The Timing of Salvation

     The promise from God to Israel was to "place salvation for Israel in Zion;" to wit:

I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. (Isa 45:13).

     Therein "salvation" has many meanings:

• The Jews will return to their homeland in the days of Darius the Persian.
• The Jews will have Zion for posterity.
• The Jews will be saved in the end.
• The Japhethites will have  Zion as their salvation, and
• Salvation will be in Zion.

     Zion is an important place. I believe the world has always been jealous of the Jews because Zion is the place of their salvation, and either everyone wants to short-circuit that promise or want that place for their own salvation - most notably the adherents to Islam. Islam means "peaceful". 

     The exact location of Zion is debatable, but most attest to it being the City of David, although more specifically Mount Moriah - the location of the Temple Mount which now is the location of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, meaning the "foundation of peace," is an holy city of Islam. The reader can see that "Islam" and "Jerusalem" have as a roots the word "peace," and thus two religions lay claim to that Holy City of God.

     "City of God" is important as well:

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Rev 3:12)

     Isaiah and the apostles were the "foundation of the Church:"

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephes 2:19-21)

     Jesus was the "cornerstone" or the "datum" to which the Church is built. Bishops "superintend" the building of the Church, and deacons are their helpers. Individual Christians are the pillars in the temple of God (Rev 3:12).  The roof of God's temple is grace as even the unworthy have a place beneath the "roof" of the temple (Luke 7:5-7). Hence the whole "Temple" from Cornerstone to the roof. Christians are part of the temple; indeed we are the "temple of God" (1 Cor 6:19) as "lively stones," as in, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 2:5).
    As "pillars" of God's Temple, we are lively stones who profess and build the doctrine of grace (the roof). Thus, in those passages the plan  for the Church of God. is revealed.
     True to His promise, the world returned their homeland to them in 1948. As owners of the land of David, the Jewish people owned Israel, and Zion was their City of God. It wasn't out of love that Jews returned to their city but because the world hated them. After WWI, Churchill isolated the Jews as if they were lepers because the world hated them. After the hatred was demonstrated so vehemently in the Third Reich and Soviet Communism, as well as under British prejudice, the Jews were cast out of the wilderness back into the City and Garden of God. Their punishment was the very place they desired to be! That was part of Isaiah's prophecy.
     Jews will become pillars of the Christian Church which were set aside for the Jews who declined it. God prophesied Himself that the Japhethites would dwell in the "tents" of Shem (i.e., Gentiles would dwell in the tabernacles of the Jews.) Even today, Christians, whether they admit it or not, are Messianic. I call myself a spiritual Jew because true Judaism is Christianity, to which Gentiles are heirs. As Abraham's faith in Jesus's purpose was demonstrated on Mount Moriah, that's the place the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built on the empty tomb of Jesus, and is the most Holy Place of Christianity. That is in the old city of David, which is the City of God, and someday will be New Jerusalem. Until then, the harlot Babylon (Islam) seems to own much of the City of David.
     Why is modern-day Jerusalem the "harlot Babylon" (Rev 17:5). Because of the fornication against God therein as Islam contaminates the holiness of the place with their seven pillars (mountains). Someday, God will make the city holy again and Allah will be cast into Hell.
    "Salvation" is important and misunderstood. Jews always take it as their own salvation as a people and in the end a spiritual salvation for them. The mystery of God is that salvation is by grace, for everyone, and by the Way of Jesus. That "Way" has two meanings: the path to Calvary and the Doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9). That "doctrine" is the Word of Christ (1 Tim 3:6) which is being like God, not as gods (Gen 3:5), but diminishing oneself and elevating God (John 3:14).
    The first step to salvation is to be born again (John 3:7) which is John 3:14. With that enlightenment, the believer has the "hope of salvation" (1 Thes 5:8), and if they are certain of their hope. it is the "assurance of salvation" (Heb 6:11) which is having hope to the end.
    That assurance is continually tested, and is a test of faith. Isaiah referred to it in the key verse, as "overcometh." Life is tribulation from Satan; God and Christians together overcometh Satan and his temptations. Just as with faithful Job (Job 1), God does place a hedge of safety around righteous people. Satan cannot kill them, but they must withstand the doubts he raises. Thus the regenerated person has safety, but is not yet saved. For those who are certain, it is as good as done!
     Salvation is for those who overcome the world. That faithful endurance is until the end which is death. Death is the "train crash" or when Christians are saved from perishing in the inferno. God judges who has overcome the world and who has not. The faithful will be glorified- given imperishable holy bodies when Jesus returns in the sky. Christians will be "snatched up" (raptured) on that glorious day.
     Jesus will not be everywhere in the sky when the trumpet sounds. Like the Messianic Jews, I believe he will come back where he ascended, specifically the city of God -  Jerusalem, and precisely at the Mount of Olives which is the place in the midst of the Garden where the Tree of Life was in the beginning (Gen 2:9). I believe Jerusalem is like a funnel where the Christians of the world, both the living and the dead, shall ascend to Jesus  just as did the dead saints were released from death there when Jesus gave up the Ghost (Mat 27:52).
     Ultimate salvation for mankind is when 144,00 Jews near the end will be saved (Rev 7). "Salvation" is when Satan physically and spiritually dies, and can harm mankind no more! When Jesus died on the cross, the Serpent was vicariously crucified in his "tree" (the non-repentant thief). That's the lifeless brazen serpent Moses held high!
     Salvation for mankind is when Satan really dies forever! The Jews who are righteous will be saved at that time. Because we Gentiles believe before the rapture, our salvation is then - when the passengers in the "crashing train" are miraculously ejected into Heaven!

For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. (Isa 62:1-3).

    What was Isaiah seeing and writing? He was seeing Japhethites dwelling in the tents of Shem. They would no longer be called Gentiles, but Christians. To the Jews, "Gentile" meant unclean. God cleaned up an unclean people, and made them upright if they profess His Name. Those who see Jesus as the promised Messiah were called "Christians" (Acts 11:26).  Isaiah saw them as they were called by that new name only centuries before!
     Prophecy coming true validates my faith. I hope it does yours as well. Isaiah had 100% accuracy because he saw true things before they occurred. He never missed a prophecy; he validated God because God allowed him to see things above the sea of glass that the uninspired cannot see.