Zech. 8:3.
It is a wise counsel that says, "Tread lightly in the details of
unfulfilled prophecy." Just how events are to turn, by what route or
processes the steps are to be taken, it is useless to conjecture. But
there the prophecy stands. Every word of the early portion of the
prophetic outline has been fulfilled to the letter in the history of the
ancient empires battling century after century over this region. Every
word spoken of the final scenes will as certainly be fulfilled.
In view of this prophecy,--that Jerusalem is yet to be made the
headquarters of the king of the north,--it becomes highly significant
that the Mohammedans regard Jerusalem as a sacred city. According to
Mohammedan tradition, Jerusalem is to play a leading part in the closing
history of that people. Hughes, in his "Dictionary of Islam," article
"Jerusalem," summarizes the teaching:
"In the last days there will be a general flight to Jerusalem."
Speaking of Jerusalem, an old Arab commentator on the Koran, Mukaddasi
(A.D. 985), said:
"As to the excellence of the city. Why, is not this to be the
place of marshaling on the day of judgment, where the gathering
together and the appointment will take place? Verily Makkah
[Mecca] and Al Madina have their superiority by reason of the
Ka'abah and the prophet,--the blessing of Allah be upon him and
his family!--but, in truth, on the day of judgment both cities
will come to Jerusalem, and the excellencies of them all will
then be united.
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