​​Welcome  to    Joy By Surprise

Introduction

In ancient days Zion was a Jebusite citadel, a fortress which stood on one of the hills of Jerusalem. This fortress was later captured by king David and subsequently called the City of David. In Scripture when the word 'Zion' is used, it doesn't always mean the fortress hill in Jerusalem, but the entire city; and, more importantly, the Chosen People of YaHuWaH the Almighty Elohim of Israel.

1. City fo the Great King!

Zion, the city of David, is also called the City of the Great King; that is, YaHuWaH Himself. The language in the following verses includes the new Jerusalem and the believers who will be privileged to live there.

2. Sinners in Zion

Sad to say, at the moment (2010) there are many blatant sinners in Zion. That is, in Jerusalem, Israel and also in the Christian church. Commercialized religion, sexual sin, a chronic disregard for the Torah and a strange fascination to impress others are the sins which are rampant in the church and in modern Jerusalem.

Consider these verses which compare YaHuWaH 's people (and the Church) to a beautiful woman who, alas! has fallen in love with her good looks and spends most of her time and money beautifying and admiring herself.

Though this passage appears to concentrate on the vanity of women, it is in fact, at a higher level, pointing out the sins of all Zion's people, male and female: self-interest, pride and a craze to impress others.

Is not the Christian church in this pathetic bracket? It surely is. Fearsome punishment always follows such wantonness.

3. A Call to Repentance

The work of every true preacher is to call people to repentance, faith and obedience. This call is especially directed at the people of Zion; that is to the members of YaHuWaH's congregation. The Almighty has promised that every one who heeds that call, who turns from sin and walks in the way of Truth, will be delivered.

Most certainly this is a call to repentance. A call to give up sin, to mentally move out of the Babylonian way of thinking and to return to the worship of YaHuWaH in the way He has commanded.

4. Zion's Punishment

Sad to say the call to repentance, faith and obedience, for the most part, goes unheeded and punishment usually follows. History tells us that the city of Jerusalem was captured several times and the beautiful temple was burned to the ground. The citizens of Zion were scattered to the four corners of the earth and Jerusalem was taken over by Gentiles. Then began, what YAHUSHUA calls, the 'Times of the Gentiles.'

All this is history and there are many prophecies which foretold the sad events.

The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the scattering of Israel has already happened. But the nation of Israel is now back in the Promised Land. Bible prophecy, however, tells us of yet another attack on Jerusalem, its final capture and its brutal domination by the Gentiles; a domination which will last 42 months and will end when the Messiah returns to deliver the city.

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5. Zion Not Forsaken

Nevertheless, YaHuWaH 's love for His people and the city of Zion is everlasting. This love ensures that Satan is no more able to wipe out the church than he is to obliterate Jerusalem from the face of the earth. Both are protected by YaHuWaH and both will survive till Messiah's return.

Hitler's Final Solution,to rid the Earth of the Jews, miserably failed. If anything it forced the world to give back to Israel the land YaHuWaH promised to Abraham near 4000 years ago. A curse was reversed and Israel became a nation again soon after the war.

6. Zion's King & Deliverer

YAHUSHUA the Messiah is Zion's King and Deliverer. On His first visit to Zion He paid the price for man's sin by dying on the cross at Calvary. But He arose from the grave and returned to Heaven to receive power and authority to rule all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). On His return to Earth He will deliver the city of Jerusalem from Gentile domination and set up His throne and government there.

7. Zion... The World's New Capital

Zion (Jerusalem) is scheduled to be the capital city of the whole earth when YAHUSHUA the Messiah returns. Year by year representatives from all nations will then come to Zion to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Failure to do so will invite severe punishment.

YaHuWaH 's Torah

During the millennium YaHuWaH 's Torah will be taught and obeyed throughout the world. People will then admit, most of them reluctantly, that the Almighty's instructions are, after all, the best humanity has ever known.

Incidentally, when in our literature we use the word millennium we do not mean the year 2000 A.D. Instead we mean the Messiah's 1000 Year Reign of Peace which will commence when He returns to Earth.

8. Zion: The Eternal City

Many people refer to Rome as the eternal city. This is a big mistake. The eternal city is not Rome. The eternal city, according to the Word of YaHuWaH , is not New York, London, Frankfurt, Moscow or Tokyo - but Zion! One day Rome, along with all these other sin-ridden capitals of the nations will become a heap of rubble (Rev:16:19). But Zion is eternal. It cannot be removed; because according to Almighty YaHuWaH 's Word Zion abideth forever! That is an important fact to bear in mind.

9. Who will Enter Zion?

It is, of course, easy these days to visit Jerusalem or join a church. But who will ascend the holy hill of Zion when the Savior sits on his throne there? Bear in mind that mount Zion in Jerusalem is also a shadow of the high and holy place where YaHuWaH currently sits on His throne. That universal seat of government on high is scheduled to be moved to Jerusalem when YAHUSHUA the Messiah returns to Earth. Think about that astonishing fact. Will you then qualify to visit Zion? This passage gives the answer.

'Clean hands' and a 'pure heart' mean those with righteous actions and pure minds. This redeemed army, having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, and empowered to live set apart lives by the Holy Spirit, will enter Zion with great joy and gladness. Then, at last, will Jerusalem live up to her name as the City of Peace, Holiness and Truth! No unbeliever - of whatever race - will be allowed to walk the streets of Zion when the Messiah returns. It will be a city free from sin: unbelief, strife, commercialism, paganism and vanity.

We can see from the above passages about Zion that she has a glorious future. The city of Jerusalem, though still to pass through a painful period, has a glorious future. In the same way the people of Zion, the true believers in YaHuWaH, the Elohim of Israel, have a glorious future. Nothing can alter these facts. Though the whole world were to gather against Zion and her People (wherever they currently live) the Word of the Almighty Elohim of Israel will come to pass. First Zion, the city of YaHuWaH, will be captured and brutally dominated by the Nations for a period of 42 months. (Revelation 11: 2) After this period Zion will be rescued and cleansed. Zion will then be empowered by YaHuWaH Himself. Zion will be glorified. Zion's King is about make Zion the beauty of the whole Earth. Have no doubt, all these things will come to pass as prophesied in the Scriptures.

Say Amen, Amen and Amen again to these verses. Because they summarize our dearest hopes and give us great confidence that Zion, the eternal city, the City of the Great King! is the one place in all space that, by His grace and mercy, we want to - and will - enter! Blessed be YaHuWaH, Elohim of Israel!