empty empty empty

Is there really Our Personal Zion?

Why Should We Be Concerned About Our Personal Zion?

Is God Building Up Zion NOW and Are We all Called to Zion?

Does Mount Zion Precede the Tabernacle of David?

How Do We Participate in the Tabernacle of David?

 

August 17, 2016

Even though I have been writing about Zion in Document Format since 1995, I have never fully explained why or how there is a personal application to BOTH Mount Zion and the Tabernacle of David. Why should we even be concerned about “Our Personal Zion?” If we are all called to Zion [or even Mount Zion] we should be fully informed about what that means!

Therefore, I will take this time to explain some of my latent theories and speculations. Why? That is because I believe the NEXT restoration will include the Priesthood after Order of Melchizedek and will certainly include Mount Zion. Why? That is because Mount Zion and the Tabernacle of David represents a total departure from the King / Priest function that applied to the Tabernacle of Moses and a total departure from the Outward Law of God at that time! In other words the Tabernacle of David broke every president of the King / Priest function. Since Mount Zion is the ultimate goal of the Christian Life, it is essential that we understand the Road (highway) to Zion. Since Mount Zion, the Throne and the Tabernacle of David are inherently linked together, they must be studied together as one revelation. Therefore, our theme must include “the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David” and the restoration of Mount Zion. Why? The Tabernacle of David was firmly anchored upon Mount Zion. We cannot consider them as two things but as just one. For that reason the Rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David requires the Restoration of the REALITY of Mount Zion. What does that mean in the New Covenant fulfillment?

To jump ahead to the fulfillment we can confidently say that Jesus, our King and High Priest, Has ascended to Mount Zion and is seated at the Right Hand of God. Since the kings were from the Tribe of Judah and the priests were from the Tribe of Levi in the Old Covenant this is a notable departure from the Law of Moses.

Heb 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of Him, "THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

Everyone should be aware that everything has been changed in the New Covenant from what was demanded under the Old Covenant. Therefore, to revert back to Old Covenant requirements is a great offence to God. Why? That is because NO ONE could come to God’s required perfection under the Old Covenant!

Heb 8:7 For if that first Covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM UPON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL SHALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."

ONLY by the provision of the New Covenant can ANYONE come to “perfection.” The New Covenant is associated with the Tabernacle of David and Mount Zion and this total change in the Priesthood. This restored Priesthood is a King / Priest function after the Eternal Order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek IS – present tense– BOTH a King and a Priest! Since God is building a Kingdom of Priests, that King / Priest function must be after the Order of Melchizedek. Why? No other priesthood exists. It is the persons, associated with Mount Zion, that have achieved “perfection.”

Psalm 50:1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken, And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth. 3 May our God come and not keep silence; Fire devours before Him, And it is very tempestuous around Him. 4 He summons the heavens above, And the earth, to judge His people: 5 "Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."

That, more or less, summarizes our understanding and introduction to the next restoration. Why just the introduction? That is because, at this time, we are just speculating because what we see in Scripture, dealing with God’s Eternal Purpose, has not yet been fulfilled. How do we know that? That is because when Zion is built up He will appear in His Glory. Since He has not yet appeared in His glory, we can assume that event is still in the future!

Therefore, we will begin the study on Zion and David’s Tabernacle, but our basic premise is from God’s viewpoint!

Amos 9:9 "For behold, I am commanding, And I will shake the house of Israel

among all nations As grain is shaken in a sieve, But not a kernel will fall to the ground.

10 "All the sinners of My people will die by the sword, Those who say, 'The calamity will not overtake or confront us.'

All this took place in 70 AD when the Temple was destroyed, people were killed, Israel was dispersed to other nations. Even though this may still have another fulfillment, the first fulfillment has already taken place in 70 A.D. In fact that time was called “The Dispersion.” This took place 70 years after Jesus was born. Calvary and Pentecost were past tense, the New Covenant fully enacted, the Temple was gone, the sacrifices were term

That has been the situation and the history of Israel ever since 70 AD. In other words Israel has been 1959 (70 - 33 = 37 from 2016 = 1959) years without a sin offering or a functioning priesthood. The Temple was destroyed about 34 years after Calvary! (70 - 36 = 34) Since the Ark of the Covenant is gone and no earthly Most Holy Place exists, there has been no animal blood on the Mercy Seat for 1959 years.

