5. The Path of Zion and Jerusalem and the Controversy

5.  -Isaiah Chapter 34, Verse 8.

The Path of Zion and Jerusalem and the Controversy. 

Isaiah 34:8. "FOR IT IS THE DAY OF THE LORD'S VENGEANCE, AND THE YEAR OF RECOMPENSES FOR THE CONTROVERSY OF ZION".

What is the "controversy" that Isaiah speaks of? And what must be recompensed? First, let us establish that a "controversy" is a dispute between persons, especially in writing. It is a dispute, which the law of God must set right and the injured party compensated to make amends for error suffered by that party. In this case of which Isaiah speaks, it is the deliberate injury felt by the children of Zion and it is to establish once and for all "Who is Zion"!

We modern people across the world use the word "Zionists", when referring to a movement brought about by the Jews of the world. Some nations speak of Zionists in anger, others in an uneducated fashion. No one it seems gets the true meaning of Zion in its correct context, which is taught, time and time again in the Holy Bible.

Zionism, as the world sees it, points its finger directly towards the Jews in the land of Israel today. Jewish Zionism however started as a "secular" movement to call the worlds Jews together towards their homeland, Israel. Whereas biblical Zionism is a "spiritual" movement answered through a "call" of educated prophecy.

If one reads an encyclopaedia with references to Zion or Sion, therein, one is told at first that in "Jewish" antiquity Zion was the South West hill of the city of Jerusalem. (Which should read "Israelite" antiquity, not Jewish). In the Apocrypha and 1 Maccabees 1:29-38. Zion is the Temple Hill in the city of David -There is much speculation today as to where exactly Zion stood and whether it was joined to Jerusalem.- What we do know is "Zion" was one of the hills on which Jerusalem -as a whole- stood. King David captured this fortress hill from the Jebusites and changed its name to the city of David.   (2nd Samuel 5:7).
It was to this fortress David brought the "Ark of the Covenant" and from that moment the city became sacred. (2nd Samuel 6). Later King Solomon was to remove the "Ark" to Mount Moriah and the New Temple (2nd Chronicles 3:1). The removal of the "Ark" between these 2 hills, Moriah and Zion, did not eventually merge Zion and Jerusalem into one sacred entity -as far as God was concerned- because they were kept apart throughout His words in prophecy.

The reason for this began to take shape in Israel's history, because firstly King David, - a man of God's choosing- took possession of Zion as the city of God -and the ark of the Covenant- with great joy and dancing. David remained all his life, (no matter what his faults were) faithful to God and His promises until the day he died.

Whereas Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, which eventually held the Ark, became subject to Solomon's secular and civil luxuries and weaknesses, which eventually drove a wedge between himself and God.

He kept many foreign women as concubines who were allowed to worship their idolatrous religions. Solomon was persuaded by them to set up idol shrines of worship, (1Kings 11:1-13). For this apostasy and disloyalty to Israel's God, Solomon and his Kingdom were punished, which eventually saw some of the tribes and the dynasty taken from him, under Solomon's son Rehoboam. The "Ark" of God's presence in the Temple in Jerusalem had been defiled under the weight of Solomon's sins. For these reasons and more, the city of Zion, -which once held the "presence of God" also, remained steadfast under David and because of David all Israel too was covered. So the wedge between these 2 hills was  forged, which remained 2 separate cities throughout prophetic Scripture.(Isaiah 64:10, Zechariah 1:17).

These "separate" cities in the process of time will bring forth 2 "separate" remnants, called, "the daughter of Zion, and the daughter of Jerusalem".

Just as biblical students ponder the question, -Which hill is Zion,- so also the controversy remains "where" is the daughter of Zion? Isaiah the prophet laments, Zion's situation, that she is forsaken and hidden! (Isaiah 49:14-16, 1:8-9).

Isaiah 49:14. "BUT ZION SAID, THE LORD HATH FORSAKEN ME, AND MY LORD HATH FORGOTTEN ME".

Isaiah 1:8. "AND THE DAUGHTER OF ZION IS LEFT AS A COTTAGE IN A VINEYARD, AS A LODGE IN A GARDEN OF CUCUMBERS, AS A BESIEGED CITY".
Verse 9:- "EXCEPT THE LORD OF HOSTS HAD LEFT UNTO US A VERY SMALL REMNANT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AS SODOM, AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE UNTO GOMORRAH".

Isaiah is telling us that, the children of the "remnant of Zion" are likened to a small cottage hidden behind a plantation of grapes, whose branches spread this way and that covering Zion as a blanket that no man can see her. Zion is a lodge -or a small hut in a park or forest of trailing, entangling, creeping, suffocating cucumber tentacles, that act upon Zion as though she were in a city attacked on all sides, surrounded, unable to get help and lost to the world outside her situation. Isaiah's chapter 49, laments Zion's predicament as if even the Lord has forsaken this awful situation, she finds herself in.

And like the peoples of Sodom and Gomorrah that were destroyed by God, Zion it seems will be no more in this blanket situation. Just as God brought Lot and his daughters out of these cities, -they of Sodom and Gomorrah a small remnant saved from destruction,- so too a few people of the holy seed called the "daughter of Zion" will be saved and "shown" to the world in a different fashion!

The Jew of the nation of Israel, were "never" hidden from the world in this fashion because the Jew have always been seen and identified, in the world and its nations. Many scholars in many books will say, that "Zion" became the description for all, Jerusalem and for Palestine and the term used in the Bible -"daughter of Zion"- is applied to the "Jewish people".

Referring to the expression, "daughter of Zion" to the Jewish people couldn't be further from the truth if one tried to make it so! Here then lies the "Controversy" spoken by Isaiah!

Zionism, as the world sees it, was indeed a named movement to settle Jews in Palestine, mainly after 2 World Wars. Even after the fall of Judea under Imperial Rome in 70 AD. Zion, like Jerusalem, became a symbol of "hope" for the Jewish peoples scattered from their homeland. Over the centuries many, many Jews in exile longed for the Jerusalem of their Cherished dreams and of returning to Palestine. It was said that the secular movement of Zionism could not arise until Jewish life itself was in some way organised into a secular movement and this process took shape in the 18th century. It grew with another onslaught of antisemitism in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The nationalistic influences that pushed nations into rattling sabres, then excluding Jews on all fronts, brought about 2 world wars and that of a mass movement towards Jewish Zionists escaping to Palestine began.

