BETHLEHEM AND ZION -- THE TWO CITIES OF DAVID


December 26, 2010 pm
MF Blume


Luke 2:4 KJV  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

2 Samuel 5:7 KJV  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.


Notice that the CITY OF DAVID is considered to be two cities.


The thoughts of this are very insightful in light of the entire goal of the Gospel being KINGDOM DOMINION restored to mankind.


Hebrews 2:14 KJV  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Hebrews 2:15 KJV  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

This means we are not intended to be in bondage.

The entire reason He was born is because there had to be a sinless HUMAN in order to die as a sacrifice for EVERYONE'S sins.

Neither you nor I could die for anyone since we had our own sins to be dealt with.

Jesus came to destroy him that had the power of death.

1 Corinthians 15:25 KJV  (25)  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

That is information provided from Psalm 110:1.

Psalms 110:1-2 KJV  A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  (2)  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

And notice that this is associated with ZION!

So he partook of flesh and blood AT BETHLEHEM, the city of Death,  for the purpose of dealing with DEATH so it is under his feet, which is said to occur while HE IS IN ZION, the other city of David.


We can now see there is significance to BETHLEHEM and ZION being the two places called the CITY OF DAVID!

The last enemy destroyed occurs during the SEATING OF JESUS CHRIST IN ZION, which is called the CITY OF DAVID as much as BETHLEHEM was called THE CITY OF DAVID.



BOTH CITIES that are called the CITY OF DAVID show the TWO points that reveal a message of progress towards the GOAL of KINGDOM FOR US, as well.

Bethlehem is so significant because it marked where Christ was manifest in flesh.


Even prophecy said Bethlehem was associated with KINGSHIP.

Micah 5:2 KJV But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Notice the LITTLENESS of Bethlehem.  Sheep like humility.


David ruled on Mount Zion on the earth.

Hebrews 12:22 KJV  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Revelation 14:1 KJV  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.

Psalms 110:1-2 KJV  A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  (2)  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

These references do not refer to the earthly mountain called ZION where David ruled.


So it is wonderful to know that the CITY OF DAVID marks the BEGINNING POINT AND THE ENDING POINT of Christ's entire purpose!


And what is even more wonderful is the picture of a manger and a throne IN both cities called the CITY OF DAVID.
Bethlehem was a city of shepherds.
1 Samuel 16:11 KJV  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Jesus was ANOINTED as well as a baby in order to be KING.

Matthew 2:1-2 KJV  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  (2)  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

So he was worshiped as KING in Bethlehem, city of David, and RULES AS KING in ZION, called CITY OF DAVID.

Bethlehem and Zion are both associated with JESUS AS KING, and both are called the city of David.

Since Shepherds lead and feed sheep, and Jesus was in a feeding trough as a sign to shepherds, we can see how WE ARE SHEEP AT FIRST.

Being a LAMB gives us the idea of sacrifice, and sacrifice is, again, the reason He came in order to retrieve man from bondage.

Consider this thought of starting in a town of shepherds to sitting on a throne in a palace when thinking of the two cities of David.

Jesus is actually seen as a LAMB in Revelation 5, but HE WAS CALLED A LION.

Revelation 5:1-10 KJV  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.  (2)  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  (3)  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  (4)  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  (5)  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  (6)  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  (7)  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.  (8)  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  (9)  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  (10)  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

And THIS LAMB, who looked nothing like a lion, and had even been slain to make the contrast even more stark, opened the sealed book.
Revelation 10:1-3 KJV  And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:  (2)  And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,  (3)  And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.


The term ANGEL can throw us off.


AND HE ROARS LIKE A LION!

THE LAMB BECAME A LION!


And WE, TOO, MUST BE SHEEP AND THEN CONTINUE TO BECOME LIONS!

Notice Matt 7 shows wolves in SHEEP'S CLOTHING that Jesus said He never knew, and John 10 says He knows His sheep.
The bible teaches that we cannot reign with Him unless we first suffer with HIm.

2 Timothy 2:12 KJV  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:


And the same chapter mentions the same detail of KNOWING HIM and DEPARTING in relation to INIQUITY.

2 Timothy 2:19 KJV  Nevertheless the foundation of God Him sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.


Notice that KNOWING THOSE WHO ARE HIS connects us with Mat 7's I NEVER KNEW YOU, and John 10's HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP.

So the picture is that SHEEP deny themselves and carry their crosses, and enter the SHEEPFOLD where they TURN INTO LIONS!


The picture of not knowing the WOLVES in sheep's clothing in Matt 7 is followed by entering the Kingdom where you are like a house built on a rock, and such a house CANNOT FALL.

Look at the SHEPHERD'S PSALM.

Psalms 23:1-6 KJV  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  (2)  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  (3)  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  (4)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  (5)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  (6)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Paths of righteousness is like the WAY OF LIFE that Matt 7 speaks about, into which few enter.

The house on the rock DOES NOT FALL.


Speaking of the house on sand as falling when the storm comes contrasted with the house on the rock that cannot fall, is like saying those who refuse to lose their lives now will lose them forever later, whereas those who lose their lives now will find them again and never die again!

So it is really a contrast between never coming to life again or never dying again.

And the only way a house on a rock that never falls can fit with sheep entering the sheepfold of the Kingdom, is to understand that the sacrifice of self that sheep make leads to a resurrection in which they will never die again!

Romans 6:8-11 KJV  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  (9)  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  (10)  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  (11)  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is saying we must be like sheep like Christ, so we can be lions like Christ!


SHEEP speaks of sacrifice and self denial,

LION speaks of KINGS!

Only Lambs become Lions.
Notice that there are wolves in sheep's clothing, and the devil roaring LIKE a lion?