Now, all Jews, everywhere, only have another irrelevant religion without a sin offering.

Of course, when Jesus sprinkled His Blood on the Mercy Seat in heaven, that was permanent and will never be repeated!

Since the Old Covenant ceased to exist, Israel has been without a covenant for 1959 years. Some Messianic groups are still looking to the Old Covenant as their reality, after God has clearly said He was establishing a totally New Covenant with mankind! Since the Old Covenant and its provision could not PERFECT ANYBODY, only the New Covenant is a viable option. It is for that reason that the re-building of the Tabernacle of David must be limited to the New Covenant provision. It is for that reason that we consider the Tabernacle of David to be the Type and Shadow of a New Covenant reality. Therefore, what David and the Levites did before the Ark of the Covenant [God’s Voice and manifest Presence] did not cause fire and judgement because God was revealing the future. David’s Tabernacle is prophetic!

Amos 9:11 "In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name," Declares the LORD who does this. 13 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine, And all the hills will be dissolved.

This rebuilding began at Calvary, Pentecost and together with the beginning of the New Covenant. Jesus had ascended to the right hand of God and He began building HIS CHURCH. The Rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David had begun. This is the very first time I have associated building HIS CHURCH with the re-building of the Tabernacle of David. However, since building His Church is directly linked to the New Jerusalem and to Mount Zion I feel confident this is permitted.

Act 15:15 "And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

Act 15:16 'AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, 17 IN ORDER THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,' 18 SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM OF OLD.

It is David’s Tabernacle which is intrigately linked to Mount Zion. Of course

David’s Tabernacle was just a copy and the shadow of the Most Holy Place in the

Tabernacle of God. The earthly Mount Zion was just a copy and shadow of the

Eternal and Heavenly Mount Zion.

Since the last major restoration (the Charismatic Renewal) ended in 1985, we have been carefully watching for the next restoration. Why?

Act 3:18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

Therefore, our present concern is for the Next Restoration that God will accomplish among His People. We are guessing that is about rebuilding and restoring the reality of Mount Zion. Why? That is because Mount Zion had to be possessed BEFORE the Tabernacle of David could be built in David’s time! It is the Tabernacle of David that God is rebuilding during this church age! That why we are guessing about restoring Mount Zion.

Why is that important to us? That is because in the Tabernacle of David, ALL the veils were removed including the third veil which exposed the Ark of the Covenant! What was the result of that? Both David, the King and the Levites, the Priests could sing, dance and worship directly in the Presence of God who dwelt above the Cherubim and over the Mercy Seat. We believe this whole rebuilding is prophetic! Maybe, the WHOLE walled City of David will be included. Why? David’s Tabernacle was in the City of David which was on Mount Zion. In the Tabernacle of David the King / Priest function is clearly seen and the absence of the Third Veil required the CHANGING of the Law and the Covenant.

Therefore, God, it seems, must first rebuild the REALITY of Mount Zion to prepare a place for David’s Tabernacle! We are guessing that this is also a “personal reality” which each of us, who are interested in the Kingdom, should experience. We are guessing that God is or will reestablish the total experience of the Walled City of David and the Heavenly Mount Zion! Why? That is because the City of David may be the Type and Shadow of the Heavenly City referred to in Hebrews 12. If that is true all this must be accomplished during the church age. Why? THAT City { the New Jerusalem} is the Bride!

Also, that is because even James, in the Book of Acts 15, associated the Tabernacle of David with the experience of the New Covenant Church. The reason God is doing that “rebuilding” is so all the nations and the Gentiles may seek God. We also know that this Gospel of the Kingdom WILL be preached in the whole world and THEN the end shall come!