Jewish historic information tells us that, in 1861 the publication "The Quest of Zion" appeared, written by a German rabbi Hersh Kalischer, who advocated a need for secular Zionism and colonisation of the Holy Land for themselves. Eventually a movement called "Lovers of Zion" was formed in Russia in 1881, this movement in turn gave way to an organised movement under Theodor Herzl and the first Zionist Congress met in 1897 in Switzerland, with great Jewish men such as the statesman Chaim Weizmann, whose presence was being felt upon the international scene. The dream of Jewish Zionism gradually achieved their deliberate walk towards Jerusalem and the homeland which resulted in the state of Israel being proclaimed to the world.

Since those heady, trying, troublous times when the "world Zionist Organisation" was set up and the state of Israel proclaimed, for to bring hope to exiled Jews, the Zionists cause has lost its punch towards the spirit of the Jewish Law. Zionism it is said, constituted the most significant movement in modern Jewish history. Many Jewish and Gentile scholars say, "Zionism" made possible the fulfilment of biblical prophecy of the restoration of Zion towards the Jew.

But as far as biblical prophecy is concerned it is "this" sweeping statement which is in error!

At this point in writing, I must emphasise that the Jews of the "House of Judah" indeed fulfilled prophecy to the letter of the law, by returning to the land of Israel to possess their possessions, which was their right as sons of flesh -Jacob- Obadiah V.17-18.

Verse 17:- "BUT UPON MOUNT ZION SHALL BE DELIVERANCE, AND THERE SHALL BE HOLINESS; (Jesus came, first, to "deliver" the daughter of Zion in the Gentile Christians and through Him and His people, there will be a quality of being free from sin, with piety). AND THE HOUSE OF JACOB (the Jew) SHALL POSSESS THEIR POSSESSIONS. (Because they inherit according to the flesh and have dominion over the Promised Land. Whereas Zion's children in the Gentiles inherit the things of God).
Verse 18:- "AND THE HOUSE OF JACOB SHALL BE A FIRE, (The Jew going into the kingdom age of Jesus's return to this earth, will possess the strength to cause great heat with trouble), AND THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH A FLAME, (The second nation in the Gentiles under Joseph's banner, will break out in violence in the heat of passion) AND THE HOUSE OF ESAU FOR STUBBLE (The remnant of the children of the Edomites in the Arab nations, who have sought the blood of the Jew and have poured scorn on Joseph's Christian nations will become the stalks and stumps left behind after reaping, called stubble) AND THEY, (Judah and Joseph's children) SHALL KINDLE IN THEM, (Or be roused in exasperation to set on fire that which belongs to Esau and his children) AND DEVOUR THEM;(To consume, waste and destroy them) AND THERE SHALL NOT BE ANY REMAINING OF THE HOUSE OF ESAU; FOR THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT". (It will surely happen because God's words "sever" return to Him unfulfilled).

So, it is the Jew who has the first and last word in "possessing" the Holy Land as promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, -Joseph's children remain "outside" the land as Gentiles.

Nevertheless, the Jews are "not" Zionists, as prophecy sees it. To understand fully that we are dealing with 2 houses of Israel in the world today, -and always,- we must first understand what went wrong with our learning of biblical matters. Which make us all cling to habitual lies down through the ages of man. Let Isaiah once more answer this question fully for us: Isaiah 24:5,29:9-24.

The prophet again tells us exactly what went wrong with our understanding of God's words, which have given both houses of Israel, in Jew and Christian a warped idea of the true situation. He tells that the "transgression of the law" is to offend God by "limiting" His words; to cut across words by fault, this causes a violating of "truth" and makes men sin, by that wrong. Man has changed the ordinances. Which is to alter a rule established by the authority of God in laws, statutes and decrees. Man has broken the "everlasting covenant" cutting across all the laws that God set for all time, even into the 21st century. All these errors brought about by the vanities of men's thinking thereby making him drunk in his own conceits!

The words of our Heavenly Father's book remain sealed to man, because the understanding of prophecy has been "turned upside down". Men cling to habitual half-truths for fear of being found out wrong, or the fear of others making him an offender for a word. The peer groups of "holier than thou" authorities turning the just, and the truth aside, for vanity of thought and habit, which are a nothingness!
Do not err in spirit any longer, open your eyes wide and see and learn the wondrous doctrine of principles that are yours by right of truth!

I will keep on emphasising the same statement until all Israel in many nations gets it right! God's prophecies and "first principles of the oracles" are subject to law and order in "all" things that have ever happened, in secular and spiritual history! This "law and order" also remains with the "controversy" of "who" is Zion? This "controversy" has been set in the "Oracles of God" towards the end of time or last days, towards all Israel's unbelief and mythologies. Which they have centred around themselves for to bring them to full understanding and release them from being prisoners to human bondage! When Isaiah 34/8 speaks of the "year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion", - prophecy is going to compensate man's wrong thinking with absolute truth and make amends for things suffered in error towards another nation. Namely, the "House of Israel" within the Gentiles. That compensation is to be offered and paid to its rightful owner!

The "House of Judah" in the Jew today must be made fully aware of the errors and fables of their thoughts and teachings, who have clung to them for centuries past. Both Ephraim in the Gentile and Judah in the Jew, -who head these two nations,- are answerable to the people for their closed minds and strange vanities of thinking.

Somewhere in amongst secular Jews and orthodox Jews, are Jews holding different opinions from those that are established or are prevalent. Those Jews whose opinions are contrary in theology to their brothers and sisters. It is to "these" Jews, with open minds, that the "Law" searches after and to whom I write to find the "daughter of Jerusalem", the holy seed, within them!

Because the Law is fully aware that Jewish necks are an "IRON SINEW" (Isaiah 48:4), which will not bend to truth, -just like the "House of Israel" in the Christians. I find I must "prove" my worth to you before I go much further in my writings which I find myself backsliding from, not wanting in any way to put myself in such an unenviable position.

Because the Jew of the "House of Judah" only deals in the Old Testament, then it is to the "Old Testament" in the Gentile Bible, we must find the above understanding. The prophet Jeremiah in Chapters 4 to 8, lay bare for everyone to understand within all Israel, -Both houses- who are in the closing days of their lives in secular history and prophecy, will all know soon that they are "not" alone in this earth, but shall be "visited" by those "beings" holding the council of the Lord. Those heavenly and earthly "beings" are becoming very strong as human administration fades. But, before that "strength" comes to pass a "standard" or "flag" of identification must be raised towards Zion. (In the Gentiles and "not" the Jews) which "flag" I am helping to raise, (God help me)!

