Physical vs. Spiritual Israel

“Pray the Peace of Jerusalem!” the denominational pastor exclaims as he

holds his Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other, exhorting his flock

to follow the current events in the Middle East. 

He is quoting Psalm 122:6-7, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” 

But which Jerusalem was the Psalmist David talking about? In verse 5, it speaks of thrones being set up there for judgment. In Luke 22:29-30, Jesus promised to bestow a kingdom to His apostles and He promised them that they would sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, (See also Matthew 19:28). 

What kingdom was Jesus talking about and when would it go into effect? What role would the apostles have in it? And how was David’s prophecy fulfilled? Or is it still in the future?

And what Jerusalem is David talking about in Psalm 122? Because Paul

presents two Jerusalems as an allegory in Galatians 4:21-31, the “Jerusalem

which now is…” (verse 25) as contrasted with “the Jerusalem above” (verse

26). 

In Hebrews 12:22, Christians are encouraged to seek “the heavenly

Jerusalem.” What do the scriptures say about this dichotomy? And when did

Christ’s kingdom come?