Many and most of the 80 scriptures associated with the Heavenly Mount Zion are applicable to the New Covenant Church and certainly to the Church He is Building! For example;

Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

Heb 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." 27 And this expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Heb 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Here we see the Church He is Building, the New Jerusalem, and Mount Zion and the Kingdom are all linked together in our actual experience. Since we will be attempting to make this application of Mount Zion and David’s Tabernacle very practical, let us look at a few details that apply to this “experience.”

We will begin with the ONE THING that was housed in this little three sided tent called the Tabernacle of David! That was the Ark of the Covenant. [The Voice and Manifest Presence of God] The personal application must include the three things that were hidden within the Ark. One was the Law of Moses contained upon the tablets of stone. Another was Aaron’s rod that budded and the last was the jar that held the Hidden Manna.

EXO 16:33] And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omerful of manna in it, and place it before the LORD, to be kept throughout your generations." 34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the Testimony, to be kept. At this time the “testimony” was the law on tablets of stone because the Ark was not yet built or, all this is essential to our understanding!

HEB 9:3] And behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, [4] having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant. [5] And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

So many of these “items” are prophetic, which we should recognize if are to understand the significance of what God is REBUILDING today. Why? God is currently rebuilding the Tabernacle of David. The Holies of Holies is called “a Tabernacle” but in Moses’ Tabernacle, at that time, it was just one third of the complete Tabernacle. This is prophetic, Why?

David’s Tabernacle was just the Holies of Holies without the veil of separation between the worshiper and the Ark of His Presence. What we are confronted with here are (1)Altar of Incense, (2) The Ark of the Covenant, (3) The Mercy seat, (4) the Cherubim of Glory, (5) the Golden Jar of Manna, (6) the Tables of the Covenant, and (7) Aaron’s Rod that Budded.

It is these seven components which create the environment for the “VOICE” and the Manifest Presence of God. For example; If we eliminated the Mercy Seat would the manifested presence of God still be found there? What if there were no Cherubim of Glory, would God still speak? Why? That is because God speaks from between the Cherubim.

What has the Tables of the Covenant, the Law, have to do with God’s Presence? Is the Altar of Incense really that important to the Presence of God? It is obvious to me that each of these things are very important and essential to OUR function in the Most Holy Place. Which really came first, the Incense or the Presence? We can discover these things from the type. However, this “understanding” requires reading a lot of Scripture! The process of erecting the Tabernacle of Moses will give us the sequence and the “sequence” is important to understanding the history of the Church and the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David.

Exodus 40:18 And Moses erected the tabernacle and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and inserted its bars and erected its pillars. 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 20 Then he took the testimony and put it into the ark, and attached the poles to the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up a veil for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 22 Then he put the table (Showbread) in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. 23 And he set the arrangement of bread in order on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24 Then he placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 26 Then he placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the veil; 27 and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 28 Then he set up the veil for the doorway of the tabernacle. 29 And he set the altar of burnt offering before the doorway of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 30 And he placed the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing.

Exodus 40:31 And from it Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32 When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 33 And he erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work.

EVERYTHING WAS NECESSARY AND NOTHING CAN BE ELIMINATED!

Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

It was “after” everything in the Tabernacle was set up and functioning that the Glory Cloud of God’s Presence filled the Tabernacle. There surely must be some application of this truth for the individual and for the church today.

Of course, ALL these thing are applicable to the Church He is Building!

This “process” is just as true and just as important for the individual and is essential for the Church He is Building as it was for Moses and Israel. It is essential that the reality of the blood be sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat today as it was in the type thousands of years ago. Surely the Tables of the Covenant (Law) IN THE ARK has an application for each of us today. Even the whole Tabernacle is a type and picture for us of heavenly and spiritual things.

It is in the details– which are very difficult to share in a corporate meeting– that the revelation and understanding comes to us personally. It is these “DETAILS” which will be essential when God begins the next restoration of Mount Zion and the Tabernacle of David! Within this period and during the times of the New Covenant, God must establish a Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek, which we see in type by David, the King, and the Levites, The Priests, functioning within the very Presence of God! God, also, must rebuild the Tabernacle of David!