Because of those "watchmen" in the earth, -written by Jeremiah- "their" position has already heard the sounds of alarm and another war seen on the horizon. Wherein both the Jew in Judah and Ephraim of Israel in the Gentiles, will find themselves embroiled.

Jeremiah 4:15, "FOR A VOICE DECLARETH (To show clearly and openly, and to publish) FROM DAN (Whose remnant are in the Welsh nation, -which I will explain fully in another chapter-) AND PUBLISHETH AFFLICTION (The state of acute mental suffering through writings of distress) FROM MOUNT EPHRAIM". (A "mount" is a position that has risen high as a bulwark. First noted for Ephraim in Joshua 17) One must explain and remember that Ephraim's regal dignity of the British crown, has gone over the "sea wall" of the British Isles and has "mounted" to that high position over to the other end of the world, which country is called Australia, who is used as a "bulwark" for both east and west. This "mount" of Australia has "defended" the British crown in 2 world wars.

So, from this standpoint of Mount Ephraim and from prophecy in Jeremiah 5:20,21. It must be declared the "Oracles of God" to the House of Jacob (Jew) who are inheritors of fleshly possessions as "witnesses" of Israel's tribes, -And publish these words in the cities of Judah (Jew) in the land of Israel, saying.

Verse 21:- "HEAR NOW THIS, O FOOLISH PEOPLE, AND WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING; WHICH HAVE EYES, AND SEE NOT: WHICH HAVE EARS, AND HEAR NOT". Jeremiah explains "how and why" Judah's situation is grave, even in this day and age.

Jeremiah 8:8:- "HOW DO YE SAY, WE ARE WISE, AND THE LAW OF THE LORD IS WITH US? (Or vainly clinging to myths handed down in the orthodoxy of being a Jew). LO, CERTAINLY IN VAIN MADE HE IT; THE PEN OF THE SCRIBES IS IN VAIN". (Or even all the great words that the prophets have written, the Jew, -Like the Christian- follow blindly along another path of learning. The Jew holding tightly to the skirts of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but only in genetic fashion).

If the Jew could only see and hear clearly the words of God written by the scribes, then they would also understand and be "healed" by the words written again by Jeremiah 8:19. "BEHOLD, THE VOICE OF THE CRY OF THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEM THAT DWELL IN A FAR COUNTRY: IS NOT THE LORD IN ZION? IS NOT HER KING IN HER? (Here now is the great, "Controversy", spoken by Isaiah also. And the very question the words of God are trying to hammer home to you all. (LOOK AT IT AGAIN)! -"IS NOT THE LORD IN ZION?"- Here, Jeremiah speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ -The Messiah.- Who was a "light to the Gentiles and King of Kings to those same Israelites within those Gentiles. The Lord is King in "Zion" within the Christian Gentiles. These words proving "Zion" is not of the Jews at all. Because the Jew will not accept Jesus, though He came out of Judah as King. The Jew still waits for the "King" -Messiah,- to come year after year) WHY HAVE THEY PROVOKED ME TO ANGER WITH THEIR GRAVEN IMAGES, AND THEIR STRANGE VANITIES"?

The Lord God is exasperated and provoked to high degree, because both houses of Israel are deaf and blind to the words in "His" book. "His" holy words are shouting one thing and the so-called students of the Christian Bible and the books of the Jew, walk along happily in another direction. Both holding onto phylacteries and graven images and peculiar rituals which impress deeply onto the habits of action and mind. Bringing about strange unrealities, emptiness and an inflation of the mind upon slight grounds for truth, which in turn bring conceit from something worthless! These words of chastisement from Jeremiah do not come easily to me nor are they lightly written, because for me they are a very grave responsibility! If I do not write them my very soul is in jeopardy because of them and my spirit howls throughout the corridors of our Heavenly Father's House.

Let us now establish the foundation stones for the Jew, which tell "who he is". He is called the Jew of the "House of Judah", out of the nation of Israel, in his proper place in the scheme of things.

We must begin that journey at the beginning in Genesis, remembering that we shall be reading Jewish history on, and into, the last days of our modern history. This explanation will be following God's prophetic words from Isaiah, which says -"He" declares the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done". (Isaiah 47:9,10).

From Genesis 49:8,9. "JUDAH (who is the head of the Jews) THOU ART HE WHOM THY BRETHREN SHALL PRAISE: (because out of Judah came forth the Messiah) THY HAND SHALL BE IN THE NECK OF THINE ENEMIES: (In the latter days the Jew will be strong) THY FATHER'S CHILDREN SHALL BOW DOWN BEFORE THEE". (Because "all" Israel -both houses- eventually will bow to Jesus, out of Judah, King of Kings).

Verse 9:- "JUDAH IS A LIONS WHELP; (The young of the male lion of Jacob, - who are classed as Jews- will be used contemptuously in history) FROM THE PREY, MY SON, THOU ART GONE UP": (Or Judah's children would be seized and devoured by others. Jacob, acknowledging Judah again as his fleshly descendant in the words "MY SON", "THOU ART GONE UP", means, to be guided and regulated, not always to be inferior and below) HE STOOPED DOWN, (Or to bend the body forward and downward, like a young lion and submit in fear) HE COUCHED AS A LION, (And as a beast he laid close to the ground making himself concealed in compromise) AND AS AN OLD LION: (Jacob was the experienced "OLD LION" who Judah represented in history and that nation of Jews were and are, "witnesses", to Jacob's ancient past) WHO SHALL ROUSE HIM UP"? (The Jews throughout secular history have gone through these various phases of the characters of "lions" noted previously. Though being tormented by men in this fashion, men could not make Judah/Jacob stand upon his feet and roar defiance like a strong lion. Not even the Jews themselves could collectively band together and defy other nations throughout the centuries. Because the Jews either cried in fear as a baby lion and as a young lion hid himself. Or retreated and hid themselves in an experienced manner -as an old lion- waiting for his own chances to come.

It is only God who could make him rise up and be seen by the nations and excite the Jew into action. Modern history has shown God to have done exactly that! In driving the Jews back to the Holy Land through persecutions, making him get up upon his feet and roar like a strong lion and fight. Judah putting his hand in the neck of his enemies).

