from their houses, When You suddenly bring raiders upon them; For they have dug a pit to capture me And hidden snares for my feet. 23 Yet You, O LORD, know All their deadly designs against me; Do not forgive their iniquity Or blot out their sin from Your sight. But may they be overthrown before You; Deal with them in the time of Your anger!
COMMENTARY: We see in these verses that nations and kingdoms are clearly in view for God’s refining. These may be either personal or corporate kingdoms and nations, but they are all God’s enemies because they all practice idolatry.
There is always opportunity for personal application for people who practice one form of religious tradition/faith or another. Such people should expect that God will refine and reshape them sooner or later because they practice evil and do not listen to God’s voice. They are Old/First Covenant religionists whom God wants to transform/reshape into New Covenant disciples.