We generally ignore the three items that were within the Ark of the Covenant but the writer of Hebrews does NOT!

Before there was an Ark of His Presence, God commanded Moses to take an “omerful of manna” and place it before the “Testimony” or the Tablets of Stone, the Tablets of the Covenant. Determining this sequence is important to the Church He is Building! Why?

Sometime later the Gold Pot holding the manna was placed in the Ark and covered with the Mercy Seat. We should ask does this golden pot that held the Manna still speak to us today? Is there a Bible application for us of this Manna. Of course there is.

John 6 is a very clear teaching, that most anyone can see, applies the Manna to Jesus Christ and we are warned to eat of that heavenly Manna to receive eternal Life. Why the Life is in the Manna! But what about this “Gold Jar” that held the Manna which was “hidden” in the Ark? Why? The Jar was NOT eaten! Why? The JAR just held the Manna! Why is that important? We do not eat the Man, Christ Jesus, but just what was IN HIM.

What is the application to the Tabernacle of David? How does THIS relate us to the Ark and the Most Holy Place? Why is this just related to the OVERCOMER? When we mention what is JUST related to the “overcomer” , the objections begin. Why? They say that God treats all His children exactly the same. Why? God is not a respecter of persons.

REV 3:17] `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

The revelation of the meaning of Manna has already been given to us, therefore, we cannot deviate from that understanding. To think or be taught that we have already participated in all these things “because we are saved” is one of the stupidest things I have heard.

JOHN 6:31] "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'" [32] Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. [33] "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."

JOHN 6:35] Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

JOHN 6:48] "I am the bread of life. [49] "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. [50] "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. [51] "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh."

JOHN 6:53] Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. [54] "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. [55] "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. [56] "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. [57] "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. [58] "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate, and died, he who eats this bread shall live forever."

It was the Living Word of God {the Sperma or Semen} that came down out of heaven and became flesh among us. His flesh is directly related to His LIVING and Abiding Word. Eating His flesh has a direct application to eating His Living and Abiding Word and being sustained by it. Then it is by eating His Living Word that is directly related to resurrection in the last days. Eternal life is also directly related to eating His LIVING Word. I am emphasizing eating “the Living Word” to receive LIFE to differentiate between that and reading or memorizing the written Word to receive information and knowledge.

The only “Manna” that was hidden was the Manna that was placed in the Gold Pot and put into the Ark of the Covenant. To eat of that Manna was limited to the overcomer. If Jesus Christ {the True Bread that came down out of heaven} is the fulfillment of the manna that was seen in type, then a practical application of “this Manna” is essential for each of us TO INGEST AND DIGEST. While we have to guess or speculate what that means to eat of the hidden Manna that does not depreciate the importance of becoming an overcomer. Why?

To imply that the “under-comer” will also eat of the “hidden Manna” is ignorant and a disservice to the church. It is the overcomer, the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek, the Kingdom of Priests, the New Jerusalem and Mount Zion which IS the revelation of the meaning of the Tabernacle of David and of Mount Zion! This speaks to us of the REMOVED Third Veil. To teach that everybody, who is saved, will see His Face is extremely ignorant. Why? It is ONLY the Bondservants that shall see His face!

Revelation 22:1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; 4 and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever. 6 And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place.

Now, we no longer have to guess because we can report with confidence that it is only the Bondservants that shall see His face, be personally illuminated and reign with Him forever!

Therefore, let us continue our study and learn the way and the process of “going UP to Zion!” Of course, like so many things in God, it all begins with a birth into Zion. Without the birth there can be no GROWTH.

Psalm 84:5 How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion! 6 Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a spring, The early rain also covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

The HIGHWAY TO ZION is something eternal that God builds into our HEARTS! That now means “in our new inner man.” This Highway is part of a birth into Zion.

Psalm 87:5 But of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; And the Most High Himself will establish her. 6 The LORD shall count when He registers the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah. 7 Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, "All my springs of joy are in you."