Let us go to Isaiah 48:1,2. "HEAR YE THIS, OF HOUSE OF JACOB, (Listen hard to these words of understanding, to all the people who are called Jews -sons of fleshly Jacob) WHICH ARE CALLED BY THE NAME OF ISRAEL; (Or are "surnamed" collectively belonging to the nation of Israel) AND ARE COME FORTH OUT OF THE WATERS OF JUDAH, (Born and brought forward from the sons of Judah and a collection of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, which constitute this fluid under Judah's name, all named Jews) WHICH SWEAR BY THE NAME OF THE LORD, (They making a solemn declaration with an appeal to God for its own brand of truth, upon an oath) AND MAKE MENTION OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL; (To the effect that they perform, follow and pursue God, but only in a brief regard to speak of in naming the special place the "God of Israel" should be held) BUT NOT IN TRUTH, NOR IN RIGHTEOUSNESS". (However, not in the state of conformity to fact, honesty, or reality. Nor in an upright conduct, free of guilt in a pious manner).

Verse 2:- "FOR THEY CALL THEMSELVES OF THE HOLY CITY. (Those people of Jacob/Judah appoint themselves the names of the 2 holy cities of Zion and Jerusalem. (Isaiah 64-10) The Jew takes the holiest name of Zion and call themselves Zionists, when they are not! The Jew of Judah/Jacob have a "holy seed" within them called "the daughter of Jerusalem"), AND STAY, THEMSELVES UPON THE GOD OF ISRAEL (Or they stop, short at learning "fact" and then continue to remain resting on the outer part of understanding of the "God of Israel"; Feeling secure in the knowledge of being Jews, of the nation of Israel and they are chosen people), THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS NAME". ("He" is the supreme power and authority of many other powers and great number of persons of heaven and earth; whose reputation and character in that family of powers is distinctively known).

So, there are 4 names by which the nation of the Jews are called, namely:-
1:- Of the House of Jacob/son of Jacob.
2:- House of Judah, from which came the name Jews.(2Kings 16:5-7).
3:- Israelites, from out of the 12 tribes of Jacob/Israel.
4:- "Daughter of Jerusalem", which is the Jewish "holy seed" within this house.

Called in another manner because other Jewish hearts are rested upon the temple at Jerusalem. To Jacob/Judah's children was established the fact they were to be "witnesses" (A testimony) in the earth that the Hebrew nation existed and still exists to this modern day. (Psalms 78:5).
There is so much one can write to prove these things, but, it must be up to "you" reader to search out the Scriptures in a positive way, doing away with errors and assumptions of past learning. Work from the point of view that Jacob/Jew, has been brought back to the Holy Land by God from his captivity in other nations. Because it is his "right" to be in that position at this point of time in secular and biblical history. (Psalms 85:1) As it was in King David's time, who wrote Psalms.

Indeed, God scattered the "House of Israel" in the Gentiles and have been displeased with the "House of Judah" in the nations making them an enigma in history.

The Lord God is showing us within the mysteries of prophecy hard things to understand, which can be confusing to the mind and surprising our senses into disbelief or belief. Yet, it is a marvellous thing to understand the "oracles", because it is a rallying "banner" (ensign) to the daughters of Zion and Jerusalem, showing them, it is absolute truth! (Psalms 60:1-7). These things "must be" declared to the "House of Jacob (Jew) and published in Judah's land that it is so. (Jeremiah 5:20).

If Bible students in the Gentiles and the Jew do not believe there are 2 nations of Israel in the world today. With 2 remnants who are separated out from the rest of the whole nation of Israel through a "call" from God.

Then to whom is Isaiah 26:1,2 speaking?

Verse 1:- "IN THAT DAY SHALL THIS SONG BE SUNG IN THE LAND OF JUDAH: WE HAVE A STRONG CITY; SALVATION WILL GOD APPOINT FOR WALLS AND BULWARKS".
Verse 2:- "OPEN YE THE GATES, THAT THE RIGHTEOUS NATION WHICH KEEPETH THE TRUTH MAY ENTER IN".

Here in Isaiah's verses the Jew of Judah is at last understanding and acknowledging the fact there is "another" nation of Israel in the earth which is the "keeper" of that truth. This other nation is waiting "outside" the land of Israel for permission to enter, because their inheritance is of God!

Let us now take another avenue to bring to mind the knowledge of the 2 daughters of Zion and Jerusalem, for the "House of Israel" in the Gentiles to understand. The prophet Zechariah lays another foundation stone of understanding and identification for the people to think about.

Zechariah 9:9:- "REJOICE GREATLY, (To experience with great delight and gladness to an unusual degree) O DAUGHTER OF ZION; (The remnant who are Christian Israelites) SHOUT, O DAUGHTER OF JERUSALEM; (To utter with a burst of voices exclaimed by the remnant, who are out of the Jewish Israelites) BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE: (Look with attention and contemplate, that which is belonging and pertaining to you all, your Sovereign of this nation, has appeared to you) HE, IS JUST, AND HAVING SALVATION; (Or "He" is acting rightly and possesses preservation from destruction and sin, able to redeem) LOWLY, (Meek and free from pride) AND RIDING UPON AN ASS, AND UPON A COLT THE FOAL OF AN ASS. (Borne along on an animal's back. In this case an ass and borne along "also" upon a young male of an ass).

Here in Zechariah are "2 daughters" of remnants out of the nation of Israel, who are witnesses to Jesus Christ, that "He", is King and Redeemer, who is "upon" and riding 2 animals at the same time, for to represent 2 houses of Israel on those 2 animals. (For Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians).

We must now turn to the book of Matthew 21:1-11.
Verse 2:- "SAYING UNTO THEM, GO INTO THE VILLAGE, OVER AGAINST YOU, AND STRAIGHTWAY YE SHALL FIND AN ASS TIED, AND A COLT WITH HER: LOOSE THEM, AND BRING THEM UNTO ME".
Verse 4:- "ALL THIS WAS DONE, THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET, SAYING".
Verse 5:- "TELL YE THE DAUGHTER OF SION, BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE, MEEK, AND SITTING UPON AN ASS, AND A COLT THE FOAL OF AN ASS".
Verse 6:- "AND THE DISCIPLES WENT, AND DID AS JESUS COMMANDED THEM".
Verse 7:- "AND BROUGHT THE ASS, AND THE COLT, AND PUT ON THEM THEIR CLOTHES, AND THEY SET HIM THEREON".

Usually Biblical scholars will say, that this very act in Matthew 21 was the King's final and official offer of Himself to the people as written by Zechariah 9:9. -Which we have previously read.

