I think it is fair to say that most of the references in Scripture to Jerusalem are about Jerusalem of this present earth. That is to say,
“Jerusalem that exists now,” Gal 4:25 WEB
But when you read prophecy you
must ask,
“Of which Jerusalem does
the prophet speak?”
Some are obvious, while others are not as clear.
It is true that there are some incredible things yet to happen with Jerusalem that now exists. Zechariah prophesied during the first return from exile (around 520 BC, Zech 1:1), in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Seemingly speaking of what Paul calls “Jerusalem that now exists,” Zechariah sees a day when,
““…
‘Thus says Yahweh
of Hosts: “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and
Yahweh will again comfort Zion, and will again
choose Jerusalem.”’””
Zech 1:17 WEB
In context he seems to speak of present Jerusalem. He speaks of it as an abundantly prosperous city, Zech 2:4, and a city faithful to God,
“I
will strengthen them in Yahweh;
And they will walk up and
down in his name,” says Yahweh.”
Zech 10:12 WEB
That clearly has not happened YET! Zechariah clearly pictures ALL the families of Israel (Zech 12:14) being converted to “ to me whom they have pierced;” Zech 12:10 WEB, and in Zechariah 13. This is spoken in Scripture as bringing a world revolution of righteousness (something Mystery Babylon deeply dreads). Paul says of those times.
“Now
if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches
of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? ”
Rom 11:12 WEB
So some incredible good things are yet to happen with present Jerusalem.
But Peter says this present universe will vanish.
“… the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be
dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth … will be burned
up.”
2Pe 3:10
He goes on to say “we look for new heavens and a new earth in which dwells righteousness.” 2Pe 3:13 WEB.
So when it says in Isaiah 65,
“17
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the
former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be
you glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold,
I create Jerusalem a
rejoicing, and her people a joy.”
Isa 65:17-18 WEB
… in context, the “Jerusalem” in Isa 65:17 is part of that “Jerusalem that is above” of Gal 4:26, and part of the new universe, the “new heavens and a new earth” of 2Pe 3:13.
The “never again”/ “no more” / “neither … any more,” and
all the “forever” sort of passages
are all about “Jerusalem” above, and what we call “heaven.”
So
when the prophet David says of Jerusalem, “I will appoint a
place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they … be
moved no more; neither shall the children of
wickedness afflict them any more, as at the
first,”
2Sam 7:10 WEB
The prophet really speaks of heaven here. Only heaven is “forever.”
WEB
is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the
original ASV American Standard Version 1901