The Heavenly Jerusalem

[Marilyn C]

JERUSALEM

When people think of Jerusalem they often mean the city part and forget that Mount Zion is also included in Jerusalem. King David built his royal palace on Mount Zion, and later king Solomon built the Temple there too.

God`s word tells us concerning the two parts of Jerusalem.

`Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city!` (Isa. 52:1)

`For Zion`s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem`s sake I will not rest.` (Isa.62: 1)

Now we are told that `Jerusalem above is free and is the mother of us all.` (Gal. 4: 26)

So what does the heavenly Jerusalem look like?

`For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched........but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels.` (Heb. 12: 18 & 22)

We are told that the heavenly Jerusalem is also made of two parts: Mount Zion and the city. Now we ask, `Why two parts and who will be in them?`

I believe God`s word tells us that Mount Zion was the seat of the throne, on earth by King David, and in heaven the Lord Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ has been promised that they will rule and reign with the Lord on His throne, and that will be, I believe from Mount Zion.

Christ said - `To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.` (Rev. 3: 21)

So who then is in the city part of the heavenly Jerusalem?

`...they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a CITY for them.` (Heb.11: 16)

These are, I believe, the Old Testament saints who believed God for the promise of the city.

Summing up I believe -

Mount Zion for the Body of Christ. The City for the Old Testament saints.

`God having provided something better, (greater dominion) for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.` (Heb. 11: 40)

 

[Marilyn C]

 

[Monk Brendan]

JERUSALEM

When people think of Jerusalem they often mean the city part and forget that Mount Zion is also included in Jerusalem. King David built his royal palace on Mount Zion, and later king Solomon built the Temple there too.

God`s word tells us concerning the two parts of Jerusalem.

`Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful for elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.` (Ps. 48: 1 & 2)

`For Zion`s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem`s sake I will not rest.` (Isa.62: 1)

Now we are told that `Jerusalem above is free and is the mother of us all.` (Gal. 4: 26)

So what does the heavenly Jerusalem look like?

`For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched........but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels.` (Heb. 12: 18 & 22)

We are told that the heavenly Jerusalem is also made of two parts: Mount Zion and the city. Now we ask, `Why two parts and who will be in them?`

I believe God`s word tells us that Mount Zion was the seat of the throne, on earth by King David, and in heaven the Lord Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ has been promised that they will rule and reign with the Lord on His throne, and that will be, I believe from Mount Zion.

Christ said - `To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.` (Rev. 3: 21)

So who then is in the city part of the heavenly Jerusalem?

`...they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a CITY for them.` (Heb.11: 16)

These are, I believe, the Old Testament saints who believed God for the promise of the city.

Summing up I believe -

Mount Zion for the Body of Christ. The City for the Old Testament saints.

`God having provided something better, (greater dominion) for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.` (Heb. 11: 40)

One of the characteristics of the poetry in the Psalter and other places in the OT are what are called "thought rhymes"--that is, where the two halves of the same verse (or two adjacent verses) mirror each other.

Knowing this should help you understand the Psalms better.

 

[Monk Brendan]

One of the characteristics of the poetry in the Psalter and other places in the OT is what gets called "thought rhymes"--that is, where the two halves of the same verse (or two adjacent verses) mirror each other.

Knowing this should help you understand the Psalms better.

 

[Marilyn C]

One of the characteristics of the poetry in the Psalter and other places in the OT are what are called "thought rhymes"--that is, where the two halves of the same verse (or two adjacent verses) mirror each other.

Knowing this should help you understand the Psalms better.

Hi Monk,

Yes I realise this, but thank you. Thus I have changed the scripture to one more appropriate. Still there is no denying that in Jerusalem there is a city and there is Mount Zion where king David ruled. Plus, the heavenly Zion is where the Lord rules from.

`The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool." The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion.` (Ps. 110: 1 & 2)

 

[Monk Brendan]

The first is a prophecy or figure of the second.

 

[Marilyn C]

The first is a prophecy or figure of the second.

Yes, I agree that it is a prophecy. However God`s right hand and Mount Zion are not the same place.

God`s right hand is the Godhead which is beyond all the created order.

Mount Zion in heaven, is where the Lord will rule from. It is pictorial language I believe, for the highest ruling place in God`s great kingdom.

 

[BABerean2]

Summing up I believe -

Mount Zion for the Body of Christ. The City for the Old Testament saints.

`God having provided something better, (greater dominion) for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.` (Heb. 11: 40)

Are you a segregationist?

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Adam Clarke's Commentary

Hebrews 11:40

God having provided some better thing for us - This is the dispensation of the Gospel, with all the privileges and advantages it confers.
That they without us should not be made perfect - Believers before the flood, after the flood, under the law, and since the law, make but one Church. The Gospel dispensation is the last, and the Church cannot be considered as complete till the believers under all dispensations are gathered together. As the Gospel is the last dispensation, the preceding believers cannot be consummated even in glory till the Gospel Church arrive in the heaven of heavens.
There are a great variety of meanings put on this place, but the above seems the most simple and consistent. See Rev_6:11. “White robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” This time, and its blessings, are now upon the wing.

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