God has always been headquarters-minded. The headquarters of His Work on Earth points people toward Him and His dwelling place in the third heaven. It projects our minds forward to the time when God the Father Himself will descend to Earth and govern the universe from here! In truth, God Himself is headquarters!
What a vision is wrapped up in headquarters, the place where God dwells. God always wants His headquarters to be a bright beacon of light to the world! He wants people’s minds tied in to where the Head is.
In the days of King David, the headquarters of God’s chosen nation was in Jerusalem. David wanted to build God a house there that would be “exceeding magnifical” (1 Chronicles 22:5)—so magnificent that its splendor would actually bring people to God.
He instructed his son Solomon in that stirring headquarters vision, and Solomon built the temple. When the queen of Sheba visited, she was so impressed that she uttered, “Blessed be the Lord thy God”! (1 Kings 10:9). God’s earthly headquarters pointed this queen to God, just as King David and God intended. She was moved to contribute wealth to this glorious project (verse 10). She left God’s earthly headquarters inspired and filled with vision!
This same scene played out again and again. People came from all over to witness the magnificence of God’s headquarters with their own eyes. Kings gave of their treasure, adding to the treasure the Israelites gave. Verse 14 shows that, in a single year, well over half a billion dollars’ worth of gold (in today’s value) came in!
Physically, what we have at God’s headquarters today isn’t nearly so impressive. But spiritually, there is something far more impressive happening here. Visiting the headquarters of God’s Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, is a special experience. You can sense God’s Spirit here. It is a place of peace and joy. To God’s people, it feels like home. And God ties us all in with it directly since we fund it through our offerings and contributions. This campus combines the collective energies of those who work here and our worldwide family of co-workers. We all have our role to play in making this the finest headquarters it can be. That’s why it is so moving to God’s people when they visit Edmond. We can get a sense of what stirred the queen of Sheba and others.
That feeling of awe, respect, joy and peace we experience in Edmond is exactly the feeling that people the world over will have about God’s headquarters on Earth in the World Tomorrow! And, once again, that headquarters will be Jerusalem.
Let’s use our imaginations to visit Jerusalem—the headquarters of the Millennium. To aid your imagination, grab your Bible, a pen or pencil and some notebook paper. Write out the scriptures that describe millennial Jerusalem as we go through them, and see the Holy City spread before your mind’s eye!
Repentance in Jerusalem
1. When Jesus Christ returns to establish His government and rule the world from David’s throne in Jerusalem, will He first issue some harsh correction against all the people who tried to conquer the Holy City? Zechariah 12:3, 9. Once their rebellion is put down and their blinders are removed, will people recognize just whom they have been fighting against? Verses 10-11.
What a beautiful prophecy! Imagine eyes being opened. Imagine people coming to recognize God—and repenting for having had any part in fighting against and killing His very Son! They will blush for shame over what they have done to God the Father. They will see that even though they hated Him, He only loves them!
“The whole world will look upon the crucified Christ and mourn as if they had lost a firstborn son!” editor in chief Gerald Flurry writes in Jerusalem in Prophecy. “God will correct all of humanity by getting them focused on God and Jerusalem!”
Once people have been humbled, we will begin to build in them a habit of focusing on God—and on God’s headquarters. “God will reach into the lives of every repentant person on Earth—from Jerusalem” (ibid).
Lifted Up!
1. What does Psalm 48:2 call Jerusalem? Who will rule that city as “the great King”? Matthew 5:34-35.
The whole world will smolder in desolation after the Tribulation. Reconstruction will begin in Jerusalem. As the great King of that city, Jesus Christ will be right there, personally directing the reconstruction and rebuilding.
2. Will the earth in the whole area of Jerusalem be raised? Zechariah 14:10-11.
“The whole land is to be leveled to a plain in order that Jerusalem may be elevated, and then the holy city is to be restored to its former grandeur,” Lange’s Commentary explains. “The capital seated on her hills shines conspicuous as the only elevation in a very wide region.”
