Our Lord promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church. The Lord's Church is as a city (see Revelation 21). It has come down from heaven. That City's perpetuity in this world is as sure as all the promises of God. Does that mean that every congregation shall survive perpetually? Absolutely not (see Rev 2:5)! For various reasons congregations have been constituted and dissolved throughout the years. When a congregation dissolves it is sad but not an unprecedented occurrence. For this reason we have the following Scriptures: "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name" (Heb. 13:13-15).

Focusing upon the second sentence we read that the Scripture does not say that children of God have no continuing city; but rather here we have no continuing city. I believe it might be wrong to think that "we" refers to all children of God throughout all ages. Perhaps that "we" refers to a particular portion of God's people. I have supplied 3 sentences of Scripture above to give context. The first sentence speaks about a people that ought to "go forth" unto Christ "without the camp" bearing His reproach. The third sentence speaks of something continuous. It tells us to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. The Jews in 64 AD knew exactly what the writer referenced when he spoke of going forth without the camp. The camp was God's people called out of Egypt and divinely delivered that they might serve God in the wilderness. Moses was instructed in the ordinances of the law service, which prefigured the promise of Christ's final sacrifice. Those Levitical sacrifices were surely to cease.

Our Lord plainly foretold that the kingdom of God, God's city and building was not to perpetuate in the Jerusalem of old. The scriptures record: "Did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matt 21: 42-44). "

In 70 AD there would most certainly be an end to the city of Jerusalem. That end was described in the Scriptures. Daniels spoke of this event by the Spirit of God in heaven that revealeth secrets. He said the God of heaven (shall) set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands (Dan 2:44&45).

Micah 3:10-12 records "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest."

Our Lord spoke of this forthcoming end saying, "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Mat. 24:2). He further explained, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (Mat. 24 14-16).

Indeed the Hebrews people would not have a continuing city in Jerusalem. But the Israel of God surely does have a continuing city today. It came down from heaven for God's obedient children who are pilgrims and strangers in this world. That city shall indeed continue and be found on earth as long as day has a night. I am sure I do not understand this Scripture found in Hebrews or any other Scripture, as I should. If anyone feels lead to benefit this poor one I would thank God and you for such kindness. 2/24/2005 M. Hoogasian