If one however compares these 2 sets of verses carefully of Zechariah/Matthew, one will see that the "daughter of Jerusalem" is missing in Matthew's version and one of the animals which was taken along with Jesus remained empty.

Bear in mind also reader, Jesus did nothing unless "He" fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law and every path He stood on was completed. So why this discrepancy when Matthew only refers to the "daughter of Zion" leaving out the "daughter of Jerusalem" spoken of in Zechariah. Which prophecy also says, the King would ride upon 2 animals, which in Matthew one remained empty. Jesus did not take the second animal along with Him because it was the ass's colt and perhaps it might have fretted for its mother; Nor did He take the second animal along without a reason! Instead, Jesus sat on the young ass (colt) and not the old ass.

This, we read of in John 12:13-16.

Verse 14:- "AND JESUS WHEN HE HAD FOUND A YOUNG ASS, SAT THEREON; AS IT IS WRITTEN".
Verse 15:- "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF SION: BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH, SITTING ON AN ASS'S COLT".

Did you note reader that John also speaks of the King of Israel -Jesus- coming to the "daughter of Zion", leaving out the "daughter of Jerusalem". "He" presented Himself as King to those who would receive "Him" as such, "lighting" up Zion in the Gentiles.

All these things that the Lord and the Law did and emphasised, are written for us to understand fully. "Who we are", in the last days of history which is paramount!

The "daughter of Jerusalem" -The Jews- did not accept Him as King, nor have they done so throughout the centuries. At the time of His entry into Jerusalem the Jews cried "Hosanna to the son of David", -"prophet"- of Nazareth of Galilee. Or all hail and good luck to you Jesus of the lineage of King David. They did not believe fully in His majesty as Son of God, -King of Kings, or they wouldn't have shouted "Crucify Him" a short few days later.

They acknowledged "Him" as a prophet not a King. There were indeed Jewish Christians, such as the disciples, etc: during that time who eventually knew "Who" He was, but they, like Saint Paul, being "witnesses" to His Majesty and purpose with the earth, took that "Light" to the Gentiles to find the "lost sheep of the House of Israel", in order to fulfil prophecy to the letter of the law! -(Matthew 10/6)- Both houses of Israel in Gentile and Jew, are immersed in confusion in the words of holy writ, these peoples "see" what they want to see and hear words already established in the memory from ritual or of that which suits their own purposes.

Let us read this in Isaiah 8:13-20.

Verse 14:- "AND HE SHALL BE FOR A SANCTUARY; (Or a sacred consecrated place, a place of protection for many people to come to) BUT FOR A STONE OF STUMBLING (Jesus is that "stone" of Israel, (1 Peter 2:1-8). Though so-called Christians accept Him as the Christ, son of the Living God; Yet! Those same Christians blunder over His teachings, trip and fall in difficulties and errors and then perhaps in secret, puzzle over many things in the Law of God concerning Him and all things), AND FOR A ROCK OF OFFENCE TO BOTH THE HOUSES OF ISRAEL. (Note well, reader that it is 2 houses of Israel that Isaiah explains the Christ to. Indeed, to the Jews in the House of Judah, Jesus, is an offence to them, causing them to become angry and displeased at His impertinence at raising Himself to the status of the Messiah. Many peoples within the "House of Israel" in the Gentiles are professional sceptics also. They doubt the existence of God, let alone the divine origin of His real Christianity) FOR A GIN AND FOR A SNARE TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM". (To these people of the Jew, Jesus seems to be a sort of "machine" to catch and trap people unawares. Perhaps a spirit flavoured by the Gentile Bible to take a man prisoner and entangle him in trouble like an animal; Especially to those who reside in the city of Jerusalem, -or- those of the "daughter of Jerusalem, residing with the Jew).

Verse 17:- "AND I WILL WAIT UPON THE LORD, THAT HIDETH HIS FACE FROM THE HOUSE OF JACOB. (Or the House of Judah/Jacob/Jew) AND I WILL LOOK FOR HIM". (The Lord Jesus Christ came to the Jews of Jacob, but they turned away from Him. So, God hid "His" face from them in history for a while. But their attention will be drawn to Him again and will apply and direct their minds to understanding, as it is written).

Let us now read once more a verse in Isaiah 28:16. "THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BEHOLD, (or pay a fixed attention to) I LAY IN ZION (A Light in the Gentiles) FOR A FOUNDATION STONE. (Or a base to build on) A TRIED STONE. (Tested by experience as reliable) A PRECIOUS CORNER STONE, (a highly esteemed, priced stone, which lies at the corner of 2 walls and unites them, Jew/Gentile. This "corner stone" is the system upon, which "all" Israel was and is founded). A SURE FOUNDATION: (A confident, secure, base of groundwork as the origin of absolute truth) HE THAT BELIEVETH SHALL NOT MAKE HASTE". (To be firmly convinced and will not rush headlong into a suddenness of passion, but will instead prove all things slowly in a positive manner).

To the whole nation of Israel -2 houses- it is written, they shall be saved when it has all been understood. That, out of Zion in the Gentiles who has acknowledged their Redeemer and Saviour, "He" will be made known, "He" shall also dismiss and prevent a situation in Jacob (Jew), contrary to divine commands of an impious attitude towards Jesus. Which will then bring forth out of them "the daughter of Jerusalem". (Romans 11:25-27).

These verses written in Romans in the new "Covenant" to both houses of Israel in our modern era, were spoken by the prophets and established in Jesus Christ, -out of Judah- So very long ago!

I cannot emphasise the understanding of "Zion" enough as a different entity to the Jew. Man does not bring back "Zion" from the nations of the world, only God can do that, through the action and knowledge of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 1-27) "ZION SHALL BE "REDEEMED" WITH JUDGEMENT, (Or skilful reasoning, understanding, discernment, and trial towards wisdom) AND HER (daughter of Zion) CONVERTS WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS". (Or these children belonging to the "daughter of Zion", who now hold other opinions in other religions will renounce those creeds and religious systems for another. This conversion will take place with the quality of uprightness through wisdom of the words of God).