Jerusalem is geographically at the center of the map. It is about to became the most prominent real estate on Earth.
3. What will the most prominent structure within Jerusalem be? Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1; Zechariah 8:3.
The mountain of God’s house will be established as the highest of the mountains, and exalted above the hills. The temple will dominate the landscape at the headquarters city, helping people look to where Christ is!
The Millennial Temple
The Prophet Ezekiel describes that temple in wonderful detail (Ezekiel 40-48). It will be patterned after God’s heavenly temple, the seat of His throne today. It will have a footprint of a million square feet, occupying about 22 acres.
1. Is this millennial temple where God’s Philadelphians of today will live? Revelation 3:12. Will those who remain loyal to God today inhabit special rooms in the headquarters temple and have special access to God the Father and Jesus Christ? Ezekiel 40:45-46; 44:15-16.
The outer precinct around the temple, described in the last nine chapters of Ezekiel, will occupy about one square mile of land. The headquarters city itself will only be about 7½ miles square. Considering that it will be the command center for the whole world’s system of government, that is quite an efficient headquarters facility.
“Only these Philadelphians from the end-time firstfruits will rule from God’s headquarters temple forever!” Mr. Flurry writes in Ezekiel: The End-Time Prophet. “Why won’t the Laodiceans be at headquarters in God’s Kingdom—even if they repent in the Great Tribulation? Because they are not qualified! They don’t have a headquarters mentality TODAY! The people who will be at headquarters in God’s Kingdom are the people who have a strong headquarters focus now.” We receive specialized training and develop that headquarters focus today by focusing on God’s headquarters campus in Edmond, Oklahoma. That is why God plans to place us in the Jerusalem temple and says we will go no more out (Revelation 3:12).
2. Will the living waters of God’s Spirit flow from Jerusalem? Zechariah 14:8. Will all peoples have one supreme King—one world government—one religion? Verse 9. Will Jerusalem become “the joy of the whole earth”? Psalm 48:2.
God’s law will begin flowing from that city to the wide world. Word will spread—person to person, family to family, town to town, nation to nation—about happenings in Jerusalem. News of its construction projects and activities, of classes being taught there, will supply headlines around the globe. People will begin to see the benefits of righteous leadership. They will experience the joy of living under God’s government. God’s earthly headquarters will set the standard for the world!
3. Over time, will everyone be rejoicing over Jerusalem? Isaiah 66:10-11, 14.
What beautiful imagery. Jerusalem is likened to the mother from whom people receive their nourishment. That is really talking about Christ’s helpmeet—the Lamb’s wife (Revelation 21:9).
How awesome life will be at that temple filled with God beings! Imagine a place with thousands of Spirit-born, Bride-of-Christ, God Family members! You can be sure it will hum with excitement and dynamic energy.
4. As the King’s helpmeet, will the firstfruits care for His whole Family? Isaiah 66:12-13; Romans 7:4.
The marriage between Christ and the Church is intended to “bring forth fruit unto God”—sons into the Family! “In this present evil world, there has been unparalleled suffering in that city [Jerusalem],” Mr. Flurry writes in Jerusalem in Prophecy. “Shortly, the whole world will look to Jerusalem for comfort. What a change!”
The Choicest Real Estate on Earth
Alongside this thriving God-being workforce in the temple will be a robust community of physical human beings, growing up, living and working in the foothills of the headquarters facility—the “suburbs” of Jerusalem.
1. What will life be like for them? Zechariah 12:8.
The weakest among the human beings in that area will be as strong as David! There will be widespread vibrant health, as well as spiritual courage and boldness! “The Lord will exalt His people to a degree of strength and glory far transcending anything in their past experience,” explains Lange’s. “[O]ne who can scarce hold himself up, much less attack a foe, shall become a hero like David”!
Imagine a whole city buzzing with activity from these two coexisting populations: human beings that are as King David—and God beings! That is a city we’d all love to live in!
