Is there a difference between the Jerusalem from above and Zion? Where in the Bible does it speak about the Jerusalem from above?
The apostle Paul in explaining the difference between the law covenant and the covenant by the promise mentioned two Jerusalem’s. He spoke allegorically about the Jerusalem from above and the Jerusalem the city of David where the temple of God was. He was speaking of a spiritual Jerusalem and a physical Jerusalem.
Galatians 4:22-31… For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. 23 But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
The law covenant was given from Mount Sinai and the apostle Paul likens her children to belonging to the Egyptian slave woman Hagar. Because they are slaves to the law.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, who does not give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
The apostle Paul points to a Scripture about the promise of an inheritance, this is found at Isaiah 54:1-17. Remember God spoke and promised that Sarah would produce a son, this is the covenant of the promise that the apostle Paul is speaking about.
29 But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman. 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
So, now the apostle Paul has brought to our attention that there is a spiritual woman who was referred to as the Jerusalem from above. Where do we have it in Scripture the mention of Zion?
The Jerusalem to Zion connection
The first mention that we have about Zion is from a passage of Scripture found in 2 Samuel 5:6-8 where we can extrapolate the meaning of the name Zion, that is a stronghold fortress. This is where King David captured the Jebusite city of Salem and renamed it Jerusalem.
We next need Psalms 76:1-2 to help us tie in the connection of Jerusalem to that of Zion. You see Jerusalem’s original name was Salem and there we have the stronghold of Zion which was a hilltop stronghold of the Jebusites.
We next have to look to the written history that goes all the way back to the time of Abraham, when he was told to offer up Isaac his son (Genesis 22:2) on Mount Moriah.
Later on in history King David sinned against God and so the angel told him to build an altar upon the threshing floor of Arunah (Ornan) the Jebusite and to offer up sacrifice to atone for his sin. 2 Samuel 24:18, 1 Chronicles 21:18 that threshing floor just happened to be upon Mount Moriah.
When it was time to build the temple to God, Solomon had it built upon the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 Chronicles 3:1 Both these hilltops are relatively in the same area, they both encompass the area of Jerusalem.
So, I hope you can see how important this land has proven to be because God has had a history of being there and working in this area.
Next I like us to look at some prophetic things that have been spoken about Mount Zion.
Isaiah 2:1-5… The vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, 3 and many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will never again train for war. 5 House of Jacob, come and let us walk in the Lord’s light.
The prophet Amos had a vision about Jerusalem specifically about the timing “in the last days”. People will seek God; they will come to Jerusalem to Mount Zion to have disputes settled. Thet come to receive instruction from the Lord and no longer will the people prepare for war. Again the prophet’s vision is very specific about the location of were God‘s throne is going to be.
1 Peter 2:4-7… Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame! 7 So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone, 8 and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.
The apostle Peter in speaking about the spiritual house being built referred to a prophecy about God laying a cornerstone in his spiritual house, that being of the Messiah the cornerstone laid in Zion. Isaiah 28:16-17
Hebrews 12:22-24… Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to God who is the Judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 to Jesus (mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.
The apostle Paul plainly calls out Mount Zion as being the city of the living God.
Revelation 14:1… Then I looked, and there on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
The apostle John plainly says that upon Mount Zion stood the Lamb of God and with him 144,000. This shows us that this place is very important to God. This spiritual Jerusalem is referred to as Zion the holy city.
Zachariah 9:9-13… Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The bow of war will be removed, and He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you, because of the blood of your covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless cistern. 12 Return to a stronghold, you prisoners who have hope; today I declare that I will restore double to you. 13 For I will bend Judah as My bow; I will fill that bow with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece. I will make you like a warrior’s sword. 14 Then the Lord will appear over them, and His arrow will fly like lightning. The Lord God will sound the trumpet and advance with the southern storms.
The prophet Zechariah spoke about the king of Jerusalem coming. This happened when Christ rode in on a donkey 33 CE. Those in charge of the city would not accept it. That action did not make the Scripture null or void. Christ will come, and he will proclaim peace to the nations and God will release the dead to return to the stronghold of Zion. God promises the Lord will appear over Israel and in the storm he goes forth making known his presence.
4 Ezra 13:35-26… When all the peoples begin to hear his voice, they will have to leave that battle they were fighting. Those men without number will gather to come in wage war with that man, but he will stand on top of Mount Zion, and Zion will come to be revealed to all, prepared and built, as he saw the mountain that was cut out without hands. My son will reprove those ungodly people, like a storm, then will judge their wicked deeds and sentence them to torment wherewith they are destined.
The scribe Ezra also received information from God’s angel about a future time when the Son of Man returns. When there is a war that the nations are all fighting in. They will have to stop and turn their attention to the son of God. Upon Mount Zion he will become revealed at the place of God’s throne. Then the son of God will sit to judge and rebuke the ungodly.
As we look at the Middle East you almost have to be blind not to see that there is a storm cloud that has been whirling about. That all nations have come together to fight against one another in the Middle East. It won’t be long now until they see the Son of Man and they will have to give attention to him. Take a knee and submit to his authority now before it is too late.
Come Lord Jesus, Aman.
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