The first time the name, Zion, is mentioned in scripture is in 2Samuel 5:7. Technically, it was the fort or stronghold within the city of Jerusalem. It was supposed to have been impenetrable, and its original inhabitants mocked David, believing they would never be conquered. Nevertheless, David did conquer Zion and dwelt therein, and he called it the city of David (2Samuel 5:6-9; 1Chronicles 11:5-7). Later, David brought the Ark of the Lord (God’s presence) into Zion – i.e. into the stronghold or the “city of David” with great celebration (2Samuel 6:12-16). The name, Zion, was afterward applied to the whole city of Jerusalem (Isaiah 33:20), which was then called “the City of God” (Psalm 87:2-3; Isaiah 60:14).
Isaiah wrote more about Zion than all of the major prophets combined. He said that the daughter of Zion is as a besieged city, and likens them to the remnant who were saved in order to preserve the nation itself (Isaiah 1:8-9). Zion would be redeemed (Isaiah 1:27), but the wicked would be destroyed and judged by fire (Isaiah 1:28-31). In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s House (Temple) will be established in the tops of mountains, and all nations will flow unto it, desiring to know the Lord, because the word of God will flow out of Zion (Isaiah 2:2-3).
Futurists will interpret these verses, saying they point to the Second Coming of Christ. That would be fine, if they didn’t put the Second Coming into our (modern day) future. The term, last days, always refers to Israel’s last days, i.e. the final day of the nation, and particularly the end of the Old Covenant age, which occurred, for all intents and purposes in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Zion had been called the righteous city, but in the end it was the dwelling of murders and the wicked, who loved the bribe and had no mercy or sense of justice (Isaiah 1:21-23). However, the Lord said he would restore Zion, giving her wise councilors and judges, and she would once more be called a faithful city, the city of righteousness (Isaiah 1:26-27). If the interpretation of this is applied to the last days (Isaiah 2:2), as seems to be the context, then Isaiah was pointing to the time when physical Jerusalem was destroyed (Isaiah 1:28-31), and restored Israel (Zion – Isaiah 1:27), i.e. the disciples of Christ, were established in the top of the mountains, and the gentiles flowed unto her, seeking to know the Lord, Jesus the Messiah, because the word of God (the Gospel) flowed from Zion, i.e. Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3).
Now, if we would try to interpret this literally, of course it wouldn’t fit, because physical Zion—physical Jerusalem—was destroyed by the Romans. However, John shows that New Jerusalem, i.e. New Zion, comes out of heaven from God. It is spiritual in nature, not physical as futurists want to interpret it. Once we understand that the fulfillment of these verses is spiritual, it becomes clear. Physical Jerusalem was destroyed, but the remnant, the restored Israel (Jews and gentiles) was vindicated by the Lord, and gentiles, worldwide, were beginning to believe the Gospel—i.e. flowing unto New Zion.
Later, Isaiah describes this time as the time when the Lord made a great banquet (Isaiah 25:6), which occurred just after he made the walled city (i.e. physical Jerusalem) a heap (Isaiah 25:2). In other words, this was the time Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed and burned by the Romans. And, at that same time the Lord would swallow up death in victory (Isaiah 25:8; 1Corinthians 15:54). So, when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, and New Zion (New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:1-3) was established in the tops of the mountains, and the gentiles began flowing to her to learn about the Gospel, at that very time resurrection occurred, as death was swallowed up in victory. The interpretation of these things must be spiritual, because New Jerusalem wasn’t a geopolitical city that one could find on a map. New Jerusalem is the Church or the Assembly of God—the City of God, if you will—i.e. New Zion (Hebrews 12:22-23).
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