Yes, I’ll stick my neck out.
Mind you, I’m the first to agree that ‘isms’ create schisms—and Zion-ism, like all isms can easily do that.
BUT…and ‘but’ is in upper case simply because it is a big ‘but’—the scriptures have more than enough to say about Zion for all Christians to take notice!
Now, of course, Zion’s ‘location’ has drifted all over the place, even though it is quite clear where it was. When David captured the stronghold of the Jebusites (known then as Jebus—which incidentally translates as trodden down!) Joab his commander got in through the water ‘tsinnor’ above the Gihon Spring. You can read the story in 2 Samuel 5:6-10 (and also in 1 Chronicles 11). David, we are told, ‘took the stronghold of Zion…and named it the City of David.
What that stronghold looked like in those days has been disclosed by archaeologists and can be seen in the accompanying artist’s impression. The second picture has superimposed modern Jerusalem and the Haram al Sharif enclosure (actually the Roman Fortress Antonia) with the Dome of the Rock shrine visible.
It included a substantial enclosure built out from Zion to enclose and safeguard the Gihon Spring.
The scriptures say that David went on and became great, but one very important thing he did was to provide a temporary tent for the ark and the sacred items from the Tabernacle. That tent was at Gihon (as 1 Kings 1:32 ff reveals) and the holy anointing oil was there. It was, in my view, the spot known as HaMakom (The Place) where Abraham had offered Isaac and of which Jacob had said after his dream/vision of angels, “this is the Beyt-El” (House of God).
The all-important Zion from whence God would speak and utter His voice as so many of the Psalms say, and of which the prophets spoke—was the area close to the Gihon Spring encompassed by the (then) City of David (which later became known as Jerusalem).
The first picture gives you an idea of its size and shape in those days.
This was—and is, Zion, God’s holy hill—upon which Solomon eventually built the temple. Yes, IN Zion—not up the hill several hundred metres south on what people want to place it today.
Hundreds of scriptures speak of Zion. Hear what Psalm 132:13/14says: ‘For the LORD has CHOSEN Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.’
One would expect that if anyone knew where Zion was located it would be David and the Psalmists!
In Zechariah 8:2 we read that God is ‘zealous for Zion with great zeal’ and in next verse, of His promised return there. (He had said the same thing in Zechariah 1:16).
Whilst Zechariah is primarily speaking of events of his day and the re-establishment of the City and temple after exile, nonetheless it is clear that Zion is in God’s heart, symbolises the most important location in the earth, and is therefore the site of all of His ‘returns’. It is always where He comes back to.
Now—does God still have an interest in that place of His choice? Here is my answer…
If He does not, why on earth did Jesus say He would return to the same site on the Mount of Olives that looks directly across the Kidron Valley, to the true Zion. As He miraculously ascended, that true Zion was what He beheld from Bethany on the Mount. Remember, it was from Bethany that He had sent disciples to bring the ass on which He would ride into Jerusalem (Luke 19:29).
Before His departure, He walked back to Bethany with them (Luke 24:50), and from there, ascended and, as He went up, He had His last view across Kidron of His beloved Zion.
It is my opinion that upon His return, He will complete, as it were, a replay. He will come down to the Mount of Olives near ancient Bethany, viewing as He arrives, Zion—into which He will come again in triumph!
So yes, if that is what being a Zionist means (as it should)—count me in.
(If you want more on the real Zion and the temple location, read my e-book ‘THE TEMPLE QUEST’. Details at Home Page. Available at KOBO, APPLE BOOKS, BARNES AND NOBLE, SMASHWORDS.
Mind you, I’m the first to agree that ‘isms’ create schisms—and Zion-ism, like all isms can easily do that.
BUT…and ‘but’ is in upper case simply because it is a big ‘but’—the scriptures have more than enough to say about Zion for all Christians to take notice!
Now, of course, Zion’s ‘location’ has drifted all over the place, even though it is quite clear where it was. When David captured the stronghold of the Jebusites (known then as Jebus—which incidentally translates as trodden down!) Joab his commander got in through the water ‘tsinnor’ above the Gihon Spring. You can read the story in 2 Samuel 5:6-10 (and also in 1 Chronicles 11). David, we are told, ‘took the stronghold of Zion…and named it the City of David.
What that stronghold looked like in those days has been disclosed by archaeologists and can be seen in the accompanying artist’s impression. The second picture has superimposed modern Jerusalem and the Haram al Sharif enclosure (actually the Roman Fortress Antonia) with the Dome of the Rock shrine visible.
It included a substantial enclosure built out from Zion to enclose and safeguard the Gihon Spring.
The scriptures say that David went on and became great, but one very important thing he did was to provide a temporary tent for the ark and the sacred items from the Tabernacle. That tent was at Gihon (as 1 Kings 1:32 ff reveals) and the holy anointing oil was there. It was, in my view, the spot known as HaMakom (The Place) where Abraham had offered Isaac and of which Jacob had said after his dream/vision of angels, “this is the Beyt-El” (House of God).
The all-important Zion from whence God would speak and utter His voice as so many of the Psalms say, and of which the prophets spoke—was the area close to the Gihon Spring encompassed by the (then) City of David (which later became known as Jerusalem).
The first picture gives you an idea of its size and shape in those days.
This was—and is, Zion, God’s holy hill—upon which Solomon eventually built the temple. Yes, IN Zion—not up the hill several hundred metres south on what people want to place it today.
Hundreds of scriptures speak of Zion. Hear what Psalm 132:13/14says: ‘For the LORD has CHOSEN Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.’
One would expect that if anyone knew where Zion was located it would be David and the Psalmists!
In Zechariah 8:2 we read that God is ‘zealous for Zion with great zeal’ and in next verse, of His promised return there. (He had said the same thing in Zechariah 1:16).
Whilst Zechariah is primarily speaking of events of his day and the re-establishment of the City and temple after exile, nonetheless it is clear that Zion is in God’s heart, symbolises the most important location in the earth, and is therefore the site of all of His ‘returns’. It is always where He comes back to.
Now—does God still have an interest in that place of His choice? Here is my answer…
If He does not, why on earth did Jesus say He would return to the same site on the Mount of Olives that looks directly across the Kidron Valley, to the true Zion. As He miraculously ascended, that true Zion was what He beheld from Bethany on the Mount. Remember, it was from Bethany that He had sent disciples to bring the ass on which He would ride into Jerusalem (Luke 19:29).
Before His departure, He walked back to Bethany with them (Luke 24:50), and from there, ascended and, as He went up, He had His last view across Kidron of His beloved Zion.
It is my opinion that upon His return, He will complete, as it were, a replay. He will come down to the Mount of Olives near ancient Bethany, viewing as He arrives, Zion—into which He will come again in triumph!
So yes, if that is what being a Zionist means (as it should)—count me in.
(If you want more on the real Zion and the temple location, read my e-book ‘THE TEMPLE QUEST’. Details at Home Page. Available at KOBO, APPLE BOOKS, BARNES AND NOBLE, SMASHWORDS.
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