The Road to Zion

One of the passages in scripture that has been foundational to the message the Lord has given me is Isaiah Chapter 35.  It speaks of a road in the wilderness, the Highway of Holiness, which allows the redeemed of the Lord to return to Zion (Isa. 8-10).  The redeemed are those who have believed unto salvation, through the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins.  This is a road to a further salvation (Isa. 4), which is the resurrection of the saints to be manifested as the holy city, the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ (Rev. 21:2).  This passage in Isaiah does not imply that because we are redeemed we arrive at Zion.  Rather, we are exhorted to: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear!  Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.’ ” (Isa. 35:3-4).  I believe this is what Paul was speaking of when he said: “share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling…” (2Tim. 1:8-9).  Those who are saved have entered into a holy calling.  The early Christians did not see salvation as a completed act, but a progression.  They were to work out the fullness of their salvation (Phil. 2:12).  They were to be followers of the Way (Acts 9:2).  As I have explained in previous articles, we are called to eternal life for our whole being, not just for our spirit. 

This illustration of the road to Zion is symbolic of the return from captivity of the dispersed Jews.  Peter referred to the early Christians as “pilgrims of the Dispersion” (1Pe. 1:1).  James referred to them as “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”.  Both Peter and James were addressing the Jews and Gentiles who had become believers.  There was an understanding among the apostles that God was fulfilling the words of the Old Testament prophets through the gospel message (1Pe. 1:10-12).  The symbolic use of a road, or highway, in the wilderness refers to the fact that they were not yet in the Promised Land, which for us is Heaven.  This is also the illustration that Isaiah used in Chapter 40 when he speaks of the “voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ ” (Isa. 40:3-4).  The message is to God’s people who were sent into exile because of their sin, but now their punishment is over, their sins are pardoned (Isa. 40:2).  It is a call to return to Zion but it is also a call to rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem.  Even though many of the exiles returned and rebuilt the temple and the city, it was not completed as revealed to the prophets.  The restored temple shown to Ezekiel is not the one that was rebuilt.  God is still completing His work of restoration through Jesus Christ.  Peter says that we “as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pe. 2:5).  God is doing a new thing, but He is also completing what He began in the Old Testament.  Paul says that Gentiles are wild olive branches grafted into the original olive tree which is the Nation of Israel (Rom. 11:15-24).  God is making one new holy nation in Christ (1Pe. 2:9).  

Whether we see the calling as a journey or a work of restoration, the goal is the same.  We are to become “the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Rev. 21:10).  This work will continue and must be completed before He returns.  Peter declared this in one of his sermons: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21)  Christ must stay in heaven until all these things have been restored.  When I say the restoration must be completed, I do not mean manifested.  “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1Jn. 3:2)  “When Christ who is our life appears, then you will appear with Him in glory.” (Col. 3:4).  There is an order for all things to be brought under the feet of Christ.  First He must put all things under the feet of the Church, and then the rest of creation.  In glorified bodies, the Church will reign with Christ during the Millennium.  The kingdom of God will continue to be extended over the nations until the last enemy, death, is destroyed over all of creation.  (See 1Cor. 15:20-28.) 

Now is the time to bring the captives back to Zion, to rebuild the tabernacle of David, to rebuild the cities and to inhabit the land forever (Amos 9:11-15).  The wonderful truth about the road to Zion is the provision along the way.  Although the goal is high, a Bride who has made herself ready (Rev. 19:8), it is well within our reach because God makes it possible.  Along this road God has provided for healing (Isa. 5-6); for refreshing (Isa. 6-7); for nourishment (Isa. 7); for holiness (Isa. 8); for victory over sin (Isa. 8); for guidance (Isa. 8); for protection from evil powers (Isa. 8-9); and for our emotional needs (Isa. 10).  All we need can be obtained through faith.  I am reminded of the words the Lord spoke to Joshua when it was time to go in and possess the land, “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9).  We must “be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ” (2Tim. 2:1).  We must not be like the Israelites in the wilderness who wanted to choose a leader to take them back to Egypt because they were afraid of the giants in the land.  That results only in death (Nu. 14:1-38).  God will give us true leaders: shepherds who care for the sheep and prophets who will make the road straight, even and smooth (Isai. 40:3-4).