Why does Jerusalem matter in end time prophecy?
Jerusalem stands at the center of end time prophecy because it is the city where the Antichrist's covenant with Israel is confirmed, where the rebuilt temple becomes the stage for the Abomination of Desolation, where the great siege and Jacob's trouble unfold before Christ's return, and where the mystery city called the Whore of Babylon is ultimately unveiled.
Scripture places Jerusalem at the very heart of the end time timeline. It is the city God calls His own, the Holy Mountain where He walked and where His altar once stood, and the place He still calls His choice above all others. Because of this, everything the Antichrist does to counterfeit God's plan centers on Jerusalem: the temple will be rebuilt there, right beside the outer court that is given over to the Gentiles, showing that Israel still has not received Jesus as her Messiah. As John is told to measure the temple in Revelation 11, the holy city itself is said to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles for forty two months, which is called the times of the Gentiles.
Jerusalem is also the site of the great tribulation Jesus described as the days of vengeance and Jacob's trouble. The instruction to flee to the mountains is given specifically to those in Judaea, and Jerusalem is besieged, her people scattered, some slain by the sword and led captive into all nations, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. This is the very city where the Antichrist stands up against the Prince of princes, magnifying himself and destroying the holy people through craft and false peace, exactly as Daniel foretold of the fierce king who would come in the latter time.
Beyond the tribulation, Jerusalem is identified as the great city that reigns over the kings of the earth, the same city where the Lord was crucified, and this identification ties her directly to the vision of the woman riding the beast in Revelation 17 and 18. Because Jerusalem forsook the covenant of the Lord, turned to idolatry, and shed the blood of prophets, saints, and martyrs, from righteous Abel to those slain in her midst, she carries the weight of that mystery name written on the woman's forehead. Jesus Himself wept over this city, declaring that all the righteous blood shed on the earth would come upon that generation, and that her house would be left desolate.
Yet Jerusalem's role in prophecy is not only judgment. It is also the place where the conversion of Israel will happen, a turning that Scripture says will occur in a single day, when the Lord removes the iniquity of the land and Israel is purged to serve again as keepers of the Temple. Israel's blindness is only in part and only until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, after which all Israel shall be saved and the Deliverer shall come out of Zion. So Jerusalem stands as the city of both the final rebellion against God and the final restoration of His people, making it the pivot point around which the whole end time timeline turns.
The scriptures
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.