Zion

In the Bible, Zion represents many things of which I'm not entirely sure what the academic opinion is - it is said to be Israel, a mountain, a city, has a Daughter, and other stuff. I imagine it is meant to represent some high spiritual place or level of understanding...or something like that, anyway.

But I don't really know what Zion is, and I will be very bored if all it means is the modern state of Israel (which is what atheistic Zionists hold it to be).

So, what is Zion in the Bible and what does it really mean or represent? What does Zion mean in the theistic/spiritual scape of things? Is it maybe part of some hidden esoteric cosmology, or..?

I have to admit, the Matrix trilogy Zion interests me more than the Biblical one, but hey, I'm shallow...

Anyone know anything about it? Any and all opinions, learned or otherwise, are welcome.

The LDS tenth Article of Faith:

10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן, tziyyon; Tiberian vocalization: tsiyyôn; transliterated Zion or Sion) is a term that most often designates the Land of Israel and its capital, Jerusalem. The word is found in texts dating back almost three millennia. It commonly referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was named the City of David.
The term Zion came to designate the area of Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and later became a metonym for Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, the city of Jerusalem and the entire Promised Land to come, in which, according to the Hebrew Bible, God dwells among his chosen people.






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Sola'lor said:

The LDS tenth Article of Faith:

10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

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Can I ask why LDS believe the New Jerusalem will be built on the American continent?

Zion is the place of people. The movie 'The Matrix' in its sequel portrays it well, as a place where people are contrasted with both the dream world of the Matrix and the machines. So it is the place of spirit, where people are 'people'.

Captain Civic said:

Can I ask why LDS believe the New Jerusalem will be built on the American continent?

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Mainly through modern revelation. We believe that the Garden of Eden was located in North America. Noah built His ark in North America and then after the flood the Ark Landed in the middle East. Near the place now known as Jackson County MIssouri. We believe New Jerusalem will be built in Jackson County Missouri. This will also happen alongside the Temple being rebuilt in old Jerusalem where the river of fresh water will come from under the temple and heal the Dead Sea.

There's lots of revelations about this, but I can't remember them all. Somewhere, I have some papers with them listed.

Willamena said:

The movie 'The Matrix' in its sequel portrays it well, as a place where people are contrasted with both the dream world of the Matrix and the machines. So it is the place of spirit, where people are 'people'.

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Makes more sense then the biblical one to be honest with you

Don Penguinoini said:

Makes more sense then the biblical one to be honest with you

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Edit. Removed an unnecessarily snarky comment. Apologies.

Dunemeister said:

Edit. Removed an unnecessarily snarky comment. Apologies.

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I didn't see it anyway, but i wouldnt've minded No problemo!

Willamena said:

Zion is the place of people. So it is the place of spirit, where people are 'people'.

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But Jews claim their "chosen-ness" makes them the only people, and Zion is for them only. Is Zion for all human beings, or Jews only (a la contemporary Zionism)?

I always thought intuitively that Zion meant a place of unlimited freedom and knowlege, a sort of blend of divine creation and man's artifice. A utopia or heaven in this life, if you will.

I find it interesting that in the Matrix movies, Zion is mostly Buddhist, and the unnamed religion of the city's Temple appears to be Buddhism...Neo's philosophy was pure Zen, IMO.

Willa's answer is great. :namaste: I usually associate Zion with the idea of Jerusalem, the city of God. This fits with Willa's comment because I think we are only complete as people when we see ourselves as being with and in and of God. Just my 2c on that of course.

Random said:

But Jews claim their "chosen-ness" makes them the only people, and Zion is for them only. Is Zion for all human beings, or Jews only (a la contemporary Zionism)?

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The choseness of Israel does not mean that they think they are the only people, not even the only people of God. All through the OT there are references to the fact that God is the God of all peoples and acts in and through all the nations. The chosen-ness is realted to the idea that it is through the Jewish people that God's grace and salvation will come into the world. Christians believe this has happened through Jesus, who is from the House of David and the nation of Israel. But, even if you are not a Christian, I think one can understand that idea of Israel being a light unto the world without it being arrogant or dismissive of others.

The spiritual Zion is the city of God. Its were God lives. Sure god is everywhere, we know that since everything he created is everywhere, and so in that sense evidence of Him is everywhere.

But His city, Zion, is where the throne of God is. It is from where he rules and reigns. Its in the seventh heaven and it is a real city with a palace and all the works! Please dont let seventh heaven fool you into thinking it is a spiritual place.

Your physical body can not go to Zion, your spirit can not go there either. Only your resurrected body, with your spirit , which was like the one Jesus got after being ressurected can go there.

This body we have now, can only move within the confines of this planet. Sure we can go to the moon and float around in space, but not without some devine scientific intervention!

To go to Zion, you need a new body. A different vehicle to get you there. A body that can TRAVEL there. This is why we all need resurrected bodies. The resurrected body is not at all similar to the one you have now. You might still look like you, but the new YOU can do every thing it could never do before! And so the new body can not be compared with the old one in terms of functionality. The new body is above the universal laws that govern this universe. Just like God is not restricted by the physical laws that uphold this earth and solar system.

This new body you will recieve will be able to travel through the universe to Zion. Zion isnt a ghost town, meaning something you cant see or touch. It is real. You just cant go there because your body wont allow it.

So Zion is out there somewhere. And we could see it if we could find it with our telescopes. Perhaps we already found it, but have no idea it is Zion!

God gave us these eyes to look into the sky and know for sure that there is more out there, and to make us aware of the fact that we cant go there...yet.

When we recieve our new upgraded bodies, we will be able to go to zion, but then, I believe we might not be able to go to other places, which might require another type of body to go there. We might see these places, but we might not be able to go to these places.

Will everyone recieve a body that can go to Zion? I hope so, but I dont think so. Zion is in the seventh heaven and there are other levels as well. Level meaning a different place, but still heaven. You will certainly recieve a body that will allow you to remain and live an opporate wherever God has decided for you to live, and that body will be a type of body that is suitable for where you will be going. It is the body you are in that will restrict you access to certain other parts of creation that you might see but cant go to. However I am confident that we will all be amazed at what God has in store for us. And imagine the sight of Zion!

Love
heneni