Glorious Zion

“Zion” is has morphed throughout the Bible. By Isaiah’s time, it refers almost exclusively to heaven, the place where God is most present. He contrasts two cities: Zion the strong city vs the Global Village of Babylon. ZION IS THE KEY TO THE WORLD’S DESTINY. ZION, LIGHT TO THE NATIONS. As in Genesis 1:1-3, God will begin a New Creation with the coming of Light. The New Birth is a New Creation of the soul. Glory is a created thing which manifests an invisible God. The final manifestation of God in Jesus Christ is permanent. ZION, A MAGNET TO THE NATIONS. See v.4. The church is a ‘little flock’, but they will come to her. “Salvation is of the Jews,” the message God gave the Jews and the Jewish Messiah. Outside the church there is no salvation. God may give the church a good shaking in discipline, but he has mercy on her and continually adds to her. First mark of the true church is that it confesses its sin. ZION, A HOME TO THE NATIONS. His global Church is God’s answer to the Global Village of Babylon. And she is beautiful. Those coming will bring the wealth of the nations. All the best of culture and the arts, of science and technology will be the inheritance of God’s people. We need to see the church as God (and Screwtape) see the church, not as we see her, merely declared righteous, but then truly righteous.
OTHER VERSES: Isaiah 24:4-13; Revelation 18:21; Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:14; Isaiah 26:1; Isaiah 59:20-21; Ephesians 5:8; John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 4:6; John 1:14; Luke 2:32; Isaiah 58:8; Isaiah 40:5; Luke 2:14; Luke 12:32; John 4:22; Matthew 2:1-12 (11); Acts 2:47; Matthew 5:3-4; Genesis 22:18; Acts 15:13-17; Romans 8:1; Revelation 21:23