Zion
Not a Mormon Idea Only
by Lynn Ridenhour
"…The Lord hath founded Zion…" --Isa.14:32
* * * * *
"…They shall call thee the city of the Lord, the Zion
of the Holy One of Israel…" –Isa.60:14
Zion is not a Mormon idea.
Granted, I don’t ever recall hearing a sermon on Zion while growing up in
our small Baptist church back home. The concept of Zion, for sure, is not
particularly a Protestant idea.
But the Bible is full of Zion!
There are over forty-seven direct references to Zion in the book of Isaiah
alone. It’s safe to say--Isaiah saw Zion! In fact, Isaiah sees Zion and
Babylon at odds in the endtime.
For example,
The Lord forgives Zion’s inhabitants their iniquity (Isa.33:24),
but he does not forgive Babylon’s iniquity till they die (Isa.22:14).
The Lord lays a sure foundation in Zion (Isa.28:16), but he removes
Babylon’s foundation (Isa.28:16). The Lord protects Zion in his day
of judgment (Isa.4:5,6:37; 32-35;51:16), but he does not protect
Babylon in that day (Isa.13:6-19;14:21,22;15:4,9). Zion enjoys peace
and an absence of fear (Isa.33:18-20;54:14), but fear and terror
overtake Babylon (Isa.13:8;19:16,17;21:3,4). The Lord comforts Zion (Isa.51:3),
but he discomforts Babylon (Isa.15:5;16:2;23:10-12). Zion’s children
gather home safely (Isa.30:29;49:7-23;51:11), but Babylon’s children
scatter and die (Isa.13:14-18;21:14,15;47:15). The Lord delivers Zion (Isa.25:9;33:15,16;46:13),
but he destroys Babylon (Isa.13:19-22;14:23;15:1). The Lord redeems
Zion (Isa.1:27;35:9,10;62:12), but he punishes Babylon (Isa.13:9,11;22:5,14;47:3).
Zion’s land gloriously regenerates (Isa.51:3;60:13), but Babylon’s
land decays and dries up (Isa.14:23;15:6;19:5-7). Zion sings with joy (Isa.12:6;51:3,11),
but Babylon weeps and laments (Isa.14:31;15:2-5;23:1,6). Zion rules in
the earth (Isa.2:2-4;16:1;18:7), but Babylon’s rule in the earth ends
(Isa.14:5,6,21;17:3;47:1,5). The Lord exalts Zion (Isa.52:1;60:12-22;62:2,3),
but he humiliates Babylon (Isa.20:4;23:9;47:1-3).
The Lord clothes Zion in robes of glory (Isa.49:18;52:1;61:3), but
he strips Babylon naked (Isa.47:2,3). Zion, jubilant, spreads abroad
and inherits nations (Isa.54:1-3), but Babylon, speechless, ceases to
rule kingdoms (Isa.47:5,8). Zion gathers and gladdens the Lord’s
outcasts (Isa.56:7,8), but Babylon shows them no mercy (Isa.47:6).
The Lord empowers Zion (Isa.52:11), but he renders Babylon powerless (Isa.47:13).
The Lord ransoms Zion from catastrophe (Isa.51:11-16;54:15-17;59:20),
but Babylon, unable to ransom herself, he visits with disaster (Isa.47:11-13).
Zion lives through the devouring fire (Isa.33:14-16;43:2:66:14-16), but
Babylon burns up (Isa.47:14,15). --Avraham Gileadi, The Last
Days, p.257
It bears repeating—Zion is not a Mormon idea!
God knows of Zion. The Jews know of Zion. Saints far back in antiquity know
of Zion. Old Testament prophets know of Zion. Jesus knows of Zion. The early
church knows of Zion. Our Pilgrim fathers, boarding the Mayflower, know of
Zion. Protestants, in general, today do not know of Zion. And that fact must
change.
What Did Jesus Say About Zion?
Zion would be that last ideology that will roll down history’s prophetic
hill and crush all others (Dan.2:44). Democracy will be crushed.
Monarchies will crumble. Utilitarian regimes will be smashed. Aristocracies
shall fail. Communism will die. And Socialism will be destroyed. No kingdom on
earth will survive that Rolling Stone—none other than Zion.
Peter reaffirmed Isaiah’s proclamation, "…Behold I lay in Zion
a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not
be confounded [or crushed]" (I Peter 2:6).
Zion--The Stone that crushes.
If you do not want to be crushed in these latter days—crushed by the
burdens of a godless nation, crushed by bad politicians and ugly film makers
and gay rights & abortion rights groups who turn the meaning of good into
bad, and bad into good—who teach our children it’s ok to have sex as long
as they practice "safe sex,"—then, I suggest, know the Master’s
Plan. Zion is critical to our survival. Your family’s and mine.
To begin with, Jesus is that chief cornerstone laid in Zion during these
last days. And we Protestants need to know what that means.
Jesus Expands the Notion of Zion
For one thing, Jesus saw a much broader concept of the "holy
city" than his predecessors. The New World was Christ’s Zion! But we’re
getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s backtrack.
