Judah/Jerusalem/House of God a Proverb & a Byword

God’s people constantly teach that Israel, Judah, Jerusalem, and the house (temple) of God are all spiritual pictures representing the New Testament churches and congregations. Of course, since God tells us Jerusalem will be compassed with armies (Luke 21:20) and all within Judaea are to flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:16) and that judgment must begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17) –understanding these references to refer to the churches rather than to the physical nation of Israel is extremely significant.

Do we have any proof that Israel/Judah/Jerusalem/House of God are to be understood parabolically?

Yes, we do: here’s the proof:

1 Kings 9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:

7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

And,

2 Chronicles 7:19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

Once God cut off Israel/Judah, they became a proverb and a byword. The Hebrew word translated as “proverb” (#4912) is also translated as “parable.” Therefore, God has directly told us that once Israel is cut off (and they were cut off by God in the year 33 AD) then we can rightly say that any New Testament references to them to be parables. That is, God uses the word “Judah,” or “Jerusalem,” or “house of God,” and spiritually He has the New Testament churches and congregations in view.