Many Bible students perhaps would note that Jesus was called "King of the Jews". In John 18 and 19 we read of the "judgement and crucifixion" of Jesus before Pontius Pilate the Roman governor of Judea, in which Pilate asks Jesus, "Art thou the King of the Jews"? (18:33). To which Jesus replied,-
Verse 37:- "THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING.(Or you allege or repeat) TO THIS END WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH".
Many bible students believe Jesus "acknowledged" with a "yes" at that point of time that "He was" the King of the Jews, through the words "thou sayest". This is in error, because verse 34, explains this:- "JESUS ANSWERED HIM, SAYEST THOU THIS THING OF THYSELF, OR DID OTHERS TELL IT THEE OF ME?" (Or Jesus questioned, you allege this from your own reasoning, or have you repeated words without understanding, which others have gossiped to you)?

Jesus could not "then" be called "King of the Jews" because all prophecy had foretold of His rejection by the Jews. "His kingdom" was not ready to be established then 2,000 years ago; (verse 36).

Therefore, many centuries had to pass before the entry of "His kingdom" upon the earth, when man's secular history was to be finished and the "stone" cut out of the mountain without hands seen in Daniel's prophecies would come! The rejection of Jesus by the Jew is in John 19:21. "THEN SAID THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE JEWS TO PILATE. WRITE NOT, THE KING OF THE JEWS; BUT THAT HE SAID, I AM KING OF THE JEWS".

Jesus was not their King at that point of time, not until the Jews will look listen and learn, -then- the Jews will bring out their holy seed "the daughter of Jerusalem" who will become Christian Jews. Which daughter will come forward when Jesus's kingdom will "start" to take shape into the 21st century. So, the "ass" for the Jews remained empty because of Jewish disbelief and intransigent attitude and Zechariah's prophecy was never "completely fulfilled".

The "daughter of Zion" within the Christian Gentiles however started on a new road, with their new King, towards a new covenant, upon a new animal, in that momentous day when Jesus rode His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Thank God it was so, otherwise our "hope" would be lost!

The "holy seed" from out of the 2 nations of Israel, have been "predestined and every hair of their heads counted since God's plan within the nations of the earth was set in motion, because God's words from the beginning "had" to be fulfilled within the "self-willed" plans of men, whose collective arrogant natures were strong enough to turn some of the plans of God around.

This is the reason "why" we read in the Old Testament, how God set in motion another road for many men and women to stand on, who are Chosen to be different from the usual type of people around them.

This different road of "that plan" we can read of, in the story of Elijah and his troubles with the "House of Israel" under King Ahab, his Queen Jezebel and of the children of the chosen remnant. In 1Kings 19:18. "YET I (God) HAVE LEFT ME SEVEN THOUSAND IN ISRAEL, ALL THE KNEES WHICH HAVE NOT BOWED UNTO BAAL, AND EVERY MOUTH WHICH HATH NOT KISSED HIM".

That same "predestined" remnant of God's plan to save the holy seed of Israel, is called to mind again in Romans 11:1-7. "I SAY THEN, HATH GOD CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE? GOD FORBID; FOR I ALSO AM AN ISRAELITE, OF THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN".
Verse 2:- "GOD HATH NOT CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE WHICH HE FOREKNEW. (predestined) WOT YE NOT WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAITH OF ELIAS? HOW HE MAKETH INTERCESSION TO GOD AGAINST ISRAEL SAYING".
Verse 3:- "LORD, THEY HAVE KILLED THY PROPHETS, AND DIGGED DOWN THINE ALTARS; AND I AM LEFT ALONE, AND THEY SEEK MY LIFE".
Verse 4:- "BUT WHAT SAITH THE ANSWER OF GOD UNTO HIM? I HAVE RESERVED (Or to keep in store for another purpose) TO MYSELF SEVEN THOUSAND MEN, WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO THE IMAGE OF BAAL". (Idolatry)
Verse 5:- "EVEN SO THEN AT THIS PRESENT TIME ALSO THERE IS A "REMNANT" ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE". (Or divine choice, predestination, of mercy, pardon and favour of God).
Verse 6:- "AND IF BY GRACE, THEN IT IS NO MORE OF WORKS; (Or it's not "what" the individual in this position has done) OTHERWISE GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE. (Or "divine choice" is null and void) BUT IF IT BE OF WORKS, THEN IS IT NO MORE GRACE: (Or if man's labour brings him to this divine position, then God's "divine choice" means nothing) OTHERWISE WORK IS NO MORE WORK". (Or man's efforts of labour whether mental or physical can put himself into the divine realms. Then man's "work" does away with God).
Verse 7:- "WHAT THEN? ISRAEL HATH NOT OBTAINED THAT WHICH HE SEEKETH FOR; (Or the whole nation of Israel -Both houses- have not possessed the closeness to God and His promises. Which within the centuries they have searched and enquired about, because they search for the wrong things) BUT THE ELECTION (Or divine choice) HATH OBTAINED IT (Or possessed the promises) AND THE REST WERE BLINDED". (The remaining peoples of both houses of national Israel are too busy with civil, secular, social and wrong biblical activities within their nations and churches to "see" clearly. In other words, they look into a glass (mirror) darkly! (1 Corinthians 13:12).

When Paul penned these words in Romans, he "knew" the great extent to which these words were intended to go into the centuries towards our modern era. For to save the lineage of those children of the "remnant" from spiritual hunger and secular oblivion. This is the "Meaning of the mystery" to which Paul refers.