Jerusalem as Zion
The Jew saw his Messiah in Zion—sitting upon the throne of David. David
captured Jerusalem and established the city as the political capital of the
Hebrews as well as making it the religious capital. He placed the ark in Zion.
He brought the ark back home. Later, his son, Solomon, built a temple in
Jerusalem. And God’s presence returned.
Throughout the years the prophets referred to Jerusalem as Zion. The two
terms were interchangeable, essentially the same. Zion was "…a
fortress, strength, defense, safety, deliverance, a sanctuary, the spring of
living water, the home of kings, and the place of God’s residence on earth…"
according to Jim Christenson (Zion In Our Time, p.18).
"…His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates
of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of
thee, O city of God…"--Psalms 87:1-3
"…O city of God…"
Zion is definitely the city of the Jews and is mentioned in the Old
Testament in over one hundred fifty references.
I like what Jim Christenson says:
"…Zion became symbolic of the place where man meets God…in a
sense a return to the Garden of Eden. It was to be a holy city—the
righteous community, the capital of the Kingdom of God, the gathering place
for the beneficiaries of God’s mercy and blessing.
While at first the term ‘Zion’ referred just to the fortress atop the
mountain and later the city of Jerusalem proper, it often was extended to
include all of the house of Jacob and its movement to establish God’s
righteousness. While the term ‘Zion’ and the ‘Kingdom’ were used
interchangeably, more often the former referred to the central city of
Jerusalem and its environs, while the kingdom included God’s work among
his people everywhere." --Zion In Our Time, p.19
Well said.
As said earlier, Jesus saw a much broader concept of the "holy
city" than his predecessors. Yes, the City of Zion would begin in old
Jerusalem, start as a place of safety, but would spread "…to the
uttermost parts of the earth…" Zion would become a Center Place in the
new world, a place of healing for the nations. An Ensign to the nations, if
you please.
Again, I refer to Christenson:
"…The holy community was to begin as a separate, distinct colony
of believers, then receive and assimilate investigators as rapidly as
possible. The doors of its ministry were to be open always. Those who were
firm in the faith were to ‘go into all the world and preach the gospel’
for a witness of God’s eternal, universal love. Those who had been served
were to spend their lives in service to others, to demonstrate the principle
of ‘love one another as I have loved you.’" p.29
Demonstrating love is the principle of Zion.
As Zion was to spread throughout the earth into the new world, the lame
would walk, the blind see, the poor would hear the gospel, the brokenhearted
would feel happiness again, the hopeless would rise, the sinful would be
cleansed, the unlearned made wise, and the outcast accepted.
I like what Walter Rauschenbusch, historian during the earlier part of last
century, said:
"…If he [Jesus] put his trust in spiritual forces for the founding
of a righteous society, it only proved his sagacity as a society-builder…But
Jesus never fell into the heresy of later theology; he never viewed the
human individual apart from human society; he never forgot the gregarious
nature of man…
…The tone of sadness in his later ministry was not due simply to the
approach of his physical death, but to the consciousness that his purpose
for his nation had failed. He began then to draw his disciples more closely
about him to create the nucleus of a new nation within the old. He also rose
to the conviction that he would return and accomplish in the future what he
hoped to accomplish during his earthly life." --Christian and the
Social Crisis, p.65
I’m aware, the thought of Jesus failing on his mission his first time
around grates on our Protestant theological nerves. It need not. It doesn’t
mean that our Master was a failure. It means that Israel rejected her King the
first time around. And scripture bears out such a rejection theology. Take,
for instance, the book of Matthew, one of my favorites. And Matthew chapter
thirteen, also one of my favorite chapters.
By the way, Matthew wrote to the Jews; Mark to the Romans; Luke to the
Greeks; and John wrote his gospel to the world. Yet the Spirit took the time
to prophesy an entire chapter to the Gentiles. He prophesies the church age in
a Jewish book. I like that.
Rejection Theology: An Overview
To understand Matthew chapter thirteen, we must go back to chapter twelve. The
two go together. In chapter twelve the King of Israel is pleading with his
people, the House of Israel, not to reject him. Things don't look so good.
Questions are being raised about the Master's true identity and the source of
his power (12.22-30). Blasphemy is about to be committed by his own
people (12:31-32). Israel was about to reject her King. Sadly, an
earthly Zion would have to wait.
His arguments are combative; his meeting is confrontational. The stage is
being set for chapter thirteen. Isn't it interesting, the first verse of
chapter thirteen reads: "…The same day went Jesus out of the house,
and sat by the sea side. "
The same day the House of Israel rejected its King, Jesus went "...out
of the house...." He left Israel. The kingdom was taken from the
House of Israel that very moment and given to a nation "…bringing
forth the fruits thereof..." (Mt.21:43). The Church. Again, the
establishment of an earthly Zion had been put on hold…rejected.
