Zion

Wade  E  Taylor

   "When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory." Psalm 102:16.

Within the Body of Christ (Spiritual Jerusalem) are those who are being especially moved upon (Spiritual Zion) by the Holy Spirit at this present time.

"Spiritual Jerusalem" relates to those who are saved, but treat their salvation as being "salt" which only flavors rather than permeates their life style.  They are satisfied with the promise of a future Heaven and have stopped short of the full work of the cross in bringing them to spiritual maturity.

"Spiritual Zion" relates to the Kingdom of God.  These are overcomers who have made Jesus both the center and circumference of their lives.  They have a "single eye" toward Jesus and have taken up their cross.  They have submitted themselves, and all that pertains to them, to His Kingdom rule (Zion).

These are a called out "people within a people" who are being dealt with and qualified to become His Bride.

   "For many are called (Spiritual Jerusalem), but few

     are chosen (Spiritual Zion)." Matt 22:14.

Another way to express this verse is, "Many are called but few will pay the price in order to be chosen."  Our being chosen is the result of the outworking of the process of qualifying, or overcoming.

   "To him that overcometh (Zion) will I grant to sit with

     Me (Bride) in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and

     am set down with my Father in His Throne." Rev 3:21.

   "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful

     over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things.

    Enter into the joy of your Lord."  Matt 25:23.

One can be saved and not become an overcomer.  One cannot be an overcomer without first being saved.

Zion is a high place within Jerusalem that originally belonged to the Jebusites.  It was taken by David and became known as the city of David.

   "Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same

     is the city of David." II Sam 5:7.

Zion speaks of the place of Divine spiritual and governmental authority.

   "Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." Psalm 2:6.

The "overcomer" relates to Zion.

   "And has made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall

     reign on the earth."  Rev 5:10.

Zion, in the eyes of the Lord, is a very special place.

   "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion,

     on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." Psalm 48:2.

The Lord has a singular love for Zion.

   "The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of

     Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God." Psalm 87:2-3.

   "And of Zion it shall be said, this one and that one were born in her;

     and the Most High Himself shall establish her." Psalm 87:5.

David set up a tent in Zion to hold the Ark of God, which became the abiding place of the Lord.

   "In Judah is God known; His Name is great in Israel. In Salem

     also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion." Psalm 76:1-2.

There were no separations between the Lord and those who worshipped within this tent in Zion.  There was no Outer Court, Holy Place, or Holy of Holies into which a representative Priest entered once a year to make atonement for the people. All within the tent were together, and the Lord Himself continually dwelt in their midst.

   "They go from strength to strength, every one of them

     in Zion appears before God." Psalm 84:7.

Zion is a place set apart for spontaneity in worship.

   "As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there;

    all my springs are in You." Psalm 87:7.

Zion is the place of His anointing and provision.

   "For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His

     habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for

     I have desired it."

   "I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her

     poor with bread." Psalm 132:13-15.

Zion signifies the atmosphere in which His Bride will be made ready for the coming of her Heavenly Bridegroom. 

   "When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in

    His glory." Psalm 102:16.

This "building up of Zion" is a prophetic indicative concerning the return of our Lord Jesus Christ in manifest Glory. It speaks of those who have a consuming zeal to be brought into the highest that the Lord has.  At the heart of this process is the cultivation of a personal relationship with Him, and a submission in every aspect of life to His Kingdom authority.

   "In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord

     sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train

     filled the temple." Isaiah 6:1.

Isaiah had been looking to an earthly King (Jerusalem) and is now turning to a higher Throne (Zion).  In the presence of this heavenly Throne are Seraphim who resound in pure worship.

   "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy,

     is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His

     Glory." Isaiah 6:3.

As they continued in worship, the posts of the door (hindrance) began to move, and the door opened.

   "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried,

    and the house was filled with smoke." (Glory) Isa 6:4.

This "door" leads from Spiritual Jerusalem, and all that pertains to it, into Zion and all that relates to it.

Jesus said,

   "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,

    and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,

    and he with me." Rev 3:20.

This "door" relates to the "posts of the door" that Isaiah saw move.  These "posts" speak of that which holds this door either closed or open.  The unity in the audible voices of these worshipers (one cried to another)  released the hindrance that had held this door closed.  As the door opened, there was a lifting up from Jerusalem (Type and Shadow, Structure, Earthly Government) into Zion (Anointing, Visitation, Heavenly Government) and into His manifest presence (Throne).

This manifestation of His Glory is seen by Isaiah as being "smoke."  In II Cor 3:18 the Glory of the Lord is likened to a mirror.  As Isaiah beheld this Glory, in the reflection of it, he saw himself as he had never seem himself before. "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" Isa 6:5.

Nothing will change us more than a visitation of His Glory.  "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:  And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" Isa 6:6-7.

To enter Zion means that we have moved through the barrier that exists between the temporal and the eternal.  It is in Zion that we see ourselves as we truly are.  Here, we are enabled to repent and cry out to be changed.  Isaiah had been serving the Lord before this experience, but in this visitation of Glory, he saw himself as never before and cried out to be changed.

"Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar" Isa 6:6.  This speaks of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and in Fire.  "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor" Matt 3:11b-12a.  Multitudes have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit and have spoken in tongues.  But they have not tarried until the "fire" came and purged them.

"And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" Isa 6:7.  As this coal of fire comes and touches our life, we will be transformed, and our expression purified.  There will come within us a quality that will have a spiritual "ring" to it.

Zion was the place of His abiding presence.  He yet longs to be there.  As we move beyond "tongues" into the "fire," Zion will be built up and the Lord will come in His Glory.  In Old Testament times, there were those who saw His Glory within the tent in Zion.  These told their children about it, and they in turn told their children.  In time, Zion became as only a dream.

We must go beyond our present level of spiritual understanding and experience and again enter David's tent.  We cannot do this literally, but in spirit we can.  As we voice our worship to Him and express our desire to meet with Him and make him Lord of our lives, again, the "posts of the door" will move and we will enter His glorious presence.

No longer will "Uzziah" (Jerusalem) provide the comfort we seek, but we will see the Lord upon His Throne (Zion) and make Him Lord of our lives.  And, in the reflection of His Glory, we will see ourselves and be changed.

We must allow this "coal of fire" to have its full work within us, until nothing is left but that which pertains to Zion.  Then He will come forth in all His Glory.