Tag: Mt. Zion
Rejoicing in Mt. Zion!
Scripture reading for April 18th: 1 Chronicles 9-13
Key Scriptures: 1st Chronicles 11:4-5, 7-9 “David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David. . . .David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. . . .And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him.”
Newly anointed King David led the Israelites to capture the city of Jebus. The Jebusites were adamant that David could not take the city, but God was with him and he conquered the city and set up residence there. It would be known as “Jerusalem”, also as “Zion”, and as the “City of David” along with several other names! From David’s line would come a Son of God, Jesus Christ, who would rule eternally on the throne of that “City of the Great King!”
Rejoice today in Zion: “But you have come to Mt. Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the Living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the Firstborn; whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. . .” (Hebrews 12:22-24)
Blessed to die in the Lord!
Scripture reading for December 23rd: Revelation 14:1-20
“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13) This is the second of the ‘beatitudes’ or ‘blessed’ statements found in Revelation. It is a curious ‘blessed’, speaking of the dead who die in the Lord being blessed. As we read this chapter, we come to understand why this is so.
John saw the Lamb and the 144,000 who were marked with His name standing on Mt. Zion. They were singing a new song that only they could learn. This special company had been redeemed from the earth and followed the Lamb. They were holy, having kept themselves from the defilement of sin on the earth, and set apart as an offering to Him. (Revelation 14:1-5)
Next John saw three angels flying in mid-air. The first angel was proclaiming the eternal gospel to those still on the earth. “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7) God is faithful to warn all men of what is to come. The first and greatest commandment is to love God and worship Him only. Men must not worship the creation, but the Creator of all things. This angelic messenger proclaims this eternal gospel.
The second angel proclaimed the fall of Babylon. “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Revelation 14:8) Those living on earth were drunk on the wine of the evil world system of Babylon. God announced the fall of this system again during the great tribulation. He had done this through Jeremiah earlier. (Jeremiah 51:45-49)
The third angel announced the warning to resist the beast and his mark or face the full fury of God’s wrath! The penalty was laid out for those receiving the mark, “He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.” (Revelation 14:10b-11a) This warning was to call the saints to remain faithful to Jesus and prepare for endurance. Death would be blessed for those saints who endured!
The unshakable Kingdom!
Scripture reading for November 15th: Hebrews 12:14-29
Holiness is a precious requirement for those entering the kingdom of God and desiring to see Him. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:14-15) There are things that can keep us out of our inheritance. Failure to be a peacemaker and living in violence and strife will cut us off. Immorality is also a killer of faith. These sins are likened to bitter roots in the soul that causes a person to miss out on the grace of God.
We who live in the last days are under the new covenant. This covenant is not made at Mt. Sinai like the old covenant, but at Mt. Zion. At Mt. Zion we see the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God and thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly. Here we have the church of the Firstborn (Jesus Christ) consisting of all men and women who by faith have come to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the mediator of this new covenant and His sprinkled blood has forever made atonement for all sins committed in ignorance.
We must willingly come to Jesus and accept His sacrifice for us in order to escape judgment by Jesus Christ. Many Israelites ignored God’s warning through Moses and perished. Now Jesus, God’s final Word from Heaven, has warned us again of another shaking coming at the end that will shake all things that are able to be shaken! (Hebrews 12:26-27) (Haggai 2:6) The earth and everything in it will be destroyed by this final shaking. (2nd Peter 3:7) The kingdoms of earth will be no match for the Lord of Hosts as He comes to establish the millennial Kingdom.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”” (Hebrews 12:28) Our King Jesus and the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem will be our permanent King and eternal home! This calls for worship and active pursuit of holiness through faith in Jesus. Those who refuse will be consumed by the fire of His wrath!