Zion is Jerusalem, not heaven.
According to Les Feldick's teaching from the King James Bible, Zion refers specifically to Jerusalem, the earthly city on the north side, where God will establish His reign. The word is used in passages about the Messiah coming and His future kingdom on earth, not as a synonym for heaven.
Isaiah 59:20 — This verse explicitly connects the Redeemer's coming to Zion, which Les Feldick identifies as Jerusalem.
The Bible uses 'Zion' to refer to Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, the prophets speak of Zion as the city of God's dwelling and the focal point of His dealings with Israel. For instance, Isaiah writes, 'And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD' (Isaiah 59:20). This connects the coming of the Messiah to Jerusalem. Zechariah also prophesies that the Lord shall be king over all the earth and that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:8-9).
Les Feldick teaches that Zion is Jerusalem, the city on earth, not heaven. He explains that God's plan for Israel and the earth centers on Jerusalem, where Christ will rule and reign. He contrasts this with the Church, which has no earthly headquarters, and emphasizes that many Christians mistakenly think of Zion as heaven when it actually refers to the earthly city where God's kingdom will be established.
No. Les Feldick teaches that although many people think of Zion as heaven, the Bible uses it to refer to Jerusalem on earth. He points out that the passage in Zechariah and Isaiah clearly shows that the Lord will rule from Jerusalem, not from a distant heavenly location.
According to the prophets and Les's teaching, Zion (Jerusalem) will be the center of Christ's earthly kingdom. The nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, and the Lord Himself will rule as King over all the earth from there.
Zion as Jerusalem in Prophecy
Les emphasizes that prophets like Isaiah wrote to Israel, and their prophecies concern the earthly city of Jerusalem, not heaven.
Gentiles Coming to Jerusalem
Les explains that when the prophets say nations will come to seek the Lord, they mean Jerusalem on earth, not heaven.
Is Baptism Required for Salvation? What Acts 8 Really Says
You see the Church today is headquartered not on earth, but where? In heaven. And even though Antioch was more or less the fountainhead of where the Gospel went out to the Gentiles from the Antioch congregation, yet the Scripture never places Antioch as the headquarters of the New Testament Church, nor is Jerusalem. There is no headquarters of the New Testament Church.
God Ruling from Jerusalem
Les links the reign of God to the holy hill of Zion (Jerusalem) after the tribulation, emphasizing it is on earth.
Christ's Return to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 Explained.
Now, before we turn away from Zechariah, we'll come back to this thought, but let's just read on. Verse 8, "...and it shall be in that day that living water shall go out from Jerusalem, half to the former sea," that's the Mediterranean, "...and half toward the hinder sea," or the Dead Sea, "...in summer and in winter shall it be," and then look at verse 9, "...
Earthly Kingdom, Not Heaven
Les stresses that the believer's eternal home is on the new earth, with Christ ruling from Jerusalem, not in a distant heaven.
Why Israel Was Blinded — Acts 13 & Romans 11 Explained
Now, Judaism, Israel, under the law, Jerusalem was the headquarters. Everything funneled into and out of Jerusalem concerning the Jew, but never get hung up that there's any earthly headquarters for the church. Now, you remember way back when I started in Genesis 1-1, in the beginning God created what? Heaven and earth.
Is Jesus God? The Prophecies of the Coming King Explained
And thy spoils shall be divided in the midst of thee. Now remember, Zechariah, just like Isaiah, is writing to what people? To Israel. He's writing to the Jew. Verse 2. God says, I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle. That's, of course, Armageddon as we know it from the book of Revelation.
Isaiah 59:20: And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
This verse directly links the Redeemer's coming to Zion (Jerusalem), showing that God's salvation is directed to Israel.
Zechariah 8:22: Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Shows that Jerusalem (Zion) is the focal point for Gentile worship in the coming kingdom.
Zechariah 14:9: And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
Indicates that the Lord's reign will be over the whole earth, with Jerusalem as the center.
No, the Bible uses Zion to refer to the earthly Jerusalem, not heaven. Les Feldick points out that even though hymns may refer to heaven as Zion, the biblical context always points to the physical city of Jerusalem on earth.
Zion (Jerusalem) will be the ruling center of Christ's kingdom on earth. People from all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, and He will reign as King over all the earth from there.
Watch the Teaching: The True Meaning of Israel as a "Peculiar People"