Psalm 87:1 -------His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. 4 "I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me; Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia: 'This one was born there.'"

Our concern in these next studies will deal with those persons AFTER they are born in Zion and the “process” that takes them to the “heights of Zion.” What, exactly, does that transition mean that takes them “from arriving at the foot of Mount Zion” {like Israel at Mount Sinai} to the heights of Zion? At least some will ascend to the heights of Zion. Out of about 6 million Jews that arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai only 75 ascended part way up Mount Sinai. Only Moses and Joshua went higher and only Moses went all the way up. The higher we go, the fewer the number. Some only saw His feet like burnished bronze. They were still amazed that they survived that limited experience!

Zion is a VERY special place with VERY special people. There are 144,000 special People that stand on Zion having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. Why Can God “write His name” on them? That is because these have been totally GIVEN TO GOD SO THEY ARE HIS. Therefore, He can place His Name upon them as HIS PROPERTY.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

Why is there only 144,000 standing on Zion when there must be millions of souls in heaven?

Rev 19:1 After these things I heard, as it were, a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;

Rev 19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

While there are millions upon millions of souls in heaven, these are NOT the Bride nor the Bondservants nor those who stand on Zion. These millions of others are referred to as “invited guests.”

The “perfection of Zion” is much higher, much different and more intense than the other degrees of perfection. These are blameless. Of course they are also transparent like Crystal Clear Jasper. There is also the “perfection” of the New Jerusalem which is much higher than the qualifications of the New Heaven and of course the qualifications of New Heaven are different from the qualifications for the New Earth. When we study the about 80 scriptures about the heavenly Mount Zion, it is clear this is a Very Special Place with Very Special People. Mount Zion represents the Highest Calling for the redeemed church! [ The One He is Building] Since we know a large group of the redeemed will inhabit Zion, and a great multitude will inhabit New Jerusalem, why would we not run for the HIGHEST calling? Most Christians are not even aware there is such a birth in Zion or even that kind of High Calling to a higher Perfection.

Philip 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Historically, Paul wrote this letter in 62 AD. What was it that Paul was aware of that he had not yet attained? What “perfection” was he anticipating? What was it he was trying to lay hold of at this time in His life? He may have been functioning as an Apostle for over 12 years when he wrote this letter.

It seems obvious that Paul was NOT speaking about “salvation” or ministry” or about “going to heaven when he died!” He was striving for the HIGHEST calling which was Mount Zion.

Historically, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in 56 AD and following his being caught up to the Third Heaven. This was about 6 years before the Letter to the Philippines. That Third Heaven Revelation set the course of Paul’s life. His revelation of the New Jerusalem and Mount Zion was probably the reason for this always pressing onward and upward! Paul’s goal became the Highest Calling which he was constantly pressing toward. His exhortation was to HOLD THE GROUND YOU HAVE ATTAINED and then keep pressing on to the HIGHEST CALLING. That is still the revelation and calling today for the Overcomer, the Bride, the New Covenant Priesthood and the Kingdom of Priests! In other words, THAT IS THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM that should be preached in the whole world!

The Harlot, Babylon, church must be the greatest disappointment to both the Lamb and to God in every church age. Why? That is because they knew at least some Truth but refused to live out that Truth or be changed by it. We can surely relate the Harlot church to the casual, lukewarm, unconcerned group of people, called Christians, today. Someone must warn them or they will be swept away in God’s Judgement.

To make just going to a generic heaven the single goal of the Christian Life is really ignorant when we understand the different places in “heaven.” For that reason, the “explanation” for the “perfection of the church” will require the revelation of Zion, the Throne of God, God’s manifest Presence, His voice and the fulness of His Glory. In other words “Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem.”

While we certainly have NOT captured the fulness of the Next Restoration in this study, hopefully, someone can add the details and provide specific directions to Mount Zion. ( The Bible says “They will ask the way to Zion) Since Mount Zion is primarily His Perfected People, the WAY TO ZION cannot be too complicated, even though it may seem impossible!