Romans 11:25-29: "FOR I WOULD NOT, BRETHREN, THAT YE SHOULD BE IGNORANT OF THIS MYSTERY, LEST YE SHOULD BE WISE IN YOUR OWN CONCEITS; (Or, the art of knowing, judging right from wrong in the "calling", but not in one's own distinctive self-flattering opinions and fanciful beliefs which can deny truth) THAT BLINDNESS IN PART IS HAPPENED TO ISRAEL; (Or, most Jews are "blind" to Jesus as their Messiah. Much of Israel in the Gentiles is also "blind" all cling to strange vanities of mind in many churches, "blind", to their own identity and God's purpose with them) UNTIL THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES BE COME IN". (Or, the complete ages of time in secular history which are governed and regulated by foreign nations over these Israelites, -seen in Daniel's prophecies.- Which all exist in the world of fact, entering onto the world stage and performed in history).
Verse 26:- "AND SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED; AS IT IS WRITTEN (God had not cast off these 2 houses of Israel at all; He has punished them for their sins and unbelief. Yet! "He" has rescued them through a "Redeemer") THERE SHALL COME OUT OF SION THE DELIVERER. (Or after going to such a length of trials and tribulations with authority, He will come into public view as "One" who rescues as a "Saviour" to the daughter of Zion, to whom that Saviour is King, as Zechariah 9, and Matthew 21, tells us) AND SHALL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB". (And with that authority He will redirect in a different way, that impiousness -which is contrary to divine commands- from the House of Jacob, of Judah the Jew).
Verse 27:- "FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT UNTO THEM, (Jeremiah 31 tells us it is a covenant towards a "new heart" and a "new knowledge" of the words of God) WHEN I SHALL TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS".
Verse 28:- "AS CONCERNING THE GOSPEL. (While regarding the history of Jesus Christ and the scheme of salvation left by his apostles) BUT AS TOUCHING THE ELECTION. (However, concerning and affecting the "predestined" and set apart children, especially favoured by God towards His Plan) THEY ARE BELOVED FOR THE FATHER'S SAKES". (These children are dear to the heart of God for the reason and cause of faith and justice, belonging to the "ancestors" of this Israelite family, namely, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, etc). For God's sake it must be so!
Verse 29:- "FOR THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD ARE WITHOUT REPENTANCE". (Or, in exchange of, and in place of their own reasons. These gifts of giving or conferring on the remnant are in the state of being divinely summoned. These Children at present, are on the "outside" of society for sorrows sake, for what we all have done or said amiss in the past. To them God will "call" and they will "hear" and rejoice and they shall answer)!

The "called" remnants of Zion and Jerusalem are "not" children pertaining to one special church, sect, or denomination, such as, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Christadelphians, Seventh Day Adventists, or World Wide Church of God, etc; Because these children, -as the book of Romans in the bible explains- are chosen along a path which leads back to the patriarchs of old and the family of the whole nation of Israelites. This plan is for God's sake and not man's choosing!

We read of the "called" predestined, or elect children, out of this nation in Isaiah 48:10-13 Isaiah tells one that these children out of Israel "are" called for God's sake and reasons, in both houses of Jacob/Israel (Jew and Gentile).

Isaiah 62:1,2: "FOR ZIONS SAKE WILL I NOT HOLD MY PEACE, AND FOR JERUSALEMS SAKE I WILL NOT REST, UNTIL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THEREOF GO FORTH AS BRIGHTNESS, AND THE SALVATION THEREOF AS A LAMP THAT BURNETH".
Verse 2:- "AND THE GENTILES SHALL SEE THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL KINGS THY GLORY; AND THOU SHALT BE CALLED BY A NEW NAME, WHICH THE MOUTH OF THE LORD SHALL NAME".

Isaiah 62:10-12: "GO THROUGH, GO THROUGH THE GATES; PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE PEOPLE, CAST UP, CAST UP THE HIGHWAY, GATHER OUT THE STONES, LIFT UP A STANDARD FOR THE PEOPLE". (Or pass and move along through that door out of that walled city, which have kept the people hidden. Throw out the wrong way by digging with much work, a way, or road for a track of action. Collect and bring together the stumbling stones that are in the way. Raise on high -intellectually or spiritually- an ensign or flag, for the people to see and know what it means).
Verse 11:- "BEHOLD, THE LORD HATH PROCLAIMED UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. (Or from one end of the world to the other and from the time of Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the end of our present world. The Lord has announced publicly the situation). SAY YE TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, (In the Gentiles) BEHOLD THY SALVATION COMETH; (Or Jesus came to "save" Zion, who are Christians) BEHOLD, HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM AND IS WORK BEFORE HIM". (Or pay attention and contemplate upon Him. He will return to you good or evil, which you have done. His manifestation of energy in this regard, whether physical or mental will take place within His people into the years to come).
Verse 12:- "AND THEY, (Others) SHALL CALL THEM, THE HOLY PEOPLE, (Or the predestined or "called children" who are Christians from out of Zion of the nation of Israel. They are "holy" or set apart, pious, people through the will of God). THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD; (These children have been recovered by payment through the blood of atonement, through The Lord Jesus Christ). AND THOU SHALT BE CALLED, (Or people commanded to come forth) SOUGHT OUT. (To seek after beyond the usual limits) A CITY NOT FORSAKEN". (The city and people of Zion no more "forsaken", as we have formerly read of Zion in Isaiah 49-14).

Both the daughters of Zion and Jerusalem "will" come forth out of the nations of the world because God will not rest until the deed is achieved. The "correct" understanding of all these words are a "standard" to raise towards these children, for them to come forth, because the salvation (Jesus) is soon returning to His people. The "calling" event of God's children is "not" a haphazard thing, when mankind through conceit might say, it is our church who are "called", or that church, or this church who contain the "elected children". God doesn't work like that! All His creation has law and order and with paths to be fulfilled one by one, "He", created the nation of Israel for a good reason and the path of the "called" leads to the 2 houses of Israel.

Joel 2:32, "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE DELIVERED; FOR IN MOUNT ZION AND JERUSALEM SHALL BE DELIVERANCE, AS THE LORD HATH SAID, AND IN THE REMNANT WHOM THE LORD SHALL CALL".

The path of the called remnant is out of Zion and Jerusalem (Christian/Jew).

Joel 3:1,2, "FOR, BEHOLD, IN THOSE DAYS, AND IN THAT TIME, WHEN I SHALL BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM". (God "has" indeed returned Judah the Jew, -With the remnant Jerusalem,- back to his own land of Israel in our day, from the subjection of other nations).
Verse 2:- "I WILL ALSO GATHER ALL NATIONS, AND WILL BRING THEM DOWN INTO THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT (Or God will judge other nations in an enclosed place against what they have done to all Israel) AND WILL PLEAD (Reason in support of a claim) WITH THEM THERE FOR MY PEOPLE (Remnants) AND FOR MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, (Or this nation is God's by way of descent, by birth) WHOM THEY (The nations) HAVE SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS, AND PARTED MY LAND". (The land, which God gave to Abraham's seed, have been given to other nations who call it their own, when it is not)!

Great things are spoken in our Heavenly Father's Law about these things, but Churches count them as worthless and do not bother to seek them out. These churches are forever busily putting themselves in prophecies shoes to fulfil good things and fail to see they must also follow God's plan to the letter of the law. Churches are so carried away by their own beliefs they become deaf and blind to our Heavenly Father's justice and cause. It is said, "A Church is not just a building but a state of mind".

There is so much one can write on this subject, let us instead go to Jeremiah and Revelation to tie up the Old with the New Testaments.

