Zion
Jesus told the disciples that there would come a day when the nations of the earth would be distressed with perplexity, that iniquity would abound, and the hearts of men would fail them because of fear [Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, Luke 21], and that these would be signs of His return. Isaiah also prophesied that the earth would one day become covered in darkness because of sin [Isaiah 60:2]. Truly, we live in such a day. For the world is filled with sin, hatred, pain, and brokenness. However, God promised through His servants, the prophets, of a physical Kingdom of God, a city called Zion [Isaiah 60:1-2, 14], which would be a place of refuge, safety, and healing [Isaiah 2:2-4, Isaiah 11:6-9]. A place where the people dwell in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
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The Church of God is called to prepare the way of the Lord just as John the Baptist did. For the Lord has called His people to be light to the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hid, and to put their trust in Him so that by their good witness, the world might glorify our Heavenly Father. Thus the Church has been commanded to “prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” [Isaiah 62:10-12].
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The city not forsaken is called Zion, the City of the Lord [Isaiah 60], whose foundation, builder, and maker is God. [Hebrews 11:8-16]. For we are called to “come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” [Hebrews 12:22-24]. It is to this city, a place where the people are of one heart and one mind in Jesus Christ, that the Lord of Glory will return to reign on earth a thousand years. [Revelation 20:1-6].
Scriptures to Consider
Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)
5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
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Matthew 6:10 (KJV)
6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
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Isaiah 2:2-4 (KJV)
2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 2:4 And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
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Isaiah 11:6-9 (KJV)
11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
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Isaiah 60:1-2, 14 (KJV)
60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee… 60:14 and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 60:15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
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Psalms 15:1-2 (KJV)
1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