2. Will the people who live in the foothills of the temple have a thriving, blessed, active and social life? Zechariah 8:4-5. Will there be an active real-estate industry in the areas around Jerusalem? Jeremiah 32:43-44.
City streets will be closed to traffic, and people of all generations will enjoy themselves together there. Many people will want to live close to headquarters, so there will be a lot of buying and selling of property. It will be the choicest place to live on Earth.
An Awesome Security System
1. Will there be a lot of physical and agricultural wealth in the area? Zechariah 8:12, 15; Joel 3:18-20.
2. Will Jerusalem have protective walls surrounding it? Zechariah 2:4; Jeremiah 33:12-13.
Today, that city is a maze of tiny, narrow streets, hemmed in by walls and surrounded by protective, defensive fortifications. Tomorrow, it will be spread out like open country—yet flourishing with a multitude of people and even animal husbandry!
3. Why won’t Jerusalem need protective gates and walls? Zechariah 2:5.
Jesus Christ will reside there in all His glory, protecting as a fiery wall from outside invaders, and glowing with glory on the inside!
Crime and wrongdoing will not exist. The fiery God of the Old Testament will safeguard the whole city. As in ancient Israel, He will show His presence in a cloud by day and a flaming fire by night, defending the people, sheltering them from heat, and providing refuge from storm and rain. That cloud will appear over every dwelling, and everywhere people are assembling, across Mount Zion (Isaiah 4:5-6).
Global Reputation
1. As the reputation of God’s capital city spreads, will it attract international attention on a scale far greater than Solomon’s temple did? Zechariah 8:20-22.
Countless prophecies show how people the world over will eagerly travel to Jerusalem to visit the temple and worship Christ. Like the queen of Sheba anciently, many nations will come and say, Let’s go up to the mountain of God and see His house! This is easy to identify with—because it already happens in God’s Church today: Many field members worldwide make the trip to Edmond when they can.
2. When people see someone associated with headquarters, will they clamor to go with him? Verse 8:23.
Perhaps films or broadcasts will circulate around the world showing the latest developments in the building project. Publications like today’s Herbert W. Armstrong College Envoy might display beautiful photos of the temple and surrounding structures, the colleges, the entertainment productions, the city life, the people in the streets who are heroes like David. All the emotion and enthusiasm we have for God’s headquarters today in Edmond will be multiplied by thousands and millions worldwide!
A 24-Hour-a-Day Project
As the years of the Millennium go by, the capital will become more and more spectacular.
1. Will the treasures of the nations flow into headquarters on a massive scale? Isaiah 60:6-9; Psalm 68:29.
As the nations visit, they will do just as the queen of Sheba did: They will donate their wealth to support headquarters! People from all over the world will want to glorify God and enrich His house!
2. Will mineral wealth locked away in the seas also be made accessible and converted for use in the capital? Isaiah 60:5.
“[T]he world’s gold and silver reserves are mostly under the seas,” Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in Mystery of the Ages. “Scientists know most of the Earth’s raw materials lie in the strata beneath the depths of the seas. God says this vast wealth will become available for use during the reign of Jesus Christ on this Earth.
“God says the wealth of the world will be centered in Jerusalem, and that the vast rebuilding programs, rehabilitation processes and new-age pioneering that begin will be backed by that wealth.”
This is the building program of the World Tomorrow. The importation of riches will continue 24 hours a day, so the gates can never be shut! (verse 11). God will tie all people, no matter how far away they live, into headquarters in a special way. They will all have their role to play in making Jerusalem the finest headquarters it can be.
Instilling Fear—Through Blessing
1. At the Feast of Tabernacles, how does God teach us to better fear Him? Deuteronomy 14:23; Jeremiah 33:9.
God teaches us to fear Him by blessing us—giving us extra money to spend, an abundance of fellowship and wonderful instruction.
