Psalm 87 is a beautiful celebration of Zion as the city of God. As a proper name, “Zion” originally was a way of referring to the mountain the city of Jerusalem was eventually built upon. Later, the term became a moniker for Jerusalem itself and, finally, a reference to the heavenly city of God. This Psalm, likely a post-exilic composition, reflects this final meaning. Along with the prophetic words of Isaiah, Micah, Daniel and Zechariah, this Psalm anticipates the ingathering of the nations into the Kingdom of God. At this point of reckoning, Yahweh records the names of His people.
The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.”
Lest I forget, the Word reminds me of my new birth in a Kingdom yet come. Just as the earthly Jerusalem prefigured the heavenly Zion, my rebirth is both a present and a future reality. Indeed, I experience the blessings of this rebirth now while anticipating the hope of what this rebirth will be like in the life to come.
LORD, grant me the faith to see you in the Great City Zion, on Your holy mountain on that day all creation groans for.
Until then….
already & not yet 
Awesome description. Wonderful thought to be part of that Zion with you brother.We’ll see you at Winterfest this weekend. Pray for our safety in this 7 hour drive!
Some would argue that the “Kingdom” has already come. I’m teaching Daniel in the Sojourners class now and that is one of the stumbling blocks for interpretation.
Wayne Watson has a song called “Born in Zion” I’ve told Tracy I want it played in my funeral. It’s on the Giants in the Land LP.
Ed,I studied with a preterist once who argued that the Kingdom had already come. Daniel (and of course, Revelation) was one of the texts we looked at together. Don’t know if you are familiar with preterist thought or not. Their major tenet is that Christ’s second coming occured in AD70 at the judgment of Jerusalem. Thus His Kingdom is fully realized. The major problem I see with this view is the suffering and evil that’s still so prevalent in our world today. Hard to make a convincing case that the Kingdom has been fully consummated in light of evil & suffering.R.C. Sproul’s The Last Days According to Jesus is a great book on the subject.Lane, hope to see you on the mountain this weekend.
Agreed. Per Dan 2:44, it (God’s Kingdom) will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms. Other kingdoms still exist.