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Citizens of Zion
In Isaiah 62, God pronounces His delight in Zion. She is given a new name, Hephzibah (My delight is in her) and her land is now called Beulah (married).
The Lord promises Zion her coming salvation and deliverance:
Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes;
Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”
And they will call them, “ The holy people,
The redeemed of the Lord”;
And you will be called, “Sought out, a city not forsaken.” – Isaiah 62:11,12
In Isaiah 63, we see Christ coming, wearing garments of vengeance and judgment after having triumphed over the enemies of his people – citizens of Zion!
But who are the citizens of Zion? We are told in the same chapter:
For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us
And Israel does not recognize us.
You, O Lord, are our Father,
Our Redeemer from of old is Your name. – Isaiah 63:16
‘Natural Jews’? Modern day, geo-political Israel? No.
It is the elect remnant of faith that is Zion, the same who, in chapter 64 of Isaiah pray that their deliverance promised by God would come quickly! Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down (Isaiah 64:1).
In chapter 65, God replies:
“I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’
To a nation which did not call on My name.” – Isaiah 65:1
In chapter 66, we find the passage quoted by Stephen before the Jerusalem council:
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:
‘ Heaven is My throne,
And earth is the footstool of My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My repose?
‘ Was it not My hand which made all these things?’
On the moment of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from that tomb, there came forth with Him a chosen race, a holy nation, a people of God’s own possession, His bride in whom He delights and is ‘married’ to Him – the Church. Yes, the Church – sons and daughters of God by adoption and grace, the redeemed citizens of Zion. Jesus is her head, and she is His body, and the two shall never be separated. One Husband who delights in His one bride, married forever.
5 Pt. Salt 
The Apostle Paul tells us, in Galatians chap 4, that Zion is Jerusalem from above, while Sinai is the bondage of the slave woman. Praise the Lord for His great and abiding mercy on His chosen people from all nations, tribes, & tongues!
Thanks for OT proofs…always faith-building in the face of the onslaught of premillenial dispensationalism. Made me think of Heb 12:22-24 where Zion is clearly equated with the church of Jesus Christ ….
Heb 12:22-24
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Great post- thanks! I enjoyed reading it very much. When I first became a Christian, I thought all Christians were dispensationalists, because everyone I knew was (this is long before the internet). Then I discovered covenantal theology, and after a quarter of a century, I am still grateful that the Lord led me to discover the errors of the dispensational viewpoint.