entrance called 'the gutter' became known to David, and he announced that

whoever could get up this gutter and capture the stronghold of Zion should be

made Chief Captain.  This Joab accomplished, climbing up a shaft that

connected what is now called 'the Virgin's Fount' with the interior of Zion

(2 Sam. 5:6 -9).  In 1 Chronicles 11:4 -6 this exploit is recorded, and there

we have not only the added note, 'So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up,

and was chief' but the remainder of the chapter is significantly devoted to

enumerating the names and the exploits of 'the first three', 'the thirty' and

a list of 'valiant men' all marked out for conspicuous bravery.  The first

reference to Zion links it with the 'overcomer'.

When we turn to the New Testament we find this association preserved.

'Ye are come to mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly

Jerusalem ... the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven' (Heb.

12:22,23).  Sion is mentioned also in the book of the Revelation where we see

the 144,000 overcomers stand on mount Sion with the Lamb (Rev. 14:1,4).

Hebrews 12 and Galatians 4 place mount Sinai in contrast with mount Sion, and

in Galatians 4 the apostle speaks of 'Jerusalem which is above' (Gal.

4:25,26).  Paul would be familiar with the fact noted by Josephus that Sion

was referred to as 'The upper city' (he ano agora), using the same word ano

as is found in Galatians 4:26, he ano Ierousalem.  Putting these references

together, we perceive that Sion differs from Jerusalem in that it is

associated with overcoming, it is the Upper City, it is the alternative title

to the heavenly Jerusalem.  In the Old Testament this heavenly city is

unrevealed, and Zion refers there to the centre of the Lord's administration

not in days of perfect peace, but in the midst of enemies:

'The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou In

the Midst of Thine Enemies'

'The Lord at Thy right hand shall Strike Through Kings in the day of

His Wrath' (Psa. 110:2,5).

This passage is comparable with Psalm 2.  There we have the kings of the

earth setting themselves against the Lord, and against His anointed, but He

that sitteth in the heavens shall have them in derision, and when He speaks

to them, it is in His Wrath, saying:

'Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion' (Psa. 2:6).

This King whose dominion includes 'the uttermost parts of the earth' shall

'break them with a rod of iron' and these kings are enjoined to 'Kiss the

Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, When His Wrath is kindled

but a little' (Psa. 2:6,8,9,12).

The Millennium follows immediately upon the Coming of Christ (Rev.

19:21; 20:1,2).  There is no interval for a PreMillennial kingdom in the

records of the Apocalypse except it be the kingdom of the Beast.  When Christ

come He comes to Zion,

'The Redeemer shall come to Zion ... Arise, shine; for thy light is

come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee' (Isa. 59:20; 60:1).

At the selfsame time, namely at the coming of the Lord to Zion, 'darkness

shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people ... and Gentiles shall

come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising ... the nation