SONSHIP 3 ZION--JERUSALEM

ZION-- JERUSALEM

There are other ways in which the difference between the "Overcomers" and the "run-of-the-mill" Christians is made clear to us-- if we are in tune with the Word of God.

Take the matter of ZION and JERUSALEM, as the terms are frequently used together in the Word.

Also the terms "BRETHREN" and "CONGREGATION". A close study will reveal a definite, distinct difference between the two.

I Kings 8:1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in JERUSALEM, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the CITY OF DAVID, which [is] ZION.

THIS SCRIPTURE IS REPEATED IN II Chronicles 5:2

You will recall that ZION was formerly called JEBUS, and was a naturally fortified HIGHEST POINT in the city of Jerusalem. It was a "city within a city". It was within Jerusalem, yet separate and distinct from Jerusalem. It belonged to the King-- having been conquered by King David, and it became his headquarters. Sort of like Washington D.C. -- within the US, yet separate and distinct in itself.

II Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same [is] the city of David.

Consider, now, a few ways in which the distinction is made between the two parts of the city-- which represent the two classes of Christians within the church as we know it today.

Psalms 102:21 To DECLARE THE NAME OF THE LORD in Zion, and HIS PRAISE in Jerusalem;

Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake; PUT ON THY STRENGTH, O Zion; put ON THY BEAUTIFUL GARMENTS, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Notice the difference-- STRENGTH, and BEAUTIFUL GARMENTS.

Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL GO FORTH THE LAW, and the WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM.

Here, the difference is between the LAW OF THE LORD, and THE WORD OF THE LORD. This is a critical difference. The term "LAW" is speaking about the very NATURE of the Lord-- not a lot of do's and don'ts.

The term "WORD OF THE LORD" is meaning the "NEWS OF THE LORD". It is "information" "Behold your God."

God is now "grooming" a people whom He can use in "The Day Of The Lord" to send forth HIS VERY NATURE into the world of humanity-- "If I be lifted up (crucified), I will "draw" all men unto me." But, not everyone will respond-- not everyone will be saved. Most of an entire generation will respond, however, and be snatched from the grasp of the arch-deceiver--satan. The gates of hell shall not prevail.

This scripture is repeated in Micah 4:2

The present darkness of deception will be broken, however, through a segment of God's people-- those who did not qualify to be in the Zion company at the time of separation of the two. The glory of God will be seen so clearly upon them that the whole world will be able to see it. THE "NEWS" OF THE LORD WILL GO FORTH FROM JERUSALEM. (Not a literal city as we know it today).

Next, a difference is shown between "The Congregation" and "My Brethren"