For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
I confess to interpreting Holy Scripture literally. A literal interpretation is my first assumption. When the scriptural intention is be be allegorical, it is usually pretty obvious and stated as such. Some things in scripture are symbolic yet real. Like baptism. It is an ordinance full of symbolism, but you really do get wet.
John describes the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven in chapter 21. It is real. Of particular interest is the shape and dimensions of the city: Continue reading “Zion The New Jerusalem”
The term Zion has two distinct meanings: 1) The people of God; and 2) The City of God where the people of God live. In Enoch’s day the righteous followers of God built a Zion city. Because of their worthiness God came down to be with them and brought them into His “tabernacle” or “sanctuary” which he created and then, “in process of time” removed the people and his physical sanctuary from the earth. This place is where the righteous dwell with God and where His throne is located. The temple “Holy of Holies” is a mini replica of it. It is a place of Celestial glory. It is “heaven”.
References
1Ephesians 1:10
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
2DC Section 128:18
18 … for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times.
3Moses 7:18
18 And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.
4Moses 7:19
19 And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even ZION.
5Moses 7:17
17 The fear of the Lord was upon all nations, so great was the glory of the Lord, which was upon his people. And the Lord blessed the land, and they were blessed upon the mountains, and upon the high places, and did flourish.
6Moses 7:13
13 And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course;
7Moses 7:69
69 And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; …
8Moses 7:31
31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, …
9Moses 7:69
… and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED..
10Hebrews 11:5
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him…
113 Nephi 21:1
1 AND verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place—that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion;
12DC 45:69,71
69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. 71 And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.
13DC 84:2-3
2 Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem. 3 Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.
14DC 45:66 – 68
66 And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God; 67 And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion. 68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
15DC 45:70
70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.
163 Nephi 20:22
22 And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.
17Articles of Faith, 1:10
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
18Moses 7:62
62 …and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.
19Moses 7:64
64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest.
20Revelation 21:2 – 4
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
21Moses 7:62
…and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. 63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;
22Moses 7:62
9 And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old save the old have passed away, and all things have become new. 10 And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; …
As used in the Holy Scriptures in the strict sense, the term Gentile refers to non-covenant peoples of the earth. Nations and individuals who have made covenant agreements with God, either now or in the past, are termed “The House of Israel”. All others are “Gentiles” if they come from traditionally Christian countries or “Heathen Nations” if they are from non-Christian countries.
The City of Zion, also known as the New Jerusalem, is the key place of gathering, and is to be centered in Jackson County, Missouri, specifically Independence, where the great Temple is to be built. Right now, baptized converts stay in their current locale. They “gather” only in the sense of meeting together. Eventually all of the House of Israel (except Judah) will be Latter-day Saints and they, along with well intentioned non-Latter-day Saint Gentiles will come to the center place of Zion and build up the New Jerusalem as a place of safety and security in a very tumultuous world.
What about our current “gentile” population and gentile governments in the US and Canada? They’ll need to assist in building Zion or be “swept from the land”. It’s not the faithful Latter-day Saints that do it but rather the judgments of God that come when the level of evil reaches the tipping point. Internal conflict and invasion from the south accomplish the deed.
The word of God is very explicit concerning the establishment of Zion in Missouri: It’s going to happen for sure. The only question is who gets on board and who gets swept away. However the future of the North American gentile peoples is not fixed. The scriptures do not decree their fate but lay out two distinct scenarios: 1) Fight against Zion and be destroyed; or 2) join in building up Zion and be prospered.
My personal take on it is that there are a great many good people in the US and Canada who will support the cause of Zion once it becomes evident to them that God is behind it. Many do not currently support the truth because they really don’t yet know about it or have been deceived regarding it. But that won’t last forever.
As the portentous events of the latter-days develop a great division in our North American societies occurs. We can see it developing already and the division will grow to the point where gray areas shrink and the choices become stark. Those avoiding physical conflict and who want to be governed by honest leaders who follow true principles of democracy, as found in the divinely inspired US Constitution, will come physically to The City of Zion.
I try not to say anything in this blog that is not already in the Holy Scriptures in very plain speech. If you haven’t heard about these things then I suggest to read the words of Jesus on the subject. Here is an example from 3 Nephi 21 in the Book of Mormon:
3 Nephi 21:14, 22-28
14 Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; …
…
22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;
23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.
24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.
26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.
27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.