The same principle will apply in millennial Jerusalem. Witnessing the blessings God showers on His capital city, people will grow in godly fear! They will deeply realize just how wonderful God truly is! Like the queen of Sheba, they will say, “Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever” (1 Kings 10:9). In effect, that statement was a prophecy of how God will use Jerusalem during the Millennium to convert the world!
The Feast!
1. Will people come from all over the world to keep the Feast in Jerusalem? Zechariah 14:16. Did people from all the different nations come to keep the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem anciently? Acts 2:1, 5-6.
Anciently, when there was a temple in Jerusalem, the Israelites—and later the Jews—used it as the center of their worship. The Bible’s description of Jesus’s life, even from His childhood, shows how the Jews were in the habit of traveling there for the holy days, three times a year: Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles.
During these holy day periods, “a stream of humanity ribboned the highways leading into first-century Jerusalem. Devout Jews poured in from distant corners of the world to worship [God] on the mountain of His holiness. … Weeks before the [festival], the trickles began—from Asia Minor, from Egypt, from Africa, from Italy, from Greece, from Mesopotamia—and soon the stream became a river. The current of this river flowed upward. Whether the first part of the journey was by boat or by land, no one ever went down to Jerusalem. The holy city sat like a crown 2,610 feet above sea level, and the temple was its brightest, most prominent jewel. In order to reach this destination, all travelers first had to go through the surrounding valleys. … The contrasting loftiness of that final ascent built a sense of holiness and awe within the pilgrims as they climbed ever upward. … The number of permanent residents in the Jerusalem that Jesus knew was about 600,000. A conservative estimate of the vast multitude of [festival] pilgrims is about 2 million, who swelled the city’s population to almost four times its normal size” (Ceil and Moishe Rosen, Christ in the Passover). This is describing history, but it is remarkable in the light of the Bible’s prophecies!
Clearly, we are going to need a travel industry in the World Tomorrow! We will need some forms of rapid transportation to get people from distant continents to Jerusalem.
With millions or billions of people all pressing into the capital city, the potential for chaos and confusion will be great. But chaos will never break out.
2. With the potential for chaos so high, why will everything be highly organized, peaceful and efficient? Psalm 122:5; Jeremiah 17:25-26.
This is talking about our thrones! This is a city with multiple kings—and, over them all, a King of kings! Scripture continually reinforces this extraordinary link between Christ, the throne of David and the headquarters of the Millennium.
Jerusalem After the Millennium
We have just taken a whirlwind tour of that capital city. That is about to become our home for the next thousand years! But as great and awesome and impressive as that is, it is only going to get better after that.
1. Will millennial Jerusalem, along with the whole surface of the Earth, be burned up just before Christ delivers the Kingdom of God to the Father? 1 Corinthians 15:24; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 20:14-15.
2. After that, will there be a new heaven and earth? Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1. Will there also be a new Jerusalem? Verses 2-3, 10-21.
God the Father will move from the third heaven and establish His new eternal, universal headquarters and throne room right there in new Jerusalem! It will be a city of pure gold like clear glass, radiant with God’s glory. It will be a headquarters built on 12 foundations of precious stones, surrounded by a great wall with 12 gates of pearl. The city that will serve as a headquarters facility for the universe will be 1,500 miles across, 1,500 miles deep and 1,500 miles high! Airplanes only fly about six or seven miles above the Earth’s surface. What a city!
3. Will this city be a beacon of light for the entire universe? Verses 22-23.
Light will emanate more brightly from new Jerusalem than anywhere in the cosmos because God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Bride will dwell there.
Yes, we are preparing for headquarters positions forever! Why would God give us such an honor? Because of what we are doing right now! Because we are learning how to be tied in and focused on where the Head is.
God has always been headquarters-minded. The temporal headquarters of His Work on Earth points people toward Him. It projects our minds forward to the time when the Father will descend to Earth and govern the universe from here! God always wants His headquarters to be a bright beacon of light to the world. He wants people’s minds tied in to where the Head is.
What an extraordinary vision is wrapped up in headquarters—the place where God dwells!