Judah and Jerusalem: Historical Unity and Spiritual Status During Christ's Time

Yes, Judah and Jerusalem were spiritually and politically central to the identity of the Jewish nation when Jesus came, but the biblical record highlights significant historical and prophetic distinctions between the southern and northern territories.

Historical Separation and Unity

• The kingdom was originally rent in twain when the ten northern tribes formed a separate kingdom under Jeroboam, while the tribe of Judah and Benjamin remained faithful to Rehoboam with Jerusalem as their capital 1 Kings 12:21-24ETI Rehoboam.4.

• Jeroboam established separate places of worship in Bethel and Dan to prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem to worship, leading Israel into persistent sinSITI July 28, 1887, page 454.4.

• During the reign of Josiah, he worked to purge both Judah and Jerusalem from idolatrous high places and images 2 Chronicles 34:3-5PK 396.3.

• When the Babylonian captivity ended, Cyrus, king of Persia, issued a proclamation allowing the people to return to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild the house of the Lord Ezra 1:1-4TM 202.3+1.

Spiritual Condition at the Advent of Christ

• When Christ arrived, the Jewish nation was symbolized by a fruitless tree, as they were determined to walk in their own selfish ways rather than keeping the law of God12LtMs, Ms 43, 1897, par. 22.

• The Lord's entrance into Jerusalem and the ultimate advent of His kingdom were separated by a long distance of time, a truth Jesus illustrated through parables to manage the expectations of His adherents Luke 19:11-28LTJMB5 121.1.

• Jesus predicted that Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled Luke 21:24ARSH July 21, 1853, page 37.16.

• While some misinterpreted the "coming of the Son of man" as being synonymous with the destruction of Jerusalem, these are distinct events; the destruction was a historical judgment, whereas His second coming is a future literal event at the end of the world Matthew 24:1-51EMTF 8.2+1.

The Future Restoration

• A time is coming when the Lord will sit as a refiner and purifier, purging his people so they may offer an offering in righteousnessGCB April 8, 1901, par. 4+1.

• Following this purification, the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will once again be pleasant to the Lord as it was in days of old Malachi 3:3-4SW January 24, 1905, par. 7.

• There is currently a fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem where one may be made clean through the blood of the LambRH October 7, 1890, par. 7.