The Controversy of Zion*

      We just saw an attack by Iran upon Israel. Twenty-four hours before the attack began, my wife, Pastor Mary, put out a call to the Body of Christ for prayer for Israel. The nations surrounding Israel seek the destruction of that nation and the Jewish people by claiming all of the land "from the River to the Sea" for themselves. Even their own claim, therefore, does not support the "two-nation solution" currently being wrongly recommended by those in political power. God said that He would send a strong delusion that would cause people to believe the lie (2 Thess. 2:11-12). We, the believers in Christ, should not be among those who believe the lie. What do the scriptures say about this?

      Although "Zionism" and "Zionist" are not found in scripture, "Zion" certainly is. This is the first mention of Zion: "Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion: the same is the city of David." The Hebrew word, Zion, means a sunny mountain or a parched place. It is also a term used for Jerusalem. Before David took control over it, Zion was occupied by the Jebusites, who did not practice godly ways. They used the fortified position on the mountain as a stronghold, meaning in Hebrew "a defense, snare, net for prey." "Zion" is further mentioned many times in scripture. Here are some examples:

• "O that the salvation of Israel (were come) out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad." (Ps. 14:7, and Ps. 53:6).
• "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion...Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little: blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Ps. 2:1-6, 12).
• "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Ps. 48:1-2).

     This is God's purpose for Israel and Jerusalem. Zion is the city of the great King (see also Mt. 5:33-37), the Son, the city of the reign of the Messiah (who is the fruit of David: Ps. 132:10-11). The LORD restored Israel as a nation and Zion, as His Word promised He would do. We have seen it in this generation. The nations hate the idea of God inhabiting Zion, but the Word of God is set. This is why the Temple Mount is in such fierce contention also. The Arabs built a mosque there and violently acted to forbid all others from accessing the mount.

     Isaiah prophesies of the day when the indignation of the LORD will fall upon all nations and upon all their armies. Even the heavens will be rolled up together as a scroll, as the sword of His judgment, bathed in heaven, falls upon Idumea (Edom - "red") and upon the people of the LORD's curse: "For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion." (Isa. 34:1-8). As Jesus, the Messiah/Christ, returns to smite and rule the nations, He will do so with a sharp sword coming out of His mouth (see Rev. 19:15-16). This war against the nations is Armageddon. The two-state solution will not solve the controversy of Zion, nor change God's mind about the place of His throne: "In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem (Jerusalem) also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion." (Ps. 76:1-2). Judah is "the people of praise", the Jewish people. As for those who have afflicted Israel: "The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD; The Zion of the Holy One of Israel." (Isa. 60:14).

     Again, the LORD proclaims over Zion: "For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy." (Ps. 132:13-16). As this is the place of the LORD's rest, He is referring to the  seventh day, with one day being as a thousand years. This rest of the LORD in Zion is the Millennial, or Thousand Year, Reign of the Messiah: "Bless the LORD, O house of Israel; bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD." (Ps. 135:19-21).

     It is not only the nations that covet The City of the Throne of the LORD, Zion, and desire to prevent the day of His reign: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (Satan), son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit...thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet." (Isa. 14:12-19). Zion is the Mount of the Congregation on the sides of the north. The nations that follow Lucifer and his covetousness of Zion, the City and Throne of God, will follow him into destruction.

     The LORD specifically judges Philistia/Palestina, or Palestine: "Howl, O gate; cry O city; thou whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times. What shall one then answer the messenger of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it." (Isa. 14:28-32). Ezekiel chapters 37and 38 prophesy of the destruction that comes from the north, Gog and Magog (Russia) along with other nations, only to be led into a trap that destroys them.

     There is a set time that the LORD has appointed for Zion: "But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof." Ps. 102:12-14). Shall a nation be born in a day? Yes, the nation of Israel. Do you love the stones and even the very dust of Zion? One of the purposes of Zion is to make the heathen fear the LORD: "So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory...To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD." (v. 15-22, excerpt).

     The prophet Joel wrote about the coming day of the LORD and its frightening signs, and how the people of God should prepare for it: "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly...Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them...Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people...And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." (Joel 2:1-32, excerpt). There is deliverance among the repenting remnant of Zion, the mount of the Messiah, Jesus. Of this remnant of Zion, Zechariah also wrote the Word of the LORD: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in my eyes? saith the LORD of hosts...Behold, I will save my people...And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness." (Zech. 8:6-8). The LORD described how He would bring about this salvation in Zion: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury...I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain." (v. 2-3). The LORD will carry out the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts laid by the prophets, that the temple of the LORD might be built (see v. 9, see also Isa. 2:1-4). There will be a third temple, and the LORD will jealously watch over Zion for His purposes. A two-state solution will not be acceptable to the LORD. A terrorist threat of "From the River to the Sea", as a militant call to wipe out Israel and the Jewish people, will not be acceptable to the LORD. 

     We see the signs of the end times, especially in the warfare taking place in the Middle East right  now. We have been lax in our role in these times to blow the trumpet and sound the alarm. We have been lax in repentance (2 Chron. 7:14), and lax in prayer. 

      *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 4/14/24 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.