At this point in our studies, we would like to concentrate on the
significance of mount Sinai as it foreshadowed spiritual mount Zion. This
is possibly the most misunderstood concept concerning the O.T. pattern
of the coming of the church.
Law given on Mount Sinai
First lets look at some of the events
surrounding the giving of the law of Moses on mount Sinai. God called
Moses to the top of the mountain in order to give him instructions
concerning preparation for the receiving of the Ten Commandments. Moses
was told to go back down to the people and have them prepare for God coming
down unto the mountain in three days. They were to wash their clothes
and set a boundary around the mountain so that no one would go up into
the mountain nor even touch it. The children of Israel were to gather
around the mountain, but were forbidden to touch it under the penalty of
death. On the third day, God descended upon the mountain and called Moses
to come up to receive the Ten Commandments. I'm sure we are all familiar
with the story of what happened while Moses was in the mountain. The
people abandoned God and made a golden calf to worship. Because of this,
God was very angry with the people and about three thousand were slain
on that day.
Gospel given on Mount Zion
The children of Israel gathered around mount Sinai in order to receive
the law from God which was the law of Moses. In Heb. 12:18, Christian are
told that they are not gathered around mount Sinai, instead, according
to Heb. 12:22, they are come unto mount Zion. Mount Zion is a figurative
description of the church. In fact, in Heb. 12:22-23, mount Zion is called:
(1) the city of the living God; (2) the Heavenly Jerusalem; (3) the general
assembly; and, (4) the church of the firstborn. All of these names apply to
the church of our Lord. Micah 4:2b states, "for the law shall go forth of
Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Moses was a likeness of
Christ and he gave the Ten Commandments on mount Sinai. Christ came to
this earth, died for our sins and was resurrected, and gave his law on
spiritual mount Zion. Micah 4:7 goes on to say that "the LORD shall reign
over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever." Christ gave his
law on spiritual mount Zion and is reigning over his people in that
mountain, the church, today.
3000 Died - 3000 Saved
It is also interesting to note that on the day Moses came down from the
mountain 3000 were slain, but on the day the church was established
in mount Zion, 3000 were saved. The law of Moses was a law of spiritual
death because nobody could keep it perfectly, but the law of Christ is a
law of life because it provides for the forgiveness of our sins.
Lamb Stands on Mount Zion
This parallel symbolism can be used to help interpret several passages in
the book of Revelation. We will take a look at one passage at this time
with more to come on it later. Rev. 14:1 says, "And I looked, and, lo, a
Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four
thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." This
picture is taken precisely from the comparison of mount Sinai and mount
Zion. Christ(Lamb)is standing on mount Zion and 144,000 are standing with
him. All we have to do to understand this symbolism is ask the question;
"Who stands with Christ on mount Zion." The obvious answer to that is:
Christians. We are the ones who have come unto mount Zion (Heb. 12:22), and
Christ is reigning over us today in that mountain, the church, (Micah 4:7).
We symbolically have the name of the Father written in our foreheads which
means we pledge our allegiance and thoughts to him. This in direct contrast
to those who are not following Christ and have the mark of the Beast in
their foreheads (Rev. 13:16).
Christians Stand with Christ on Mount Zion
We need to realize the importance of the church and what it means to stand
with Christ in mount Zion. The drawing below illustrates how Christians
are reigning with Christ on mount Zion today, and it also shows the path
we must follow in order to be among those who stand with him.