The Master then sat by the seaside. Revelation 17:15 tells us that seas ("...the
waters...") often represent Gentile nations. Matthew thirteen is
about the King of Israel, having removed his kingdom from his own people, now
turning to the Gentile nations. And the church age begins. Chapter thirteen
chronicles those events in veiled language. We must remember, Jesus was sent
first to the House of Israel (Mt.15:24). In the book of Matthew, the
King of Israel has come to his people for the purpose of setting up his
earthly kingdom. That's Matthew's theme: the Messiah (the Long-awaited One)
has finally arrived! Matthew's favorite word is "fulfilled" (1:22,
2:15, 2:17, 2:23, 8:17,12:17,13.35, 21.4, 26:54, 27.9, 27.35). The King of
Israel had come to fulfill Zion on earth.
What a blessed book!
What a blessed chapter.
Chapter thirteen is divided by two simple phrases…
"Jesus [went] out of the house" (vs.1) and "Then
Jesus ... went into the house... " (vs.36).
Out of the house…into the house. A great summary.
The Master leaves the House of Israel then returns to them a second time at
a later date. (And that’s the story of the Restoration—enter Joseph
Smith.)
I’ll say it again—Jesus saw a much broader concept of Zion than did his
predecessors. Two thoughts are worthy of our attention: 1) Jesus came to earth
to gather his people geographically as well as spiritually, and 2)
Jesus wept during the last days of his earthly ministry, not merely because of
his physical agony facing him in the garden, but Jesus wept because Israel had
rejected her King. Zion had been put on hold. Rejected.
"…O Jerusalem! O Jerusalem," our Lord lamented, "Ye
who kill the prophets, and will stone them who are sent unto you; how often
would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her
chickens under his wings, and ye would not." --Matthew 23:37
Weeping for Zion.
Which brings up the point—there is a "theology of Zion"
outlined in scripture. For example, the Old Testament prophets thought that
families would grow into colonies, colonies into communities, and communities
into kingdoms. And the kingdom of God would then endure "…throughout
all generations."
Simply put, the kingdom of God was to begin with the righteous in
Jerusalem, Zion, a special location. Then spread across the earth.
"…For I will take you from among the heathen," said the
Old Testament prophet, " and gather you out of all countries, and
will bring you into your own land…My tabernacle also shall be with
them; yea I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen
shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in
the midst of them for evermore." --Ezek.36:24:37:27,28
Saints, may I be blunt? Political correctness these days has dulled, if not
destroyed, our spiritual sensibilities. We’re no longer in tune with "…thus
saith the Lord…" Instead we tune in to The Beltway Boys, Crossfire,
The Edge with Paula Zahn, or The O’Riley Factor and enter the famous
"no spin zone," or visit with Imus in the Morning—who each, I
guarantee you, would laugh in your face if you emailed them with the most
ridiculous item of the day.
"…Bill, just wanted to let you know--Jesus came the first time and
is coming again to set up his Zion in the earth. He set it up in Jerusalem and
it’s now spreading to New York." Lynn Ridenhour, Independence, MO
I can hear Bill O’Riley now, or Zahn, or Imus, or Dan Rather, or Mike
Wallace or Larry King—"…your Jesus will do what!? Go where?!…"
And then they will turn to the Rev. Jesse Jackson seated next to them for the
real answer. Then break away for commercial. Pardon my cynicism. But, Saints,
where is our boldness?! Why are we not on the offense?! These guys at Fox
& CNN should be on the run. Not us. We have the restored gospel, far more
powerful than any Fox News report, at our fingertips & in our hearts. Our
story is the one fair & balanced. Not boring. We read no lines from a
glaring monitor. We’ve got the latest story to tell to the nations—a
marvelous work and a wonder.
We’re the ones with breaking news. The glory of the Lord is about to
fill the earth. Every news channel will witness firsthand, with crews on
sight, his glory. His majesty. Miracles and healings will happen in the
streets of America; our youth will lead the way. Singing & dancing before
the Lord will occur in New York City on Wall Street, in front of Fox News, and
Los Angeles and Chicago and Seattle and Denver and Kansas City and the
cornfields of Iowa. Musicians, under the spell of his anointing, will play
their instruments down Main street. Children will kneel in parks, praying down
the power of God on the homeless in our cities. Our homeless of America will
be our best preachers. They can relate. They’ve been there.
Yes, Zion will happen in America. The Lord willing, I will live to see it.
So will you.
Continue On
Our Lord’s prayer was that his disciples would continue on after his
departure and build up the kingdom (Jn.17). Spread it throughout the
earth. That the Church would be the vehicle for the kingdom to multiply.
During the first century the saints, with zeal, remembered his words. And the
Church grew.
Eventually, however, says Christenson, the Church replaced the kingdom.
"…With the exaltation of the Church as an organization, the concept
of establishment of a tangible program known as the ‘Kingdom of god on the
earth’ went into oblivion" (Zion in our Time, p.32).
Brick and mortar, sadly, replaced the simple messenger of the Carpenter
from Galilee, "…love thy neighbor as thyself…"
That’s why it would take a latter-day prophet nineteen centuries later, a
prophet with fire in his bosom and misunderstood by most preachers, to once
again catch a glimpse of the glories of Zion.
"…I calculate," said that modern-day prophet,
"to be one of the instruments of setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the
word of the Lord, and I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the
whole world."--Joseph Smith, (1805-1843)
Come some 170 years later the world is still experiencing that revolution:
known as Zion!