Jeremiah 3:14,15, "TURN, O BACKSLIDING CHILDREN, SAITH THE LORD; FOR I AM MARRIED UNTO YOU: AND I WILL TAKE YOU ONE OF A CITY, AND TWO OF A FAMILY, AND I WILL BRING YOU TO ZION".
Verse 15:- "AND I WILL GIVE YOU PASTORS ACCORDING TO MY HEART, WHICH SHALL FEED YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING".

These verses tell one loud and clear that when the "standard" is raised to Zion in the Gentiles, -because in them is the King of Israel,- God will "call out" His "predestined" children, one here, 2 there, and not a large community from 1 church as many people believe. The "call" comes through a "newness" of learning and clear insight of the mind towards the Bible.

Revelation 17:3-8. Tells us about the destruction upon the earth will not come until the "called children" are confirmed securely in understanding and exactness within the "forehead" of confidence and assurance, of absolute truth!

This much misunderstood chapter 7 of Revelation gives us the amount of "called" children out of the 2 nations of the House of Judah and House of Israel, who have answered the "call" and who "stand up" in the earth to be counted, who will be seen and eventually understood by all nations! This is the earthly and spiritual bloodline of Abraham, called the 2 daughters of Israel-Zion and Jerusalem- also called the "Bride" of the Lamb of God, (Zion/Jesus).

The Church of Jehovah's Witnesses have taught that these 144,000 peoples of Revelations are applicable only to their own church, without tying them to the "promises of Abraham". Other churches are not quite so clear on the subject, only calling themselves the "elect".

Revelation is cementing into place the "end" of secular and biblical history and has expressly acknowledged what the rest of the Law has been saying all along, dealing with those "called" children within its many prophetic pages. That, these children have been "predestined" by God to fulfil "His" plan. These children are for "His" sake, to be seen to fulfil promises made to the fathers of old. I repeat, Revelation 7; Is not subject to any one church at all, but to many peoples inside and outside many churches, who fulfil the criteria necessary for God. This prophecy in Revelation 7 is towards "God's accomplishment" and not man's!

One will note when reading Revelation 7, that 2 tribes are missing from the list, Ephraim and Dan. The reasons are simple as one notes also that Joseph has 12,000 children sealed- (Predestined and confirmed). These 12,000 are Ephraimites because the "memory stick" of Joseph is in the hand of Ephraim as the sovereign at the end time. (Ezekiel 37:19) Joseph's other son Manasseh, has already been accounted for in Revelation 7 verse 6.

Dan's sealed children on the other hand are indeed missing in this list. That is because Dan's position has already been established amongst the children of Israel from the beginning of the law, towards the "last days" of fulfilling their prophecies. Dan's name means -Judge,- which situation is to hear and determine as a "cause or controversy". It is to exam into and decide, then pass sentence upon biblical matters. Therefore, they are set apart as those who have the skill to decide on the events in history of a question.

Dan's destiny for his descendants towards the last days, from Genesis 49:16-17, "DAN SHALL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE, AS ONE OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL".
Verse 17:- "DAN SHALL BE A SERPENT BY THE WAY, AN ADDER IN THE PATH, THAT BITETH THE HORSES HEELS, SO THAT HIS RIDER SHALL FALL BACKWARD".

In other words, Dan as "Judge" does exactly what his name implies, -not only in secular history under the Tudors but spiritual history also.

We will go further into Dan's secular history position in another Chapter later.

Some biblical students have surmised that Dan's tribe has been left out of Revelation 7, because of his idolatry in the book of Judges. If that's the case all the "House of Israel" will fail also, because of one form of idolatry or another throughout their long history, especially when they were all subject to their King Ahab and his idolatrous Queen Jezebel. Indeed, Dan's position as "judge" is answerable more so to God than to the other tribes, but God has Chastised him for that! Biblical scholars should have read and understood, that in the close of Israel's secular and spiritual histories it will be said of Dan, - "THY GOD, O DAN LIVETH". (Amos 8:14).

So, Dan's children "are" amongst and guiding the remnant of both houses of Israel written of in Revelations 7; but are not counted in the same manner as the 144,000 peoples mentioned, -Jeremiah 4-15, "FOR A VOICE DECLARETH FROM DAN, AND PUBLISHETH AFFLICTION FROM MOUNT EPHRAIM".

"Zion" is spoken of as holy in terms such as never applied to Jerusalem. Zion is the Holy hill of the Lord and the habitation of the Lord God. Psalms 9:11, 132:13, 2:6, "YET HAVE I SET MY KING UPON MY HOLY HILL OF ZION".

The Lord and King Christ Jesus is set in "Zion" of the "House of Israel" in the Gentiles.

Jerusalem, of the Jew of the House of Judah, is spoken of in a "lament" because they did not receive "Him nor his prophets. (Matthew 23:37-39). "O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, THOU THAT KILLEST THE PROPHETS, AND STONEST THEM WHICH ARE SENT UNTO THEE, HOW OFTEN WOULD I HAVE GATHERED THY CHILDREN TOGETHER, EVEN AS A HEN GATHERETH HER CHICKENS UNDER HER WINGS, AND YE WOULD NOT"!
Verse 38:- "BEHOLD YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT UNTO YOU DESOLATE".
Verse 39:- "FOR I SAY UNTO YOU, YE SHALL NOT SEE ME HENCEFORTH, TILL YE SHALL SAY, BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD".

Many Bible students think Matthew's verses are speaking of the city of Jerusalem only, whereas these verses have a much wider scope in its teaching than that! Here, Jesus, as Lord of the "holy seed" called Jerusalem, chastises them verbally for turning their backs to Him, refusing to accept Him as King, which prophecy foretold. So, they were left to their own devices, lies and fables in history, alone, in a desert of Gentile and Arab powers calling for their blood. But, towards the last days of men's secular history that same Jerusalem will "bless" in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, son of Judah, son of God.

This then is the "great controversy" running through our Heavenly Father's majestic words!

John 16:13-15, "HOWBEIT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME".
Verse 14:- "HE SHALL GLORIFY ME: FOR HE SHALL RECEIVE OF MINE, AND SHALL SHEW IT UNTO YOU".
Verse 15:- "ALL THINGS THAT THE FATHER HATH ARE MINE: THEREFORE SAID I, THAT HE SHALL TAKE OF MINE, AND SHALL SHOW IT UNTO YOU".

Indeed, the time has come for our Lord's name and purpose to be clearly defined within the tribes of Israel!