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Does the Bible endorse Jerusalem as the Church of God headquarters now?

Does the Bible endorse Jerusalem as the Church of God headquarters now?

The Bible says no.

The New Testament teaches:

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  (Hebrews 13:10-15)

This scripture proves that no city was to continue to be the ‘headquarters’ city’ for Christians. Commentators, like Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown further point out that this was also a specific reference to Jerusalem.

Some who claim Jerusalem should be the city for the Church of God in this age point to Isaiah 2:3 as supposed proof, but let us look at it in context:

2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:2-4)

The above is clearly a reference to the millennial time. You can see that because this is for the ‘latter days,’ plus the fact that the judging in verse 4 has not taken place, nor have any who claimed this verse effectively gotten the word of the Lord to go forth from Jerusalem.

No scripture supports that prior to the millennium, the Christian church needs to be based in Jerusalem.

Furthermore, notice some prophecies from Zechariah:

16 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord:
“I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts, “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”‘ 17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The Lord will again comfort Zion, And will again choose Jerusalem.”‘” (Zechariah 1:16-17)

10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!” (Zechariah 2:10-13)

Those prophecies show that the time will come when God will again choose Jerusalem—but they also show that He has not done so for NOW!

An article with more information is: Does the Church of God need to be headquartered in Jerusalem?

A video was also made on this subject:

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Does the Bible endorse Jerusalem as the Church of God headquarters now?

In the 20th century, Church of God Seventh Day minister A.N. Dugger promoted the “back to Jerusalem movement.” In the 21st century, at least one group claims that the Church of God needs to be headquartered in Jerusalem. Does church history support the view that Jerusalem was to be the permanent headquarters for the Church of God? When does the Bible show that God wants Jerusalem to be the headquarters? Could Grover Beach, California be the headquarters of the most faithful? Is a Jerusalem headquarters the criteria for the Philadelphian portion of the Church of God?

Here is a link to our video: Does the Bible endorse Jerusalem as the Church of God headquarters now?