In order to understand the significance of the separation of David's Tabernacle from the Tabernacle of the Congregation we must consider the historical background of David's city, Zion, and how the Ark came to be located there.

Zion

After the death of Saul, David was anointed King of Judah, and then of all Israel. At first, David's government was located in Hebron. But then David decided to capture Jerusalem from the Jebusites.

The Jebusites defended the city of Jerusalem from the vantage point of Zion, a militarily advantageous stronghold of Jerusalem. David and Joab succeeded in capturing Zion and gaining possession of Jerusalem. From that time forward, Zion, an area in the larger city of Jerusalem, became known as the city of David.

Zion has to do with war. Although the term may be used to refer to all Jerusalem, Zion represents war and battle. Zion speaks of Christ and His mighty men, His warriors.

In the present hour, God is calling out from His Church the saints who are destined to destroy Satan out of the Church and out of the earth. The trumpet is being blown in Zion. The day of vengeance against God's enemies is upon us. It is the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, and of the Jubilee.

Zion is being separated from Jerusalem for a season. The separation will endure throughout the thousand-year Kingdom Age. But Zion and Jerusalem once again will be brought together in the new heaven and earth reign of Christ.

Notice the fortress (Zion), and then Jerusalem, in the following verse:

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: . . . . (Revelation 20:9)

The "camp (fortress) of the saints," and then "the beloved city."

The Law will go forth from Zion and the Deliverer will come out of Zion. Redemption can come only by war. The salvation of Israel can come only by war. The redemption of the nations of the earth can take place only by war. Until Satan is destroyed, the royal priesthood and the nations of the earth will continue in the chains of spiritual slavery. The "Zion" aspect of Jerusalem is the realm of spiritual warfare.

David was a man of war; Solomon, a man of peace. The thousand-year rule of a rod of iron is a "David" period. The new heaven and earth reign of Christ is a "Solomon" period.

It is important for the saints of today to understand that the Day of Judgment and resurrection comes at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age, not at the beginning, not at the moment of the return of Christ to the earth.

The appearing of Christ in the clouds of glory with His saints and holy angels is not the day of judgment and resurrection for those who have died, although it may be true that the living nations of the earth will be judged at that time.

The appearing of Christ is the coming of the Deliverer out of Zion. Jesus will come with His mighty men, with His "Zion" company. They alone of all the peoples of the earth will receive back their bodies prior to the general day of resurrection. This is the first resurrection, the resurrection out from among the dead. This is the resurrection the Apostle Paul was striving to attain (Philippians 3:11).

To be continued.