The Redeemer coming to Zion is Christ coming to earthly Jerusalem to fulfill God's everlasting covenant with Israel.
Isaiah 59:20-21 declares that the Redeemer will come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, and God calls the promise that follows 'my covenant.' Les Feldick identifies the Redeemer as Christ the Messiah and Zion as Jerusalem, not heaven. He also connects this to Isaiah 60, where Israel is told to arise and shine as the Gentiles come to her light.
Isaiah 59:20-21 — This passage directly names the Redeemer coming to Zion and the covenant God makes with Israel, which is the core of the question.
Isaiah 59:20-21 (KJV) says: "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever." The passage places the Redeemer's coming in Zion and specifies that He comes to those in Jacob who turn from transgression. God then identifies the promise as "my covenant" with them, pledging that His Spirit and His words will remain with Israel and their descendants forever. Isaiah 60 immediately continues the thought: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." In Scripture the Redeemer's arrival in Zion is tied to Israel's restoration and to the promise that the Gentiles will come to Israel's light.
Les Feldick teaches that the "Redeemer" in Isaiah 59:20 is Christ the Messiah, and that "Zion" here is the earthly Jerusalem — not heaven, despite the popular hymn "Marching to Zion." He clarifies that Zion is literally the north side of Jerusalem, and that Isaiah is speaking about God's Old Testament program for Israel. Les says the Redeemer comes to Jerusalem and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression. He explains that this phrase means the spiritual climate of Israel had to be that every Israelite was a believer — 100 percent, not 90 percent. God calls the promise in verse 21 "my covenant," and Les emphasizes that the Spirit and the words God placed in Israel's mouth will not depart from Israel or from their descendants "from henceforth and for ever." Les then reads directly into Isaiah 60:1-3, where the command "Arise, shine" is addressed to Israel, and the Gentiles are promised to come to her light. He also notes that this was God's original Old Testament plan: Israel was to receive her King, the kingdom was to be set up, and the Jew was to evangelize the non-Jew. Understanding this, he says, makes the book of Acts come alive.
Les Feldick says Zion here is not heaven. He points out that Zion is the north side of Jerusalem, and the Redeemer shall come to Zion — that is, to Jerusalem. He contrasts this with the common hymn "Marching to Zion," which treats Zion as heaven.
Les teaches that the capitalized "Redeemer" is Christ the Messiah. The surrounding context in Isaiah speaks of "the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, the Messiah," so the verse is about the Messiah coming to Jerusalem.
Les teaches that "Jacob" is the nation of Israel, and "them that turn from transgression" refers to the spiritual condition Israel would need before the Redeemer comes. Every one of them had to be a believer — 100 percent, not 90 percent.
God says, "this is my covenant with them." The covenant is that His Spirit and the words He put in Israel's mouth will not depart from Israel, nor from their seed, nor from their seed's seed, "from henceforth and for ever." Les identifies these as promises given to the nation of Israel.
Immediately after the covenant in Isaiah 59:21, Isaiah 60:1 tells Israel, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come." Les connects this to Jesus telling the Jews, "You are the light of the world," and notes the next verse promises that the Gentiles will come to Israel's light. This is the Old Testament program: Israel receiving her King and becoming a light to the nations.
God's Old Testament Plan for Israel
Les explains that in the Old Testament program God expected Israel to receive her King, have the kingdom set up, and go into the nations to evangelize the non-Jew, using Isaiah 42 and 49 as examples.
Redeemer and Zion Defined
Les teaches that the capitalized Redeemer is Christ the Messiah and that Zion in Isaiah 59:20 is Jerusalem, not heaven, correcting the 'Marching to Zion' idea.
Isaiah 59:20-21 and 60:1-3 Quoted
Les reads the full covenant promise of Isaiah 59:20-21 and continues into Isaiah 60:1-3, where Israel is told to arise and shine as the Gentiles come to her light.
Zion Is Jerusalem's North Side
Les explains that Zion is the north side of Jerusalem, and that the Redeemer's coming is to Jerusalem and to Israel, with the covenant promising the Spirit and words never departing from Israel's descendants.
Promises Given to the Nation of Israel
Les stresses that these are promises given to the nation of Israel, and connects Isaiah 60:1's 'Arise, shine' with Jesus telling the Jews they are the light of the world.
Jacob Is the Nation of Israel
Les identifies Jacob with the nation of Israel, showing that the Redeemer comes to Jerusalem and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.
Turning From Transgression Means Universal Belief
Les says the phrase 'them that turn from transgression in Jacob' means the spiritual climate of Israel had to be that every one of them was a believer — 100 percent, not 90 percent.
Isaiah 59 Clarifies Acts
Les shows that Isaiah 59 describes how God had originally laid out His plan to Israel, and that understanding this makes the book of Acts come alive.
Isaiah 59:20: And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
This is the key verse naming the Redeemer's coming to Zion and the repentant Israelites He comes to.
Isaiah 59:21: As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
God explains the everlasting covenant that follows the Redeemer's coming to Zion.
Isaiah 60:1: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
The prophecy immediately after Isaiah 59 tells Israel to arise because her light has come.
Isaiah 60:2: For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
This verse contrasts the darkness over the earth with the LORD's glory rising on Israel.
Isaiah 60:3: And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
The result of Israel's arising is that the Gentiles come to her light.
Les Feldick says Zion is not heaven; it is Jerusalem, specifically the north side of the city. The verse says the Redeemer shall come to Zion, meaning the Messiah comes to Jerusalem.
Les identifies the capitalized Redeemer as Christ the Messiah. The surrounding context in Isaiah calls Him the Redeemer of Israel and His Holy One.
God says it is His covenant with Israel: His Spirit and the words He put in their mouth will not depart from Israel, nor from their children and grandchildren, forever. Les calls these promises given to the nation of Israel.
Because the verse says the Redeemer comes 'unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob.' Les explains this means the spiritual climate of Israel had to be that every one of them was a believer — 100 percent, not 90 percent.
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